The Connection Corner

Lead Others to Hope

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30

John stands in the river, the weight of hundreds of eyes pressing on him. He has been here so many times before, calling people to leave their past mistakes behind and step into something better.

The crowd draws closer, their faces a mix of hope and expectation. They cling to every word, as though he holds the answers they are searching for. But John knows better. He is only the messenger. The one they truly need has not yet stepped forward—until now.

He looks up, wiping his brow, as a man emerges from the crowd and steps into the water. John’s breath catches. It is Him. Jesus. The one he has spent his entire life preparing people to meet. He carries a hope so real it can change everything.

As Jesus approaches, John whispers, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus insists, leaving no room for debate.

Taking a deep breath, John does as he is told. He lowers Jesus into the water, feeling the weight of the moment in his bones. When Jesus rises, the sky seems to burst open. A voice, unmistakable and full of love, declares who Jesus truly is— God’s Son, sent to bring life and hope to a broken world.

John stands frozen. He looks down at his hands and realizes this moment was never about him. It was always about pointing others to Jesus. That is his purpose. That is what matters.

What about you? What if your life is not about being noticed but about leading others to the one who brings true hope? Maybe real fulfillment is not found in being seen, but in helping others see Him.

January 6, 2025/by David Hall

See Beyond the Chaos

Daily Devotional

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.”

Psalms 19:1

Carl Boberg had not planned for a storm to change his life. He had set out on an ordinary walk to clear his mind.

Thunder cracked across the horizon, and the storm swept over the hills like a painter brushing chaos onto a canvas. Carl hurried to find shelter from the relentless downpour.

But it was what came next that truly moved him. The storm passed as quickly as it came, leaving behind a peace so profound it felt like a entirely different world. The clouds opened, birds returned to their melodies, and sunlight spilled across the landscape.

He stood there, amazed—not just by nature, but by the God who created it all.

That moment stayed with him, and he knew he had to capture it somehow. He wrote a poem about what he had seen and felt.

“O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made.”

Years later, that poem found its way into the hymn we now know as “How Great Thou Art.”

What if we viewed our own storms through Carl’s eyes? Could we see beyond the chaos and recognize the beauty of God’s hand at work? Let those moments point you back to Him, and let your soul, like Carl’s, sing.

January 5, 2025/by David Hall

A Lesson on Growth and Grit

Daily Devotional, Lauren Kitchens-Steward

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.”

Proverbs 21:5

At ten years old, most boys were just figuring out how to ride a bike or perfecting their tree-climbing skills. But not my him.

By the crack of dawn, while others were still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, he was already up and out, delivering the daily news. The weight of the canvas bag pressed into his shoulder, heavier some mornings than others, but he never complained.

This was not just a chore to him; it was a chance to build something. Each coin he tucked away had a purpose. He was saving for college. That dream kept him moving even on the coldest mornings.

The years passed, and the mornings grew longer as the route expanded. By the time he was 18, the boy who once lugged newspapers had saved enough to pay his college tuition.

But the story was never about the money. It was about the grit it took to earn it. It was about how every single paper delivered, every early morning, every sacrifice mattered. It was about discipline and determination.

Years later, I asked my dad, “How did you afford college and dental school?” He leaned back with a soft smile breaking across his face, and answered, “One paper at a time.”

That stayed with me, and maybe that is a lesson for all of us. Consider how God might be using your steps today to shape the person you are becoming. Let this story remind you that perseverance in the ordinary moments can lead to extraordinary outcomes.

January 4, 2025/by Lauren Kitchens-Steward