Thanksgiving!

For Thursday, November 27, 2025:

Genesis 12:7 NIV: “The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So Abram built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him.”

The purpose of Thanksgiving is twofold: worship and expression of thankfulness. In the US, today is Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday with a checkered history and a biblical precedent. God established this covenant: “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” Consequently, God took very good care of his people, who then gave thanks to God for all he had done for them, and for all he would continue to do.

 As the US began, George Washington declared a time of thanksgiving, gratitude for our independence from British rule. God had granted them freedom, and saying they were grateful would be an understatement. (I’m sure Washington was also thankful for the ability to remain standing in tLincolnhat boat as his image was captured for posterity!)

The nation grew, and observance of Thanksgiving varied from state to state. It was not always on the same date. President Abraham Lincoln finally declared Thanksgiving a national holiday on the last Thursday of November. During his term, the internal conflict between North/South ended, so there was plenty for which to be thankful.

May the Lord be at the center of your Thanksgiving day events. Have a warm and safe day filled with gratitude. May God’s blessings go with you and your families, not just today, but always! In Jesus’ name...Amen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

 

Pray!

For Wednesday, May 1, 2024:

Colossians 4:2 NLT: “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”

We are to be vigilant in prayer, but always praying with thanksgiving for the great things God has done. God wants to know that you’re still in the game with him, but it should be a 2-way conversation. Your prayer should include love and thanksgiving for the Lord, not just personal requests.

Why pray? Jesus told a parable of a judge who did not fear God, or for that matter, men. A widow came to the judge persistently asking for justice. I believe her unrelenting requests wore him down! “Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”

When praying for justice, don’t think you can wear God down. God has three answers to our requests: yes, no, and not just yet. Yes is easy. The problem is solved, the situation resolved. ‘No’ and ‘not just yet’ can be confusing. Did God say ‘no,’ or perhaps things will go my way later?

The Lord’s Prayer handles this well. “Thy will be done.” Not MY will but THY will! Rather than asking God for YOUR way, ask him to show you HIS way!

You could pray right now if you wanted to!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Thankful!

For Thursday, November 23, 2023:

1 Chronicles 16:34 NIV: “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”

Today, the fourth Thursday in November, is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day in the US. Most people get the day off, and families gather to eat too much turkey and watch football — and hopefully to remember to be thankful for all God has given us.

I’m thankful for my wife, our children and their spouses, and our grandchildren. I’m thankful for good friends, my house, my car, my work and for always having more than I truly need. God has been very good to me.

The best thing to be thankful for is Assurance of Salvation. Jesus has gone ahead to prepare our places in the hereafter. Those who believe on His name will get to see heaven from the inside!

Take some time today to thank the Lord for all the goodness he has poured into your life.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Give Thanks!

For Thursday, November 23, 2022, Thanksgiving Day (US):

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT: “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”

Happy Thanksgiving! In the US, we have designated today as a special day on which to show gratitude. But we shouldn’t save up our gratitude for this one day. We should be thanking the Lord every day. We have a saying – “God is good – all the time!” So we should give thanks – all the time!

Paul counsels the Philippians like this: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Of course the thing for which we should be eternally grateful is that Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, making it possible for believers to know heaven. Thank you Father God for your benevolent plan for us. Thank you Jesus for putting it in motion. Thank you Holy Spirit for keeping us on track!

Psalm 50:23, God speaking: “Giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Without Sin!

For Tuesday, November 22, 2022:

Colossians 2:14 NLT: “God canceled the record of the charges against us, and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”

This is Thanksgiving week in the US, and many people are thankful for health and abundance. But the thing for which to be the most thankful is that God canceled our record of sin. On the cross, Jesus took the sins of the world to the place of the dead, adopting believers as “Children of God.” Without sin, we can look forward to eternity in the presence of Father God.

Life on this earth is relatively short. In the US, people’s lifetimes average 73.7 years. Eternity is a much longer time. Eternity is forever. Forever is a good length of time to spend with God Almighty! Forever would be a painful length of time to spend in the lake of fire.

Because of the work Jesus did on the cross, Christians have “Assurance of Salvation.” With Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Jesus said he would go ahead and prepare a place for believers, those who put their faith, hope and trust in him. Believers get to see heaven from the inside!

Remember to thank God for the wonderful gift of salvation!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

God of Provision!

For Sunday, November 20, 2022:

1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT: “Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.”

Next week is Thanksgiving week in the US. Other countries have Thanksgiving, but on different days. It’s good to step off the treadmill of life, and thank our Father in heaven for all the good he does for us.

The Bible calls God “Jehovah-Jireh” or “Yahweh Yireh,” God who provides. It first happened like this: Abraham had been told by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham, obedient to the Lord, set out to do just that. But at the last minute, God provided a ram for the sacrifice, and Isaac was spared. God had provided just what was needed at just the right time! A God of provision!

God is providing for us all the time. Most of us have food, clothing and a place to live. That’s no accident! But the best gift ever is when Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world. Those who repent and put their faith in Jesus will be granted eternal life in the presence of the Father. David wrote, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord – forever!” Remember to thank the Father!

For believers, Jesus unlocked the door to heaven!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Goodness from God!

For Saturday, November 27, 2021

James 1:17 GNT: “Every good gift and every perfect present comes from heaven; it comes down from God, the Creator of the heavenly lights, who does not change or cause darkness by turning.”

Let’s wrap up Thanksgiving week. Remember that everything good comes from God, and evil originates with Satan, so we rightly give thanks to the Father for all the blessings in our lives.

Rest assured that God’s position – being the author of all that is good – is never going to change. He is light – he does not switch to darkness by turning away. He isn’t fickle like shifting sands. The Bible says that my God is like a rock – the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Count on it! Count on the author of hope!

The ultimate goodness of any gift must be measured on an eternal scale!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Give Thanks!

For Thursday, November 25, 2021 Thanksgiving Day

Psalm 100:4 NIV: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.”

Each of our lives is unique, and yet each of us has similar things for which to be thankful. Jesus said that just as God provides for the birds of the field, so would He provide for us. Certainly mankind is more valuable than some wild birds! So we have food, shelter and clothing. And we have family, friends and our Christian brothers and sisters. God blesses us with jobs, transportation and a whole lot more! I couldn’t begin to list all the good things that God pours into our lives!

Think about this - If God has richly blessed you, shouldn’t you be grateful? Shouldn’t you offer praise and thanksgiving for all he has done? It almost goes without saying.

God only wants what’s best for you! Therefore God has laid out an open-ended offer to include you in his kingdom. God’s desire is truly that no one would be lost; that all would repent and return. He wanted that so much that he sent his Son to rescue mankind. (John 3:16) “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Now put your own name in there. God so loved Mary or Bob or Linda or Ralph – God loves YOU so much that He sacrificed His only Son, that you might be granted everlasting life.

And because of that colossal gift of eternity in the presence of the Father, it is not only right, but it is essential that we give thanks in great quantity!

Today is a good day to give thanks!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Thanksgiving Prep!

For Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Psalm 95:2 NLT: “Let us come to the Lord with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.”

What comes into your mind when you hear the word, “Thanksgiving?” Does the whole family get together? Do you roast a big turkey with dressing and mashed potatoes? The US celebrates Thanksgiving on Nov. 25 this year, one week from tomorrow. You still have time to get ready. Franklin D. Rosevelt established the fourth Thursday in November as our country’s Thanksgiving holiday. It’s both a secular and a sacred celebration.

To believers, Thanksgiving is a time to acknowledge all the good things the Lord has bestowed upon us. We say, “God is good, all the time,” so we should thank Him every day. But with Thanksgiving in mind, perhaps we should do a little extra on that day. Find a few minutes to list all the goodness God has poured into your life, things that keep hope alive.

Then thank Him with your prayer!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Rescue Me!

For Tuesday, November 16, 2021

Psalm 18:5 NLT: “The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.”

We tend to think of David as the mighty king of the Israelites. But there were many stumbling-blocks along the journey to get there. David faced many enemies, some replete with entire armies carrying real weapons! David’s life was genuinely threatened!

The same God who anointed David also rescued him from persecution. David writes, “God rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.”

This lets us know that no matter how bad life may seem, a powerful God is always able to rescue. With God on your side, there is always hope! “Lord, you hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents. For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.”

When rescued, David composed worship songs of praise and thanksgiving! We should at least say a prayer!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Created!

For Thursday, July 22, 2021

Psalm 148:5 TLB: “Let everything God has made give praise to him. For he issued his command, and they came into being.”

God created everything in the universe out of nothing, but only mankind can worship, praise and give thanksgiving for what God has done. On Palm Sunday at the Triumphal Entry, Jesus said that if the people didn’t praise him, the stones would cry out! It’s a great metaphor, but stones, being inanimate objects, can’t actually thank their creator. The Bible says, “Let everything with breath praise the Lord,” and that’s us! God brought us into the world, and in His time, we will leave the earth.

You are presently in the world because God wants you here! Thank the Lord!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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