Vol. 17 No. 52 | December 29, 2014

Would you like to end your year on a high note? Here is a simple and easy suggestion. It is not original with me. The Holy Spirit put the words in Paul’s mind, Paul put them to paper, and I share them with my computer.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9, NIV)

Sometime over the next few days consider trying this.

Think. Take some time, fifteen minutes, thirty minutes, an hour or two and think. Think about the last twelve months. Think about how God has blessed you, surprised you, amazed you, challenged you, corrected you, or changed you. Think. Stop and be quiet and think.

Think specifically about these things.

As you reflect think about the things you have learned, observed, or experienced that are true. The Bible. The love of a spouse, a parent, a friend, and God’s love.

As you reflect think about noble things. Things that are of great value and of high character. Think about what is dignified. Think about what is awe-inspiring. Think about things that are above and beyond your imagination.

Think about things that are right. Think about what is right about your family. Think about what is right about the world. Think about what is right about your church. Think about what is right and avoid focusing on what is wrong. Think about what has been right about your year.

Think about what is pure. There is so much impurity in the world. Focus on things as they are supposed to be, not tarnished or watered down. Think about the purity of a newborn baby. Think about the pure love of a newly married couple. Think about the purity of clear mountain morning. Think about the purity of a singer’s voice when they hit the notes perfectly.

And do not ignore the lovely. Think about lovely things. Think about that lady in your church when you were young — always dressed in the most appropriate fashion and her personality and spirit matched her wardrobe. Think about that tree down the street that had the perfect shape and filled with the brilliant orange leaves.

When I hear the word admirable I see faces. I see the faces of men and women who have inspired me by words, their actions, their encouragement, their ethics, and their spirituality. Think about those people this week. If possible contact them and tell them you are thinking about them and admire them.

Because you can see mediocrity running rampant why not choose to think about things that are excellent. Think about an event you attended this year and came away thinking and commenting, “That was excellent!” Maybe it was a concert. Perhaps it was a sporting event. It could have been service at a favorite restaurant.

As you bring your reflection time to an end think about things that deserve your praise. Think about your co-worker who did a great job on a difficult project, then tell them. Think about the performance of the young lady during her recital, then praise her. Think about the view of the ocean waves, then thank the Creator of the land and the sea. Think about that sunset that took your breath, then thank the One who made the sun, the moon, the stars, the sky, and your eyes to see them, then praise Him. Think about the One who created everything you see, hear, feel, taste, smell, experience, in the past, in the present, and in the future, then lift holy hands to praise the Lord God Almighty.

I hope you will spend some time this week thinking on these things, and I hope you welcome the new year with renewed faith, restored hope, and refreshed spiritual passion.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 51 | December 22, 2014

“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.” (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV)

We fret and we worry and we stew and we fear and we have sleepless nights and tense days. Paul has a better idea. Give it to God.

Not just a few things. Not just the big things. Not just the small things. Not just the things we cannot fix. Not just the things we do not want to deal with. Not just the things we wish we did not have to handle. Paul says anything and in every situation.

With thanksgiving and in prayer present all requests to God. Give it to Him. Leave it with Him. Lay it down. Give it a rest. Stop hanging on to it. Tell it goodbye.

When you give it to God something amazing happens. You will receive a peace unlike anything you have ever experienced. How about that for a Christmas gift? How about that for a way to start a new year?

Peace. That is what the angel of the Lord announced at the coming of the Lord. Peace on earth.

Imagine being at peace. Imagine really being at peace. Imagine not carrying your anxieties with you through Christmas. Imagine beginning the new year without the burden of your cares and anxieties.

You do not to have to imagine. It can be reality. You can have this peace. You do not need to worry about getting rid of your worries. Just give them to God. You do not need to be anxious about trying to deal with your anxieties. Give them to God.

It is not complicated. It is not difficult. Present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The only thing you have to lose is your anxiety, your worries and some of your stress, so why not give it a try? Give it all to God.

Tom

© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 50 | December 15, 2014

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:5, NIV)

As I write these words we are consumed with the holidays and all that goes with it. Children are barely able to contain their excitement. Parents are scrambling to make sure the right presents are purchased, wrapped, and carefully placed under the tree for Christmas morning. Merchants are working overtime to makes sure shelves are stocked and employees are taking good care of the sometimes desperate customers.

At the same time stress levels rise as couples wonder how they are going pay their medical bills. Department store clerks do their best to satisfy the overstressed and demanding customers impatiently waiting their turn in the never-ending lines at the cash registers. Production team supervisors demand more from their team members than they can possibly accomplish.

At the same time protests continue throughout the country illustrating the racial tension that still exists. Political leaders argue over the best plan to keep the government in operation for another year. Each party will boast of their cooperative spirit and how much quicker an agreement could have been reached had it not been for selfishness of the other party. Threats of foreign terrorist attacks, tortured and murdered prisoners, as well as reports of our own government using unsanctioned methods to receive secret information.

It is time for gentleness to be evident. Remember the Lord is near. Remember this season is about the Lord coming to earth to be near to us. It is time for a little gentleness.

I am not suggesting a sentimental gentleness that simply smiles to avoid a confrontation. I am not suggesting a gentleness that covers a broken heart with a sugary sweet insincere greeting.

The gentleness I am suggesting flows from a heart that has been transformed by the presence of God. The gentleness I am suggesting comes as a result of being touched by the compassion of Jesus. The gentleness I am suggesting is not manufactured to make a good showing, but is a natural by-product of being filled with the Spirit of God. The gentleness I am suggesting is possible when one has been comforted by the gentleness of a spirit-filled loved one.

It is time to let gentleness be evident among Christians when we disagree with other Christians on matters of minor importance, and on matters of major importance. It is time to let gentleness be evident between members of the same church when things do not turn out the way we had hoped they would. It is time to let gentleness be evident when we hear something that surprises and disappoints us about another follower of Jesus — gentleness, not assumptions or accusations.

When rebellion is evident it is time to let gentleness be equally evident. When disappointment is evident it is time to let gentleness be equally evident. When complete failure has occurred, discovered and confessed it is time to let gentleness be abundantly evident. When people are demanding, rude, disrespectful, selfish and generally unkind it is time to let gentleness be miraculously evident.

The Lord is near. It is time to let gentleness be evident to all.

Tom

Vol. 17 No. 49 | December 8, 2014

In Philippians 3 Paul is describing his past, present and future life. He has already expressed how he has let go of his past life, the good and the bad, because he has found something far more valuable — Jesus. He continues to share his station in life in the next section by admitting that this process of letting go of the garbage is an ongoing task. “Not that I have already obtained all this” (vs. 12)

The fact that he is not there does not discourage him. (Of course, neither has being in prison or being away from the people he loves.) He keeps trying. He is honest with us when he says, “I’m not there yet. But I keep trying.” It is a constant battle to forget, leave behind, and press on toward the goal.

Remember the goal is Jesus. He keeps reaching for Jesus. He keeps stretching forward toward Jesus. He keeps moving toward Jesus. He keeps longing to be more like Jesus. Not there yet; but still moving. He is not going to stop until he reached the goal.

Then, Paul makes an interesting statement: “All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things.” (15) I presume the “view” refers to his not having yet arrived.

Apparently Paul was often confronted with, bothered by, and criticized by groups who claimed to be mature and their proof of maturity came from their achievements in keeping the law. So, he is taking a jab at them here by saying somewhat sarcastically, that if they were really mature they would know this and would have this view. “Of course, anyone who is really mature would already know this.”

Do not allow his jab at the opposition distract you from his point. The mature view: I’m not there yet, but still moving forward. 

I think Paul is teaching us that part of being mature is knowing we are not as mature as we think we are…even when we are mature.

He goes as far to say, “Follow my example” and follow those who live like I do. There are those who would lead you off in another direction, do not follow them. We have a higher calling. We have a greater goal than following the rules. We have a more important role to play in the world than being right.

Keep your eye on the goal. Keep reaching. Do not allow these other folks to discourage you.

He would say the same thing to you. Especially if you have someone, some “mature” person telling you how you are supposed to life. Especially if that life involves getting it all right all the time. Especially if you are trying that life and finding that you are unable to do. You keep messing up. You keep coming up short. You want to quit.

Please don’t quit. Please keep your eye on the goal — Jesus. Read Hebrews 12. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5,6,7). Read Philippians again.

You can do it. You can keep trying. You can keep pressing on toward the goal. You can. You can. You can. I believe in you. Paul believes in you. More importantly God believes in you and has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with you and in you. It is the mature view.

You’ve got this!

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2014. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 17 No. 48 | December 1, 2014
When you know what it is really important life becomes easier. When you are clear of your purpose in life many decisions become easier. When you know what you are on the earth to do the possibility of accomplishing your mission becomes easier. Knowing your purpose, understanding why you are here, and accomplishing our mission is the desire of the human heart.

Generally speaking this discovery is mind boggling, but maybe it does not need to be.

Jesus told us this, “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, NIV)

Paul told us this, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:29, NIV)

Paul also told us this,

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:7-11, NIV)
Knowing Jesus is the key. Knowing Jesus is the answer. Knowing Jesus is our purpose. Knowing Jesus is why we are here.
Jesus said it is eternal life. Paul said being conformed to the likeness of Jesus is why we are here. Paul said knowing Jesus is worth sacrificing everything else.
So the question becomes, how do we know Him? We know Him by reading about Him. Not just the facts but learning who He was and who He is and who He will always be. We know Him by understanding how He thinks, how He feels, and how He cares about people. We know Him when we see Him in the lives of other people. We know Him when we experience His presence within our own hearts as we grow in our knowledge of Him and conform into His likeness.

We can know our purpose. Our purpose is to know Jesus. It is worth everything.

Tom
© Copyright 2014 Tom Norvell. All rights reserved.