Author: TomNorvell

Vol. 20 No. 44 | November 5, 2018

I recently shared a few sunrise and sunset photos with my friends on their birthdays, along with these words from the Fiddler on the Roof:

“Sunrise, sunset…swiftly fly the years.”

The chorus of the song continues,

“One season following another. Laden with happiness and tears.”

My intention was not to focus on the fact that my friends are getting older. I wanted, instead, to offer an opportunity for reflection on the life they’ve been given and on life itself.

The years do fly by swiftly. And they are certainly laden with happiness and tears.

On any given day, we are likely to be celebrating someone on the day they were born and wishing them well, or remembering how old they would be if they were still alive.

I’ve done both in the last two weeks.

On any given day we may be celebrating with a couple on their anniversary or grieving over the news that a couple decided to end their marriage.

I’ve done both in the last two weeks.

Swiftly fly the years…laden with happiness and tears.

On the subject of age, last week my doctors asked me how old I was. Their response was to remind me of all the changes that occur as we get older. Another person’s reaction was to tell me I looked younger. (I prefer the latter).

The fall season always generates nostalgic and reflective moments for me. This isn’t a bad thing…as long as I don’t drift too far or linger too long there. These moments of reflection serve as a reminder to consider how I’ve been living and what I’m doing with the days I have left. And they usually point me to this passage from the Bible:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17, NIV)

 Am I being careful how I live? Am I living wisely and making the most of every opportunity? Am I seeking the Lord’s will and not being foolish?

Most of the time I believe I am. Others, not so much.

But can I do better? Most certainly. Will I do better? I will do my very best.

Because the years fly swiftly and are laden with happiness and tears.

How about you?

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Vol. 20 No. 43 | October 29, 2018

You see the cleaning lady in the hall every day. While you’re gone, she comes into your office, empties the trash, straightens everything up, and vacuums. You never worry if it will get done, or even think about it. Because it always does, because she is dedicated to her job and needs the money. Have you ever told her you appreciate her?

Your neighbor keeps his yard well-manicured. When you are away, he keeps an eye on things. He is a quiet man who goes about his life with kindness and gentleness. Have you ever told him you appreciate him and enjoy being his neighbor? 

Almost every time you go to the grocery store, you have the same woman check you out at the register. She is always friendly, sweet to your children, and has a wonderful smile. Have you ever told her how much she brightens your day?

There is an older gentleman who sits near you at church. He is always there and always alone. You learn that he leaves immediately after service to go visit his wife. She has Alzheimer’s Disease and hasn’t recognized him in two years. But he still goes to see her and help her eat lunch. Have you ever shared how much you appreciate him honoring the commitment he made to his wife…in sickness and health, for better or worse?

We intersect with dozens of people every day. Some are memorable interactions, others we hardly notice, but both give us an opportunity to share an encouraging word or express our appreciation. Too often, we don’t take the time to say what we are thinking because we are in a hurry or afraid we might sound silly.

With very little effort, we can change the atmosphere of a room, our workplace, the dinner table, or the coffee shop. We don’t have to go to a lot of trouble, just a simple, “I really appreciate the way you live your life”, or, “thank you for what you do and how you do it with such joy”, or, “I really want you to know that working with you is a pleasure,” Or even just a sincere, “Thank you.”

Try to remember how it made you feel the last time someone expressed their appreciation for you. You were surprised. You didn’t realize they noticed. You felt a little more alive and … appreciated.

In the words of Jesus (and paraphrased by the late Eugene Peterson): 

“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.”

By the way, I appreciate you taking the time to read these words.

Now, it’s your turn.

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Vol. 20 No. 42 | October 22, 2018

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 timothy 6:6-10, NIV)

This one line stands out to me: But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

That line jumps off the page because I wonder: Will we? Will we be content with just food and clothing?

Every time I pull my car into our two-car garage, I see boxes lining the walls filled with clothes we are not wearing, sporting equipment we are not using, and decorations that are only decorating the boxes they’re in.

When I drive through neighborhoods, I see cars sitting in driveways because their garages are filled with exercise and building equipment that do not fit inside their houses.

When I drive down city streets, I see housing development after housing development, in part, because we are not satisfied with our current living situation.

When I go to the grocery store, I usually leave with more than I need and can’t remember the last time I didn’t stand in line to check out (even with the self-check-out lanes).

The ads that show up on my social media pages and appear repeatedly on tv constantly challenge my notion of being content.

Don’t take this to mean I have anything against using your garage as a workshop or workout room, community growth, people buying groceries to feed their families, or companies promoting their products. My concern, however, is with the difficulty we have experiencing the great gain of godliness and contentment.

Contentment is a great challenge for all who live in the land of plenty. It seems that plenty is okay, but more is better. Enough is seldom enough.

It’s only natural, right? The American way, right?  

Not according to Jesus and his followers.

The call to live simply and with contentment is not easy. I am not there. But I’m trying. I’ve been trying for many years. I have made some progress. I have fewer boxes in my garage and less stuff in my attic. I’m trying to be content with my iPhone 7, and I still drive a 2007 Toyota Highlander with almost 250,000 miles on it. I’m trying to live simply and with contentment, but I’m not where I want to be.

You may share a similar battle. Don’t give up. Live simply. Be content with what you have. Trust the Lord to show you the “great gain.”

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Vol. 20 No. 41 | October 15, 2018

In the first five verses of Psalm 139, David marvels at the reality that God knows his every thought and action and is constantly aware of where he is. He says:

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too lofty for me to attain. (Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

The Message states it this way:

“This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!”

This phrase has been filtering my thoughts over the last few weeks.

It is too much sometimes, too wonderful to take it all in- that God answers our prayers, that we are able to have children who love the Lord, honor Him with their lives and guide their children to do the same.

When I think of how much God loves me, how many sins He has forgiven, how much mercy He has shown me, and the blessings He continues to give me, it overwhelms me.

When I consider the beauty and wonders of the earth that God has created for us to enjoy, it leaves me in awe.

When I contemplate all that God is doing in my life and in the lives of the people around me, it amazes me.

When I wrap my arms around one of my five beautiful granddaughters, I’m overcome with joy and gratitude.

When a friend takes the time to call and see how I’m doing, it humbles me.

When I realize how many people God has placed in my life who love me, bless me, and encourage me, I can hardly take it all in.

Take the time this week to take it all in….and thank the Lord for the countless blessings he has given you.

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Vol. 20 No. 39 | October 8, 2018

You may be surprised, after giving up all hope, that you found the person you’ve been searching for. But God isn’t surprised. 

You may be stunned when you find out you are pregnant…with twins. But God isn’t stunned.

You may be shocked, hurt, and confused when you are terminated from your job. But God isn’t

It may have scared you when your doctor mentioned the possibility of cancer in your consultation. But God isn’t scared.

You may be amazed that the your former student, the one who gave all his teachers so many problems, is now running a thriving business that helps underprivileged children. But God isn’t amazed. 

We may be alarmed about what is happening with our government and political leaders. But God isn’t.

If you find yourself confused, shocked, or scared by what is going on around you, spend a few minutes with these words:

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain. (Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

God knows why things happen as they do. He is not shocked by evil or caught off guard by goodness. God is not dazed when we choose or fail to trust and follow Him.

If you need a little more convincing that God is engaged in what is going on in our lives and the rest of the world, read more from Psalm 139. Then take comfort knowing that God is with us through all that has happened, is happening, and will happen…and He is not surprised.

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A Norvell Note                                                           Vol. 20 No. 39 | October 1, 2018

“To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.__

How much time do we spend every day either trying to please people, being afraid we aren’t pleasing them, or being told we didn’t?

Some of us will spend our entire lives trying to gain approval- from our parents, employer, spouse, or friend. We work long hours, give elaborate gifts, and often ignore our own needs in this never-ending battle for recognition.

It becomes exhausting, jumping through hoop after frustrating hoop, hungering to hear the magic words: “I’m proud of you, son”, “You look beautiful, sweetheart”, or “Great work today”.

Unfortunately, similar longings reside in the hearts of many regarding our relationship with God.

Many of us have been taught from the beginning that pleasing God is only possible by working harder, doing more… making sure we’ve jumped through all the hoops. So, like the parent we’ve tried so hard to please, we do everything possible to prove our worth.

As we see in the Old Testament, this quest to please God is nothing new.

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

Then, comes the wonderful news of what the Lord wants of us.
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:7-9, NIV)

There is no long list of rules to follow and no expectations to be perfect. See, as it turns out, God never intended for us to live in fear of not doing enough to make it to heaven.

He just asks that we act justly, love mercifully, and to walk humbly…no hoops required.

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A Norvell Note                                                Vol. 20 No. 38 | September 24, 2018

On a daily basis, I try to remind myself that there are many things I simply cannot do…

I cannot rid the world of evil, for example, or undo the wrongs done to innocent people

I cannot prevent hurricanes, massive flooding, or mass shootings.

I cannot stop the ugly rhetoric of government leaders and political parties.

I cannot take away the aching hearts of parents who lose a child or those of children who lose their parents.

I cannot make people act or think the way I think they should act or think.

And on a daily basis, I also try to remind myself of the things I can do.

I can focus on the things and people who are true, admirable, and lovely…those worthy of praise.

I can be an example of love and peace, patience and kindness, faithfulness and gentleness.

I can let gentleness be evident to all people because I know God is near.

I can stop complaining and arguing and do my best to live so that I shine like a star in the universe.

I can be a better me. On a daily basis, I can do my best to be a better me. 

And that is enough.

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A Norvell Note                                                          

Vol. 20 No. 38 | September 17, 2018

The elderly woman I sat beside seemed distressed as she pointed to her Bible. I handed it to her and watched as she thumbed through the pages. She said it always brought tears to her eyes when she thought of the first part of Genesis.

I later realized this was because the first ten chapters of the book of Genesis were missing.

I always loved going to church, since I was a little girl, although we really weren’t given a choice. We just knew, if something was going on at church, we would be there.

The conversation went on for a bit, ending with the 23rd Psalm and a prayer.

Our conversation stayed with me and made me realize how long it had been since I’d seen someone have that much respect for her personal copy of the Word of God.

At the risk of sounding like an ‘old fogy’ who has lost touch with the modern world, I’m going to share a few thoughts that have been lingering ever since.

There was a day when our personal copy of the Bible was considered just that, personal…almost sacred. We kept it clean, maybe even with a protective cover on it, and stored in a special place when we weren’t reading it.

Gradually, we began to collect different versions so we could read and compare. Then, we started leaving our personal copy in the car from one Sunday to the next. Eventually, technology introduced us to the electronic Bible. Now, we have access to literally hundreds of copies stored in our phones.

My intention isn’t to judge this transition as good or bad. It’s just something I’ve been observing.

I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon happening with our physical place of worship. I don’t hear many people these days grieve over the fact that they’ve gone weeks without going to church or connecting with their spiritual community.

The reasons are varied- business travel, the children’s sport leagues, illness, or simply a lack of interest. I’ve heard things like, “I can worship just as well on the water with just me and the Lord as I can in a church building.” Or, “That’s the only free day I have to rest, relax and do nothing.” 

We really were not given a choice…we just knew if something was going on at the church we would be there…

Again, no judgment implied, just reflections on how things have changed and thoughts that probe my heart.

So some questions to think about this week:

Do we truly value the Word of God and the Community He has blessed us with?

Whether leather bound, red-letter-edition, on the big screen, or in our pockets, do we truly appreciate that God loves us so much He has given us unlimited ways to read His words? Do we truly appreciate the spiritual community God has provided us through the countless ways and places we have to cultivate our relationship with Jesus?

I hope these words inspire you to absorb the words of God in a space you love surrounded by people you love.

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Vol. 20 No. 37 | September 10, 2018

Sometimes people get on my nerves, and sometimes they surprise me, both in good and bad ways. Sometimes they remind me of things I aspire to do, and sometimes of things I never want to. Sometimes people do amazingly kind things, and sometimes unbelievably hurtful ones.

Sometimes I am one of those people.

Some days I say to myself, “people are people”, sometimes, “people are amazing”, and …sometimes, “you can’t fix stupid”. Occasionally, I’ll quote the late Jim Morrison, “People are strange.” But in reality, after these profoundly astute observations, I simply move on with life.

One thing I’ve observed that makes moving on the most difficult is when we disappoint.

I said I would never act like that, and then I did. She said she’d keep what I told her between us. She didn’t. I made a commitment and didn’t follow through. He told me the car was fixed, and it wasn’t…on and on.

Being disappointed can be devastating. But one of the most destructive responses to being disappointed is anger.

Anger in itself is not bad. It’s how we deal with it that’s important.

So, when I disappoint myself or someone disappoints me, I remind myself of these words:

“Neither do I condemn you. Go on your way. From now on do not sin.”

“Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.”

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love others.”

“First, get the beam out of your own eye.”

Dallas Willard shared these words:

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus starts his discussion of life with a picture of the kingdom of God and the blessed life within that. And then he turns to street level and begins to look at where harm comes from in individual lives. The first thing he puts his finger on is anger and contempt (Matt. 5:21-26). If you could pull anger and contempt out of the world, you wouldn’t have an attack on the Twin Towers, or a Holocaust, or an Inquisition. Without anger and contempt, there simply isn’t the motivation to hurt people.

It’s important to remember this as we look at evil in the world and ask, “What am I going to do about it?” We each have to start with ourselves and our range of influence. We need to help others come to grips with the place of anger and desire in their lives. Anger comes from crossing someone’s will—interfering with someone’s desires. The general path of changing this, of getting rid of anger and contempt and keeping desire under control, is to surrender our will to God. That is to say, we have to turn our future, our present, and everything in our lives over to God’s care. This is the answer to the problem of evil. Even for those who have to go through cancer, losing loved ones, war, whatever it may be—the answer is surrender to the will of God.
[The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus. Copyright @ 2015 by Dallas Willard. HarperCollins Publishers]

When people disappoint me, I do my best to remind myself that my best approach is to be a better version of me. Of course, there will still be times when I disappoint people and they will disappoint me. But I am trying to learn not to assume motive, immediately judge or condemn. Instead, I’m doing my best to lead with kindness and mercy.

So, if after reading these words, your initial response is, “I’m really disappointed with Tom”, I hope you will apply these thoughts of kindness and mercy toward me.

Have a blessed week.

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Would you like to feel useful, productive, and know at the end of the day that your time wasn’t wasted?

Vol. 20 No. 36 | September 3, 2018

Encourage Someone

Would you like to feel useful, productive, and know at the end of the day that your time wasn’t wasted?

Here’s something that might help:

We should think about each other to see how we can encourage each other to show love and do good works. (Hebrews 10:24, Easy-to-Read Version)

First, think about each other.

Think about other people- your friends, family, and coworkers. Put your needs aside for a few minutes and think about what is going on in their world and obstacles they might be facing. Pray for them.

Paul said it like this:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV)

Second, think about ways you can encourage them.

If you have a friend who is going through a hard time, call them and remind them you are thinking about and praying for them. Be specific.

If you know someone who is expecting a baby, invite them over for a meal and listen to their dreams, fears, and concerns. Listen, then pray for them.

If you know someone who recently had or adopted a baby, call or visit them and ask how they are really doing. Listen to them, then pray for them.

If you know a couple who is recently married or about to get married? Arrange a time to be with them, listen to their excitement or challenges. Pray with them.

Do you have friends whose child is about to graduate from high school? Send them a note and let them know you’ve been there. Encourage them to enjoy every moment…and to cry when they need to.

Send your preacher a note reminding him or her that you appreciate all they do for you and the church.

Make a special effort to let your child’s teacher know you appreciate all they do.

Make a list of things your spouse does that you appreciate and share it with them when they are having a tough day.

Pay attention to your child and acknowledge something they do that makes you proud. Make a big deal out of it. Also notice when they are struggling and learn how to help them work through it.

Think about others. Be creative in encouraging them. They will be glad you did. You will be too.

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