Today’s Unexpected Gift

So many precious gifts from You this Holy Week, Lord! Why am I not surprised another would arrive on Easter morning?

In the form of a wounded baby rabbit, lying at our front door.

We were about to leave for church. To celebrate Your Resurrection with other brothers and sisters who love You. And there it was. My own little Easter bunny? Traumatized. With its attacker lying nearby.

Skippy. My beloved cat. A talented hunter. She had laid her “prize” at the front door… as if to say, “Look, Mom! Look what I caught!”

Usually, I applaud her. She reduces the population of unwanted critters around (and, sometimes, inside) our house — mice, rats, snakes, lizards, etc. It’s in her wiring, so I really can’t fault her… can I, Lord?

But today, her prowess was like a punch in my gut.

I carried the baby to our screened-in lanai out back… hiding it in the bushes… protecting it from The Persistent Predator. Can it possibly survive? I really don’t know.

Our worship at church seemed glorious to me, Lord. I hope You were pleased. It was meant for You, after all. As my heart swelled with the joy of Your Empty Tomb, our pastor delivered this piercing observation:

“Our fundamental problem is that we only celebrate the Resurrection once a year — on Easter Sunday… and we live the rest of the year as if Jesus is still in the tomb.”

Wow. Was this Your right hook, Lord? Combined with that earlier punch in the gut… as a Wonder-full Wake-Up Call on this day that celebrates Life like no other?

How often have I — and so many other Christians — been wounded unnecessarily by another Persistent Predator we can’t see with our eyes? One who looks for every opportunity to take us out?

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour…”  (1 Peter 5:8)

But Your assurance of VICTORY, Lord, rings so much louder... if we will only believe what You say and live it, as we surrender more and more fully to Your Lordship. For You said…

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”  (Matthew 28:18)

“I have given you authority to… overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”  (Luke 10:19)

“Be strong in [Me] and in [My] mighty power… put on the full armor [I have given you,] so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.”  (Ephesians 6:10-20)

“Submit yourselves, then, to [Me]. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to [Me] and [I] will come near to you.”  (James 4:7-8)

“And the gates of hell will not prevail against [you].” (Matthew 16:18)

Help these Truths soak into us, Lord… so we will celebrate and live Your Resurrection Power 365 days a year! For now… Please heal this dear Unexpected Gift You left in our care.

With You, all things are possible!

Hope-full-y,

Abba’s Girl

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