Vol. 21 No. 43 | October 28, 2019 

On any given day, I might pray…

I feel lost. Show me the way. He does.

I feel empty and alone. Fill me with Your Spirit, Your love, and Your wisdom. He does.

I feel broken. Put me back together so I can serve you. He does.

I feel sinful. Cleanse me. Forgive me. Restore me. He does.

I feel weak and powerless. Remind me that You are my strength. He does.

I feel useless. Show me what I can do to live my purpose. He does.

When I pray, the response isn’t always what or when I want. But I know He does hear me, He cares, and He will always respond.

______________________________ 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

A Norvell Note 

   Vol. 21 No. 42 | October 21, 2019 

Getting rid of clutter has long been an objective of mine. At least once a week I feel the compulsion to clear my desk and car of clutter. Oddly enough, this topic has been trending on social media and in personal conversations recently and has set off alarms. (Minimalist)

Keeping our physical space simple and uncluttered is a constant challenge, but keeping our minds uncluttered is an even greater challenge. For example, I’ve switched over to my mailbox, text messages,  and calendar multiple times since I started this paragraph. 

But mental clutter doesn’t always translate into negative or unhealthy stuff. Some of it is just stuff. But it will still distract you from what you are trying to do. So, to keep my mind focus,  when I’m writing in my prayer journal, I often pause and take several deep breaths to regain my focus and process what I am thinking and feeling. And I often pray, “Lord, clear my head of all the noise that is getting in the way of me hearing Your voice.” 

Jesus was a master of simplifying things. When the law keepers quizzed Him on the most important commandment, He condensed them all into one. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.” 

As the disciples struggled to understand His teachings and the essentials of being a follower, He simply said: “Love one another. This is how people will recognize you and belonging to me.” (John 13)

When Peter compared his actions with another disciple, Jesus simply said, “You must follow me.” (John 21)

Paul (an apostle of Christ) did a similar thing when he said:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…” (1 Corinthians 15)

We live in busy, noisy, complicated world. If we do not take intentional action to declutter our lives and minds, we will become overwhelmed, overcommitted, and unprepared to live the life God wants us to live. 

Some of the wisest counsel on this matter comes again from the pen of Paul: 

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His  good, pleasing and perfect will.”(Roman 12)

No one can unclutter your mind for you. No one else can prioritize or set boundaries limits on what you do, what you think, and or how you think. Renewing your mind may be a daily thing, or it may be something you have to do several times a day. But it is well worth the time, and you will notice how much more of it you have. 

______________________________ 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

   Vol. 21 No. 41 | October 14, 2019 

Sometimes things don’t go as planned.

The car won’t  start when we need to get to work, or your baby’s diaper needs changing just as we are about to leave the house.

Sometimes our flight gets delayed, we get stuck in traffic, or we get sick while on vacation.

And sometimes, no matter what we do, our dreams really won’t come true. 

So, how do you handle yourself when things don’t go according to plan? Do you get angry and blame someone else? Do you kick and scream, and question God’s existence because you didn’t get what you wanted?

We all do one or all of these things when we feel defeated, and it’s natural to have negative thoughts and feelings. We need to give ourselves permission to feel what we feel. But then, we need to take a step back and pray for an enlightened perspective. 

Here are two that help me when I’m struggling  

When Jesus was being dragged to the cross, this is how He responded: 

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as You will. (Matthew 26:39, NIV)

While imprisoned, Paul wrote: 

I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. (Philippians 4:12, NIV)

These responses sound reasonable enough, don’t they? But to reach that kind of peace and acceptance with God’s will takes discipline and only comes as a result of developing a deeply intimate relationship with God. And that means spending a lot of time with the Word and in prayer.

So the next time something doesn’t go as planned, we’re going to have to decide how to react. But this time, let’s try a different approach. Let’s first do “nothing.” Let’s just take a few minutes to pray and remind ourselves of Jesus’s words: 

Yet not as I will, but as you will.

______________________________ 

Tom Norvell’s Coaching & Counseling

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Vol. 21 No. 40 | October 7, 2019

Our family reunions always include great food and meals together, lots of time catching up on the past year and sharing family photos. It also usually includes a visit or two to the cemetery. 

As I have strolled along the headstones, reading the names of those buried underneath-and the dates when they were born and when they died- I wondered what their lives were like. Where did they live? Did they have a family? Was their life one of adventure and good fortune, or disappointment and hardship? Did they love and were they loved well?

It reminded me of these words from Jesus: 

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10, NIV)

I know my life is full, but am I fully living?

I am blessed with abundance, good health, loving family and friends, and a purpose for living. 

God has done His part, but am I doing mine to live with fullness and gratitude? I thought about what living fully means to me…

living fully means I find joy in who I am and what I do. It means I know my purpose and live intentionally to bring glory to God.  It means appreciating the blessings I receive and doing what I can to be a blessing to others.

Living life to the fullest means enduring life’s difficulties with patience and confidence, and sharing what I learn with others. It also means finding the joy in my daily life and sharing that as well. 

A full life includes beginning the day in anticipation of what God is going to do and ending it with gratitude for what He has done.

Jesus came to give us life in its fullest expression. My hope is that you continue to evolve, living fully and courageously, every day of your life. 

______________________________

Tom Norvell’s Coaching & Counseling

Click here to order Until Hope Returns.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

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