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 | Feb 10, 2020 | Father, Freedom, Future, God, Grace, Kingdom of God, Peace, Power, Prophecy, Prophetic, Spiritual Warfare, Thankfulness, Trust, Truth, Wisdom
This morning in prayer, I saw an image of the Lord seated at a chessboard. The chess pieces were ornate and represented the nations of the earth. I looked to see who His opponent was and realized he was so insignificant in comparison to God that I could not even see...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 23, 2019 | Eternity, Faithfulness, Family, Fathers, Future, Identity, Peace, Thankfulness
As we get older, something visits us with increasing regularity. That visitor is closure. Seasons of life come to an end. Places we once lived change over time and close behind the door of our history. The lives of friends and loved ones end transitioning from this...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 4, 2019 | Creativity, Dreams, Eternity, Faithfulness, Favor, Fear, Freedom, Future, God, Holy Spirit, Identity, Mercy, Obedience, Peace, Thankfulness, Transition, Trust, Wisdom
When I write a book or an article, it is rarely done in a linear fashion. I am not a traditional author who works from an outline. Donald Miller, the author of Blue Like Jazz, once said of his writing style, “If you want to see where my next book will come from, read...
by Garris Elkins | Oct 14, 2019 | Family, Future, Gifts, Poetry, Relationships, Thankfulness, Verse, Vision.
My grandfather riding home in a horse-drawn buggy one sunny afternoon when, as a young boy, saw a man swinging from makeshift tree gallows in the fall of 1889. My father, born at night in a sod house in ‘08 on the Oklahoma plains west of Guymon. ...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 25, 2019 | Discipleship, Discipline, Fear, Freedom, God, Grace, Healing, Honor, Kingdom of God, Sacrifice, Thankfulness, Truth, Worship
Yesterday, Jan and I went out on a celebration date. We have been blessed by God in this season of our lives and simply wanted to celebrate His goodness. I planned a lunch for us at a favorite restaurant followed by a movie. After lunch, I visited the restroom. While...