Include Jesus!

May 18, 2020 Monday Message:

Paul speaking: “What is life? To me, it is living for Christ.” Phil. 1:21a

Make no mistake – we are living in the midst of spiritual warfare. I know, most of you reading this are already Christians, you know Jesus, and it’s easy to fall into complacency. But here’s the bad news: Satan is still in business, still looking for a ‘win.’

This is why separating our spiritual life from our secular life may not be a good idea. If we’re ‘saved,’ adopted into the Holy Family, we’re better off living that 24/7, allowing our relationship with Jesus to be the umbrella covering all aspects of our lives. We’re better off not separating prayer and worship from cleaning, raising children, exercising, and going to work.

Whether I read a newspaper or the Bible, BOTH need to be covered by Jesus. Think about it – Has God turned his back when I play Monopoly, walk the dog, watch a movie, make a living, or eat tacos? NO! Jesus wants to walk hand-in-hand with us through life, and we need to make sure we include him.

Be alert for the evil one reminding us of past sins. On the cross, Jesus paid the price for ALL the sins of the world – past sins, present sins, even sins of the future. Mention sin to Jesus, and he’ll tell you, “Forgiven and forgotten.” So why does Satan keep bring it up? It’s another lie to encumber us with low self exteem. But listen to this: If Jesus by his own blood has forgiven all our sins, what right do we have to not forgive ourselves?

The love and forgiveness of Jesus is a free gift to all who will accept it. Let’s live in that forgiveness today!

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

Walking WITH God

March 23, 2020 Monday Message:

“Adam and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.” from Gen. 3:8

They knew that sound! Apparently God had walked in the garden before, perhaps even alongside Adam and Eve. Their creator was stirring about in the garden, and if I were Adam, this would have been something that I looked forward to. If God were walking in MY garden, I’d want to hurry up and join Him. And that’s what the couple usually did, “pre-sin.”

But not this time. The verse continues, “So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.” The difference: this is “post-sin” behavior.

So the question for us is, ‘Are you walking alongside the Lord, or is your sin keeping you separated from Him?’ Common sense would tell us that we’d be better off living in harmony with God, not hiding from Him. Fortunately God has provided a solution for our sin-problem.

Jesus is the answer. God’s Son conquered sin and death on the same day, and if we confess our sin to him and claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, we can once again live in the presence of God.

God did not design mankind to live in perpetual fear and anxiety. Rather, God gives us an open-arms invitation to come back home and walk alongside Him. I think God enjoyed his time in the garden as much as Adam and Eve did!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

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

God's Creation is Good!

April 29, 2019 Monday Message

“God saw that it was good (tov).” from Genesis 1

God created the heavens and the earth, the light and the darkness, the oceans and the dry land, the plants and animals – and at the end of each creation day, He declared that it was “good.” In the original language, the word is “tov,” which can also be translated as “complete” or “finished.”

Apparently the earth and the plants and animals were complete in their creation, and would require no further attention from God.

Humankind is a little different. We are a work in progress, and our time on earth is often described as “progress, not perfection.” We learn to walk hand-in-hand with God, and that’s good and necessary. With God, we are tov, complete. Without God, our lives are vacuous, empty.

I’m reminded of the “Footprints in the Sand” poem. We are walking with the Lord. But when there was only one set of footprints, the Lord said, “That’s when I was carrying you.” That’s when our lives are tov, complete; when we are with God. Apparently that’s God’s plan for humankind – for us to walk WITH Him.

God summarizes all creation at the end of day six: “God saw EVERYTHING that he had made, and, behold, it was tov me’od (very good.)

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets May 5, 2019 at 10:30AM, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406. Pastor Pilla begins our journey through 1^st Corinthians.