Vol. 17 No. 08 | February 24, 2014

Every morning, as I am making coffee or just before I leave the house, I take my daily regimen of vitamins and meds. I take them from the container, place them in my hand, and reach for a bottle of water. On a fairly regular basis as I move my hand toward my mouth one of the pills escapes through a crease in my hand and falls to the floor. It is the smallest pill in my hand. It is also the one I most need. It is an allergy pill. If I fail to take it I will suffer far greater consequences than if I failed to take all the others. If you have allergies, you know what I mean.

Looking at the hand full of large pills and the one small pill laying on the floor I am reminded of how much of life happens the same way. The big things, the loud things, the powerful things, and the impressive things grab the attention. The lesser things, many times the more important things, get neglected, or fall through the creases of our lives.

We see it as parents. Baseball practice, cheerleader tryouts, music lessons, and homework get the attention while quiet walks and talks with our children get neglected. Chores and responsibilities get the attention while hugs and prayer time, sharing our faith, and listening to our children’s hearts get neglected.

We see it in our marriages. Bills must be paid. Houses must be maintained. Automobiles must be kept in good running condition. Hours in the office cannot be reduced. Good open communication is ignored. Heart to heart talks are rushed. Quiet evenings at home are considered as extra. Marriage enrichment opportunities are viewed as luxury items.

We see it in our churches. Buildings must be maintained. Utilities must be paid. Property must be managed. Lawns must be mowed. Real and genuine fellowship of believers may be viewed as unnecessary. Children may be overlooked. Marriages may struggle. The lonely may remain alone. The hungry may go unfed. The weak may need help.

The big things get the attention and the energy while the “lesser” things go wanting. The smaller, more important pill may fall through the crease in your had. Remember to pay attention to the smaller things.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.”(Matthew 23:22-24, NIV)

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 07 | February 17, 2014

I am fairly certain that if you were to search through sixteen-plus years of A Norvell Note archives you would find at least one note with the same or a similar title. There is a reason. It’s good to be home. It was good to be where we have been for the last two weeks, and a huge part of us wish we were still there, but it’s good to be home.

In addition to the articles I have written on the subject, I have said the words more times than I can remember or calculate. At the end of long, full and sometimes difficult days of work I have walked through the door, closed it behind me, and said, “It’s good to be back home.” After weeks on mission trips to foreign lands and domestic locations I have unpacked my bags with a grateful heart for what I have seen and heard and prayed a prayer of gratitude for how it’s good to be home. With a semi-broken heart from leaving family and friends on incredibly relaxing and sometimes extravagant vacations I have laid my body on my own bed, and taken a deep breathe expressing that it’s good to be home.

Weary travelers embrace loved ones in airport terminals with tears in their eyes, thankful to be home. Parents greet homesick college students at their front door and hear them say how good it is to be home. Road weary travelers stuck in rush-hour traffic or stranded on the highway in winter weather conditions reach for the doorknob of their houses with an exhausted thought of how good it is to be home. At Christmas-time weary shoppers haul their packages and super deals in from the garage and collapse on the sofa with a relieved feeling of being glad to be home.

It is good to be home.

After nine months – plus a little extra – Norah was born at 3:41 a.m. on February 10, 2014. Following an unexpected, and certainly unplanned, extended stay in the hospital she, her mom and her dad went home. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends rejoiced with them for finally being home. Eventually those who have walked with them through the experience have or will return to their homes. Each will cross the threshold of their home with mixed feelings of relief, regret and deep gratitude of how good it has been to be gone but, oh, how good it is to be home.

Hebrews chapter 11 consists of brief stories of men and women who lived full lives of faith in God then went home to receive the rewards of their faith. Near the end of the chapter the writer shares a list of fairly well known men and women who lived and died for their faith in God. Then, there is one last group of men and women simply designated as “There were others.” They are described as:

“They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated — the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:37-40, NIV)

Surely they joyfully expressed a satisfied feeling of it being good to be home.

One day all who faithfully walk with Jesus until the finish of the journey will join that planned celebration with those who have gone before us when we hear these words: “Good work! You did your job well.” (Matthew 25:21, The Message)

On that day we will all say, “It’s good to be home.” Come, Lord Jesus.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 06 | February 10, 2014

I had been thinking it all week then a friend sent an email (all the way from Jerusalem) expressing my feelings perfectly: Sorry for pain, waiting for joy.

(DISCLAIMER: Any reference to my personal pain and discomfort in this article is not to be compared to what our daughter and her husband have been experiencing, nor that of any other mother who has gone through childbirth. I don’t want any mothers coming after me saying, “Pain? You don’t know pain! I’ll show you pain!”)

Going through the pain and waiting for the joy has been our story for the past several days as we have awaited the arrival of our granddaughter. Each day we thought and hoped that this would be the day. Each day we responded to texts and emails and phone calls requesting updates with the same message, “Not yet”. This Proverb has been playing and replaying in my mind: Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12, NIV)

For those of us waiting (waiting could possibly be better translated “hovering,” “staring,” and possibly “driving the mother-to-be crazy”) the waiting has been inconvenient. No physical pain for us. Away from home? Yes. Pain? No. Difficult? Yes, at times. Our part of the waiting has involved praying, cooking, offering to do anything that could be done, trying not to get in the way, and trying not to make their waiting more difficult.

At times the prayer has literally been a request that the pain of labor would begin. “Lord, let her labor begin.” Then, in our minds we say, “Because we are ready for the joy of seeing and holding and loving this baby girl.” Somewhere in there is sorrow for the pain, but honestly the real desire is for the joy to come soon. Some dad, huh? “Please, Lord, let my daughter hurt so we can experience joy.”

We pray similar prayers in other areas of our lives, don’t we?

Father, I want the joys of a new job and increased salary, and I know that there will be pain as I pursue it. There is the trouble of putting out resumes, saying goodbye to co-workers, possibly moving to a new location, and the discomfort that goes with a transition. I’m sorry for the pain, and I will wait for the joy.

Father, I long for the time when I see my son transformed into the image of Your son, but I know for him to get there he must experience the growing pains that go with it, the testing, the faith struggles, and all the circumstances that produce that Christ-like character. I’m sorry for the pain, and I will wait for the joy.

Father, we want our marriage to be strong and healthy and an example for others to see and follow, and we know that getting there will be painful and difficult. Tough choices. Serious decisions. There must be changes in our lifestyle. There may be changes in our friendships. We are sorry for the pain, and we will wait for the joy.

Father, we want our church to grow and become a light to our part of the world, and we know that growth requires change and change produces the pain of moving from our zones of comfort. We are sorry for the pain, and we will wait for the joy.

We do not always understand how this transformation from pain to joy takes place. Maybe that is the reason when we speak of the birth of a child we refer to it as a miracle. As painful as it is to admit, I suspect that is the way it should be. We do not understand because we are not equipped to understand. Another passage that has been playing and replaying in my mind all week is from Isaiah:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” (Isaiah 55:8-13, NIV)

Father, we are sorry for the pain Your Son endured to redeem us from our sins, but we are filled with joy because You waited for us to acknowledge and to accept Your free gift.

Father, as we seek to follow You we are sorry for the pain, but long for the joy of knowing You.

Tom
By the way, as I post this article (12:45 a.m.) we are at the hospital waiting. The pain is almost over. The joy we have been waiting for will soon be realized. Norah Lee Howard was born at 3:41 AM.

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 05 | February 3, 2014

I read these words from Jesus, “Do not worry about your life.” I read these words from Paul, “Do not be anxious about anything…” And, I read these words from Peter, “Cast all your anxiety on him…” and I want to argue with them.

Before I get the objections out of my mouth Paul and Peter point to Jesus and remind me, “We are only the messengers! These are His words.” So, I argue with Him.

“Do not worry about your life? Are you kidding me? Have You ever been laid off from your job? Have you ever seen your hard earned paycheck disappear before you even get it deposited? Have you ever wondered where your next meal would come from, or when it would come? Have you have known something was wrong inside your body but found no answers from the medical experts?”

“Don’t be anxious about anything? Lord, are You serious?” I continue my case. “Lord, have you ever sat in a hospital waiting room as the person you love undergoes surgery to remove a tumor that may or may not be cancerous? Have You ever dropped your son off at his college dorm, hugged him, told him you love him, and drove home knowing that things will never be the same? Have You, Lord, ever been hundreds of miles away from your daughter, while she approaches and passes her baby’s due date? Have You ever been forced to watch as your son struggles to recover from his first true heartbreak?”

“Cast all my anxiety on You? All my anxiety? Do you really expect me to do that? Do you know what it’s like to give up the controls of your life and let someone else take control? Have You ever experienced what it is like to be totally at the mercy of someone else, knowing they could take advantage of you, hurt you, misrepresent you, and abuse you?”

He answers, while Paul and Peter stand nearby with their arms crossed and sly smiles on their faces: “Well, maybe not exactly those same circumstances, but I think I understand how you feel. I did send my one and only Son into the world to express my love for the people, only to watch as He was mistreated, ridiculed, judged, beaten, and killed. And, I have watched as my children have declared their undying love for me one day then turn their backs on me the next. And, I have witnessed my loved ones make promises and express vows of faith and faithfulness, only to watch them fall by the wayside when they experience opposition. And, I have been watching over you since before you were born and re-born clearing away dangerous obstacles, removing strong opposition, giving you strength and wisdom to handle the pressure, and going out of my way to express how very special you are to me. Let me ask you, did you know all that?”

Before I can shamefully slip away from His presence, He asks me to read the entire passage surrounding those statements. So, I read the entire passages.

(Matthew 6:25-27) “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

He asks me: “Are you not much more valuable than they?”

(Philippians 4:4-7) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

He asks, “Do you realize that I am always near?”

(1 Peter 5:6-7) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

He asks, “Do you realize how much I care about you?”

My argument is over.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.