A Norvell Note

One of my favorite places to sit in the worship assembly is three or four rows behind the teenagers. I like to watch how they communicate with each other and their reactions to things that happen on stage. My intention isn’t to spy on them. I just like observing them interact, and they’ve made me realize something.

The Kingdom of God is like a pew full of teenagers in the assembly.

Here is the usual scenario. As the worship team prepares to lead the sermon, a group of students scurry in to take a seat in their unofficially designated section. There is usually a bit of shuffling around so she can sit with her friend and he can sit with his. They hug, they high five, they shake hands, and they give affirming pats on the back.

Just as they are settling in, another friend approaches the already packed pew. Despite the fact that they’re squeezed together as tightly as possible, they all scrunch together even closer to make room for one more.

As it is with teenagers, so it is with the Kingdom of God: There is always room for one more.

Unfortunately, there are exceptions. Just this week, I listened to a man tell me his disappointing experience with his study group. He had been a member for several years. In fact, he helped start it. But when he missed a few sessions due to poor health, no one checked in on him or expressed any concern for his absence. I lamented with him and I hoped this was an exception rather than the rule.

Some people get overlooked, left out, or feel excluded. And some groups are guilty of exclusiveness or fail to notice when a member is missing. But thankfully, I haven’t found this to be the case with the majority of student groups I’ve known.

This is not the way of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God functions with open arms. The Kingdom of God is inclusive. The Kingdom of God does not say, “Sit somewhere else. There’s no room for you here.” The Kingdom of God does not imply this seat is saved for someone else. The Kingdom of God says, “Sure, we have plenty of room.”

My heart is refreshed when I see a group of high schoolers who understand and live in the Kingdom. If you are a leader in such a group, thank you for what you do. If you are a member of such a group, thank you for letting God shape you into His image and for spreading His message: there is always room for one more.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Broken and devastated, Job asked for an audience with God. Near the end of the book, (Chapter 38-41) the silence ended with God speaking. When He finally paused and offered Job the opportunity to respond, Job answered: “I’m speechless. My words fail me, so I’m ready to shut my mouth and listen.”

After the Old Testament ends, there is a period of 400 years when God doesn’t speak. But when the New Testament begins, the silence ends with the announcement that God has come to live among us as a baby named Immanuel.

Jesus lived as God incarnate for 33 years. He interacted with people, chose a group of followers, and announced the Kingdom was upon them. Some believed Him, some followed Him, some hated and eventually killed Him. After three days, the silence ended with the news that He had risen from the dead.

There are times in life when all we hear is silence, and it can be excruciating. Silence is hard on relationships. It can breed doubt, suspicion, and fear. It can make us question our worth and become a fertile field where anger and resentment flourish. Silence can make us second guess ourselves, wonder if we are loved, and cause us to sink into deep discouragement.

Silence may come when you and your spouse are at odds with each other. You go into your man cave, and she retreats to her room. Doors are closed. Tension is thick. You are at a standoff, until finally, one of you reaches out and says, “I’m sorry.”

Silence may come when your teenage daughter comes in late, goes straight to her room, and slams the door. You pray as you go to bed that things will be better in the morning. She prays as she goes to bed that she’ll have the courage to apologize and face the consequences. After an awkwardly silent breakfast, you gently tell her you need to talk about what happened. She immediately bursts into tears and says, “Dad, I’m so sorry.”

Silence may drag on while you wait to hear back from your job interview. You wait. You check your phone. You check it again, and again. One day passes, then two. Then, on the third day, the phone rings, ending the silence, and you receive a job offer.

On more than one occasion, I’ve found myself waiting for the silence to end. I know what it’s like to lay my head on the pillow and wonder how much longer the uncertainty will last. I know what it’s like to open my eyes in the morning and pray for something good to happen. Waiting for the Lord to speak or to receive an answer can feel unbearable.

The best advice I can offer as you go through times of silence is this: keep listening.

I’ve found that when the silence is the most deafening and I’m on the verge of losing hope, God is waiting just beyond the noise of the silence with exactly what I need to hear. He was just waiting until I was ready to shut my mouth and listen.

He is there with you. He has the answer. So wait, have faith, listen carefully…and it will be His voice you hear when the silence ends.

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

As I write, I’m in the Austin, Texas airport, waiting to board a plane back to Nashville. I’ve just spent the week with family celebrating the birth of Juniper Blue (granddaughter #4). My heart is full.

No pics. It’s not my child, nor my place to post pics. But believe me, I have plenty!

After last’s weeks article- expressing my gratitude for living in this time and space- I find my heart full to overflowing with the blessing of holding another amazingly beautiful, healthy little girl.

Just a little over twelve hours after she made her debut, I got to hold her, hear her sweet baby squeaks and grunts, kiss her on the head, and say my first prayer over her.

These words continue to ring true:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Growing up, I always dreamed of getting married and having a family…in very vague terms. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be married for forty-two years. Never did I imagine serving in full-time ministry for over four decades.

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine what it would feel like the first time I held my son in my arms, then my daughter. I could have never imagined the joys of watching them grow and mature, come into their own faith, and develop into the man and woman of faith they’ve become.

Never could I have imagined them finding a mate who also loved God and loved them with all their hearts, or being able to stand in front of an audience and participate in their promises to each other on their wedding day.

Never did I imagine what it would feel like when they decided to have children and the joy of watching them go through the process. I never imagined the indescribable feeling of holding their baby in my arms. Now, I’ve held four of them and am looking forward to holding the fifth later this year.

I just never could have imagined being so blessed. I dream a lot and I dream big, but God has exceeded my wildest imagination. My life is blessed. My heart is full.

I hope sometime soon, you will experience God’s blessings in a way that makes your heart feel as full.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

With the click of a few buttons on any device, I can view thousands of Biblical references, Bible translations, and study materials within a matter of seconds.

Should I become ill, within a matter of minutes I can receive the best medical care from some of the best medical professionals anywhere in the world.

When something weird was going on with my eye, I was diagnosed, received treatment, and returned home to recover within a matter of hours.

With one thumb, I can select any number of television shows, movies, documentaries, music videos, and sporting events from the comfort of my living room, public transportation, or any number of other locations.

When I want to hear the voices or see the faces of my children, grandchildren, and friends, I can connect with them in a matter of seconds.

When I need to receive or send information to or from someone in another city, state, or country, I can do so within minutes.

If I want to know the news of the day, the weather, or the results of the latest sporting events, I can pull the information up on my phone, television, computer or simply ask Siri or Alexa.

When I get hungry, I can walk a few feet, open the refrigerator, and have a delicious snack or meal (healthy or not is my choice) with fresh clean water or any number of other beverages within a few minutes.

When I want to share information with you, such as this A Norvell Note, I have the ability to type these words on a computer, store them in the Cloud, and send them through cyberspace to be read by anyone.

All these things and more are within my grasp. Not because I’m wealthier, smarter, more talented, or more deserving than anyone else. I have these options and opportunities because of the time and place in which I live.

I do not share them to boast. I share them because I’m thankful for the time and place in which I live. I am blessed. Richly blessed! Blessed beyond anything I could have ever asked for or imagined.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

This first line from a longer prayer caught my imagination:

Transform our desires to mirror yours, Lord. (Common Prayer, April 11)

Our desires for control would be transformed into the desire to surrender, submit, and sacrifice.

Our desires for happiness would be transformed into the desire for inner peace, joy, and contentment.

Our desires for wealth, possessions, and affluence would be transformed into a desire for simplicity.

Our desires for information, intellectualism, and knowledge would be transformed into a desire for wisdom and to know Him.

Our desires for having our mental, physical, and emotional needs met would be transformed into a desire for His abiding presence.

Our desires to have other people become more like us would be transformed into a desire for us to see Him in all people.

Our desires to make ourselves look like we have it all together would be transformed into a desire to please only Him.

Our desires to have a good day would be transformed into desires to help make it better for others.

Our desires for more money, stuff, time, and energy would be transformed into using these things to help others.

Our desires for the perfect employer, spouse, parent, and children would be transformed into a desire to be the best possible employee, spouse, parent, and children we can be.

Transform our desires to mirror yours, Lord.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 15 | April 9, 2018

Through the years I have taught classes on Ecclesiastes several times. Much to my surprise, without exception, the common response from my students has been, “Ugh, this is depressing.” In fact, I don’t ever recall a student stating they loved it or felt inspired. Maybe it’s my ability to teach, or lack thereof. Or maybe it’s the nature of the book. I suppose it makes sense when you read statements like this:

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NIV)

Solomon, considered the wisest of all men, shared the contents of his journal describing the passions, pursuits and lessons he learned throughout his life. He arrived at this conclusion: everything is meaningless, and life is like chasing the wind.

The Message reads, “But when I looked, I saw nothing but smoke. Smoke and spitting into the wind. There was nothing to any of it. Nothing.” (Try using that line in your next motivational speech and it may be your last.)

We don’t want to hear that message, do we? Those of us who live in the U.S. grew up hearing a different message. We were promised if we work hard and use our talents, our dreams will come true. We will be rewarded with a great life, be the envy of our friends and neighbors and live happily ever after.

To quote the famous Dr. Phil, “How’s that working out for you?”

As Solomon discovered, the opposite is often true. Contentment and happiness are not necessarily found in doing and having the most. Having more usually only leads to wanting more.

Near the end of his life, Solomon came to another conclusion:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

The Message conveyed is to fear God and do what He says. Period.

Many prominent voices of our time encourage us to be as powerful as possible in a similar way. Don’t just do your best−be the best. If you accumulate as much as possible and hold on to it, you will be happy.

But Jesus came with a different message. After washing His disciple’s feet, he said, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:17, NIV) “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, NIV)

Jesus told us and showed us a different way to find a meaningful life.

It seems we have a decision to make.

A Norvell Note© Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 14 | April 2, 2018

Friday: A Dark Day

I’ve watched from a distance and wasn’t directly involved in any of it. But I do believe all he has said and that He is who He says He is.

There’s been a lot of focus on Him this week. There was the big celebration and then some smaller gatherings with His closest friends. I actually got a few glimpses of Him when He passed by.

Tragically, those celebrations turned into attempts to destroy Him.

I kept my distance but heard reports on what was happening. They (you know, the powers who always manage to seize control) put Him on trial and decided He was guilty of breaking their laws.

Their attempts to destroy Him worked. They crucified Him. He is dead.

It’s a dark day.

Saturday: It’s a Strange Day

I don’t know what I feel today. I really did believe He was who He said He was: He was the Messiah. He was the King who had come to save us from our oppression.

But now, I don’t know what to think or what to feel. All I know is that this feels painful and strange. For once, I thought, we thought, things were going to change. For once, I thought those in power were going to be shown they could no longer control or take advantage of us.

I feel empty and sad and angry. I feel…I don’t know what I feel.

It’s a strange day.

Sunday: It’s a New Day

There’s a lot of excitement in the air: rumors that Jesus’s tomb was empty this morning. His followers are the ones who started spreading the news. Actually, it was a woman, so some are saying it’s not true. Regardless, the officials are angry. They’re investigating and making disturbing threats.

It’s all too much to believe. But I believe it. And as the day goes on, his closest companions are assuring us it’s true. His tomb is empty! He has arisen! How? They don’t know and don’t care.

Some say He came to visit them. Can you imagine? What an unbelievable experience! He was there, flesh and blood. He has truly risen from the grave.

Jesus Christ is not dead! He has risen.

It is indeed, a new day.

Monday: Decision Day

I hardly slept and thought the sun would never come up. I keep asking myself, can this really be happening, or is it all a weird dream?

A lot of us feel this way…now what do we do? His closest friends are telling us to wait: there’s more to come, but they don’t even know what that means.

But no, I’ve waited long enough. We’ve waited long enough. I don’t know what will happen next, or when or how. But I know I’m going to be part of it.

He is the One I’ve been looking for, we’ve been looking for. He is the promised one. There’s no need to wait any longer or look for anyone else. No matter what happens or how long it takes, count me in.

I have decided to follow Jesus…and there’s no turning back.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 13 | March 26, 2018

“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6a).

For the Psalmist, surely means this statement is a sure thing. There is no doubt that goodness and love will follow David all the days of his life. It’s a promise he believes, counts on, one that brings him comfort.

Surely might also indicate some sense of hope with a bit of doubt tossed in. For example, “Surely it’s not going to rain again this weekend.” “Surely we won’t have another snow storm.” “Surely the Lord is going to be good to me…I sure hope He is.”

Are you confident that goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life? Is this a hopeful longing or a statement of complete confidence? You have gone through some difficult times. You have experienced troubles and trials. Are you hoping goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life? Or are you certain because you know God is goodness and love and you know He will provide goodness and love to you?

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

Reminders of God’s goodness and love are all around us. Take a few minutes and reflect on the goodness and love that the Lord has shown you so far in your life. Have you had and are you experiencing a good life? Even with the trials and trouble, can you say your life is good? Has His love been made real to you by in big and small ways? Yes, you have had disappointments and moments of heartache and pain. But when you search your heart, can you see and feel His love?

Need some help remembering His goodness and love? You probably have a fairly nice place to live. You probably haven’t gone hungry longer than a few hours. You may have, or have had, a family that loves you (although some may not). You must have enough resources to at least have access to a computer and other forms of technology. You can look outside and enjoy the beauty of Spring (or another snowfall for some of you).

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.

Based on what you’ve read and experienced, is there any reason to wonder or doubt that God’s goodness and love will follow you all the days of your life? Do you have any grounds to make an argument that God will suddenly stop being good and loving to you? Is there anything about His nature that would lead you to believe He has given you all the goodness and love He is going to give you? Do you think He would tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey! You’ve had enough! No more goodness and love for you. Good luck with your life. I’ll catch you toward the end.”

There is not a chance that will or could happen.

God loves you. He is your shepherd. You are His sheep. You belong to Him. He leads you, He guides you, He provides you with food and shelter and comfort. He will be with you even through the dark shadows of death. (NOTE: Read Romans 8 for more comfort and assurance.)

A suggestion for this week: take notice of the different ways God shows you His goodness and love. Write them down. Hold on to the list and reflect on it. Add to it regularly.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 12 | March 18, 2018

Here’s a question that might get your attention: Is there someone you need to forgive?

Remember this prayer?

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us.”

When Jesus was washing the disciples’ feet and he came to Judas and Peter, He lovingly washed theirs like all the others, despite knowing they would betray him.

When Jesus was dying on the cross, he prayed, “Father, forgive them. They do not know what they are doing.”

Forgiveness is not something to be ignored. Paul said, “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” (Ephesians 4:26-27, NIV)

So is there someone you need to forgive? What is stopping you? Are you waiting for them to ask for forgiveness? That could be a long wait, especially if they are not aware they’ve harmed you.

We teach our children to forgive. When another child takes a toy away from them, or bites them, or calls them a name, we are quick to say, “Oh, it’s okay. She didn’t mean to.” When a brother and sister get into an argument or one of them does something that hurts the other, we make them apologize or say, “She said she’s sorry, so you just need to forgive her and let it go.”

It’s amazing how well this works with children and it sounds easy enough. “You just need to forgive her and let it go.”

But then we grow up, and it’s not so easy, is it? The offense is usually something more damaging than losing a toy or being called a name. The offense might cause physical, mental or emotional pain. It might involve the loss of money, or damaged property, or the suffering of a loved one.

You hear those words again, “You just need to forgive her and let it go.”

You hear Jesus’s words again, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us.”

Forgiveness is not always easy. In fact, it can sometimes feel impossible. Or we may say, “I’ll forgive them, but I’ll never forget what they did.” There is some truth in that. There are some offenses that leave scars that may never be erased. But even if we never are able to forget, this does not release us from our responsibility to forgive.

That’s right. It is our responsibility to forgive, whether or not the person asks for forgiveness or even cares if we forgive them. Forgiveness heals both us and them.

So, how do we do it? How do we forgive? It seems to me the ability to forgive another human being has to do with the amount of love we let ourselves experience and give to another human being. That is the only explanation for how Jesus was able to wash the feet of his betrayers and ask God to forgive those who had beaten, cursed and mocked Him while He was dying on the cross. He loved Peter and Judas so much, He freely offered them forgiveness. He loved the people surrounding the cross and those of us who have lived through the ages so much, He freely asked and continues to ask God to forgive us.

If we come from a place of love, then we can love people, even those who hurt us deeply, and use that love to forgive them. When we are confronted with wanting to or needing to forgive someone, we are also confronted with whether or not we are going to give love to another person.

Do you love them? Can you love them even after they have hurt you or your loved one? If you choose not to forgive them, who will it really hurt?

Living this life as a follower of Jesus always comes back to loving people, doesn’t it? “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” (1 John 3:16, NIV)

Let me ask you the original question again: Is there someone you need to forgive?

Think about it. Pray about it. Sometimes we need help walking through the process of forgiving. If I can help you, let me know.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note

Vol. 20 No. 11 | March 12, 2018

1. You are probably the only human being on earth who really cares what your hair looks like.
2. Be kind to yourself. You are not nearly as bad as you think you are.
3. Be honest with yourself. Are you acting like the person you want to?
4. Dress comfortably.
5. It is alright to take a nap if you need to…just not while driving!
6. When you mess up, and you will, chances are it’s not the end of anyone’s world.
7. When you do something well, it’s okay if you’re the only one who notices.
8. Watch less television, read more (preferably something that helps you be more like Jesus.)
9. Write, even if it’s just a little.
10. Listen more than you talk.
11. Making the world a better place begins with you being the best you can be.
12. Show more grace to people than you think they might deserve. (God shows you more than you sometimes deserve.)
13. Be gracious, humble and kind.
14. Be content with what you have.
15. Wherever you are, be present.
16. Take advantage of every opportunity to say, “I love you” (and say it like you mean it, not just a quick, “Love ya.”)
17. When you hear a nice piece of music, turn it up and really listen.
18. Slow down. That red light will still be red by the time you get there.
19. Close your eyes. Relax. Take some deep breaths. Mediate.
20. You don’t like it when people ride your bumper, so don’t ride theirs.
21. Find at least one thing or one person to be grateful for.
22. Accept every offer you are given to hold a baby.
23. When you finish a project, stop. Take a deep breath, give yourself credit, and be grateful.
24. Spend a little time every day in quiet reflection.
25. Remember someone, somewhere would like to hear from you. So, let them- a text, email, phone call…actual handwritten note. You will make their day.
26. If the weather is nice, sit outside- to eat, to read…to take a nap.
27. Say “please” and “thank you.”
28. Be kind and gentle.
29. Be safe, but don’t be controlled by fear.
30. Before saying something to someone or posting anything on social media, ask yourself, “Will these words build people up and encourage them?” If not, don’t.
31. Physically touch someone (if it’s okay with them, of course!)
32. If you can, use fewer words.
33. When it is time to shut up, shut up.

Those last two remind me…I’ve probably said enough.

Thank you for reading.

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2018 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

Subscribe @ A Norvell Note