Messenger!

For Tuesday, January 6, 2026:

Matthew 1:20b-21 NLT, Angel speaking to Joseph: “Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus [the Lord Saves], for he will save his people from their sins.”

The Angel Gabriel had been busy. He had already visited Zechariah, who would father John the Baptist. He also visited Mary, who was to birth the Messiah’s next entrance to planet earth. Mary loves the Lord and is obedient. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Just one problem remains. Mary was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. He doesn’t understand how she could turn up pregnant. To him, she was still a virgin! It was time for Gabriel to finish their education! See above scripture!

Gabriel also explains the purpose of the Messiah coming to our world. “Jesus will save his people from their sins.” No mention of miraculous healings. No expanded teaching of Torah. No casting out of demons. Those are all good things, but not on the tip of Gabriel’s tongue! That’s why I teach that Jesus’ primary purpose is rescuing mankind from our sin problem. God’s messenger angel said so!

Christian believers are the beneficiaries of God’s gift. Jesus’ forgiveness has lifted us from the fires of hell to eternal life with Father God, a much better place. Thank goodness Jesus came to rescue us!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Obedience!

November 24, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 1:38 NLT: Mary responded to the angel Gabriel: “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

God was about to visit his people on earth. He would come as the second form of the Trinity, Jesus-the-Son. This IS God who can do anything. He could have appeared in any form before any people on earth. But what he chose to do was become a part of a typical family. He wouldn’t have a special title or be royalty. He wanted people to watch, see and discern for themselves that he was in fact the Son of God. He hand-selected his mother, who would go through a normal gestation period. He would be born into humble surroundings. And as he grew and matured, Jesus would be living the ways and customs of God’s people, and he would be known by them. I know this wouldn’t have been my first guess, but God’s way is always the best way. It’s a story that we all now love!

Notice Mary’s obedience. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Despite being a virgin and not understanding how this was all going to work, Mary did not question the Lord. “Whatever God’s plan is, count me in!” We could all take a lesson in obedience from Mary!

Remember, Mary and Joseph had not yet consummated their marriage. So Mary went to the hill country near Judea to visit her relatives Zechariah and Elizabeth. As Mary approached Elizabeth, 6 months pregnant, the baby within her jumped for joy! Her son, John-the-Baptist, would prepare the way for Mary’s baby Jesus.

The world would never be the same!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Miracle Babies!

For Saturday, November 22, 2025:

Luke 1:26 NLT: “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary.”

God was about to deliver a son to Zechariah and Elizabeth, a most unlikely situation. He openly admits that he’s quite old, and she’s well past childbearing years. Only God! As Gabriel instructed, they’ll name him John. We know him as John-the-Baptist.

In a separate, seemingly unrelated event, Gabriel is sent to visit Mary in Nazareth. Yes, our Mary! She was married to Joseph, but marriage was different back then. The husband would leave to arrange a place to live and find a job or start a business. The wife would begin gathering (or making) domestic things the new family would need: clothing, cooking supplies, household items. When everything was in order, the husband would return for his wife, and the two would begin their new life together. Mary and Joseph were still in that “prep” stage; they had not yet come together.

As usual, the angel says, “Be not afraid! You are favored by God!” He further explains, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Mary asks, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin.”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God!”

Then Gabriel drops this bombshell, which ties the events together: “Your cousin Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. The word of God will never fail!”

Remember, Mary’s husband wasn’t living with her yet. So she decided to stay with her relative for a time. They could help each other through their pregnancies and share dreams for their new babies, both under God’s watchful eye!

Some of the most eventful times in Christian history are about to unfold. Christmas is coming!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Are You Prepared?

For Friday, December 22, 2023:

Luke 1:33 NLT, The Angel Gabriel speaking to Mary: “Jesus will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

Was Mary prepared to be the earthly mother of the Son of God? I think not! What Gabriel was saying seemed impossible. After all, Mary was a virgin. Soon she expected to marry Joseph and bear children that he fathered. But for now, please, no children!

Understand that Mary believed in God, believed that he had given words to the Prophets, and that God could perform miracles. That’s what this would be – a never-before seen miracle, fulfilling prophesy. And while Mary doesn’t understand why she would be selected for such an honor, she was obedient, willing to serve as God directed. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

Now just a few days before we celebrate Christmas, each of us needs to ask if WE are ready for Jesus’ arrival? Have you asked Jesus into your heart? Have you declared him Lord and Savior of your life? Are you obedient like Mary, open to God’s direction even when you don’t understand his intent? Have you made a reservation in the Kingdom? Is your faith unshakable? Jesus will prepare a place in eternity for everyone who joins his team. God will adopt into the Holy Family everyone who worships the Son. God wants to include you!

Jesus came to earth once, and he will come again!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Savior Arrival!

For Sunday, December 25, 2022:

Luke 2:11 NLT: “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!”

This was and still is the best news ever! A Messiah, a Savior had been prophesied, and now he’s here! The greatest celebration of all time should ensue!

Thankfully, Luke, our investigative reporter, collected all the details of the virgin birth! An angel shouted the Good News from the heavens, soon joined by a chorus of angels, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to all God’s people.”

The shepherds’ flock was down for the night, so they decided to pursue what the angels had told them. They wanted to see the miracle with their own two eyes! “This very day, in David’s town, a Savior has been born for you. He is Christ, the Lord. Let this prove it to you: you will find a baby, wrapped up and lying in a manger.” They found everything just as the angels had told them!

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

The Lord's Servant!

For Tuesday, December 20, 2022:

Luke 1:26-27 NLT: “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.”

Elizabeth was the mother of John-the-Baptist, who would be born before Mary’s child Jesus, so he could herald the coming Messiah. Mary, still a virgin, was pledged to be married to Joseph when Gabriel visited and explained the whole thing. Mary would become pregnant through the Holy Spirit. They were to name the child Jesus, which means “The Lord saves or Savior.” “The baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”

This was all foretold in scripture – someone to announce Jesus’ arrival, the city of Nazareth, born of a virgin, descendant of King David. It’s all coming into focus!

Mary was the perfect example of obedience to God’s call. “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”

The world is about to be rescued!!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship