A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 35 | August 27, 2018

The team needs you to be the best coach ever. Your boss needs you to go above and beyond your job description. The kids need you to be super mom. Your spouse wants you to read her mind. Your church wants you to be fully involved in every program.

By the time the week ends you’re exhausted, only to wake up and realize it’s time do it all again.

One of the characteristics of Jesus that constantly amazes me was His ability to be and do what everyone needed Him to be and do.

When people needed compassion, He had plenty of it.

When people needed firm teaching, He taught with authority.

When people needed to know they were loved, He loved them lavishly.

When people were hungry, He fed them.

When people needed to be forgiven, He forgave them.

When people needed a Savior, He died on a cross.

When people needed hope, He rolled the stone away and came out of the tomb.

All those things He did while He walked the earth, and all those things He still does.

Why? Because He loves us, and He wants us to do the same. He wants us to love like He loves.

We love because he first loved us. Because He loves us we can love others. (1 John 4:19)

We cannot do everything and be everything that Jesus did and does. Our human tendencies are often more powerful than His Spirit that dwells within us. But, we can do one thing well and consistently as Jesus did. We can love people like Jesus did. Let’s do that.

This week let’s just love like Jesus loves and see what happens…

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A Norvell Note                                                                Vol. 20 No. 34 | August 20, 2018

What is it like for you when you are not ‘in the know’?

You are on group message and you realize that you’ve missed a part of the conversation and have no idea what the others are talking about.

You are the new member of a team. You don’t know the inside jokes or understand the historical references.

You are in a meeting and stepped away for a moment. When you come back, the conversation has shifted and you’re clueless about the topic being discussed.

You walk up to a group of friends who are engaged in a lively conversation. You stand awkwardly by them for several minutes totally unaware of what they’re laughing about…wishing you could be included.

You are new to the neighborhood and unfamiliar with the community services and organizations. What is the system for garbage pickup? Who has the best internet service? Are there any reputable and affordable mechanics, local cleaners, and lawn care professionals? What is the best donut place? What coffee shop has the best coffee?

Until you are there for a while, you don’t know. You’re dependent on neighbors, friends, and community veterans to get answers to your questions.

Not knowing is hard. It can make you feel alone and isolated. It can be confusing, frustrating, and even dangerous. Even if it is not essential for you to know, you still want to.

Some prefer not to know the evil things that go on in the world. Some say ignorance is bliss and believe if you ignore problems, they will take care of themselves. But that rarely happens. So, I prefer to know.

I have often thought about how Job in the Old Testament must have felt when he became the subject of Satan’s cruel game. “Why is this happening? What am I supposed to do and feel as I watch everything important to me crumble? God, I don’t know what is going on, but I trust You.”

In the end Job still didn’t completely understand everything that had happened to him, but he did learn more clearly that God is aware of everything that happens to us, is loving and kind, and does not need our opinion on how he handles the events of life on the earth.

God understands our needs and desire to know about the important things in life. In John 14, Jesus said this:

“You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (4-7)

In chapter 16, verse 33 he said:

“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.”

And then in chapter 17, verse 3:

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

It seems to be that the whole purpose of God sending His Son to earth was so we could know Him. God wants us to know Him. “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.”

There are many things you may never know. Many of them are of no consequence. But there other things that you need to know or you will be missing out. Not knowing God is one of those important things. In fact, there is nothing more important.

I hope you know Him. If you do know Him, I hope you are growing in your knowledge of Him. If you do not know Him, I hope you will come to know Him. If I can help with that, please let me know.

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”

Listen: Jesus Let Us Come to Know You

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The Importance of Knowing

ON AUGUST 20, 2018 BY TOM NORVELL LEAVE A COMMENT

 

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A Norvell Note                                                                   Vol. 20 No. 33 | August 13, 2018

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”^[1]

I have read and sung those words hundreds of times and they never get old. I suppose it would be impossible for them to get old based on the truth stated in them…

“His mercies never come to end; they are new every morning.”

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.” The Lord’s love is steadfast. That means it is solid, strong, and consistent. The Lord’s love never ceases. In relationships we have to be careful with the word never. “You never say you love me.” “You never show me respect.” Using the word in those situations help make a strong point, but it is likely not accurate and puts the other person in a no-win situation.

When the Lord says, “My steadfast love for you never ceases.” He means it never ceases. We may do some crazy, knuckle-head, awful things, but His love for us never ceases. We may act selfish, unkind, and unmerciful, but His love for us never ceases. But we can carry that thought as we go through the day, when we lay our head on our pillow at night…The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases.

And if we need a little more assurance, we can add these words:

“Great is your faithfulness.” His faithfulness, not mine. “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.”

Every morning we have a new supply of mercies from God. His mercies, compassions, kindnesses, sympathies, and generosities never come to an end. Every morning we wake up to the reality that God still loves us, and He has a never-ending supply of mercies. We must strive to start our day with that thought, and it might change the way we move through our day.

The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is my everything, my all, He is all I need. How could I ask for more? Because of who He is, I would put my hope in Him. He will love me with an eternal love, greet me every day with an endless supply of mercy, and show me that He is all I need, so naturally He is where I will hope.

You may recognize the reality of these truths this week when you…

…randomly run into a friend from another city while you are out to dinner.
…wake up in the morning to the comfort and familiarity of your home…on and on…
…hear the laughter of a child.
…listen to the falling rain.
…take a breath…then another.

Whenever and wherever you experience them, thank Him for His mercies that are new every morning.

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^[1] Lamentations 3:22-24, New Revised Standard

Vol. 20 No. 32 | August 6, 2018

“I hope to do better.”

I wonder how many times I’ve said that phrase?

…when explaining that I’m having difficulty with a new responsibility, after failing to keep a promise to a friend, or admitting I’ve not completed a task I’d committed to doing.

“I hope to do better.”

I wonder how many times I’ve said that to the Lord?

…when confessing I’ve not been the person I want to be, when I’ve not kept promises I’ve made to Him, or when I’ve committed the same sin again.

…when frustrated with and disappointed in my lack of consistency in reading the Word, praying for people, showing kindness and love, being gentle, and spending time alone with Him.

“I hope to do better.”

I wonder how many times the Lord has heard this from all of us?

A couple of stories come to mind that demonstrate how we all struggle with the desire to do better…to be better.

The first takes place in the temple.

Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: “God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.”

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-13, NIV)

The second takes place in the courtyard near the temple.

At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”

They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin. (John 10:1-14, NIV)

The way the Lord praises the Pharisee’s confession, I believe He is saying, “I know you want to do better. I believe you. And, I love

Jesus’s response to the condemned woman seems to be saying, “I know you want to do better. I believe you. And, I love you.”

Usually, when I say, I hope to do better, the words are accompanied with feelings of remorse, regret, and guilt. But when I read the two stories above, I’m reminded that I can do better. I am encouraged by the realization that the Lord believes I want to do better and that I can. He offers His help and reminds me of His undying love for me.

So now, when I say I hope to do better, I say it with confidence that I will do better.

Thank You, Lord, for all the opportunities You hear my confessions and remind me that You love me, and that with Your love and guidance, I will do better.

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Vol. 20 No. 31 | July 30, 2018

I woke up this morning in a new place. There have been several mornings in recent months when I’ve woken up in new places. Some mornings I’ve even wondered, “Where am I now?”

This morning, however, I woke up in our new home.

As we searched for a place to live, there were some houses we loved and some we immediately knew were not what we wanted. There were a few we loved but were not meant to be- an offer had already been accepted, there was some major flaw in construction, or there were things we didn’t want. So, we moved on.

When we walked in this house for the first time, we instantly knew this was the one. In fact, within a few minutes, we were ready to make an offer. The offer was extended, accepted, and this morning I woke up in my new home.

As the furniture and boxes were unloaded, we made comments like, “This is it! This is our final move.!” We’ve said this before. I suppose we all have wanted to believe, ‘we’re finally home’ at different points in life. After a long trip, “Ah, we’re finally home.” At the end of a long day or when the work week ends, “Ah, we’re finally home.” When I laid my head on my pillow last night, I thought, “It’s good to finally be home.” It’s a great feeling.

I love our new home. I hope we’re able to share meals, drink coffee, and have conversations and laughter with our family and friends for years to come.

But I know this is only a temporary dwelling. The newness will eventually fade, and life will get back to normal (whatever that is). This is, in fact, only a temporary dwelling.

I am reminded of these words:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 2:1-3, NIV)

There are times, out of necessity, when our eyes are focused on “earthly things.” It is a part of being human. But our eyes cannot remain fixated on these things. These things and this place are temporary. They will become old and they will pass away.

And one day, I will wake up in a new place unlike any other. It will be a place that will last forever and never grow old, and thankfully, there will be no more goodbyes.

The last book of the Bible talks of such a place:

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

There will be a morning when I will wake up in this new place, and I can finally truly say, “Ah, it’s good to be home!”

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Vol. 20 No. 29 | July 23, 2018

What is a family?

We all have our own images, ideas, and thoughts about what family is and means to us. I thought I’d share a few of mine.

A family is the group of people with whom you share a common history. This history may include images of peace and harmony, or it may be filled with chaos and crises. Thoughts of your family may produce feelings of joy and happiness, or they may produce feelings of anger and pain. Your family may now be isolated and distant, or loving and close.

Our families are a collection of personalities unique to our families. Some of these personalities may be considered quirky or strange from an outside perspective. But everyone knows that these personalities are what makes the family special.

The family we were born into is something we were given through no effort of fault of our own. Our parents, good or bad, are our parents. Some parents provide us with a nurturing, loving home, and some were abusive and neglectful. Some of us left home to get away from our parents, some of us have lived close to our parents all of our life.

Some families love deeply, express it openly, and cherish moments together. Some families develop hatred, express it openly, and avoid even being in the same room.

My family has created a history that contains joyful memories, loving relationships, and sadness over the absence of those who are no longer with us. We get together as often as we can and when that time ends, we count the days until we will be together again. I have been blessed with a wonderful family.

There is another family in addition to the one in which we were born…one we are welcomed to join. It is entirely our choice. We have been invited into the family by the One who came up with the idea and still offers sound training and advice on the best way to enjoy it. His family is known for sharing love and kindness and grace and peace and joy with all who want to join.

No, our eclectic, collective family is not always perfect, but we are here to be God’s hands and feet on earth.

And He welcomes us with open arms.

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Vol. 20 No. 29 | July 16, 2018

There was a time when children traveled with their parents to the grocery store, the doctor’s office, or post office to mail a letter (a what?). There was a time when children would wait while dad put gas in the car and listen to the radio, look out the window, or talk to each other in the car. They had no devices to play games on or watch movies or surf Instagram.

There once was a time when you had to open the window of the car by turning a knob and cranking it down. If you needed directions, you used a cumbersome map that was kept in the glove pocket.

There was a time when in order get ice, you had to pull a tray from the freezer by pulling a lever to crack the ice, then dump it out of the tray…making sure your hands weren’t wet so they wouldn’t stick to the tray.

Some remember the days when there were no 24-hour news stations. Why would anyone need that much news? You had to wait until it came on one of the three channels. And the only sports coverage was the game of the week on Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not advocating we go back to those times. I love advanced technology that allows me to write this article on my laptop while flying to witness the arrival of our fifth grandchild. And even if we couldn’t make the trip, we could have watched the first moments after the baby’s arrival on any number of electronic devices.

I also appreciate the advances in the medical community that provide faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment of illnesses. I appreciate the option to get ice from the door of a refrigerator and the fact that I can wash and dry my clothes from inside my house.

These are good times we live in. But these days aren’t necessarily any better or worse. They’re just different. We functioned and even thrived in the days before smartphones, and we can function and thrive now that we have them.

It is not the stuff we have or don’t have that makes life good, it is what we do with the days we have.

We can have every gadget in the world and huge houses and additional storage spaces to keep them in, and still be miserable. And we can live in the poorest of neighborhoods and struggle to pay the bills and still find contentment and peace.

The Psalmist wrote these words: Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 92:12, NIV)

The writer of Proverbs said:

“Two things I ask of you, Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God. (Proverbs 30:7-9, NIV)

The Apostle wrote these words: Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)

Jesus spoke these words: But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33, NIV)

When it’s all said and done, one of the keys to living and enjoying life is to focus more on how we live than on what we have or don’t have as we live.

My advice for this week is to give our maximum energy to living each day to the fullest and loving every person as much as we possibly can.

UPDATE: #5 Granddaughter – Jennilu Henderson Norvell – made her appearance at 3:37 PM EST on July 15, 2018. Baby, Mom, Dad, and two big sisters are healthy and full of joy.  Oh, this Papa is blessed beyond imagination.

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Vol. 20 No. 28 | July 9, 2018

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Sometimes life moves fast.

You are in the midst of a family-crisis and news comes that a dear friend has been rushed to the Emergency Room. As you frantically make your way to the ER, you get a call from your boss, asking for the sales report from last week.

You and your wife are determined to reduce your spending and get out of debt, when your company decides to cut back on labor and your hours. As you think of a way to break the news to your wife, she calls and says your daughter needs to get her wisdom teeth removed, something your insurance won’t cover.

You are doing your best to care for your aging parents. You think you have it all under control when your father has a stroke.

Your daughter is graduating from college, your son is graduating from high school, and your sister is getting married all on the same weekend.

You agreed to serve on an important church committee, the parent’s association at your children’s school needs a committee chairman, and you’ve already committed to coach your daughter’s soccer team.

Sometimes life moves fast, sometimes at a pace we’re not sure we can manage.

We all handle these times differently. Some people attack it, treating it as just another obstacle to overcome, one more mountain to climb.

Some people live in denial, ignoring the problems, hoping they will go away.

Some people run away, shirking their responsibilities, hoping others will take care of them.

But there is a better way.

During the last week of His life, Jesus was celebrated with a parade in his honor and also confronted by people who hated him. He spent time with his followers, giving them final instructions on what to do when He was gone. He was arrested, put on trial, beaten, mocked, found guilty, and nailed to a cross.

But when He left the garden, He walked out courageously, knowing what lie ahead, more determined than ever to finish His Father’s work.

How did Jesus handle it? In the midst of it all, He went to the garden and prayed.

Maybe this is what we should do. Maybe the best thing we can do is to stop our frantic efforts to fix everything, find a quiet place, and pray. This can feel scary, and we can come up with a thousand excuses why it will never work. But maybe we should just try it.

Maybe taking time to be with the Lord might be the best thing we can do, for ourselves, and for those we are trying to help.

When life starts moving too fast- you feel overwhelmed, your adrenaline starts racing, you want to run away or feel like you might collapse under the pressure- do what Jesus did: find a quiet place and pray.

Don’t be surprised if life comes at you fast and hard this week. But don’t be defeated by it either. Use the resources God has given you to make your way through it, and do your best to find joy in the process.

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Vol. 20 No. 27 | July 2, 2018

Recovering from the Loss

It was two outs in the top of the 9^th inning of the College World Series. The Arkansas Razorbacks were up 3-2 over the Oregon State Beavers. The Razorbacks needed one more strike and they would win the 2018 College World Series. The fans were calling the Hogs, ready to explode in celebration. The batter fouled the ball down the first base line. Everyone thought it was over. The First Baseman, Second Basemen, and Right Fielder were in position to make the catch and win the series.

Only they didn’t. There have been various explanations as to why they didn’t make the catch. The lights bothered them. No one called for it. There is no reason for blame. The look on the faces of the three players, the faces of the coaches and players in the dugout, and the faces of the thousands of fans expressed it all. My heart went out to the three players.

Oregon State went on to score two runs, take the lead, and win the game. They dominated the third and final game the next night to claim the championship. Stunned and dejected, Arkansas players and fans around the country silently watched as the Oregon State Beavers charged the field in unrestrained joy. Congratulations to the Oregon State players. You played well and are now the National Champions.

For the Arkansas players, you played well, too, and almost accomplished your goal. My heart broke with you and for you, and I wonder how you recover from a loss like that.

My short answer is I don’t know. My hope is that the coaches and players are surrounded by family and friends who love and encourage them, reminding them that, although it was a big game, it was game. In a game, someone will win and someone will lose. And then we have to move on to the next game.

I hope they are able to recognize that, although the pain is deep and difficult to bear right now, it is not the end. Small comfort, I know, but true.

Recovering from a loss, any loss, is difficult, so how do we do it? Even a small loss is a loss. It hurts. We experience loss on a daily basis. So I’ll offer a few simple suggestions for sports fans and others in the midst of coping with a loss.

Acknowledge it for what it is. You have lost something or someone. The person or thing was of great value to you and when it or they are gone…it hurts. Find someone who will listen to you express your feelings (a friend, a spouse, a counselor, a mentor).

I love these words from Michael Card:

“Don’t read me pointless poems, friend

Don’t diagnose, don’t condescend,

Though you may be right to disagree

I need someone to weep with me.”

(Michael Card, “I Will Not Walk Away”

from the The Hidden Face of God album)

Give yourself permission to grieve. The process of grief takes time and is necessary for your healing. Don’t rush it. Don’t avoid it. Don’t apologize for it. Grief is real and must be allowed to happen.

Give yourself time. It will take time. You will not pop out of bed the next day after a loss and be fine. You will want to be, but chances are, it will take more time than you want it to. Give yourself time.

Feel what you feel. Feelings and emotions are just that: feelings and emotions. Everyone has them. Don’t apologize for them, but don’t abuse people with them. Whatever you are feeling is okay. God can handle it.

Enjoy the progress. Eventually, you will feel better. I don’t know when, but one day you will realize that the pain is not as intense. You will still have those days when a wave of grief hits you, causing you to thrash around to regain your stamina. Try and prepare for anniversary dates, birthdays, special events and holiday seasons. But you will begin to feel better as the healing takes place.

In Luke 15, you can find three stories of loss and recovery. Take time this week to read and reflect on them, and let the Word be part of your healing.

And for the Razorback Nation…Woo Pig Sooie!

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Vol. 20 No. 26 | June 25, 2018

Live As Jesus Did

If you have a favorite sports team, you probably have a shirt, hat, or jacket you wear on game day to show your support. You may go to great lengths and distances to see them play, support them, and demonstrate you’re a loyal fan.

You may work for a company that requires you to wear a uniform and/or badge to identify you as an employee. You wear it with pride because it shows that you are a member of something you are proud of.

If you are married, you may wear a ring on your left hand to signify you have devoted your life to one special person.

Religious groups tend to place all kinds of requirements on one another that are designed to prove we are really who we claim to be. Some groups require attendance to certain events to prove we are who we say we are. Some groups require us to use certain language that outsiders are not familiar with. Another group may require us to meet certain standards before we are considered worthy of membership.

Meeting these requirements can become so much of a burden that many will give up in frustration and despair. But that wasn’t the plan for Jesus and His followers. In fact, one of His only requirements for being a follower is revealed in this simple statement:

“Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6)

Let’s try to do that. It’s not necessarily an easy task and may require more out of us than we might think. But I think it’s worth an honest attempt.

When confronted with criticism and opposition, respond like Jesus did.

When faced with seemingly impossible situations, face them like Jesus did.

When comforting a sick or grieving friend, comfort them like Jesus did.

It won’t always be easy. It won’t always be fun. But it will bring you more pleasure than you might imagine. It won’t always be the thing you really want to do, but in the long run you will be glad you lived like Jesus did.

So this week, relax and enjoy living like Jesus did.

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