Love Each Other!

For Sunday, May 17, 2026:

John 15:17 NLT, Jesus speaking: “This is my command: Love each other.”

Life was a bit more challenging 2K years ago. So caring for others was a radical departure from just caring for yourself. Jesus could have put any command in this space, but he chose “Love each other” as his theme.

While we were still sinners, Jesus gave his life for mankind’s sins. This is the primary thing for which he’s remembered, not just for wiping our record of sin clean, but for the love driving such an action.

So be nice. Be kind. Care for one another. Share with those who don’t have enough. Love those who don’t look like you or dress like you. Do the next right thing.

As we live our daily lives, quickly run each incident through your God filter. Is it good, is it right, is it fair, is it honest, is it helpful? Should we be doing this thing? Should we be doing more?

The Lord will tell you what to do if you ask!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Mothers' Day!

For Sunday, May 10, 2026, Mother’s Day:

Luke 1:31 NLT: “You, Mary, will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.”

Jesus’ Father is in his heavenly Kingdom, but he needed a mother on earth. Everyone born here needs someone to love them, care for them, feed them, and change out their nappy! Jesus' mother had been told by the angel Gabriel that baby Jesus would actually be the Son of the Most High, so she wasn’t surprised when miracles happened. She 100% supported her Son, God’s Son.

Mom had faith in Jesus’ abilities even before his ministry began. At the wedding in Cana when the wine supply was exhausted, Mary told the servers, “Do whatever Jesus tells you.”

Jesus protested. “It’s not my time yet,” but Mary persisted. Giant jars of water were available for Jewish ceremonial washing, and were now brought to the sommelier who determined the jars contained the finest wine. In fact, he questioned why it had not been served first! Thank you, Jesus!

Mary knew her Son was special, and Jesus had honored his mother’s request even though it was not yet his time. And on the cross, he arranged for his mother’s perpetual care. Jesus used every day to honor women, even those who aren’t mothers. For our Messiah, every day was Mother’s Day! May God bless the women!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Love One Another!

For Thursday, May 4, 2023:

1 John 3:11 NLT: “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.”

This basic heavenly message has not changed, and I see no sign of it ever changing. From the beginning of creation, God has commanded that we be kind, that we play nicely with others, that we show compassion for the needy and care for our neighbors as much as we care for ourselves! Frankly, mankind hasn’t been very good at this. Considering Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the garden and the Cain vs Abel incident, the train was going off the tracks right from the get-go!

Believers need to learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. Mankind needs to reorient our thinking, our value system, to be in alignment with our Lord. When Jesus said – “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – He was speaking of how we should treat one another.

That we show love to our brothers and sisters matters to God!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Talk to the Lord!

For Saturday, May 28, 2022:

Psalm 55:22 NLT: “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”

David is not talking to the Lord about a long-time enemy. His complaint is about a close friend who betrayed him. If this conflict was with an expected enemy, David would know how to retaliate. But when a friend turns against you, it’s sometimes complicated. It’s time to talk things over with God.

It’s inevitable that we’ll all experience some problems, and David’s advice is that when things get difficult, it’s time to talk it over with the Lord. If you’re a believer, you’re on the ‘God Team.’ Our Father is the coach, and he will take care of you! He will not allow you to slip or fall. David was convinced that his fate did not rest in the hands of treacherous men.

Spurgeon writes, “If I cast my burden upon the Lord, what business have I to carry it myself?”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

God with Us!

For Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Isaiah 43:2 NLT, God speaking: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”

If you’re a believer, God has adopted you into his Holy Family. Therefore, no matter what life hands you, you won’t have to deal with it by yourself. Father God says, “I will be with you.”

This is so important that God says it three times! He’ll walk with you through situations that seem like deep oceans, raging rivers or consuming fire! He has your back! We have hope. If God is on your side, who could be stand you?

Don’t forget that God is also with you during good times!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

My Cup Overflows!

For Sunday, July 19, 2020.

Psalm 23:5 ESV: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Remember when Adam and Eve first sinned in the Garden of Eden? While Adam was rationalizing his behavior, shifting blame and not taking responsibility for his actions, God was making clothes for the couple.

God made mankind in his image, saw that it was all very good, and he’s not about to change his mind. When God adopts you into the Holy Family – when you become children of God – that’s forever. God won’t change his mind. God won’t renege on his promise. That’s the character of God.

The ‘table’ suggests bounty, abundance. God has thousands of cattle on thousands of hills. ‘Prepare’ points to foresight and care. God is watching out for your interests. ‘Before me’ points out the personal connection God feels for you. Believers are like family!

And even when things are going wrong all around you (enemies,) God still wants to connect with you. When God prepares a table, the Christian can sit down and eat in perfect peace. Shalom!

Anointing is how God commissioned the next king or important prophet. By anointing you, God is claiming you as one of his own for the eternal kingdom. When God cares for you this much, surely your cup is overflowing!

Blessings to all on this Sabbath!

Pastor Norton

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Watch for God

Dec. 17, 2018 Monday Message:

“The Lord your God will never leave you or forsake you.” Deut. 31:6b NIV

“Have you seen God lately?” - or perhaps I should ask, “Have you bothered to notice God lately?” - because God is always present, still at work in His universe, in our lives, doing all the good stuff whether or not we’re aware of Him or acknowledge His presence.

Unfortunately, some people have given up on God, and yet God still loves them, just as He loves everything that He created. Atheists and Agnostics live with us on a planet that God keeps spinning. He warms them with His sun, feeds them with His food, and quenches their thirst with His water. He will never leave or forsake what He has created. If they choose to turn back to God, He will welcome them with open arms, just like the Father welcomed the Prodigal Son back home.

As Christians, we should be watching for God in everything we do and everything that happens around us. We need to keep our God-eyes open and focused. God isn’t hiding – He’s all around us, every day. We have the blessing of experiencing the extraordinary tasks God routinely completes for us. Smile and say, “Thanks, God!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla teaches on the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas!