Watching

Irrigation project thank you!

Quick Praise From Last Week:

We had 45 kids last week. We had a lot of our regular kids gone. If regular families were present we would have had 60+ kids.

Praise the Lord. We have gone from 0 kids 4.5 months ago to 60+ kids!

As of last Sunday, March 15th, there was no “topic” on the preaching calendar in regards to The Secret Place Series.

We reached the end of the first section of The Secrets of The Secret Place book (except for 1 chapter, which I was planning on skipping).

Last Sunday night I asked the Lord:

Do I start the next series before Easter?

I have had people ask me to share a Secret Place day, as an example. Should I do that this Sunday?

Or is there another topic I should do from The Secrets of The Secret Place book to fill time between now & Easter?

Spirit says, “The last chapter.”

I pick up the book and I look at the last chapter, I didn’t recall what it was.

Looking at the topic and reading through the very few underlines I had in the chapter, my initial response wasn’t one of inspiration.

I set it down and went to be praying, “Lord what do I do?”

I went to church Monday morning, the day I normally start the sermon, and I had nothing.

Rather than wasting time staring at a computer screen………….unmotivated, I decided to clean out the library, box up the books, take them to Goodwill, and go to the Mission House to drop off some food.

When I got done I sat back down at my desk and asked Spirit, “What should I do?”

This time Spirit’s still quiet voice spoke to my heart, “Do both”.

JOURNAL - FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2026 - THE SECRET PLACE

Thursday March 5th:

All day I was praying:

What do you want to do at The Secret Place tomorrow?

Is there anything I need to prepare for tomorrow?

What time do you want me to get up and go tomorrow?

Should I get up at 3am, 4am, 5am?

I sensed Spirit nudge to get up at 4:30am, set alarm for 4:30 (no other answer to any of the other questions).

Friday March 6th:

I woke up at 4:22am.

Spirit nudges me; “It’s time to get up and go. The timing is important.”

(Picture #1 - Moon Behind The Cloud)

As I’m driving up the mountain towards The Secret Place I “SEE” a bright light shining on above the mountain where The Secret Place is located.

What is that light?

It took me a minute to figure out what it was, it is the moon behind a cloud lighting up The Secret Place ridge.

I stopped the truck in the middle of the road, turned off my headlights, and took a picture of it.

Two seconds after I took the picture it was gone. The cloud moved and the moon appeared. The magnificent brilliant reflective light was gone.

(Picture #2 - Moon Out From Behind the Cloud)

At that moment I recalled hearing the Spirit’s voice at 4:22am say, “The timing is important”.

If I had laid in bed and gotten up at 4:30am I would have missed the moon reflecting off a cloud onto The Secret Place.

What a beautiful thing that was to “SEE” on the drive up the mountain.

I said a quick prayer: “Father, you truly are with me! I asked you yesterday if there was anything you wanted me to prepare for today. I never heard an answer. You didn’t answer. The reason you didn’t answer was because you had it all prepared for me to just come and “WATCH”. Father, you are my light!”

As I continued driving up the mountain I meditated on the following thought.

I love days like today where the day unfolds as if every second was already planned out and I can “SEE” it unfold with that awareness of mind and have the awe of it in my heart! It feels like every minute is set up for me for the day by my loving Father.

I love listening to Father’s voice and watching how He unfolds things in His creation for me to “SEE”.

I get to the parking lot, get my gear ready, and start hiking. A minute into the hike Spirit tells me, “Don’t stop. No breaks. Hike all the way. The timing matters. No matter what comes across your path or what you “SEE”, keep going. Don’t stop.”

Maybe a few minutes later I have a thought. (Don’t judge me!!!!!!)

What if I “SEE” a cougar or a bear in the trail?

Is this a test Lord?

If that happens what am I supposed to do?

Keep walking?

Spirit, do you literally want me to not stop?

No answer.

A minute later I remembered a vision Gretchen Lindstrom had for me in August of 2024.

The prophetic word she “SAW” in a “VISION” for me was “I am the God that shuts the mouth of the lion”.

OK Spirit. If I see a cougar or a bear, I am going to claim those words and believe them.

About 5 minutes later the test came…….there was a bear standing in the trail.

Just kidding.

No bear and no cougar.

These thoughts were my thoughts.

Spirit didn’t answer my prayer about what I am supposed to do IF I SEE ONE.

He didn’t answer because there wasn’t going to be one!!

As I am walking up the trail my thoughts go towards the Lord‘s voice and how I hear his voice.

I have never heard his voice audibly.

I always hear his voice as thoughts, nudges, or ideas that cross my mind.

For so many years I battled His voice.

Not believing or realizing I could hear Him.

Not giving credit to the ideas or nudges as possibly being His voice.

I constantly asked the question, “Is this God or is this me?”

The majority of the time I settled and discounted the voice, ignoring it.

Over time I have grown to know the voice, but it has taken time and committed effort to learn it, trust it, recognize it.

I often hear people make comments like, “I don’t hear God or I don’t know what His voice sounds like”.

My heart recalls those words coming out of my own mouth.

My heart hungers for those who make those comments.

I hunger for them to know You intimately.

My mind goes to the Bible story in which Isaiah is standing at the entrance of a cave on a mountain when he sees the earth quake, he sees the wind blow, and then he sees fire pass by. He doesn’t hear God’s voice in those large earthly movements. He hears God’s voice as a still quiet voice.

The reason why he hears the voice as a still quiet voice is because Father is close.

Father has poured out His Spirit on all mankind.

Because of that His Spirit is in all those who profess His name.

That means His voice is inside of us.

From that place of internal closeness He speaks to us as a still quiet voice.

We shouldn’t be surprised that we hear God as thoughts and nudges.

No wonder why He tells us to be still.

As I continue walking up the trail I “SEE” the moon peak through the trees in front of me. I take a switch back and I can “SEE” the pink of the sun starting to rise on the horizon. I normally would stop and take a picture because I’ve never “SEEN” the sun and the moon at the same time while hiking up the trail before.

Spirit tells me, “Don’t stop, keep going. The timing is important.”

When I “SAW” the pink of the sun on the horizon my mind meditated on thoughts that Father is an all consuming fire.

He is a fire of beauty.

He is a fire that refines.

He is a fire that brings new life.

As I am continuing to hike an idea comes.

“Am I going to be able to “SEE” the moon set and the sunrise this morning?

The moon is really close to the peak of the ridge.

I don’t think I will be able to make it in time.

I remember the story of Phillip & the Ethiopian. (Don’t judge me!!!!!!)

“Father, you transported Phillip from one place to another in an instant. Would you transport me to be able to “SEE” the setting of the moon and the rising of the sun this morning?

Can you take me to a vantage point where I can “SEE” both?

I won’t tell anyone.

Just our secret.”

As I kept hiking I took out my phone and snapped a picture to have a time stamped photo with the hopes that a second later I would be taking another photo on top of the ridge……………transported.

It didn't happen.

Spirit says to me, “Don’t stop.”

(Picture #3 - Head Lamp Trail Picture)

A few minutes later a nudge, an idea, the still quiet voice says, “Keep going past The Secret Place. Go to the altar rock.”

I pass The Secret Place and I make my way further up the trail to the altar rock.

I take my pack off and set it down.

I “LOOK” to the East to the sun and then I “LOOK” to the West to the moon. “I made it!”

I am going to be able “SEE” the moon set and the sun rise.

I sit.

I pause.

I “LOOK” around and slow down.

Listening.

Taking in this moment.

(Picture #4 - Moon Above The Ridge)

(Picture #5 - Pink Horizon)

As I am sitting on the altar rock looking around at creation Spirit says, “To SEE the first ray of light your “EYES” have to be focused on it and it alone. If not, you will miss it.”

(That in itself is a sermon message. Keep your eyes on Jesus).

A few thoughts enter my mind.

The story in the Bible about “THE WATCHMEN” those who are charged with keeping “WATCH” of the times.

I also think about the story of the virgins who had lamps who were keeping watch for the bridegroom.

I’m reminded that as believers we should ALL BE WATCHING diligently with focused “EYES” “LOOKING” for the first light of our Messiah’s promised return, the return of the light of the world.

As I am sitting here my eyes can drift towards the beauty of the mountains, the airplane flying overhead in the sky, the beauty of the trees, the beauty of the moon getting ready to set behind me.

There is so much I can “LOOK” at.

I am here this morning learning to have focused “EYES” on one thing, the first ray of light of the day.

I must keep my “EYES” focused on the exact spot the sun is rising otherwise I will miss it.

Prayer, “Father help me to keep my “EYES” on you every moment of every day “WATCHING” and waiting for you. I pray that upon your return you will find me with my “EYES” focused on you and nothing else. No distractions, just sitting and waiting with my “EYES” on you.

As I am sitting and waiting, the still quiet voice speaks as an idea:

“From this spot you will “SEE” the sun rise and the moon set…………..at the exact same time.” I already planned on giving you what you asked for………..just not how you asked for it.

I sat and “WATCHED” (maybe five minutes had passed from the moment I arrived at the altar rock) and then I “SAW” it.

(Picture #6 - First Sun Light)

The first ray of light over the horizon.

I turned to the moon.

I “SAW” the leading edge of the moon drop below the top of the ridge.

(Picture #7 - Leading Edge of Moon Set)

I kept “WATCHING”.

I ““WATCHED” the sun fully rise.

(Picture #8 - Full Sun Rise)

I turned and “SAW” the moon, within a few seconds, disappeared behind the ridge.

(Picture #9 - Trailing Edge of Moon Set)

Father, thank you for being close.

So close I can hear you.

You are the voice behind me that guides me to the left or the right it is the way.

Father, I “LOOK” to your ancient ways to guide me.

You developed these ancient ways for me to walk in well before breath entered my lunges.

You prepared the way for me to walk in well before you even knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Father, thank you for teaching me these past two years to listen to your voice and take your detours.

Your detours are incredible.

Your detours are truly where life is lived to the fullest.

My old self, pre-teaching, would have been all about “the task” of getting to The Secret Place and starting the fire to sit with you.

You had a much better plan today that I would have missed.

What a blessing it was this morning to take your guided detour to go past The Secret Place and go to the vantage point of the altar rock.

It blessed me to “SEE” what you had to unfold for me today.

I’m sitting here now at The Secret Place.

Huge fire.

Journaling all that happened this morning.

I am in awe that you orchestrated this whole experience starting last night.

You woke me up.

You told me to go.

The timing mattered.

On the hike my heart meditated about your voice being inside me.

You told me to not stop.

The timing mattered.

You nudged my heart to “SEE” the sun rise and the moon set (at the same time).

I had no idea that was even going to happen let alone the reality that you guided me to a vantage point where it did happen.

DETAILS……..DETAILS……..DETAILS.

YOU ARE THE FATHER OF DETAILS!

YOUR DETAILS CAPTIVATE MY HEART BECAUSE THEY TESTIFY THAT YOU ARE REAL!

One more thought.

Last night as I was getting my stuff ready to come to The Secret Place (prayer journal, secret place book, bible, regular journal, speaker to worship), the stuff I always bring, I felt your nudge Spirit telling me I only needed my journal.

I didn’t listen to that nudge.

I brought all that stuff because it’s what I normally do.

You had something else planned for today that didn’t involve all of the normal stuff.

I was not obedient but you were still faithful to your plan.

Your plan was to teach me to “SEE”.

You are so good.

So faithful.

What a blessed day. I spent the rest of the day sitting beside the fire journaling things that happened the last few weeks that I need to write down.

It was a blessing to simply journal all day.

Spending time remembering what You did this week.

So many things just this week alone!

Father, you astound me!

I love how journaling lets me have focused eyes to “WATCH” your hand working.

Important Point:

I journaled all of this on March 6th.

Back to Monday morning, March 9th. I am sitting at my desk contemplating the next sermon, for today, when Spirit told me “Do both”. The experience at The Secret Place and the next chapter in The Secrets of The Secret Place.

The Secrets of The Secret Place next topic/chapter is: (You might not believe this, but I did not set this up):

The Secret of Watching

The entire Secret Place experience on March 6th was about “WATCHING & SEEING”.

Spirit guided me through a “WATCHING EXERCISE” the entire day at The Secret Place.

I was planning on skipping this topic.

This topic wasn't very motivating to me.

It did not feel important to me.

However, it is very clear this is a message Spirit wants shared for all of us to experience.

Spirit has a word for us today on this topic so let's stand and look at His word in the teaching text today.

STAND FOR THE READING OF THE WORD:

32 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Take heed, “WATCH” and pray; for you do not know when the time is. 34 It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to “WATCH”. 35 “WATCH” therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—36 lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. 37 And what I say to you, I say to…….”ALL”...... “WATCH!”

Mark 13:32–37

Pastor: This is the Word of The Lord!

Congregation Response: Praise be to God!

Before you are seated, fistbump your neighbor and say, “WATCH”

Per Bob Sorge, “Jesus connected prayer with vigilant “WATCHING”. Twice He told His disciples, “WATCH” and pray (Mark 13;33; 14:38) because prayer has to do with the eyes. Prayer is wideeyed, attentive, and fully alert.”

This point from Bob Sorge comes directly from Jesus in our teaching text. In the text Jesus tells all of us, every believer in history to “WATCH”.

“And what I say to you, I say to ALL………..”WATCH”.

Bob Sorge suggests, “I know only one way to fulfill this urgent mandate: By praying faithfully in secret. In the secret place:

We sharpen our spiritual senses to heaven's whispers.

We discern current events through the lens of God's word.

We detect the themes and portions of Scripture the Spirit is currently emphasizing.

We calibrate our souls to the straight ways of the Lord.

We quiet our hearts long enough to listen.

We put away spiritual slumber, sluggishness, and distractions.

Were ignited and renewed in love.

An important word in this hour is discernment. Jesus wants us discerning the signs of the times. Discernment is developed………by reading God's word. That's where we learn what His voice sounds like. We stand at attention to “WATCH” His every move.

When Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, all he wanted his disciples to do was “WATCH”.

WORSHIP TEAM CAN COME UP:

As I was praying and meditating on the closing for this week, I asked Spirit, “How do I close this message? What do you want to communicate to us?”

I went to lunch with Adam Mitchell on Tuesday. Oh my goodness you guys. While at lunch we “WATCHED” GOD’S HAND MOVE! WOW! THAT STORY IS FOR LATER, BUT MY GOODNESS IT WAS SO COOL!

I was sitting with Adam and got the closing word for this message. Did I not Adam?

FINAL POINTS:

Physical eyes can be open and totally miss what God is doing right in front of them……………………(REPEAT)

It is all about the spiritual “EYES” being open.……………………(REPEAT)

When our spiritual eyes are open, there are many times in which we don't even do anything…………….no effort on our part at all……………..except to be still and “WATCH” God move.

When our spiritual eyes are open it is our privilege to sit back and watch God unfold amazing things right in front of us.

Spiritual eyes are opened and maintained in The Secret Place.

Get to The Secret Place often to keep your spiritual eyes open.