TomNorvell – Page 57 – A Norvell Note

Being Ignored

Vol. 16 No. 38 | September 23, 2013

Sometimes I like being ignored.

When I go to a new place and I am just looking around and checking things out…a hotel, a church, a business…I like to be able to move about where I choose and at my own pace. I like the freedom that being ignored allows. If I am in a coffee shop and I already have my coffee and I am doing my work, reading, or writing, I like the freedom that being ignored provides.

Father, help me give people the space they need, when they need it.

Sometimes I do not like being ignored.

When I go to a restaurant and do not get served as quickly as I think I should, I do not like being ignored. For instance, one time we were seated in a timely fashion and were handed a menu, but no one came to take our drink order, no one came to take our order, no one came to check on us. Numerous times servers passed by, looked at us as if to say, “I wonder who is waiting on those people?” to which my reply would have been had they stopped long enough to ask, “NO ONE IS WAITING ON US!”

I do not like to be ignored when I am in a store and cannot find what I am looking for. For instance, recently I went into a sporting goods store and went directly to the department where I needed to be. I could not find what I was looking for. I could not find anyone to help me. I did, however, come face to face with one employee (easily identifiable by the shirt and name tag he was wearing) who looked at me, smiled, and walked on as if to say, “You probably need some help, but I’m too busy making my way to the front of the store to stand around so people can see me.” I left the store thinking, “I do not like being ignored.”

I do not like being ignored when I am seeking employment. (No, I am not currently seeking employment, but there have been times in the past when I was.) For instance, in 1986 my wife and I traveled to a church in the eastern part of a state that begins with a “T” (not Tennessee) where we met with members of a search team, I preached, and we left. I have not heard from those folks yet. I guess they were not interested in us. If any of you folks from that church are reading this, I have a job now (thanks for asking). In a day like ours where there is an over-abundance of communication technology it only takes a moment to make a call or send an email stating, “Thank you for your interest, but we are continuing our search.” Or, “Thank you for your interest in our position, we have had some unexpected delays in the process. We will be getting in touch with you as soon as possible.”

Father, help me not get so busy, or act so busy, that it keeps people from asking me for help, or makes them feel that they are being ignored.

Sometimes being ignored is merely frustrating.

If I am trying to communicate something important to people I love and they ignore me, it frustrates me. When I am trying to conduct a meeting, initiate a discussion or start a class and people ignore me, it frustrates me. It is frustrating when someone calls me then puts me on hold, or when I am standing at a check-out station and the clerk answers a phone while I wait.

Father, help me not frustrate people by ignoring them when they are talking, and remind me not to leave a conversation I am having to answer my phone or reply to a text message.

I know in the big scheme of life this is pretty petty stuff. I have gotten over these times of being ignored (at least most of it…I do still sometimes wonder when I’ll hear from that church in the state that begins with at “T” and is not Tennessee), and I will get over it when it happens in the future. But, sometimes being ignored, or thinking I am being ignored, is more frustrating and inconvenient.

Sometimes the perception of being ignored by God really hurts.

It hurts when prayers seem to go unheard, not just unanswered. It hurts when God seems to be distant and uninterested in my needs. Jeremiah said, “Even when I call out or cry for help, he shuts out my prayer.” (Lamentations 3:8)

It hurts when I pray the same prayer over and over and over and get the same response: silence. Job said, “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.” (Job 30:20) David said, “My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.” (Psalm 22:2)

In my heart I know He hears me. Deep in my soul I know He will answer in His time and in His way. David reminds me, “Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:17)

I really do know that He cares about me. Again, David says, “I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me.” (Psalm 57:2) “Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you.” (Psalm 88:1)

Even though I know, sometimes it hurts to feel ignored by God.

Father, help me not stop “crying out” to You in my distress and in times of delight, even when it appears that You are not listening, when You seem to be responding slower than I prefer, or when I do not like the way You respond.

Sometimes I am the one who ignores.

Sometimes I am busier than I need to be and unintentionally ignore those who are nearest and dearest to me. Sometimes I am so focused on my own needs and desires that I ignore the needs of others around me. Sometimes I am just plain rude and ignore people because I do not want to be bothered. Sometimes I become so demanding and narrowly focused on the immediate that I fail to see and acknowledge (translated, ignore) all the things God does for me, and has done for me, often before I even ask. Sometimes I put God on “hold” while I attend to the important matters of my life.

Father, I am sorry. I want to do better.

Here is a challenge. This week when you begin to feel, “I am being ignored and I don’t like this!” stop and remind yourself that you are not the only person in the room, that there are other people in the store, and that the world really does not revolve around you. It is possible that someone has a more pressing need than you. God may already be doing something that you cannot see, something that is “more than you can ask or imagine.” And, do your best to pay attention to the person God puts in your path. They may be feeling, “I am being ignored and I don’t like this!” and you may be the person God wants to reassure them that they are not.

If you will try this for a week, I suspect you will feel much better about yourself, your relationship with God, and the people you come in contact with.

(ONE MORE THING: Thanks for not ignoring this A Norvell Note.)

Tom

I Will Never Leave You

Vol. 16 No. 37 | September 16, 2013

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.“Hebrews 13:5

In my counseling training I was advised to tell the client, especially in marriage counseling, to avoid the words “always” and “never.” “You always say…” “You never do…” Use of those words creates a no-win situation. If you think, say, or feel that a person “always” and/or “never” does a certain thing, there is not much room for grace, and not much for for hope.

Although there is significant wisdom in that teaching, I am glad our Lord was above my training.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I find hope. It gives me hope to know that no matter how afraid, confused, and forgotten I may feel, He is always with me.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I find peace. It gives me peace to know that no matter how how fragile, foolish, and flippant I may be toward Him, He will never leave me.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I find comfort. It gives me great comfort knowing that although others will die, depart, and deny me, God will never leave me.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I find joy. It gives me great joy when I ponder the fact that I do not have to worry how He may respond to me tomorrow because He will respond to me tomorrow the same way He responded to me yesterday and today. He did not leave me. He will not leave me.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I find strength. It gives me are new and a renewed strength when I consider that no matter how fearful I am, no matter how big of a failure I may be, and no matter how fatigued I may become, He will not leave me and he will not forsake me.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I find relief. Whew! What a relief I have when I accept the reality that no matter what, no matter where, and no matter why He will never leave me and He will never forsake me.

When I read, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you,” I realize you and I are extremely blessed because we never have to doubt where He is or how He feels about us. He tells us, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” He made a promise we can trust and a promise He will keep.

He will never leave us; never forsake us. Thank You Father.

Tom

I Want More

Vol. 16 No. 36 | September 9, 2013

John chapter 13 ends and chapter 14 begins with a pretty emotional conversation between Jesus and His disciples. He has initiated a discussion revolving around His departure and reminding them that although He will be gone from them physically, He will still be with them and will be preparing for them to join Him at a later time.

Needless to say, His disciples are having a difficult time comprehending what He means about leaving, preparing a place, and knowing who He is and where He is going.

Peter says, “I’m going with you. I’ll die for you.”

He knows they are attached to Him and that their understanding is limited, so He tells them:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

They still don’t understand. Thomas speaks up.

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

Jesus assures them that they do know the way even if they don’t realize the 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.”

Philip chimes into the conversation in a way that reminds me of me when in verse 8 he said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will beenough for us.”

This is where I see myself. “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough.” But it is not. I want more. I want more explanation. I want more to be explained. I want more clarification. I want more time. I want more conversation. I want more evidence that everything is going to be okay. I want proof that He is working. I want clearer directions on what I am supposed to do and be and say. I may say, “That will be enough” but it seldom is enough.

Fortunately for me the conversation did not end there. In verse 16 Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.” Later He says this Spirit of truth will “be in me” (20-21) and will “teach me all things” (26) and give me “peace” (27).

I find comfort in knowing, even when I feel like I do not know, He is helping me. I find comfort in knowing that He is with me and in me, even when I cannot feel or see or sense Him. I find comfort in knowing that His peace is available to me, even when I do not feel His peace.

So, here is my prayer.

Father, when You show me who You are and who the Father is and when You promise me that Your Spirit will be with me, and in me, and teaching me, and helping me, and offering me peace, I want more. Even when I see You, I want more. Even when I feel You, I want more. Lord, I always want more. I feel like I should not want more, but I want more. Thank You for loving me even when I want more.

Tom

When You Understand

Vol. 16 No. 35 | September 2, 2013

You never know what lies behind the actions, words, or attitude of another human being unless somehow you are able to connect with them in a real and meaningful way. When we do not know we assume, we judge, and condemn. This story from Brennen Manning’s Abba’s Child illustrates it powerfully.

“Understanding triggers the compassion that makes forgiveness possible. Author Stephen Covey recalled an incident while riding the New York City subway one Sunday morning. The few passengers aboard were reading the newspaper or dozing. It was a quiet, almost somnolent ride through the bowels of the Big Apple. Covey was engrossed in reading when a man accompanied by several small children boarded at the next stop. In less than a minute, bedlam erupted. The kids ran up and down the aisle shouting, screaming, and wrestling with one another on the floor. Their father made no attempt to intervene.”“The elderly passengers shifted nervously. Stress became distress. Covey waited patiently. Surely the father would do something to restore order: a gentle word of correction, a stern command, some expression of paternal authority—anything. None was forthcoming. Frustration mounted. After an unduly generous pause, Covey turned to the father and said kindly, ‘Sir, perhaps you could restore order here by telling your children to come back and sit down.’ ‘I know I should do something,’ the man replied. ‘We just came from the hospital. Their mother died an hour ago. I just don’t know what to do.'” (Excerpt From: Manning, Brennan. Abba’s Child. NavPress, 2002. iBooks.)

Manning concludes the section with this statement: “The heartfelt compassion that hastens forgiveness matures when we discover where our enemy cries.”

Anything like that ever happen to you? A child is misbehaving, a teenager wearing baggy jeans that look like they might drop to the floor any second, the couple at the table next to you having an intense conversation that makes you and most of the other people in the restaurant uncomfortable, the clerk snaps at you when you ask a simple question, your spouse seems distant and irritable, or your child storms the table after spewing words that cut you to the core of your soul and breaks your heart.

Be very thoughtful with your next move. The life of the relationship depends on how you choose to respond.

You can assume the worst. “He’s such a jerk!” “She is so hateful!”

You can respond in kind. “You treat me like that and you’ll be sorry.” “Forget you!”

You can react with even worse words. “You ugly #%^*!” “You good-for-nothing lazy bum!”

There is another option.

When you are confronted with a person or a situation where your immediate and natural reaction or response is to judge, be critical or assume the absolute worst about the person, stop. Stop right there and consider that there is more to the story than you can possibly see. In time, you may be able to build a relationship with the person and learn the pain behind the defensive and non-trusting attitude. The guy did not start out like he is now. The woman did not plan for her life to be as painful as it is. The teenager did not wake up one morning say, “I am going be as mean, and selfish, and hard to get along with as I can possibly be for the rest of my life.’ Something happened.

As a follower of Jesus we do a great service when we take time to ask a few questions, not make a few assumptions, and move in as close as we can get to the person and listen to their story. It may take time (it usually does) to get close enough and show them that you can be trusted with their pain. It may never happen in some cases where the pain is so deep and so great. But, you will be transformed when you take the time, make the effort, and allow God to open your eyes to really see inside the person.

Something to keep in mind: Sometimes even when you know the back story, the guy is a jerk, she really is that hateful, and that couple actually is trying to manipulate you. That may be true. You cannot change who they are or the circumstances that made them the way they are. But, you can change how you think, feel, and respond to them. Some will not allow you inside their protective cover, but don’t stop hoping they will. If you push too hard they will run.

I am reminded of the people Jesus met who had been rejected by society. The woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8), the blind man (John 9), and others. Instead of joining the crowd and say, “You are worthless!” Jesus responded with gentle, loving words. Jesus started with forgiving eyes and tender touches. Jesus started by trying to understand the reason behind their cries.

You can do that too. You have His Spirit living in you. You have the opportunities to disarm an angry, hurting and broken man or woman or child or teenager who knows only pain, disappointment, and anger. You may be the one person God has placed in that person’s path to show them a different way. They may be the one person God has placed in your path to show you a different way.

Lead with love and compassion. Jesus did with you. Look what that has done in your life.

Tom

Waiting From the Other Side

Vol. 16 No. 34 | August 26, 2013

From our perspective waiting is misery. From traffic jams to school drop-off and pick-up lanes, from doctors’ offices to hospital waiting rooms, from wedding days to birth dates, and from coffee shops to our favorite restaurants, we have a hard time waiting. We get frustrated. We feel forgotten. We wonder if we are being ignored. We assume nobody cares…including God. Waiting is misery. Yet, as I wrote last week, while we are waiting we sometimes discover it can be very meaningful and serve an important purpose. Sometimes. Most of the time it is misery. That is from our perspective.

What about from the other side…God’s side? How does He feel when we ignore Him? Is He hurt, insulted, or feel betrayed when we fail to communicate with Him? Does God assume the worst about us when He does not hear from us as often as and in ways that He expects or prefers? What does He think when hours turn into days that turn into weeks that turn into months that turn into years without hearing from us? What does God do when we seem far away and distant and uninterested?

Isaiah seems to indicate that when God is waiting on us He is making plans to bless us:

A thousand will flee
at the threat of one;
at the threat of five
you will all flee away,
till you are left
like a flagstaff on a mountaintop,
like a banner on a hill.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
(Isaiah 30:17-19)

Don’t miss this: “He longs to be gracious to you; he will rise up to show you compassion.” And, “As soon as he hears, he will answer you.”

Luke seems to indicate that when God is waiting on us He is longing to see us and celebrate with us.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
(Luke 15:20-24)

When the son “came to his senses” the father responded with open, gracious and loving arms. He was not angry. He did not lecture. He did not remind him of his mistakes. He did not demand repayment for all that he had wasted.

That is not how we normally think about waiting, is it? Is it possible that as we go through a period of waiting, God is longing for us as much, possibly more, than we are longing for Him? Is it possible that instead of being angry and impatient and offended and justified for feeling those things, that I could be relieved of those feelings if I could imagine God putting up decorations for our welcome home party? Is it possible that during those days and nights when I am wondering if God has forgotten me, or ignoring me, or neglecting me, I try to see Him as thinking that I have forgotten Him, or ignoring Him, or neglecting my relationship with Him and waiting for me to remember Him?

I suspect it is not only possible, but likely.

Father, let’s get together and have a party.

Tom

The Waiting

Vol. 16 No. 33 | August 19, 2013

If you have followed my “Notes” for any length of time you know that I have written about “waiting” on numerous occasions. The longer I live the more I realize that we spend a significant amount of our time waiting. Not just waiting in line at the coffee shop, or the grocery store, or the movie theater. Life itself involves waiting.

This morning I preached a sermon, “Saturday: Waiting.” This sermon is based on (and including much of) John Ortberg’s Who Is This Man?: The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus. As I talked about the “In-Between” times of our lives…those times after something significant and before something significant…the audience was eerily quiet. Typically there are numerous “Amens!” Not today. (I refuse to believe it was an off day for my preaching.) I believe the silence was because most of us understand these “in-between”.

We know what it feels like the day after a death. We know how it feels to wake up on the day after we have lost our job. We know the agony of seeing a dream disappear, and waking up the next day wondering if God is still near us, if He is aware of our pain, and if He cares about what we are experiencing.

As the sermon ended and we moved into our class time I continued to sense that the message had connected deeply and significantly with some people. So, we sat aside our scheduled class discussion on Galatians chapter two, and I asked, “Does anyone have a ‘Saturday story’ that you would share with us?” The stories came. One after another. Each uniquely different and personal; each amazingly similar. “I had no idea what was ahead. So, I prayed” “I fell on my knees and prayed.” “I wondered what was going to happen.” “I did not know where to turn.” “I was amazed at how as I waited I felt at peace, I felt God’s presence, and just when I needed it most…God showed up.”

So, I share these additional thoughts on waiting because I suspect some of you reading have your own Saturday story. Either you have lived through your Saturday to experience the hope that comes on Sunday, or you are living a Saturday story right now and trying your best to hold on to your hope and stay strong in your faith.

You may be struggling to not give up. You may be longing to hear something from God. His silence may be pushing you to the edge.

Hold on. As surely as we have Saturdays, we have Sundays. As dark and hopeless as this Saturday may be, the brightness of God’s glory will appear on Sunday. Keep looking. Keep hoping. Keep listening. Keep believing. Keep knowing that He has not forgotten you. He has not left you. He has not abandoned you. He is working on your behalf even when you cannot see or hear Him. He is always doing something good.

Remember the words of Hosea.

Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.

After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.

Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:1-3)

On the third day, whenever that may be, He will heal us, He will bind up our wounds, He will revive us, He will restore us that we may live in His presence. He will appear.

The waiting is difficult, but His appearing is worth the wait.

[NOTE: If you have a Saturday story that you want to share, I would love to read it. Email me here.]

Tom

It’s Time To Start Living the Life

Vol. 16 No. 32 | August 12, 2013

You have talked about it. You have prayed about it. You have asked God to show you your gift and to reveal His will for you to use you gift. You have surrendered your life to the One who created you. Everything is in place. It’s time to start living the life.

Romans 12:9-21 tells us what to do and how to do it.

Love must be sincere. Be genuine. Don’t say it if you don’t mean it. Be real.

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Even if you are surrendered and working hard to please the Lord, maybe especially then, evil lurks very near. Hate it. Battle it by hanging on to what is good. Stay focused on good and avoid what is evil.

Be devoted to one another in love. Demonstrate your commitment to the Body. Think about them and respond to them through your sincere love.

Honor one another above yourselves. Get out of the way and put others in front of you. You do not need the attention. You are not what or who is important.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Keep your passion alive and strong. Do not allow the fire to go out.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Joy, patience, faithfulness. Always essential. The tendency is to lose the joy, become impatient, and stop praying. Don’t!

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Be generous with your brothers and sisters.

Practice hospitality. Be warm to people. Treat them with kindness. Be receptive to strangers and friends.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. When you are getting a bad rap, be nice. Don’t fall into the habit of talking badly about people, even if they don’t like you.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Be appropriate in your response and reactions to people.

Live in harmony with one another. Stop arguing and complaining. Get along with your brothers and sisters…the world is watching.

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. As Paul said earlier, “Don’t think more highly of yourself than you ought.” You are not all that special. Get over yourself.

Do not be conceited. Get over yourself.

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. There’s that word again…evil. When it gets the best of you, you start wanting revenge. Don’t.

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If you know what is right in the eyes of God, do it. Most will appreciate it. Even if they don’t, do what you can and live securely.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. You can’t please everyone, but do the best you can to keep the barriers down.

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. Don’t waste your time and energy trying to get revenge. God will handle it.

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do what you can to be nice to all people, even the ones you do not like.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. There is that word again: Evil. Evil is all around. Do not let it get the best of you. You can control it by overcoming it with the Love of Christ in you.

It’s time to start living the life. You know how. You know where. All that is left is to start.

Tom

You Were Born To Be You

Vol. 16 No. 31 | August 5, 2013
Who am I? What was I created to be and to do? Why am I here? Do I have a purpose? Does God have a plan for my life? Questions some of us struggle with from time to time. Questions some struggle with all the time.

How about you? Ever wonder why you were placed on this earth? Does another year passing make you sad because it means you still do not know why you were born?

Maybe Romans 12 will offer some help.

Romans 12:3, For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Insight Number One: Maybe we think too much about ourselves. In verse 3 Paul instructs us “Do not think more highly than you ought,…” Maybe one way to read that would be, “Don’t spend so much time thinking about yourself.” Use sober or clear-headed judgment about yourself. Maybe we spend too much time trying to figure ourselves out when we should spend more time focusing on God and what He is doing, and how we can fit into His plan

Insight Number Two: God’s plan for us is not necessarily a puzzle to be solved. It is mysterious. But the puzzle has been solved. Colossians 1:25-26 says, “I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Christ in you, the hope of glory. That is a major part of the reason you are here, to allow Christ to be revealed in you. That happens when you have surrendered to Him. That happens when you have made your life a living sacrifice.

Insight Number Three: You were born to be you. God makes it clear that we are all different but we are all joined to be one. We all have different gives but we make up the one body. We cannot be someone else. We do not have their gift. Although we may have similar qualities as our parents, our siblings, our closest friends, but we are not them. We were not created to be them, or like them. We were formed in our mother’s womb to be us. We are to be part of the Body of Christ as designed by God, and as He designed us.

You were born to be you. That is where you be be your best. That is where you will flourish. So, be who you were born to be you.

Tom

His Will

Vol. 16 No. 30 | July 29, 2013

His will. We are all searching for His will in our lives. We are all, in one way or another, trying to determine: what His will is for our lives? What is it that He wants us to do with our lives? Where are we supposed to live? What kind of ministry are we supposed to be involved with? How are we supposed to use the gifts He has given us for His glory?

We spend a significant amount of time and energy wrestling with these questions and wondering if we will ever really know if we are living in a way that pleases God. We may even wonder if it is possible to know what God’s will is for our lives.

Many live life as if we are the silver metal ball in a pin ball machine. We roll this way until we hit a bumper, then, “Ding!” we bounce off in another direction. We hit another bumper, then, “Ding!” off we go in another direction. No control. No sense of meaning. About the time we think we are done the flipper sends us zooming through the maze of bumpers and back through the we bounce from one thing to another. Eventually, the bouncing stops and we head toward the exit at lightening speed. The controller of the game makes one last desperate effort to catch us with the flipper and save us, but even with the strongest effort and all the body English that can be mustered, they miss us and down we go. Game over.

Is that it? Are we nothing more that silver balls at the mercy of fallible and imperfect gamer who uses us to develop his skills as a player? Are our lives to be lived bouncing in one direction, then another, then another, and yet another, responding to any impulse that pushes our pulls us, only to be lost down the shoot at the end of the game? Surely there is more. Surely there is a better way.

We have spent several weeks in the first two verses of Romans chapter twelve attempting to understand this how life is to be lived in the Body of Christ. We would be negligent if we skipped this last sentence.

In the J. B. Phillips New Testament these the section begins with this heading: We have seen God’s mercy and wisdom: how shall we respond? Then, Phillips writes:

With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.

Read that last part again: let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. These thoughts surface.

Maturity is God’s will for my life. God is not as interested in my happiness as I am. God is not concerned about life always be smooth sailing for me. God is much more concerned about me being transformed into the image of His son (Romans 8:29). That is maturity. That is what He wants.

Maturity comes later. After I have reflected on God’s great mercies, after I have surrendered my whole life to Him as worship, after I have allowed the transformation process to begin, and after my mind has been “re-moulded”

When it happens I will know it. I do not have to bounce from one bumper to another. I do not have to be in a constant state of doubt and insecurity. The text says, “…so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.”

Stop living like you are a confused and helpless object being manipulated through the game of life that eventually ends with you sliding down the exit into nothingness. You are being changed into the image of God’s son. Sometimes it is painful. The transformation process usually takes longer than we prefer. He knows what He is doing. Trust Him. In the end you will know that He is good and his plan is good and meets all his demands.

Tom

Renew Your Mind

Vol. 16 No. 29 | July 21, 2013

As we make our way in life following Jesus something happens. We commit ourselves (sacrifice our lives) to God. We seek His guidance and long to know His will for our lives. We want Him to be the Lord, the ruler, of all that we think, say and do. We rely on His promises for strength, power, wisdom, courage, and the promise that His Spirit will guide us in all understanding.

In the process of all that, something amazing happens. We are changed. We are transformed. We become someone we have never known, and maybe never dreamed we could become. It happens through His power and it happens as our minds renewed.

To renew means to “resume (an activity) after an interruption”. It means to “return to, take up again, come back to, begin again, start again, restart, recommence; continue (with), carry on”. It implies the return to something or some place where we once were.

The follower of Jesus has little trouble seeing the need, understanding the process, and appreciating the opportunity to “renew our minds.” Where would we be if we did not have this gift of renewal?

As important as the renewal process is, and as vital as it is to our spiritual transformation, it often seems that we know very little about it. What is it? How does it work? How are our minds renewed?

From two of the three texts we have been examining (see them below) it seems apparent that it is something that happens to us. “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (NIV), and “You’ll be changed from the inside out.” (The Message). However, the New Living Translation indicates it involves our “changing the way you think.” Actually the NIV leans toward some action on our part as well. So, let me offer a few thoughts on what we can do to renew our minds and how we can prepare ourselves to have our minds renewed.

Sometimes we must literally change the way we think. There are times when our thinking just gets off track. Our brains (with the assistance of the great Enemy) begin to tell us lies. “God does not really love you.” “He is not really going to forgive you of your sins.” “You have done too many bad things to ever be made clean again.” When that happens we need to simply remind our brains that “this is wrong thinking and I refuse to do any more.” This requires an honest examination of what we are thinking and how it is affecting us. When it happens we need to literally change the way we think.

Sometimes we must do things that will renew our minds. There are times when we need to do some physical activity that causes us to change the way we think. Stress, busy schedules, sickness, fatigue, and being overwhelmed by life cause us to lose our focus, lose our direction, and confuse our thinking. When that happens we need to take a break. It may help to get away by ourselves. Jesus did that regularly and at times took his disciples with him. We may need to get some rest. We may need to read something different. We may need to spend time with His Word. We may need to talk with a counselor or close friend who can help us regain a healthier perspective.

Sometimes we simply experience the renewal of our minds. There are times when it just happens. You see a rainbow after a storm. You witness a beautiful sunset. You wake up early and sit outside as the sun rises. You take a walk by the ocean, or you hike through the mountain. You get a call from a close friend. You read a passage from Scripture that you have read hundreds of times, but this time you see something new and fresh and different. You hear a song. You hear a sermon. You sit quietly with your Bible in your lap asking God to “Show me something new.” You hold a baby in your arms. You attend a funeral. You read an article. There may be no explanation but it happens. Your mind is renewed. You have a fresh look on life. You feel refreshed, revived, and restored.

However it happens, when it happens you are convinced once again that God is on your side, that He loves you more than you love yourself, and He is working in your life and in your heart to transform your life, mind, and soul. And, you are once again confident that your life has meaning and purpose and value.

Father, renew our minds to see You more clearly.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2, NIV)

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” (Romans 12:2,The Message)

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2, NLT)

Tom

Author: TomNorvell