It’s easy to look at someone and make assumptions based on what we see in a single moment. We may notice their bad attitude, impatience, mistakes, or the way in which they respond to us. But what we cannot see is everything they carried with them into that moment.

Everyone around us has a story. Some have walked through difficult seasons that have left scars we will never know about. Others may be going through something right now that they have told almost no one. The person who seems distant may be grieving. The person who is impatient may be overwhelmed. The person who appears difficult may simply be doing everything they can to make it through the day.

As Christians, we have an opportunity to respond differently. Instead of assuming the worst, we can choose to see the best. Instead of returning frustration with frustration, we can offer patience. Instead of judging someone’s actions, we can remember that there may be a struggle behind them that we cannot see.

Most importantly, we can show them the unconditional love of Jesus.

Jesus did not reserve His compassion for people who had everything together. He saw beyond people’s failures, circumstances, and reputations. He saw their hearts, their hurts, and who they could become. As His followers, we are called to do the same.

Colossians 3:12 reminds us:

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

This week, look for opportunities to see the best in the people around you. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Offer encouragement instead of criticism. Be patient when it would be easier to become frustrated. We may never know what someone is carrying, but we can make certain that their encounter with us adds kindness rather than another burden.

Sometimes the clearest picture someone will see of Jesus is the compassion, grace, and unconditional love they experience through one of His followers. May we live in such a way that when others encounter us, they encounter a little more of Him.

Some days start out easy. Everything seems to be going according to plan, the schedule is manageable, and for a moment, life feels pretty calm. Then one thing goes wrong. A phone call comes, a problem appears, someone disappoints us, or something we thought was handled suddenly isn’t. Before we know it, an easy day has become a hard one.

In those moments, it is easy to let the problem in front of us feel bigger than it really is. But sometimes the best thing we can do is look backward before we look forward. Think about another season when things were much harder than they are today. Remember the situation that once kept you awake at night, the problem you weren’t sure you could solve, or the season when you couldn’t see how things were going to work out.

And then remember this: God brought you through it.

Isaiah 46:9 says: “Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.”

There is strength in remembering what God has already done. The same Lord who carried you through that difficult season is with you in this one. In fact, when you compare today’s problem with some of the mountains you have already crossed, you may realize that what feels overwhelming right now isn’t nearly as big as something God has already helped you overcome.

That doesn’t mean today’s difficulty isn’t real. It simply means you have evidence from your own life that God is faithful. You have been worried before. You have been uncertain before. You have faced days when you had no idea how things would work out. Yet somehow, with God’s help, you made it to the other side.

So when an easy day suddenly becomes a hard one, don’t allow one problem to convince you that everything is falling apart. Remember the harder days. Remember the prayers God answered. Remember the doors He opened and the strength He gave you when you needed it most.

The God who brought you through then is the same God walking with you today.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

Singer, actor, soldier, the king of rock and roll.  Each of those descriptive terms belong to a man named Elvis Presley.  I snapped this photo of his grave on one of our family trips to Graceland through the years.  There has always been a fascination with Elvis, his music, his family, and the life he lived, from his poverty-filled beginnings in that tiny house in Tupelo, Mississippi, to the money, cars, women, and so many other issues that plagued his more financially lucrative years.

At today’s current rates, in order to visit Graceland for a self-guided tour, one must pay at least $85.00.  For upwards of $260, an individual could receive some “extras” along the way.  Some 600,000 people fork out the money to visit Elvis’s place every year.  More than 20 million people have visited there since it opened to the public in 1982.  It staggers the mind to think of the devotion and sheer idolization that exists when it comes to the man whose hip gyrations were once considered too vulgar for television.

When is the last time you had to stand in line to step into a house of worship?  When is the last time you and your family members made plans to truly visit your church house and experience the worship that takes place there.  When is the last time you felt devoted to the Lord or to His House?  When is the last time you felt the cost was worth it?

One of the ten commandments reminds us that we are not to have any idols.  These idols, which can be things or people themselves, take our focus from all that is pure and holy.  Anything or anyone who disrupts my focus and my vision of the Lord has become an idol in my life.

Now, I have nothing against the man Elvis.  I never knew him.  My mother-in-law remembered attending one of his concerts years ago.  I’ve never known that excitement.  

What I have known is love and devotion that I have for the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  As you travel through your days ahead, remember that things are just things.  People are just people.  None should be put on a pedestal.  Even Elvis experienced a great sadness and loneliness in his later years.  

I can only imagine the excitement, the pomp and circumstance, the fantastic fanfare that there will be when the Lord’s people come into His presence!  And here’s the greatest part — He has already bought your ticket.  All you have to do is accept it and step on in!

Just a thought.

There are seasons in life when the winds seem relentless. Challenges come one after another, uncertainty clouds our path, and we wonder how much longer we can keep pressing forward. Yet in His perfect wisdom, God often provides moments of peace in the middle of the storm. They may not mean the storm is over, but they are reminders that He is still in control.

These quiet moments are gifts from our Heavenly Father. They are opportunities to catch our breath, renew our strength, and remember that we were never meant to carry life’s burdens alone. Just as sailors treasure a lull in the wind to repair their sails and prepare for what lies ahead, we should treasure the peaceful pauses God gives us. They are not interruptions to our journey. They are part of His provision for it.

Too often we spend those peaceful moments worrying about the next storm instead of enjoying the rest God has graciously provided. Instead, let us receive those seasons with gratitude. Laugh with your family. Spend time with friends. Worship freely. Rest without guilt. Rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. These moments strengthen our hearts and prepare us for whatever comes next.

If you find yourself in one of those quiet seasons today, thank God for it. Embrace it. Let your soul be refreshed. And if you are still in the middle of the storm, take heart. The God who calms the raging sea also knows when you need a moment of peace. His timing is always perfect, and His faithfulness never fails.

“Be still, and know that I am God.” — Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

May we learn to recognize the peaceful pauses God places along our journey, receive them with thankful hearts, and trust that the One who carries us through the storm is also the One who lovingly gives us rest along the way.

Every person we encounter is fighting battles we may never see. It is easy to notice flaws, shortcomings, or mistakes, but Christ calls us to look deeper. He sees every individual as someone created in His image, worthy of grace, compassion, and love. Imagine how our relationships, workplaces, churches, and communities would change if we intentionally chose to see the potential in others instead of focusing on their imperfections.

Loving others does not mean ignoring wrong or pretending people are perfect. It means choosing mercy over judgment, encouragement over criticism, and understanding over assumption. When we extend the same grace that God has so generously given to us, we become a reflection of His love to those around us. Sometimes the kind word, patient response, or simple act of compassion we offer may be exactly what someone needs to experience hope.

Jesus demonstrated this throughout His ministry. He welcomed the overlooked, forgave the broken, and loved people before they had their lives together. As His followers, we are called to do the same. When we ask God to help us see others through His eyes, He softens our hearts and reminds us that every person has immeasurable value in His sight.

This week, challenge yourself to look for the good in someone who may be difficult to love. Offer encouragement where others expect criticism. Extend kindness where others may choose indifference. You may never know the impact your love has on another person’s life, but you can be confident that every act of genuine compassion reflects the heart of Christ.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”
Ephesians 4:32

May we strive each day to love others as Christ has loved us, seeing people not simply for who they are today, but for who God created them to become.

Life is filled with beginnings and endings. Some endings arrive with celebration, while others come with a quiet sadness as we recognize that a cherished season has passed. Whether it is the end of a career, the closing of a chapter with family, the completion of a ministry, or simply the turning of another page in life, endings are often bittersweet because they remind us of both what we have gained and what we must leave behind. Yet for the child of God, an ending is never the end of the story. It is simply the place where the Lord begins writing the next chapter.

One of the greatest temptations during times of transition is fear. We wonder what lies ahead, whether we are making the right decisions, or if the future will be as meaningful as the past. But Scripture continually reminds us that our confidence is not found in familiar circumstances. It is found in the unchanging character of God. The same Lord who faithfully guided us through one season is already present in the next. Long before we arrive there, He has prepared the way.

The Bible reminds us in Ecclesiastes 3:1:

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”

God never intended life to remain static. He designed it with seasons, times of planting and harvesting, learning and teaching, building and resting. Every season serves a purpose in shaping us into the people He desires us to become. If we cling too tightly to what is ending, we may miss the beautiful opportunities God has prepared in what is beginning.

Change is not something we must simply endure. It is something we can embrace with grace and confidence. Looking back allows us to give thanks for God’s faithfulness, while looking ahead allows us to trust His promises. Every ending carries with it memories worth cherishing, lessons worth remembering, and blessings that have prepared us for what comes next. Rather than fearing change, we can welcome it knowing that the Author of our lives never loses His place in the story.

This week, if you find yourself standing between an ending and a beginning, remember that God is already walking ahead of you. Thank Him for the season that has passed, celebrate the blessings it brought, and step confidently into the future He is unfolding. The God who has carried you this far will not abandon you now. His plans remain good, His timing remains perfect, and His presence will be with you through every beginning, every ending, and every step in between.

By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

As I finished high school, there was a popular song at the time by Janet Jackson entitled, “What have you done for me lately?”  It asked a very interesting question.  However, in the words of that question are implications of greed, jealousy, and the fact that it should be all about me.  Instead, the Lord reminds us to love our neighbor, which certainly means it absolutely cannot be all about me.  It must be about the others around me.

What you are seeing on this platter is some homemade sourdough bread in the shape of the number “50.”  The bread was made by one friend for another and shared as a surprise during a simple little supper at our church Vacation Bible School recently.  I won’t share their names, at risk of embarrassing them, but one person was turning the big 5-0 that particular day, and the other person knew it and decided to share this surprise in honor of the other person.  One neighbor, one friend, doing a simple little something out of love and friendship for another, with no want for anything in return.

That’s how we are to love our neighbors.  Another friend helped me yesterday by pulling a heavy trailer from one location to another where I needed it stored.  When I thanked this friend, the response was, “Y’all are always doing things for us, too.”  No deeds expected in return, but appreciated never-the-less.  One neighbor loving another.

Your life is no doubt full of very similar examples.  And I find it very interesting that the very people who respond with a thankful heart for our kindnesses are just as willing to show the same kindnesses toward us – not because we shared, but because they see and understand the goodness of God as well.

In your very busy week ahead, don’t overlook the opportunities to love on your neighbors.  What may seem like such a very simple gesture on your part may very well be the kindest thing shared with your neighbor this week.  And then give God the thanks for allowing you to be a blessing.  For it truly is more blessed to give than to receive.

My friends you are.

Just a thought.

There are moments in life when we simply cannot see how things will work out. We pray, we wait, we hope, and yet the answers seem distant or completely different from what we expected. In those moments, it is important to remember that God is not limited by our understanding, our circumstances, or even what we believe is possible. He sees the beginning and the end at the same time, and He is always at work accomplishing His perfect will.

Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.” Notice that God does not simply meet our expectations—He works beyond them. His plans are often larger, deeper, and more meaningful than anything we could have imagined for ourselves. What appears to be a closed door may actually be His protection. What feels like a delay may be His preparation. What seems like a disappointment today may become tomorrow’s greatest blessing.

One of the challenges of faith is that we rarely understand God’s work while it is unfolding. Joseph did not understand the purpose of the pit, slavery, or prison. Ruth could not see how her loss would lead to redemption. Even the disciples struggled to understand why Jesus had to go to the cross. Yet in every case, God was orchestrating something far greater than anyone involved could comprehend. His ways were perfect, even when they were hidden.

The same is true in our lives. There may be situations that never fully make sense to us this side of heaven. We may never know why certain opportunities disappeared, why some prayers were answered differently than we hoped, or why certain hardships were allowed. Yet we can trust that God never wastes a circumstance. He is weaving together a story that serves His purposes and ultimately works for the good of those who love Him.

This week, take comfort in knowing that God is at work even when you cannot see it. Trust Him not only when His plan is clear, but also when it is mysterious. His wisdom is greater than our understanding, His timing is better than our schedule, and His plans are more beautiful than our imagination. The God who created the universe is still writing your story, and every chapter is being written with divine purpose, perfect love, and eternal perspective.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” — Isaiah 55:8

May we have the faith to trust God with what we cannot understand, knowing that He is able to do far more than we could ever ask, think, or imagine.