A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 43                       October 30, 2023

Please Don’t Let It Become the Norm

I confess I’ve been angry this week. I’m angry because of the news of another mass shooting where eighteen people were going about their lives enjoying an evening with their friends and family when a man walked into the businesses and started shooting. I am angry because of the fear and terror that the act of violence created for the people of Maine and far beyond, including my own heart and home. 

I confess I’ve been angry by the wars and threats of war in the Middle East, the loss of life, and carnage. Add to those reasons for my anger the continuing war in Ukraine.

I further confess that much of my anger and sadness over these bigger-than-me events in our world is due to my inability to do anything about them. I can’t stop the shootings. I can’t stop the wars. I can’t stop the violence or take away the fear or the agony. 

I also confess these same events made me deeply sad when I listened to a father talk about losing his son and saw the death and destruction of the wars. Sadness is too slight of a word. 

So, my final confession is that I am concerned that we allow these kinds of things to become the norm. I would rather be angry and sad than become so calloused that I yawn and feel nothing. At least in this mental state, I regularly remind myself to do whatever I can to bring more kindness, gentleness, calmness, peace and love to my place in the world.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

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A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 42                   October 23, 2023

When Life Seems Out of Control

When life seems out of control, and it does most of the time, what do you do? These are go-to words that help calm my soul and relieve my anxious spirit.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 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 4:5-7)

These words remind me that the Lord is near, so be gentle. Be gentle with me. Be gentle with the people most dear to me. Be gentle with strangers. Be gentle with all.

These words remind me to give it all to God. Whatever is troubling you give it to the Lord. Pray about it all. Present it to God. Admit you cannot handle it and acknowledge that you trust Him to care for it. 

These words remind me that God’s peace is available. His peace is real. His peace does not make sense, but it is possible. Accept it. Enjoy it. 

If your world seems out of control, give that to the One who understands your concerns, and rest assured that He can handle them. 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

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For past articles, go here:  A Norvell Note.

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 41                   October 16, 2023

Observations

We are stressed and nervous. God can give us peace.

We see danger all around us. God is our safe place. 

We are fearful and uncertain times. God is our refuge. 

We are fretful and worried. God will provide.

We are surrounded by anger and hatred. God loves everyone.

We are restless and fatigued. God is our rest. 

We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. God does. 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

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Vol. 27 No. 40                   October 9, 2023

Help In Our Weakness

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. (Romans 8:26-28)

Thank You, God, for sending Your Spirit who helps me in my weakness. Correction: in my weaknesses. There are many. Thank You for knowing my weaknesses and helping me when I don’t understand how to overcome my weaknesses. 

Thank You, God, for all the times when I don’t know how or what I should pray for, but You do. Somehow, You take my wordless groans, desires, hopes, whimpers, whines, and cries from my heart and turn them into something that makes sense to You. 

Thank You, God, for knowing what is in my heart and mind better than I do and for interceding. My thinking is not always in line with what You think and know is best, but You know me so well that You reinterpret what I say or try to say to Your will. And You know that although I don’t always act like it, Your will is what I want.

Thank You, God, for knowing, loving, and living in me. I cannot live without You. 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2023 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

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For past articles, go here:  A Norvell Note.

A Norvell Note

Vol. 27 No. 39                   October 2, 2023

Good and Helpful

“Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29, NLT)

I have preached, taught, and written about those words more times than I can count, and I still choose to say things far from good or helpful. Sometimes, it happens when I’m watching sports. Sometimes, it happens when I’m in traffic. Sometimes, it happens when I’m tired and frustrated. Sometimes, it happens after a long and frustrating day. 

None of those situations allow me to ignore that God wants me to “let everything I say be good and helpful, so that my words will be an encouragement to those who hear them (or read them).” Maybe you have the same tendency. If so, I offer these suggestions. 

Pause and think before you speak. If I never see this person again, how will they remember me? Will my words encourage or discourage this person? Is what I am about to say worth hearing? 

Make sure that what you say is worth hearing. Does anyone need to listen to this? Is there any real value in what I am about to say? Will what I am about to write, speak, or repeat make a difference for good, or does it only feed my ego?

If your words are not good and helpful, and they are not worth hearing, don’t say them. “Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence.” Silence might be better. Speaking what is right and good is especially true when wanting to comfort someone who is hurting. 

Let’s work on our speech. Let’s strive to share only what is good and helpful so our words will encourage those who hear them. We may not change the whole world, but it surely will change the world for the people around us. 

Be good and helpful.

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.