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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?

On A Walk/Drive

Daily writing prompt
Go on a walk today and share a photo of something that catches your eye.
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I went for a drive and walk today. I seem to always take a photo of our coal fired power plant in in central Utah.

Hunter Power Plant

God’s Wall of Protection

Wall of Protection -The Armor Of God

The Armor of God is a metaphor in Ephesians 6:12 that describes a spiritual wall of protection. Rather than physical bricks, this protection comes from virtues and spiritual truths that can guard our minds, heart, and faith against struggles and negative influences.

Each component serves as a specific defensive purpose to maintain a spiritual fortress:

  • Belt of truth: The belt of truth secures everything. Knowing and standing for the truth serves as the foundation of our defense against deception and lies.
  • Breastplate of righteousness: The breastplate guards our core. It shields our hearts and emotions from guilt, shame, and condemnation by anchoring our identity in God.
  • Shoes of the gospel of peace: The shoes provide a firm base. They ground us in stability and peace, allowing us to stand strong no matter what the circumstances are.
  • Shield of faith: The shield of faith is our ultimate barrier. It deflects the “flaming arrows” (doubt, fears, and temptation) before they can hit our minds or spirit.
  • Helmet of salvation: The helmet of salvation protects our thought life. It guards our minds against negative thoughts and secures our eternal hope.
  • Sword of the Spirit: The sword is our only offensive tool. Representing the Word of God, it allows us to push back against negativity.

Unlike a physical structure, this wall of protection is built by intentionally applying these traits to our daily lives. It represents active, ongoing habits of prayer, trust, and standing firm in our beliefs.

Profound Piece of Advice

Daily writing prompt
What’s the most profound piece of advice you’ve been given? Did you take it?
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For years I struggled with what I had done to cause my mother to abuse me. I lived my childhood through my memories, night terrors, panic attacks. They got so bad that I went for prayer. When I was getting ready to leave a lady stopped me and said something that changed my perspective on what I was going through. She said, “You are not your mother’s sin.” I took it as I was not defined, condemned, or bound by the mistakes or sins of my mother. My life, my identity and my future were my own to build.

I embraced this truth, and recognized that I had the power to stop the toxicity that was brought on me. I didn’t have to repeat it.

If I Had A Unlimited Budget

Daily writing prompt
If you had an unlimited budget for 24 hours, what would you do?
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If I had an unlimited budget for 24 hours, I would use that money to increase it, maybe buy some precious metals, and prepay for services like landscaping, house cleaning, and maybe pre book a vacation and pay off debt, and help out a few people along the way.

Unmasking Deception

Satan’s Kettle -Minnesota

“That no advantage may be gained over us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes” -2 Corinthians 2:11

The Bible warns us that Satan (the devil) is like a roaring lion who walks around seeking who he may desire. Whether we like it or not, Satan is a real personality who is looking for ways to destroy our lives. Since the Bible frequently warns us that this sinister enemy, we should know a few things:

  • How he operates
  • How to identify his attacks at the very beginning
  • How to block and stop his assaults
  • How to prevent repeat attacks from happening in the future

In the above verse, Paul wrote something that offers profound insight. Paul clearly understood that Satan was constantly seeking ways to take advantage of people.

Rick Renner a Bible teacher who is very well recognized as his understanding of the original Greek language point out in an article I was reading that the word “advantage” is “pleonekteo” which means to outwit, trick or to take advantage of someone through some sinister or sneaky means. These words from the name “pleonekeo” denotes a desire to have more, more, and more.

Because Paul used this word about Satan, we are alerted to the fact that Satan desperately wants something in his control. He wants us, and he will use any method necessary to take advantage of us, dominate us, and ultimately take us hostages. That is why Paul said, “we are not ignorant of his devices.

When you have an enemy who hates you this much and wants to destroy you, you can’t afford to be ignorant. Paul knew that satan wanted to destroy the gospel, that he wanted to hinder and even stop what was essential.

We need to understand the way, Satan operates. We need to be able to discern whether we are facing a human problem or a planned attack from Satan.

We can’t just shut our eyes and hope the problem will work itself out. If it is an attack from Satan and we do nothing to stop it, it will not go away and will increase and become intense. That’s why being able to recognize Satan’s game is so important.

Renner says, the word ignorant in 2 Corinthians 2:11 is the Greek word “agnoeo” refers to ignorance or lacking certain facts. However it also includes making mistakes or errors due to lack of understanding. An example is an uneducated person who has a lack of understanding, due to lack of understanding.

Because people lack understanding, their conclusions are faulty, and misguiding. We get the word “agnoeo” from agnostic, it is the official name to describe people who claim they don’t know what they believe. So if someone claims to be agnostic, they are literally claiming to be ignorant.

An example is being diagnosed with a deadly disease and thinking it is sent from God, because they are ignorant. Satan not God is the author of sickness and disease. This ignorance mistakenly concludes that their sickness must be God’s will for their life. This ignorance is devastating and can lead to premature death. It is dangerous to remain ignorant about how Satan operates.

Paul was definitely not in the dark about the Satan, and Satan found it more difficult to take advantage of him.

We need to learn these things because we face problems with people, government leaders and even friends.

Paul was thrown into prison, cast into the sea, beaten during moments of persecution. Traps were constantly being set for his capture, and he had to be on the look out for people who tried to use him, or take advantage of him. Paul couldn’t afford to be in the dark spiritually about the way Satan operated.

And neither can we.

So we shouldn’t shut our eyes and ignore the fact that satan wants to cause our downfall. Instead, we should open our eyes and allow the Holy Spirit to teach us to recognize Satan’s operations so we won’t fall prey to him in the future.

The Church Isn’t A Building

How many times have to be asked, “where do you go to church?” The question is a common one, but is fundamentally flawed of what exactly the “church” is.

Biblically, the church isn’t a building it’s a people. Scripture has several metaphors that are used for the church. Here are a few:

Romans 12:4-5 “For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don’t have the same function.”

1 Corinthians 12:12-13, “For as the body is one, and hath many members hath have, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.” For in one Spirit we were baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”

What these have in common is that we are not a place we go to, but rather a people we are. We do not go to the body. We either are a part of the body or we are not. Likewise, family is not something to go to, it’s something you are.

In the Bible there are no pleas to go to church. The plea is for non believers to become part of the church. In the first century, if you were a believer you were, inherently, a part of the church. If you weren’t a part of the church, no one called you a believer. In addition, being a part of the church meant you were deeply involved in and committed to the life and well-being of the church (the believers)

When we substitute seeing ourselves as the church and instead see the church as a building we go to, we lose a fundamental piece of what it means to actually be a follower of Jesus.

When we separate “church” out to something that we go to we can begin to see ourselves as part of the church, but rather the church is peripheral to me, and then there is the church, but the two are not one in the same.

This is not biblical and it leads down a path to consumerism where the church is supposed to serve me and my needs and preferences. Viewing the church in this way. Viewing the church in this way converts it from a people to a vending machine of religious goods and services for our personal benefit. We need to recommit ourselves to following God, not the church

The church isn’t a building, it’s a people that love God and love others. It’s a people that celebrate Jesus, and bless and serve those around them.

The church building serves as a sanctuary and a welcoming beacon where hurting people can find comfort, support, and connect with God. It is supposed to operate as a spiritual “hospital” and a resource for the community, providing a judgement free zone for healing and guidance.

Perfect Finale For a Show

Daily writing prompt
What’s a show that had the perfect series finale?
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In the 2015 Christian drama “Do You Believe” written by Chuck Konzelman and Cary Solomon there were 12 intersecting storylines which converge in to a climatic car crash and a shootout on a flooded bridge. The survivors are united through radical forgiveness and redemption, proving that faith requires active demonstration rather than just words. 12 lives perfectly aligning to one message. I don’t watch many movie series, because I can’t stay focused on them to watch them all the way through.

Dinner With Any Philosopher

Daily writing prompt
If you could have dinner with any philosopher, who would it be?
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While there are many philosophers, I don’t believe I would enjoy having dinner with any of them. But I would enjoy having dinner with the literary scholar and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis.
He was famous for “The Chronicles of Narnia” and his theological writings like “Mere Christianity.”

Dark Night Of The Soul

The dark night of the soul can be marked by profound emptiness, meaninglessness, or a temporary collapse of our perceived purpose. Some describe this as spiritual dryness, that no matter how we try to connect with God, He seems far away.

A dark night is not something to fear. Yes, it may feel empty and lonely, but it doesn’t have to lead to burnout, it can lead to a great spiritual breakthrough in our lives, if we understand what’s going on and learn how to follow Jesus in the darkness. We can growth through dark nights of our soul.

Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and staff, they comfort me.”

Many times in my life I have found myself crying out like David in desperation Psalm 22:1-2, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.”

Remember our darkness isn’t dark to God. Psalm 139:11-12 says, “If I say, surely the darkness will overwhelm me, the light around me will be night, even the darkness doesn’t hide your You, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is light to You.”

Even when we feel like God is no where in sight, it doesn’t mean the light is gone. God is always faithful to keep His promise to be with us when we walk through the valley of deep darkness whether we perceive Him or not.

God sometimes commissions disheartening nights of the soul to descend on His children for redemptive purposes.

Handling Fear and Self-doubt

Daily writing prompt
How do you handle fear and self-doubt?
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I have handles fear and self doubt by changing my perspective on them. Fear and self doubt are not signs of incompetence they are signals that we are stepping out of our comfort zones.

By shifting our perspective from viewing these feelings as roadblocks to treating them as indicators of personal growth they can turn uncertainty into action.

Rewiring The Brain With Prayer

Wind Cave National Park -South Dakota

Neuroscientists have found that just 12 minutes of daily focused prayer can literally rewire your brain. It is known as self directed neuroplasticity, physically thickens the prefrontal cortex while calming the fear center -the amygdala, making you more emotionally resilient and less reactive to stress.

This rewiring isn’t tied to a single, magical phrase, rather, it is a result of consistent focus and intention. To effectively harness prayer for brain transformation, scientific and spiritual experts recommend incorporating the following.

  • Engage Multiple Senses: speaking prayers out loud or writing them down in a journal, bypasses repetitive, distractive thoughts.
  • Practicing gratitude: this starts by specifically thanking God for your blessings. Gratitude requires the brain to focus on abundance rather than fear.
  • Adding visualization: when we picture the feelings or positive outcomes that we are praying for this mentally rehearses, the neural pathways associated with faith and hope.
  • Incorporating music: humming, or listening to worship music, activates, the brains, auditory and emotional centers, deepening a meditative state.
  • Staying consistent: build a routine of roughly 12 minutes a day. Over weeks and months repeated focus will naturally strengthen pathways, linked to empathy, emotional control, and peace. 

Prayer brings us closer to God. Whatever effects it has on the brain is a direct result of God. I don’t need science to give me proof. I’ve seen it in action in my own life. But it’s interesting to see as time goes on more and more proof of God is showing up.