by Elaine Olsen | Aug 28, 2022 | church life, God's Word, knowing God, living God's truth, ministry life
Our Sunday School roster of teachers was down to slim pickings today. The regularly scheduled facilitator and her substitute were otherwise detained, and I offered to step in at the last minute. Attendance numbers were slim as well, but what we lack in quantity we...
by Elaine Olsen | Jul 23, 2019 | church life, eternity, faith, God's voice, ministry life
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance.” (Hebrews 11:13) Five months ago, I curled up in my bed barely able to breathe. Physically I was fine....
by Elaine Olsen | Feb 27, 2019 | church life, holiness, methodism, ministry life, pain, surrender
“Even if it wounds him.” That was the prayer that I prayed several years ago on behalf of one of my sons who was going through a particularly difficult time in his life. It was a hard prayer to pray. No good parent wants to invite unnecessary pain...
by Elaine Olsen | Jun 22, 2014 | blessing, cancer volume 4, church life, dad, Holy Spirit, kingdom, living God's truth, ministry life, pilgrimage, strength, truth, words, worship
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” -1 Cor. 3:6-7 Today was watering day at Ebenezer UMC. I took my watering can and applied it heartily to the...
by Elaine Olsen | Jun 5, 2014 | church life, conviction, courage, friendship, living God's truth, ministry life
My heart is tender toward her tonight – the new girl who showed up at our summer kick-off, Wednesday night fellowships at the pool. She was easy to spot, stuck there at a table of men who out-aged her by at least fifty years. Talk about awkward. When I asked...
by Elaine Olsen | Feb 2, 2014 | alicia chole, book review, church life, communion, give aways, knowing God, rest, sundays
“Cease from what is necessary. Embrace that which gives life.” This is the golden rule of Sabbath according to Mark Buchanan, author of The Rest of God: Restoring your Soul by Restoring Sabbath. Have you read these words, this extraordinary book that feels less like...
