Pastor Tom's Journal

  unsplash-logo Shelby Miller And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. -  Luke 10:41-42   Martha knew how to entertain with style. It took its toll on her. She was careful and troubled all the time, especially when she had company. Perhaps she was a perfectionist and that was no doubt a great strain on her body and soul. Mary knew how to be in the moment with Jesus. Jesus saw the value in both kinds of hospitality, but He wanted Martha to know that when tending to details interfered with tending to the Master Himself, just being with Him was all that really counted. It is still what really counts. It counts for the busy mother, the harried executive, the flustered teacher, the hard-driven salesman, and the politician in the pressure cooker of legislative compromise. It is what counts for the safety officer who...

  Read more on Medium - https://medium.com/@tomsims/cry-of-the-destitute-472fc19c8a18 Free Friend Link - https://medium.com/@tomsims/cry-of-the-destitute-472fc19c8a18?sk=9c231a3b058d3f5468c12d19089af880 Tom Sims - Stay in Touch -  https://linktr.ee/tomsims For those who you who cry the cry of the destitute this morning, I stand with you in the sacred and sound solidarity of prayer. This is "A Prayer of one afflicted, when he is faint and pours out his complaint before the LORD." Read this portion again as your own prayer. I pray it for and with you, but do not stop with 11. Read on. "Hear my prayer, O LORD; let my cry come to you! Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress! Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call!" "For my days pass away like smoke, and my bones burn like a furnace. My heart is struck down like grass and has withered; I forget to eat my bread. Because of my loud groaning my bones cling to my flesh. I am li...

In Acts 16, Paul has come to a very unique city, a Roman colony, Philippi. It is located in present day Greece. There are very few Jews there, but there are some God-fearing women. One of them, Lydia of Thyatira, becomes the first believer in Europe. A little later, Paul is having a successful preaching ministry but is followed around by a very annoying young woman who is being exploited by her masters. Paul speaks a word of liberation to her, and she is set free to believe. Something inevitable happens when the good news liberates people from their bondage The profits of their masters dry up and the masters cry out. If God’s people are bringing liberation to the lives of people, powers that be and industries of oppressive commerce will declare, “These men … are disturbing our city.” They will hurl insults and ethnic slurs.    They will call the prophetic word and its demonstration unlawful. And they will be correct …. hopefully. They may even cast the messengers of ...

“For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.” – Psalm 36:9   One of the first lighthouses ever built, certainly one of the most famous, was the Lighthouse of Alexandria in 280 BC. Situated on the Egyptian island of Pharos, it was at one time thought to be the tallest structure on earth at 383 - 440 feet. Many lives were rescued because of its existence.   Its purpose was the same as that of all lighthouses: to warn ships away from dangerous shores and guide them in the night.   No ship’s captain ever complained about a lighthouse getting in his way or inconveniencing him in his journey. Many a lighthouse has saved many a life.   James 1:17 says,  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.   Man-made lighthouses point us to the reality of God’s gracious willingness to warn us and guide us because He loves us. He desires ...

For Medium Members, Click the link below. https://medium.com/@tomsims/to-know-god-f11bc475afca For Non-Medium Members, Free Friend Link https://medium.com/@tomsims/to-know-god-f11bc475afca?sk=c1cd8f9186b5646ab0cfd26f6d235df1 A God that We Might Know There is a God who desires to be known and there are people who desire, whether they know it or not, to know God. https://youtu.be/9NCjE8Qubt4

Five Priorities for Relational Living ------- People before preferences. Love before liberty. Grace over gluttony. Open hearts over over-opinionated headstrong determination. Faith over all choices.

I failed to elaborate on the word, "Insist," but read it and heed it. When the world is upside down, what is our part in turning things around? #reisstance   #evil   #civildisobedience   #speakingout   #standingfirm   #politicalspeech

What Kind of God Would You Prefer? The judgment of God is an indication that God cares. #judgment #judgmental #grace #love #God #Law #rightandwrong #ethics #love

A New Heaven and a New Earth - The Bird's Eye View God is making all things new. Revelation 21:1-6 Stay in touch https://linktr.ee/tomsims - with various ways to connect https://linktr.ee/tomsims SUMMARY The messag by Tom Sims, focused on the concept of gaining a 'bird's eye view' or 'God's eye view' of reality and eternity through scripture and prayer. Sims emphasized the importance of understanding the broader perspective of life, which helps make sense of smaller details and fosters a deeper comprehension of God's creation. He discussed the biblical vision of a new Heaven and a new Earth, where divisions between God and mortals are removed, and all things are made new. This vision is linked to the idea of God's presence among people, as illustrated by the New Jerusalem coming down from Heaven. Sims highlighted the significance of love and community, urging participants to live out God's love and reflect His glory in the world. He conclu...

When Your Name Is Called   #MothersDay #identity #shepherd #voiceofGod  #whoyouare  #mysheep #goodshepherd #iandthefatherareone Happy Mother's Day      When did you first hear your name?   What is your name?  What happens when your name is called?   Mother's Day is a celebration of one absolutely wonderful human relationship.   All human relationships point us to the one vital and life-giving relationship that is necessary for real life, a relationship with God.   When Your Name Is Called       Rise Up! (Acts 9)     Rest. (Psalm  23)     Rejoice! (Revelation 7: 9ff     Respond, (John  10:22ff)   https://pastortomsims.typepad.com/5-8-22.pdf  https://youtu.be/nPSbMN6-Krw    SUMMARY  The meeting, led by Tom Sims, focused on the significance of names and their spiritual implications, using biblical references...

The Anointed One “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,   To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” - Luke 4:18-19 “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: …” Acts 10:38   To be anointed is to be a messiah. To be a messiah means to be anointed. Kings were anointed in Old Testament times. Saul was anointed as was David. The prophets told of an anointed one who would be the ultimate Messiah of Israel. Jesus came as King, but, in Him, Messiah meant much more. Kings can be benevolent or malevolent. They can carry a concern for the larger family of humanity or be entirely parochial in their concern. They can lean toward violence or toward peace. Jesus would first be a servant and a savior. His anointing was as redeemer, liberator, ...

  Can It Help Us Communicate AND Can People Change? - All in One Post The only way I could know if it would be helpful would be to try. Weigh in. These are the AI notes from my sermon on the conversion of Paul. Do they accurately summarize my message? Can they be helpful to my students and listeners? Would you want to try it? The jury is out. Can a person really change? Is conversion possible? How does it happen? SUMMARY (from AI notetaker) This message by Tom Sims, focused on the theme of personal transformation through faith, using the biblical story of Saul of Tarsus's conversion to Paul as a central example. The discussion delved into the nature of change, questioning whether anyone is beyond the capacity for transformation and what it means to become a new person in Christ. Sims explored Saul's background, his initial opposition to Christianity, and the pivotal moment on the road to Damascus where he encountered a divine light and voice, leading to his conversion. The narr...

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” -John 20:19 “...as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Peace is: Presence – Suddenly, Jesus is present among them, before them, and for them. The presence of Jesus releases them from their terror and calls them out of hiding. Ease – The General come into a room of privates and someone calls, “Attention!” Then the General says, “At ease,” and the troops take a more relaxed stance. Activated – Jesus says, “As I was sent, so, I am sending you. Courageous – God’s peace gives us courage. Energizing – In this encounter, Jesus bestows the continuing presence of God and himself with them, breathing and saying, “receive the Holy Spirit. "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost." - John 20:22 Then sa...