By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

I wonder.  When you hear the word ‘shadow,’ what comes to your mind?  Maybe you think of the creepy side, like the old daytime drama, “Dark Shadows,” which followed the story of a vampire named Barnabas Collins.  Or maybe you think of Peter Pan as he and Wendy sewed his shadow back on.

Maybe your thoughts go to sad and difficult times, like the scripture that reminds us in Psalm 23 of walking through the valley of the shadow of death and fearing no evil.  Or perhaps to you, a shadow is merely a reminder, cast by the sun, of where we have been.

As my wife and I recently walked the downtown streets of Seattle, Washington, we had explored the public markets near the bay, amazed at the countless colors of the fresh flowers and vegetables and fruits and seafood, and homemade jewelry and trinkets, and on and on.  The weather was great, the sun was shining, and we took our time wandering around that morning.  It came nearer to lunch time, and we decided to make our trek back up several blocks to the train station to catch the monorail back across town to the Space Needle.

In doing so, we walked up the steep hill streets from the market, views of the Olympic Mountains behind us, and the sun shining over our shoulders.  And this photo tells you what we saw.  Our shadows at that moment were not behind us.  They were not following us.  They did not represent where we had been.  They were moving just ahead of us, walking before us, almost as if they were showing us the way we were to go.

As the Son shines upon you this week, take careful notice to where the shadows fall.  Yes, there are some scary ones in life.  But many times, they are merely a very simple reminder of His guidance and the fact that He is always walking ahead of us, preparing the way.  Don’t be scared of the “dark” shadows.  Shadows can ONLY appear with the LIGHT shining!  Oh, ain’t God good?!

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

My wife and I were equally amazed at all the beautiful sunrises and sunsets we were able to experience while on our cruise to Alaska and back.  The colors of the light reflecting across the waves of the water were incredible.  We took time to pose and take “selfies” with several of those picturesque scenes.  Then, there was this one morning…

I was awake first, grabbed my phone to capture yet another sunrise photo, and looked out our window.  Nothing.  I could see absolutely nothing beyond the railing of the balcony.  It was as if the world had completely disappeared from sight.  The fog was so dense that visibility was nil to none.  Every few minutes all day long until late afternoon, we heard the ship’s fog horn sounding.  It was a strange and eerie feeling, but we were at the mercy of the ship and the skills of the ship’s captain and crew to carry us through and beyond the fog.

So many of us wander this world as if in a fog.  We stagger through our days oblivious to the fact that prayerfully there are other days to come, there are other places to see, and there are definitely other people who need to hear about the love of Jesus!

We must put our absolute trust in the Lord above, the Captain of our life’s ship, as He carries us through life’s waters, across the horizon, and into a land of sunrises like we have never seen before!  Our responsibility is to carry on.  Share His love.  Remind others of the purpose for the continuing fog horn — to lead us to safety, warning the world to get out of our way.

When you get up in the morning and you are so foggy you can’t see how you’ll make it through the day, place your trust in the One Who has all control.  The fog horn may be an eerie sound, but it’s a fantastic reminder that we are being safely transported through a painfully foggy world to the other side!  Don’t worry about what you can’t see out there.  It doesn’t matter as long as He is in control.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Have you ever completely disconnected from the “real” world for a bit?  Have you ever been in a place where the phone signals were poor to non-existent, the work load was left at home, and you were around absolutely nobody you knew?  My wife and I had the awesome privilege of doing that very recently.

Firstly, let me say that I love what I get to do, I love my friends and family fiercely, and I love to stay connected.  But there is just something about getting to lay it all down for a bit that seems to revive the soul.  In the Alaskan town of Sitka, my wife and I enjoyed an hour or so of roaming the downtown streets before most the businesses were even open one morning.  As we walked near a pier and several fishing vessels, we were treated to the sight of a majestic eagle flying overhead.  The eagle soared above for a bit, then came down to sit and presumably watch for a fish breakfast in the water.

Of course, we snapped several pictures.  Just watching what appeared to be an older eagle preen himself and sit royally upon his perch for a while was amazing to us.  It wasn’t long before another one, the one you see atop the building, came swooping down to sit beside the first.  They squawked and hollered at each other, settling down only when the second one gave the first one some space and located several feet away instead.

The majesty of God’s creation came down to us.  We were in awe as we simply stood, watched, and listened for several minutes.  The Lord comes down in His majesty, His glory, His regalness and sits among us.  Are we amazed at His presence?  When you take time away from work and your day-to-day activities, do you invite the Lord along with you?

We traveled those few thousand miles fully expecting to see the glory of God, and that we did, especially in His creation.  Maybe you can’t lay down all your responsibilities and escape town right now, but this I guarantee you — You can lay it all down at the feet of Jesus.  Give Him your busy schedule, your unending list of responsibilities, your ideas of how it must all get done today.  Give it to Him, and let Him come down to you – because He will – and bring you the peace for which you’ve longed.

You might not see an eagle this week, but you can see the Lord at work, if only you’ll put the other distractions to the side and put your focus above.

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

You don’t often see an inspirational quote drawn from the Book of Lamentations, but that is exactly what I’m offering to you today. After the conquest of Israel and Judah by Babylon and the exile of the Israelites, the author (likely Jeremiah) expresses his deep pain over the Lord’s affliction on the people and the punishment for their turning away from Him.

Yet even in the midst of Jeremiah’s grief, there is hope. Lamentations 3:19–26 declares: “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Here, the lament of the author pauses to express hope in the future. Hope is what motivates us each day, particularly in times of pain and hardship. Life can be difficult, and at times it may feel as though there is no end to the race we are running. But if we run with endurance and stay on God’s narrow path, we can cling to the assurance of the Lord’s great faithfulness to us.

So as you face the challenges of this week, may you be strengthened by the reminder that God’s mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness never fails. Hold fast to hope, for the Lord is with you.

By Ryan Kelly –

Making big decisions in life can be tough. All of us have to make small decisions on a daily basis and all of them require the Lord’s guidance. But the big decisions need a particular amount of wisdom and direction from the Lord so that our paths will be guided around the pitfalls and problems that always surround us. These are the moments when we must pause, seek Him earnestly, and lean not on our own understanding.

James 1:5 reminds us that “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” What an incredible promise this is! God does not withhold His wisdom, nor does He scold us for asking repeatedly. Instead, He pours out guidance freely when we humble ourselves in prayer and trust that His ways are higher than ours.

At the same time, God often works through wise counsel. Proverbs 15:22 teaches, “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” Sometimes His direction comes through trusted friends, mentors, or spiritual leaders who can see things we may have missed. Seeking godly advice isn’t a sign of weakness but of strength—an acknowledgment that we are part of the body of Christ and need each other’s discernment.

Finally, Proverbs 16:9 reminds us of the ultimate truth: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” We can make plans, set goals, and weigh options, but at the end of the day, it is the Lord who determines our path. This truth gives us peace. We are not left to wander aimlessly or fear making the wrong move. When we seek God’s wisdom, listen to wise counsel, and trust His hand, we can move forward confidently, knowing He will steady our steps.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

The little village of Lennon, Michigan is a quaint picturesque place with very few businesses but lots of beautiful farmland.  Much like where we have grown up and lived most of our lives in the deep south, there are acres and acres of farmland for as far as the eye can see.

We visited with friends and worshiped with them one Sunday.  Directly across the road from their home and church was the large corn field you see here.  Several acres in each direction there stood rows and rows of dried corn stalks.  The rustling of the dried husks in the wind wasn’t the only noise coming from that place.  If you listened closely enough, you could hear tales of how much good produce came from those rows of corn stalks.  You could hear how ear upon ear of corn had fed many a hungry person or animal after the harvest.  You could hear the laughter and fond memories being shared as little ones gathered around the grownups to shuck each and every ear.  And you could hear about the blessings of God along the way.

But that’s not all.  With voices just as loud as those telling about what had already come, you could hear others telling about what was next.  Those rows and rows of dried corn stalks would be cut up and used to feed animals throughout the winter time to come.  And by plowing up the land and keeping it worked correctly, one might also hear tales of the not-too-distant excitement of the spring planting time.  Those old corn stalks, most of which stood much higher than a grown man, had plenty to say – all without uttering a word.

As you face your week ahead, perhaps the Lord will give you plenty of opportunities to speak up for Him, to vocalize His goodness and His grace.  But, even if those particular opportunities don’t come your way, you have the chance to stand tall and testify even without words.  Let those around you see how you’ve stood strong through the wind, the rain, and the blazing heat of the sun to continue doing what God planted you there for.  Let them also see how you seem to face whatever is coming next – with the excitement that He has it all in His control.

It is a dried up old corn field.  But, it has a story to tell.  Don’t forget that you do too!

Just a thought.

By Ryan Kelly –

The middle of the week can often feel like one of the toughest times. You’re no longer as fresh as you were on Monday, yet the weekend still seems far away. In moments like these, it’s important to find joy in the small blessings God provides to help you through. Maybe it’s a warm latte to revive you on a slow afternoon, a funny video that makes you laugh, or a meaningful conversation with a friend or colleague. When we pause and allow the Lord to refresh us in these little ways, we discover just how much value there is in them.

Proverbs 16:3 reminds us, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” This isn’t just about working hard for His glory, it’s also about taking time to rest and refresh your mind, body, and soul. God desires that we enjoy Him and the world He has created, but often it’s up to us to make space for that joy.

So today, look for small ways to pause and enjoy the blessings around you. Take a longer lunch, scroll through your favorite social media feed, share a laugh with a friend, or best of all, spend a few quiet moments in prayer. Whatever you choose, embrace the day the Lord has given you, and take your best step forward in committing your work to Him.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Recently I sat down with a large three-ring binder my mother had shelved in her kitchen along with many cookbooks.  In this particular binder and another similar one, she had placed recipe after recipe, each one hand-written by her own mother, my grandmother, who passed away more than a quarter century ago.

Some of those recipes, such as the ones for Coca-Cola cake or bachelor button cookies were recipes that I specifically remember my grandmother making many times for us fourteen grandchildren and all our parents.  And then there were some she had written down from magazine articles or things she heard mentioned on a television commercial while watching her “stories.”  One recipe I ran across was this little one you see here.  I don’t remember eating this pie at her house, and I don’t even remember her making it.

Here, on this little scrap of paper, she wrote, “pie.  cream cheese, sweet chocolate, cool whip.  Mix and chill in pie shell.”  That has to be one of the simplest recipes I’ve ever seen.  Yet, it sounds like a delicious chocolate pie, very easy to make with simple ingredients, and potentially leading to a delicious dessert.

It’s the simple things in life that mean the most sometimes.  We make too many things out to be so difficult.  We look ahead and plan, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  But we go ballistic when our plans are thwarted and things don’t go as we hoped.  Have you ever stopped to think that maybe we expected the difficult to happen?  “Life can’t be this easy, so I must have missed the hard parts.”

Mix and chill.  The measurements aren’t even important in that little recipe.  Take what you have.  Put it together.  And then trust that it will turn out deliciously!  Our pantries and cupboards are not all the same.  We each have different talents and abilities.  We look at what life throws our way and think we don’t have the means to make it.  But if we would just trust the Recipe Writer Himself, take what we have been given, use it to our very best, and trust Him to make something delicious from it, then oh what a treat we would have in return.

I believe I’ll stir up one of these pies.  No doubt, it will be good, because I’ve known the one who wrote it and made so many other delicious things I’ve enjoyed.  I believe I’ll also trust the Lord this week as He uses all I have to somehow make something worth sharing.  How about you?

Just a thought.