The Connection Corner

The Gift of the Right Now

Philippians 4:4 — Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

Nobody warns you how quickly “someday” gets here.

Almost two years ago, I held my daughter in my arms for the first time. She was small and wrinkled and amazing. I thought to myself that nothing would ever be the same again.

And I was so right. In those first months, life revolved around tiny bottles, burp cloths, and long nights where sleep was only a distant memory.

Now, she is a toddler with a laugh that fills our house like sunlight. She runs through the living room with hair wild from nap time, climbs on chairs she shouldn’t, and points her little finger at the world like she’s naming it for the first time.

Every day, she learns something new. And every day, I feel the ache of time moving faster than I’d like. Sometimes, I catch myself scrolling back through old photos on my phone of her newborn baby phase, missing it.

The future, too, tries to pull at me—questions about school, friends, and who she’ll become. Those worries can swallow me if I’m not careful.

And in whether I’m looking ahead or looking in the rearview, I find myself missing the moment right in front of me. But I remind myself that God doesn’t ask me to relive the past or predict the future. He simply asks me to take joy in Him. To trust him and to be here. Right now.

“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” — Hebrews 12:2

And so, today, I scoop my daughter up, even when she’s wiggly and squirming, and I let myself enjoy the weight of her in my arms. Because one day, I’ll miss the way her head fits against my shoulder.

Because the truth is, one day, you will look back and miss the gifts God has given you right now. And wouldn’t it be a shame to miss it?

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

What moments in your life right now might you be rushing past instead of resting in?
How can fixing your eyes on Jesus help you stay present and grateful in today’s season?
What’s one simple way you can pause today to notice the gift of right now?

October 7, 2025/by Sarah Hall

Stop Waiting To Be Wanted

Bri Dunn, Daily Devotional

Romans 15:7 — Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

There are moments in life that feel a lot like middle school all over again.

I remember it was my first week at a new job at a team building celebration, and the boss cheerfully announced, “Find a group of four people!”

Oh no.

I was the new girl, and the room was already buzzing as coworkers formed their groups.

My heart sank in that way it used to on the elementary school playground, watching captains pick teams for kickball. I felt again like the pre-teen wanting to sit at the cool table or like high-school Bri just hoping someone might nominate me for homecoming court.

It’s strange how those old feelings follow you into adulthood, and because I was a grown woman, I did what grown women sometimes do. I sat out.

I called it “observing,” but the simple truth was that I was afraid of feeling overlooked and rejected.

But then, someone came looking for me. With a warm smile she said, “Come be on our team.” And suddenly the story I was telling myself unraveled. I was not invisible. No, I was wanted.

Before, I had been so convinced that I would be “last picked” that I almost missed connecting with my new coworkers and making fun memories.

Friend, if you remember anything today, remember this. Insecurity is a thief, and the enemy wants to use it to play tricks on you. I think as adults we want to feel wanted just as much as we always did. We want the to be wanted and not just tolerated.

But here is the truth. Not only does God want you, He actually made you for connection. “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” — Romans 15:7

And friend, there are people who truly want you around. And even more, you can be one of those people for somebody else. After all, life is meant to be a team building celebration.

Don’t just wait to be invited—cross the room, offer the smile, and be the one who saves a seat for someone else.

A MOMENT TO REFLECT

When was the last time you felt “on the outside,” and how did God remind you that you are seen and wanted?
Who might need you to cross the room today — to smile, include, or invite them in?
How does remembering the way Christ welcomed you change the way you welcome others?

October 6, 2025/by Bri Dunn

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Daily Devotional, David Hall

Hebrews 12:2 — Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Helen Lemmel knew what it was to feel buried.

Some days, life felt heavier than she could carry. Money was tight, her health fragile, and the world seemed determined to test every ounce of endurance she had. She had long learned that hope does not always arrive wrapped in sunlight or easy answers.

Then one afternoon, she found a small pamphlet. Its cover was plain, but the few words she found inside were exquisite.

It read, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus.”

She read them slowly, letting the phrase sink into the quiet corners of her heart. At first, it seemed almost too simple t—but, for the first time in weeks, she felt the weight pressing on her lift a little.

No. It did not make the bills disappear. It did not suddenly make the world less lonely. But it gave her a place to look besides the storm.

She began humming a tune, small and unsteady at first. Then she wrote, letting her worry pour out as melody and verse.

Over time, the fragile notes she wrote became a song. It was a new hymn that carried not only her own hope but the hope of anyone who might feel crushed under life’s demands.

When people sang it during the Great Depression, their faces lifted, their hearts softened, and the burden they carried grew a little lighter.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Helen learned something in that season: the storm does not have to define where you set your gaze. Even when life is harsh, the bills are stacked, and the world seems unkind, you can choose to lift your eyes up to your savior.

So pause today, even for just a moment. I believe you to can find the same relief Helen did. Andy you might discover, that a hopeful horizon can still exist though the storm rages around you.

LYRICS

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.

CHORUS
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you, He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well;
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

October 5, 2025/by David Hall