Angel

For Friday, November 21, 2025:

Luke 1:11 NLT: “While Zechariah was in the Temple sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar.”

Luke is setting us up for Advent, preparing us for the arrival of the Messiah Jesus. Z-man was burning incense in tribute to God, when an angel appeared. Friends, angels aren’t like those little statuettes you see at Hallmark. In reality, angels are called Heaven’s Angel-Armies, big, strong and ferocious. Scary.

When someone sees an angel, the first thing they do is tremble with fear. The first thing the angel says is, “Be not afraid!”

The angel brings a message from the Lord: “God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. He will bring you great joy and gladness!” John? No one in our family is named ‘John!’

Notice that God’s gift to Z & E will also meet the Lord’s needs. “John will be great in the eyes of the Lord, never touching alcohol. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before his birth. He will turn many Israelites to the Lord. John will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly.” We could use a dose of that nowadays!

Zechariah, like many of us, is quite confused and a little short on faith. “How can I be sure this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.”

The angel seems a little put out with all the queries. I think he’s unaccustomed to his word being questioned. “I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Gabriel’s faith is flawless. He fully expects God to deliver what he promised!

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out of the sanctuary, wondering why he was taking so long. When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them! Then they realized from his gestures and his silence that he must have seen a vision in the sanctuary.

When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home. And soon afterward his wife became pregnant, just like God said. She went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Back then, women were (unfairly) expected to bring children into the family, and Elizabeth’s burden had been lifted by God.

So we pray, God, please give us more patience than Zechariah. Give us faith like Gabriel. And let us show the gratitude of Elizabeth for all God does for us.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

The Father’s House

Truth and Freedom Church

Faith & Patience!

For Wednesday, March 5, 2025:

For many Christians, today is Ash Wednesday, a day of penitence and fasting. It kicks off Lent, humbling us six weeks before we celebrate the Resurrection. It’s a tradition in many denominations, but not found in the Bible. If Ash Wednesday has meaning for you, go for it! If not, that’s OK too. Whatever gets you closer to Jesus is the right thing to do!

Exodus 40:34 NLT: “Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.”

With the Tabernacle completed to the Lord’s specs and double-checked by Moses, the Shekinah or Glory of the Lord descended upon it. If that cloud moved in a certain direction, the Israelites would follow God in that direction. If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle, they would set up camp there. So Moses was not leading the flock; God was leading the flock. They would arrive at the Promised Land in God’s time.

Looking at a road map, Egypt to Israel is only about 320 miles, right up the Mediterranean coastline. Mankind could hike that distance in about a month. But following the pillar cloud of the Lord, they spent 40 years on the desert. Yes friends, this was a test of faith, God testing their stick-to-it-ive-ness. If the people whined, “This is taking too long. I’m not sure God knows what he’s doing,” they lacked faith in God’s knowledge, strength and perseverance. God would have them wait a little longer before proving he was right!

We too need to conform to God’s timing. God will delay a worthy project if the resources or personnel aren’t assembled to bring it to fruition. We need to be patient with God; He’s certainly been patient with us!

God’s timing is always the right timing!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Living in Harmony!

For Friday, November 3, 2023:

Romans 15:5-6 NLT: “May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul has been counseling the church in Rome – rules, commandments, dos and don’ts – when suddenly he inserts a short prayer for these people. It could have been written for us nowadays!

Patience is always needed, myself included. Nothing seems to happen as fast as I’d like. When something is good and right, my instinct tells me it should be put it in motion right away, but that may not be God’s timing. God’s timing will always be the right timing, so we may need a little encouragement along with our patience!

The goal is for believers to live in complete harmony with each other, following Jesus’ example. Everyone can then be on the same page as we give praise and glory to God the Father!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Patience!

For Sunday, July 23, 2023:

James 5:8 NLT: “You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

Jesus promised that he would return, but he didn’t specify exactly when. Everything else Jesus promised came to fruition, so we have every expectation that this too will occur at God’s perfect time.

Maybe that’s part of the mystery. We’re taught to live a good life, to obey God’s directions and to love God and love our neighbors – without an end date! Therefore we must perpetually be on our best behavior!

Patience is not an over-abundant human trait. We all tend to want things NOW, and if Jesus is coming back, sooner would be all right with me! But the Lord knows the best time for the Son to return, and it will be then that we see Jesus again.

We live by faith, believing that Jesus will return and that he’s coming to redeem each of us! He promised!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

Patience

For Thursday, October 14, 2021

2 Peter 3:9 NLT: “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.”

God shows us his love, his everlasting lovingkindness, his chesed. The Bible says that love is patient and love is kind. And because all of mankind has not yet chosen to repent and return to the Lord, and because God’s desire is that none would perish, he persists in patience. He’s a God of second-chances, and that’s Good News for all of us! We have eternal hope!

Be assured that day of judgment is on God’s agenda – but not just yet. When everything is ready and the time is right, Jesus will return to personally usher all believers into eternity. He has prepared a place for us! If it were not so, he would have told us!

God is patient, so we should be too!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Patience!

For Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Psalm 40:1 NLT: “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.”

Many people caused David a lot of trouble. A lot of times they even wanted to kill him! But David had a long history of being on the Lord’s side. Remember who stood up for God against the giant Goliath – that’s the same David!

The key word here is “patiently” – wait patiently for the Lord. Knowing that God always wins gives us hope. No matter how bad things may appear at any given moment, know that in the end God always wins, and believers are part of that winning team!

In fact, God wants to include his winning team in the eternal kingdom. See, I told you, good things come to those who wait – patiently!

Blessings to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Rejoice in Hope!

For Thursday, February 25, 2021

Romans 12:12 CJB: “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in your troubles, and continue steadfastly in prayer.”

When the Bible uses the word “hope,” it's typically referring to our final earthly reward with Jesus. We live our Christian lives with an eye toward heaven.

It isn't always easy. Troubles come and troubles go, but the Bible teaches us to be “long-suffering,” patient in spite of current difficulties.

And Paul says we are to pray constantly, which I take to mean more than we already do. Praying allows us to shift our focus from the present problem to a long-term solution – there's nothing that God can't do!

With patience and prayer, we're shown hope!

Blessings and safety to all!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Jesus will Return!

For Thursday, January 28, 2021

James 5:8 GNT: “You also must be patient. Keep your hopes high, for the day of the Lord's coming is near.”

We do not know the exact day when Jesus will return to rule the earth, but each 24-hours brings us one day closer. The Bible advises us to keep our eyes open and our house in order.

James compares our waiting for the Lord to a farmer waiting for his crop to come in. He waits patiently – these things take time. But he has a reasonable expectation of being rewarded. The farmer continues working while waiting for the harvest, and is encouraged by its value. He remains joyful, keeping his eye on the prize.

Spurgeon writes, “When God shall give you a rich return for all you have done for him, you will blush to think you ever doubted!”

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Promises of Hope!

For Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Psalms 130:5 NLT: “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.”

Having made his plea to the Lord, the psalmist then waits patiently for God and the rescue He will bring. But the waiting is not a time of inactivity. The psalmist uses this time to actively set his hope on the promises of God as found in the Word of God, the Bible.

God is true to his word. If God promises us something, we can count on it being so. Our hope is anchored in God's promises in his Word.

Interestingly, the psalmist doesn't keep his hope in the Lord to himself. He wrote it into a prayer that the entire congregation could sing to the Lord! The whole world should know about the hope we have through faith in our God!

Blessings and safety to all today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

Patience and Confidence!

For Friday, November 6, 2020 

Psalm 130:5 ESV: “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

Patience is a virtue. Longsuffering is a fruit of being a believer, of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s not so much about waiting for God as it is about how we think and act while waiting. 

Confidence in the Lord, forbearance, gives us peace knowing that God will come through for us. In this case, the Psalmist had confessed sin and asked God for forgiveness. He’s fully convinced that if he waits for God’s response, God will answer just as he promised. You can always count on God!

Whatever your burden, give it to the Lord and then wait patiently. In God’s time, he promises he will answer, and that promise gives us hope! 

Blessings and safety today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship

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

God's Timing

May 11, 2020 Monday Message:

“Stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Luke 24:49b NLT

Patience is a virtue, and God’s timing is always right, but it’s sometimes hard for me to just wait. Even when I want to do the right things for the right reasons, I still need to wait for God’s appointed time. It’s not always easy…

In our scripture today, the believers had been following the risen Jesus, taking in His every word. And then Jesus told them this: “Stay here in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” Stay, wait and be patient. Stay in Jerusalem, do not pass “Go,” do not collect $200, just wait – the Holy Spirit will let you know “when.”

Part of this passage is about obedience to God. The believers in fact did just as Jesus had asked – they waited for God’s timing. But the other lesson in this scripture is about cooperation, teamwork and unity. The Jesus followers were of one mind – they stayed together, they waited together, they prayed together. And when the Holy Spirit showed up, they were ready to go!

So how did that work out? First, they were given both visual and audible signs that the Holy Spirit was filling each one of them. Then they immediately segued to a Crusade-like event, where God took down the language barriers. Simon-Peter preached the message and gave an altar call. The faithful had been uncertain about the future of Christianity after the crucifixion of their leader. But God was on their side, and 3,000 were added to the flock that day.  Turns out that God’s timing was perfect then, and still is today.

As our world deals with the coronavirus pandemic, I have no doubt that God will provide a solution when the time is right. We just need to wait for God’s timing. Like I said, it’s not always easy…

God’s blessings on you and your loved ones – stay safe!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

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

Righteous Live by Faith

August 20, 2018 Monday Message:

God’s promise: “My righteous ones will live by faith.” Hebrews 10:38a NLT

God has given us the means to receive eternal salvation – His Son Jesus Christ and a New Covenant master-plan. And since Jesus is now Lord of our lives, then it behooves us to live our lives as Jesus directed.

In John 13:34, Jesus taught: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The importance of loving our brothers and sisters was so important that Jesus stated it three times, so we wouldn’t miss the point. Picture the wonderful world it would be if all others treated you the way they’d like to be treated. Imagine a world filled with love and acts of good works – where the people you meet every day would fill you up with encouragement. That’s the ‘Jesus’ plan!

Of course that picture is of an ‘ideal’ world, not our ‘real’ world. God has given mankind free choice and the power to choose incorrectly. Our ‘real’ world is filled with greed and hate and other sins, and sometimes life isn’t easy.

The Bible encourages “patient endurance.” Persevere. “Then you will receive all that he has promised.” And that promise is heaven itself, eternity in the presence of the Father. Heb. 10:36

“We are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.” Heb. 10:39

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Rev. Jeff Boyer will open up Hebrews 11.

Psalms 105 - God's Covenant

Aug. 14, 2017 Monday Message:

“The Lord our God remembers his covenant forever.” Psalms 105:8a NKJV

There are 43 places in the Bible where God says similar words: “You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

This is God’s covenant, first with the Hebrew people, and then with the followers of Jesus, who added, “I will never leave you or forsake you.”

Just so you understand, a covenant is an irrevocable perpetual promise. As humans in a sinful world, we sometimes neglect our half of the covenant. Fortunately, God never forgets his promise. God is like a rock, like an anchor. God is the same yesterday and today, and we can count on him remaining true to his covenant tomorrow as well.

If we look outside the church, we can see that many humans haven’t held up their end of the covenant. They don’t behave as God’s people should. This past weekend saw violent confrontations in Charlottesville, VA, over a civil war statue, a white supremacy protest, protesters against that protest, and ultimately the death of a young woman, Heather D. Heyer, 32. None of that is the way God wants people to live.

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another as I have loved you.” Yes, Jesus is the answer our nation needs – love, tolerance, patience and understanding are better answers than prejudice, hatred and violence. The more people we tell about Jesus, the better chance that we can swing the pendulum in a more positive direction.

Perhaps you could bring someone with you to church next weekend. Our God could be their God too, and they could become one of his people.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Aug. 20, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. The Pharisees complained that Jesus ate with sinners and tax collectors. We’ll visit Matthew’s party this week, and see the assortment of people who came to hear the words of the teacher who loved everyone. See you at church!