by Garris Elkins | Dec 1, 2019 | Discipline, Family, Forgivness, Grace, Healing, Integrity, Obedience, Peace, Relationships, Women
Our marriage is filled with small rituals. Each morning after Jan and I greet each other, we enjoy a long hug and a kiss. Then we move to our second daily ritual of morning writing. Jan heads off to her chair in our bedroom, and I enter our living room where my...
by Garris Elkins | Nov 29, 2019 | Creativity, Culture, Faith, Freedom, Future, Grace, Identity, Love, Revelation, Teaching, Wisdom, Women
I recently saw a creative artistic expression posted by a friend of mine on his Facebook wall. I did not know that particular form of creativity was part of his life. As soon as I saw what he created, I imagined a book he could write. My friend is well-educated and...
by Garris Elkins | Oct 23, 2019 | Apostle, Church, Courage, Five-Fold Ministry, Gifts, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Women
When Jan and I first came to Medford, Oregon 20 years ago, to pastor what would become Living Waters Church, we were met by a strange phenomenon. Our valley was a stronghold for male-dominated church leadership. A woman behind a pulpit preaching was anathema to many...
by Garris Elkins | Sep 18, 2019 | Courage, Deliverance, Discipleship, Discipline, Faithfulness, Family, Fear, Healing, Hope, Justice, Love, Marriage, Mercy, Thankfulness, Women
Jan and I try to have an open and honest relationship. We are free to share anything with each other. That freedom did not come overnight. It was the result of years of hard relational work. When we first began this shared journey, our openness about confession...
by Garris Elkins | May 15, 2019 | Courage, Discernment, Dreams, Favor, Future, Peace, Revelation, Supernatural, Vision., Wisdom, Women
This morning, I am waiting at a car dealership to get our car serviced. While waiting, I went to use the restroom. Once inside, I realized the familiar male-oriented fixtures were not present. In the one tenth of a second it took me to realize my error, I flew out of...
by Garris Elkins | May 12, 2019 | Courage, Discernment, Discipline, Faith, Fathers, Freedom, Grace, Healing, Honor, Hope, Mercy, Prophecy, Prophetic, Relationships, Women
On a recent ministry trip, I stayed in a not-so-great motel. It was out in the middle of nowhere. Things didn’t work in the room. The bed sheets looked like they were used the night before by another guest and had not been changed. It is the kind of room where you...
