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 12, 2017 | Courage, Culture, Five-fold, Future, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Promise, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare, Teaching, Transition
There are times when I am asked to help churches make transitions in pastoral leadership. When meeting with the primary leadership team of a church in transition, I will three questions. 1. What kind of church do you have? I ask people to describe the relational...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 7, 2017 | Honor, Identity, Jesus, Kingdom of God, Pride, Promise
If you want to impact an emerging generation or a group of people you will need to remove complaint and criticism from your conversation. No one lends an ear to a negative spirit. Phrases like, “The youth of today…” or “Those people…” are introductory phrases that...
by Garris Elkins | Jul 3, 2017 | Change, Courage, Death, Eternity, Future, Hope, Peace, Promise, Resurrection
There are times in our lives when someone we love is taken away. An unexpected turn of events, death or changing relationships can move a person beyond our most desperate reach. In these times our only hope is in the tomorrow promised by God to those who suffer loss....
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 19, 2017 | Discipline, Gifts, Holy Spirit, Intimacy, Obedience, Peace, Prayer, Promise, Rest, Worship
Certain sounds pull on the deep emotions of my soul. The sound of a violin solo, water moving across smooth stones in a mountain stream or a loon calling out as it swims across a lake through a wisp of early morning fog. There are two levels where we process these...
