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

Vengeance!

December 2, 2024 Monday Message:

2 Thessalonians 1:6 NLT: “In his (God’s) justice he will pay back those who persecute you.”

Have you ever heard someone say, “I don’t get mad; I get even!” That’s not a Christian way of living. Jesus taught us to be forgiving and loving. Getting even with someone is best left to God and God’s timing! “Vengeance is mine saith the Lord!” The world persecuted Jesus, so don’t be surprised if you too are persecuted.

People in general are not eager to get out of the driver’s seat and let God be in charge. Most people still want the upper hand. But God allowing this freedom also permits us to make incorrect decisions! We can seek our own revenge, and then worry about what we have done. Worry isn’t good either! Throw away your worries and revenge, and live in the joy of the Lord!

Live in the assurance of salvation given to us by Jesus!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Substance vs Circumstances!

August 19, 2024 Monday Message:

1 John 1:3-4 NLT: “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that your joy may be complete.”

Happiness may be fleeting, but the Joy of the Lord is permanent!

Earthly happiness is a reaction to circumstances, and circumstances can change, sometimes better, sometimes worse. But the work of Jesus on the cross – the forgiveness of our sins and his promise of salvation – fills us with the Joy of the Lord, a forever solution to mankind’s sin problem.

What really matters? My wife has a label printer, and our grandson loves putting labels on everything. Our living room houses a piano, two guitars and a ukulele, so he labeled it, “Music Room.” I want us all to dig out our mental label makers and separate everything in our lives into one of two categories: substance or circumstances.

The circumstances in which we find ourselves are constantly changing. We’re called upon to interact with other humans. What could possibly go wrong? (Joke! Sarcasm!)

But things of substance have eternal ramifications. Things of substance matter. Their worth is ‘til the end of time! When Jesus set believers up with assurance of salvation, it was both a “now and forever” solution. Gratitude for Jesus’ gift to us – the gift of eternal life in God’s presence – fills believers with joy that can not be taken away.

Laugh off circumstances. Live for things of substance!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Peace of the Lord!

For Tuesday, January 10, 2023:

Matthew 5:4 NLT: “God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Death is a curious thing. We grieve. We cry because we have lost a loved one. but if they were a believer, we should be jumping for joy! They have gone to live in the presence of God in his Kingdom! Jesus will meet them with open arms! But we’ll still miss them.

If the person was not a believer, we need to let it go and move on. Nothing we can do postmortem will alter their eternal destination. No prayer, lighting of candles, waving of incense or giving of money can change the outcome. That’s why we all need to commit to Jesus during our lifetimes.

In a broader sense, God can lift people up out of sadness, regardless of the reason for that sadness. Believers know that happiness is fleeting, but the Joy of the Lord is eternal. The peace of the Lord is sometimes more than we can understand, but God bestows it nonetheless. Believers should accept God’s gift of comfort and peace just as we have accepted his gift of eternal salvation.

Trusting in the Lord will always make things better!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Feelings?

For Thursday, November 4, 2021

Proverbs 10:1 CEV: “Children with good sense make their parents happy, but foolish children make them sad.”

Solomon is stating the obvious. We all want strong families with successful children. We want to be able to brag about each other. In comedy, there’s the stereotypical Jewish mother always introducing, “My son, the doctor!” The Message simplifies it: “Wise son, glad father; stupid son, sad mother.” Actually works for both sons and daughters, and fathers and mothers.

But Mick Jagger sang the reality of the situation: “You can’t always get what you want.” Any family member can let you down, making a bad choice from time to time, and probably will. And the question is, “How does that make you feel?”

If you’re already filled with the joy of the Lord, momentary sadness won’t take you off track. If you and God are OK, if you’re doing the right things for the right reasons, let the joy of the Lord shine through! Be proud of your self-worth! Don’t let someone else control how you feel today!

Happiness can be fleeting, but the joy of the Lord is eternal!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Joy of the Lord!

 For Saturday, December 5, 2020

Nehemiah 8:10c NLT: “Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

Believers have good reason to remain optimistic. We have seen the light at the end of the tunnel! Jesus said that he would go ahead to prepare a place for us, and then he'll return for us, and it doesn't get any better than that!

“Happiness” is fleeting. It can come and go. It's dependent upon circumstances, those ever-changing scenarios that surround us.

But “Joy” comes straight from the Lord! It defines our overall attitude regardless of circumstances. We are perpetually filled with the Joy of the Lord, because Jesus has given us eternal hope!

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

3249 30^th Ave. S.

Minneapolis, MN 55406

Pure Hearts!

For Tuesday, September 1, 2020. 

Matthew 5:8 ESV: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

This verse is part of Jesus’ greatest message, the Sermon on the Mount, which includes ‘The Beatitudes,’ lessons of extreme joy, blessedness and happiness. 

We all want more God in our lives. And God wants more of you too! Those eagerly anticipating God’s presence, the spiritually mature, are the pure in heart! They exude God’s characteristics – integrity, moral courage and good character. They are God’s people and they WILL see God!

Enviably fortunate, spiritually prosperous and living in the happiness produced by knowing the Lord are the pure in heart. God pours out his grace upon those with sincere, undivided hearts. 

What bliss we experience when our hearts are pure, for then our eyes will open to see more and more of God. We’re blessed when we align our inner thoughts – our hearts and our minds - with the Lord. Then we can see God in everything!

Blessings and Joy to you today! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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

Shine!

For Sunday, August 30, 2020. 

Matthew 5:16 NIV: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

Followers of Jesus are adopted into the Holy Family and filled with the joy of the Lord! As a group, they tend to be much happier than those whose eternal destination is uncertain. In the Bible, light shines from goodness and evil lurks in darkness. Jesus is using that analogy, encouraging believers to let their light, their newfound joy, shine into the world! 

We wouldn’t light a lamp and then hide it under a basket! That wouldn’t make any sense! We can’t force people to be Christians; it’s a decision each of us must make for ourselves. Christianity grows by attracting others. They see our light shining, our joy, and want what we have! As friends of Jesus, we gladly share the Good News!

By the way, we don’t do our “good deeds” to get into heaven. Jesus has already reserved our place in the hereafter. We do good deeds out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us. 

So don’t be a ‘closet believer.’ Rather, let your light shine into the world and see what God will do with it! Many may find hope in seeing your shining light!

Blessings to all on this Sunday! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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

Heavenly Thoughts!

 

For Friday, August 7, 2020.

Colossians 3:2 NLT: “Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” 

The Bible tells us to be filled with the “Joy of the Lord!” It’s an eternal perspective, and a good attitude to have. Jesus himself said that this life on earth will shower us with one problem after another. The King James version calls it, “tribulation,” and I think that describes it perfectly. But Jesus also told us that he has overcome the problems of this world. He’s here to rescue mankind from our sin-problem!

Believers – those with a reservation in heaven – always have a rosy future! Jesus is preparing a place for us, and what could be better than that? When we prodigals arrive in heaven, we will be welcomed with open arms! 

So don’t fret about earthly things over which you have no control. Focus on the life after this life, where everything is perfect, just the way God made it! He made it with you in mind!

Blessings and safety today! 

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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

Joy of the Lord!

For Sunday, August 2, 2020.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 CEV: “Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.”

Becoming a follower of Jesus is like getting into a swimming pool. Some people go to the shallow waters, stick in a toe, check the temperature and get back out again. In, out, in, out. They never fully get in.

But those who truly love the Lord go to the deep waters, get a running start, tuck-up their knees and ker-splash! – they’re all in! I call it “immersion!”

That’s what Paul is describing in his letter to the Thessalonians. Believers should be fully immersed in following Jesus. It’s nothing we turn on and turn off again. True believers are “all in!” Forever!

If the joy of the Lord covers your entire life and you can offer up a mini-prayer at every challenge, yours will be a good life, because that’s what God wants you to do. Decide that today is going to be a good day. Decide that you’re going to be joyful today! Carry the joy of the Lord with you every day!

Blessings to everyone this Sabbath!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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

The Joy of the Lord is Our Strength!

May 06, 2019 Monday Message

“One by one their seats were emptied.

One by one they went away.

Now the family is parted.

Will it be complete one day?” from ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’ c.1907

Jesus taking our sin upon himself made it possible for us to see heaven from the inside. We would pray the same for our spouse, our families and our loved ones. Jesus said all those who believe will see their loved ones again.

In this life, seeing our families is high on our agenda, near the top of our things-to-do list. But in the next life, heaven, God and Jesus will be so awesome that worship will top off our daily agenda. We’ll still know our friends and family and be glad to see them all, AFTER we’ve praised the lord for all he has done for us.

Nehemiah said, “The joy of the lord is your strength,” and I believe that heaven’s residents will be filled with the joy of the lord - not a temporary short-lived happiness that can come and go, but a permanent joy that comes from living in God’s presence. Nehemiah 8:10b

I pray that I’ll see ALL my friends and family in heaven, and that we can all worship the lord together!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets May 12, 2019, Mother’s Day, at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. I’ll continue in 1^st Corinthians 1:18-31 “Those Who are Being Saved...” See you at church!

Psalms 100 - Joy!

July 10, 2017 Monday Message:

“Worship the Lord with gladness.” Psalms 100:2a

When David led worship, they all shouted and sang joyful songs, along with lyres, flutes, cymbals, trumpets, tambourines – and even dancing! Nowadays, in our efforts to show reverence for the Lord, we sometimes sit quietly and bow our heads. I believe we need some of each!

I have felt for years that worship should be fun, joyful, something that we enjoy. A lot! Even if you can’t sing, everyone can make a loud noise. Shout out, sing out loud and make music for the Lord. We do this for the Lord, because God gives us joy!

The “Joy of the Lord” is more than a feeling. It’s an overall attitude of gratefulness for the goodness God has shown us. We can still be filled with joy, even when life hands us a lemon. We know that everything will be all right in the end.

“The Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” v5

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, July 16, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. There will be a wedding right before our church service, with a message about the Wedding in Cana. See you there!

Psalms 92 - Hope!

May 8, 2017 Monday Message:

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High.” Psalms 92:1 NIV

There’s a Hebrew story that Adam sang this song on the first Sabbath, the day after his creation. Probably not, but it makes the point that acknowledging God’s majesty, and that singing songs about God and to God honors God. And the Sabbath is the perfect day to put this into motion.

A long time ago, lutes, harps and lyres accompanied church music. Today we use organs, pianos, and guitars. Sometimes we add bass, drums, and a saxophone. In other psalms, cymbals, trumpets and tambourines are mentioned. Even dancing! It sounds like Worship of the Lord was not a dull affair! “You make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy for what your hands have done.” Ps. 92:4

True followers of God, “the righteous, will flourish like palm trees.” (Ps. 92:12a) Palm trees grow to extreme heights in the harshest conditions. Sometimes our world presents us with the harshest of conditions, but being a follower of God gives us hope! Like the mighty palm tree, we too will flourish.

“The Lord is upright; he is my Rock.” from Ps. 92:15

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers Sunday, May 14, 2017, at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Retha brings the Mother’s Day message.