by Garris Elkins | Feb 2, 2018 | Courage, Deliverance, Forgivness, Future, Hope, Love, Peace, Promotion, Restoration, Spiritual Warfare, Wisdom, Worship
I remember the first time I experienced the power of a worship flag being used outside a corporate worship service. It was ten years ago. I was lying on the floor of the Alabaster Prayer House at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Beautiful music filled the room....
by Garris Elkins | Dec 17, 2017 | Courage, Discipline, Forgivness, Freedom, Humility, Mercy, Miracles, Obedience, Power, Pride, Promotion, Trust, Truth
A few weeks ago someone on Facebook posted something that was insightful, yet troubling because it was painfully true. I impulsively went to hit the “like” button but remembered this person rubbed me the wrong way. I didn’t like the content of his life or...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 8, 2017 | Forgivness, Freedom, Humility, Peace, Pride, Reformation, Relationships
There can be petty divisions from time-to-time in the Church. This needs to be confronted in love because it wounds and does great damage. Yet some of what gets labeled as divisive can actually be a fresh revelation from God. Martin Luther divided the Church with the...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 31, 2017 | Courage, Creativity, Deliverance, Forgivness, Future, Kingdom of God, Obedience, Peace, Pride, Redemption, Restoration, Spiritual Warfare, Transition
Along the ridgeline above me, I saw the remains of an old barbwire fence. Only a few of the posts survived. Those that did were pockmarked with holes the work of decay and weather. On the north-facing side of a solitary post grew a layer of green moss. Tacked to the...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 16, 2017 | Death, Deliverance, Discipleship, Discipline, Eternity, Forgivness, Freedom, Gifts, Holy Spirit, Power, Redemption
In my very distant past, I carried a gun and a badge. The streets were mean then but meaner now. I have had men try to kill me. These were life and death struggles. To survive, I needed to respond with superior tactics to each threat. Those responses allowed me to go...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 27, 2017 | Discipline, Eternity, Forgivness, Future, Hope
My wife, Jan, said something if understood and lived out would offer us tremendous freedom and peace of mind. Jan said, “We are only promised this moment and eternity”. Understanding the reality of that simple statement would remove much of the fear and angst we carry...
