Vol. 17 No. 34 | August 25, 2014

I suspect if you were to search the archives of A Norvell Note you would find a number of other articles on “moving.” Welcome to the 2014 edition. We sold our house in an effort to downsize and reduce our debt, so we are moving into an apartment until we find the next house. Even though we are calling this a short-term temporary move, I confess that moving is always semi-traumatic for me.

I get attached. I get comfortable. I put down roots. I settle in. I make myself at home. When it is time to move I must detach, get uncomfortable, pull up roots and remind myself that this is not my home. I get nostalgic. I get sentimental. This afternoon I walked through the house and stopped in different rooms thinking, “This is our last Sunday afternoon in this house.” I felt a little like George Banks in “Father of the Bride Part II.” I also thought, “I really do not like boxes!”

In many ways moving is a good thing. Moving forces me to let go and clean out. Moving reinforces the idea that nothing lasts forever. Moving reminds me that every move, in this life, is temporary. One day we find a house and move from the apartment, even though it will promise to provide a feeling of security and permanence, It will not, because it cannot. That move, like this one, will be temporary.

Moving makes me restless. It is difficult to rest until the old place is empty and cleaned. It is even more difficult to rest in the new place until all the boxes are either empty or out of sight. Sometimes even being out of sight is not sufficient. I know they exist therefore they must be unpacked.

Moving also alerts me to the fact I was not created to feel at home in this world. Neither were you. C. S. Lewis said, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” [C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, Collier Books: New York, 1943, p. 120]

Paul said this,

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3, NIV)
As we make this move, and anticipate the next, we hope that will be the last move. We have hoped that before. We have thought that before. Obviously we were wrong and do not know for certain that it will be true this time. In recent months I have had many reminders of the saying, “If you want to make God laugh tell Him your plans.”
I am constantly in need of what the Lord said:

“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. (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)
So, it is moving week. This house we have inhabited for the last six years will soon be filled with the laughter of another family. Our memories will go with us and we will make new memories in a new place. Another house will become our new permanent home…until it is time to move again. This process will continue as long as we live and breathe until that last move when we finally make it home. That will be a move I will enjoy.
Tom
© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 33 | August 18, 2014

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “Lord, we want you to do us a favor.” (Mark 10:35, NLT)

I pray the same prayer, regularly, “Lord, I want you to do me a favor.”

My prayer is not usually about being the greatest, like James and John, but it is equally self-centered. I say the words then start my list.

I want You to make our church grow.

I want You to make us more effective in reaching the community.

I want You to change the attitudes of some of our people.

I want You to make people do what I want them to do.

I want You to show people what a good guy I am.

I want You to make our marriage better.

I want You to change my spouse, my children, my co-workers, my church members, my friends, people in our community, and people in general so that they think and act more like I want them to think and act. That would be really nice!

I want You to make me a better preacher, a better writer, a better teacher, and a better counselor.

I want You to bring peace to the world.

I want You to do away with all the hunger and pain in the world, and make sure everyone has a home.

I want You to cause our church to be bigger without losing the warm, personal, and friendly atmosphere that we now enjoy.

I want You to make me rich and not think I am anything special just because I am rich.

I want You to make me appreciate what I have and while you are at it make me content with what I have.

There is my list, Lord. Lord, I have a lot of favors that I want You to do for me. At least that’s all I can think of right now. Tomorrow I will probably add a few more things to the list of favors I want you to do for me.

Then, to my amazement, I had a rare unselfish moment and turned to the Lord and said, “Lord, You do so much for me. Is there anything I can do for You? Can I do a favor for you?”

He smiled and said, “Thank You for asking. As a matter of fact I do have one request.”

“Name it, Lord. I am all about doing what You want me to do.”

He put his hand on my shoulder, looked me in the eyes said, “Just serve me.”

He continued. “I look around and see so many of my children struggling for power and position. I just want you to serve me. Don’t worry about where you will sit or what role you will play in my Kingdom. Just serve me.”

“I see so many of my children doing without, struggling to get by, and searching for answers to the many questions that puzzle and perplex them. I wish you would help them. Just serve me by helping them.”

“I know that you have a lot of pressure on you from the people of the world to act big and strong and set policy and make important decisions. Maybe someday you will be called to a place where you will make important decisions that impact the world, but for now, just serve me.”

“Don’t worry about being first. It’s okay to be last. When it is time for you to move to the front of the line, I’ll make sure it happens. You don’t need to worry about it. For now, just serve me.”

“What I really want you to do for me is do what I do. I came to serve, not to be served. So just serve me.”

“And when you serve me, do it with joy and do it cheerfully. Serve me because you love me. Serve me because my Spirit lives in you. Just serve me.”

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45, NIV)
Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 32 | August 11, 2014

Another thought on being an encourager: We need you!

Encouragement is the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope; to persuade someone to do or to continue something; the act of trying to stimulate the development of an activity, state, or belief. We need more encouragers.

You are an encourager when you, as parents, coaches, friends, and fans, surround your little league team before they go on the field and as they come off the field (win or lose) and shower them with high fives, pats on the back, fist pumps, and affirmations that say, “You played a great game!” “You did a great job!” “You can do it!” “We believe in you!” “We are proud of you!”

You are an encourager when, as a teenager, you take the time to sit down with an older friend, ask for advice, listen to the advice when it is given, and express appreciation for the influence the person is having on your life.

You are an encourager when your favorite golfer leaves a green, whether it was played well or not, and they hear your cheers of: “Keep it going!” “Keep your head up!” “You’re the man!”

You are an encourager when you move close to a young woman, put your arms around her, and hold her while she cries.

You are an encourager when you call a friend you have not heard from in a while and say, “I’ve missed you.”

You are an encourager when you stop the work you are doing to help a co-worker understand their job and talk with them about how they can do it better.

You are an encourager when you notice the little things that are done around the church that almost nobody notices and you find that person and say, “Thank you.”

You are an encourager when you take the time to write a handwritten note to the man who has not been in church for a while and say, “I want you to know that I miss you.”

You are an encourager when you text your best friend and say, “Thanks for being my best friend.”

You are an encourager when you walk alongside the little old lady in the grocery story and ask her if you can help her get her groceries to her car.

You are an encourager when go to your teacher and say, “Thank you. I’ve learned so much from you.”

You are an encourager when you promise to pray for someone, then you send them a note to let them that you have just prayed for them.

You are an encourager when you thank the server who hands you your coffee and you leave them an appropriate tip.

You are an encourager when you see someone do a kind deed and you make a point to tell them, “I saw what you did. Thank you.”

You are an encourager when you sense that someone is having a tough day and you ask them, “Are you okay?” And you wait for the answer.

You are an encourager when you look your son or your daughter in the eyes and say, “I’m proud of you.”

You are an encourager when everyone in the room has lost hope and you remind them that with God all things are possible.

You are an encourager when you come across a passage of Scripture that reminds you of someone you recently had a conversation with, and you send them an email including the Scripture and say, “This verse reminded me of you.”

You are an encourager when you are listening to someone you love as he shares his greatest fear and deepest regrets, and before you offer advice you say, “We should pray,” and you pray.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13, NIV)

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 31 | August 4, 2014

When a dream you have had for years, maybe a lifetime, begins to fade and you realize it is probably not going to come true, you ask the questions, but there are no answers.

When disease suddenly attacks an otherwise perfectly healthy body you ask the questions, but there are no answers.

When a marriage that began with all the hope and joy that a couple can envision ends with heartache and sorrow you ask the questions, but there are no answers.

When a child walks away from everything you taught them, refuses to explain, and cuts off all communications you ask the questions but there are no answers.

When what you desire of your heart is always just beyond your reach you ask questions but there are no answers.

When the love you crave from another human being never develops you ask the questions, but the answers do not come.

When you think you are doing the right things, making the right decisions, and moving in the right direction but the results you had hoped for and assumed would come do not, you ask the questions but sometimes the answers do not come.

The questions? Why? Why me? Why us? Why not? Why not now? When? How? Ever?

When you wake up and realize that you are blessed beyond your wildest imagination you ask the questions but there are no answers.

When your marriage has grown and matured and becomes a blessing to others, you ask the questions but there are no answers.

When your children make good choices, walk faithfully with the Lord, and experience the fullness of life you ask the questions but there are no answers.

When you feel like a complete failure in everything you have ever done and cannot remember the last time you did something right, yet you have been blessed beyond measure, you ask the questions but the answers do not come.

The questions? Why? Why me? Why us? Why not? Why not now? When? How? Ever?

Sometimes there no answers. At least there are no answers that we can understand. If you will look behind it all — the pain, the confusion, the frustration, the disappointment, the questioning, the joy, the celebration, the amazement — there is an answer. It is the answer who holds the answers to all the questions.

The answer is God. He is there. He has been there through it all. He will be there through it all. He will not leave us. He will not forsake us. He is beyond our understanding. His thoughts and reasons and actions are beyond our comprehension. He is God. He is the answer to the questions that seem to have no answer. Ask your questions. He can handle them. When you see Him, your questions will disappear.

“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.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)Then Job answered the Lord:
“I am unworthy — how can I reply to you?
I put my hand over my mouth.
I spoke once, but I have no answer —
twice, but I will say no more.” (Job 40:3-5)

Then Job replied to the Lord:
“I know that you can do all things;
no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:2-6)

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.