Psalms 42-43

May 02, 2016 Monday Message:

“When can I go and meet with God?” Psalms 42:2b

The scene is a desert – hot, sandy, very dry. Psalm 42 is written for “local” people - everyone in the region would know about the desert. You and I are the “hart,” the male deer, strong and majestic in many ways, but panting for the lack of water, God.

This analogy was put forth by the Sons of Korah who lived and worked at the Temple. In fact, some of the Sons of Korah were gifted vocalists, so they were probably the ones authoring worship songs.

At the time, people expected to find the LORD in the Temple, but weren’t too sure about anywhere else. But the fact is, God is everywhere. You don’t have to go to Jerusalem to find God. In many manuscripts, Psalms 42 and 43 were one, and eventually the “hart” gets water from the Hermons, mountains north of Jerusalem, probably from the headwaters of the Jordan river.

Sometimes our lives can feel like a desert. Do you ever experience a “dry spell” from God? But if we could look in the window at our lives, we’d see that God was right where he’s always been. It was we who had turned away. The Good News is that it’s not too hard to turn back toward God. Now we know that we can find God everywhere: on the desert, in the mountains, in the Temple, in your quiet place and at your local church.

Jesus promised his followers “living water,” that they might never thirst again. He’s promising the Holy Spirit. (from John 7:37-39)

Norton Lawellin

Next Sunday is Mother’s Day, and the Sunday after that is Pentecost! 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, May 8, 2016, Pastor Retha concludes Romans 8 as we celebrate Mother’s Day.

Psalm 41 - People of Integrity

April 25, 2016 Monday Message:

“Anyone who is kind to the poor will be very happy. The LORD will help him when life is difficult.” Psalms 41:1

Psalm 41 finds David ill and not feeling good about life in general. Many people came to visit, but they were just looking for bad things to say, to slander him. Some wanted him to die, so there could be a new king, David’s evil son Absalom.

The parallel here is that Jesus also had an evil friend, who betrayed him at the worst possible time, Judas Iscariot. Jesus lamented using the words of verse 9, “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.”

But there was a good visitor, the LORD God, who made David well again. God is still on his throne; he looked after David, he looked after Jesus, and he’ll look after you and me. As Christians, we’ve been adopted into the Holy Family, and God has blessed us with all the rights and privileges given to a son or daughter.

God always wins; David was restored, and his enemies could not triumph over him. David’s integrity kept him in God’s presence forever. (Psalm 41:12) No matter our trouble, we too can be restored. People of integrity will remain in the LORD’S presence forvever.

“The LORD protects and preserves those who help the weak. God counts them blessed in their time of trouble.” (from Psalm 41:1-2 NIV)

Norton Lawellin

Come worship with us! 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, May 1, 2016, we’ll open up Romans 8, living by the power of the Holy Spirit. See you at church!

Psalm 40

April 18, 2016 Monday Message:

“The LORD lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a solid rock.” Psalms 40:2 NIV

As Christians, we’ve learned to live our lives a better way. When God first came into our lives, he found some of us up to our knees in the slimy pit, and others bobbing in the deep end of the mud and mire.

But our past doesn’t matter with God. He reassembled our lives, and we have all been given firm footing on the solid rock foundation provided by the LORD.

God is in the rescue business. His desire is that no one would be lost, so he will do everything in his power to salvage each one of us, if that’s what we want.

But God will not remove our free thought, our freedom to choose. When God opens a door for us, we can choose to enter or not. But his desire is that we would choose to enter.

David lived life both ways – he stepped in the mire, and then repented and returned to the LORD – and decided that life was much better on the solid rock.

“On Christ the Solid Rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand.” (from #370, the Lutheran Hymnal)

Norton Lawellin

Come worship with us! 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 24, 2016, we’ll look into Romans 7, living under the law vs redeemed by Jesus. See you at church!