Pastor Tom's Journal

The Jesus Journey - The Journey Begins by Tom Sims Galilee - Bethlehem-Egypt - Nazareth --- Matthew 2:12-21 Read on Substack

The truth is that I got to where I am by asking or anticipating certain questions and steps over and over and over and over until I was weary of the word, "over," and then some more. How I Got Where I Am  #destination #success #successstory #journey https://open.substack.com/pub/tomsims/p/how-did-i-get-here?r=2m40s&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

There is a new day that has come. There is a new King. There is new hope. The least has become the greatest and thrones are toppling over. The drama takes place with unlikely characters on unlikely stages of human experience in unlikely places. More at  Substack

More at https://medium.com/prayer-101/when-deserts-rejoice-5eebae86af23?sk=176ca137e45d794ffb86865e9f4b2f85

Hypocrisy or Humility , by @tomsims The admonition to humility is phrased as a promise. The humble will be exalted. The sanctified irony of the matter is that is exaltation is your motive for being humble, then you are faking it and hypocrisy is the danger you face. #Hypocrisy #hypocrite #proud #Humble #humility #leadership #matthew23 #woe https://medium.com/@tomsims/hypocrisy-or-humility-cce235bf82fa?sk=7e773d835e23cfd30b8aa7c47f61b9c2 or https://tomsims.substack.com/p/hypocrisy-or-humility or if you are a Medium Member, please use: https://medium.com/@tomsims/hypocrisy-or-humility-cce235bf82fa https://medium.com/@tomsims/hypocrisy-or-humility-cce235bf82fa?sk=7e773d835e23cfd30b8aa7c47f61b9c2

Read at  Friends Free Link on Medium Isaiah 2:1–5 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be raised above the hills; all the nations shall stream to it. Many peoples shall come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. “ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! It is a dark world into which light has come and is coming. It is estimated that there are anywhere from dozens to over 100 wars bei...

  When you dream great, worthy dreams, you connect to a place in your heart where you flip the switch that turns on an attitude of expectancy and wonder, thus activating imagination and motivation. When this happens, you engage your mind and your feet and your hands in the pursuit of your goals. You rally all of your resources and, if you will, by faith, God’s. Greatness is yours for the believing, receiving, and achieving when dreams partner with thoughts, deeds, and prayer. You are ready for an explosion of possibilities and I am your cheerleader! Along the Shores by Tom Sims Read on Substack

You can save your life if you are willing to endure.   Then, you can be part of something that transcends any vision of grandeur, a new world with new heavens.   As some were admiring the grandeur of one of the wonders of the world, the Temple   of YHWH in Jerusalem, Jesus drops the microphone, declaring that it will be destroyed.   There are two visions of the world:   1. The one that is and we can see.   2. The one that God sees and is creating.   We re God’s people and we can share God’s vision and mission for a new world.   Nothing is permanent, it seems, except trouble.   Yet, Jesus uses that occasion to teach us a lesson in endurance.   Luke 21:5-19

Standing Up When You Are Knocked Down Full Text, Supplemental Devotions and Music Free Friend Link - https://medium.com/@tomsims/standing-up-when-you-are-knocked-down-ca5228970b0a?sk=e8eb7256489d2e1216b366f12a4ad424 Medium Member Link - https://medium.com/@tomsims/standing-up-when-you-are-knocked-down-ca5228970b0a

Honesty Humility Hope Luke 18:9-14 Two Men Went to Pray YouTube permanent link: https://youtu.be/7aVteXYkReE Text on Medium - https://medium.com/@tom.../hard-to-be-humble-2e9713c44523... (free friend link) Link for Medium Members - https://medium.com/@tomsims/hard-to-be-humble-2e9713c44523 SUMMARY The message by Tom Sims, centered on the theme of humility as the key to honesty and hope, drawing from biblical stories and teachings. Sims began by highlighting the importance of humility across various religions and introduced the main message using the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector from Luke 18:9-14, emphasizing that spiritual pride leads to self-deception and separation from hope, while humility brings justification and acceptance before God. He referenced additional scriptures, including Joel 2:23-30 and 2 Timothy 4:6-8, to illustrate the blessings, restoration, and spiritual renewal that come from honest self-appraisal and humble dependence on God. Sims contrasted ...

Of First Importance The Kerygma The often-repeated proclamation of the early church Continuity - The Christ - Messianic promises Christ -  Anointed as Messiah at his baptism Conduct  of His Ministry Crucifixion  - Christ died for our sins. Conquest  - Resurrection Crowning  - Exaltation Comforter  - Sending the Spirit for the birth of the church Culmination  and Restoration through His second coming Calling -Repent and be baptized 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you-- unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with th...

The Struggle This Morning's Sermon and Bible Study with Discussion Questions for Your House Churches and Small Groups Jacob and His Night of Wrestling with God Medium Member Link https://medium.com/@tomsims/the-struggle-d52ffdf4477f Free Friend Link https://medium.com/@tomsims/the-struggle-d52ffdf4477f On YouTube - https://youtu.be/DKYrRYLVqpc

 

  We Must Love! Love fulfills all of God’s law. The song goes, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.’” It is not enough, just not to hate in this hostile world. We must be proactive. To be proactive, we must love. We must love our friends and our adversaries. Love takes initiative. In so doing, it is in charge of itself. Photo by  Annie Spratt  on  Unsplash Nothing can stop it. What is love? The assignment question is tough because love, though simple in its elegance, is complex and multi-layered in its expression. It is too magnificent to reduce to words and too basic to everything to say much about. Furthermore, the best that can be said about love has already been said in scripture and acted upon by Jesus Christ in His life and death. Perhaps it is easier to begin with what love is not. It is not a chemical reaction leading to a sudden attraction which is irresistible in its call or insatiable in its appetite. It is not a warm feeling or a cozy familiar p...