by Elaine Olsen | Oct 3, 2022 | methodism, ministry life, rehearse your history with God
Rehearse your history with me, Elaine. So whispered the Father to my spirit in the early morning hours of August 13, 2022. It’s an oft-repeated phrase I use when challenging others to remember the faithfulness of God in their lives—to retrace their steps with God over...
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 | Jun 12, 2019 | grace, ministry life, packing up
“When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.” –John 21:9 Finish strong. I used those words repeatedly in the classroom as the fourth nine weeks of the academic school year arrived. Students have a tendency to...
by Elaine Olsen | Apr 30, 2019 | family fun, ministry life, packing up
Packing while unpacking. It seems like a contradiction, but it’s really just a delicate consideration about things kept, things discarded, things remembered, and decisions therein. One doesn’t pack up a house … a history … without a little unpacking of the...
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...
