First off, Happy Easter everyone!  This is the day that we remember our Lord who saved us.  The day that Jesus was resurrected.  The day that He saved us all.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..” 1 Peter 1:3

I attended the sunrise service at my church today.  It was beautiful waking up to the sunrise and standing among fellow believers as we praised God for the sacrifice of His Son so long ago.  So many centuries ago, but God was with us then and has been with us ever since and never will He leave us.

On my way home, I passed a pond, one that I pass at least three times a week, so to me it’s not anything special.  But this morning I glanced over and the whole thing had a layer of moving fog on top of it.  At first I was like, cool the water’s warmer than the air, making some steam, that’s pretty sweet.   I kept driving but was compelled to turn the car around and stop on the side of the road to enjoy this early Easter morning gift that God gave me.  I could see Him so clearly on that pond.  There are just some things that He puts in front of you that you have no doubt are His way of just brightening your day and showing you a little of Himself.

It was a peaceful day for the most part.  My good friend and I also had a great conversation over some bagels, which by the end I was in greater understanding of my purpose and how God is using me.  When in doubt, God aways shows me the light and helps to affirm that though I may feel lost sometimes, at that moment I am on the right path (or the opposite, I need to get myself back on the right one, haha).

But then later this evening, my world was turned upside down again.  My family and I were on our way back from Easter dinner and out of nowhere and in the most unexpected place possible, I saw the person that I moved to my current city to avoid seeing; to try to bring some healing into my life.  God has done so much the past year to help me to move on and heal my from the inside out.  But for the second time, I have had unexplained times where I have seen this person (from afar – they don’t see me, I just see them and am far enough away that we couldn’t possibly speak) The first time was in a crowd of at least a thousand people.  Today, it was on a median strip 5 minutes from my house, in my city!!  I have tried to fathom what possible reason there would be to have been put through that pain again, but I have come to the conclusion that there is not other reason but an attack from Satan.  And on what better day for him to try to mess with our lives but on Easter.

Obviously I know that you do not know the story behind why all of this is so painful, and it does not need to be told.  But my point is that we need to be aware of when God is putting a challenge in front of us (which very well may be painful) or if it is an attack from Satan.  God puts us in painful situations but He works all things for our good.  I don’t know for sure if this is what I think it is.  But for now, I know that there is no explanation that I have for the 5 minute window that I happened to be driving by that median and the time that this person was standing there for me to see.  Coincidence?  I don’t believe that.

Satan may try to break me down but I will recognize that he is out to get me.  When things with God become closer, Satan is going to do whatever it takes to drag you away again.  We have to be ready.