Psalm 39

April 11, 2016 Monday Message:

“Show me, LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days.” Psalms 39:4a NIV

David has been sick, and his thinks he might soon die. As the end of life draws nearer, we all seem to increase our focus on the next reality.

David laments that his life is short; and like David, ALL of our lives are relatively short. He compares his lifespan to the width of his hand. A hand is not very wide, so life seems short, like a burst of wind.

But what David really wants in Psalm 39, as he prepares to transition from this reality to the next reality, is for God to protect him from the bad things that he did. And isn’t that what we all want – someone to blot out our record of sin, someone to ensure a way for us to spend eternity with the Father?

Indeed, God eventually did just as David hoped. Jesus, God’s own son, was sent to be the sacrifice for the sin of the world, and now we ALL have a path to spend the next reality in the presence of God, rather than eternally separated from God.

We are saved by grace through faith, and Hebrews 11:6 teaches that, “without faith, it is impossible to please God.” So stir up your faith and tag along with Jesus, who has already completed all the hard work in advance!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10 am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, April 17, 2016, Pastor Michael Pilla brings a message from Romans 6. We welcome New Hope Tour day!

Psalm 38

April 04, 2016 Monday Message:

“LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, Lord my God.” Psalms 38:15 NIV

Our lives are a lot like David’s – too many pitfalls, snares and trials. Too many evil people out to “get” us. And eventually, discouragement invades our minds.

Jesus never promised that our lives would be trouble-free. In fact, quite the opposite. “In this world, you will have trouble (tribulation.) But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b So anything bad, evil, out-to-get-us is “darkness,” trying to take our focus off the light.

We know that Jesus is the light of the world, so our problems didn’t come from him. Rather, Jesus is the solution for what the evil one has tossed into this world.

Right after a few things go wrong in our lives, Satan oftentimes puts one of his best tools into high gear – discouragement. We’re human, so we fret, we worry, we “coulda-woulda-shoulda,” when what we ought to do is pray for God to intervene, and then patiently wait for his help. No one ever said, “When my life was a mess, the worry got me through the whole thing.” No – it turns out that worry is unproductive at best, and Jesus is always the best answer.

“Do not be far from me, My God.” Psalms 38:21b

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10 am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, April 10, 2016, Pastor Retha continues teaching from Romans.

Jesus - Shepherd for All

March 28, 2016 Monday Message:

“I and the Father are one.” John 10:30 NIV

Jesus is reassuring his followers about life after this life, and isn’t that what Easter’s all about? Jesus uses the familiar shepherd/sheep analogy. “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

If anyone present that day had any doubt, any confusion, about who Jesus was, he answered in a clear, straightforward fashion: “I and the Father are one.” Once you “get” that – that Father God, Jesus the Son, and for that matter, the Holy Spirit are one, Christian theology starts falling into place.

God’s desire “that no one would perish, but that all would repent,” becomes Jesus’ desire too. Fulfilling God’s plan for our redemption, the Son of God - Jesus himself – became the required sacrifice for ALL the sins of the world - past, present and future sin – all covered by Jesus. He took our sin and then covered us with His holiness, in what theologians call the great exchange. Our sins were forgiven, and we were made holy, sanctified, set-apart as one of God’s children, adopted into the Holy family.

On that first Easter Sunday, the tomb was empty. Jesus was up and out where everyone could see him. Death and sin hold no authority over Jesus. And by covering our sins, he made it possible for you and me to spend eternity in the presence of God. That’s the way the Father wanted everything to go, and the Holy Spirit is here to keep us on track. They are ALL of one mind.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10 am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, April 3, 2016 – Dedication of the Children – don’t miss it!