Trinity Explained!

For Tuesday, March 17, 2026:

Genesis 1:26 NLT: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings [mankind] in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.’”

Notice the intentional use of plurals in this scripture: “Let US make humans in OUR image, to be like US.” Is there more than one God? No. Can God be revealed to us in more than one form? Yes. Is God omnipresent, able to be in more than one place at the same time? Yes!

  Saint Patrick, traditionally credited with evangelizing Ireland, used the shamrock to illustrate the Holy Trinity. A shamrock looks like a 3-leaf clover, only larger. The three leaves represent Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But there’s only one plant, only one root system. The three leaves are anchored together: shared value system, same love for mankind, same desire that everyone would repent and return.

Patrick could have held resentment for Ireland. After all, as a young man, he was captured and forced to work there as a slave. But he escaped, became a priest, and returned to work where he knew people sorely needed Jesus. Forgiveness is always best. He’s now known as the patron saint of Ireland.

Today is March 17, St. Patrick’s Day (feast), the supposed day of his death. Much more than just another Irish holiday, let us celebrate the Good News, convincingly taught to a pagan population. Well done, Patrick!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

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

 

Freedom!

For Thursday, July 4, 2024:

Genesis 1:9 NLT: “Then God said, ‘Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.’ And that is what happened.”

God saw that it was good! Depending upon the quantity, we call the dry ground ‘land, continents or countries.’ Upon its creation, the dry land was all thought of as one commodity, created to be the home of mankind, the humans which God would subsequently create. At that time, there were not separate races, separate countries, separate rulers or wars between them. Sinful mankind divided the land through battles, with the victors becoming kings, monarchs or dictators. Regrettably, much of the world is organized that way nowadays.

It seems that each country wants ‘more.’ China wants Taiwan and everything in the South China Sea. Russia wants Ukraine. North Korea wants South Korea. Israel wants all the land occupied by Palestinians, who wish God had never given the promised land to the Jews.

Jealous over our success, many countries resent the United States. Our Declaration of Independence was a new and unique model for a country. If the world was to adopt it, many dictators would be displaced. They perceive the US model as a huge threat. Freedom and equal opportunity are not available in much of the world, but this is the plan GOD gave US! We should guard our system of government and consider its sacred source. We should honor and celebrate God’s gift to us, and today, Independence Day, is a good day to thank our Lord!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship