The Connection Corner

Don’t Judge the Book by its Cover

2 Timothy 3:16-17 — All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip His people to do every good work.

So we all know that saying, never judge a book by its cover. Well, I think we’ve all at some point judged the Bible by its cover.

Maybe because when many of us see it, we freak out a little. I mean, we know it’s good, and it’s God’s Word, inspired by Him for our lives, but we can be intimidated by it for…well… a lot of reasons.

The language can be confusing. It has some difficult words. It looks like a huge novel, and many people mock it, saying it’s too judgmental and too outdated and just a book full of rules we could never follow.

Whatever the reason, can I encourage you today. Please don’t be intimidated by God’s Word.

The Bible may look intimidating from the outside, but you discover the invitation when you open it. It is the most beautiful, fascinating, adventurous, and exciting book ever. And yes, it can be confusing at times. Absolutely.

But it is full of love and wisdom and adventure and it reveals who God is, who we are, and the story of His rescue through Jesus. It’s not going to tell you specifically where to go on vacation next year or what color to paint your house. But it will teach us principles of right living, right thinking, wisdom, and faith.

It will instruct you through stories of people like us who lived long ago facing many of the same challenges and relational struggles that you and I do today.

And that’s what makes God’s Word so powerful. It teaches, corrects, and trains us so that we can become the people God is calling us to be. It helps us understand what is good, what needs to change, and how to keep growing.

Friend, you don’t have to understand everything before you begin, you just have to be willing to open the cover. Maybe today, that’s all you need to do. Open it. Read a little. Ask God to show you something about Himself, and let the journey begin.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What has intimidated or discouraged you from spending time in God’s Word?
When you open the Bible, are you approaching it as a book of rules—or as an invitation to know God better?
Is there something God’s Word has recently shown you that needed to change in your life? How did you respond?
What is one area of your life where you need God’s wisdom, correction, or direction right now?
What would it look like for you to simply “open the cover” today—read a little, ask God to speak, and let the journey begin?

September 9, 2026/by Brenda Price

A Refreshing Plot Twist

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Proverbs 11:25 — A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

Have you ever been set up by God?

Like, you sign up to go somewhere thinking you’re going to support somebody else, and then God changes everything?

That’s what happened to Miss Gwendolyn.

She took her granddaughter to the Live Original Conference, which is coming to town this weekend. Her granddaughter had really come to know the Lord through her youth group and loved Sadie Huff. So Miss Gwendolyn thought, “Of course. I’ll get two tickets.”

She imagined them buying merch, taking pictures, and making some memories. That’s really as far as she thought it would go.

But then she stepped into worship.

Through the songs, God started ministering to her heart and revealing that this wasn’t just about the teenagers.

He wanted to meet her, too.

And from that moment on, something began to deepen in Miss Gwendolyn’s relationship with the Lord. Her eyes were opened in a new way, even though she had known Jesus for a long time.

Sometimes we think we’re the ones pouring out, but God has a way of pouring into us at the same time.

That’s what I see in Scripture: whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

And that’s why I think this is such a beautiful reminder for us today:

You never know where God is waiting to meet you.

There is no stage, no age, and no season of life where the Lord can’t still pierce your heart and draw you closer to Him.

You might think you’re showing up for someone else, but remember this:

God refreshes the refresher.

As you encourage someone else, serve someone else, or simply show up for someone else, don’t be surprised if God has something He wants to do in you, too.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Have you ever shown up somewhere or served someone else, only to realize God had something He wanted to do in your heart, too?
Who is someone you could intentionally encourage or refresh this week?
What might it look like to serve someone without focusing only on what you’re giving, but also being open to what God might want to teach you?
Is there an area of your relationship with God where you would welcome Him refreshing or renewing you?
How does Proverbs 11:25 change the way you think about generosity—not just giving things, but giving your time, attention, encouragement, and presence?

September 8, 2026/by Bri Dunn

Can You Sit with Me

Daily Devotional, Denise Pagano

Romans 12:15 — Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Sometimes all we need to do is be in someone’s presence when they’re not feeling so good, when they’re having a bad day, or when they’re going through something difficult.

Yes, just sit in their presence.

We want to solve everything all at once. At least I do.

But that’s not my job.

We don’t have all the right answers or the perfect things to say. And honestly, sometimes there aren’t any words that can make someone’s pain go away.

But God doesn’t ask us to have all the answers. He asks us to love people well, and sometimes that means simply being there.

It reminds me of a story I once heard about a nurse who worked overnight. After her shift, she liked to stop at a park to watch the sunrise. One morning, she noticed someone sitting on a bench, crying.

So she went over and sat beside her.

She didn’t try to fix her. She didn’t rush to explain why everything would be okay. She just sat there and listened.

She was willing to enter into this woman’s sorrow instead of rushing past it—to share, even in a small way, the weight of what this woman was carrying.

They talked, and the nurse learned that this woman was facing one of the hardest seasons of her life. She had come to that park feeling completely alone, but that unexpected conversation gave her hope.

And I think that’s part of what Paul means when he tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

When someone is celebrating, we celebrate with them.

When someone is hurting, we don’t have to rush them out of their pain. We can be willing to sit with them in it.

Sometimes the best gift we can offer is simply showing up.

Because God often ministers His love and comfort through the presence of His people, reminding others that they are not alone.

So maybe today, instead of trying to fix someone’s pain, just sit beside them while they’re feeling it.

Listen. Pray. Stay.

You don’t have to have the answer to be part of God’s answer.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When someone you love is hurting, is your first instinct to listen or to try to fix the problem? Why?
Is there someone in your life who might simply need you to show up and be present right now?
How can you become better at celebrating with others when they’re happy, even when their joy has nothing to do with you?
What makes it difficult for you to sit with someone else’s pain without trying to make it go away?
How might God use your presence, even when you don’t have the right words, to remind someone that they aren’t alone?

September 7, 2026/by Denise Pagano

Don’t Judge the Book by its Cover

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

A Refreshing Plot Twist

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Can You Sit with Me

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Daily Devotional

HEART OF THE ARTIST

STORIES ABOUT SONGS

Archives

Contact Us

Links

Stories About Songs

Follow us on Facebook