Turn Around - Face God!

For Thursday, February 12, 2026:

Romans 6:19b NLT: “Previously, you let yourselves be slaves to impurity and lawlessness, which led ever deeper into sin. Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.”

In the Hebrew language, a person caught up in sin is said to be far from God, whereas a righteous person is said to be close to God. That’s a good way to look at it.

If someone appears to have drifted from religion, they haven’t necessarily placed Satan in charge. But they have wandered farther and farther from God. It’s then time to turn, do a 180 and get back closer to God. Teshuva(h) means return, in this case, return to the Lord. Repentance requires acknowledging the sin, regretting it, and vowing to take a better path as the person changes directions and returns to be closer to God.

Who is Lord of your life? (Jesus.) Are you close to God, or far from God? (Closer is better.) If your eyes can’t focus on God, you may be facing the wrong direction. Time to flip around and head back the right way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

End Times Loyalty!

October 20, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 21:19 NLT, Jesus speaking: “By standing firm, you will win your souls.”

The end times will not be pretty. Countries will succumb to the armies of evil nations. Longtime companions will betray you. Some believers may even be murdered. Jesus suggests running to the hills – and standing firm, not abandoning our faith in God’s Son.

The world is confused and evil in this picture Jesus painted. But while the world is in disarray, Jesus will be our rock. Since the beginning, there has been good vs bad, right vs wrong and God’s way vs Satan’s way. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have always been on the side of fairness, righteousness and love.

Satan, on the other hand, has no real agenda other than to oppose God. He has no Kingdom, no heaven, no paradise. The only thing a follower of Satan can hope to receive is a toasting in the fires of hell.

Deciding to become a believer is a simple decision. Almost anyone can understand the benefits and join the good guys. So stand firm in your convictions. Jesus promises that your reward will be the eternal salvation of your soul!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Forever Holy!

For Saturday, November 30, 2024:

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NLT: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”

As believers, we want to be kept holy, innocent and pure. Try as we might to achieve holiness, we may not succeed on our own. But Jesus comes to our rescue! His middle name is forgiveness, and he will continue to forgive us leaving us righteous and holy, prepared for him when he returns.

We will see God doing for us what we cannot do for ourselves. God’s desire is that none would perish, and that all would repent and return. Those who believe and trust the Son will be among those rescued.

Our rescuer and his Father are faithful and will not let us down!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Plucked out of Danger!

For Thursday, August 1, 2024:

2 Peter 2:9 NLT: “So you see, the Lord knows how to rescue godly people from their trials, even while keeping the wicked under punishment until the day of final judgment.”

We are either on God’s side, or the wrong side! Sheep are separated from the goats, and God keeps track of who’s on which list. On the day of reckoning, the wicked will see condemnation, while the righteous will be plucked out of harm’s way, rescued as part of God’s eternal plan.

When the entire world was evil, Noah was warning against God’s impending judgement. So Noah and his family were plucked away from the evil and rescued from the flood. God takes care of those who believe and are loyal. Likewise, Lot was plucked out of Sodom and Gomorrah. This righteous man was saved while the sinful cities were turned into ashes.

At that time, the percentage of people loyal to the Lord was dismal, and God instituted a plan to raise that average. By sending Jesus to rescue mankind, God put his new plan in motion. We think of our God as a God of second chances. And third chances, fourth chances, etc.

God’s plan worked like this: Jesus would take the sins of the world to the place of the dead, giving mankind a fresh start. And without the burden of sin, believers would be suitable residents of the eternal kingdom, forever in God’s presence. That gift of a second chance is called ‘grace,’ an unmerited gift from God. We receive it by faith, faith in who Jesus is and belief that everything will work out just like Jesus said it would!

Place a lot of faith in the wisdom behind God’s plan!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Second Chance!

For Thursday, July 27, 2023:

Romans 3:10 NLT: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous, not even one.”

I’ve said before that if you could graph mankind’s relationship with God, it would look like a roller-coaster – up and down, up and down, closer to God, farther from God. Paul is quoting a psalm where people were farther from God, where no one was righteous, not even one.

Not much has changed nowadays. Part of accepting Jesus’ forgiveness is knowing that we all need forgiveness because we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

The Good News is that God sent his Son Jesus to rescue all who believe, to redeem mankind. We can choose to leave our sinful path and start following Jesus. Jesus’ work on the cross left believers cleansed, pure, forgiven and suitable to enter God’s Kingdom for eternity.

Even when “no one is righteous,” we can be the exception. Jesus has granted believers a second chance that lasts forever!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Judgement!

For Saturday, September 10, 2022:

Psalm 62:12b NLT: “Surely, O God, you repay all people according to what they have done.”

David was anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel while he was still a little shepherd-boy. Many years would pass before the death of Saul, before David could claim his position. Back then, disagreements between individuals were often settled by fighting, and many who wanted the kingdom for themselves made very real threats against David’s life. The future king David was forced to flee and hide, rather than be killed.

David’s loyalty to God Almighty was repeatedly tested, but David never flinched. God was his unchanging rock, the solid foundation upon which all things were created. He waited quietly for the Lord, knowing that in God’s time he would ascent to his calling, to lead the nation of Israel.

Almost an afterthought, David comments that surely God will repay people according to what they have done. God is fair and just, in addition to his being holy and righteous.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Prayer!

For Thursday, August 19, 2021

Proverbs 15:29 NLT: “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.”

Actually, God is everywhere! He’s not trying to hide! But the wicked choose to separate themselves from God.

Jesus condemned the prayers of hypocrites, because they’re insincere. But God looks forward to hearing heartfelt prayers from humble believers praying honestly. God is always listening, hears our prayers and answers, which gives us hope!

It the wicked would repent, they would then be righteous.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

"I Am Your God!"

For Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Isaiah 41:10 NLT: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

This scripture is both a command and a promise. It's as if God was saying, “Remember me? The God of all power and glory? I'm THAT one!”

"Your God is too small,” writes J. B. Phillips, explaining that when people forget the greatness of God, they can easily become dismayed and discouraged. God replaces that fear with confidence: “I am your God!” God gives us hope!

"Don't worry – I will uphold you with my righteous right hand!”

Blessings and safety to everyone!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406