by Elaine Olsen | Sep 7, 2013 | faith, letting go, living God's truth, obedience, peace for the journey, pilgrimage, surrender, trust
Letting go. We talked about it last night after teeth were brushed and prayers were spoken. Two girls, one barely eleven and the other four times plus her senior. Her tears might as well have been mine. I know this struggle – this letting go kind of dilemma. She’ll be...
by Elaine Olsen | Aug 8, 2013 | faith, living God's truth, parenting, peace, pilgrimage, theology, trust, truth
He autographs my copy of his book, along with a postscript – 1 Cor. 1:9. I visited this biblical address in my morning deliberations with God. “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” Word by word, I let this...
by Elaine Olsen | May 27, 2013 | living God's truth, obedience, peace for the journey, pilgrimage, provision, trust
A few words latch tightly onto my spirit this morning. Not “what if”, Elaine, but rather “what is”. What is. What if I could just live there instead of living in the interminable list of maybes? I’m going to try. With God’s help I’m going to endeavor to live in the...
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...
by Elaine Olsen | Dec 16, 2012 | Advent, christmas, evil, faith, grief, pain, trust
My daughter could barely get through the final paragraph. Her tears prevented her progress, her heart tenderly wrapped around and invested in the story of the faithful saint, Corrie ten Boom. Corrie finished her earthly chapter on her ninety-first birthday, only to...
