Elko Greater Life Church

09/23/2026

When You Need the Joy of the Lord

Life is interesting. There are times when everything seems to be in unrest. Things change that we didn’t expect, people disappoint us, plans don’t work out, and sometimes we simply get tired.
It is in those moments that we need to remember where our strength comes from. Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
That doesn’t mean we have to pretend everything is okay. God’s joy isn’t pretending. It is knowing that even in the middle of uncertainty, we are not walking alone. God is still working, still loving, still providing, and still faithful.
Sometimes joy comes quietly—a prayer, a phone call from someone we love, a beautiful morning, a Scripture that speaks directly to our heart, or simply the realization that God has carried us through difficult days before.
When life feels heavy, we don’t have to manufacture joy. We can turn toward the One who gives it.
Lord, when life feels unsettled, help us find our strength in You. Remind us of Your faithfulness, open our eyes to the blessings around us, and restore to us the joy that only You can give. Amen Jackie

09/17/2026

Some weeks are simply harder than others. We may feel tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed by things we never expected to carry. Yet even in those weeks, God remains faithful.
I’m reminded that we don’t have to have everything figured out. We don’t have to know what tomorrow will bring. We simply need to trust the One who does.
Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Sometimes trusting God means taking things one day—or even one step—at a time, knowing He is walking with us.
Whatever kind of week you have had, bring it with you to worship today. Bring the worries, the unanswered questions, the gratitude, and even the weariness. God meets us right where we are.
May we encourage one another, pray for one another, and remember that through every season, God is still faithful.
Have a blessed week.
Jackie

08/25/2026

A while back, I had the opportunity to drive a couple from Zambia over to Winnemucca. During the drive, we were talking about Peter’s years working in gold mining. I asked him how he had liked working for the company.
He never really answered my question.

Instead, he said something that has stayed with me. He said something to the effect of, “There are no bad companies. There are just people who make decisions not to talk nicely to other people.”

I have thought about those words many times since that car ride.
So often, our experience with a workplace, a church, an organization, or even a family is shaped by the way people treat one another. A kind word or a thoughtful action can make someone feel welcome and valued. An unkind word or action can leave a hurt that stays with someone for a long time.
Scripture reminds us, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt…” — Colossians 4:6

Every day, we have a choice in how we treat the people God places in our path. We cannot control how others speak or act, but we can choose what we bring into each encounter. We can choose patience. We can choose kindness. We can choose grace.

Peter probably had no idea that something he said during a drive to Winnemucca would stay with me. But years later, I still remember it.
We never really know what someone else will remember about the way we treated them.

May we be people who leave others remembering kindness, grace, and the love of Christ.
Jackie

08/17/2026

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” — Psalm 37:7

This week has been Missions Week in Elko. I didn’t even hear about it until just a couple of days before it started.
When I found out, I immediately felt like I had missed something. Having served as a full-time missionary, missions have always held a special place in my heart. Here God’s people were serving right in my own community—and I wasn't part of it.
My first thought was, How did I not know about this? Then came another: I should have been there.
But as I sat with that disappointment, I felt the Lord gently remind me, You are still recovering. You couldn't have done what you think you should have done.
Sometimes the hardest thing for those of us who are used to serving is accepting a season when we can't. We see a need and want to meet it. When we can't, it can feel like we're missing what God is doing.
But God's work doesn't stop simply because we have to stop for a while.
There were other people serving, loving their neighbors, and sharing Christ. Instead of being disappointed that I wasn't one of them, I could thank God for them—and pray for them.
Sometimes we are the ones carrying the work. Other times, God asks us to let someone else carry it while we carry them in prayer.
There are seasons when God says, “Go.” There are seasons when He says, “Serve.” And there are seasons when He says, “Not this time. Let someone else carry it—and pray for them.” All three can be acts of faithfulness.
Prayer:
Lord, help us recognize the season You have placed us in. When You call us to go, give us strength to go. When You ask us to step back, help us trust You enough to do that too. Bless and strengthen those who are serving, and remind us that we can always carry them in prayer. Amen.
Jackie

08/11/2026

Cowboy's Rest Women's Retreat

***Women's Retreat Guest Speaker Highlight***

Cowboy’s Rest is so excited to welcome Kristie Calder as our guest speaker for this year’s Women’s Retreat!

Kristie is a devoted follower of Christ, wife, mother, grandmother, mentor, and encourager who has spent more than three decades serving women through ministry and discipleship.

Her ministry journey began over 31 years ago as a table leader in a mothers’ group, where God began developing in her a heart for encouraging and mentoring women through the joys and challenges of life. Nearly 27 years ago, when her son was just five years old, Kristie began a weekly women’s Bible study that continues to impact lives today. Through biblical teaching, prayer, and authentic relationships, she has encouraged countless women to deepen their relationship with Jesus and discover the strength and hope found in God’s Word.

As a wife, mother, and grandmother of three, Kristie treasures family and believes some of life’s most meaningful ministry happens in ordinary moments, around the kitchen table, through shared stories, heartfelt prayer, and genuine connection.

Known for her compassionate spirit and love for people, Kristie has a gift for creating spaces where women feel seen, valued, and encouraged. Whether she is sharing biblical truth, praying with a friend, or walking alongside someone through a difficult season, her desire is always to point others toward the hope, healing, and faithfulness of Christ.

Kristie’s greatest joy is seeing women experience God’s love, embrace their God-given purpose, and grow into all He has called them to be. She is excited to be part of this retreat and looks forward to encouraging women to draw closer to the Lord and to one another.

Register for our Women's Retreat today at www.cowboysrest.org
Sept 11th - 13th

08/10/2026

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” — Exodus 20:12

Last week, my grandson Zeke stayed with me for a couple of days and helped me with some yard work. I appreciated his help more than he probably realized. Having someone willing to give their time and energy to help with things that are harder to do alone meant a lot to me.

It got me thinking about my brother. For nearly 30 years of his adult life, he helped our grandparents. He was there when things needed to be done. Looking back, I realize what an incredible example that was of honoring family—not just with words, but through his actions.

We often think of the commandment, “Honor your father and your mother,” as something meant for children. But honoring our parents and grandparents doesn't end when we grow up. In many ways, that is when we really begin to understand what honor means.

Honor can mean giving our time when we're busy. It can be doing yard work, making a phone call, driving someone to an appointment, fixing something that's broken, sitting and listening, or simply noticing that someone could use a helping hand.

Sometimes honor looks like showing up with work gloves on.
As Zeke helped me, I thought about the generations before me and the generations coming after me. My brother showed honor by caring for our grandparents, and now I was experiencing the blessing of my grandson taking time to help me.

Maybe that's part of how God intended family to work. One generation cares for another, and the next generation watches and learns.
What seems like a small act to us can mean so much to someone else.
This week, ask yourself: Who has God placed in my life that I can honor simply by showing up?

08/03/2026

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord.” — Psalm 37:23

Sometimes when we look at how far we still have to go, the journey can feel overwhelming. We see everything that still needs to change, heal, or be accomplished and wonder how we will ever get there.

But God doesn't ask us to take the whole journey at once. He asks us to take the next step.

This week, our family was reminded of that truth in a very special way. After 56 days in the hospital, Oliver walked down the hallway as the hospital staff stood cheering him on. He still needed support, and he still has a long road of recovery ahead—but he was walking.

Every one of those steps was made possible by the small steps that came before: sitting up, standing, learning to move his legs again, hours of therapy, and refusing to give up.

Life with God is often like that. We may not see much happening from one day to the next, but small steps matter. One prayer, one act of faith, one difficult day, one small victory at a time.

And we don't have to walk alone. Sometimes we need someone beside us to steady us, and sometimes we get to stand along someone else's hallway and cheer them on.

Most importantly, God is with us every step of the way.

We don't have to get there today.
Jackie

07/28/2026

This past week I celebrated my birthday. Or as some may say, "Another year around the sun." I had lunch with a friend, a party with my neighbors, and dinner with family. But I've also fought a migraine for the past couple days. I've played with my dog, sat outside in the early morning while it was still cool. I've prayed several times with my best friend whose husband is in the hospital. And I've been to the grocery store twice. All of which made me think of what Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 has to say about these yearly revolutions in our lives.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Our lives aren't just a simple revolution around the sun. They are filled with purpose and meaning. Times and Seasons. Moments that define and refine us. Times when we will question God. Followed by seasons where understanding can and will bloom. It is a reminder to celebrate life daily and to look for the beauty around us, because each day is a time and season of its own. Each day is a gift from God. ~Laura~

07/20/2026

This week, I watched my grandson, Oliver, take his first steps since being diagnosed with Guillain-Barré syndrome. He wasn't walking independently. He was supported by a therapy harness, braces, a walker, and the caring hands of his therapist. Every step required strength, determination, and trust.

Watching him reminded me that life isn't always easy. We often pray for God to remove our struggles, but sometimes He chooses to walk with us through them instead. Like Oliver, we may need support along the way—and that's okay.

"Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand." — Psalm 37:24

Whatever challenge you're facing today, don't focus on how far you have to go. Simply take the next faithful step. God is with you, strengthening you, supporting you, and leading you forward one step at a time.
– Jackie Welks

07/14/2026

There are moments in life that change the way we see the world.
Recently, I've found myself thinking about something most of us never give a second thought to—putting on a pair of socks and shoes.
Every morning we slip on our socks, tie our shoes, and go about our day without realizing what a remarkable gift those simple actions truly are. We rarely stop to thank God for the strength to bend over, the balance to stand, or the ability to walk across the room.
But when illness suddenly takes those abilities away, even the smallest accomplishments become milestones worth celebrating.
Watching someone I love begin the long journey of recovery has reminded me that healing is often measured in ordinary moments. Standing for a few seconds. Taking a few steps. Holding a fork. Pulling on a pair of socks. One day, putting on their own shoes again.
Those are victories that many of us have never had to think about.
James 1:17 reminds us, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father." Sometimes the greatest gifts are the ones we've stopped noticing.

Jackie