How often do we read a headline and immediately form an opinion? Share an article without reading it? Watch a short video without understanding the context? Repeat something someone else said without checking whether it's true? Or accept someone's perspective without considering how their personal interests or frustrations might influence what they're sharing?

Pay attention to what you’re thinking about. Our minds can pull us backward into things we cannot change or forward into things that haven’t even happened. Philippians 4:8 gives us a filter for where to focus our thoughts. Some things are already done. Some things can wait until later. And yes, everything really may be fine. You’re allowed to rest, brain. Office hours are closed....

I think some of us care too much about what people think. We analyze every comment, replay conversations in our heads and worry about how something might have been perceived. We want everyone to like us, understand us and agree with our decisions. We can become so concerned with managing our reputation that we start allowing other people's opinions to shape our identity....

Leadership, ministry, and life all teach the same lesson eventually: we cannot control people or outcomes. We can faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us, trust Him with what we cannot change, and ask Him for the wisdom to know the difference.

Change is the only constant in life - Heraclitus. I don't know much about him, but apparently he was onto something. Whether he was frustrated by change, trying to understand it, or helping others navigate it, what I do know is that he was right. Life changes....