A Norvell Note

A Norvell Note

April 13, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 15

Full of Hope

It was great to be in Hope, Arkansas, again this weekend. The visit was for my fifty-fifth high school reunion. We had a wonderful time reminiscing, sharing stories, and enjoying each other’s company. 

Driving home, I reflected on how much hope I have. I grew up in Hope, Arkansas, graduated from Hope High School, and am a Hope Hospice chaplain. When we adopted our two cats in the early stages of COVID-19, we named one Hope. I have Hope all around me and deep within me. 

More importantly than where I grew up, went to school, and where I work, I have been filled with a strong sense of hope in my life because of my faith in God, His spirit living in me, and the reality of Jesus Christ deep in my soul. 

I have hope during the darkest days and nights because I know God is with me and will never leave me. 

I continue to have hope that the future is bright when the world appears to be crazy around me because I know God has always sustained me and provided for me.

I have hope because I know that God is transforming me into the image of His Son. Although that process is sometimes confusing and painful, it will be worth it in the end.

I am, always have been, surrounded by people of hope. I serve the God of hope. And He has planted within the living spirit of Hope. 

I am full of hope. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

April 6, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 14

Words Don’t Come Easy

As you might imagine, I think about words often. I regularly pray, “Lord, give me words.” When I preached full-time, I would say, “Lord, speak to me, then speak through me.” Most of the time, words come, but sometimes not so effortlessly.

Words don’t come easy when explaining why you must explain why you must move to another city. 

Words don’t come easy when your daughter comes home with a broken heart.

Words don’t come easy when your son’s hero falls off the pedestal.

Words don’t come easy when the doctor says your child has cancer. 

Words don’t come easy when your son gets a rejection letter from the college of his dreams.

Words don’t come easy when your fiancé says he has changed his mind about marrying you. 

Words don’t come easy when you thought the job was in the bag, but it wasn’t. 

Words don’t come easy when your mother gets sick and you become the primary caregiver.

Words don’t come easy when the word dementia enters the conversation. 

Words don’t come easy when you sit beside a husband as he says goodbye to his wife of sixty years. 

Sometimes words don’t come easy. In those times, we can trust that the Spirit of God knows us and understands what is in our hearts. 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people by the will of God.” (Romans 8:26,27, NIV)

Lord, give me words. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

March 30, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 13

Don’t Panic

You may need to read and hear these words from Isaiah 41:20 (The Message): “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear, for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady and keep a firm grip on you.” 

Notice what He did not say: He did not say that you will never find yourself in dangerous or frightening situations. He did not tell you that you would never feel exhausted. He did not say you will never feel unsteady or as if you are losing your grip. 

He assures you there is no need to panic when life turns wild and chaotic because He is with you. 

He reminds you that when you are tired and weary, He will give you strength and help you keep going when you want to give up. 

He affirms that when you feel unsteady or are losing your grip, He will hold on to you and keep you steady.

I agree with Willie that we are living “At a time when the world seems to be spinnin’ hopelessly out of control.” (Willie Nelson, Hands On the Wheel) But, I must stay calm, not panic, because God is with me. 

I sometimes get tired physically, mentally, and spiritually. That is when I try to depend on God to strengthen me so I won’t give up trying to live a good life.

When it feels like the world is spinning hopelessly out of control, and sometimes I become so tired that I want to give up on living the good life, I feel unsteady, as if the ground beneath me is giving way. I will hold His hand and trust that He will guide me. 

He is with me. He strengthens me. He is holding me. I can keep going.

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

March 23, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 12

N. Hervey Street

The transformation always seemed like it happened overnight. 

The drive into town (Hope, Arkansas) on what was then known as N. Hervey Street had big oak trees on each side of the street until the underpass.

In the summer, these giant oaks provided a canopy of shade for all who passed through in cars or bicycles. 

In the Fall, the leaves drifted in the breeze as they took on the new role of carpeting the street and sidewalk. In the winter, the branches were bare as if reminding me of the dark and lonely days of loss I had experienced and preparing me for others to come. 

But in the Spring, after those cold and barren days of winter, erupted with new life. The transformation always seemed to happen overnight. The naked limbs and branches that I had passed on the way home the day before had become clothed first with the brownish string-like things (I still call them worm-like-things), then soon disconnected and rained down on the street and sidewalk, clearing the way for the green growth of Spring.^[1]   

I loved that drive into downtown Hope. 

That drive has changed from the images I carry with me. The street is broader now. Most (if not all) of the big oak trees are gone. I remember the shock of driving into town after the city had removed trees. I still feel sad when I drive into town on N. Hervey Street. 

So why am I taking this nostalgic drive down N. Hervey Street today? I don’t know, but it has to do with changing seasons. It’s dry and dusty in South Central Texas. We need rain. Although there are signs of Spring, the transformation this year seems slow. I have seen some red buds (I think they look purple), green fields, and pastures, and our yard is gradually turning from brown to green. I have noticed some brownish string-like things hanging from the big oak trees. 

I enjoy change. I like to rearrange furniture (especially in my office/study), and I want to try new and different ways of doing things in hopes of improvement. I’ve been called a change agent by some. I took it as a compliment, even though that was not the intent. However, I’ve experienced enough loss and identify well with those who grieve and understand that change is hard. It is painful. It takes time for grief to do its work. And grief must be allowed to do its job. 

As I sit here, reflecting on the changes I’ve witnessed, I realize that change is inevitable. The seasons teach us this lesson year after year. They show us that while the old must give way, it paves the way for the new. The transformation, though sometimes slow and painful, brings growth and renewal.

So, as I look out at the transitioning landscape of my life and surroundings, I find comfort in knowing that each season brings its beauty and lessons. Change may be challenging, but it is also a testament to life’s enduring cycle of renewal and hope.

The drive into Hope on N. Hervey Street seems to be that reminder to me. I hope you have a street like N. Hervey Street in your life. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

^[1] The Brown Stringy Things On the Ground: Oak Tree Catkins. https://www.gardenexperiments.com/what-are-all-these-trees-dropping-on-the-ground-in-spring/

A Norvell Note

March 16, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 11

He Hears He Sees

I opened my journal and wrote, “Lord, my ears and eyes are open to what you want me to hear and see.” 

 She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me. ”That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; it is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.

So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael (“God sees”) to the son she had borne.16 Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore him Ishmael.” (Genesis 16:13-15)

I asked Him to help me hear Him, and He reminded me that He hears me. I asked Him to help me see Him, and He reminded me that He sees me.

With those thoughts, I went about my day. 

When faced with a stressful situation, I remembered that He heard me when I asked for help staying calm. He saw me and knew where I was and what I was facing.  

As I confronted a confusing situation, I thought, “I know You hear my confusion.” When fear nearly paralyzed me, I said, “I know You see me.” 

Remember that He hears and sees you as you navigate your day. Listen for Him; look for Him. He’s listening, and He’s watching. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

March 9, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 10

Be There

Life lesson: You are what the world needs.

Many years ago, when we were involved in college ministry, there was a group of college ladies who committed to visiting a nursing home regularly. Occasionally, they needed transportation to and from the facility, which was several miles from campus. They gave their time and energy to residents in the not-the-nicest facility. The urine smell was strong, some areas were dark, and many residents were in feeble health and had difficulty communicating. That didn’t deter these college ladies. 

The college ladies had become friends with specific people and would spend most of their time providing companionship and conversation with their adopted residents. It was a beautiful example of giving yourself away. 

On one occasion, as the designated driver, I heard one lady singing gospel songs as I moved around the room. When I turned to see where the singing was coming from, I saw a lady who was blind, had no legs below her knees, and was sitting in her wheelchair. I pulled up a chair and sat beside her. We talked for a while, and as I was telling her goodbye, she thanked me for stopping to talk with her and said that she had prayed earlier in the day that “God would send me someone to talk to today. So, you were an answer to my prayer.”

I left that somewhat rundown facility feeling like God had used me, that I was right where I was supposed to be, and that I had been “an answer to prayer.” 

I think about that lady now and then (I wish I could remember her name), especially now that I am making similar visits daily as a Hospice Chaplain. I reflect on her words when I wonder if this is what I am supposed to be doing, what I am doing with my life, and where I am supposed to be. That lady in the Palmyra, Tennessee, nursing facility first reminded me that I could be an answer to someone’s prayer by simply being present at the moment. 

At about that same time, I read and began to understand the Sermon on the Mount, particularly these words. 

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

If you ever wonder about your purpose in life, the answer may not be as complicated as you think. Just show up. Be there for people. Be salt. Add some flavor to their lives. Be a light in what may be a dark world. 

You may be the answered prayer to a lonely lady in a wheelchair.

It may not seem very important, but the world needs you.

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

March 3, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 09

A Strange Rejoicing

Life lesson: Don’t be surprised. Rejoice. 

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 10:11-12, NIV)

I confess. My experiences of being persecuted because of my commitment to God consist of me possibly not being invited to a party or two and exclusion from a few conversations. No one sends me threatening letters or emails, and I have never received hate mail from an angry member of the community or workplace. There is no threat of imprisonment unless I deny my faith. 

Have you?

When Jesus encouraged us to consider it a blessing, he was not if you get mistreated because you are acting like a jerk or being an obnoxious know-it-all. He said, If you live and act like me, don’t be surprised and rejoice. That means they see something in you that reminds them of me. They hate me. If you follow me, there will be times when they persecute you just like me.

Another question: If we claim to be followers of Jesus, why aren’t we being persecuted?

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

February 23, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 08

A Peacemaker

Life lesson: Being a peacemaker is hard. 

Being a peacemaker is challenging in good times but can seem almost impossible in tough times. We are living in such a time. 

How can we help people reconcile the deep disagreements we are witnessing in our country and make peace with some of the things we are experiencing? 

How can we assist families in reconciling after causing each other pain and heartache?

How can we foster peace within a church community when pride and ego have fractured fellowship and created divisions?

How can we assist a broken soul in finding his way back to a relationship with the Lord after he feels God has failed him?

Being a peacemaker is hard, but as children of God, we must try. 

I have a few suggestions for being a peacemaker.

Pray for wisdom in choosing your words and timing before getting involved. 

Hear their pain. Understand all parties involved. Assist them in learning to listen to one another.

Recognize the need for time while emphasizing the importance of peace. 

Remind them of your love for them and your sincere desire to help. 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:9

Father, help me be a peacemaker. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

February 16, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 07

An Undivided Heart

Life lesson: When my heart is pure, I can see God. 

What does it mean to be pure in heart? 

To be pure in heart involves having an undivided heart that is entirely focused on seeking and reflecting God’s presence. To be pure in heart means to possess an unwavering and sincere dedication to integrity, moral courage, and godly character.  

When you have a pure heart, free from deceit and distraction, it becomes a vessel through which you can experience the nearness of God. If your focus is clearly on Him, you will notice Him all around you, wherever you look in nature, people, and circumstances, and you will know He is near. 

Conversely, a divided heart plagued by conflicting desires and distractions will find its vision obscured, missing the omnipresence of the divine in the world.

After writing and reading those two paragraphs, I remember how difficult it is to be pure in heart in our world. From advertising to news broadcasts to social media to everyday life events, we constantly have opportunities that distract us from God. Being pure in heart is not easy, but it is necessary to see God. Being difficult

Look at how Jesus said it. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)

“Happy are the utterly sincere, for they will see God! “(JB Phillips)

“Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God.” (Amplified Bible)

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. (The Message)

So, the question we must answer is, do I want to see God?

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

February 9, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 06

Be Merciful

Life lesson: Be merciful. 

I find it almost unimaginable that the word merciful is getting so much negative attention in the public media and even among those who claim to be followers of God. It seems to me that being merciful is one of the most basic principles for anyone who loves God and wants to please him. 

The Old Testament Micah stated it matter-of-factly: 

“With what shall I come before the Lord

and bow down before the exalted God?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micha 6:6-8)

Jesus did the same, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” (Matthew 5:7)

It seems simple to me. If you are going to please God, live like Jesus, and be shown mercy by God at the end of your journey, you will be merciful. So, be merciful.

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved