Vol. 21 No. 17 | April 29, 2019

Our identity is important to us, isn’t it? We like to know who we are and where we belong?

We wear shirts and hats to identify as fans of our favorite sports teams. Organizations hire design teams to establish and promote their identity. People get tattoos to express their style or what they believe in, on and on.

Our identity is important to us.

As Jesus prepared to finish his time here, He wanted to give His followers  a philosophy to identify with as they carried on His mission.

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35, NIV)

It is simple, no logo required. Just love each other. That’s it.

I’ve done my share of trying to distinguish the churches I’ve served from all the others. I’ve also spent time trying to find a creative way to stand out in the crowd. Some of it has helped, some of it has not.

Jesus’s words serve as a good reminder to me. If I want my family to be recognized as a family of God, we must love each other. If I want my church to be recognized as God’s church, we need to love each other. If I want my company to be recognized as a Godly company, then I need to develop an atmosphere where people love each other.

It’s simple, isn’t it?

So why do we have such a difficult time with it? Why do we find it so hard to, and why do we try so many other things to make it happen? Why can’t we love each other?

I suppose that’s why Jesus gave the instruction. It’s almost like He is saying, “If you miss everything else I’ve said and everything I’ve done remember this one thing: Just love each other.”

Even if we can’t control how others chose to live, we can choose how we do. We can define ourselves as agents of His Word and act with love and compassion.

This week, let’s make a commitment to approach each person we encounter with love. Let’s just start there and see what happens…

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Tom Norvell’s Counseling

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Vol. 21 No. 16 | April 22, 2019

A group of people went to one of Jesus’s disciples with a request. They wanted to see Jesus. That disciple told another and together they went to tell Jesus about the request. Jesus basically said, “Okay, it’s time. It’s time to show them who I am and why I am here.” And from that point on, Jesus spread the news about what was about to happen: He was on His way to the cross.

I find myself with the same desire: I want to see Jesus. So, I start looking around for Him.

I look to education to see Jesus. The education system provides knowledge for those who want to learn. There are good men and women doing their best to share their knowledge in hopes that students will make good decisions and become good people. So yes, sometimes I see Jesus in education.

I look to politics to see Jesus. Occasionally, I will see or hear a politician whose words sound similar to the teachings of Jesus. But most times, corruption of power and money tarnish the political system, making it hard to see Jesus.

I look to entertainment to see Jesus. There are stories that often reflect the compassion and gentleness of Jesus, and there are actresses and actors who will give God glory for their accomplishments. So yes, sometimes I can see Jesus in the entertainment industry.

I look to sports to see Jesus. I am grateful when I hear an athlete or coach speak of Jesus as their Savior and acknowledge the One who gave them the gift to do what they do. This still isn’t the norm, but I am glad to see Jesus is trending.

I look to nature to see Jesus and see Him everywhere- by the ocean, in the mountains, in a sunset or blue sky that provides the background to the trees swaying in the fresh spring breeze.

I look to these places and into these faces to see Jesus. Sometimes I am delightfully surprised and sometimes I walk away disappointed, so I repeat my request, “I want to see Jesus.”

And this is what I hear:

“Tom, I know you are always looking for me and trying to help others see Me and my Son Jesus, and for that I am grateful. But here’s what I want you to know: I want you and others to see Jesus in you. I want you to see Me in the words you write and others to see Me in your words. I want you to hear Me in the words you speak and others to hear Me in your words. I want you to hear Me when you have no words and others to hear Me in your quiet presence.

But Tom, more than anything, I want them to see Me in you. When you focus on that, when your goal is to allow Me to be clearly visible in your life, your actions, your words, and your love, you will begin to see me even more clearly in every aspect of your life. Will you do that?”

“Yes, Lord, I will. Because, more than anything, I want them to see Jesus in everything.”

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Tom Norvell’s Counseling

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Vol. 21 No. 15 | April 15, 2019

“Jesus wept.” John, 11:35.

When asked to recite or memorize a Bible verse in Sunday School, we immediately chose the shortest verse in the Bible- John, 11:35. But there is more to these two words than just being short and easy to remember.

When Jesus learns of His dear friend Lazarus’s death, He waits two days before going to visit Lazarus’s family. When He arrives, Lazarus’s grieving and disappointed sisters challenge Him, insisting He could have healed him if He’d come earlier. When Jesus sees the sisters and those who had gathered to support them “Jesus wept.”  

There are countless interpretations of why Jesus wept, but these are the three reasons I believe might have inspired His tears.

He wept because the people He loved were weeping. Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters and knew they were heartbroken. He felt their loss and their pain and wanted to comfort them.

He wept because the people did not understand who He was. Despite the miracles Jesus had already performed, the prophesies about Him, and His efforts to explain His true identity, no one understood who He was and what He was capable of. He wanted them to know how much He loved them, and their lack of faith saddened Him.

He wept because He knew what was about to happen. He may have felt like we do when we know something extraordinary is about to happen to someone we love, but we can’t tell them. Maybe this is one of the reasons He wept. He was happy because the people He loved would soon know death is not the end.

Jesus wept then as we do now- when we are sad, confused, losing hope…or overcome with joy. Find comfort in that. As we move through this holy week of remembering and reflecting, weep when you need to, but remember, death is not the end.

He lives! 

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Vol. 21 No. 14 | April 8, 2019

In John, Chapter 10, as Jesus continues His journey toward the cross, He makes a point to remind us that we all need someone to watch over and protect us in times of trouble…that we all need a good shepherd.

Jesus identifies Himself as the good shepherd and explains to us what that means:

A good shepherd is someone who is willing to sacrifice for us.

Paul describes Jesus in a similar way in Philippians 2. “The welfare of the sheep is more important to the good shepherd than personal welfare.”

Do you have a good shepherd in your life, someone who would give up their time, energy, and money for you if you were going through a tough time? I shudder to think where my family and I would be without the shepherds God has sent to guide and protect us.

But this isn’t just about receiving, we must also be a good shepherd to those God places in our care- a son, daughter, friend, co-worker, or young couple from church. Where might they be in the years to come if you or I fail to walk alongside them? They may need our guidance and support just like we have needed it from others in the past.

A good shepherd is someone who knows us and allows us to know them. 

Do you have someone in your life who knows you, really knows you, as you do them? I mean, someone who knows the good stuff in your life as well as the bad. It could be someone you may not see face-to-face for months, or even years, but you are still able to pick up right where you left off. We need people like this, and we need to be this person for others.

But not everyone needs to know all the grisly details of our lives. We need only to share our stories with those we trust and connect with, who care about us enough to listen, as we do them. Inevitably, we will realize we are helping them as much as they are us. We can offer them reassurance that they aren’t the only one with a messy life…and that they too are strong and worthy of sharing their story.

We all need and are worthy of a good shepherd, and we all need to be a good shepherd to someone else. It’s really that simple. The truth is, when we realize someone is watching us, guiding us, we experience love, feel fulfilled, and our lives are simply better. And when we are watching and guiding others, we experience love, feel fulfilled…and our lives are simply better.

And if there is ever a moment when we forget this or feel alone, we must always remember…we have THE good shepherd who loves us, sacrificed for us, knows every intimate detail of our life, and wants us to know Him as well.

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