by Garris Elkins | Sep 25, 2020 | forgiveness, Freedom, God, Hope, Love, Mercy, Prophetic, Redemption, Restoration
While pursuing God is of utmost value after we become aware of His presence and give our lives to Him, we need to remember it was His pursuit of us that initiated our relationship with Him in the first place. Scripture is filled with examples of God’s pursuit of...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 17, 2020 | Favor, Grace, Mercy
Five times in the book bearing his name, Ezra is described as having the “gracious hand of God” upon him. Ezra and the Israelites would need to know God’s hand was on them when they returned to Palestine after being exiled in Babylon. The hand of God gave Ezra...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 17, 2020 | Mercy, Thankfulness
In southern Oregon, 2,357 homes have been lost at last count, due to wildfires. With an average occupancy rate of 2.5 persons per household for our state, that is 5,892 people without a place to call home. Today, I thanked God for a roof over my head, the availability...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 28, 2020 | Dreams, Faith, Fathers, Fear, Giving, Intimacy, Marriage, Mercy
When my daughter’s husband-to-be asked me for her hand in marriage, I said, “My answer is ‘yes.’” I told my future son in law my “yes” was because I could entrust my daughter to him to love and care for her now and long after I am gone. Entrusting...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 21, 2020 | Culture, Deliverance, Discipline, Dreams, Fear, God, Justice, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Mercy, Redemption, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare, Trust, Wisdom
Beginning in late May, someone has been shooting at vehicles traveling on Interstate 5, the main north-south freeway that travels along the west coast. The shootings are taking place on a 70 mile stretch of freeway in the area where Jan and I live. The shootings have...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 17, 2020 | Courage, Deliverance, Healing, Honor, Justice, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Mercy, Power, Spiritual Warfare, Trust, Truth
There are times when a punch to the nose of a bully is all that will stop their quest for dominance. As a chubby insecure pre-puberty kid, I remember landing a punch on the nose of our playground bully after repeated calls for him to leave me and others alone. After...
