Watch for God

Dec. 17, 2018 Monday Message:

“The Lord your God will never leave you or forsake you.” Deut. 31:6b NIV

“Have you seen God lately?” - or perhaps I should ask, “Have you bothered to notice God lately?” - because God is always present, still at work in His universe, in our lives, doing all the good stuff whether or not we’re aware of Him or acknowledge His presence.

Unfortunately, some people have given up on God, and yet God still loves them, just as He loves everything that He created. Atheists and Agnostics live with us on a planet that God keeps spinning. He warms them with His sun, feeds them with His food, and quenches their thirst with His water. He will never leave or forsake what He has created. If they choose to turn back to God, He will welcome them with open arms, just like the Father welcomed the Prodigal Son back home.

As Christians, we should be watching for God in everything we do and everything that happens around us. We need to keep our God-eyes open and focused. God isn’t hiding – He’s all around us, every day. We have the blessing of experiencing the extraordinary tasks God routinely completes for us. Smile and say, “Thanks, God!”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla teaches on the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas!

Forgiveness

Dec. 10, 2018 Monday Message:

God forgives every sin, but he doesn’t overlook a single one.

Let’s say that your teenage son or daughter was arrested for speeding. As a parent, you can forgive them, but they have to go to court themselves. When it’s time to pay the fine, the judge will look to them, not you.

Every sin has consequences, often not immediately apparent. The Bible refers to this as, “the pleasures of sin for a short time.”

When a reformed criminal becomes a deeply religious person and appeals for leniency, the judge may or may not grant it. Repentance grants you a spot in heaven, a forever place in the presence of God, but it’s not a “Get Out of Jail Free” card.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla will lead us through the third Sunday of Advent. We welcome New Hope tour day.

Forgiveness AND Change

Dec. 03, 2018 Monday Message:

On Forgiveness AND Change

John 8 details the incident of the woman caught in adultery. The crowd stood ready to stone her, but Jesus stalled them off: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” from John 8:7 And one by one, the crowd dispersed.

When someone we like sins, people often quote this verse. It’s good advice to forgive, to ‘let go and let God,’ but we also need to remember the second part of Jesus’  lesson: “Go now and leave your life of sin.” from John 8:11

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” God-the-Son came to earth to rescue us, to forgive mankind’s sinful ways – to forgive all who would repent and return to the Lord. And Jesus’ direction, after we repent and He has forgiven, is to change for the better.

Should we go on sinning? “No!” says Paul. “Just as Christ was raised by the glory of God, so too should we live a new life,” a changed life!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla will lead us through the second Sunday of Advent.