by Elaine Olsen | Jun 9, 2015 | christian perfection, discipleship, faith, kingdom, Lessons from the Lunchroom, ministry life, obedience, trust
Rough edges. I have some. They were readily exposed for me to clearly see this past year. The catalyst for that exposure? Fifteen students hand-picked by God to move me on toward my perfection! For the past several years, I’ve been incubated from such exposure; life...
by Elaine Olsen | Oct 1, 2014 | book release, calling, eternity, kingdom, Lessons from the Lunchroom, ministry life, obedience, peace for the journey
“ … lift them up.” Chambers’ words have shadowed my heart today. They’ve stepped all around and into my thoughts, throwing down the gauntlet for obedience. I warm to them, slowly melt into them knowing that they are the remedy for this stretched-out submission...
by Elaine Olsen | Sep 12, 2014 | anchor verse, courage, faith, obedience, peace, peace for the journey, pilgrimage, trust
Sometimes we cannot see the way that God is taking us. Really, most days it’s that way, is it not? Just steppin’ on in faith because it’s the best we can do. As a people deeply connected to the heart of God, we try to honor that connection through our obedience and...
by Elaine Olsen | Aug 30, 2014 | eternity, kingdom, Lessons from the Lunchroom, living God's truth, ministry life, obedience, trust
I told them to keep working . . . that I needed to take some pictures and not to pay any attention to me. After eight days of getting to know their new teacher, they are beginning to understand that I am a woman who lives for the moments. Too many of these moments are...
by Elaine Olsen | Aug 17, 2014 | baptism, faith, kingdom, living God's truth, obedience, pilgrimage, trust, truth
My heart’s been moved again by the story of Philip and the Ethiopian as found in Acts 8:26-40. This encounter unfolds like a series of rapid succession snapshots, sort of like living a narrative through the lens of a view-finder. Remember those? Philip’s story is a...
by Elaine Olsen | Jul 25, 2014 | dad, faith, knowing God, letting go, ministry life, obedience, pilgrimage
The 51/49 principle. That’s what my daddy calls it – the not so scientific (much less highly spiritual) approach to making decisions. Your gut leanings . . . 51% in one direction; 49% in the other. When in doubt, go with the 51%. When making smaller decisions, the...