hope

My Journey With God, No. 110

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

Woke up singing, “How great is our God. Sing with me. How great is our God. And all will see. How great, how great is our God.”

Every day, I wake up expecting something great to happen, something besides—living to see another day, random small opportunities, or a victory here and there for humanity. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sincerely grateful for them all. However, I would like to experience something great like rivers parting like the Jordan (been reading the book of Joshua in the Bible).

Joshua 3:5. Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

Hmmm… So maybe consecration is the key.

Just thinking…

How often do we expect great things to happen but fail to consecrate (dedicate) ourselves to God? In other words, we expect great things from God, but what do we offer Him?

I’m still expecting great things to happen because God is great. However, this does make me think about my commitment to God. How dedicated am I? Not because I want to experience His unexpected greatness, but because I truly revere Him.

God, thank You for loving me.♥️

Shaun

hope

In Disbelief

Shaun Bradford

Wheeewww…

Looked at my phone and saw a notification that Malcom Jamal Warner (Theo from The Cosby Show) had passed. He was 54.

Death…

I just watched The Cosby Show marathon last weekend.

I’m numb.

I feel like I felt when I heard Aaliyah and Lisa Lopes (Left Eye from TLC) had passed.

Death stings.

It hurts.

He was only two years older than me.

I remember when Andy Griffith died. My grandgodmother said everyone she knew was gone. Her son had passed a few years earlier, and it devastated her. However, there was something about Andy (Matlock) dying that made her extremely sad. She stopped eating and wouldn’t get out of bed. Sadly, she stopped living. Andy died on July 3, 2012, and she died on August 1, 2012.

Now… I’m not that sad. Nowhere near it, but I understand. There’s something about someone so close to your age dying suddenly. Especially when it feels like they were part of your everyday life. Momma Kate (my grandgodmother) watched The Andy Griffith Show and Matlock every day for years. When he died, something in her died too.

Praying for Malcom’s family, friends, and his fans. I grew up with Theo. Never, ever expected to hear this. Not him.

Thank you for allowing me to share. I’m trying to do better with getting my feelings of grief out instead of keeping them bottled up. I feel much better than I did when I began writing.🙏🏽

Shaun

hope

Your Presence Radiates Hope

Shaun Bradford

Your presence radiates hope, love, peace, and kindness. It’s who you are.

It’s who I am.

I am an atmosphere shifter.

My presence radiates hope, love, peace, and kindness.

Yes, it’s who I am.

It’s who we are.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Praise The Lord

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

I pray all is well with you.🌺

Today’s a new day and the start of a new week. Be sure to start and end each day with praise.

Psalm 113:1-3

1. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.

2. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.

3. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Praise the Lord!

Keep your praises going. God sees them and He knows your heart. He knows your praises are genuine, so keep them going.🙏🏽

I pray you have a wonderfully blessed week. May it be filled with love, joy, peace, and favor.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

Word Of Encouragement

Shaun Bradford

Just dropping in with a word of encouragement that I shared a year ago, which is so relevant today and always will be.

July 20, 2024

Always remember who you are and Whose you are. YOU are in God’s hands.♥️

Enjoy the rest of your evening!

I love you always,

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday!☀️

I pray all is well with you.🌸

Yesterday morning, I wondered what stories would be shared about me. Well, it didn’t take long for me to find out. A few hours after I shared yesterday’s post, “What Will My Story Be?”, the stories began, and the sharing didn’t end until after midnight.

As soon as I arrived at the family reunion venue, one of my uncles—who’s basically my twin (born a little over a week apart)—greeted me with, “Shaun, you remember when you used to…” Then, last night at my sister’s house, my sisters and cousin shared more stories with my daughter, oldest nephew, and oldest niece. When I tell you they soaked up those stories like sponges.🤭

All I can say is, I was Shaun.😂

Me and my sisters. Dorothy girls!

So, here’s what I gathered from their stories and what I know about myself:

I was never a quiet child. (I’m much calmer now, depending on who you ask.🤭)

I spoke my mind… I mean, voiced my opinions. (Still do, but more tactful now… depending on the situation😊—you might get Shaun or LaShaundrea or a version of both.🤷🏽‍♀️😂)

I was strong–willed. (Yeah… nothing’s changed.😂)

Just know my descendants will have many interesting stories to share about me.😅

Y’all, all while they were talking, I kept saying, “That was me then. I’m not that person anymore. Believe me, I’ve changed.” And they just laughed even harder.😂

Everyone is heading home today. Can’t wait until we meet up again. I love my family.💗

I hope your weekend has been great so far. Wishing you a beautiful Sunday and blessed week.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

What Will My Story Be?

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

“What will my story be?”

Ironically, that was the question I asked myself on the morning of July 19, 2023. I just love my journal entries. Always so timely.

Today is Day 2 of our family reunion for the descendants of my grandmother’s great-grandparents—Charlie and Rosie Little. The last one was in 2013. So it’s been a while since we last got together physically, but many of us have kept in touch through Facebook.

Picture of my mom at the last reunion.

Last night, five representatives of Rosie and Charlie’s eight children shared family stories. It was my first time hearing many of the stories—stories that put so many things in perspective. I knew my great-grandmother (my grandmother’s mother), but I never knew her story or upbringing, and last night, my cousin Maria shared her story. Now I have a better understanding of my grandmother and even my mother. I needed this. I needed this weekend with family.

My grandmother’s grandmother, Sarah Little Lofton.
My great-grandmother, Bertha Mae.
My grandma, Sarah, and my mom.

Again, what will my story be?

What stories will my descendants share about me?

Time to get ready for Day 2. My baby sister is on her way here. Can’t wait to see her! All of momma’s girls will be together.🥰

By the way, I found out I’m going to be a great aunt! My oldest nephew and his wife are expecting their first child in December. Y’all, I couldn’t stop screaming! I can’t believe my baby is having a baby.🤩

I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day!♥️

Love you,

Shaun