The start of a new year always comes with a strange mix of hope and pressure. On one hand, the world tells us January 1 is a reset button — a clean slate, a chance to reinvent ourselves, a fresh start where all the hard things from last year politely stay behind. New planners, newContinue reading “Anchored, Not Reinvented: Growing Nearer to Christ in 2026”
Author Archives: melissaelsner
Through the Hymns: Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus
The organ began playing “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” and it felt as though every note carried the weight of a prayer. Even as a child, I sensed that this hymn held something deeper than I could fully articulate. It captured both the ache of longing and the quiet joy of expectation. Two themes that sitContinue reading “Through the Hymns: Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus”
Hospitality in Every Season: A Biblical Invitation to Welcome
This post comes from a Titus 2 class I recently taught at my church. We gathered as women from different stages of life to talk about hospitality in every season and how Scripture shapes the way we welcome others. It was rich, simple, and deeply encouraging, and I’m excited to share it here. Hospitality hasContinue reading “Hospitality in Every Season: A Biblical Invitation to Welcome”
Soli Deo Gloria: A Biblical Perspective on Worship Ministry
Serving in a worship ministry is one of the greatest joys of my life today but it wasn’t always that way. Over the years, I’ve learned that motives matter and that Scripture has a lot to say about how we worship, why we worship, and what a biblical worship ministry actually looks like. This postContinue reading “Soli Deo Gloria: A Biblical Perspective on Worship Ministry”
When Christians Scoff: What Scripture Says About Our Words
Spend five minutes on social media and you’ll see it: Christians laughing at other Christians, sarcasm disguised as humor, and posts that sound more like ridicule than grace. Scoffing has become normal. Sometimes we call it wit or cleverness. Sometimes we say we’re “just being real.” But Scripture calls it what it is: a sinContinue reading “When Christians Scoff: What Scripture Says About Our Words”