Sharing a post from a dear friend of mine...Norton was along side ministering to us through Lindsay's journey home in 2003

Norton Lawellin

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Daily message of hope...

For Friday, November 18, 2022:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NLT: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.”

Yesterday I promised to answer the question: “What happens when we die?” Here we go!

We only need a body because we live on earth. But in the spiritual realm, what matters is your eternal essence, your soul; nefesh in Hebrew. Interestingly, nefesh can also be translated as “life.” So your soul is what is life to the Lord; your body is just an accessory. Your body can die and be put in the ground, but your soul cannot. Heaven is not concerned with the demise of your body, but the Bible says, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” When you die, your soul finds God right away! The soul of a believer is very important to our Lord!

In the end times, Jesus will come to earth again, with much ceremony, riding on a white horse signifying purity. Graves will open and fully restored bodies will be reunited with their souls, joining Jesus in the sky! After that, believers who are still alive will be raptured, joining Jesus and the others. The best news ever is that believers will then be with the Lord forever!

Salvation is permanent!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

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

 

NOVEMBER 17TH 2022 NINETEEN YEARS IN OUR HEARTS AND MEMORIES

 

The HOPE AND ASSURANCE of ALL SAINTS DAY...

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL CONTAINS THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS CHRIST THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING CONCERNING THE FEAR OF DEATH. 

ALL SAINTS DAY IS JUST AFTER "HALLOWEEN EVE." A DAY TO REMEMBER ALL THE FOLKS WHO HAVE DIED WITH A FAITH AND TRUST IN WHO JESUS IS AND WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US.

I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING THEM ALL AGAIN IN THE "LAND OF THE LIVING" WHICH JESUS HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM AND THE GRACE HE HAS POURED OUT FOR US ON THE CROSS. JESUS IS LORD OF ALL! THANKS BE TO GOD.

The Reality of Heaven

October 30, 2022

by Pastor Chuck Swindoll Scriptures: Revelation 21:1–6

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The same Bible that develops the subject of hell also reveals the truth about heaven. What is heaven like? Playing harps all day? Lounging around on Cloud Nine? Living in enormous mansions along solid gold streets? Does it mean we'll all have long white robes with matching sandals, glowing halos, and big flapping wings? Hardly!

Heaven is an actual place. A prepared place, designed for God's redeemed people, those who have accepted God's free gift of His Son.

"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1–3)

According to this and other New Testament verses, heaven will be a place of beauty, peace, constant health, and happiness, filled with people from all the earthly ages who have one thing in common: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who took away the sin of the world.

In heaven we'll have a face-to-face, exclusive relationship with our Savior, gloriously enjoyed without interruption or heartache or grief or sin or the threat of death. God promised that He would make all things new in heaven.

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband . . . Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. (Revelation 21:1–2, 6)

Heaven will be the destiny of those who take God at His Word, believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, and coming, by faith, to salvation . . . without cost.

Can something this good really be free? Even free of works? You decide after reading these Scripture verses.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)

Yes, salvation comes to us "free and clear" of any hidden charges or religious deeds or human effort. We come to God through Christ . . . lost, sinful, without hope, and deserving of hell. In grace, He sees us in Christ and in grace loves us, forgives us, accepts us into His family, and promises us an eternal home with Him in heaven, the ultimate destination of all His people.

Salvation is the single most important issue in all of life. Yet, if we are not careful, we'll put it off until later; we'll even put it completely out of our minds. Salvation is an urgent matter and is yours for the taking.

I ask you, will you do so today?

Excerpted from Avoiding Stress Fractures, Copyright © 1990, 1995 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. For additional information and resources visit us at www.insight.org.

Keep on Keepin’ On

Are the daily tasks you perform bordering on drudgery? Have you been waiting a long time for a breakthrough? Pastor Chuck Swindoll reminds you you’re in good company. Stay at it!

Celebrating Three Quarters of a Century!

 As I was out riding horseback this week with a dear friend, Tim Hanson , he turned around and said I was going to celebrate living for three quarters of a century! In 2008 I was looking at 3-5 years survival after my stem cell transplant. Tim’s comment made me give thanks AGAIN for God’s goodness and mercy poured out on my life and family. What better birthday gift than a reminder of such goodness. Thank you Tim for a spiritual shot in an aging arm!! May I not waste a day of the rest of my life. Thanks be to God!!✝️

SUMMER 2022

As summer ebbs its way into our lives again we give thanks for a wonderful school year for our love ones. Next year we will have an 8th grader, 2 sixth graders, 2 third graders and 2 kindergartners. Oh how the days pass quickly in our lives. 

Lois was our families "sub of the year" as she helped fill the huge need for subs in the district she taught for so many years. She is a real trooper. Education is such an important part of equipping our young to become good citizen. We cannot afford to fail them. 

Summer is a time for our kids to refresh and run:

Let them enjoy the outdoors and freedom from schedules to tight. 

Let them be creative and interact with the neighbor kids. 

Limit their time on their devices?     They will have the rest of their lives to play on their phones or computers when they have to grind out a living in this complex world we have given them.

"A Love Note"... from a grandpa who had the privilege to enjoy the freedoms of summer as a kid on the farm...

Grandpa Tedd

Golf News...2022 Haakon and the MG High School Golf Team

 

Maple Grove HS Golf Team 2022

Can you spot the 7th Grader?

45 YEARS AGO

Forty five years ago today God graced us with a little girl named Lindsay. It was a few days before Easter Sunday. Our pastor referred to our two daughters as "Easter and Christmas" due to the proximity of their birth-days to Easter and Christmas. Our hearts are full of joy and wonder as we remember Lindsay today. To be given a son and two daughters is a great privilege. Wathcing and praying as they grew into young men and women was a gift to be savored for years to come. 

Thank you Jesus for Justin, Lindsay and Whitney! Fearfully and wonderfully made by your hands and placed in our lives forever.

 

Who’s in Charge?

March 17, 2022

And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.
Acts 17:26

Recommended Reading: Daniel 2:20-22

Daniel 2:20-22 (nkjv)

²⁰ Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,For wisdom and might are His.²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons;He removes kings and raises up kings;He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.²² He reveals deep and secret things;He knows what is in the darkness,And light dwells with Him.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

 

Dr David Jeremiah writes:

A large log was swept from the bank of a fast-flowing river and is hurtling through the rapids. (The log is our world.) On the log are thousands of tiny ants, all of whom think they are in control of the log. (We are the ants.)

Is anything more absurd than for a tiny ant to think it is in charge of a giant log that is careening on the waves of a raging river? And yet, men and women often think that we can change the outcome of this tumultuous world and bring it safely to what we think is the best outcome. The Bible states the obvious opposite: This world belongs to God, and God alone is able to work out His purposes for the world He created. The ancients believed God ruled over all (Deuteronomy 32:8; Job 12:23) as did the prophets (Daniel 2:20-22) and the apostles (Acts 17:26).

Don’t let the tumult in our world create fear in your heart. God has been, is, and will remain on the throne ruling His creation.

Nothing is beyond [God’s] control…. The Bible is clear that God is in control of everything that happens.
Joni Eareckson Tada

   

DON'T QUIT; KEEP GOING!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. ³ Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. ⁴ After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin. 

Hebrews 12.1-4

We have been living in a great season of loss...family, friends, neighbors (some we knew and many we didn't know personally. It is so easy to quit and give up at time like this. 

DON'T QUIT. KEEPING GOING! 

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS AND HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US AS HE WENT TO THE CROSS FOR US!

BE GRATEFUL THAT JESUS DID NOT QUIT AND GIVE UP.

IT WAS FOR YOU AND ME THAT HE REFUSED TO GIVE IN AND GIVE UP SO WE WOULD BE FREE.

FREE INDEED.

THANKS BE TO GOD IN CHRIST JESUS!