by Elaine Olsen | Apr 30, 2013 | family fun, Lessons from the Lunchroom, living God's truth, parenting, truth
The sound of Nerf guns blare from the living room – background noise to accompany my thoughts this afternoon. Make it stop! That’s what I’m thinking. Goodness, mercy me! How in the world have we survived this experiment, this year-long foray into the world of...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 22, 2013 | calling, cancer, cancer volume 4, dad, grace, ministry life, obedience, speaking
Safe . . . protected under the shelter of God’s wings. Those were the phrases that surfaced in my mind and the feelings that settled deeply within my soul when I awoke at my parents’ home yesterday morning – a Sabbath morning. Certainly the fact that I was with...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 17, 2013 | conviction, faith, holiness, living God's truth, parenting
Messy and mad. Life is. I am. Messy life. Mad me. There’s no prettying up this one, not enough shine and polish to make it less obvious to others. Anyway, what’s the point of a cover-up other than to possibly fool someone into thinking I have it altogether? I...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 11, 2013 | courage, desert dwelling, evil, faith, living God's truth, ministry life, packing up, right words; right timing, strength, trust
A couple of nights ago, I called my older boys and offered them this caution: “Be on guard, sons. Apparently our family is now Satan’s new, favorite chew-toy.” The next morning, my mother called with a similar warning: “Elaine, I’ve been standing here in front of the...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 7, 2013 | faith, living God's truth, ministry life, packing up, pilgrimage, surrender, trust
“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” –Psalm 84:5 Her heart spilled over into mine as I read the struggle in her words. Another pastor’s wife, just like me, living the itinerant lifestyle—a nomadic calling...
