God’s plan, Life

Hello Sunday (294)

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday☀️

I’ve been deep in thought this morning about life—life in general, and where I fit into the scheme of things.

Today’s Quote of the Day is a scripture, Jeremiah 1:5— “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”

Yesterday, my elder friend, Ms. Raylawi, called and asked if I wanted to go to a college football game with her and one of her friends. Although I really wanted to stay home and work on a few things, I said yes. Before I could get ready, she texted me several changes to the plan. Before the last change, I threw a pork tenderloin in the oven and prepared toppings for sliders. Then, right before I left the house, she called to tell me that all of her plans had fallen through and she’d probably stay home. I told her it was okay because we were still going to have a great evening. I let her know I had already prepared our meal for the evening so we could just eat and hang out. And that’s what we did. We ended up watching the first season of LUPIN and talking until I saw that she could barely keep her eyes open. I told her she looked like a toddler fighting their sleep. It was way past her bedtime when I left.

I shared this story because this has been much of my life. As a child, I played with kids my age. However, I spent most of my time with older female relatives and family friends. Y’all, they had fascinating stories, and I sat and listened to them talk for hours. And sometimes we didn’t talk at all. We would watch the stories (soap operas) or their favorite shows together, then sit on the porch and people watch. When I became an adult, I did the same. I spent time with each of my childhood elders until they passed. Sometimes I was the only one who spent time with them before it happened. Now, here I am again. Not saying my friend is about to pass, but she’s been talking a lot about death lately and making sure everything is in order.

I often ask God if this is my life’s purpose. Many, many moons ago, I thought about opening a senior daycare. Then, a few months ago, one of my colleagues asked if I wanted to help her provide nutrition sessions to seniors at a few congregate feeding sites, and I said yes. So, every month I get to meet new seniors and hear their stories, while encouraging them to live their best, healthy lives.

I know this was random. Just got a lot on my mind about life and my role in it. Guess I should have made this one a “My Journey with God” post.

Anyhoo…

This is all for today. Oh… one more thing!

So, Ms. Raylawni told me she doesn’t sleep with her phone in her bedroom anymore because every morning before 5:00, it would ding. She said now when she hears it, she smiles and says, “That’s LaShaundrea.” Y’all, the smile on her face when she said it made my heart smile. Whew!

My life…

Okay… now I’m finish.

Thanks for letting me ramble. I have a few things to do to prepare for the week ahead, but I think I’ll take it easy most of the day.

Please take care of yourself and enjoy your day. May it be just as lovely as you are.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

empowerment, Life

My Journey With God, No. 149

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️ And Happy Self Love Saturday!

Here’s a quote from Fave #4.

“Just try new things. Don’t be afraid. Step out of your comfort zones and soar.” –Michelle Obama

Quote of the Day – 9.19.2026

Comfort zone…

I believe these last three years have pushed me outside my comfort zone more than any other period in my life. I’ve already done more on this side of 50 (at 53) than I’ve done in decades at a time. I asked for my years beyond 50 to be far different from the last, and I’m so in awe of how God is bringing my ask to fruition.

While scrolling through my photos, I came across this text between my daughter and me. Y’all, all I could do was smile. It’s a testament of me asking and God answering.

This was October 2023.

I just love my baby girl!!💗

I was at home that day, reading tweets from colleagues attending our national food and nutrition conference (FNCE). For years, I lived for attending those conferences. They gave me the annual boost I needed to stay motivated, as well as sparked new ideas. You see, after I took my big leap of faith and resigned from my job, I could no longer afford to attend the conferences. I could barely afford to attend our state conferences.

Then, a year later…

Less than six months after my daughter texted, “You are preparing for the next level!!!!”, I said yes to serving as the president-elect of our state’s dietetics association. This didn’t take me outside my comfort zone (I had served years before), but I was at a stage in my life (or so I thought) where I just wanted to live the “retired” life. Smile

Here are more pictures from that day. Y’all, I really love our conferences.

Met my fellow Potter’s House e-church member, April.😊

Okay… So maybe I go for the food.😂 Always a good time!

I also attended last year’s conference in Nashville. This year, I’m planning our state’s conference, so it’s my main focus right now.

A few posts ago, I asked the question— “What do you want most [from life]?” And in another post, I wrote—

“Listen, if you want to truly live, sit and stay in God’s presence. He will give you experiences that will satisfy your soul. Yeah…His experiences are soul deep!”

I know what I truly want, and so does God. Attending the conferences may seem like a small experience, but for me, it’s one of those soul-deep ones. Yes, I love the food (I really think food is my love language☺️), but I love being around the people most. When I’m at those conferences—and that’s any conference or event—I talk to EVERYBODY! I even talk to the janitors cleaning the restrooms. I want everyone to feel seen, valued, and appreciated. Plus, it’s how you make connections. So yeah… it’s soul deep for me.

Listen, there are so many soul-deep experiences outside of your comfort zone. Be open to saying yes to new opportunities and doing something new.

This is all for today. Have a wonderful self-love Saturday. Celebrate it by doing something new!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

Life, trust God

Lean Into God

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️ and Happy Friday!🤍

Guess what?!

My song is BACK! (see past posts about Byron Cage’s song “Breathe.”)

I’m really not sure why this song is lingering so long. As I said in my last post about it, I’m going to let it be. Maybe it’s God’s way of reassuring me that His presence is with me. Which leads me to today’s message— “Lean Into God.”

When you find yourself feeling uncertain about your next move(s), lean into God.

When you enter unfamiliar territory, lean into God.

When things seem to be moving faster than your next breath…

Stop…

Breathe…

and Lean into God.

Allow God’s presence to guide and surround you. He’s got YOU!

Wishing you a wonderful day and beautiful weekend. May it be filled with lots of love, joy, and sunshine!♥️☀️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

gratitude, Life

This Message Is For YOU

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️ and Happy Thursday!

Whether you read this message today—the day I’m sharing it—or months from now, this message is for YOU.

“Keep moving! You’re too close to quit now.“

Here’s what I shared on this day four years ago—

Keep Moving (September 17, 2022)

Keep moving. You’ve come too far to give up on your dreams, goals and purpose. Just because you can’t see or feel God working, doesn’t mean He isn’t. Imagine if you were to quit today and tomorrow everything was set to fall in place. Again– Keep moving!♥️

Listen, God is always working. Don’t give up!♥️

This is all for now. I pray that you have a wonderful day. May it be filled with lots of sunshine!☀️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

gratitude, Life

Life’s Randomness

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️ and Happy Wednesday!

Sitting here scrolling through past photos from this date. Y’all, life is so random and interesting. Here are two memories from September 16th.

This first one is a screenshot of my mom’s Facebook post shared on September 16, 2021—

This made me laugh. She must have wanted Burger King badly on that day.😂 She was hilarious, and she’s so missed!

That was 2021…

This next memory is from a year later and carries a bit of sadness. It’s a video of my meals eaten between the time my mom was admitted to the hospital and September 16, 2022. I was there another month before she was released to a rehab facility. Sadly, she never recovered and was in and out of the hospital almost every other week or two until she passed in May 2023.

I imagine I was shaking my head when I took a screenshot of my mom’s post, thinking, “Now, why did she post that?” I’m pretty sure I shared it with my kids or sisters. Then, one year later, she couldn’t post anything because her right arm was paralyzed and she could barely use her left.

Y’all, life can change at the blink of an eye. Where we are today may be completely different from where we’ll be a year from now. Try to stay present as much as you can and enjoy this gift called life. Take nothing or no one for granted.

Every day I wake up with gratitude in my heart. It’s the reason I can find goodness in the smallest of things. I am so grateful to be alive. I’m truly blessed!

I pray you have a beautiful day! May it be filled with an abundance of love, joy, and peace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

gratitude, Life

A New Song

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

Today, I’m singing a new song! Yes, a new song! Smile

For those who haven’t been following my posts lately, Byron Cage’s song “Breathe” was stuck in my head for over a week. I’m not sure when I stopped hearing it because I was definitely hearing it when I woke up yesterday morning. However, today, I’m singing a new song, which I’m pretty sure was inspired by today’s messages—God’s goodness.

“Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of God.” –Author Unknown

Quote of the Day – 9.15.2026

Without further ado, the song of the hour is CeCe Winans’ “Goodness of God.” The part of the song that resonates with me most is—

“From the moment that I wake up. Until I lay my head. I will sing of the goodness of God.”

“Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans

Y’all, it’s true. From the moment that I wake up until I go to sleep, I am always thinking about God’s goodness surrounding me. This doesn’t mean I don’t feel pain, hurt, or have disappointments—because I’m human and do—but it means that I always manage to see God’s goodness. Many times I see it in the smallest things—things we often take for granted, like our senses—the ability to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. Right now, I hear a little birdie singing and an owl hooting somewhere in the distance. Side note: If you haven’t noticed, I love hearing birds sing. I also love hearing roosters crow—something I miss about being in the country.

Anyhoo… I was about to get side tracked. But yeah, I’m hearing and singing a new song. At least for the moment.

This is all for now. I pray you have a beautiful day! May it be filled with lots of love, joy, and peace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

empowerment, Life

Put Up or Shut Up

Shaun Bradford

Happy Monday!☀️

You see the title, right?

Listen, God will check you in the most beautiful way ever. He’ll call you out and leave no room to doubt that He’s doing so. And it’s always from a space of love.

Today, God is calling me out. I have to “put up or shut up.” People I care about are watching my next moves, and I cannot afford to play small. So much is riding on how I handle this situation.

“There is no passion to be found playing small—in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.” –Nelson Mandela

My goal is to build bridges, not burn them.

Y’all pray my strength in the Lord.😊

This is all I have for today. Listen, when God gives you an assignment, management it well—not only well, but give it your best efforts. Also, when He puts people in your path who count on you to have their best interests at heart, you step up and fulfill your duties.

What a way to start the week, right?! I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day and a beautiful week ahead. May they be filled with an abundance of love, joy, and peace.♥️

Stay attuned to that still, small voice. God is speaking. You don’t want to miss what He’s saying.

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

hope, Life

Hello Sunday (293)

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday☀️

Guess what?!

Like clockwork. As soon as I opened my eyes I heard, “This is the air I breathe…” Smile

So you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to let the song (“Breathe” by Byron Cage—details in past posts) be. I’m not going to wish it away. Instead, I’m going to embrace it and allow God’s holy presence to surround me and flow through me.

Today, I encourage you to do the same. Breathe in God’s presence. Allow it to surround and flow through you. Believe me, there’s absolutely nothing like it.

Breathe…

Wishing you a wonderful day. May it be filled with lots of love, laughter, joy, and peace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.