A Norvell Note

Vol. 18 No. 27 | July 11, 2016

In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul offers some solid advice to the Christians in Corinth that would be worth our consideration today.

Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It’s written in Scripture,

He exposes the chicanery of the chic.

The Master sees through the smoke screens

of the know-it-alls.

I don’t want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift—Paul, Apollos, Peter, the world, life, death, the present, the future—all of it is yours, and you are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God.(1 Corinthians 3:18-23, The Message)

Our world seems enamored with acquiring and possessing knowledge. Or maybe we are enamored by the idea of having knowledge. We like to appear smart. We like for people to perceive us being intelligent, and we love it when they tell us that they think we are intelligent. Unfortunately, the knowledge we often seek is what Paul describes simply as “Being up-to-date with the times.”

In some of the posts I read on social media I think I see the desire to posts the smartest, most clever, and most intelligent comment on the events of the day, or whatever subject is being discussed.

In day to day conversations I hear people, sometimes I hear me, hoping to be considered smarter than anyone else in the conversation.

When I listen to politicians speak I feel sorry for them because of the pressure they must be under to always have all the correct answers, never admit they are wrong, and never acknowledge failure.

I have never been a fan of preachers who represent themselves as “The Answer Man” and need to be the center of attention. They know all the answers to all the questions. They even have answers to questions that few people are asking.

Educational institutions seem to thrive on promoting and expecting ultimate knowledge, achieving higher scores, and better ratings.

Do not misunderstand, I believe knowledge is important, information valuable and wisdom in essential to survival in our age of enlightenment. Education is extremely valuable. Being as knowledgeable as possible of our subject matter and reaching the top of our professional career. A verse many memorized in the King James Version says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). The emphasis is on knowing the Word so we can best share the Word. Paul’s encouragement here and in Corinth is to be wise in God’s things, not “What the world calls smart.”

As the events of the last week unfold it seems that the “the know-it-alls” came out in mass. Each one knows all the facts. Each one knows exactly what is in the hearts and minds of everyone involved in every incident. That is until the next one comes along and proves the first wrong.

Let me encourage you, me, all of us, as we go through these times of uncertainty to seek to be God’s fools. Be aware and informed. Be as wise as you can be so you can make good judgments, offer accurate observations, but don’t get carried away. Remember: “What the world calls smart, God calls stupid.”

One good way to get to the point of being “God’s fool” is to pray for God’s wisdom. And when you receive His wisdom you no longer have to worry about all the bragging. Instead you get to enjoy “Everything is already yours as a gift.” It will be a challenge. It will be tempting to veer off into a “know-it-all” attitude. Resist. Be a different kind of fool. Be God’s fool.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 26 | July 4, 2016

We value our independence. We are grateful for our independence. We are proud to live in a  country where we are free to worship as we please, free to assemble, free to travel wherever we want whenever we want, free to carry a weapon or not carry a weapon, free to dress as we choose, and free to be whoever we decide to be. I recently heard of a woman who thinks she’s furniture. You can do that if you want. I suppose.

On this day, millions of dollars will be spent on fireworks shows, cookouts, picnics, lake outings, and feasts of various kinds all for the purpose of celebrating our independence as a nation. We are proud to be Americans “And I’m proud to be an American where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me. And I’d gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.

‘Cause there ain’t no doubt I love this land God bless the U.S.A.”

Hear me when I say, I value my independence. I am grateful for my independence. I am proud to live in a  country where I am free to worship as I please, free to assemble, free to travel wherever I want whenever I want. On this day, I will gather with family, enjoy a meal and a day off work to celebrate the independence of our nation. I am proud to be American where I can live a free and independent life, but as we celebrate our independence I read these words from Paul that addresses the importance of living in community with believers of all shapes and sizes in a world that emphasizes and often demands independence.

“For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:7,8, NIV)

Earlier Paul wrote these words in Romans 12.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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[a] 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,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Love in Action

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 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,”[d] says the Lord. 20 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.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

As we Americans celebrate our independence may I remind all who are citizens of the Kingdom of God of the interdependent lifestyle of a follower of Jesus. May we never forget that though I am free, as a child of God I am also dependent upon God, upon my brothers and sisters, upon spiritual leaders who watch after my soul, of family members and friends! When my brother hurts, I hurt. When my sister struggles, I struggle. When my neighbor is in need it is my place to help. When one weeps, I weep. When one rejoices, I rejoice. When my friends need me I pray, I go, I help, I serve, I love. “For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone”

Yes, we are free. Thank You, Lord. Let’s use our freedom to live the life God has modeled for us. May we celebrate it and live it with great vigor and enthusiasm!

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 25 | June 27, 2016

We celebrated the actually 40-year anniversary of our marriage back in January, but last week we really celebrated.

Kim had visited the Pacific coast two years prior to our marriage (42 years ago) and called me while she was there and said, “I really wish you could see this.” Last week I saw it. We saw it together.

Our plane landed in San Francisco, we got our rental car, plugged in our phone with the GPS address of our Monterey hotel and headed toward the Pacific and Highway 1. I had been told of the beauty. I had been told of the splendor. I had been told of the spectacular views of rocky bluffs and sand beaches. I had been told of the thunder of waves as they crash onto those beaches and into and over those rock. I had been told, but what I had been did not come close to what describing what I saw.

I was overwhelmed. I was often speechless. I was thrilled to finally to be witnessing this part of God’s creation. I was often spellbound with wonder at my smallness in the midst of God’s majesty.

We had staged this as a once-in-a-lifetime trip. We would see the coastline, I would walk the fairways and play the amazing Pebble Beach Golf Links, we would eat amazing food, and we would reflect on our forty years of marriage. We did all that. We did more than that.

We shared memories of how God has walked with us every step of the way.

We marveled at the miracles of our two children, our daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and three beautiful grand daughters.

We spoke of how blessed we have been.

We spoke of how glad we are for the surgeon and medical teams that worked so hard to make sure Kim had eyes that could see actually the things we saw.

We reminded each other of how God had led us into and out of some very dark and difficult days to teach us to trust Him instead of our own strengths and resources.

As we watched the turbulent crashing waves and peaceful tide pools of the coastline we often sat quietly pondering how God who will lead through peaceful days ahead and through days filled with troubling waters that will again remind us of our helplessness and need to constantly trust the only One who can deliver us.

We did all those things, and more.

As I slowly and somewhat reluctantly move on to what comes next, I have discovered these reflections have washed up on the shores of my mind like the white foam from the waves of the blue Pacific.

First, dreams sometimes take a long time to be come true. We probably could have made the trip to the West Coast many years ago, before children, before the expense of travel, food, and lodging reached the level they have. We could have made the trip with our children, or with friends. We could have, but we did not. We waited. We prayed for the right time. We waited for the right time. With God’s help we came up with a plan. And with His blessings and guidance we saw that plan and those dreams come to pass. It took a while. And it was worth it.

Allow me to suggest that you dream your dreams, but do not rush them. Let God lead you to and through your dreams. He knows when and what and how and where and why much better than we. “God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11, The Message)

Second, God’s reality is almost always better than our ideas and plans. We saw things last week that I had only imagined. Bundled up to stay warm in late June as we watched the sunset on the Monterey Peninsula was well above and beyond any of my wildest imaginations. Although I never really thought we would NOT make to our 40th year of marriage, I do not think I ever really thought about what actually making it to our 40th year of marriage would be like. I am sure it exceeds any and all of my wildest imaginations that I could have imagined.

Never stop letting God amaze you. His plans for you are bigger. His ideas for and of you are greater. His dreams for you greater than anything you can ask or imagine.  “Who in the world do you think you are to second-guess God? Do you for one moment suppose any of us knows enough to call God into question? Clay doesn’t talk back to the fingers that mold it, saying, But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to him who formed it,’ ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?” (Romans 9:20-21, NIV)

Third, live every day to the fullest and be grateful for each moment. We are not promised 40 years of marriage. We are not promised 40 years of life. We are not promised tomorrow. We have this moment. Live it. Enjoy it. Share it. Celebrate it. Delight in it.

Thank you Kim for following me and walking with me these forty years.

Thank You, God for giving us forty years of marriage.

 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 24 | June 20, 2016

One of the reasons I like Father’s Day so much (other than the gifts my wife and children give me) is that I (and other fathers) are honored and we do not have to do anything (well, we had to our part in becoming fathers) to be honored. I am treated extra special and reminded of how much I am loved and all I have to do is just be me. For me that means after I preached I went home, enjoyed a very nice meal, watched the U. S. Open, and game seven of the NBA finals. Although on this particular Father’s Day there were a few other things to do to prepare for a trip, mainly I just relaxed and enjoyed the day. It is a day to be reminded of how blessed I am.

When you consider your life, whether you are a father, a mother, a son or a daughter, you have the same opportunity. Consider these two passages from the book of Romans.

If you’re a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don’t call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it’s something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift. (Romans 4:4-5, The Message)

Abraham didn’t focus on his own impotence and say, “It’s hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child.” Nor did he survey Sarah’s decades of infertility and give up. He didn’t tiptoe around God’s promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That’s why it is said, “Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right.” But it’s not just Abraham; it’s also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.(Romans 4:4-5, The Message)

Did you get the message? The sheer gift from God to us is that He has made us fit for Him, set us right with Him. We did not have to do anything other than accept the gift. God did it all.Much of Romans 4 explains how Abraham was made right by God and how he did nothing to deserve it. He was not declared “right” because of what He did. Instead, “We call Abraham “father” not because he got God’s attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody.“ (Romans 4:17, The Message) It’s all God!

So what do you do with a gift? You accept it. You express your appreciation for it. You enjoy it. You tell others about it.

So what should you do with this gift from God? Accept it. Express your appreciation. Enjoy it. Tell others about it.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 23 | June 13, 2016

Acts 27:30-32, In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.” So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.

Acts 27:30-32, “30-32 Some of the sailors tried to jump ship. They let down the lifeboat, pretending they were going to set out more anchors from the bow. Paul saw through their guise and told the centurion and his soldiers, “If these sailors don’t stay with the ship, we’re all going down.” So the soldiers cut the lines to the lifeboat and let it drift off.” (The Message)

In this scene (above) from Paul’s attempt to finally make it to Rome a storm hits and fear seized the sailors. Thinking the best solution would be to escape by lifeboat, the sailors were lowering the boats. Paul reminds them of the promise that all would be saved and it was necessary to stay with the boat. So, they cut the ropes to the lifeboat.

During the course of a life there are many times when we will struggle to discover that cutting the ropes to the lifeboat, even when it may not seem logical, is the best option.

There is a teenage girl who is growing up in an abusive home. She desperately wants to escape so she gets involved with a boy who promises to deliver her and take care of her. He does…for a while. Then, it gets ugly. She realizes too late that he has similar tendencies of angry and abusive outbursts. She wants to leave but does not know where to go. At some point she will need to cut the ropes in order to find the safe place she longs for.

There is a young man who longs for a real relationship. He never had it at home. He want to feel close to another human being. Failure after failure leads him to the women on his computer screen. Before he realizes what is happening he is addicted. He wants to stop, but he can’t. He wants to find a way out, but his shame and guilt keep him paralyzed. He is miserable but his misery is easier to live with than his loneliness. Deep down he knows that to eventually he will have to cut the ropes in order to get help.

There is a man who works hard long hours to provide for his family. At least that is what he keeps telling himself. No matter how hard he works, how big his salary, or how important he feels, he still feels empty. His emptiness turns to sadness and regret which spirals into a deep dark depression. To sooth his inner pain he turns to a little alcohol, then to experimenting with drugs. He sinks deeper and deeper and his dependence grows more powerful. He longs to do better. He knows that to ever really improve he will need to cut the ropes that fail to deliver on the promises to make life better.

There is a group of people who like to be in control. They love for things to stay the same, comfortable, normal, like they have always been. They are fearful of change. The more the world around them changes the more they are determined to keep things like they have always been. They become more controlling, more rigid, and more strict convinced that sameness means security. Eventually a few in the group begin to realize that holding to the past and keeping everyone in line is not providing them with the lasting security they long for. They realize that cutting the ropes will need to be cut before they really experience true freedom.

These ropes may represent something in your world that you are depending on, holding on to, and relying on to keep you safe, secure and get you where you know God wants you to be. Maybe its time you cut the ropes.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 22 | June 6, 2016

As move toward the end of the book of Acts the focus is on Paul.  In fact Acts 21-26 is all about what happens to Paul when arrives in Jerusalem and arrested. He is arrested, tells his story, offers his defense, claims his rights and innocence, then repeats that scenario multiple times. Some would call what he does sharing your story. Some call what he does giving his testimony.

Reliving Paul’s story as told by Luke I notice three significant elements to consider when sharing your story. It begins with the arrest: “As the soldiers were about to take Paul into the barracks, he asked the commander, ‘May I say something to you?’” (21:37)

As for permission to speak. You may have an amazing story that cause jaws to drop when you tell it, but not everyone wants to hear your story. It is a simple question, “May I say something to you?” It is simply common courtesy to ask before you start your story. If they ask, share it. If you ask if you can, and they say yes, share. Otherwise pray for and wait for the opportunity, then share your story.

Speak in a language they understand. Use your language. Avoid flowery church talk. Say it like it is your story, the way you feel it, not like how you think others want you to say it. Be real. Don’t exaggerate or be unnecessarily dramatic.

Tell the simple facts. There is no need to embellish the story. If God is in the story that is enough. There is no need to try to make more dramatic. It is your story. Not everyone has a made a dramatic turnaround and not everyone has a dramatic conversion. Paul is the only one we know of who was struck blind and confronted directly by God on the road to Damascus. Yours may be a simple story of God working in your life to place just the right people in your path at just the right time with just the right words. So be it. Tell your story.

Keep the emphasis on God.  God is the star of your story. God is the star of Paul’s story. God is the story of everyone’s story. Resist the temptation to turn the spotlight on you. God may have done something amazing with you, but He could have done the same thing if not even greater with someone else. When requested someone may say, “Tell us your story” but the truth is, your story is really God’s story. Keep it as God’s story.

Let God handle the results. Once you share the story of how God has worked in your life let it be. Let God do with that whatever He choses to do with it. If it touches someone, encouraged someone, inspires someone praise the Lord. If it does not result in an immediate and visible impact, so be it. Remember that what He did in and with you did not happen immediately. Let God handle the results. Let God place it in the hearts where He can do the most good with it.

I hope you are praying for an opportunity to share your story. I hope these suggestions are useful when that opportunity is presented. And I hope God is glorified and a life is changed when your story is shared.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 21 | May 30, 2016

By the time you reach the middle chapters of the book of Acts you understand why the book has that title: the Apostles are in full action mode. For example, read what happens in Thessalonica when Paul and Silas share the story of Jesus.

They took the road south through Amphipolis and Apollonia to Thessalonica, where there was a community of Jews. Paul went to their meeting place, as he usually did when he came to a town, and for three Sabbaths running he preached to them from the Scriptures. He opened up the texts so they understood what they’d been reading all their lives: that the Messiah absolutely had to be put to death and raised from the dead—there were no other options—and that “this Jesus I’m introducing you to is that Messiah.”

Some of them were won over and joined ranks with Paul and Silas, among them a great many God-fearing Greeks and a considerable number of women from the aristocracy. But the hard-line Jews became furious over the conversions. Mad with jealousy, they rounded up a bunch of brawlers off the streets and soon had an ugly mob terrorizing the city as they hunted down Paul and Silas. (Acts 17:1-5 The Message)

They preach Jesus. Some accept it. Some respond with violent opposition. If you read the next section of Acts 17 you see that the same thing happens in Berea.

The Spirit of the Lord has filled these men so they preach with courage, to preach with power, and to preach with energy as they tell the simple story of Jesus.

As I look at this story and other acts of the Apostles I see these lessons for us to consider as we share the story of Jesus.

First, they stayed in the Scriptures. Paul was in their meeting place. He was a guest. He did not have home court advantage. So, he started where they were. He could have presented his theories on what he thought they needed to do. He could have forced on some issue they were struggling with in their community. He could have begun with an argument that proved a point he wanted to make. He did not do any of those things. He started with and stayed in the Scriptures.

I hear a lot about churches where the focus is only about providing entertainment and having fun. Where instead of Scriptural teaching they present, at the very most, a water-down message that aims at being politically correct and socially acceptable. I hear this especially when talking about churches that attract large gatherings of the younger generations. I do not know where these churches are. I suppose there are church like that, but the church where I preach and most of the churches with whom I have interaction are deep into the Scripture. They start in the Word and stay in the Word. Although I try really hard to do that myself, some of the messages I hear from these “younger” preachers put me to shame. They know the Scriptures, they preach the Scripture, and their audiences who are hungry for the word appreciate their efforts and are thrilled to be spiritually fed on a regular basis.

My concern is to make sure I am doing that. Pouting about larger churches and bigger crowds down the street does me no good if it takes me away from the Scriptures. I do not have time for that. It is my responsibility and honor to stay in the Scriptures.

Second, they helped them understand what they had been reading. This community of Jews had been reading the Scriptures all their lives. By staying in the Scriptures Paul’s helped them understand that what they had been reading was pointing them to Jesus. And he helped them understand why Jesus had to be put to death, and why He had to be raised from the dead. He helped them to see that this was God’s plan for redemption.

Our goal should be to help our audiences understand that Jesus is the Messiah, that He came to earth, lived, died and rose to provide us a way of salvation. There is no other way for us, and that this is the plan and working of God.

There are many in our world who have a grasp of what the message of Scripture is. We hear a lot of God talk, but much of it talk without understanding. Many do not have a good grasp on the Scriptures. If put to the test some would not know the difference between the books of the law and the Lord’s prayer. If we have opportunity to explain the plan of God, we need to explain the plan the plan of God. We need to explain that it is God’s plan, and that it is the only plan.

Third, they focused on Jesus. Jesus was their theme. Jesus was their message. Jesus was their focus. Jesus was the story. Jesus was their passion. Jesus was their reason for existence.

Jesus needs to be our theme. Jesus needs to be our message. Jesus needs to be our focus. Jesus needs to be our passion. Jesus needs to be our reason for existence.

What good will it do us if we argue our point on controversial issues if we fail to share Jesus? What good will it do us if we shout our political views and demand that our rights be respected, if we fail to share Jesus? Let’s focus on Jesus. Our goal should be to tell people about Jesus.

Fourth, they accepted the results and moved on. All through the book of Acts we read stories of conversion and rejection, conversion and rejection, conversion and rejection. Some in Thessalonica and Berea heard and accepted the message. Others refused to hear and reacted at times with violent aggressiveness.

Paul and Silas accepted the results and moved on. Sometimes it was their choice to move on. Sometimes it was not. The results did not alter their plan. They kept their focus on what God had commissioned them to do.

These courageous men were able to do what they did because they were empowered by the Spirit of God. They did what they did because they knew that the message was not about them. Their message was about God. Acceptance or rejection did not hurt their feelings nor did it pad their ego. They loved God, surrendered themselves to spread the story of Jesus with everyone they could for as long as they could wherever they could. This is our task as well.

This week may we do our best to stay in the Scriptures, help any we can to understand God’s story and see Jesus more clearly, and accept the results and move on. May God bless us as we live for Him.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 20 | May 23, 2016

Let’s talk about prayer. Do you pray? If you do pray, what do you expect to happen when you pray? Do you expect anything to happen when you pray? Do you pray for specific results, or do you pray in generic terms and leave the results up to God to do whatever He chooses to do “according to His will?”

There is a story in Acts 12 about a group of people who were praying for a something very specific: Peter’s release from prison. James had already been put to death by King Herod, Herd’s plan was to do the same with Peter. Peter’s friends had gathered at Mary’s house to pray for Peter. One would assume they were praying for his safety and release. Under the circumstances it would surely take a miracle. To their amazement, it happened.

Peter knocks on the door of the house as the group is praying. The girl who answers the door get so excited to tell the group that Peter is at the door, she forgets to let him in. The people who had praying for him did not believe he was at the door and said she much be crazy. “But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”

Has that ever happened to you? You pray for something and before you are finished praying, you have the answer. Like the group praying for Peter, you do not believe it. Like Peter you think you must be dreaming.

What did you expect? When you prayed did you think anything would happen? When you prayed specifically for something to happen and you wanted it to happen as soon as possible, were you astonished when it happened…even sooner than you expected?

You pray for direction from God concerning an important decision. Suddenly as you are praying you experience an unexplainable sense of peace. You know what you need to do. God loves to do that.

You need a new job. You have found the job you want and have had the interview but have not heard anything from them. You ask several of your friends to pray for specifically for a position that you are convinced is perfect for you. They agree to set aside a specific time to pray about your new job. The next day you get a phone call from the person in charge of hiring apologizing for not being able to reach you sooner and the job is yours if you want it and the salary and benefits package is even better than you had expected. God loves to do that.

You heard the words that everyone dreads to hear: “There is nothing we can do.”  The prayers that have already been prayed are increased and intensified. Friends and families offered fervent prayers for healing and restoration to the living God. Then you received the follow-up reports indicating an unexplainable absence of the disease. God loves to do that.

You have prayed and waited and prayed and waited and prayed and waited for the right person to come along. You have had your check list and marked off person after person who have failed to meet your criteria. You continue to pray and hope and wait. You have grown weary and just about given up when “out of the blue” you run into a friend you have known for years. Suddenly you see them differently. You realize, though you have never noticed it before, that this person meets all your requirements. In fact, exceeds them. God loves to do that.

God loves to do that. God loves to surprise. God loves to hear from us and loves to respond to us. God loves to amaze us.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we 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.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NIV)

The next time you pray, pray expectantly. Get ready to see what God has been planning for you even before you began praying. Prepare to see what He does. God loves to do that.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 19 | May 16, 2016

“You Aways Resist the Holy Spirit!” Those were the stinging words of a man named Stephen spoken to the members of the Sanhedrin (the supreme council of the Jewish people in the time of Christ and earlier) who had ordered him to stand before them in response to his teaching “words of blasphemy against Moses and against God.” (Acts 6:11) He was teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ as “a man full of Grace and power.” (Acts 6:8)

After being questioned Stephen delivered a power message telling the whole story of God with conviction and courage. Near the end of his speech, and his life, he said to them: “You Aways Resist the Holy Spirit!” That did it. They took him out and stoned him to death.

What Stephen said about the members of the Sanhedrin was true. They refused to accept the full story that Stephen was sharing. They listened, but when it came time for them to hear the Holy Spirit speak truth to them about Jesus. They obviously would not, or could not, accept that the Spirit of God was speaking to them through Stephen. They silenced him.

As we read the story we might think how could they miss it? How could they not believe all the messengers that had been sent through the ages? How could they be so blind?

Before we go too far with our criticism, maybe we should consider whether Stephen’s indictment could be waged at us. How many times have we resisted the Holy Spirit?

You know your co-worker is having a difficult time. She comes in every day tired, sad and by her own admission struggling to keep going. You sense the Holy Spirit nudging you to speak to you her about their and offer to help, but you resist the nudge.

You listen to the preacher as he seems to be speaking directly into your world, your circumstances. You are convinced he has been peaking through your window at home. You know God is leading you into a new direction for your life, but you resist Him. You ignore what you hear.

You know that God is prompting you to stop an unhealthy habit. You have no doubt that the prompting is the right thing to do. You resist the prompting. You ignore the prompting. You continue the unhealthy habit.

You hear the Lord calling you to step out in faith and follow Him on a new and exciting adventure. Your heart races when you consider the possibilities and the opportunities. You have trouble sleeping because you sense you are on the verge of finally fulfilling your purpose. Even with all that you resist the Holy Spirit. You decide to stay put.

You know from your study that forgiveness is best route. You know from spending time with Jesus that you cannot continue to hold on to the grudge. You know you should, but you can’t. You know it is the best thing, but won’t. You resist the Holy Spirit.

I am not worried that you will stone me for suggesting that you may be resisting the Holy Spirit, because I assume you understand that I am no more critical of you than I am myself. I cannot count the number of times I sensed the prompting of the Spirit and failed to respond. I saw something that did not seem right, but resisted the Holy Spirit’s prompting to say something. I knew the Lord was empowering me to do something for Him, but I ignored His prompting.

The alternative is to listen to Holy Spirit and when we hear the Word speak to us do not resist. Follow His lead. Do what He prompts you to do. Then, be amazed with the results.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

Vol. 18 No. 18 | May 9, 2016 

When we last saw Peter he was walking on the beach talking with Jesus. Jesus’ final words to Him in that setting were, “You, follow me.” He did. In Acts 2 we hear the new revised version of Peter as he speaks to the crowd on the day of Pentecost. The scene begins with, “Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd” (2:14) It ends with 3000 people being added to the Kingdom. 

If that is not enough, look what happens next. 

“Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person’s need was met.”

“They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.” (Acts 2:43-47, The Message)

There is so much excitement and energy in this chapter. There are so many things for seekers of and followers of Jesus to consider and reflect upon. But one phrase in very 44 stood out to me as I tried to read it with fresh eyes:  “And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to be part of a group or movement that is described the phrase all the people lived in a wonderful harmony. You hear things like that said about some sports teams, some families, and maybe some businesses, but not as often about churches. 

Get a group of church people together and before long the conversation turns from a wonderful harmony to gripe fest about everything we dislike about the church. The service was too long. Do we have to have so many announcements? They are always talking about money. We sang too many songs. The sermon was too long! That was really boring. We didn’t sing any songs I like. Can you believe the elders made the decision to…? I wish we did more… I wish we did less of… 

What was it about this brand new group of believers that made it possible for them to live in wonderful harmony?

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that the good news was still good news to them. They had just been reminded that the One was the One. That Jesus really was the Son of God. He was alive. He really died and did rise again. He did it because He loved them. Hearing good news brings us together in harmony. A baby is born. A storm has passed. A life has been saved. Good news brings us into harmony. 

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they allowed themselves to be awed by the works of God. For many of us awesome may refer to a meal, a hairdo, a new pair of jeans, a test score, a movie, or a new song. In our world of over-exposure to the spectacular Jesus dying and coming back to life may not be so spectacular. 

We were not there. We did not see what they saw. We did not hear what they heard. We did not experience what they experienced. I get that. I understand that. But, Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is still good news. It still is awesome! It can help us live in a wonderful harmony, if we will allow. 

Focus on Jesus and what He has done for you and I’ll focus on Jesus and what He has done for me and maybe, just maybe then we can live in a wonderful harmony. 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.