As I write, I’m in the Austin, Texas airport, waiting to board a plane back to Nashville. I’ve just spent the week with family celebrating the birth of Juniper Blue (granddaughter #4). My heart is full.

No pics. It’s not my child, nor my place to post pics. But believe me, I have plenty!

After last’s weeks article- expressing my gratitude for living in this time and space- I find my heart full to overflowing with the blessing of holding another amazingly beautiful, healthy little girl.

Just a little over twelve hours after she made her debut, I got to hold her, hear her sweet baby squeaks and grunts, kiss her on the head, and say my first prayer over her.

These words continue to ring true:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Growing up, I always dreamed of getting married and having a family…in very vague terms. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be married for forty-two years. Never did I imagine serving in full-time ministry for over four decades.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine what it would feel like the first time I held my son in my arms, then my daughter. I could have never imagined the joys of watching them grow and mature, come into their own faith, and develop into the man and woman of faith they’ve become.

Never could I have imagined them finding a mate who also loved God and loved them with all their hearts, or being able to stand in front of an audience and participate in their promises to each other on their wedding day.

Never did I imagine what it would feel like when they decided to have children and the joy of watching them go through the process. I never imagined the indescribable feeling of holding their baby in my arms. Now, I’ve held four of them and am looking forward to holding the fifth later this year.

I just never could have imagined being so blessed. I dream a lot and I dream big, but God has exceeded my wildest imagination. My life is blessed. My heart is full.

I hope sometime soon, you will experience God’s blessings in a way that makes your heart feel as full.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

With the click of a few buttons on any device, I can view thousands of Biblical references, Bible translations, and study materials within a matter of seconds.

Should I become ill, within a matter of minutes I can receive the best medical care from some of the best medical professionals anywhere in the world.

When something weird was going on with my eye, I was diagnosed, received treatment, and returned home to recover within a matter of hours.

With one thumb, I can select any number of television shows, movies, documentaries, music videos, and sporting events from the comfort of my living room, public transportation, or any number of other locations.

When I want to hear the voices or see the faces of my children, grandchildren, and friends, I can connect with them in a matter of seconds.

When I need to receive or send information to or from someone in another city, state, or country, I can do so within minutes.

If I want to know the news of the day, the weather, or the results of the latest sporting events, I can pull the information up on my phone, television, computer or simply ask Siri or Alexa.

When I get hungry, I can walk a few feet, open the refrigerator, and have a delicious snack or meal (healthy or not is my choice) with fresh clean water or any number of other beverages within a few minutes.

When I want to share information with you, such as this A Norvell Note, I have the ability to type these words on a computer, store them in the Cloud, and send them through cyberspace to be read by anyone.

All these things and more are within my grasp. Not because I’m wealthier, smarter, more talented, or more deserving than anyone else. I have these options and opportunities because of the time and place in which I live.

I do not share them to boast. I share them because I’m thankful for the time and place in which I live. I am blessed. Richly blessed! Blessed beyond anything I could have ever asked for or imagined.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

This first line from a longer prayer caught my imagination:

Transform our desires to mirror yours, Lord. (Common Prayer, April 11)

Our desires for control would be transformed into the desire to surrender, submit, and sacrifice.

Our desires for happiness would be transformed into the desire for inner peace, joy, and contentment.

Our desires for wealth, possessions, and affluence would be transformed into a desire for simplicity.

Our desires for information, intellectualism, and knowledge would be transformed into a desire for wisdom and to know Him.

Our desires for having our mental, physical, and emotional needs met would be transformed into a desire for His abiding presence.

Our desires to have other people become more like us would be transformed into a desire for us to see Him in all people.

Our desires to make ourselves look like we have it all together would be transformed into a desire to please only Him.

Our desires to have a good day would be transformed into desires to help make it better for others.

Our desires for more money, stuff, time, and energy would be transformed into using these things to help others.

Our desires for the perfect employer, spouse, parent, and children would be transformed into a desire to be the best possible employee, spouse, parent, and children we can be.

Transform our desires to mirror yours, Lord.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 15 | April 9, 2018

Through the years I have taught classes on Ecclesiastes several times. Much to my surprise, without exception, the common response from my students has been, “Ugh, this is depressing.” In fact, I don’t ever recall a student stating they loved it or felt inspired. Maybe it’s my ability to teach, or lack thereof. Or maybe it’s the nature of the book. I suppose it makes sense when you read statements like this:

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NIV)

Solomon, considered the wisest of all men, shared the contents of his journal describing the passions, pursuits and lessons he learned throughout his life. He arrived at this conclusion: everything is meaningless, and life is like chasing the wind.

The Message reads, “But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.” (Try using that line in your next motivational speech and it may be your last.)

We don’t want to hear that message, do we? Those of us who live in the U.S. grew up hearing a different message. We were promised if we work hard and use our talents, our dreams will come true. We will be rewarded with a great life, be the envy of our friends and neighbors and live happily ever after.

To quote the famous Dr. Phil, “How’s that working out for you?”

As Solomon discovered, the opposite is often true. Contentment and happiness are not necessarily found in doing and having the most. Having more usually only leads to wanting more.

Near the end of his life, Solomon came to another conclusion:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

The Message conveyed is to fear God and do what He says. Period.

Many prominent voices of our time encourage us to be as powerful as possible in a similar way. Don’t just do your best−be the best. If you accumulate as much as possible and hold on to it, you will be happy.

But Jesus came with a different message. After washing His disciple’s feet, he said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17, NIV) “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, NIV)

Jesus told us and showed us a different way to find a meaningful life.

It seems we have a decision to make.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 14 | April 2, 2018

Friday: A Dark Day

I’ve watched from a distance and wasn’t directly involved in any of it. But I do believe all he has said and that He is who He says He is.

There’s been a lot of focus on Him this week. There was the big celebration and then some smaller gatherings with His closest friends. I actually got a few glimpses of Him when He passed by.

Tragically, those celebrations turned into attempts to destroy Him.

I kept my distance but heard reports on what was happening. They (you know, the powers who always manage to seize control) put Him on trial and decided He was guilty of breaking their laws.

Their attempts to destroy Him worked. They crucified Him. He is dead.

It’s a dark day.

Saturday: It’s a Strange Day

I don’t know what I feel today. I really did believe He was who He said He was: He was the Messiah. He was the King who had come to save us from our oppression.

But now, I don’t know what to think or what to feel. All I know is that this feels painful and strange. For once, I thought, we thought, things were going to change. For once, I thought those in power were going to be shown they could no longer control or take advantage of us.

I feel empty and sad and angry. I feel…I don’t know what I feel.

It’s a strange day.

Sunday: It’s a New Day

There’s a lot of excitement in the air: rumors that Jesus’s tomb was empty this morning. His followers are the ones who started spreading the news. Actually, it was a woman, so some are saying it’s not true. Regardless, the officials are angry. They’re investigating and making disturbing threats.

It’s all too much to believe. But I believe it. And as the day goes on, his closest companions are assuring us it’s true. His tomb is empty! He has arisen! How? They don’t know and don’t care.

Some say He came to visit them. Can you imagine? What an unbelievable experience! He was there, flesh and blood. He has truly risen from the grave.

Jesus Christ is not dead! He has risen.

It is indeed, a new day.

Monday: Decision Day

I hardly slept and thought the sun would never come up. I keep asking myself, can this really be happening, or is it all a weird dream?

A lot of us feel this way…now what do we do? His closest friends are telling us to wait: there’s more to come, but they don’t even know what that means.

But no, I’ve waited long enough. We’ve waited long enough. I don’t know what will happen next, or when or how. But I know I’m going to be part of it.

He is the One I’ve been looking for, we’ve been looking for. He is the promised one. There’s no need to wait any longer or look for anyone else. No matter what happens or how long it takes, count me in.

I have decided to follow Jesus…and there’s no turning back.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note