Tom the Preacher

Can you imagine living in this world if no one died? Just think of all the pain people would have to endure with no hope of ever escaping the disease, aching joints, a deteriorating mind, and a whole host of other infirmities. Although death is a painful experience, it is a necessary step before we receive the immortal, imperishable bodies God has promised those of us who will live eternally with Christ. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

Death is a terrible thing. We were reminded of this last week as we remembered 9/11 and Charlie Kirk. We'll all face the loss of a loved one and we'll all die. Have you ever wondered why? Why would a loving God have death be a part of His plan? Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

How can you mend a broken heart? You can't. But God can! If you are in this condition, it's vital that you understand what God is doing and how He is working with you. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer for some practical advice on how to cooperate with God as He heals your broken heart.

Sometimes it seems like God allows us, or even brings us to difficult places that seem overwhelming. Yesterday, I was reminded of a tough time I experienced 49 years ago. I didn't know how I'd get through it. But, somehow, with the help of God, I made it. Remembering that victory helps me have courage for the tough times I have now. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to hear that very personal story of God's grace and kindness in tough times.

Have you ever had your heart broken? Most of us have, so if you haven't, watch out! It's coming! I found a vital answer that was right under my nose the whole time: We can't heal a broken heart, but God can! Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to discover what you must do for God to heal your broken heart.

In Romans 5, Paul gives us three reasons to rejoice, glory, and exult. We tend to get excited about other things (temporal things) rather than these eternal truths. We need a change of perspective. But, we especially need that transformed thinking in one of these three reasons, because we typically think we should avoide it rather than rejoice in it. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

King David referred to God as "the Master of the Breakthrough." Just like water can break through a dam, God is able to break through when we are suffering and flood us with His grace, love, and joy. I experienced this yesterday! Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

Do you see the hurting people all around us? Jesus did, and He was moved with compassion for them. That compassion moved Him to action, both for Himself and His disciples -- and it should move us to action as well.  Join me for a special Labor Day message on Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

"I'm sorry for your loss, but she's in a better place now." For weeks after my wife passed, those words rang hollow. My pain was so great that I couldn't appreciate that Roz really was in a better place. My attention was fixed on the temporal rather than the eternal.Most emotional pain we feel after loss is like that -- fixated on the temporal. But as we learn to see the unseen reality (the eternal), we can regain joy even in the midst of pain. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more

I come to you today from Roz's art studio, where she had some unfinished art projects. It's sad for me to see these, but I think God left them as a reminder of the importance of preparing for the end of life and realizing I don't have forever to accomplish what He's given me to do. Do you have unfinished business? Do you live with the realization that your race will one day be finished -- your life will be over? Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more..

It's hard to be happy if your life has no purpose. Traumatic loss rocks our lives and can rob us of any sense of purpose we previously had. So, how do we discover, or rediscover, purpose once we've been through such a life-altering experience? The answer might be simpler than you realize. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn the answer.

Losing my wife closed a big chapter of my life. Looking back on memories, both pleasant and painful, makes me feel older. Do you want to get old? Most of us don't. But life happens, and God has a purpose for us even when age requires us to make changes. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

If you've suffered great loss, you don't "move on" from it, nor does your life ever get "back to normal." You have a wound that will be with you the rest of your life. But that wound need not be debilitating. Rather, we integrate our pain and our loss into our life story as we move forward. I'm trying to do this, and I believe I will have a story to tell that will benefit others suffering through painful loss. I made progress in this integration this weekend; join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

Preparing for death is about a LOT more than writing a will and other end-of-life documents. Having recently lost my wife, I now believe that preparing for the grief and heartache of loss is far more important than how to distribute your financial assets. If you're married, you have a 50% chance of experiencing this terrible pain. Some people never recover from it. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I share four ways you can prepare for this dreadful experience.

Suffering loss is painful. It's only human to grieve over it. Some people get stuck in their grief, and it sours them for the rest of their lives. Others become sweeter through their painful struggles. In Today's Daily Word & Prayer, I will share some things I do to help restore happiness into my life that will help you gain insight into what you can also do to restore joy into your life.

When traumatic life events, such as the loss of a loved one, occur, I believe we need to let the grief do its work. The pain has a purpose and can make you a better person. But if we're not careful, the pain can master us and we never recover so as to move forward. Sometimes wet need to make choices that will help us overcome the pain. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I share one of those choices I made yesterday.

It's been two months since Roz passed. I've been flooded with emotions that I'm not used to . It's been the toughest two months of my life. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I give an overview of some of these feelings and share why I'm beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

What do you do with regret after losing a loved one? They're gone, and now you can't correct or make right something you said or did, or didn't say or do. It's too late. These feelings can haunt you with guilt and lead to self-condemnation. There is a way out! I discovered it three days ago! Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn how I found freedom from my regrets.

When your life has been shaken by unexpected trauma, it's important to find hope from God's word. He wants to speak to us in very personal ways from a book He gave us over 2,000 years ago! In today's Daily Word & Prayer, I share a very personal message God gave me (and confirmed to me) regarding my marriage, family, ministry, and future legacy. Join me to learn more.

No one wants to suffer. We see pain as a bad thing. But Scripture teaches us that this is a shortsighted way of thinking. As believers in Christ, we can actually see suffering as a good and positive thing because it yields beautiful results. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

When you're going through a tough time, your trial (your problem) can seem overwhelming. You can see it and you can feel it. It seems like it's bigger than God Himself, but it isn't. If you want to gain a true perspective of your problem, you must magnify God to see Him as He really is. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as we learn how to magnify God during our difficult times.

When grieving deeply over a loss (or any circumstance that seems overwhelming), it's one thing to make it through the day; it's another thing to wonder how we will make it through the next several years. In Today's Daily Word & Prayer, we talk about learning to trust God to take care of us one day at a time.

Devastating life circumstances wound us. They can become debilitating. Can we move forward in spite of our pain? I believe we can. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I continue to share beliefs I affirm each day that will help us come out better after a loss, trauma, or any other attack we've suffered.

Suffering loss and experiencing grief can make us angry at God and poison our soul with negativity. Hopefully, this is not the future you want. It's certainly not the future I want. Therefore, I've written down some affirmations of things I believe about my loss that I believe will help me move forward in life. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I share three of these affirmations.

Bad circumstances can be magnified in our minds, overwhelming us. I've experienced this quite a bit the past seven weeks, but I'm choosing to embrace affirmations that will enable me to see my loss in proper perspective and move foward with confidence and strength. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I share on one of these affirmations.Scripture Used in Today's MessagePhilippians 4:12-13Romans 8:31-322 Corinthians 12:9Isaiah 41:10Isaiah 40:28-31

Losing a spouse, or any other major life trauma, hurts so deeply that we can magnify it above other truths that are just as important -- or maybe even more important. In Today's Daily Word and Prayer, I begin looking at some Affirmations I am making to help me regain perspective and move forward after my great loss. 2 Samuel 12:23

When life throws us a curveball, we're tempted to think God isn't good. This is a test we must pass. That thought comes from our enemy, and the trap he sets has captured many; don't let it capture you! Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn what belief we must affirm when circumstances force us into an uncomfortable place.

I had both ups and downs this past weekend in my journey of grief after losing my wife, Roz. Even though this grief is terrible, it can feel good that it makes me the center of attention (that was the down experience). But later that night, I shared the gospel and saw people come to Jesus (that was the up experience). It raises the question: which experience do I want to describe my life in the days, months, and years to come?

Five weeks before God took her, my wife, Roz, wrote in her journal what she wanted to characterize her life before she would pass. It's pretty simple, it's what the world needs, and it's what you and I can give. Join me for Today Daily Word & Prayer to learn the answer.

It's easy to fall into depression after losing a loved one who depended on you. Everyone needs to be needed. You were needed; are you still? Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer, where I will share how Scripture advises us to find a new purpose in life.

Everyone needs to be needed. My wife needed me. When she went to her eternal home, she no longer needed me, and a big part of my purpose went with her. When there's no one who NEEDS you anymore, you begin to wonder why you should keep living. And if you can't answer that question with a new purpose in life, you might survive without really living. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I begin wrestling with this question.

40 is a significant number in the Bible.It rained 40 days and nights with Noah's flood.Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days.Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years.Jesus was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days.And it was 40 days between Jesus' resurrection and His ascension into glory.It's been 40 days since Roz was taken home to be with the Lord.I don't want to let a milestone like this go unnoticed in my journey without her. Join me for Today's Dailiy Word & Prayer as we process this together.

We've got to be careful how we handle our difficult times of sadness and grief. That includes being careful who we listen to -- even well-meaning people who care about us, but have not yet made much progress in overcoming their own trauma. Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer, where I'll share how I listened to the wrong people this weekend, and it wasn't good.

I'll admit it: losing My Wife Has Shaken Me. Something deep inside isn't the same. Scripture promises that those who trust in the Lord won't be shaken. Does being shaken mean I have no trust in God? If you are shaken by loss, does that mean you don't have faith? Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to see how I am processing this.Scripture Used in Today's MessageMatthew 7:24-27Hebrews 12:25-27Psalm 125:1Psalm 112:6-7Psalm 16:8Psalm 62:2, 6Psalm 21:7Psalm 55:22

It's been five weeks since my beloved Roz went to be with God. Every day, people ask how I'm doing. Something happened yesterday to remind me I still have a long way to go. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I seek to step back and understand my life over the past five weeks.

Roz was a wonderful person whose love added so much to those she knew. Now that she's gone, it's up to me and my family to preserve her legacy. If we do a good job, her godly impact will contiunue even though she is gone; if we are negligent, as hard as it is to believe, she will soon be forgotten. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I discuss Roz's legacy and how I intend to carry it on as long as I can.

Today's message is not for those who are OK with a shallow relationship with God. It will make sense only to those who want to know Him more deeply. In Today's Daily Word & Prayer, we are going onto Holy Ground to discover why God would wound one of His precious children. Roz walked this path as have many true saints throughout history. It's a path I believe God has called me to walk now, and maybe He's asking you to as well.Scripture used in today's messageHosea 6:1-3Hebrews 12:4-11

Do you trust your own thoughts during times of deep grief? Personally, I don't. We have a spiritual enemy who seeks to exploit our pain by whispering lies to us -- lies about God, lies about others, and lies about ourselves. Believing these lies can be devastating. In Today's Daily Word & Prayer, I identify some of the lies I have been tempted to believe. Join me and learn how to combat them.

Some problems can't be fixed. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one, you can't get them back. We can be grateful for the people who show us love and concern (and I am grateful for all those who have done so with me), but there's a grief that can't be spoken; there's a pain goes on and on. It's in these times God wants to do what no person can do. He brings a peace beyond comprehension. Prayer in times of dispair is an important way we experience this grace from God. In today's Daily Word & Prayer, I will pray for people who are suffering grief and need to find the comfort of God

My beloved wife, Roz, passed away 28 days ago. In today's Daily Word & Prayer, I share with you some things I've learned about helping a grieving person (specifically, helping me).

Our heavenly Father took Roz to heaven 27 days ago. It feels a LOT longer than that. Why does time feel so warped during this time of grief?  What is God doing in us during these times? Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.Also, I am so grateful for your prayers for me. Please also include our five adult children, their spouses, and our 14 grandchildren. They are grieving as well.

To be loved by your spouse is a special blessing from God. What about those who never married, or those who lose this source of love through death or divorce? Can God Himself be that direct source of love? Can that lonely person triumph? What part do grief and sorrow play in bring us to this triumphant place? Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn more.

Last week I was challenged by a man who asked me why I was embarrassed to cry. And he wouldn't accept a shallow answer. What is it about our culture, our upbringing, our expectations, and most importantly, our understanding of God and our Christian faith that tells a man he must suppress his feelings? Join me for Today's Daily Word and Prayer to learn more.

It's been three weeks since my beloved Roz went home to be with Jesus. I'm grieving, and I'm learning about grief. I believe God has things to teach me, and He has things to teach you through the two most significant experiences we will all have -- birth and death. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer as I share some dos and don'ts I'm learning along my journey.

My wife died suddenly and unexpectedly three weeks ago. The pain of this loss has been unlike anything I've ever experienced. People say my faith will get me through this. I know what they mean, but I prefer saying God will be with me as my life journey continues. Join me for Today's Daily Word & Prayer to learn how God can be with you in your journey through difficult times.

I grieve the loss of my beloved wife, Roz. But I have assurance that she is in heaven with Jesus right now. My spirits are lifted when I see through the grief and consider this reality. I want you to see this same reality; I want you to experience this same hope—the hope of eternal life. Join me for Today's Daily Word and Prayer to discover this hope in a very personal way.Scripture Used in Today's Message1 Thessalonians 4:13John 3:16Matthew 7:13-14

Identity. It goes to the core of who we understand ourselves to be. From it flows our purpose in life, our values, our very reason to live. My identity as a husband, second only to my identity as a child of God, is not more. That sacred role and responsibility ended in the blink of an eye. Join me for today's Daily Word and Prayer as we process this grief together.

The sadness is obvious; it takes intentionality to find the kindness of God in the midst of the sorrow. But God is kind. He was kind to Roz, and He has been kind to me... and I'm confident He is kind to you. Join me for today's Daily Word & Prayer to hear how God has shown His kindness in special ways these past two days.

Join me for my Daily Word & Prayer as I process the sudden loss of my beloved wife, Roz. Yesterday, we held her memorial service and buried her. People came from far and wide to honor her and to comfort me. I am so appreciative. But I had some unexpected feelings -- mostly positive that I share with you in this video.

I am grateful to all who are joining me on my journey of grief after losing my beloved wife, Roz. Today, I want to take you to her art studio, which she called her "sanctuary." A sanctuary is a holy place where you meet with God. I'll also read a few select entries from her journal.