A Norvell Note 2020 

Vol. 22 No. 08 | February 24, 2020

Transition: the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

Transitions are inevitable — some good, some bad; some gratifying, some regrettable; some deliberate and some unforeseen. 

In life, we transition from birth to childhood, adolescence to adulthood, and eventually, to the next life. 

In work, we transition from one job to another, from being the newbie to a veteran employee.

We transition from winter to spring to summer to fall. And as the day transitions to night, we go from being fully conscious to drifting into a deep sleep, then back to being fully awake. 

To survive life’s transitions, we need something to keep us balanced and help us maintain some sense of stability. Reminding myself that God is real, that He is always with us, and that He can be trusted provides that stability for me.  

But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands; 

(Psalm 31:14-15)

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised e confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:17-20)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)

Most likely, you are in some transition at this very moment. Keep your eyes on Jesus, trust in God, follow His guidance, and live in His presence. His love is constant, and that will never change.  

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020 

Vol. 22 No. 07 | February 17, 2020

“God moves in a mysterious way. His wonders to perform;” 

These first two hymn lines, written by William Cowper in 1774, are often quoted when an amazing, unexpected event is happening, has happened, or is about to happen. 

A couple prays for years to be blessed with a child, but nothing happens. They finally stop all the tests and procedures and accept that they will never have a child of their own. A month later, she finds out she’s pregnant. 

Every night, the parents call their estranged son, praying he will answer. They finally decide to start clearing out his room, believing he will never return. That night, he calls them and asks to come home. 

The church congregation is making great strides in building a large community of rich fellowship, despite one influential leader’s efforts to spread gossip and negativity. But eventually, the leader’s toxicity spreads. And just as he is about to succeed at pitting one group of members against the other, he’s unexpectedly transferred to another state for his job. 

After a long dry season, the man wonders if God is hearing his prayers. He tries desperately to hang on to hope, but the despair continues. The uncertainty and frustration escalate to the point of unbearable, when suddenly, the unexpected happens; the door opens, letting in light and opportunities beyond what he could have ever hoped for. 

God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. 

God moves in ways that we can’t always see or understand. But let there be no doubt, He is always moving for you. 

If you are enduring a season of disappointment and discouragement, remember, God still moves. If your prayers seem to be unheard and unanswered, remember, God moves and His wonders He will perform.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020

Vol. 22 No. 06       February 10, 2020

I know, I wrote a piece about peace a couple of weeks ago. But it seems like an appropriate time to reapply the wisdom and comfort of these words. 

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)

The challenge: Do not be anxious about anything. 

If I could write an article that provided a fail-proof plan for how to accomplish this, I would be set for life. Instead, all I can do is offer my suggestions for dealing with our anxieties. 

The action: Present your requests to God. 

This part is relatively easy for me. I have plenty of requests to present to God: Give me wisdom to make good choices. Give me the strength to use the wisdom You give me. Show me who I should pull for in the upcoming election. Lead me to the job you want me to accept. Help me be a good husband, Dad, Papa, and friend. Give me insight to understand people’s fears and struggles and the ability to guide and encourage them. 

I think there is a lot of flexibility in how these requests are presented to God. I don’t think the method is as important as the act of simply presenting our requests to God, whether through tears of joy or sadness. Sometimes I present them in my journal, sometimes in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep, and sometimes in my car or a coffee shop. I also think it’s helpful to make a list of positives and negatives, in both good times and bad. Just say: “Lord, here they are. I give them to you.” 

The result: The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

The key for me is to leave my requests with Him and trust that He will give me peace. I have experienced this when trying to make a decision, sorting through my hopes and dreams, or weighing possibilities and options. I don’t understand or know how to explain it (He said I would not be able to), but I know when it happens. There is a feeling of serenity and relief. And it is real.

This peace is from God and it is real peace. Present your requests to God and enjoy the results. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved