“‘So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.'” (Matthew 10:26-28).
What about you? Has God given you a special “anchor” verse for 2009? If so, I would love to know. Also, when you have the occasion, please visit my friend that I mentioned in my video, Pamela at In His Graces. This link will take you to the specific post I mentioned. She’s a tenacious and passionate worshipper of our Father. I loved her the minute she accepted my offering of chocolate. Love u, Pam.
Get to it friends in 2009!
PS: Please note: I sincerely apologize for any offensive material that may have been included with my YouTube clip. Some images may have appeared at the end of my video that had nothing to do with my upload. Thus, I’ve moved the video over to GodTube. If any of you know how to avoid this in the future, please let me know. Peace.
Copyright © January 2009 – Elaine Olsen. All rights reserved.
Hey, Elaine! This was great! I felt like I was sitting in front of you on a pew in your church! And, thank you for sharing Pam’s blog as well with us!
You are such a dear! I have loved getting to know you and the passion that you have for Christ is contagious! Thank you! I wish that I had met you at She Speaks! It was such a blessing for me!
May God bless you and your family in 2009!
Love ya,
Susan
What a blessing to have been prayed over by you this 2009. Great video. I am enjoying getting to know you through blogging. You and Pamela have inspired my second video which I will entitle “My Anchor Verse for 2009”. Stay tuned…
Love ya! Happy New Year!
Great job! Loved your message…loved the prayer even more. I'm going to ponder over what my anchor verse for 2009 will be. Thanks for the challenge! Heading over to Pam's blog…
Who could turn down chocolate? Especially Harry & David's chocolate?! (Lindor's Truffles are a close second.) Sounds like a GREAT way for making friends. Thanks for the tip. :o)
Elaine,
You are so precious! Thank you for the beautiful prayer for all of us. I pray/speak it back to you. I shared your post on my blog this morning! I will also go visit with Pamela.
The Lord had placed two Scriptures on my heart in November to meditate on and LIVE OUT more fully in 2009 so your message was right in line. I’m not surprised because in Christ nothing is by accident. We live with our steps ordered in the LORD and He would have us to be in line with Him as the Kings daughters should be.
God bless you and Happy New Year!
**I loved the chimes!
Thank YOU SO MUCH for, hang on need to wipe the tears here, ok..for praying for me!! SIGH…Oh sweet Jesus, I praise You and thank You for how You lead God’s daugthers to one another, and for building us up, encouraging us and loving us. Thank You for this precious woman Elaine. Thank You for the good work that You started in her, You will complete!! amen amen amen
girl, that was just so awesome, I love watching you touch your bible, passing your hand over it,I do that too, like we are caressing His Word, our Lord’s Word!!
Well Paula got me vlogging yesterday..Oh my goodness gracious, Ok, Lord, whatever, whatever will bring YOU glory!! I need to get a new memory card because 13 seconds just doesn’t cut it for this yapping woman here,,LOL…
God bless precious one!! ((hugs))
You encourage my heart girl!
And in this season your words..His words…well, they spur me on to love and good works.
Keep speaking what He has spoken to you….His body needs to hear His voice.
Mrs. Elaine!:)
I loved the video! It was cool to see your church, and to hear those chimes:) I think my anchor verse for this year might be two verses: Deut. 6:5 and 2 Tim. 1:7. They sum up what I want the most.
Blessed day to you, Love and ((HUGS)) in CHRIST, Happy New Year!
katiegfromtennessee
Elaine,
You words instill into my heart…truly…peace for the journey, the journey of 2009!
Lovingly,
Yolanda
I just finished sharing my scripture on my blog!!
Happy New Year! After watching your video last night, God used you to speak to me about choosing a scripture for the year. I went to Beth’s blog, and I will use that one for the first of this month. I love her challenge!
The verses I chose were Jeremiah 29:11-13. I had planned to use only verse 11, but felt God pulling at my heartstrings to claim the other two as well. He is so awesome!
Enjoy this beauiful and chilly day!
Hugs,
Susan
Oh, I loved it Elaine! Wonderful verse as an anchor. Mine for this year is Philippians 3:12
Thank you for challenging me in the deepest need of my heart. You are a blessing. ~Shane
Elaine, you're a better woman than I am to be sharing your Harry & David chocolates! 🙂
I hadn't thought about a verse to claim for the year, but I did just choose a verse to memorize as a result of a challenge on Beth Moore's LPM blog so let me share that with you:
"Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before." Psalm 68:28 NIV
Be blessed in 09, Elaine!
My dear friend-I am humbled that someting in my life can impact yours as you have been the “impactor” in this blog friendship. Your scripture will open some pretty awesome doors for you in this next year…it will also throw you some challenges. I pray you will be constantly focus on Him so that you respond as He desires. Then in December of this new year reflect back and magnify and praise Him for how much you will have grown in this area as reflected in your chosen scripture, how much you will have been used for His kingdom work.
I love you friend. You are one of the most amazing spiritual mentors I have ever known. I am sending you a most strong and long blog hug today!! I so appreciate you across these many miles.
In His Graces~Pamela
Here’s my anchor verse for 2009:
“For as the heavens are high above the earth so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.” Ps. 103:11 AMP
Thanks for sharing yours!
Elaine, wonders never cease to amaze me. I was reading Lisa Shaw’s blog and she mentioned you and this post. I’m already a follower of your blog. I just hadn’t made it as far as your blog yet. But, I stopped everything once I read Lisa’s blog and came to yours. I had shivers up and down my spine listening to your video. Here’s my post on this subject:
http://tinyurl.com/9xpbw3
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing with us. I loved that I got to hear your voice. 🙂 Have a wonderful 2009!
Elaine,
I was able to hear ALMOST all of your video today. (the more of these you post the more I will probably think about getting satellite internet so I can do away with this S.L.O.W. dialup!!ha)
Now when I read your posts, I hear your voice! Neat!
Happy New Year!
Marilyn
Awesome video Elaine! Happy New Year! I am praying and listening to the Holy Spirit about what my scripture verse will be. As soon as I have it, I’ll share it with you. That’s an incredible awesome idea. I will certainly participate with you. Have a blessed New Years evening!
Blessings to You,
Kennisha
P.S., I’m so glad to had met you in 2008!
I loved that, Elaine. I felt as if I were sitting in the pew next to you.:)
I am definitely going to take on this challenge too. What a wonderful way to have “God focus” for the new year.
And even though the chocolates would not have hurt my feelings one little bit…I would have taken to you (and Pam) right away even without them.;)
Much love and blessings to you, sweet lady,
Amy:)
I found this verse this morning in my quiet time. I think it’s going to be the one for 2009.
Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)
(personalized w/ my name)
“Because he has set his love upon Regina, therefore I will deliver her; I will set her on high, because she has known My name. She shall call upon Me, and I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble; I will deliver her and honor her. With long life I will satisfy her, And show her My salvation.”
Happy New Year Elaine ~ love you sister 🙂
OH, I so messed that up the first time. . . sorry please re-read 🙂
Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)
(personalized w/ my name)
Because Regina has set her love upon Me, therefore I will deliver her; I will set her on high, because she has known My name. She shall call upon Me, and I will answer her; I will be with her in trouble; I will deliver her and honor her. With long life I will satisfy her, And show her My salvation.”
HAH! He has set his love on me though 🙂
I love it!! And HIM!
You are beautiful. Your passion for Christ and His Word jumps off the blog screen & thrills me to the core.
I told my husband last night after watching this video that if we lived closer, I would totally beg you to be my mentor. In which you could give me chocolate and teach me things.
Happy New Year!
Such a lovely message and a powerful verse to focus on in the coming year. You know, you already proclaim His Word so well, so clearly, so loudly!
I am so glad I found you in 2008, Faith Elaine. YOu have been such a blessing.
Here’s to shouting from the rooftops in 2009…
:)Laura
Hey Elaine! It was so awesome to actually sit here and listen to you talk like you were sitting right in front of me! You have really challenged me. I will be praying that God would lay a verse on my heart that He wants to be my anchor verse! Hope you have a blessed year!
I enjoyed reading your blog. Thank God for allowing God to use you as His instrument. Please pray for my new twin grandbabies born premature on Nov 20
Happy New Year, Elaine! The first year we arrived in China, God began giving me yearly verses. They have been so special to me. The very first one He gave me was, “And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold. And the Lord blessed him.” Gen 26:12
I wish I was as eloquent as you at speaking and writing the Lord’s fingerprints on my life. But I am not, so I keep it all treasured inside and hope that it comes out in the way I live. God bless you, my friend. Keep sharing what He shows you in secret.
Hey Elaine…you know what I loved about this clip..it shows how comfortable you are in your own ‘skin’..how your desire is to share Him…so beautiful..thank you…
Reading Psalm 1 today, I realized that I want to be that tree planted by the rivers of water…drinking from that Living Water..never withering as I did so many times in the past…bringing forth fruit in its time…
do take care…love and appreciate you..
Sita
This was so cool! Your “post” made me think of the song by Matthew West… Something to Say. Don’t be afraid, sister… to just preach it! We, now, more then ever need to speak the TRUTH to one another. Lest the rocks cry out!
Do you know how much you exude Christ? Well, you DO and I’m so thankful for that!
My anchor verse this year is the following:
Now may the God of peace—
who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great Shepherd of the sheep,
and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—
21 may he equip you with all you need
for doing his will.
May he produce in you,[a]
through the power of Jesus Christ,
every good thing that is pleasing to him.
All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:20-22
Blessings to you sweet friend,
Melinda
So good to “see” you, Elaine (and to hear you again)! I believe your Scripture is pivotal for 2009; the 2nd chapter of Ezekiel goes well with it!
As you read on my yesterday’s post, the Lord is encouraging me to encourage others to praise Him in 2009!
“Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, praise His name;
proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and glory are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, ‘The LORD reigns.’
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; He will judge the peoples with equity.
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His Truth.”
(Psalm 96)
May He richly bless your new year, Elaine! Epiphany hope, love, joy, and peace!
Elaine, for the past 10 years the Lord has given me a theme verse each year. He calls me to focus on one of His attributes, an attitude He wants to work on in my heart, a truth He wants me to embrace and live etc… This year He has drawn my attention to 1 Corinthians 2:2 as the basis for 2009: For I resolve to know nothing this year except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. What it comes down to for me this year is Simply Jesus.
simply
joy
Girlfriend, you are truly a NC sister! We have the same accent. hee hee
I enjoyed your youtube. Thanks for sharing with us!
Love,
Beth
Oh Elaine….I am an intentional seeker! One who visit's you on PURPOSE too! I LOVED this! I wish I could hug your neck! I loved the fact that I SAW YOU FIRST when we arrived at the She Speaks!!! (But where oh where is my Harry & David chocolate???—you must have known I didn't need chocolate to like YOU!!!)
I loved this—-and your sweet NC accent!
I’m so glad that I come by from LisaShaw,what a great way to start out the New Year.
God has given me this verse…Ps.37:7.
Thank you for your prayer and I enjoyed listening to your video.
Blessings in 2009,
Tammy
Dear Elaine,
I loved that you posted a personal video. And I so enjoyed hearing your Southern voice. It’s so different from my NY one, although I think I’ve lost my accent.
I love that you are persuing holiness. That is what I also desire for this year. I’m studying Hebrews right now. As you prayed for us, I prayed for you. I’m so glad we’re getting to know one another. May the Lord bless you in 2009!
Debbie
Dear Elaine,
I re-read Pamela’s post, and listened to yours. I prayed about it some when I read her post the first time. But I haven’t been able to narrow things down though. Until today.
I read through something that pointed me towards Isaiah 33. I found Isaiah 33:2 and knew I found my verse.
“O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
I don’t know what that verse will mean for me in the new year, but I hope to get a post up on it in the next couple of days… I spent the afternoon praying though it once I found it.
I keep coming back and reading your blog, just don’t always leave a comment. But this one prompted me to, especially as I found my year’s verse today!
God bless you!
Heather
You video at your church was a wonderful and touching idea. What a fine lady you are. Have a blessed 2009!