Vol. 27 No. 13 – March 27, 2023

Last Week

Junie’s scan results: ALL CLEAR!

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. 

Also, last week a very dear lady from our workplace lost her battle with cancer but won her freedom over pain and discomfort and moved on to her reward of peace and eternal rest. 

We celebrate. 

We grieve. 

We hold on. 

We let go. 

We love. 

We move forward.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here:  A Norvell Note.

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 12 – March 20, 2023

Anxious Times

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)

It makes me anxious to read this passage. It makes me even more anxious to think of how many times I have written about and talked about this passage. It makes me even more nervous than that to think about how many times I have reminded someone that the Apostle Paul, guided by the Holy Spirit, said, “Do not be anxious about anything.” And yet, here I am writing about not being anxious again.

Why? Because we live in anxious times. 

Relationships create anxiety. If you have children, you will have times of intense stress about their welfare. If your parents are aging, there are times when you are anxious. You have anxiety if you are married, planning to get married, or once married. Finally, you will have tense times if you date or commit to a single life. 

Engaging in the world creates anxiety. You stand a good chance of getting anxious by watching the news (local, national, international). You’ll have some stress if you watch sports. If you drive an automobile, there is a real possibility of a few anxious moments in your week. 

Anxiety is real. The examples I’ve shared above are the natural consequences of living in an anxiety-filled world. But there are others: sick children, family problems, addiction, accidents, poor decisions, chronic pain, church dysfunction, loneliness, and financial difficulties.

I believe the Holy Spirit guided Paul to write those words because He knew we would live in a world as we do and wants us to know that when anxiety hits, we have a healthy and effective way to deal with it. We have the response. “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.”

The promise is not that anxious times will disappear but that God’s peace will protect you as you go through them. 

Go in peace.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here:  A Norvell Note.

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 11 – March 13, 2023

A Little Less Like Me

Last week I wrote, “Just Be You.” This week I was introduced to the song “More Like Jesus Less Like Me.” (More Like Jesus Less Like Me). I’ve listened to it multiple times. Here’s the chorus. 

Lord, help me be
(One, two, three)

… A little more like mercy, a little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience, a little more like peace
A little more like Jesus, oh, a little less like me

… A little more of living everything I preach
A little more like Jesus, a little less like me
Oh, a little less like me.

The song is a good reminder of how important it is to take who we are and allow Jesus’ nature to be revealed in and through us. 

When we do that, we show mercy and grace to those who need it most but feel most unworthy.

Our kindness, goodness, love, and faith become the heritage we leave behind. 

Patience and peace become achievable goals.

And living what I preach is the most natural thing I can do. 

Let’s be a little more like Jesus.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here:  A Norvell Note.

A Norvell Note 

March 6, 2023 – Vol. 27 No. 10

Be You 

You have one life to live. So, why not live like God wants you to live? He created you with specific gifts, qualities, talents, and a unique personality. When He created you, He intended you to be you. So, be you.
Not everyone will like you but be you. 
Not everyone will appreciate you but be you. 
Not everyone will understand you but be you. 
Not everyone will want to be around you but be you.
Not everyone will think you’re cool but be you. 
Not everyone will respect you but be you. 
Not everyone will want your opinion but be you. 
Not everyone will want to be your friend but be you. 
Not everyone will agree with you but be you. 
Not everyone will say you are pretty or handsome but be you.
Not everyone needs to know your political views. That’s okay. Be you.
Not everyone wants or needs to hear you talk. That’s okay. Be quiet when you need to. Be you. 
God created you to be you so be you. Unless you’re a jerk, then be someone else.

Tom Norvell

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

To follow updates on Junie, go here: welovejunieblue

For past articles, go here: A Norvell Note.