“The Purpose of the Power – To Declare the Wonder and Favor of God” by Garris Elkins

I have preached Acts 2 so many times that I thought I fully understood what took place that day. The disciples came to the Day of Pentecost already indwelled by the Spirit because Jesus had breathed His Spirit into them in John 20. These same water-baptized and indwelled-by-the-Spirit believers were told by Jesus to not leave Jerusalem and attempt ministry without the equipping of the Spirit's power that was to come upon them– the power to become a supernatural witness.

When Jesus gave His disciples instructions in Acts 1 about the coming Day of Pentecost, He said that the Holy Spirit would be poured out upon them to empower them to become His witnesses; making them into a Spirit-empowered voice to the nations.

I began to ask myself, “What was the witness?” The witness was not the experience itself, but the message the disciples were empowered to deliver. When we limit the Day of Pentecost to a set of experiences, we limit the full understanding of what I believe God intended that day to be for the Church throughout history.

In Acts 2 the disciples were huddled together behind closed doors and suddenly the wind of the Spirit began to blow. As this wind touched the disciples the mockers in the crowd thought they were drunk. The noise and the manifestations were not the message. The noise was used to get the attention of the surrounding community. The message of Pentecost is tucked away in one portion of verse 11:

“And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”

The power of Pentecost was not only in the wonderful supernatural manifestations that took place that day– the power of Pentecost was the ability of the Church to supernaturally proclaim the wonderful things God has done in a language people could understand. This language is not always verbal. It can be accomplished in art, music, preaching, writing, serving and any area of life that is empowered by His Spirit.

Jesus used this same word for power in Acts 1:8 when He said,

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

A key to understanding this verse, and maybe the entire event of Pentecost, was why the disciples were empowered in the first place. The disciples were empowered to tell “people about me everywhere.”

The word for power Jesus used here is the Greek word, dunamis, that we get our English word “dynamite” from – it is a word that describes power. The specific usage of this word is the explosive power of revelation that takes place when we speak in His name and in His power.

Paul used this same word in I Corinthians 2: 4-5,

“And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit . I did this so that you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.”

This word for power refers to the miraculous ability of God to change the way we think. This is God's power at work in the mind of the hearer. When we are supernaturally empowered to speak for God, the hearers of our words will receive an explosive revelation of God's heart for them.

The purpose of the power on the Day of Pentecost was to empower the church to share the wonder of God with supernaturally charged words that contain explosive power. This power unlocks the human mind with the dynamite of Heaven in an explosion expression of love.

In Luke 4, Jesus referred to Isaiah 61 when He shared the reason why He came to earth.

“He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come...”

Isaiah prophesied that Jesus was anointed by God to proclaim God's favor in the earth. The fulfillment of this ministry of favor upon Jesus Christ was transferred to us when Jesus was taken up into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Once He was enthroned, the Spirit was released to the Church. On the Day of Pentecost the Early Church spoke in new languages, and when the people heard of God's favor, they called it “the wonderful things God has done.”

As one reads through Isaiah 61, describing the ministry of Jesus Christ, and ultimately the ministry of His church, certain words jump out from the pages. This list from Isaiah 61 that describes God's favor is both impressive and wonderful:

“Good News, comfort, released, freed, favor, beauty, blessing, praise , planted, glory, rebuild, repairing, revive, double share, double portion, prosperity, ever-lasting joy, reward, covenant, recognized, honored, blessed.”

These are the kinds of words the people heard on the Day of Pentecost. Words of favor and wonder from the God who once seemed distant. These words of favor, when spoken by the power of the Spirit, would begin to transform the kingdoms of earth into the Kingdom of our Lord. This is the evidence that the power of Pentecost has been released in our midst.

As the text of Acts 2:6 reveals,

“When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running...”

The noise of Pentecost got their attention, but it was the message of favor and wonder in God that changed their world. The same is true today.

(From my book, Prayers from the Throne of God, chapter 4 - "Our Position of Power.")

"Mean People Suck!" by Garris Elkins

Jan and I were recently in Northern California for a meeting. The next day, after the meeting was over, we departed for the drive home. As I navigated the city streets I saw a homeless person across the lanes of traffic on the sidewalk. This person was pushing a grocery cart filled to overflowing with what appeared to be all their earthly belongings.

I looked several times, but couldn't tell if this was a man or a woman. It wasn't the distance that made the identification difficult – it was their appearance. This person was either a coarse-looking woman with male characteristics or a coarse-looking man with female characteristics. I couldn't tell. This person was wearing high-waisted pants and a long sleeve top. Their blonde hair was done in an Afro-hairstyle, even though this person was obviously not African in ethnicity. What confused me even further was the garish orange-red lipstick that had been unevenly applied and was smeared far outside the boundaries of this persons lips.

As I was processing all of this I saw the cardboard sign he/she had put on the front of the grocery cart. The sign read, “Mean People Suck!” At that moment the light changed and we were forced to make our way onto the freeway on-ramp for the drive home. I thought about this person several times that day and had to agree with the sign, mean people do suck!

The word “suck”, when used is this persons context, is a colloquial usage of the word that means, “to be inferior or objectionable.” It is used to indicate a particular area of deficiency – in other words, a lack.

As I thought about this homeless person, and the reason for the sign on the grocery cart, I could only imagine what might have been shouted out to him/her as this person navigated the city streets. Sometimes it is easy to be cruel at a distance when we don't have to hang around to see the other persons response to our hurtful words. It is akin to a drive-by shooting without bullets, but with words.

I have come to realize that not only do mean people suck in general, but mean Christians suck especially because meanness is not part of God's Kingdom or our intended character. I have noticed that mean Christians can gather other mean Christians who create a mean theology to speak mean words to the world. Sometimes these mean sounding Christians create mean ministries and even ask for our financial support to project their mean version of God.

The Church should be the least “sucky” and mean people on the planet. We were born into God's family because God didn't drive by us, define as hopeless and then blow us away. He saw how hopeless we were and then gave us Jesus to show just how kind He is to very guilty people like us.

The opposite word from “mean” is the word, “kind.” Paul used this word in Roman 2: 4 where he said that the kindness of God leads us to repentance. This word for kindness has been defined as something, “useful, excellent in character, gentleness, goodness.” Meanness is a deficiency of usefulness, excellence of character, gentleness and goodness. If God's kindness lead us to repentance, how can I use meanness to introduce people to the God of heaven?

Paul used this word “kindness” in several places in the New Testament.

In Galatians 5:22, Paul said that kindness was one of the fruits of the Spirit that a Christians life should produce. Fruit is what our life-style, words and actions leave behind as evidence of what vine we draw our life from. Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruit.” Fruit falls from our spiritual tree to identify what kind of life I am living and what kind of source I am drawing from.

In Ephesians 2: 7, Paul said that God's kindness in us is an advertisement to the world that He is real. Our life should become a living billboard that God should be able to write in big, bold words - “KINDNESS FOUND HERE!”

In Colossians 3: 12, Paul describes kindness as a garment we wear because we have been made into a holy people who wear God's personality. God provides His garment of kindness, but we must choose to wear it. Some people are naked of kindness and walk around exposing other people to conversations and actions, in the name of God, that we would rather not hear or see.

The Church can't be responsible for people who don't know God who drive by a homeless person and say stupid and hurtful things. But the Church can stop when we see signs of pain in another persons life and simply say, “I agree with your sign. Mean people do suck. I just wanted to stop and tell you that God loves you and so do I. You don't suck. Thanks for reminding me today to become a kinder person.”

"50 Days of Pentecost - 2010" by Garris Elkins

(I posted these "50 Days of Pentecost" on my Facebook wall for the 50 days between Easter and the Day of Pentecost in 2010 as a reminder of the powerful spiritual DNA that the Foursquare Church carries. Each entry was taken from the book, "This is That", written by Aimee Semple McPherson describing the working of the Holy Spirit in her ministry. )

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 1 "Great joy filled the hearts of the Christians as the big waves of God's glory rolled in. There was shouting and singing, and weeping. Many strong men and women were prostrated under the power of God ...and some were swept by gales of holy laughter (and spake with other tongues). "This is That" pg. 196

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 2 “I (Aimee Semple McPherson) prayed for others when they needed prayer. Now I needed someone to pray for me and help me get back the blessing and fire of God upon the altar of my heart.” “This is That” pg. 83

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 3 “Outside the tent, two brothers shook hands with each and said: 'Praise the Lord.' As they spoke the power of God struck them both; one fell one way, and the one the other, and lay stretched out under the power shouting and glorifying God.” “This is That pg. 87

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 4 “The effect of all this on an audience is hard to describe They may sit stiff and unyielding through songs and prayer and preaching; they may even hold back during altar call..but when they see and hear such miracles...they are jolted from their indifference and complacency as though a stick of dynamite had exploded beneath them.” “This is That” pg. 321

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 5 “Then it was that Mrs. John Lake, who had risen from the altar...suddenly fell under the power, with her head upon her husband's shoulder. In alarm the people said, 'She has fainted.' But I knew she hadn't fainted, and I kept on praying: 'Lord send the power. Baptize her just now'”. “This is That” pg. 91

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 6 “Then two brothers who had not been on speaking terms with each other for over a year were seen talking to each other in the center of the church. One had asked the other, with tears in his eyes, to forgive him, and immediately fell back in his brother's arms under the power of the Holy Spirit” “This is That” pg. 93

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 7 “I doubt if there was anyone in the church who made as much noise as he. He shook from head to foot; his face was aglow with heaven's light he fairly shouted and roared forth as the Spirit gave him utterance, his heart was filled with joy and glory.” “This is That” pg. 96

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 8 “A brother-a professing Christian and church member for years-(without salvation) confessed his sins publicly as the power fell...He was so filled with joy, which, though he was an old man, he had never before experienced, that he danced and shouted and cried, much to the amazement of his neighbors..” “This is That” pg. 101

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historical DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 9 “During water baptism service by the ocean, the power of the Lord fell and those being baptized leaped, danced and shouted in the water, while spectators wept and praised the Lord on the shore.” “This is That” pg. 106

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 10 “Many of the young people have had marvelous and inspiring visions, some seeing our Saviour hanging on the Cross for our sins; others saw our Lord descending in the clouds to catch away His waiting people.” “This is That” pg. 106

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 11 “A preacher came on crutches not believing that the Lord could heal as in days of old...God healed him instantly...he ran about the tent, dancing...and shouting, 'Why, the Lord still heals!' His wife was so overjoyed she ran up and down the aisles..it was impossible to go on with the meeting for a time because of the shouting of the people.” “This is That” pg. 106-7

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 12 “It was an unprecedented sight to see the power falling in such a place as the saints sang and danced upon the court house steps and down on the pavement. Hearts were touched and tears ran down the people's faces, and crowds followed to the meetings.” “This is That” pg. 126

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 13 “Sunday morning the power fell so no one could peach; the Holy Spirit Himself spoke in prophecy through Sister McPherson. Then she played the piano in the Spirit, and all over the tabernacle pealed forth the heavenly anthem.” “This is That” pg. 108

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 14 “We prayed for her and she fell off her seat and lay on the ground amongst the twigs and leaves, with the ducks...quacking about her. He does humble His people. No matter how great a worker one has been, everybody must get down.” “This is That” pg. 110

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 15 “On taking off the shoes, I found the feet entirely straight alive and active.. crutches were the first of many of follow, left as trophies in the arena, a silent testimony of the power and loving mercy of God. It is now nearly a month since then and have walked two miles or more almost every day.” This is That” pg. 298“

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 16 “ Hardened sinners wept their way to the altar; many sat and trembled from head to foot under conviction, and sinners on their way to the altar, fell in the aisles Often it was impossible to preach, the Holy Spirit conducted the meeting.” “This is That” pg. 110

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 17 “There were wonderful messages in prophecy and prophetic song. Dramas were worked out accompanied by tongues and interpretation. Heavenly music filled the place, and angel choirs were heard.” “This is That” pg. 114

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 18 “Deep conviction rested on many and the altar filled with sinners seeking salvation. One dear little girl who received the baptism plead with all, in tongues and English, while under the power, to come to the beautiful city of God.” “This is That” pg.114

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 19 “Picture an audience where the power of God fell till often the evangelist could not minister, but the Spirit took full control; picture the colored saints, old and young, singing God's praises, sinners weeping their way to the altar and seekers receiving the Holy Spirit.” “This is That” pg. 116

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 20 “At other times a holy hush, a spirit of weeping and great heart-searching and humbling swept the people from their seats and they fell on their knees in the aisles, between the seats, and at the altar.” “This is That” pg. 116-117

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 21 “This revival was not man-made, but truly came down from the Father of lights. At times the whole audience would be melted into tears as the stillness and hush of the Holy Spirit descended upon the place...the heavenly singing would be indescribable.” “This is That” pg. 161

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 22 “Since the latter rain began to fall..all declared that they never saw a revival like this...such a unity and melting together of workers, such a laying aside of quibbles and hair-splitting doctrines, such a going together for poor, lost sinners, God cannot help but bless.” “This is That” pg. 162

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 23 “From the first meeting to the last the glory of God rested upon the people. The manifestation of the Spirit's power increased daily...in such accord that their voices sounded like the rushing of many waters.” “This is That” pg. 166

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 24 “Oh, what is it?- What does it mean? What? Have they fainted? - Are they dead?-What” - What?, cried others, as dozens were mown down under the power of the Holy Spirit.” “This is That” pg. 167

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 25 “The Spirit of God came down night after night till the floor was covered from the platform to the door with praying people, much to the astonishment of the spectators and reporters, who had never witnessed anything like it.” “This is That” pg. 168

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 26 “ The convicting Spirit of God followed them, however, in such a wonderful way that one young man fell flat to the sidewalk under the rebuke of God, and came creeping on his hands and knees up the steps and made his way to the altar, where he was gloriously saved.” “This is That” pg. 169

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 27 “Day after day the altars were filled with converts, and the prayer room with those seeking the baptism of the Holy Spirit; but on the whole our meetings were deep and quiet. We banked, not upon noisy manifestation, but upon the preaching of the Word.” “This is That” pg. 174

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 28 “...the ministers gently laid those under the power on the floor; and bade us not to worry as they had often seen such things in the earlier days of Methodism, in the United Brethren, and other churches. “This is That” pg. 175

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 29 “If the devil can but make some misguided soul rise and do some foolish, fanatical, outlandish thing under the pretense of the Spirit's leadership and power, he can make people think this is the result of the glorious message which you have been preaching.” “This is That” pg 177

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 30 “Looking backward, I can see that this meeting marked a turning point not only in my own ministry, but in the history of the outpouring of Pentecostal power. Yet at the time (so far as I know) not one of he dear Pentecostal people understood the vision God had given me, and severely criticized what they called a 'quenching of manifestations.'” “This is That”, pg. 179

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 31 “For indeed, once we have opened the door to divine healing we have paved the way for the supernatural power of God to enter in.” “This is That”, pg. 180

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 32 “Then God's power struck one of the official men and down he went, sobbing and pouring out his heart to God.” In a few minutes he was blessedly baptised. Waves of glory rolled over him till he shouted aloud and began to speak as the Spirit gave him utterance.” “This is That”, pg. 187

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 33 “Rev. Shreve was baptised with the Holy Ghost in the dining room of the parsonage one morning when, after returning from the meeting about two a.m. the power of the Lord came down upon him. From two till seen a.m. he lay beneath the mighty power of God.” “This is That”, pg. 196

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 34 “'As God healed when He was on earth, so will He heal now that He is gone,' the leader told the afflicted. 'God loves to do things now that He did when He was on earth. Have faith in Him. It is He alone who will cure you.'” “This is That”, pg. 200

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 35 “They are waving their handkerchiefs as they sing. What a scene it is! Thousands of white handkerchiefs flutter and wave like heavenly doves...and just to think that the audience is made up of people from almost every creed and faith, Protestants, Catholic, and even Jews, exalting the power of the mighty Christ.” “This is That” pg. 210

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 36 “We enter the door-what a picture meets our eyes. Hundreds kneel in prayer, hands uplifted, singing, praying. Several are lying under the power, speaking in tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. Some appear to be fairly lost in God.” “This is That”, pg. 214

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 37 “The mighty hunger of God's people to know more of Him and to have His power for service was shown in the large number that were found in the prayer room tarrying for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The atmosphere of that room was simply charged with divine power. You could feel the presence of God the moment you entered the room.” “This is That”, pg. 216

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 38 ““On Tuesday evening, at the the tarrying meetings, the power fell, Wednesday night witnessed the miraculous touch of Jesus in Divine Healing, the eyes of the blind were opened, deaf ears unstopped, cripples arose from wheel chairs and walked. “This is That” pg. 310

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 39 “Did you ever hear three or four thousand people pray at once? Not in unison, reciting the Lord's prayer, but every individual praying, using each suppliant his or her own words?...Somehow it made one think of Niagara...the deep roll of thunder.” “This is That”, pg. 222

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 40 “Thousands upon thousands heard the Gospel and great mountains of prejudice, hard cold walls of doubt and unbelief had been literally swept away; hundreds wept their way to Jesus' feet...the healings were very wonderful, the blind saw, the deaf heard and the lame walked.” “This is That”, pg. 223

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 41 “We were reminded of the days when those who would not be denied took off the roof to admit their sick. Here they took the siding off the building in several places, weeping and pleading to see at least the miracles of healing.” “This is That”, pg. 226

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 42 “The rich and poor stand on one level here in these hours waiting; social rank and difference forgotten, they are accentuated by the same motives; they are driven by the same desperate need; they are all seeking help from the same Source...they have come to touch the hem of His garment.” “This is That”, pg. 227

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 43 “'Well, I don't believe this!' said a sweet-faced Holiness woman who stood by in her uniform and bonnet. 'Stood by,' did I say? Well, you could hardly call it standing, for she scarcely had the words out of her mouth, when the power of God struck her and over she went.” “This is That”, pg. 232

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 44 “The lame walked...the sick were healed. The deaf declared God had unstopped their ears. Men, women and even little children, gave such evidence of blessings, physical and spiritual, that ministers and laymen, who came doubting and questioning remained to shout the praises of God.” “This is That”, pg. 234

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 45 “On one occasion, so manifest was the presence and power of God, that we could not get the people to go home.. It was midnight, the church was still filled with people.” “This is That”, pg. 238

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 46 “Prayer was offered, she arose to her feet and to the amazement of the crowded house she walked across the platform...but no crutches...Shortly she ran like a child of ten...The crowd could no longer keep their seats but stood to their feet and in one volume there arose the sound of many hands clapping.” “This is That”, pg. 241

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 47 “Nothing could be more like Jesus than the way in which these dear ministers of the gospel threw themselves on their knees beside the penitents and prayed, as tears of preacher and penitent mingled and melted together upon the altar.” “This is That”, pg. 246

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 48 “The power of God is with us from the very first. Saints stand firm together heart and soul, with one accord, praying to one end. The revival is undenominational, they tell us again and again, and no one is to have a corner on it, no one to seek selfish ends from its results.” “This is That”, pg. 254

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 49 “Two rows of chairs on the platform are filled with ministers from Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, Evangelical, Presbyterian, Christian, Salvation Army, Pentecostal and Nazarene churches, sitting side by side; doctrinal differences forgotten in the great welling love and pity for lost souls.” “This is That”, pg. 256

50 DAYS OF PENTECOST - Revisiting the historic DNA of the Foursquare Church. DAY 50 “Unquestionably, as you can see, the revival is on-the entire city is shaken. In every store, shop and street car, the one subject is the power of Christ and the meetings.” “This is That”, pg. 256

"Cutting the Ring" by Garris Elkins

My 91 year-old mother is dying. Her physician has stopped all medication and today she goes on morphine to ease the pain and help her rest. Since mom has gone off all medication her body is taking on water. My brother and I communicated last night and he said her hands were extremely swollen. Due to the severe swelling, mom's physician asked the care home staff to cut off her wedding rings - it was impossible to remove the rings any other way.

Mom has worn those wedding rings for 70 years. She wore them for almost 50 years of marriage to my dad who passed away 21 years ago this month. Those rings have reminded my mother of younger days and joyful memories. She first wore her rings as a young bride. Her rings have accompanied my mom through the years of her marriage to my dad, the birth of her sons, the coming of her grandchildren, the death of my father and the birth of her great-grandchildren.

When I first heard the news of mom's wedding rings being cut off I felt a deep sorrow for this dear lady having to go through such an ordeal. Mom is now in and out of consciousness and a recognition of such an unsettling procedure at any level would have a painful reality attached to it.

Today, I think the removal of mom's wedding rings is a preparation of sorts. Mom is about ready to exhale her last breath on this earth and inhale the atmosphere of eternal glory. The removal of her earthly wedding rings is making way for an eternal marriage with her Saviour-Groom whom she has called "Lord" for most of her 91 years. For people like my mom, who has encouraged me to walk with Jesus all my life, this life has always been a preparation for the one to come.