by Garris Elkins | Sep 22, 2017 | Family, Honor, Love, Marriage, Relationships
I was listening to music via my Pandora account when the Garth Brooks song, If Tomorrow Never Comes, began to play. I listened intently to the beautiful lyrics. “Sometimes late at night I lie awake and watch her sleeping. She’s lost in peaceful dreams. So I turn...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 15, 2017 | Courage, Discipleship, Fear, Honor, Humility, Identity, Leadership, Relationships, Revelation, Teaching
There are times when our opinion on a matter of faith is found on the opposite side of the coin from the opinions held by fellow believers. Depending on the season in which we find ourselves, the coin of faith can land on either the head or the tail of an opinion. In...
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 26, 2017 | Discipline, Forgiveness, Holiness, Humility, Leadership, Mercy, Obedience, Peace, Prayer, Reconciliation, Relationships, Wisdom
As a young cop, I had to learn about the judicious use of firearms. In my training, there was a term called, “Pray and Spray.” Pray and Spray means that when a threat appears that could cause death or great bodily harm, the undisciplined person will start praying and...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 20, 2017 | Family, Love, Marriage, Relationships
This morning, I was showing Jan where something was stored. I said, “Maybe after I’m gone your next husband won’t be so focused on something like this.” Jan said, “There won’t be a next husband. It’s just you then eternity.” The things a couple talks...
by Garris Elkins | Aug 7, 2017 | Courage, Discipline, Forgiveness, Freedom, Humility, Mercy, Obedience, Reconciliation, Relationships, Spiritual Warfare
Each of us will encounter an occasional anonymous critic. If you open your mouth and express your opinion you will have someone who has no relationship with you pull out their fillet knife of correction and attempt to cut you down to their size. These are people whose...
