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Like A Thief In The Night

One night a thief broke into a house he thought was abandoned. As he walked then the darkened house with a flashlight he heard a voice from the kitchen that said, “Jesus is watching you.’ He stopped and said, “who’s there?” There was no answer so he thought he must have imagined it. But after he took a few more steps, the voice said again, “Jesus is watching you.” He decided to walk toward the voice, just before he entered the kitchen, he heard it again, “Jesus is watching you.” He swung the flashlight up and saw a parrot talking in a cage. The parrot said, Jesus is watching you.” The their turned flipped on the kitchen light and said, “Why you’re just a dumb bird.” The he looked in the corner of the room and seen a huge Rottweiler couching. And the parrot said “Get him Jesus.”

You might think it’s strange that Jesus would compare Himself to a thief. Of course, Jesus isn’t identifying with the sin of stealing. But just a good thief (that’s a oxymoron).that tries to sneak in quickly and quietly and escape with His people. That’s an accurate description of how Jesus will rapture His church.

We should all be living as if Jesus was crucified yesterday; raised from the dead this morning, and is coming back this afternoon.

1 Thessalonians 5: 1-4 tells us, “But concerning the times and the seasons, you have no need that anything be written to you. For you yourselves know that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come to then, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape.

We should know these 4 things

1. Jesus will return, But we don’t know the exact day.

Can you imagine a thief sending you a text or email saying, “Just wanted to know that I’m coming to rob your house tonight.” Of course not. Thief’s don’t announce when they’re coming. They sneak in and out.

When I was growing up my Dad used to do military funerals when a soldier or veteran would pass away. My father would keep all the guns in his closet. One night when no one was home the house was broken into and all the M16 rifles were stolen. He was very upset because they trusted him with these rifles. For a long time there would be someone home, or a neighbor would be watching the house.

Jesus told us to keep watch, because you don’t know on what day the Lord will come. We need to understand, if the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and not let the house be broken into. So we must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you don’t expect him (Matthew 24:42-44),

There have been times throughout history when many people expected Jesus to return. We use the Gregorian calendar now, but when the Julian calendar turned from year 999 to the year 1000, people expected Jesus to come for a new millennium, the same was true in the year 2000. People were on their best behavior, In the year 1000 history says that worldly goods were sold and money was given to the poor. Prisoners were set free, and many traveled to Israel to wait for Jesus’s return,

In the second and third chapter of Revelation, Jesus gives messages to the 7 churches, which represent all churches of all time. When He wrote to the church at Philadelphia, He says, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I also will keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth” (Revelation3:10).

In Luke 17 Jesus compares His return to a couple of Old Testament events. “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the dat Noah entered the ark. Then the flood cane and destroyed them all. It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and suffer rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just like this on the day the Son Of Man is revealed (Luke 17:26-30).

Are You Ready?

Underrated Life Skill

What’s the most underrated life skill? I think my most underrated life skill is being an intuitive introvert with a subconscious mindset for pattern recognition. Since my mind constantly runs background algorithms I notice subtle shifts in body language and the tone of people’s voices. This is something I had to learn as a child to stay out of my mother’s way. I can synchronize data without even realizing it.

The Power Of Gratitude

Gratitude has a way of changing how we see things. It’s not just saying thank you when something goes right. It’s learning to recognize God’s goodness, even when life isn’t going right.

When I think about gratitude, I don’t think about an ideal life. We all have struggles whether, mental or physical and some days are humbling. But through it all there is power in the simple things. The things we take for granted. What seems ordinary to some is someone else’s gift. I think my struggles keeps me dependent on God. My weakness has a way of pulling me back to His strength.

I am reminded of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9,

Because of these surpassingly great revelations, there of given me a thorn in my flesh, a messages of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (NIV)

Gratitude doesn’t erase the suffering, but it grows deeper from trust. It does erase the pain we endure, but it keeps pain from becoming the only thing we see.

Sometimes gratitude begins with noticing the warmth of the sunlight. The more we practice it, the more we realize gratitude isn’t just a response to blessings; it’s a doorway into peace.

My Personal Mantra

What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you live by? My personal mantra is simple. “If it costs me my peace, it’s too expensive.” Because my mental health, emotional stability, and inner calm are priceless, I walk away from situations that cause constant chaos.

Exploring

What’s the best way to explore a new city? When I have to a big city, I visit the stores, or go to the farmers markets if there is any and “people watch.” You can usually tell a lot obout people when you just observe.

Start Where You Are

The one thing I tell people is to start where you are. We can meet God in our current, messy circumstances rather than waiting for the perfect polished life.

We can bring our doubts, struggles, and unfinished plans directly to God without fear or judgment. The truth is no one is ever fully prepared or perfectly ready for a relationship with God. I hate that so many churches make you dress a certain way, or follow their rules, to have a relationship with God. If you walk into a church and they judge you that church isn’t the right church. Jesus taught us to accept people as they are, love them, and help them become who they are meant to be. If I had been judged by my tattoo in my church I probably would have never gone back and missed the opportunity to know Jesus.

No one should wait until all our “ducks are in a row” because they never will be. We can use what we have in our hands right now whether it is five loafs of bread or two fish , or just a little at a time. The next step will always reveal itself.

Feeling Truly Alive

What’s a moment in your life that made you feel truly alive? One time I Remember being truly alive was when I knew God had forgiven me and accepted me as His child. The Bible tells us God is a consuming fire. During this time my entire body was feeling with heat. The Holy Spirit make His presence tangibly felt. I felt I was being cleansed and my body was aligned with God

The Whole Armor Of God: Suiting Up

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” Ephesians 6:11 (NIV)

The world can be a cruel place and the desire to self-protect is a normal human reaction.

Years ago, someone told me I was too sensitive and that I had to “toughen up.” I thought it was true until God helped me see that toughening up could make me cynical and less sensitive to hearing His voice.

When we toughen up, it becomes easy to put up barriers. If we put up barriers we don’t just keep the hurt out, we also keep the love out.

We must remember that people are not our real enemy. Satan -the father of lies, the deceiver, the accuser of us all is our true enemy. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

This is hard to remember when the flaming arrows are aimed our way, coming in vicious lips, or fast tight, fingertips of people. But it’s the truth.

It’s not our job to protect ourselves with thicker skin. It’s our jobs to pray and put on the whole armor of God that He has given us. The belt of truth, the breast plate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. It’s not a battle of what takes place in our flesh, we are fighting a spiritual battle, and we need to ask the Holy Spirit to help us discern how each piece of armor might protect us.

Putting on the armor of God is a daily, intentional practice that anchors our minds and hearts to Jesus to stand firm against the wiles of this world.

Three wishes

The genie grants you a wish. What is it? The concept of three wishes from a genie is classic folklore where a supernatural spirit grants a person three wishes. Many traditional tales show how poorly thought out wishes can go wrong, like asking for a million bucks and getting a million male deer, or wasting wishes on trivial things.
If a supernatural spirit came and granted me a wish I would wish to be more discerning of my surroundings me. The ability to recognize whether a behavior, atmosphere, or influence originates from God, human, or demonic sources. Something that goes beyond human intuition, critical thinking, or common sense, a deep spiritual clarity into hidden motivation and unseen influences.

The Upper Room

Indian Canyon – Named for the historical travel route that connects to the Ute Reservation

“My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth” -1 John 3:18

This verse teaches that genuine love requires that biblical believer’s love requires practical actions rather than empty words.

When the church was born the upper room, the power of the Holy Spirit breathe into all believers ability to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth.

We have the power to lay hands on the sick, we have the power to cast our demons, and we possess that power of the Name above any other name -Jesus.

Until we put our faith to work through the obedience of God‘s word, we will not tap into that power. Many churches read as part of their tradition, but do they not believe that they are His God breathed words to us. They claim the Bible is an historical document. They do not believe in our God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever -who still heals and deals in signs and wonders.

I know a lady in my church whose nephew had a lung transplant, two days later he was up walking and talking, and he left the hospital 5 days later to begin living a life for God. His work environment destroyed his lungs and took his ability to breathe normally. If that isn’t God’s work to restore a man’s ability to have another chance at life I don’t know what it is.

We have been so accustomed to walking in the status quo that we have lost sight of who God really is. We can experience signs and wonders sent by God for who He is and not what He can do for us. We can see the lost forsake their sin and come to know Jesus. We can witness captives set free, marriages mended, addictions broken, and sicknesses healed. But we must begin to believe and receive what happened in the upper room. And not settle for what most churches teach or preach -the status quo. I believe there is a stark contrast between believers who merely survive and a believer who is actively thriving.

The reality is, we are in a state of pure survival mode. We have lost sight of Jesus -Our leader and reached a point of an uncertain future.

Favorite Side Hustles

What are your favorite side-hustle ideas? My side hustles are during the spring and summer at a few farmers’ markets. People can sell almost anything, from crafts and homemade jams and jellies to eggs, baked items, and homegrown vegetables. This is a no-cost option to make some extra money. There is also a flea market here that charges a monthly fee if you want to set up a space or if you know someone who can sell non-food items for a reasonable fee. These are my two go-to side hustles because they are local and don’t cut too much into your profit.

God Our Great Protector

Independent Coal & Coke Company Store in Kenilworth Utah -was owned by Aberdeen mine in 1909 remodeled

“The Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one” -2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

Every day we experience fear in one way or another. Whether it’s fear of the opinions of others, fear of the future, or fear of the ways of the world, we need comfort and faith.

No matter the situation we should focus on the protection God offers. Every day God gives us His goodness and love. Our hearts need comfort, and our hands need strength as we make space for God to fill.

I used to have fear anytime someone was talking about Satan. He always seemed to be very clever, too clever for me to handle. I have seen to many strong believers getting tempted and eventually falling away from what seemed to be God’s will for their life. I have seen the ways in which the world is tricked by his schemes. I wondered if I would ever be able to defeat this strong and clever enemy.

Sometimes Satan seems too strong to be defeated, too clever to outwit. And many are in his grasp. The Bible tells us that satan is the father of lies. In John 8:44 Jesus tells us, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

Let that sink in for a minute. Everything Satan tells us is a lie. He cannot speak full truth. Every thing he tells us is in opposition to God, who is the author of all truth. All of Satan’s whispers about his strength and our inability to defeat him are in opposition of the word of God. We will find blissful freedom in God’s powerful words of a loving, truthful, Heavenly Father. However, we must allow God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit) to come in and correct the lies of the enemy we have believed so we can walk in the abundant life that is available to us through Jesus.

Our heavenly Father is a perfect, capable protector from Satan. He promises to establish us and guard us. He is always with us and always knows exactly what we need to withstand the temptation of satan.

1 Corinthians 10:13 teaches us, “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” This means God promises never to let us face a temptation we cannot resist. Satan does not have the power to force anyone to sin or overpower a person’s free will. His primary weapon is deception. Satan relies on temptation, trickery, and false ideas to get people to cooperate with him. Satan only wins when a person chooses to believe his lies and gives in to the temptation.

Satan lives to whisper our past failures back to us. But our past doesn’t have to dictate our future. In fact, if we allow the Holy Spirit to use our past failures to reveal to us ways He has longed to lead us away from temptation, past sins can become stepping stones on which we achieve future victories.

Titus 2 11-14 says, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.” God’s grace is the foundation for our victory over the enemy, not our own works. It was in His grace that Jesus died to set us free from this world and restore us to God. His grace leads us away from temptation. And it’s His grace that He offers us every time we confess our sins to Him. God’s grace is powerful, freeing, perfect, and full of love. He knows our weaknesses. He knows our frame. But He is also perfectly capable of being strong in our weakness if we allow Him to be.

God has a perfect plan for every temptation that comes our way. The enemy is not stronger than us. He is not more clever than us. And he will not have victory over us because we have God, and God has defeated Him Our great protector and guard is a very god who defeated Satan at the Cross and will throw him into a lake of fire, resulting in his ultimate destruction. If we have chosen God to be our savior, he lives on the inside of us, has grace for us, and plans to use our past failure and current weaknesses to powerfully defeat our enemy -Satan. I hate my.

Home Exercises

What are five simple exercises to do at home? I don’t have a set exercise plan at home, but I’m sure the stairs I carry loads of laundry up and down, plus normal household chores like reaching, bending, and carrying bags of groceries from the car, count for something.