Tag: blessings

hope

My Besties

Shaun Bradford

Not sure why it’s taken me forever to realize that my besties are my two hearts. When I think about my relationship with my actual friends (even my sisters), we can go days, even weeks without texting, and months without seeing each other. However, with my two, we talk everyday all day long. Maybe not verbally, but via texts… well, my daughter and I do. My son chimes in every now and then. He’d rather FaceTime. Now that they’re grown, they’ve become my best friends. I guess I’m their Mother-Friend.🙃 Thanking God for blessing me with friends I didn’t know I would need.

This is us. My daughter just left to head home. This is my first time feeling sad about her leaving. I wasn’t ready for her to go.😔

My hearts.♥️♥️
hope

My Journey With God, No. 65

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Here’s what I shared three years ago in my “Hello Sunday.”

Hello Sunday: February 20, 2022 (entire post)

Happy Sunday! 

I’m currently reading – “The Life You Long For: Learning to Live From A Heart of Rest” by Christy Nockels. So far, so much of her story has resonated with me. Especially the part about being so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life trying to achieve goals and the lifestyle you have always dreamed of that you neglect to live. The funny thing is you believe you’re living until you actually begin living. As Christy calls it, it’s living from a heart (place) of rest. In other words, living from a place of peace and contentment.

As Christy has noted in her book, it takes a moment to get to a place of rest and once you get there, it’s still challenging to remain in that space. Because as we know, we cannot control the things that happen around us, but as pastor and author, Joel Osteen would say, we can control how we respond.

For a few weeks now, more so the last two weeks, I have been thinking about the freedom of choice. As we know, socially and economically, everyone does not have the same level of freedom when it comes to choices; however, all of us do have the freedom to make choices, even small ones. Although it is impossible to control others’ actions or events happening around us, we can control our reactions and actions, which is a choice. So when I refer to the freedom of choice, this is exactly what I’m referring to. Nothing intense. Nothing political. But personal choices that we make daily. 

Since I have been living from a place of peace, I have noticed that my choices are different, they’re better. I respond to situations much differently than I used to. The things that used to make me anxious, no longer bother or upset me. I’m also learning to be kinder to myself. Which is BIG! Y’all, I really was my own worst critic. I’m also less judgmental. I have always loved people’s uniqueness, even my own, but that didn’t stop me from judging. Yes, I’m human. Overall, life is so much better than before and it’s all because I have chosen to make it better – I have chosen to live from a place of peace. Now, I would be lying if I said my life is always peaceful, that nothing happens that throws me for a loop. Y’all, every day.. yes, EVERY SINGLE DAY I’m faced with things that challenge my peace; and every day I make the choice of how I respond. To me that’s freedom! And I’m loving it. 

Word of advice – which is what has gotten me to this place of peace – if it disturbs your peace it’s too costly. Let it go.

About a week ago, I was led to re-read Christy Nockels’ “The Life You Long For …”. I needed to find my way back to the peace and rest I had found. I now realize I must work daily to maintain it. It’s not something that will always come easy, especially when I encounter new challenges. From here on, I must be intentional about making necessary adjustments before my peace is completely disturbed. It’s just too costly to wait.

Y’all, I’m so thankful for God’s love and for how He surrounds and covers me in His peace. I am truly, truly blessed.

I pray you’ve found your place of peace and rest in God. It’s such a beautiful place to be. Wishing you the most amazing day yet!♥️

I love you always,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 64

Shaun Bradford

Here’s my update on resting in God.

I am finally settling back into a place of rest and peace, a space I found a few years ago and was doing so well in until a few months ago. As they say, you never know how you’ll react to situations until you encounter them. Honestly, I never expected to react the way that I did—basically having an emotional breakdown because of so many negative things that were happening across our nation. I thought I was beyond being bothered in such a way. I kept trying to find my way back to resting in God, but the more negative news I saw and heard, the more defeated I felt. I felt as if my lifelong dream of a peaceful, kind, and loving world had been shattered and was beyond repair. I know it might seem weird to associate my dreams with my hopes for humanity, but for me, they’re connected—we’re connected. What affects one does affect all. Maybe not immediately, but in time it does.

So, what changed?

I began limiting my time on social media, especially X. Since doing so, I’ve noticed life is more peaceful. I had to set boundaries for myself and stick to them. I haven’t missed as much as I thought I would. Whenever I log on, I’m greeted with wonderful news and encouraging posts (the algorithm is finally working in my favor😌). For some reason, I thought I’d miss things if I weren’t tuned in all day. Fortunately, no one has passed. No one’s been hurt. The world is still intact, and so is my mental and emotional health. Isn’t God good?

I must remember God’s in control, and my life is in His hands. I’m covered, and my dreams are still intact. There is still more good in this world than not.❤️ ~ Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 61

Shaun Bradford

Being obedient to God when you don’t understand the assignment is probably one of the most difficult things to do. If you’re like me—you know, human—you’ll probably have questions…lots of questions. However, you follow through because you were asked to do so.

I’m learning more and more to take myself out of the assignment and just be obedient—more of God and less of me. I don’t have to know why or the outcome of my ask. All I need to do is obey.♥️ ~Shaun

hope

Miracle

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

Woke up with this song playing in my head, and the more I looked for something else to share, the louder the song became. So, I already knew what it meant—I needed to share it. Hopefully, it blesses you.

I pray you have a wonderful Saturday! Remember to show yourself a little extra love today.♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

“Miracle” by Whitney Houston
Lyrics: MusixMatch

How could I throw away a miracle?
How could I face another day?
It’s all of my doing, I made a choice
And today, I pay
My heart is full of pain
How could you understand, the way I feel?
How could you relate to so much pain?
Seems as though nothing can comfort me
So today, I pray
That someone should listen, for

Nothing should matter
Not when love grows inside you
The choice is yours
There’s a miracle in store
Nothing should matter
Not when love grows inside you
A voice of love is crying out
Don’t throw love away
There’s a miracle in store

How could I let go of a miracle?
Nothing could ever take its place
Thought I was looking, out for myself
Now it seems the pain
Is all that I have gained
I wonder if I could be your miracle
I wonder if I could spare you pain
Seems as though nothing will comfort me
Lord, less today, I pray
That you should come listen, for

Nothing should matter
Not when love grows inside you
The choice is yours
There’s a miracle in store
Nothing should matter
Not when love grows inside you
A voice of love is crying out
Don’t throw love away
There’s a miracle in store

Don’t ever throw away your miracle
Don’t let it slip away
For nothing should matter

Nothing should matter
Not when love grows inside you
The choice is yours
There’s a miracle in store
Nothing should matter
Not when love grows inside you
A voice of love is crying out
Don’t throw love away
There’s a miracle in store, oh
For you, yeah

“Miracle” by Whitney Houston
hope

Imagine BIGGER

Shaun Bradford
Not sure where I found this image. I added the “NAH… GOD” part back in 2021.

You imagine BIG.

Then, you try to imagine BIGGER than that.

However, the real question is, “What does GOD consider BIGGER?”

Hmmm…

Because God’s idea of BIGGER is something I’m pretty sure we’ve never imagined.

Soooo…

What is BIGGER?

I guess only God knows.

And…

That’s when you say, “Blow my mind, God!”

Smile.♥️

Shaun