by Elaine Olsen | May 4, 2014 | book release, book special, brokenness, cancer volume 4, grief, loss, pain, suffering
One glance in her direction, and I knew that she was carrying a terrible ache in her heart. Maybe it was the way her head was lowered, covered up by the golden locks that frame her face. Maybe it was the way she flicked her husband’s hand away from the back of her...
by Elaine Olsen | Mar 16, 2014 | calling, cancer volume 4, faith, living God's truth, obedience
Whew – I just made myself exceedingly dizzy. Really. Dizzy to the point of dazed and to making erratic mumblings along the lines of “I wonder if Gwyneth Paltrow is doing this right now . . . on a Sunday night . . . crunching her abs in hopes of trimming her...
by Elaine Olsen | Feb 11, 2014 | Beyond Cancer's Scars (the story behind the story), blessing, brokenness, cancer volume 4, knowing God, living God's truth, pain, silence, speaking, words
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today …” –Hebrews 3:13 I saw it in their eyes last evening … a familiar pain. It’s one I’ve felt before. It always touches a nerve whenever I speak on it, especially those nerves deeply embedded in the heart...
by Elaine Olsen | Jan 11, 2014 | Beyond Cancer's Scars (the story behind the story), cancer, cancer volume 4, obedience, peace, surrender, words
I remember the night I first penned those beginning words to Beyond Cancer’s Scars with the nudge of the Holy Spirit alongside: “Out of your poverty, Elaine, surrender your pen.” It was a hard obedience. At that point in my journey, I was exhausted, worn out and...
by Elaine Olsen | Sep 23, 2013 | cancer, cancer volume 4, church life, courage, kingdom, ministry life, obedience, silence, words, writing
“Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors.” (2 Kings 19:30-31) ~~~~ I attached the purple ribbon to my mailbox as a reminder to myself: A...
by Elaine Olsen | Aug 27, 2013 | cancer volume 4, friendship, grace, living God's truth, peace, peace for the journey, pilgrimage, rest, writing
We sat on his front porch talking about this-and-that while relishing Saturday’s break in temperature. The wind kindly caressed our conversation. It was a beautiful gift—the weather and the fellowship. I haven’t always been good at my relishing, especially when life...