The Connection Corner

Look Up, It’s Not Over

Psalm 3:3 – But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

“He lifts us up. He’s my glory and the lifter of our head.”

I love that picture.

And if you watch sports, maybe you’ve seen something like this. Years ago, there was a championship game where a young player missed a really important shot for his team.

He hung his head, and before maybe even two seconds had passed, his teammate lifted his chin, patted him on the back, and said, “It’s not over. We’ve got this.”

I’ve always remembered that because I thought, I want to surround myself with people like that, too.

But actually, I want to be that person.

Because there have been plenty of times when I’ve noticed somebody hanging their head a little low. Maybe they’re discouraged. Maybe they’re disappointed in themselves. Maybe they’re carrying something they haven’t told anybody about.

I’ll say a silent prayer for them. But sometimes I think, Lord, I don’t just want to pray for them. Maybe You want to encourage them through me. I need to walk over there.

God is the One who lifts our heads, and I love that picture because often, we don’t need somebody to fix everything. We just need somebody to remind us to look up.

So, if you know somebody who’s been walking around with their head down lately—your sister, your brother, your coworker, your neighbor—say the prayer, and then maybe go say something to them, too.

Because I’m thankful that God lifts our heads. And sometimes, in His kindness, He lets us be the hands that help.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Is there an area of your life where you’ve been hanging your head lately—feeling discouraged, disappointed, or overwhelmed?
Who has been someone God used to lift your head and remind you that you weren’t alone?
Is there someone in your life right now whose head seems to be hanging a little low? What might they need to hear from you?
When you notice someone hurting, are you willing to do more than pray for them and take a step toward them?
Who might God be asking you to encourage today—and what could you say or do to help lift their head?

September 14, 2026/by Bri Dunn

Come As You Are

Daily Devotional, Stories About Songs

Isaiah 1:18 — “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.”

You know, we are surprisingly good at hiding. Aren’t we?

I think we learn it early.

If we’re sad, we say, “Oh, I’m just tired.” If we’re embarrassed, we change the subject. If we make a mess of something, we clean up the visible parts and hope nobody notices what happened.

And sometimes we do the same thing with God.

It’s easy to imagine we need to get ourselves together before we come to Him. I know I do. I tell myself, “Pray more. Do better. Stop this. Fix that.”

I tell myself I’ll do better. I’ll get my act together, and then I’ll come back to God.

The problem is… “then” can take a really long time.

But Jesus doesn’t tell us to get ourselves together before we come to Him. He invites us to come.

That’s why Crowder’s “Come As You Are” lands so deeply. It isn’t a song about pretending we’re okay. It’s an invitation to stop pretending. To lay down our burdens. To lay down our shame.

Isaiah 1:18 gives us this stunning picture: our sins may be scarlet, but God can make them white as snow.

You see, grace doesn’t require us to hide the stain. Grace is what God does with it.

So maybe faith isn’t about bringing God your best version. Maybe it’s about bringing Him the real one—the tired, ashamed, and broken version too.

Because Jesus isn’t waiting for you to become worthy enough to come.

He’s inviting you to come now and let Him begin making you whole.

So today, please hear this:

Come as you are.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What are you tempted to hide from God or pretend you have under control?
Do you ever find yourself thinking you need to “get your act together” before you can come to God? What makes you feel that way?
What burden, shame, or failure do you need to stop hiding and bring honestly to Jesus?
How does it change the way you see God when you remember that His grace is not dependent on you bringing Him your best version?
What would it look like for you to “come as you are” to Jesus today and allow Him to begin His work in you?

L Y R I C S

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are

September 13, 2026/by David Hall

Leave Hope Wherever You Go

Daily Devotional, Denise Pagano

2 Corinthians 1:4 — He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

There are certain signs on a road trip that can change the mood of the entire car.

“Rest Area, 42 Miles.” Nobody gets excited.

But then a different sign appears. Just one word changes everything:

“Buc-ee’s.”

Suddenly, everybody wakes up! You need a snack. Someone else needs coffee. Everyone definitely needs a bathroom break, and somehow, a quick stop turns into forty-five minutes where you’re walking out with beef jerky, homemade fudge, and a beaver shirt you didn’t know you needed.

Now here’s the funny part.

What started as a Texas thing is popping up all over the country. More locations are opening, including one right here in Ruston. It’s amazing how one place became something people actually look forward to.

And it makes me think.

God has a way of putting people on our path who leave us feeling better than where they found us.

Maybe it’s the friend who listens, the coworker who encourages you, the teacher who believes in you, or the stranger whose kindness shows up at exactly the right moment.

Sometimes the very comfort God has given us in our own hard seasons becomes the comfort we’re able to offer someone else.

The Bible reminds us that God comforts us in our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we have received from Him.

What we receive from God can become something we give to someone else.

So what if today, wherever God takes you, you became that person? The one who speaks hope. The one who chooses kindness. The one who reminds someone they’re not walking through life alone.

You never know. A few words filled with God’s love might become the stop someone needed most.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Who is someone God has used to bring you comfort or encouragement when you were going through a difficult time?
What is a comfort God has given you in one of your own hard seasons that you might be able to offer someone else?
Is there someone in your life right now who may need a listening ear, a kind word, or a reminder that they’re not alone?
What would it look like for you to be the person who “leaves someone feeling better than where you found them” today?
Who might God be putting in your path today that needs the comfort and hope He has already given you?

September 12, 2026/by Denise Pagano

Look Up, It’s Not Over

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Come As You Are

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

L Y R I C S

Leave Hope Wherever You Go

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

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