by Garris Elkins | Dec 16, 2019 | Courage, Death, Deliverance, Discipline, Justice, Mercy, Peace, Pride, Wisdom
Years ago, in my previous life, I guarded lives as a profession. Once, my team helped guard the President of the United States. I have guarded celebrities as part of their security detail and stood in courtrooms guarding a judge and jury during the trial of...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 13, 2019 | Courage, Creativity, Discernment, Favor, Five-Fold Ministry, Honor, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Ministry, Prophecy, Reconciliation, Reformation, Relationships, Teaching, Truth, Wisdom
Many of us have lived with a misunderstood interpretation of Proverbs 18:16, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” We thought this verse meant our personal ministry gift is what opens a way for us to gain access to...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 8, 2019 | Courage, Deliverance, Discernment, Faith, Freedom, Future, Justice, Spiritual Warfare
I hike a few times each week on the woodland trails above our home. I will occasionally turn around and check my backtrail. I do this for a reason. The cougar population in Oregon has increased at an alarming rate since legislation went into place, limiting the...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 5, 2019 | Courage, Culture, Deliverance, Discernment, Kingdom of God, Leadership
For those who worry about the outcome of an impeachment hearing, the 2020 election or whether a nation will rise or fall, it would be wise to read the following verse from the prophet Isaiah who recorded the word of Lord during a troubling time in Israel’s...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 3, 2019 | Change, Courage, Deliverance, Discernment, Faith, Future, Grace, Hope, Love, Transition, Trust, Truth
Take a moment to reconsider the detour that is taking place in your life. You are being detoured, not abandoned. The word “detour” is of French origin. It was created from the word “tour” which means “to turn.” God is turning your life in a new direction. A tour...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 1, 2019 | Courage, Faith, Faithfulness, Trust, Worship
Last night, I had a dream. In the dream, I saw someone slowing down to cross an intersection cautiously. Then the Lord stepped out into the intersection and waved the person through declaring, “The way is clear.” A lot of our understanding of faith is...
