The Connection Corner

When Plans Fall Apart

Proverbs 16:9 — “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Have you ever planned something so perfectly, only to have it fall apart when you least expect it? Unfortunately, last summer, this happened to my family.

David and I took a trip to Houston with my parents and six-month-old daughter for a church conference. Weeks before, I meticulously searched listings to find the perfect Airbnb for our stay. I looked at everything: prices, number of rooms, amenities. After comparing each home, I knew I had found the one.

The reviews were great, and the pictures looked so cute on the listing. I booked the place, and a few weeks later, we were on our way.

But when we opened the door, my stomach dropped. The smell hit me first. There was a thick, smoky haze that didn’t belong anywhere near a baby. The light overhead eerily flicked on and off, and I knew immediately this was not the safe, welcoming space we needed.

Disappointment washed over me. All my planning—wasted. I stood there, trying to breathe through the letdown, when my dad stepped in with a solution. Within an hour, he had us checked into a hotel that smelled like fresh towels and hand soap.

That night, as I watched our daughter sleep in her travel crib, I thought about how life doesn’t always follow my script. I can plan and plan, but sometimes things fall apart anyway. And yet, God shows up in the middle of it all—like a dad with a phone and a calm voice—pointing us toward a better place.

So, the next time life takes an unexpected turn, pause for a moment, look around, and trust that even the detour has purpose. Even if the destination is not the place you picked, trust Him. He will lead you to where you need to be.

August 22, 2025/by Sarah Hall

Speak Up But Speak Life

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Proverbs 18:21 — “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

If you have lived through a Louisiana summer, then you know—August is brutal.

And people are not shy about letting you know it. You hear it everywhere: “ Whew I am hot.” “It is miserable outside.” “I cannot take this.”

It is like the official small talk of summer.

Honestly, I have been guilty of it too. You do not even realize how often you say it until the words start to echo.

But a few days ago, it hit me: talking about how hot it is does not change the temperature. It does not make the sun go away. Complaining about a season does not make it pass.

That made me wonder, “What if our words are part of the problem?”

What if, instead of feeding frustration, we practiced shifting our focus? Maybe it is hot—but maybe that means your day just became slower. Maybe it is hot—but maybe you remember your vacation isn’t far away. Maybe it is hot—but that local snowball stand is open and has your favorite summertime flavors ready for you.

There will always be something to complain about. There will always be something we wish we could change. But the truth is, the more we talk about what is wrong, the more it takes root. And I am learning—if I want to feel lighter, I have to speak that way.

So, the next time you catch yourself getting ready to complain, pause for a second. You do not have to fake it. Just find the good. Find the beauty. Let your words lift you up, not drag you down.

Speak life. Even when it is hot.

August 21, 2025/by Bri Dunn

Rock Bottom Redemption

Brenda Price, Daily Devotional

Romans 1:16 — “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

The doctors said I would not wake up. My brother stood by my hospital bedside preparing for the worst, and still—somehow—I opened my eyes.

No one expected me to make it. I had overdosed in New Jersey, far from my family in Florida. My mom had died not long before, and my godmother was the one trying to hold my life together. She had promised my mom she would tell me about Jesus.

I thought it was sweet—maybe a little pushy—but I never took it seriously.

The truth is, I never knew Him. I had heard the stories. I saw a few videos, but I had no relationship with Him. Instead, I was pursuing what I wanted—modeling, acting, and partying in the city.

That world swallows you fast, and I let it.

Until it almost killed me.

In that coma, something happened that I still cannot fully explain. I saw Him. I saw Jesus. He came close and wrapped His arm around me like a friend and said, “Are you done?”

I knew what He meant because I was. I was done with the running, the pretending, and the pain.

And when I said yes, everything changed.

Jesus brought me back—body and soul. I woke up, confused and stunned, with hospital socks on my feet and my brother’s jaw on the floor. Since then, every day has been part of the comeback. I still mess up, still grow, but now I walk with the One who rescued me.

No, my life is not perfect, but it is His. He took the talents I once used for shallow things and turned them into tools for His story. I speak up because I cannot stay silent. I live for Him, not out of duty, but joy.

We get to live for Him. That is the honor of it all, and I will never be ashamed of that.

August 20, 2025/by Brenda Price