By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Many of you will recognize the bridge in my picture.  For those who don’t, it’s the Alamuchee Covered Bridge on the campus of the University of West Alabama (formerly Livingston University).  I have walked across this bridge many, many times through the years.  Formerly located just out of town, it was moved and preserved some 55 years ago and continues its life as a pedestrian bridge across the duck pond on the college campus.

There are many things I would like to say about this bridge.  One, it serves as a true bridge to carry you over uncertain terrain.  God carries us just so.  Also, the bridge casts a beautiful reflection on the waters below.  And we certainly should be a reflection of God in our troubled world.

But although those things are true, what I really want to remind us of today is that we may age, we may weather, we may be moved from our original comfort zone, and we may be re-purposed from time to time, depending on how God wants to use us, but we are, and will always be, useful to the Creator.

Survey your surroundings, accept your placement, and continue your witness — right where God has placed you.

Oh, and one more thing.  Along with a duck pond, come the ducks.  They are nasty, they make a mess, and they leave things for people to step into.  And yet, the bridge carries on.  As must we.

Just a thought.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Well, it’s a new week again.  Time to double-check the calendar, re-read the schedule, make goals and get started.  We’ve got lots to do, it seems, and so very little time to get it all accomplished.  So we must tighten our belts, get serious, concentrate, and get the job done.  No monkey business.  Right?

Not at all.  On one of our many zoo trips over the years (this one in Jackson, MS), we watched this little monkey playing around and entertaining the crowd.  Not a care in the world.  Not a worry or a bother.

All play & no work is completely irresponsible.  All work & no play is detrimental to our health.  So what do we do?  Include a little monkey business in your schedule, either planned or impromptu.

Everyone of us needs a break.  I encourage you to take one.  God has a sense of humor.  Have fun living and learning, and thank God for giving you the time and ability to do so!  Every day has 24 hours in it.  What you do with that time is completely up to you.  There is certainly a time & place when seriousness needs to be had.  But I would much rather have wrinkles from laugh lines than from worries.  How about you?

Channel your inner monkey this week.  Enjoy the world the Lord made.

Just a thought.

Some days begin with a plan, a schedule, and a clear sense of what needs to be accomplished. Then, without warning, everything changes. A phone call, an unexpected problem, a last-minute request, or one small complication after another can turn an ordinary day into complete chaos.

In those moments, it is easy to focus only on everything that has gone wrong. But sometimes the disruption itself creates opportunities we never would have planned. A new relationship may begin because our paths crossed unexpectedly. An obstacle may force us to find a solution we did not know we were capable of finding. The pressure of a difficult day may strengthen our resolve and prepare us for something greater that lies ahead.

God does not need perfect circumstances to accomplish His purposes. He can work through interruptions just as easily as He can work through our carefully made plans. What feels like chaos to us may still contain moments of purpose, growth, encouragement, and connection that we will only recognize when we look back.

When the day gets away from us, perhaps the prayer is not simply, “Lord, make this easier,” but also, “Lord, help me see where You are working in the middle of this.” We may not control what comes through the door today, but we can trust that God is present in every challenge, every conversation, and every unexpected turn.

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Proverbs 16:3

This week, when the unexpected happens, remember that a disrupted plan does not mean a wasted day. Sometimes God does some of His most meaningful work in the moments we never planned for.

There is a quiet strength that comes from understanding our limitations. We live in a world that often tells us to be self-sufficient, to have all the answers, and to believe that success depends entirely on our own abilities. But humility reminds us of an important truth: we were never meant to do life on our own.

Humility is not thinking less of ourselves. It is recognizing that our talents, opportunities, wisdom, and strength ultimately come from God. There will be circumstances we cannot control, problems we cannot solve, and burdens we simply cannot carry by ourselves. Those moments are not signs of failure. They are opportunities to recognize how deeply we depend upon God.

Proverbs gives us this reminder:

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

When we approach life with humility, we become more willing to listen, learn, admit when we are wrong, and ask for help. Most importantly, we become more willing to seek God’s direction rather than relying solely on our own understanding.

We may have limitations, but God does not. What seems impossible through our own strength can become possible when we surrender our plans, fears, and weaknesses to Him. Jesus reminds us in John 15:5, “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

So this week, don’t feel that you have to carry everything yourself. Work hard. Use the gifts God has given you. Be confident in the calling He has placed before you. But remain humble enough to recognize where your strength truly comes from.

We cannot do everything. We do not know everything. We will not always get everything right. But with God leading us, we can faithfully accomplish what He has called us to do.

No matter what challenges today may bring, we can face the future with confidence because our hope is not built on circumstances, but on God’s promises. There will be seasons of uncertainty, setbacks, and waiting, yet God is continually working behind the scenes in ways we may not yet see. Every new day is another opportunity for Him to open doors, provide strength, and accomplish His purpose in our lives.

Hope is more than wishful thinking. It is the quiet assurance that God is faithful, even when the path ahead is unclear. When we place our trust in Him, we can move forward with peace, knowing that our future is in the hands of a loving Father who desires what is best for His children.

As you go through this week, choose to expect good things. Believe that God is preparing opportunities, restoring what has been lost, and guiding each step. Let your hope be stronger than your fears, and remember that with God, the best is always possible.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

May this week be filled with renewed hope, unwavering faith, and joyful anticipation of the blessings God has in store.