Divine Encounters – It’s Shaun’s World

Good Morning☀️

Over the past month, I have watched God move in ways I have never witnessed or experienced before. Last night, when I shared that my spirit was having its own praise and worship moment, I was still in awe of how God had shown up hours earlier. Even as I write, I can’t help but praise God.

Short story…

Almost a year ago, I received a direct message from someone asking me if I would share an event on my Mississippi Thriving Facebook page, and I shared it. About a month later, I attended a luncheon for women veterans, and the person who asked me to share her event was the guest speaker. Towards the end of the event, I introduced myself to her, and she invited me to have coffee (hot chocolate for me) the following week. She was looking for volunteers to sit on the planning committee for the event I had shared for her. Well, what was supposed to be a quick meeting turned into a two-hour conversation. During our conversation, she shared her vision of providing resources, services, and assistance to unhoused communities in Central and South Mississippi.

When I tell you our meeting was divinely orchestrated! I had asked God for a mentor to help me with my nonprofit, which had been sitting idle for three years, and He sent her. After a couple of conversations with her, I finally launched my nonprofit.

Since meeting my mentor, who is now my newest friend (as you can see, I’m not ready to share her name yet), I have made more connections with the community than I made while doing community-based research—nearly 20 years. I have also participated in more community events (participating in another in a few hours) in less than a year than I have in my entire career. When I tell you I am so in awe of God! I asked, and He moved.

Yesterday, I attended my first public hearing to support my friend. If you didn’t know, providing assistance to the unhoused community isn’t very popular with cities. Over the last several months, my friend has had to jump through hoops to renovate an abandoned hotel that she and her husband have planned to turn into a day/resource center for the unhoused. Yesterday was another hoop… BUT GOD!!! When I tell you I watched God work! Yesterday, when I shared “God has the final say,” I was sitting there watching Him in action. At first, things appeared to be going downhill, but at the last minute, it all worked out in their favor.

Listen, you can’t tell me what God can’t do! When He gives you a vision or dream, hold on to it. It may take years to come to fruition, but it will happen. Also, timing is everything. We both talk about this all the time. Them acquiring the hotel, which had been sitting abandoned for years, was all about timing. Even our connection was about timing, and my obedience. You see, I almost didn’t go to the women veterans event. Kept making excuses all that morning, all while hearing I needed to go. Talk about an opportunity that could’ve been missed!

I can’t say it enough—God is so good! I just love the way He loves me. I asked for this side of 50 to be different, and lo and behold, He’s making it happen. I am so very blessed.

This is all I have for now. I pray that you have a beautiful day. You deserve it!♥️

I love you always,

Shaun

God’s provisions are always provided as needed. Not when we necessarily believe we need them, but when God knows we need them.♥️ ~ Shaun

God’s provisions are always on time. Not too early or too late, but on time.

Last night I wrote about my divine encounter with a young lady. An encounter that provided me with what I had been longing for for two years. I have been getting bits and pieces of what I have needed along the way, but there has always been something missing. Then last night happened. What seminars, webinars, lectures and watching motivational videos couldn’t provide, she provided in less than 30 minutes. One thing she mentioned, which really hit home, was that maybe I was supposed to use this time to rest. Y’all, when I tell you I wanted to cry! So proud of myself for holding it together and not becoming emotional.

If you recall, around this time last year I started reading Christy Nockels’ “The Life You Long For: Learning to Live from a Heart of Rest.” I received that exact same message while reading the book. I needed to take that time and rest. Instead, I kept trying to make things happen… same as now. Last night I was asked why am I not resting. She asked me if I felt obligated to overextend myself. Hmm… I guess the answer is I have been conditioned to believe that if people do not see me working or performing they would believe I am slacking. Which is one of the reasons I am always on social media. If I am not posting content, then I must not be working. Doesn’t even make sense, right? I believe I got stuck on the notion that visibility is everything. If people don’t see you, you’re not doing anything. It’s kind of like those people who walk around the office like they are always in a hurry but aren’t really working as hard as they appear. Basically, it’s counterproductive.

Anyhoo… back to the subject of rest. Here I am almost a year later and I have only attempted to rest a few hours at a time. It’s like I cannot turn off my mind from thinking of ideas to make improvements to my business. I keep asking myself what can I do better, then attempt to do it; but nothing seems to be working. And you know how you hear that still small voice tell you to do something but you continuously blow it off because you believe it won’t have the same impact. Well, it has finally dawned on me that even though the tasks seem insignificant, they are exactly what I need to focus on. The other will come with time – in God’s time.

I guess all of this was a great big lesson. I would like to sit and sulk about the time I have lost, but I can’t and won’t. Yesterday, my friend Deborah shared the following quote below. I reshared it and replied that that was the second time I had seen that same message (not the exact quote) that morning and that even though at the moment I did not feel it was for me, it probably would be later on. And guess what, it is just what I need at this very moment.

The Quote-

Releasing.
Letting go.
Moving on.

Wishing each and every one of you a fabulous weekend. Be Blessed!♥️

Tag: Divine Encounters

When God Moves

God’s Provisions