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Pastor Tom interviews influencer/author/keynote speaker Laura E. Ribeirio.
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If you are suffering... please don't do it in silence. Tell someone. If you attend a church, there will be someone there who would love to walk with you.
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Need encouragement? Need strength or courage? Listen to this episode as Pastor Tom teaches from Joshua 1:9.
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Inky Johnson [former Tennessee Volunteer Football star] has an amazing perspective on God's sovereignty. Pastor Tom mentions Icky's perspective in a message that reminds us that God is 100% POWERFUL - 100% GOOD - 100% LOVING - 100% ABOUT DEVELOPING US - 100% ABOUT FREEDOM OF CHOICE - 100% A PROBLEM SOLVER - 100% FOR JUSTICE. And he is OK WITH THAT.
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COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF THIS PODCAST:
0:00
Inky Johnson believes in a sovereign God - and is okay with the fact that He [God] is Sovereign. I'm going to read you a few quotes from him.
0:18
One is this... listen to this.
0:21
"I thank God for ruining my career. I'm a firm believer that God has never made a mistake. I'm also a firm believer that the things that happen to us are not designed to stop us, but to reposition us, so that we come into contact with what God really has for us. But just being honest, I think people missed the boat on the whole concept of God. Being good. You know, most people considered God to be good if He blesses them with a big house or new cars, you know, it's mostly based upon superficial material things.
1:10
Whereas me, I can wake up and say, God is awesome. I woke up today... you know, somebody didn't wake up this morning. You don't know what God has protected you from while you were sleeping, you and your family. And so if a person is up, if a person is alive, and well, that's enough. I've been living 27 years... and so I get to this point when I'm 27 years old, and I pray and I lead a godly life and then I see something that I want and I feel I deserve it. I pray for it. I work for it. And then it doesn't happen.
2:00
I can take that circumstance and say, Man, I'm mad at God. Why didn't God give me this? I felt I deserve this. I worked for this. I've been patient. I've stayed prayed up, I've helped some souls come to Christ. Why didn't I get this? And I can forget about the other 26 years of my life when God has blessed me tremendously. I can make it look at this. I can make a permanent decision over a temporary situation and consider myself to be mad at God. This is where a lot of us find ourselves. Sometimes we're upset at God at something that ultimately is temporary and we make permanent decisions that affect the rest of our life.
2:57
Why do that? God blesses us in so many ways every day. Every day, and we don't even pay attention to it. STAY THE COURSE. God says in Jeremiah 29:11, for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
3:28
He goes on, he says... when you hear something like that, take it for what it's worth. It's not a man talking. It's not a lady talking. It's God."
3:39
[Pastor Tom] So I'm going to read that scripture, one more time You are the YOU in this passage, okay?
3:51
Here's the passage. [For I know, the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you, and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.]
4:12
For a few moments now... I want to talk about God... His Sovereignty.
4:20
Sovereignty is a word that you and I basically are familiar with... to the extent where some people over the history of the world have been known as Sovereigns. Kings and queen. I mean, this goes clear back to some of the earliest civilizations known on Earth where as people say... Okay, this one individual... this one man or woman has total sovereign power. They can make any law they want, they can enforce it, they can do whatever they want. They are Sovereign.
5:00
Now there's been some people like that throughout the history of the world, and there are still some nations that have Sovereign rulers. So we might be familiar with the term through that. But when we talk about God being Sovereign, it's not like a person who's acting like they are Sovereign. God is [truly] sovereign. And I want to (just for a few moments), show you the uniqueness of His Sovereignty, instead of what we would see in a king or a queen.
5:32
And God's Sovereignty (that of course)... means God is 100% powerful. God, is also 100%. Good. At the same time, here is a God who is 100% Loving (at the same time). And this is where complications arise. You and I... who are not Sovereign... you and I... who do not understand what one second from now really is going to look like... you and I know nothing about the future... you and I... who who know very little about what's going on now in our life... we tend to get real high and mighty, and we judge the Sovereign God, who knows everything. And so we say things like... well... if you are all powerful, then why are some things on earth not so good? Truth is, we don't always know what good really is... what truth is in God's eyes, because God is seeing things in a picture that is so much bigger than what we can ever see.
6:57
You know, our ability as human beings... we look at what's happening before us right now, and we look at the past. But again, we can't even really see what's happening before us right now, in the big picture. So in this unique, Sovereign combination of God, He is all-powerful, but He's also all-good, and he is all-loving. And, fourthly, he is "all about developing us".
7:31
Again, it's a unique package here... of a God who is totally powerful, yet totally good, and totally loving and totally wanting to see us develop into the person we need to be.
7:52
Parents, grandparents, anybody who works with children... teachers... you know that your number one goal (when it comes to your child), I mean... beyond keeping them healthy and so forth... is that you want to see them develop as a human being. You want to see them develop.
8:13
So, sometimes [from the child's point of view]... in your desire to see them [the child] develop... you don't seem so loving. Or maybe you don't even seem so good, because you have the power to keep them from some pain that their going through. Bit you allow them to go through [that pain] to develop them as people. You know what that's like, as parents, grandparents. You've done that so many times... where you willingly let your child struggle, or feel some pain, because you know the only way they're really going to learn and develop is to feel that.
8:51
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of going to North school to do some reading for students. And I was a little early. So I sat there in front of the school, before I went in. And I I was looking at the building - just the size of the building - and thinking what it was like the first time I went back to my elementary school as an adult. How small it seemed! You know, you've had that experience... when you're a child... your school seems so mammoth, so big, right? And then you go back as an adult, you just can't believe it [how small it is]. But also, as I was thinking about that, I was also thinking of the fear that goes through the child, the first day or week of school, right? They go through this big building, they don't know where they're at.
10:08
And [as I was sitting there in front of the school]... I was really feeling that fear. And then I was remembering as a parent, the feelings of allowing my child to ride on the school bus for the first time. And I was fearful for them to go to school for the first time, knowing that I could not be there. I was feeling that. But the thing is... as a parent, I had to let them do that. I had to let them feel that fear and that anxiety... and that's part of growing up. It's part of developing them. If I didn't love them so much, I would just say, I'm not going to let you feel or go through any of that.
10:48
But If you had to ask THEM on that day about their feelings... maybe they would have said... you're telling me that my dad could have stopped that? He's not so good.He let me go through that? Not so loving.
11:02
So it's not easy being God. There's this unique package of Him being powerful and good and loving, and then always wanting to develop us. But the thing also [and this complicates things even more]... is that God is 100% about freedom of choice. This is what makes Him different than any other person who's acted like they are Sovereign. God actually says... if you don't want to serve me, you don't have to, if you don't want to love me, you don't have to, if you even want to use my name in vain, you have permission to.
11:47
I'm going to give you total freedom of choice to do the right thing, or the wrong thing.
11:57
You know, why does that? Because, well, the second one [on the list]. God is a good God, and He, in his goodness, allows us the freedom to not be robots and be able to experience life... even if it's the wrong kind of life. And because He is loving, God doesn't want to make us into that kind of existence... like that robotic thing. And because He is so loving and wants a relationship with us, He also gives us the chance to NOT love him because nobody can really love you unless they have the chance NOT to love you.
12:40
You can't make somebody love you. For it to be real love, they have to have the chance to deny you... to say, "I don't like you, you bug me" and "stay away from me". And so God... wanting this to be a true relationship... knew that He needed to allow the chance for people to say "I don't love you". So there's this freedom of choice. But with choice, now in this whole sovereign package. With choice comes all sorts of problems. Because since the beginning of time, people have used choice in a way that has just snowballed into all types of terrible things... like things that we've heard on the news here this week,... the massacres...
13:31
BECAUSE SOMEBODY HAD FREEDOM OF CHOICE!
13:40
And we say... if God is 100% powerful, he should have taken that away.
13:45
Well, that takes number five totally away to him, it takes your choice away, it takes our opportunity to have a relationship with him away.
13:59
NOTE: HERE ARE THE (SEVEN) ITEMS ON THE LIST:God Is Uniquely Sovereign...1.) 100% Powerful 2.) 100% Good 3.) 100% Loving 4.) 100% About Developing Us 5.) 100% About Freedom of Choice 6.) 100% A Problem-Solver 7.) 100% For Justice
14:03
It's hard being God. We love number five... we hate number five. It's all part of it. Inky Johnson had the choice of whether or not to play football.He had free choice. And that choice led him into where he's at today.
14:46
So God, is 100%, powerful. 100% Powerful. 100 % good. 100% loving. 100% about developing us, and 100% about developing us and 100% about freedom of choice. And the thing about God is that He doesn't leave it that way. You can get all upset on up on your high horse and judge a sovereign Almighty God in your incomplete understanding, if you want to. But remember this, God is a problem solver. He doesn't just leave it in the messy state that freedom of choice has brought it to. So for instance, you know, John 3:16. [For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.]
15:23
It's about a God being 100% powerful, and 100%, good and 100% loving... so much that He came to this earth and had the powerful ability to become a human being and die for us. And why did He need to do that? Because number seven (which I'll get to in a moment), is that God is 100% about justice. God is all about doing things, the right and just way. And when you and I offend the greatest being in the universe, God... when we do things our own way and reject God... the punishment for that is death. The greatest offense deserves the greatest punishment, which is death. And so God... to solve that problem... says, He sent his only son so that whoever would receive the gift of his death in our place... could find salvation through Him. So God solved that problem.
16:34
Romans 8:28, the amazing verse that so many of you know says that God takes every situation that happens for the believer... every situation.. and He brings good out of it. And the situations that happen that aren't so good, are so many times... because of number five happening, freedom of choice.
17:02
He is 100%. for justice. I know this is messy. I know life is messy. I know that. I know that sometimes with God and all of His power... and the fact that He is good... I know that sometimes it's easy to complain about stuff going wrong. And you know, when number five gets out of hand [see list above], the freedom of choice and... and just the way life is... God didn't create this world to have disease and all of that initially. It's because of the rebellion of man that all of this is... that it has gone this way. So God finds a solution, and then He's all about justice. And I'm just going to end it on this... For those of you who come to Him and relationship, God wants to make things right... that haven't gone right in this world.
18:14
For those of you that have had a loved one die, you know, way too early. God's gonna make that right.
18:26
God is for justice... those of you that have been treated cruelly... those of you who have been walked on unfairly in your life... those of you that people have knifed you in the back. God says vengeance is mine. Vengeance is his.
18:41
In the end, God will make sure that whatever is unfair, will be straightened out. But that's God's, and it's not yours. God is 100% for justice. And because God looks at things... not in just this short lifetime. God looks at things within the scope of a timeless eternity. Somehow... either in this lifetime, or somehow beyond this lifetime... it's all going to be worked out forever, God's going to make it right. And so He is uniquely Sovereign.
19:21
And this is why inky Johnson can say... (and this is a quote now from what you heard earlier), he says, "I understood the process is more important than the product. And He is saying I understood the fact that God is developing me even though He ruined my career. I understand the process is more important than the product, I understand that I had the freedom of choice to walk onto that football field, but there's still a process. He says it wasn't about the outcome for me, whether I made it to the NFL not that was in consequential to God's plan for my life."
19:58
Here He's [Icky] talking about the fact that God is, is 100%, about freedom of choice, but God is good, and God is loving. And so even if the NFL didn't work out for him, (which it didn't), He could rest in the fact that there is a God who has a plan. And He's good 100%, and loving 100%. And He [Icky] says,
20:19
"but I was going to fall, [I love this, quote], I was going to fall in love with that process. You see the thing we have to understand about everything we are part of... is that first and foremost, it's a blessing from God."
20:35
And I'm just going to leave you with this.... I'm just going to encourage you with this today for a God who doesn't make sense, because He doesn't make sense... because you've got a life that seems unfair and hasn't worked out the way you want it to. I'm going to encourage you to believe in a Sovereign God who is fully in love with you. He has your good in mind all the time. And I'm going to... I'm going to encourage you to fall in love with the PROCESS of what's going on, even if it hurts, even if it's incomplete. Even if you you can't see any reason for it. I'm going to encourage you to fall in love with the process of all of that, because you know that there's a God behind it, who is Sovereign and who does work it out and is 100% for your good and loves you and He's in control of the process.
21:28
So fall in love with the process, even though it hurts and you don't like it. And maybe you can be ok with the fact that God is Sovereign.
21:43
If this podcast has been helpful for you, and you haven't already subscribed, just just go to the subscribe button that you'll see on the page and subscribe That way you will make sure that you get everything that I put on the podcast the moment that it's available. And if it's helpful for you and probably would be helpful for someone that you know as well. If you could send them a link or tell them about the podcast...and then also comment on the podcast wherever you're at... rate it if you will... and that will help others to be able to see and hear about the podcast.
Thanks for listening!
Dana Remisovsky (author of HopelesslyDevotedToFood.com) shares how she OVERCAME her addiction to food.
_______________________________________
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Tammy Sorrento (owner of Fireball Approves) discusses how to NOT get SCAMMED the next time you look for vacation rental property.
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Be careful not to love this world so much that you don't look forward to Heaven. Our treasure is in Heaven, not here on Earth. Are you looking forward to Heaven? You should be!
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Author/Woman's Advocate Johanne Brennan shares her personal story of Domestic Violence. Johanne is the author of the book "Thaw Your Frozen Feet."
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WWW.ThawYourFrozenFeetBook.com
Email: howtothawyourfrozenfeet@zoho.com
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Jesus taught that our words have the power of life and death in them. Join Pastor Tom for this teaching from the Bible.
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Once you have been forgiven by someone, do you keep bringing it up by insisting on repeatedly saying your sorry? If you do, this keeps your relationship in the past and does not allow it to continue to grow as it should.
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Does your mouth get you into a lot of trouble? There are two "fighting words". Relationships would go a lot better if we could just learn to keep our mouth shut.
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Angela Mahoney (MEd/Author of "I Can Work") discusses the problem of bullying and offers helpful tips for parents, grandparents, etc.
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I sometimes see myself as "FAT Tom". But God doesn't. Neither do the people who know and love me. I often look at myself through the worst possible eyes. Do you do the same thing? This podcast episode will help. [Scroll down for complete SHOW NOTES!]
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24 TODAY SHOW NOTES for "Here Comes FAT Tom" - Episode 91
NOTE: The 24TODAY podcast transcripts are generated using speech recognition software, and may contain errors.
Hello again. It's pastor Tom and this particular podcast is called "Here comes FAT Tom"
There's a passage of scripture that's an interesting statement in First Samuel 16:7 that says that God doesn't look at our physical stature and He doesn't judge us by our outward appearance. God doesn't care about our physical stature. It says on the other hand, man man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart and that's First Samuel 16:7, and that is a very good reminder of the way God views us.
He (God) views the heart... and it's also a very true statement about people... and about you and I... because we look too much (especially really about when it comes to our own self), we are far too critical of ourselves and we see what in our mind our physical imperfections and we blow that way out of proportion. And we we kind of view ourselves through through those eyes of only seeing our worst possible self.
So the title of this again is "Here Comes FAT Tom".
I did a video recording just yesterday of myself and another pastor. We were talking about a particular cause that we're we're promoting in the community that is going to help people and so we're doing this video to explain that... and I I looked at myself on that video and immediately my eyes went toward my stomach and how fat I am on that video because... that's just something that I've kind of picked on myself about for years... and so in my mind it's "FAT Tom.
And you know, I had to I had to remind myself of the truth that... yeah, I am heavier than I should be, and my stomach is too big. By the way, I'm trying to eat better and trying to lose weight you know, remind myself of that.
But also remind myself of the truth that other people don't see me as "FAT Tom". Now if, if they were to be asked, you know, is is Tom heavier than it should be? Does Tom have a belly? They would say, Yes. Yeah, I guess so.
But yet they see me as Tom, or they see me as Pastor Tom. They see me as what they love about me or like in me and they see the relationship that they have with me.
They just see me as Tom, not FAT Tom...
I mean, how cruel would would that be? By the way, you don't do that with other people. If somebody might be overweight, or somebody has a big nose or someone you know, is losing their hair or someone walks pigeon-toed or whatever else they might have. You don't see them as "Pigeon-toed Pam". You don't see them as "Bald Barry".
You just see them as Barry or you see them as Pam. Do you see what i'm saying?
Barry probably sees himself as "Bald Barry". And Pam probably sees herself as "Pigeon-toed". She probably criticizes herself or he does... and maybe, maybe he sometimes (like me), even feels intimidated about that or even allows the day to be ruined. Because they think "everyone's looking at my bald head" or "everyone just sees me as imperfect in the way that I walk."
And...and yet other people just see them as someone that they love and someone that they know.
So I could... I can... if I allow this to get out of control being that I'm on stage a lot... I could, I could feel like everyone's looking at my stomach or everyone's (you know), thinking I'm fat and allow that to, to hurt my effectiveness as a pastor or speaker or allow that certainly to ruin my experience at that moment.
Instead of just saying, Hey, you know, I do have a problem with my weight. I am working on it. I do have a problem with my weight. But it's just, it's just who I am and where I'm at right now in life. But that doesn't have to mean that I have to project myself like that, or even put myself self down or see myself as "FAT Pastor Tom".
And just as a reminder, God doesn't look at me that way either. And for you and for myself, it's good to remember that God doesn't see us as (you know), the the sin that most embarrasses us, or most trips us up.
God doesn't see us as you know... whatever that sin is, and then put your name behind it. You know, instead of "FAT Tom", you know, whatever that whatever that sin as and then label you as is that sin and then put your name. You know what I'm saying?
God doesn't see you that way. God just sees you as someone that he loves. As someone that he has a relationship with someone that he cares about, who happens to have the struggle here and there in his or her life. But God doesn't see you or see me as "FAT Tom". He sees me as someone that he cares about, and loves very deeply.
So, I know that when you look at me, you're not saying "Here comes FAT Tom"... you're just saying... "Here comes Tom. We love Tom. We care about Tom. And yeah, I suppose if you were to really think about it. Yeah, he does have a big belly. He has a little overweight, but that's not how I view him."
So the encouragement for you is to not view yourself from your own bad vision, you know, in your own way of distorting the reality of who you are. Stop viewing yourself in the worst possible light. Stop viewing yourself from whatever it is that you most hate about yourself... that you're most embarrassed about yourself... that you wish that you didn't look this way or you could change. Stop viewing yourself from that lens and blowing that way out of proportion. Just see yourself as Tom... or put your name in there. Whatever your name is. Just see yourself as who you are.
Because that's the way God does.
And by the way, that's the way the people who love you do as well..................
Thanks for listening. We'll talk again next time.
I'd like to thank a friend of mine Kendra Dahlstrom... for sponsoring this episode. Kendra and I provide content for our free Facebook group which you are invited to join. Just go to Facebook, look for the groups tab on the left search for Live Into Your Calling Membership Group, and asked to join. That's it. You can also find Kendra at KendraDahlstrom.com ... that's KendraDahlstrom.com..........
If this podcast has been helpful for you, and you haven't already subscribed... just just go to the subscribe button that you'll see on the page and subscribe. That way. You'll make sure that you get everything that I put on the podcast the moment that it's available. And if it's helpful for you, then probably it would be helpful for someone that you know as well. If you could send them a link or tell them about the podcast, and then also comment on the particular podcast... or wherever you're at... rate it, if you will, and that will help others to be able to see and hear about the podcast.
Amy Perkins shares why she has learned to be grateful.
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Kendra's Online Community - LIVE INTO YOUR CALLING is FREE
(go to Facebook - look for GROUPS on the left hand side - enter in LIVE INTO YOUR CALLING MEMBERSHIP GROUP - ask to become a member!
Pastor Tom shares why he is glad that his eye doctor has bad breath. Scripture passage discussed: 1 Corinthians 15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am...
MORE FROM PASTOR TOM:
24Today.org - https://24today.org
TomWhitesel.com - https://TomWhitesel.com
24TODAY Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/P.T.24Today/
24TODAY PODCAST -
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/music/listen#...
EPISODE SPONSOR:
Kendra Dahlstrom Website - https://kendradahlstrom.com/
Kendra's Online Community - LIVE INTO YOUR CALLING is FREE
(go to Facebook - look for GROUPS on the left hand side - enter in LIVE INTO YOUR CALLING MEMBERSHIP GROUP - ask to become a member!
GotQuestions.org founder and CEO (SHEA HOUDMANN) tells Pastor Tom about his website, which has become one of the most popular Christian websites in the world.
Shea Houdmann GotQuestions.org
MORE FROM GOT QUESTIONS!
https://www.GotQuestions.org
https://www.gqkidz.org/
https://412teens.org/
https://www.compellingtruth.org/
www.bibleref.com
https://www.gotquestions.blog/
MORE FROM PASTOR TOM:
24Today.org - https://24today.org
TomWhitesel.com - https://TomWhitesel.com
24TODAY Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/P.T.24Today/
24TODAY PODCAST -
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
Google Play:
https://play.google.com/music/listen#...
EPISODE SPONSOR:
Kendra Dahlstrom Website - https://kendradahlstrom.com/
Kendra's Online Community - LIVE INTO YOUR CALLING is FREE
(go to Facebook - look for GROUPS on the left hand side - enter in LIVE INTO YOUR CALLING MEMBERSHIP GROUP - ask to become a member!
LARA CASEY (Author, CEO of CultivateWhatMatters.com) shares her personal life story with Pastor Tom. --------------------------------------- MORE FROM LARA: Lara's Website Lara's Books can be found on her website! Lara's Podcast MORE FROM PASTOR TOM: 24Today.org TomWhitesel.com 24TODAY Facebook 24TODAY PODCAST EPISODE SPONSOR: Kendra Dahlstrom Website Kendra's Special Offer PROMO CODE: MYGIFT ---------------------------------- SHOW NOTES: (All quotes from Lara Casey, unless otherwise noted). “We think… I’ve messed up so much in my life, there’s no way the Lord could use me for something good.” “God can take all those broken pieces and make them into something marvelous.” [we feel] we have to rise to some standard that somebody made up (which is usually us)… [these standards] wrap up into who we are SUPPOSED to be…" “What if you made a list of dreams as a kid… and had to stick to to that list no matter what? You weren’t allowed to switch course of change your paths… in that case… I’d be a very unhappy archaeologist right now… and I wouldn’t have met Ari. I’m so glad that my path did not follow a linear path… it was more of a zigzag.” “… And I said to God… why can’t I be perfect? Why can’t I have my emotions in check all the time? And He says back to me, 'cause you wouldn’t need me. If you were perfect you would not need me.’” “…Sometimes you have to shut one door before another one even opens…” [speaking of her Grandpa Cecil… Lara says]… “He was someone that did not have big accomplishments to speak of. I mean, he had nothing on paper. If you were to ask him of his proudest accomplishment in life… he without a doubt would say being married to his wife Celeste. There was something about [Grandpa] Cecil that left an impression on all of us. And it was in that moment of realizing… wow, I want that. Where did that humility come from? And that really pushed me to think about the big picture of my life. Am I going in that direction? Is this career really leading me in that way? And the answer was no. Sometimes when you have a jarring experience… a tipping point… IT GIVES YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO PIVOT.” “You can have weeds in your garden and still have flowers.” [Pastor Tom] - “Whatever it is that you are going through, that you can’t stand, that you don’t think you can face this one more day… just know that someday, you will be through it.” “My work became my worth… “I had to prove to everybody that I was enough. I felt like I had created this new identify for myself, and I’m worth it. And I had to maintain that in my head.” [speaking about women] - "The thing that matters most to us (in the big picture) typically circles around relationships.” “When we focus so much on what didn’t go well, we miss what did go well. When we are focused on the imperfection of our lives or in our hearts or in our character, we miss the Author and Perfecter of our faith." “I have struggled more in writing this paragraph than any in this book. This isn’t pretty to type or remember. But it happened. My marriage crumbled. It happened so fast. Like the hurricane that tore through our town. We lacked the firm foundation that only God could solidity. I remember the day that I sat in the courthouse to finalize our divorce. Less than a year after our wedding and my dad telling me how disappointed he was and my mom crying… … In sharing my failure and what followed, I hope it will help you know what I know now… Your past and your mistakes… they do not define you.” “Feel the FEAR and do it anyway,” (Michael DeMaria - therapist) “What we fear as humans [is that] even in the privacy of our closet, as we are there just exposed and vulnerable with the Lord… that that will mean we are weak. And we equate weakness with a lack of worth. And I know that’s not true now, but that’s what I felt. I felt like if I feel broken, that must be I AM BROKEN. If I feel WEAK or sad, that must mean that I am weak… We know that’s not true. We can feel a lot of things. But our feelings don’t define us.” MORE of Lara’s Quotes: “You get to change your mind if you want to.” “It’s ok to grow slow. In fact it’s good.” “When we only focus on the finish line (or on perfect outcomes), we miss all the life that happens along the way. We miss potentially better outcomes.” “Little by little progress adds up, and in the wait, we are ripened and readied.” “Trust that what you want to cultivate matters enough to allow it to grow over time. It matters enough to fall down seven times and get up eight.” ”Your mess can become your message.”
We live in a world that treats relationships as though they were disposable. The Bible teaches us something different. It teaches us restoration. ----------------------- MORE From Pastor Tom: 24Today.org TomWhitesel.com 24TODAY PODCAST FACEBOOK 24Today YouTube Interviews SHOW NOTES: David did some awful things, yet was know as a man after God’s own heart. Note: David was the king of Israel. You and I have the tendency to "keep score". And when we look at Davids life, it seems as though his “score” was pretty low. So we say… how could a man with so many bad grades be “after God’s heart”? We believe that if our moral score card looks good and we have not been sinning as much… then God would naturally think that we are a person “after His own heart." It is true that how we live is a response to what is going on in our heart. Yet, “a man after God’s own heart” is a statement of God saying… "regardless of behavior, this is a person who really does LOVE me. I know without a doubt that they long to have a good relationship with me and they really are trying to love me and get things together.” David truly did love God. Psalm 70:2 - May those who want to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace. (NIV version of The Bible) Note: It was common in that day for a king to have many enemies. There were always people who were wanting to kill the king so that they could become king. Key ideas of Psalm 70:2) May they be put to shame (feel bad about what they are planning) May they feel confusion (maybe this isn’t such a good idea) May they turn back (BE TURNED BACK TO WHAT?) Psalm 70:3 - May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!” turn back because of their shame. (NIV version of The Bible) “Aha! Aha!” meant… “May you go to H _ _ _"! Literally in the Hebrew culture of that day… "May you go to a very warm place; may you boil in oil!” May they be turned back to relationship with David and be restored to friendship with him. May that relationship be restored. I think that he is talking about people that knew him and loved him but now have turned on him. But David is hoping that the hearts of these people would soften. He was desiring that they could become friends again. This is the tender side of David. The part that God was speaking of when He refers to David as "a man after God’s heart.” David wasn't willing to write off the relationship. He was asking God to do something in their heart. He was praying that God would help them feel guilt and shame so that it would lead to restoration of a relationship. Is there someone in your life who has hurt you, harmed you? Maybe they have even said… “may you go to a very warm place!” A person who is in a love relationship with God is a person who says… “God, I am asking you to help their heart to change. No so I can prove I was right. But so that they might turn back to me. I am already turning to them. I want this relationship to be right again.” Our prayer should not be: “God get them.” But it should be: “God change them."
Brittany Rust shares her EPIC fail with Pastor Tom. (Part 2 of 2) MORE From Brittany Rust: BrittanyRust.com EPIC FAILS PODCAST Book: Untouchable MORE From Pastor Tom: 24Today.org TomWhitesel.com 24TODAY PODCAST FACEBOOK 24Today YouTube Interviews SHOW NOTES: Note: Please listen to PART 1 of 24 TODAY Podcast (HER EPIC FAIL) HER EPIC FAIL (Brittany Rust) - P2 Untouchable means - “Sins” we assume we would NEVER do. SIN - things we do that violate God’s standards. Brittany confided in a friend who worked at the church. Brittany was going to tell her Pastor what had happened, but her friend told the Pastor before Brittany had the opportunity. Brittany speaks well of the church. “It was all done in such love and such grace. But there are consequences to our actions.” -Brittany “I had to confess to my team that day… what had happened and start all over again.” -Brittany [The church] …“truly loved me and wanted me to be restored and healed.” -Brittany We’re not keeping secrets, we’re telling them; we’re not hiding things, we’re bringing them out into the open. -Mark 4:22 MSG (The Bible) “I will always be an advocate for confession. And that could look so many ways… confession is so freeing. -Brittany Confession allows us to step into the freedom. When we don’t confess, we live under that blanket of shame and guilt and isolation… the longer you hold onto the guilt, the harder it’s going to be for you.” -Brittany “Not only had I lost my job and my dreams but I had lost the guy that I loved.” -Brittany “God, however long it takes. Whatever it takes. I’m Yours. I surrender. I JUST WANT YOU TO HEAL ME THE RIGHT WAY.” -Brittany Rust Brittany’s prayer was basically… “God, I can’t deal with this. I am really doing a bad job (at trying to control my life). So, whatever YOU want to do, whatever it looks like, however It feels… whatever else I have to do… whatever it is, I will do it, because I’ll trust that You’re in control. And somehow You’re the ONLY one that’s going to bring me out of this.” [to Brittany]...Did you feel anything different when you prayed that prayer? “Yeah, I mean, I think thats when that shame and the guilt lifted for me and began having hope again. I began holding on to the promises that God’s mercies are new every day. I began to feel HOPE again. “I just gave everything to God. I set my eyes on HIM. I committed to the healing process and eventually God opened up the door for Ryan and I to start dating again.” -Brittany [Pastor Tom to Brittany]… When you talk about SURRENDER, did that mean that even if it meant NEVER getting back with Ryan… being single for the rest of my life… not getting back into leadership at the church that I love… even if it means all of these things… whatever it is YOU want to do GOD, I’m going to let YOU do it… and then, amazingly GOD brings Ryan back into your life…. ….. [Brittany]… "I think that’s really the heart of surrender. YOU'RE letting go. YOU'RE letting go of control. YOU’RE letting go of what YOU want YOUR life to look like and what YOU want for YOUR life. And it really puts you in a place of just being like GOD CAN DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO… because you’re not fighting it and you’re not pulling in a different direction. And so, in that SURRENDER I found such freedom and HOPE for my life.” -Brittany “God did the thing that (for a long time) I always hoped HE would do, but it wasn’t until I just let go of trying to make that happen and really pursuing just making HIM my focal point and pursuing a life outside of what I thought MY life should look like… then GOD brought those pieces back together." -Brittany** Please Listen To Part 1 of the 24TODAY Podcast (HER EPIC FAIL) with Brittany Rust
Brittany Rust shares her EPIC fail with Pastor Tom. (Part 1 of 2) ------------ MORE From Brittany Rust: BrittanyRust.com EPIC FAILS PODCAST Book: Untouchable MORE From Pastor Tom: 24Today.org TomWhitesel.com 24TODAY PODCAST FACEBOOK 24Today YouTube Interviews SHOW NOTES: How do we recover from EPIC failures? Does God forgive EPIC failures? "I knew for the first time in my life, I was hearing truth. I was hearing what I’d always been longing for… and that was the gospel." -Brittany Rust Gospel means “good news”. [to Brittany] - What was the good news that you heard in the church service you attended when you were 16? [Brittany] - “That He would see a broken, depressed, 16 yr old girl, struggling with these horrible strongholds. That He would see that girl and still love her and still offer grace and redemption to her.” “I felt guilty and ashamed for even struggling with these issues (pornography and masturbation ) because there was this mindset that this isn’t a woman's struggle… I didn’t think there was anyone I could talk to… I felt alone.” -Brittany Rust In our shame, we feel as though we are the worst - the only one who has struggled or gone this far. You never get over everything and are perfect. There’s always bullies who threaten to take away our lunch money. Early in her Christian life, Brittany felt delivered from all her former strongholds. Brittany began to feel UNTOUCHABLE… as though God had done all the work He needed to do and that it would be smooth sailing from that point. One lie is that you can never overcome. Another lie is… “I’ve really done pretty good here! I can’t even imagine myself failing at all.” At that point, we begin to develop UNTOUCHABLES. “I saw it very black and white. I do this and I don’t do this and everything should be good, right?” -Brittany Rust SIN - things we do that violate God’s standards. Untouchable means - “Sins” we assume we would NEVER do. LISTENERS...What are the things that you would say… I WOULD NEVER DO THAT! Every good and perfect gift comes from above. (James 1:17 NIV, Bible) Please Listen To Part 2 of the 24TODAY Podcast (HER EPIC FAIL) with Brittany Rust
Pastor Tom shares a message with his congregation about a man in scripture who encountered Jesus and had the best day of his life.
NOTE: previous to this message... Pastor Tom showed this video:
PLEASE WATCH
John 5:1-8
Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals.2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
Kendra Dahlstrom [Mom's Success Coach/20+ years consultant to Fortune 500 companies] joins Pastor Tom to talk about "Mom Guilt" and several other topics applicable to moms. ------------------------------------------- MORE from Kendra: Kendra's WEBSITE ------------------------------------------- MORE from Pastor Tom: 24Today.org TomWhitesel.com 24TODAY PODCAST FACEBOOK 24Today YouTube Interviews -------------------------------------------- 24TODAY Podcast Notes: "Mom Guilt" (with Kendra Dahlstrom) “Mompreneur" - a mom who wants to create her own business. After 20 years in the corporate world, Kendra began feeling God was saying to her that she was capable of more. Kendra says, “I didn’t know what that looked like yet. I just had to trust Him.” “I had experienced many signs throughout my life that I would be connected to God in a closer way. After almost 20 years in corporate, I was burned-out, exhausted, my marriage was stressed, and I felt like the unhealthiest person I knew.” -Kendra Dohlstrom Intimacy: “Into-Me-You-See” “Everything is either in love or fear. When we have a sense of 'overwhelm' or stress, it’s really a fear response. It’s a fear of judgement or the fear that you don’t want people to see you as you really are. It could be a fear caused by "people pleasing" or a fear of upsetting people. If I cut off intimacy to myself (because I don’t want to really see what’s going on in me)… then I project that. I end up cutting off that connection with others. It’s really an inward job.” -Kendra Dohlstrom “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a HOPE and a FUTURE.” -Jeremiah 29:11 “Calling-Blocker” - anything that gets in the way of you fulfilling your calling or your purpose. God leads us into times where we have to realize that WE AREN’T IN CONTROL. Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 Helicopter Mom - this comes from a loving place. A mom cares so deeply… they don’t want their child to get hurt. It comes from a "FEAR mode". It’s about control. It makes us feel safe when things are in control. We know the outcome and their are no surprises. A common theme of control is SAFETY. "The most difficult area for me to let go of control is when it has to do with my kids. The more you love something, the more control you want to have." -Kendra Dahlstrom Jeremiah 29:11 applies to your children as well. “Overwhelmed" typically comes about when there is an "upset" inside of us. We either are fearful of something that is going to happen (but hasn’t), or we are fearful because we are trying to get a future outcome.” -Kendra Dahlstrom “I sometimes ask God to help me determine the top priorities of my "To Do" list so that I don’t unnecessarily add stress to my life. -Kendra Dahlstrom A general reason for not feeling appreciated is because you aren’t appreciating yourself. MOMGUILT: "If we hide the reality of our shortcomings from ourselves, then we judge ourselves. But if we have compassion for ourselves and allow God to forgive us… then we must forgive ourselves as well." - Kendra Dahlstrom "Remember if moms are judging you, they are also judging themselves." -Kendra Dahlstrom Do the best you can and be honest with yourself and your kids.
Author, Terry Stueck shares his amazing knowledge on how to forgive INSTANTLY! Terry tells his story of personal heartache and a need to forgive his father.
MORE FROM TERRY STUECK:
ForgiveInstantly.com
Books:
MORE FROM PASTOR TOM: 24TODAY.com TomWhitesel.com FACEBOOK 24TODAY YouTube Channel Interviews 24TODAY Podcast --------------------------------------------- SHOW NOTES All of us have basic needs: Acceptance / Love / Security / Approval / Comfort / Encouragement / Respect FORGIVENESS ForgiveInstantly.com “Hearing that answer, I began to take the blame for my father’s hand.” -Terry Stueck How do I forgive instantly? All this is possible because God is the owner. If God is our owner, we can instantly forgive. If I kick in the door of your car and damage your car, I would need to give you a check for $500. Why wouldn’t I give that check to the car? You give the money to the owner of the car. If God is my owner and somebody damages me… they don’t owe me and apology. THEY OWE GOD AN APOLOGY! “When somebody cuts me off in traffic, I actually pray for them!” -Terry Stueck STEPS TO FORGIVENESS: (Say it out loud)… I forgive you. I cancel the debt I have held against you. I’m not going to try to collect. YOU ARE FREE AND SO AM I! They don’t deserve my forgiveness. “I don’t deserve God’s forgiveness either” —Terry Stueck “It’s like your just excusing them for what you did. It’s like you just let them off the hook.” - They are still on the hook with God. At least you are not holding that hook anymore. The greatest benefit of forgiveness is HAPPINESS. Were you instantly happy when you forgave your father? Yes, within an hour, I was a changed man. -Terry Stueck
Author, Norman Rawlings explains how to hear God's voice. ------------------------------------------------------- MORE from Norman Rawlings OnTheWayInLove (Norman's Website) Book - “On The Way - Basic Christian Training" (also available on Norman's website) MORE from Pastor Tom: 24TODAY.org TomWhitesel.com Pastor Tom's YouTube Interview Channel Facebook 24TODAY (Inspirational Videos) 24TODAY Podcast Show Notes: -------------------------------------------------------- “We are spirit beings, God speaks to us directly though our spirit.” - Norman Rawlings We are not bodies with a spirit. We are spirit with bodies. God speaks quietly in our spirit. God speaks through the Bible. God gives us an assurance, a sense of peace. It is important to verify when we think we are hearing the voice of God... such as... talking to a mature Christian friend or pastor about what you are feeling and hearing. This is one important way that God confirms (or doesn’t confirm) what we are hearing. So often, we don’t even look for God or get quiet enough to hear God’s quiet voice. We need to make sure that what we feel we are hearing does not disagree with the Bible. A sense of PEACE is one of the greatest confirmations that we are hearing God’s voice. Feeling God’s peace doesn’t mean that everything around us is calm. But we DO feel a calm inside of us... that somehow God is going to work the situation out as we do what He desires. The thoughts of God are alive through the Bible. God uses the Bible to speak to us. As we are reading the Bible, God causes His thoughts and understandings to come to jump out us to us "40 To The Dozen"! - Translation = we are trying to do to much…our minds are going to fast. 🙂 “Steel Elevator” moments are moments during the day that are natural to be still and listen to God... such as the time that you spend getting dressed in the morning … or the drive to work and back… or spend in the shower. What are your “Steel Elevators”? We tend to fill our lives up with noise because we don’t like silence. God is not a screamer. Satan screams and God whispers. We need to intentionally be quiet so that we can hear God’s voice. We need to go where God talks. God can speak through music, through nature, through the arts, etc. Reasons Our Prayers Aren’t Effective: 1. Sin 2. Unforgiveness 3. Selfish prayers
Pastor Tom shares God's solution for our worry.
MORE from Pastor Tom:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
FACEBOOK:24Today
Pastor Tom interviews Psychologist -Barbara Lowe. Dr. Lowe speaks of her own struggles of getting past the past.
Show Quotes of Dr. Lowe:
"It is ok to be flawed. In fact, it is our flaws that make us fabulous.”
“I don’t want to be great anymore. I actually strive to be average with streaks of greatness.”
“We are all flawed but fabulous.”
“It’s ok to finally rest in who I am; in who God made me.”
“Fabulous means being uniquely me. It means being humble.”
“Real humility feels good. We don’t think too much of ourselves and we don’t think too little of ourselves.”
“I’m nothing more or nothing less than a person walking with Jesus.”
“I don’t need to be my own coach. I have a coach who is full of grace."
“I can be ok while I’m on my way.”
“When you are great, people are like… “Whoa, that was was great!” But if you are great all the time, people expect it all the time, and that’s way too much pressure for me.”
“My whole life, I was holding on to others more than they were holding on to me.”
“If I have narrated my life around rejection… it’s like if someone comes over and makes a mess in my house, it’s still mess in my house when they leave. It’s still on my property. I can be mad that they made the mess but I can’t make them come over and clean it up. It’s in my house and I need to clean it up because it is hurting me.”
Steps To Forgiveness:
Take inventory -are you in any way part of the problem?
Make amends -include myself
Change the narrative of the story.
Praying for the person who hurt us. (pray for 10 good things Ito happen to the person who hurt you)
“We are all weird. No one is normal. People are normal until you get to know them… and then we find out they are quirky. Everyone is quirky.”
“We compare our insides to people’s highly edited outsides.”
“We all have weird, inappropriate thoughts from time to time. We need to not judge ourselves based on those thoughts.”
“The root of our symptoms is humanity."
“I feel the gift in you. I see that you can become a phoenix, reborn into something fierce and beautiful."
“To be the phoenix, we have to touch into what is real and authentic. There might be a time of grief."
Dr. Barbara Lowe's Website:
http://drbarbaralowe.com
MORE FROM PASTOR TOM:
24TODAY.org
TomWhitesel.com
24TODAY Facebook Video Site
24TODAY Podcast
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/24today/id1344406520?mt=2
YOUTUBE Channel
Part 2 of a candid interview with Amazon Best Selling author - DEREK VOLK. Derek shares the joys and struggles of raising a son with Autism.
MORE from Derek Volk:
Chasing The Rabbit.org
Derek Volk Show
Volk Books
"Chasing The Rabbit" Book
MORE from Pastor Tom:
24TODAY.org
FACEBOOK Inspirational Video Page (24 TODAY)
PODCAST (24Today)
TomWhitesel.com
24TODAY Podcast
My Favorite Sermon Ever! Listen as I do a Christmas message with eight-year old Eric.
ERIC
MORE FROM PASTOR TOM
24TODAY.org
24Today Facebook INSPIRATIONAL Videos
TomWhitesel.com
24TODAY Podcast
I know NOTHING about cars, yet I felt compelled to offer knowledge to a mechanic. Why do I have the compulsion to share my insignificant knowledge with an expert? I sometimes do the same thing with God.
MORE from Pastor Tom:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
http://24today.libsyn.com/I know NOTHING about cars, yet I felt compelled to offer knowledge to a mechanic. Why do I have the compulsion to share my insignificant knowledge with an expert? I sometimes do the same thing with God.
Part 1 - Autism from a father's point of view. Pastor Tom interviews Derek Volk (Amazon best selling author of "Chasing The Rabbit"). Derek speaks candidly about raising a son with Autism.
MORE from Derek at:
Chasing The Rabbit.org
Derek Volk Podcast
BOOK - Chasing The Rabbit
MORE from Pastor Tom at:
https://24today.org/
TomWhitesel.com
24Today PODCAST
Pastor Tom interviews KYLE WINKLER (creator of "Shut Up Devil" App.
MORE from Kyle
Book - Silence Satan
00KK6B9Y0?pf_rd_p=c2945051-950f-485c-b4df-15aac5223b10&pf_rd_r=8XRDZ8TXG8FEY5CJQA6X
Shut Up Devil App
[Apple]
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/shut-up-devil/id703383594?mt=8
[Google]
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.kylewinkler.shutupdevil&hl=en_US
MORE from Pastor Tom
24 Today.org
https://24today.org/
TomWhitesel.com
https://tomwhitesel.com/
24Today PODCAST
Pastor Tom interviews Ben Pierce (lead singer/guitarist of NO LONGER MUSIC).
MORE From Ben:
Ben's Band - No Longer Music
Ben's Book - Jesus In The Secular World
Steiger.org
PODCAST - Provoke and Inspire
MORE From Pastor Tom:
24today.org
TomWhitesel.com
PODCAST: 24Today
If you only had 30 days to live, would you be concerned about the LEGACY that you will leave?
We are familiar with the "Thou Shalt Not's" in the Bible. But there are also "DO NOT'S listed in Proverbs 3. The "Thou Shalt Nots" have to do with morality. The Proverbs 3 list has to do with our attitude.
Strong Willed Child- P2. Early Child Education Expert, Shawna Ebbeson, joins Pastor Tom for a discussion about THE STRONG WILLED CHILD and DISCIPLINE.
More from Shawna Ebesson at:
Ebbeson YOUniversity - http://ebbesonyouniversity.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ebbyoureaders/
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebbeson/
Amazon Book - https://www.amazon.com/Sleepy-Little-Stingray-Aquatic-Adventures-ebook/dp/B01IBENIL4
More from Pastor Tom at:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
Feeling HOPELESS? Nancy Virden shares her personal experience of finding HOPE in the midst of a battle of depression and attempted suicide.
MORE from Nancy Virden at:
Nancy's Website (ALWAYS THE FIGHT.COM)
Blog Post: (GAINING A MINDSET OF HOPE)
MORE from Pastor Tom at
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
Is it worth it to you to hold on to un-forgiveness? It it really doing something positive for you? If not, then why do you hold onto it? It's like carrying around a BIG BAG OF GARBAGE everywhere that you go?
Satan loves to ACCUSE us of our past. He loves to try to cause us to "live in yesterday". Rev. Donna Sparks shares about a time recently when she struggled with the discouraging thoughts of the enemy.
MORE FROM DONNA:
Donna's Website
Donna's BLOG - Salt and Grace
Donna's Book - "Beauty From Ashes"
MORE FROM PASTOR TOM:
24Today
TomWhitesel.com
If we knew we only had 30 Days to live, we would treasure each second of those thirty days. Why not live that way now? Shouldn't we have PASSION for this very moment?
Best Selling author Jim Burns discusses Media Safety for your teenager.
More about Jim Burns
HOMEWARD.COM
Jim's Amazon Author Page
BOOK - Understanding Your Teenager
MORE about Pastor Tom
24Today.org
Tom Whitesel.com
Tom's YouTube Channel
24Today PODCASTS
Be honest. Do you love this world more than you love the thought of going to Heaven? This sermon will help put Earth in proper perspective. It will cause us to not dread the "30 Days", but actually look forward to reaching the finish line.
Do you own your life or does God? Your answer to that question will determine how you live your life.
Every 62 minutes, at least one person dies as a direct result from an eating disorder. Bracha Goetz (author of Searching For God In The Garbage) has overcome ANOREXIA. Listen as she shares her story with Pastor Tom.
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MORE about Bracha Goetz:
CLICK: (Bracha's AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE)
CLICK: (Bracha's Book) Finding GOD In The Garbage
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God has taught me THE 24 HOUR RULE. I love it. It is found in Matthew 6:34. Here is PART TWO.
God has taught me THE 24 HOUR RULE. I love it. It is found in Matthew 6:34. Here is part one.
Are God's arms long enough to reach down to your life? To your situation? Numbers 11:23 actually poses that question.
If you think of things that God gets mad at, you are not going to come up with the one thing that Pastor Tom talks about in this Podcast.
More from Pastor Tom at:
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In order to get to the amazing places, you have to go through the darkness. Pastor Tom shares the meaning of this statement as well as Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
As a 10th grader, Pastor Tom had his mind set on a Harley Davison motorcycle. His dad say no. Occasionally parents say something like "BECAUSE I'M YOUR FATHER! That's Why!!!! God says something similar as well in the Bible.. 167 times! Find out why.
Josh used to be addicted to porn and alcohol. But no longer! Listen as Pastor Tom interviews author, Joshua Shea. Hear Josh's personal story of brokenness and recovery.
MORE about Joshua Shea at:
https://recoveringpornaddict.com/author/joshuashea/
Josh's book:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078YRL9FZ/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
MORE about Pastor Tom at:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
God has been good to you. Because God has been good to you in the past, you can count on Him being good to you today and tomorrow. You are going to be ok. You are going to make it! Pastor Tom shares this truth from Malachi 3:3 and Hebrews 13:8.
Charlene was HURT by the CHURCH. Pastor Tom interviews her to learn of her pain and recovery.
BOOK by Charlene Feathers
Still His: Hope and Healing For Those That Were Hurt in Church
Charlene's Website:
https://www.charlenerfeathers.org/
MORE from Pastor Tom:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
In-depth questions to Robin Bertram about her book "No Regrets".
MORE about Robin:
Website:
www.RobinBertram.TV
No Regrets Book
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/OfficialRobinBertram/
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/robinbertram/
MORE about Pastor Tom:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
Live with No Regrets. Is it possible? Robin Bertram (author) explains how to make this a reality.
MORE about Robin:
Website:
www.RobinBertram.TV
No Regrets Book
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/OfficialRobinBertram/
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/robinbertram/
MORE about Pastor Tom:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
How was David was a man after God's own heart? We know the terrible sins that David had committed.
My dogs don't get what Jesus taught. If I could speak to my dogs in a language that they could understand, I would tell them what Jesus meant in Matthew 6:34.
Chronic Fatigue and Emotional pain are more common than ever. Pastor Tom interviews Kyle Davies (Occupational Psychologist, Life Coach, and Author).
MORE from Kyle Davies at:
www.KyleDavies.net
www.EnergyFlowCoaching.com
MORE from Pastor Tom
www.24Today.com
www.TomWhitesel.com
We have Goliath's in our life. They seem as tall, strong and impossible as Goliath did to David. Pastor Tom explains in detail the famous Biblical story and how it applies to our life.
Your child can be responsible. Pastor Tom interviews Teacher/Author Angela Mahoney.
Angela's website: at:
www.icanwork.therapro.com
Angela's Book - "I Can Work":
https://www.amazon.com/Skills-Curriculum-Special-Needs-Programs/dp/1933940379?keywords=i+can+work+mahoney&qid=1538361608&s=Books&sr=1-1-catcorr&ref=sr_1_1
Pastor Tom's sites:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
Tips on getting out of debt. Pastor Tom speaks with Karen Ford (Author and Personal Finance Expert).
Do you have a strong willed child? Early Child Education Expert, Shawna Ebbeson, joins Pastor Tom for a discussion about THE STRONG WILLED CHILD.
More from Shawna Ebesson at:
Ebbeson YOUniversity - http://ebbesonyouniversity.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ebbyoureaders/
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebbeson/
Amazon Book - https://www.amazon.com/Sleepy-Little-Stingray-Aquatic-Adventures-ebook/dp/B01IBENIL4
More from Pastor Tom at:
24Today.org
TomWhitesel.com
P 10 (LET'S PRAY IT!) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 9 (Summary) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 8 (KINGDOM, POWER, GLORY) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 7 (TEMPTATION) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 6 (FORGIVE) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 5 (BREAD) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 4 (EARTH and HEAVEN) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 3 (KINGDOM) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 2 (OUR FATHER) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
P 1 (INTRODUCTION) - The Lord's Prayer gives us a list of topics for our prayer life. It only takes a few minutes to include these in your daily prayers. But it is powerful!
Work as a TEAM. Amazon best selling author and top motivational speaker (MIKE ROGERS) is Pastor Tom's guest for "ME In Team". There is no "ME" in team, right? Listen as Mike Rogers shares how ME and teamwork work together.
Be first to Apologize. Join Pastor Tom as he shares the importance of being quick to apologize. Find out what "Whoever Get's There First Wins" means.
Struggling with depression? Join Pastor Tom for this 24 Today Podcast INTERVIEW of Anita Wilson. Anita suffered from depression to the point of actually trying to end her life. Today, she has recovered. Hear her story!
MORE from Pastor Tom at www.TomWhitesel.com
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MORE from Anita Wilson at www.AliasInTown.com
PASTOR TOM'S STORY!!! Listen to Pastor Tom's personal story of when he went through 17 months of Burnout and feeling Hopeless. Through a series of miracles from God... God led him to Hope and Healing.
Find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
Attempted suicide to NEW LIFE! Join Pastor Tom for this 24 Today Podcast INTERVIEW of Donna Sparks and hear how God miraculously changed her life from drugs, alcohol, and attempted suicide... to a life full of purpose and direction.
MORE from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
MORE about Donna Sparks at www.story-of-grace.com
Donna's Book:https://www.story-of-grace.com/get-the-book.html
Overcoming with Autism. Join Pastor Tom for this 24 Today Podcast INTERVIEW of Ron Sandison and hear P. 2 of Ron's amazing story of learning to overcome Autism.
-MORE from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
-MORE about Ron Sandison at www.spectruminclusion.com
-CONTACT Ron Sandison at sandison456@hotmail.com
Overcoming with Autism. Join Pastor Tom for this 24 Today Podcast INTERVIEW of Ron Sandison and hear P.1 of Ron's amazing story of learning to overcome Autism.
-MORE from Pastor Tom at www.24today.org
-MORE about Ron Sandison at www.spectruminclusion.com
-CONTACT Ron Sandison at sandison456@hotmail.com
Somebody talking bad about you? Good! Join Pastor Tom for this 5 Minute Espresso entitled "Hopefully Somebody Is Saying Something Bad About You". Jesus says in Luke 6:26, that we should be concerned if everyone is speaking well of us. Find out why...
-More from Pastor Tom at www.24today.org-
Telling the story of survival. Join Pastor Tom for this 24 Today Podcast INTERVIEW of Sharon Wilharm. Sharon's father survived one of the worst Naval tragedies in US history. Sharon has made a feature film about his story, entitled "Summer of 67".
MORE from Pastor Tom at www.TomWhitesel.com
MORE from Pastor Tom as www.24Today.org
MORE from Sharon Wilharm at https://summerof67.com
Everyone has losses. Join Pastor Tom for this 5 Minute Espresso entitled "Overcomers Occasionally Lose". Romans 8:37 tells us that we are MORE than overcomers. But does that mean that we ALWAYS win in every situation? Isn't it possible that an occasional loss is part of God's plan for us?
-find more from Pastor Tom at www.24today.org-
Are you thinking positively? Join Pastor Tom for this 5 Minute Espresso entitled "What Are You Thinking?" Philippians 4:8-9 tells us to choose to think positively. How are you doing with this?
-find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org-
Join Pastor Tom for this 5 Minute Espresso entitled "Good Guide". God promises to be our guide "all the way to the end."
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Join Pastor Tom for this 5 Minute Espresso entitled "Got Peace?". God's peace doesn't happen all by itself. We must "let" it happen.
-find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org-
We have some really good days, some really bad days, and then there are "The Other Twenty". Join Pastor Tom as he shares encouraging and practical thoughts about where we all live.
Find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
A woman named Jezebel is perhaps the most evil woman in the Bible. You have a difficult person in your life, don't you? You might even have someone who has bitterly hurt you to the core of your being! Is it possible that God could use THIS person to bring something good in your life?
Find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
We all know that we are supposed to have a positive attitude, but did you know that it is actually COMMANDED in the Bible? Join Pastor Tom as he shares how this day could be better with positivity.
Find more from Pastor Tom at 24Today.org
One of the more amazing promises in scripture is that God will take care of all your needs. Join Pastor Tom as he explains the meaning of of this promise from Philippians 4:19.
Find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
Pastor Tom talks about those times when you absolutely don't know what to say when you pray. There are times as well when you don't even have time to formulate a prayer. You just need to say something to God. What do you say?
Link to the song that Pastor Tom mentions
Find more from Pastor Tom at www.24Today.org
Listen as Pastor Tom talks about his "New Normal". Enjoy life as it is and refuse to sit around complaining about it. It might not be the normal that we prefer, but "it is what it is". Perhaps our prayer should be that God would free us from the need to be healed?
www.24Today.org
- Trouble sleeping? Scripture teaches us that God wants us to be able to sleep. Sleep can actually be a spiritual discipline. Listen as Pastor Tom shares ways to combine faith with sleep. Episode Notes -
Psalm 121:4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. - Quote: “Sleep is an act of surrender. It is a declaration of trust. It is admitting that we are not God (who never sleeps), and that is good news.” James Bryan Smith Psalm 3:5: “I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the Lord sustained me” Psalm 16:7: “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” Make this a daily prayer. Physically write down the things that you are worried about and cross them off. Mentally picture yourself giving the concerns to Jesus. Bow down on your knees- maybe even put your face to the ground and surrender it all to God .
Got grumblers? Is it possible to not let them ruin your day? YES IT IS! Listen as Pastor Tom shares.
Episode notes:
Jude 1:16
These people are grumblers and fault-finders; they follow their own evil desires. They boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
There are people that have proven to me that they rarely (if ever) see anything positively. I create a filter in my mind when I am around them.
I EXPECT them to be negative. In fact, if the weren't negative towards me, then I would begin to wonder if I am on the wrong path!
Luke 6:26(a)
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you.
Un-forgiveness kills. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a moment in which you could just let go of the painful past? God wants to do that for you. Listen as Pastor Tom describes a time recently that this happened in his life.
Episode notes:
Three Choices:
Hold it tight
Shove it back
Send it away
Whatever It Takes...
It is possible to "send it away"
God is interested in helping us "send it away"
www.24today.org
Deal with YOUR anger. It's yours to do with what you want. You can keep it or send it away. Join pastor Tom as he shares the difference between the two.
Episode Notes:
Garth Brooks - "We Bury The Hatchet"
Three Choices:
1) Hold it tight
2) Shove it back
3) Send it away
Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.
www.24today.org
Darkness is ok. In fact, Psalm 23 actually says that God LEADS us into darkness. Listen, as Pastor Tom shares that there are good things that God does in the dark.
"Learning To Walk In The Dark"
Barbara Brown Taylor
You might be OVER-CRITICAL of you! Pastor Tom shares EIGHT "go-to" ways to battle against his tendency to be overly self-critical. There is a better way.
1 Corinthians 15:10 - "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain..."
Prayer Before Sleep
Dear God, as I lay me down to sleep, relax the tension of my body; calm the restlessness of my mind; still the thoughts which worry and perplex me.
Help me to rest myself and all my problems in Your strong and loving arms.
Let Your Spirit speak to my mind and heart while I am asleep, so that, when I wake up in the morning, I may find that I have received in the night-time, light for my way; strength for my tasks; peace for my worries; forgiveness for my sins.
Grant me sleep for tonight, and tomorrow, the power to live. Amen. [anonymous]
ARE YOU A PERFECTIONIST?Are you overly critical of yourself? Pastor Tom shares his struggle with perfectionism. There is a better way.
"Vulnerability is the daily practice of letting go of who we think we are supposed to be, and embracing who we actually are."
Brenae' Brown (researcher/author/speaker)
John 3:17 - "For God did not send His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but to SAVE the world through Him."
WEAKNESS IS A GOOD THING! Believe it or not, your weaknesses could actually be a strength! Join Pastor Tom as he shares this truth from scripture.
Learn why Pastor Tom runs hot water over his hands before he speaks! :)