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<Previous Message Next Message Thursday, May 17, 2012 ![]() Horse and Colt (Photo by Brenda Harry) ![]() "Ascended To Glory" "After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:9-11). Today is Ascension Day. In many Christian traditions little thought is given to Ascension Day. I’m not just speaking in general, but also from my own upbringing and even my years of pastoral service. But Ascension Day is set apart as a holy day and commemorated with a church service for the old order Mennonites and Amish. These communities of faith place special emphasis on this holy day. As we travel through the county where their numbers are especially prominent, stores and businesses will be closed in recognition of Ascension Day. Groups will gather in back yards and fields where they dine and fellowship together following their religious services. There are several very specific events in the life of Christ and the church that we commemorate. At Christmas we celebrate the wonderful incarnation and birth of Christ. On Good Friday we focus on His sacrificial death and on Easter His glorious resurrection. On Sunday, May 23, we will observe Pentecost. But for some reason Ascension Day doesn't get nearly as much attention in most church traditions. ![]() 1 Peter 3:22 alludes to the Ascension and speaks about Christ, “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” The Ascension of Christ reveals His absolute authority. "He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe" (Ephesians 4:10). After Christ ascended back to heaven two angels of the Lord dressed in white assured the early disciples that, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven." The angels' promise of His return is reinforced and elaborated on throughout the New Testament. Paul calls it the "blessed hope." One day, soon, maybe even today, this glorious event will take place. Let us faithfully serve the Lord, and look to Him who has indeed ascended back to His Father, until that great promise is fully realized! Be encouraged today, Stephen & Brooksyne Weber ![]() Today's Suggested Music and Supplemental Resources "Glorious Day" Video Casting Crowns One day the grave could conceal Him no longer, One day the stone rolled away from the door; Then He arose, over death He had conquered; Now is ascended, my Lord evermore! "I Can Only Imagine" Video MercyMe Send a message to Stephen & Brooksyne ![]() Permissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. I do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact. Text only version for printing: To make a text only version for printing (without photos or any of the supplemental materials) 1) Open the basic text editor that comes with all computers (known as wordpad, textpad, etc.) You can also use a program like Word and select paste text only. 2) Select and copy the text from the portion of the message you want to print. 3) Paste into the text pad. (The photos won't show up but you will have a brief text description of the photo which you can delete or just ignore.) 4) Format if you desire (change font, increase or decrease size, etc.) 5) Print! Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version. Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and I make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and to prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity." Daily Encouragement Net is an affiliate of Christianbook.com © Copyright 2012 Stephen C. Weber - All Rights Reserved Daily Encouragement Net - 495 Kraybill Church Road - Mount Joy, PA 17552 USA |