by Garris Elkins | Aug 6, 2017 | Deliverance, Favor, Fear, Gifts, Holy Spirit, Identity, Intimacy, Pentecost, Power, Spiritual Warfare
You are stronger than your circumstances reveal. You are better than the opinion other people have about you. There is more going on under the surface of your life than a casual observation can reveal. In 1996, an athletic clothing line was developed by a frustrated...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 18, 2017 | Favor, Fear, Future, Honor, Identiy, Promise, Relationships
My daughter, Anna, is an accomplished artist. Her art hangs in collections around the world. In the hallway of our home is one of Anna’s paintings. It’s a Chagall-like image of a cat. The painting is professionally framed. As I walked by the painting today, I...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 9, 2017 | Courage, Discipleship, Family, Fear, Freedom, Joy, Peace, Pride, Relationships
Earlier this week, Jan and I had dinner with friends at a nice restaurant. Shortly after being seated, a young family sat at the table next to us with three young kids. Our child-rearing years took place decades ago. We smiled as the parents tried to herd cats and eat...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 5, 2017 | Courage, Culture, Discipleship, Discipline, Fear, Forgivenss, Holy Spirit, Humility, Identity, Mercy, Pride, Reconciliation
It is always a dangerous game to judge a person based on rumor and second-hand information. I have stopped coming to any conclusion about someone unless I have firsthand information about them from personal interaction with them. The higher in public visibility you...
by Garris Elkins | Jun 20, 2017 | Discipleship, Faith, Fear, Freedom, Honor, Humility, Promise
I remember when I wrote my first book, Prayers from the Throne of God. I was a nervous first-time author. I felt the Lord nudge me to ask Jack Hayford to write the foreword. Each time I had been with Pastor Jack over the previous thirty years, he was gracious and...
by Garris Elkins | Jun 1, 2017 | Courage, Faith, Fear, Future, Hope, Joy, Mercy, Peace, Prophecy
As a morning person, I am up well before the dawn, even in summer when the days are long and the sun rises earlier in the day. I love the quiet of early morning. I’m sure those who are night owls feel the same way about the quiet of late night when they are alone with...