Author: TomNorvell

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

Vol. 22 No. 04 January 27, 2020

This thought came to me recently: There are a lot of people in the world. 

I know, not terribly profound, but what else do you think about when you are stuck in traffic on the freeway? 

Here’s what it looks like to me

• Population of the world: approaching 8 billion people: 331,002,651 live in the United States. (Worldometer) 
• 28.7 million people live in Texas
• 2 million live in the Austin metropolitan area
• 43,480 in Kyle, Texas 
• 1294 people who have claimed me as a “friend” on Facebook (some of those are family)
• 11 people in our immediate family 
• 2 of us are living in our home

Who are all of these people? Where are they going? Where have they been? What is it like in their part of the world? Are they happy, or are they sad? 

Beyond the numbers, there is something even more amazing: God knows every one of us, and He knows us completely. 

I have been very blessed to have met a lot of people. I have become acquaintances with some, become close with others, and grown to love and be loved by a select few.  

But, even if I could figure out a way to count everyone who has touched my life in some way, the number would be minuscule in comparison to the 8 billion living in the world. 

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31, NIV)

In Psalm 139, David describes the relationship God has with us in terms that are more intimate than my mind can comprehend. He has known us since before we came into being; He knows what we’re thinking before we think it; and He knows where we’re going before we go there. 

 Not only does He know us completely, He loves us completely and is always working to do what is best for us. 

When I consider the numbers, it’s easy to feel insignificant and small. But when I consider His love and kindness, I cannot help but feel extraordinary.

I agree completely with David’s observation in verse 6 of the Psalm: 

“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.” 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Vol. 22 No. 03

January 20, 2020

His Peace

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)

Jesus made several statements like this to remind us that there is peace amidst all the chaos we see going on around us. 

There have been many times in my life that I believed I would only find peace when…I had all the things I thought I needed; all the conflicts between nations cease; churches practice the teachings they preach; all turmoil within and around me has calmed; and I am evolved enough to consistently reflect the image of Jesus more than my own.  

Guess what? That hasn’t happened. 

I still have days when I think I’ll only have peace when I reach a certain status, have and accomplish enough, and there is less turmoil in the world. 

But on a deeper level, I know it is still possible to have the peace Jesus promised. Even when the chaos and uncertainty directly impact me, I know that Jesus overcame the world, and that thought calms me. That gives me peace. 

And I’m pretty certain that when I arrive at that place of peace, Jesus, the Father, and the Spirit must surely smile. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note 2020 

Vol. 22 No. 02

January 13, 2020

Seeing What You Cannot See

Have you ever tried to see something you cannot see?

You are driving on a dark road. Your headlights are on and you see clearly as far as they reach. But beyond the light, all you can see is darkness. Until you turn on your brights, and then you can see what you could not see. 

You wake up in the middle of the night. The room is dark. There’s a nightlight, but it only helps for a certain distance. You squint, but you still cannot see what’s beyond the light. And then you flip a switch to another light that allows you to see what you could not see. 

You are walking down a dark path. A friend is holding a flashlight and can see fine. But you can only see vague images and shadows. Then he shines his light on your path, and you’re able to see what you could not see. 

For centuries, people were trying to see what they could not see. They had heard about and studied God. They wanted to see Him. They searched for Him in the Scriptures, religious meetings, rituals, and traditions. But they still could not see Him. 

And then the light came on. 

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

He came into the world, not as they expected, but He came. (John 8:12, NIV)

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  (John 9:5, NIV)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5, NIV)

The light of Jesus continues to shine so we can see what we could not see. Let it shine brightly, and you will overcome the darkness. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2020 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Vol. 21 No. 52 | December 30, 2019

Gentleness

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  (Philippians 4:5, NIV)

Gentleness. The word keeps nudging its way into my thoughts, stirring up a longing for more. 

Maybe it is the lack of gentleness conveyed in the news and on social media that makes me long for more, or the politicians and leaders who have forgotten that gentle responses are even an option or the people who tout religious values but contradict the spirit of gentleness that the Lord prefers. 

“Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced.”  (James 3:17, The Message)

Or perhaps it’s the examples of gentleness I do see and hear that makes me want  to experience and exhibit more:

The dad who takes time to listen to the story his daughter’s trying to tell him; the son who helps his dad walk from the car to the restaurant; the mom who comforts her little one in her arms after she’s fallen; the daughter who responds gently to her mother’s harsh criticism, knowing her grandmother never did the same.  

Whatever the reason, I have a growing desire to see and hear more gentleness, speak and respond more gently, and live with more gentleness in the coming year. 

May you be blessed with and share more gentleness as a reminder that the Lord is near. 

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

Vol. 21 No. 51 | December 23, 2019

I haven’t been following the Democratic debates, but for some reason, I watched the last one (possibly because I couldn’t find a good basketball game). For the better part of three hours, the seven candidates went back and forth in the typical “attack, destroy, and self-promote” fashion. 

As Jason Russell put it in a Washington Examiner:  

The last question of Thursday night’s Democratic debate had nothing to do with public policy. Instead, it was a great test of authenticity. In short, it’s the holiday season, and if you could give any other candidate a certain gift or ask any of them forgiveness, what would you do? Sadly, all of the candidates failed the test. 

I agree with Russell’s evaluation. For a brief moment, I hoped I’d hear an honest answer, but that didn’t happen. Not only did they fail the test, but they also had no idea how to respond. 

Sadly, a sincere, honest answer to a question that might make them vulnerable is too much to expect in our current political eat-or-get-eaten environment. 

But even though none of the presidential hopefuls answered the question, it still resonated with me. If I could give any other person a certain gift this holiday season, or ask one person for forgiveness, what would I do? 

And this is what I came up with: 

I would give you my promise that in the days I have left, I will do my best to be the person whom God has called me to be, and whom I claim to be. 

And I would ask all of you to forgive me for the times (way too many to count) when I failed to live up to my calling and be who I claim to be. And I would ask for forgiveness if and when I fail again. 

May you be blessed with love, joy, and peace this Christmas season.

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A Norvell Note © Copyright 2019 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved 

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

The deadline for signing up for your healthcare has passed, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and many of the other amazing super-duper sales have either ended or extended for the gigantic sale before the Christmas really crazy rush. 

BUT, it’s not too late to become a patron through Patreon to help me keep writing A Norvell Note. Just a few dollars makes a big difference. $1, $5, $10, or $25 a month will be a great help. 

You can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/anorvellnote

Thank you very much,

Tom