Joy!

For Tuesday, May 5, 2026:

John 15:11 NLT, Jesus speaking: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”

Jesus spent a lot of his time teaching the faithful. He wanted everyone to know how his Father expects them to live. He states unchangeable principles such as honesty and truth. And he foretells the future, wanting believers to have hope.

Many things will happen to fulfill God’s plan, things that may be confusing. Jesus wants to clear things up and let everyone know what to expect. One example is that mankind’s sins will be forgiven, taken away as if they never happened. That sounds good, but the human side of Jesus will die in the process, and that sounds bad. The truth is that everything is good that lines up with God’s plan. Seeing God’s plan come to fruition should bring us joy.

Happiness can be fleeting, but the joy of the Lord comes from substance. Happiness results from circumstances, and the circumstances around you are forever changing. Interestingly, “circumstance” is the same root word as “circus!” Does your life have three rings and a bear on a bicycle? That’ll put a smile on your face, make you happy, but nothing of substance, nothing that really matters lives there. When the bear falls off the bike, the smile falls off your face.

Not so with the joy of the Lord. God gives us a new day each morning and fills us with joy! We read God’s word in the Bible, and that reinforces our joy! We meet our friends and coworkers – more joy! God’s joy is permanent, something that matters, something of substance. It was God’s plan to rescue repentant believers. He took us under his wing, adopted us into the holy family, and that’s forever! We can look forward to living in God’s eternal heavenly Kingdom in the place Jesus has prepared for us, where joy abounds!

We can decide how to live our lives – substance or circumstances, God’s way or the world’s way, fleeting happiness or rock solid joy. Choose wisely!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Peace of the Lord!

For Thursday, November 30, 2023:

Romans 16:20 NLT, Paul speaking: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

It sounds like a contradiction: The God of “peace” is going to “crush Satan.” Sounds like we need to take another look of peace!

The “peace of the Lord” is a lot more than not being at war. Since believers are adopted into the Holy Family, it’s confidence that our Father is in control. It’s trusting in him. With God in charge, everything will be alright in the end. If everything is not alright, it’s not the end! God will protect you, care for you and love you just as any father would love his children. We can relax, not worrying about circumstances that come and go in our lives. We have been given something of substance – the love of a God who knew you in your mother’s womb.

I believe God is looking forward to crushing Satan so that all his children can experience that peace of the Lord. It’s Satan who sabotages peace on earth. When Satan is crushed, we’ll know true peace.

Jesus is returning to straighten things out! Shalom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Eternal Substance!

 

September 19, 2022 Monday Message:

Luke 18:41 NLT: Jesus: “What do you want me to do for you?

”Blind beggar: “Lord, I want to see!”

We tend to live in our circumstances. This blind beggar could have asked to spend eternity in the presence of the Lord, and Jesus could have granted that request! Ultimately, that was Jesus’ gift to the whole world. But the beggar, like most of us, focused on the his present predicament, the fact that he could not see.

I cannot fault the beggar for his response. Being blind is a huge disability, and being able to see would be life-changing. But note that the beggar called Jesus “Lord.” He may already have been a believer!

As we pray for God’s help with our present circumstances, remember to also include things of substance, things of eternal significance. Thank God for who he is and for what he has done for us. Thank him for including us in the Kingdom of believers. Thank God and his Son Jesus for coming to earth to rescue mankind. Thank him for giving us eternal hope!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

God-approved!

For Tuesday, July 12, 2022:

John 6:27 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

Things we encounter in this life fall into two categories. Let’s call them ‘Circumstance’ and ‘Substance.’

Interestingly, ‘Circumstance’ has the same root word as circus! It’s the colossal mess of stuff going on around you, things that really won’t matter on judgement day. Creature comforts and social position seem important now, but remember that at the end, the last will be first! That’s what Jesus said!

Things of ‘Substance,’ on the other hand, are things with eternal significance, things that matter to God. Jesus counsels his listeners to concentrate on things of substance, seeking eternal life. It’s a lofty goal, yet totally achievable if we put our hope in Jesus.

Like Jesus said, “God the Father has given me his seal of approval.”

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Glory to God!

For Wednesday, May 18, 2022:

Romans 11:36 NLT: “Everything comes from God and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.”

Who can know the mind of God? Paul admits that he can’t fully understand the Lord, but that makes him glorify God all the more. When things happen that Paul can’t explain, he still worships passionately.

None of us knows God’s agenda, his time-table or his purpose. Sometimes we can’t see God’s ‘big picture,’ but rest assured, God’s every move is intentional. Believers are to worship the Lord, whether or not we understand his intentions. We assume that a loving God always has good intentions. Believers stick with the Lord no matter our circumstances.

Our circumstances are short-term, but God’s love for us is eternal!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Inside Heaven!

Monday Message for July 27, 2020.

Mark 1:15 NLT, Jesus speaking: “The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

This is what Jesus calls, “God’s Good News,” or Gospel. If you were living in a Hebrew community 2,000+ years ago, you would have known a prophecy, a prediction about a coming Messiah. Jesus-the-anointed-one (Christ) fulfilled that prophecy.

Jesus taught and explained scripture, healed the sick and cast out demons, but I believe his primary mission was the rescue of mankind. God’s desire is that none would perish, and Jesus came to earth to make that happen. So if we repent of our sins and believe the Good News brought to us by Jesus, we get to see heaven from the inside! This basic tenet of Christianity is as important today as it was when Jesus walked the earth.

The fact that the gift of redemption came through the Son of God is something of substance, something of eternal significance – something that has nothing to do with our current circumstances. Lord knows, with the coronavirus, people out of work, the killing of George Floyd and anti-police-violence protests, our current circumstances are a mess. But heaven in the presence of God is substance, is forever, and it’s still available for all of us nowadays.

That’s what the Bible says!

Blessings as we begin this new week!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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