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Listen while you read: "No Never Alone"1 (Lyrics) |
Acts 1:9-11 – Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." (NKJV)
Revelation 1:7a – Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him. (NKJV)
Cooped up in the muggy, germy elementary school classroom for almost a week, we finally got an outside recess. Although the rain had stopped, dark and ominous clouds billowed in the sky. As we went outside, there was an eerie, crackly sensation in the air. We just clustered together because it was too muddy to play, but we enjoyed the fresh breeze. Much to our astonishment, a hole broke through the clouds, and the sunshine beamed to the ground. Our faces filled with hope.
"Jesus is coming," called a young boy. Awestruck, huddled together, we all stared at the light. We had learned of Jesus' second coming at our small Community Church Sunday school. We waited with great expectation. The clouds filled in again, and the rain poured down. Jesus hadn't come. But there were some shaken children.
Sixty years later, when my friend and I were having lunch, she asked me about that day, describing it as I had remembered. What a powerful few moments in our younger years.
As children, we were taught to watch and wait for Jesus to come again. In our youth and innocence, we knew to wait and be still, to respect and honour Him. We knew that for Jesus Christ to come was a significant event. Even the children who hadn't been taught about Jesus had followed the others. Many anxiously awaited His arrival. Even though it wasn't God's timing, we showed reverence. At the name of Jesus, every student waited with expectation.
Are we still waiting with anticipation?
Prayer: Thank You, dear Father in heaven, that we can choose to have faith in Jesus Christ, who offers us forgiveness of sins and eternal life. How amazing it was, years ago, as we little children looked for Christ to come again. May we be looking for Him now, as we did as young children. Amen.
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I remember those days too, Karen.
I love this story! We need more reminders; he is coming back! Thank you.
Thank you, Karen, for sharing this experience with us in a devotional. Blessings.
Hi Karen, What a lovely message for Ascension Day! Thank you so much for sharing your childhood memories. Blessings.
Thank you, Karen. What a wonderful memory and also something to look forward to. I have also had moments like that when I was sure the Lord was returning.
Hi Karen:
Beautifully and powerfully said!
Thank you for the lovely remembrance and reminding us to have hope and trust in God’s timing.
Hi Karen,
Thanks for writing another inspiring devotional. Truly it is a time of great anticipation waiting for the return and arrival of Jesus.
Blessings,
(B.C.)
Hi Karen,
Just love your devotional this “Ascension of the Lord Day.” Such a good analogy of the sun shining through the clouds for just a few minutes. I really enjoyed it and made me think! Keep up the good work.
Blessings.
Thank you, Karen for reminding us, all of us, I think, as children at some time or another, to remember a moment when we thought, ‘this is IT! He’s coming back RIGHT NOW! And we are going to see it!” For me it was the sun seeming to get bigger and redder, a not uncommon weather phenomena that I had not experienced on my own before. You transmitted the joy along with it and I am thankful to you.
Thanks for a good word today Karen. Sometimes l ponder this truth, l ponder the very essence of God and Christ and another world and His coming again and l wonder if l am crazy to believe such “science fiction” and yet, even though rationally it doesn’t make sense, l know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is true. He has proved Himself over and over again, and so l, too, await in expectation and hope.
Beautiful devotional Karen,
How my heart and soul longs for the trumpet sound at our Blessed Hope -The Rapture!
Not only are you a great writer but an excellent artist – for you paint exquisite pictures with your words, and today’s devotional was no exception.
Now, whenever I see the sun burst through the clouds, there’s a picture etched in my mind of children huddled together in expectation of Jesus’ return. Thank you!
Dear Karen,
Thank you for your devotional.
I have been having the feeling lately that the coming of Jesus might be sooner than we sometimes think. I pray that very many more persons will receive Jesus and to be ready for his being personally present with us human beings.
I appreciate your words: Are we still waiting with anticipation?