The Connection Corner

When Love Leaves its Mark

Revelation 14:13 – “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. ‘Blessed indeed,’ says the Spirit, ‘that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!’”

I walked into my parents’ house and had to stop for a moment. The air smelled faintly of old wood and a hint of sugar, like it always had. I let my eyes wander, taking it all in

I drifted toward the kitchen. That room that always pulled me in first.

It was too quiet. I half expected to hear mom there, humming a hymn while making a pitcher of sweet tea. That music had once been the heartbeat of the house.

The longer I stood there, the heavier the memories pressed in. She has been gone more than two decades, and still, the ache surprises me.

People told me grief softens over time. Maybe it does. I do not cry every time I think of her, but here, in this kitchen I find myself blinking back tears.

I caught sight of her photo on the shelf and smiled through the blur. Then I noticed her Bible sitting in the corner, worn and waiting, as though she might reach for it at any moment. I wished I could tell her about the ways God had carried me.

She always made sure I heard about Jesus, even if she did not sit in the pew herself. I would give anything for her to see the woman I have become.

And as I stood there, the words of Revelation 14:13 came to mind:

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them.”

Even through the tears, I realized something: the lessons she left behind and the love she poured into me were bigger than the loss. That is what really matters.

I say that because I realized life is about leaving a Jesus-shaped imprint on people. Life is fleeting, but the marks we leave—especially the ones shaped by love and faith—always linger.

I took one more look around and smiled to myself. Mom’s imprint was all over this house.

And it always would be.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

Who in your life has left a “Jesus-shaped imprint” on your heart?
What kind of spiritual legacy do you hope to leave behind for others?
How does the promise of rest in Revelation 14:13 bring you comfort in seasons of grief?
When you think about your own life, what “deeds” or moments of love do you hope will follow you and point others to Christ?

October 21, 2025/by Tammi Arender

What is Your Life Preaching

Daily Devotional, David Hall

Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.

The first sermon I really remember was not told from a pulpit. No. It was from a six-year-old boy standing on a fireplace.

He was preaching into a purple and green toy microphone that came from McDonalds. And though I barely understood what he was doing, I have never forgotten it.

That boy was my cousin, Waylon. He has lived his life on the autism spectrum, and while most may see limitations, I have only ever seen his faith. And he never stopped preaching.

Today, you can still see Waylon living out the sermons he preached as a kid.

On Wednesdays, you would find him on stage at church playing his bongos. On Sundays, you would see him with hands raised high. If you asked anyone at Hodge Assembly of God, they would tell you without hesitation that he was the “head usher.” At home, Waylon kept a stack of Jimmy Swaggart tapes spinning. He listened, he learned, and he soaked it all in.

And he even has the coolest job, tailor-made for him.

He rides with the local police unit, spending time with the elderly, visiting people who are too often forgotten. He talks, he listens, he reminds them they still matter—to him and to God. And in his own way, he is still preaching sermons.

I look at his life and realize how much it shaped my own. His unwavering example helped lead me to my work at Always Uplifting 88.7 The Cross. Because I believe, like he does, that every single moment matters.

One song can meet someone at just the right time. One story can change a life. One gift from a listener can make sure someone else hears the hope they need most.

And that is the question left in my heart after sharing his story: what sermon is your life preaching? Because the truth is simple, and it is urgent: life really is about sharing Jesus. Make every moment count.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When people look at your life, what kind of “sermon” do they see?
How can you let your light shine today in a way that points others to Jesus?
Who in your life has quietly shown you what faith looks like in action?
What small act of love or service could become someone’s reminder that they still matter—to you and to God?

October 20, 2025/by David Hall

Safe in the Arms of God

Daily Devotional, Stories About Songs, Tammi Arender

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Some days you don’t realize how badly you need someone until you nearly lose your footing. I think that’s why Lauren Daigle’s song “Thank God I Do” has sunk so deep into my heart.

When she first shared the story behind it, it felt like she was putting words to things I’ve known myself. She was on top of the world, in the middle of a massive tour, when everything shut down in 2020.

She thought it would be a short pause—but weeks turned into months. What she described wasn’t just disappointment, it was a crumbling. Panic attacks hit her hard, and she found herself at rock bottom, unsure who she even was anymore.

She said her mom and a friend sat with her through a seven-hour panic attack. No judgment, no shame. Just presence. And out of that experience, she wrote this song.

She said it was the clearest picture of God she’d seen in a long time. She could feel God holding her steady through the people who simply prayed. That struck me: God shows His nearness not always in lightning bolts, but sometimes in the simple company of people who refuse to leave your side.

That’s what the song reminds me of every time.

“You’re my constant, my steadiness, you’re my shelter, my oxygen.”

Those aren’t just lyrics. They’re a testimony. They’re the sound of someone realizing they are not as alone as they feared.

I’ve carried that into my own life, too. There have been times when the ground under me felt fragile, when I didn’t know how to put myself back together. And yet, I can look back and see God’s fingerprints in the people who showed up, in the peace that somehow settled in, in the safety I found in Him.

When the world feels shaky, it’s easy to believe you’re slipping away. But this song reminds me of a greater truth: God is the home I can always return to. He steadies me. He holds me safe. And for that, like Lauren, I can only say—thank God I do.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When have you felt the ground beneath you start to shake, and how did God show up for you in that moment?
Who in your life has been a steady reminder of God’s presence when you needed it most?
Psalm 46:1 calls God “an ever-present help.” What does that mean to you personally?
How might you be God’s presence to someone else who feels unsteady right now?

Lyrics:

I’ve seen love come and
I’ve seen love walk away
So many questions
Will anybody stay
It’s been a hard year
So many nights in tears
All of the darkness
Trying to fight my fears
Alone so long alone

I don’t know who I’d be
If I didn’t know you
I’d probably fall off the edge
I don’t know where I’d go
If you ever let go
So keep me held in your hands

I’ve started breathing
The weight is lifted here
With you it’s easy
My head is finally clear
There’s nothing missing
When you are by my side
I took the long road
But now I realize
I’m home with you I’m home

I don’t know who I’d be
If I didn’t know you
I’d probably fall off the edge
I don’t know where I’d go
If you ever let go
So keep me held in your hands

You’re my safe place
My hide away
You’re my anchor
My saving grace
You’re my constant
My steadiness
You’re my shelter
My oxygen

I don’t know who I’d be
If I didn’t know you
Thank God I do

I don’t know who I’d be
If I didn’t know you
I’d probably fall off the edge
I don’t know where I’d go
If you ever let go
So keep me held in your hands
I don’t know who I’d be
If I didn’t know you
Thank God I do

October 19, 2025/by Tammi Arender