The Connection Corner

Paddleboards and Praise

Daily Devotional, Heart of the Artist, Stories About Songs

Revelation 15:3-4 — Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.

It wasn’t a stage. It wasn’t a writing room.

It was water.

During the chaos and uncertainty of 2020, Chris Tomlin found himself in Montana, sitting alone on a paddleboard in the middle of a still lake at sunset. No noise. No crowd. Just water and silence.

And on that lake, something unsettled him—in a good way.

He became deeply aware of how small he was… and how vast God is.

Not in a crushing way. In a clarifying way.

He had spent years writing songs of deliverance—songs people cling to when they need rescue, grace, and mercy. And those songs matter. Deeply.

But out there on the water, something else was rising.

A different kind of worship song. It was not one that sounded like “God, come through for me,” but “God, you are holy.”

The kind that echoes what’s already been sung long before any of us arrived:

There in that awe-inspiring setting, Chris was reminded of the book of Revelation, where believers from every nation worship before God’s throne crying out, “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God Almighty… for you alone are holy.” He also thought about the angels surrounding God’s throne declaring, “Holy, holy, holy.”

That’s where Holy Forever was born—out of stillness, not striving.

It holds both sides of worship we often separate: the God who rescues us, and the God who stands far above us. Because we need both the God who meets us in our mess, and the same God who reminds us He was never overwhelmed by it at all.

And maybe that’s what your soul needs today—not just rescue, but reverence.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When was the last time you truly stopped and felt awe at God’s greatness?
Do your prayers lean more toward asking God for help or worshiping Him for who He is?
How does remembering God’s holiness change your perspective on your problems?
What helps you slow down enough to notice God’s presence?
Why is it important to remember both God’s nearness and His majesty?

Lyrics:

A thousand generations falling down in worship
To sing the song of ages to the Lamb
And all who’ve gone before us and all who will believe
Will sing the song of ages to the Lamb

Your name is the highest
Your name is the greatest
Your name stands above them all
All thrones and dominions
All powers and positions
Your name stands above them all

And the angels cry, Holy
All creation cries, Holy
You are lifted high, Holy
Holy forever

If you’ve been forgiven and if you’ve been redeemed
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
If you walk in freedom and if you bear His name
Sing the song forever to the Lamb
We’ll sing the song forever and amen

Hear your people sing, Holy
To the King of Kings, Holy
You will always be, Holy
Holy forever

You will always be, Holy
Holy forever

May 24, 2026/by David Hall

Honey for the Heart

Brenda Price, Daily Devotional

Proverbs 16:24 — Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

I almost didn’t say anything. She looked polished. She looked confident, like the kind of woman who didn’t need anything from anyone, especially not from me.

But all week long, her name kept coming to mind—in the grocery store, during my quiet time, while folding laundry. When a name won’t leave you alone, it’s often not random—it’s an invitation to respond.

So when I saw her slipping out of church alone, I felt that quiet nudge saying, “Tell her.”

So I did.

I said to her, “I’ve been praying for you. God brought you to mind this week, and I just wanted you to know that you’re not forgotten.”

She smiled politely. She said, “Thank you,” and that was it. But as I watched her walk away, I saw something shift, like her shoulders softened a little—like someone had finally looked past the perfect hair and the smart heels and saw her.

Like a kind word had landed deeper than it sounded, settling in like sweetness where something had once been sour. The right words, offered at the right time, can taste like honey. They reach places we’ll never fully see, bringing comfort, healing, and hope to weary hearts.

That’s why we’re called to encourage each other and carry each other’s burdens. We never know what a small obedience will do, but sometimes the smallest words can speak the loudest love. A simple, obedient act of encouragement can lighten someone’s unseen burdens and quietly reflect Christ’s love.

So when that name comes to mind again, don’t ignore it. Lean into the nudge. Your small act of encouragement may become the very thing God uses to bring healing to someone who desperately needs it.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Has God ever placed someone on your heart unexpectedly?
When was the last time someone’s kind words deeply encouraged you?
Are there people around you who may look “fine” on the outside but still need encouragement?
What keeps you from speaking encouraging words sometimes?
Who could you intentionally encourage today with a text, prayer, or conversation?

May 23, 2026/by Brenda Price

Give a Grouch a Cookie

Daily Devotional, Denise Pagano

Galatians 6:10 — Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

You know someone. Oh, yes, you do.

You know who I’m talking about.

The human rain cloud, the sigh before the sentence, the person who treats “good morning” like a personal attack. You’re picturing them right now, aren’t you? Well, “Do a Grouch a Favor Day” is an actual day. Now stay with me, because somewhere along the way, we all decided the proper response to grumpiness is avoidance.

You delete the group chat, you slide past them in the hallway, send a reaction emoji instead of actual compassion. But what if instead of rolling our eyes, we rolled up with our favorite snack? What if the person who growls at the staff meeting is just one chocolate chip cookie away from home? Think about that. What if the coworker who vents like it’s an Olympic sport just needs someone to say, “All right… tell me what’s really going on.”

Here’s a wild thought. The loudest grump in the room might just be the loneliest heart in the room. And maybe this is our chance to lean in, to do a little good right where we are, especially when it would be easier to keep our distance.

Now here’s a few things you could do.

You could surprise them with their go-to treat, maybe offer help with the project they’ve been wrestling with. Or even just write a note that says, “I see you.”

Or another thought—just let them grumble it all out.

Because sometimes the cure for cranky isn’t correction. It’s compassion. A gentle answer turns away wrath—not a clapback, not a sarcastic meme. Gentleness.

So today, find the grouch and love them anyway. Not to fix them or win them over, but to quietly choose kindness in a place where it’s rarely expected. Take every opportunity you have to do good. Because sometimes hearts soften one small act at a time… and yes, a chocolate chip cookie probably doesn’t hurt either.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Who in your life is difficult to love right now?
Have you ever considered that someone’s irritability may be masking loneliness or pain?
How do you typically respond to negative or grumpy people?
What is one practical way you could “do good” for someone this week without expecting anything in return?
How has God shown patience and kindness toward you in difficult seasons?

May 22, 2026/by Denise Pagano