Life

Hello Sunday

Know that you are safe in God’s hands.

There is a certain calmness and peace that comes with knowing we are in God’s hands. Not saying we will never experience the random anxiety, worry, or fear. However, when we do, it never lasts long.

Y’all, somehow, God has a way of dispatching His angels to comfort us at the exact right moments. When I tell you there is nothing comparable to His love, mercy, and grace. Listen, there is none like it!

Right now I am hearing the song, “Safe in His Arms,” by Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers.

Safe in His Arms
Lyrics:
Musixmatch

Because the Lord is my shepherd
I have everything I need
He lets me rest in the meadow’s grass
And He leads me besides the quiet stream

He restores my failing hands [health]
And helps me to do what honors
That’s why I’m safe

That’s why I’m safe
That’s why I’m safe
Safe in His arms

When the storm of life is raging
And the billows roll
So glad He shall hide me
Safe in His arms

So glad, He shall hide me
Safe in His arms

Wishing a blessed Sunday. Rest in God knowing you are safe in His arms.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

You Control The Pen

Y’all, why did I fall asleep early only to wake up thinking it was at least 4:00 AM? Laughing. Since it’s after midnight I might as well share a post. Will write my Hello Sunday later. Good Night!♥️ ~ Shaun

Facebook Memory: January 28, 2022

It’s your story and your life. No one knows you better than you know yourself. Be sure to control and PROTECT your narrative. And ALWAYS keep the pen!

P.S. It’s perfectly fine to edit and rewrite. Remember, it’s YOUR story and YOUR life!

Always, always, always keep the pen! Never let anyone else write your story.♥️

Life

Blessed & Favored By God

So many will settle for God’s blessings. However, I do not want His blessings without His favor.

According to Cambridge Dictionary, favor is defined as the support or approval of something or someone.

Listen, I love God’s blessings, and He gives them graciously; however, His approval is what I am seeking. Can’t you hear the Clark Sisters singing, “Blessed and Highly Favored”? I definitely can. Wishing you a beautifully, blessed day!♥️ ~Shaun

“Don’t take it for granted that we are here today. Just know that we’re blessed and highly favored.”

Life

Thank You, Lord

Friday morning praise and worship:

Singing🎶

Thank You, Lord
Thank You, Lord
Thank You, Lord
I just want to thank
You, Lord

You’ve been so good
You’ve been so good
You’ve been so good
I just want to thank
You, Lord

Flashback to when the rain was gone and the sun was shining. Grateful for both, the sun and the rain. Both are necessary for growth. However, I really prefer the sunshine. Don’t we all?☺️

Blessed!♥️

Shaun

Life

It’s Already Handled

Earlier, someone liked a tweet I posted nearly eight years ago. Not sure how old tweets pop up because I never seem to see them, but evidently someone does. Here’s the tweet.

X (formerly known as Twitter): June 21, 2016

Looking back over the past eight years, so many things happened that could have destroyed my spirit, made me give up, made me settle, made me lose faith, yet here I am. I am still standing and moving forward. As people say, I am so glad I don’t look like what I have been through. God is so good and merciful.

Not sure what prompted me to make that post. Sometimes I just post what I feel or hear. Either way, I see that someone needed that message today.

Here’s what I will add today. God already knows the outcome of our situations. He knew before we even knew there would be one. Our job is to rest in Him while He takes us through whatever we need to go through to get to the other side. As I mentioned before, there were plenty of things that could have taken me out, but I am still here. I am so grateful I didn’t give up or give in. Y’all, God is so good!

Listen, don’t give up. God’s got you! You will get through this. Right now I am hearing this song we used to sing in church (there are different variations) — “How I got over. How I got over. My soul looks back and wonder, how I got over.” Amen

Have a blessed day! Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Year 50: Month 7

Happy 50 years 7 months to me!! Yay!! Still can’t believe I am 50! What a blessing.

As you know, today is the day my daughter is moving to another state. In fact, she and her fiancé just left. No tears, only smiles. They are in God’s hands.

Just thinking about how around 29 years ago my baby girl was preparing to make her debut. I guess you can say I am feeling what I felt the day she entered the world. It was the day my life changed and I began my new journey as a mother. Now, another journey is beginning. Smiling

At this moment I can hear Mariah Carey singing, “Butterfly.”

When you love someone so deeply
They become your life
It’s easy to succumb to overwhelming fears inside
Blindly I imagined I could
Keep you under glass
Now I understand to hold you
I must open up my hands
And watch you rise …

So flutter through the sky
Butterfly
Fly
Spread your wings and fly
Butterfly

Well, that’s all I have for this month’s birthday celebration. Only five months left! All I have to say is, “God’s will be done.” Amen

Enjoy your day!♥️

Shaun

Life

Live, Laugh, Love, and Be Kind

I believe the secret to a good life consists of actually living it; laughing often (gotta laugh); loving wholeheartedly; and being genuinely kind to others (not for show). Here’s what I shared two years ago.

Facebook Memory: January 23, 2024

Smile, if you’re already here. If this is how you’re living. If you are not here, get here quickly. This is where peace resides.

Live: Stay present!

Laugh: Your soul needs it.

Love: Unconditionally – it’s the secret of true peace and happiness.

Be Kind: EVERYONE’s struggling with something. No one’s exempt.

Focus on who & what truly matters and let the rest go. Life is short, spread LOVE!♥️ #ILoveYou

Again, spread love. Everyone needs love, even those we do not believe deserve it—they need it. Approaching them with hate only adds hate to your heart. Also, add hope. Whenever possible, add a little bit of hope to your conversations. Give people something to look forward to even if you cannot see it. Listen, hope goes a long way. It keeps life going.

That’s all I have for now. Wishing you a beautifully, blessed day.

Enjoy!♥️

Shaun

Life

The Good Times

Yesterday, I could not decide which Facebook memory to share so I didn’t share one. Well, instead of sharing my “Hello Sunday” on my social media accounts, I decided to share this memory. It’s a day later, but worth sharing.

Facebook Memory: January 21, 2023

Much too often we remember hurts and disappointments before we remember the good. Today, I encourage you to focus on the good times. The moments that made you smile and feel loved. Have a wonderful day.♥️

Always hold your good memories close and dear.

Praying you have a blessed day and joyful week. May God shower you with unexpected blessings.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

Obedience is Key

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Been hearing this all day so I decided to share it.

When searching for the quote, “Only what you do for Christ will last,” multiple scriptures popped up along with lyrics from several songs. The scripture I used above appeared to be most commonly cited with the quote.

From what I gather from both—the scripture and the quote—what is seen, or done solely for others to see, is temporary. However, what is done from the heart—often in private—with pure intentions (like Christ), will last forever.

I pray that whatever I do pleases God and lasts forever. Amen

Being obedient is key.♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

This morning I’m just writing and rambling. Let’s see what I end up sharing.

Happy Sunday!

Honestly, I really do not know what to share today. I have a few Facebook memories that are worth sharing but I am not sure which I should share, and if I shared them all the post would be much too long. Guess I will start with this:

Yesterday, I hit 980 consecutive days of posting! Woohoo!! So, the countdown to 1000 has begun. Still unsure of how I am going to celebrate, or if I will do anything differently after 1000. Hmm…

Three years ago today, I became a published author. Another… Woohoo!! Smile. It seems like it was so long ago. Sadly, I can no longer feel the excitement of that moment. Last year I somewhat felt it, but not this year. I wonder if it’s because my mom helped me promote book sales on Facebook. So as soon as I saw the memories from that day, her name was everywhere. She had tagged me in so many posts. Now, this makes me smile. A year later, she became a first time published author fulfilling one of her dreams. Y’all, I had no desire to become an author, but she did.

Now that I am reflecting on this, perhaps my opportunity to become an author opened the door to her fulfilling her dreams. If I would have turned down the opportunity, she may have never connected with the person who initiated the anthology. The person was from somewhere in Florida and we live in Mississippi. BUT… if it was meant to be it would have been, even without me. Listen, that’s how God works, for real! Y’all, life is truly interesting. And GOD!! Whew!! Listen, the way He works is mind blowing!

Now, here I am looking at my life and doors that were opened for me due to someone saying “yes” to something they probably never thought of doing. Also thinking about how me joining the Air Force inspired two of my siblings to join the Navy. Also, how I have been told more than once how my career as a research dietitian inspired other dietitians to work in communities. Y’all, this career found me. I had no desire to become a dietitian. I wanted to be a personal chef. Then, one meeting with a dietitian during my culinary internship at a hospital changed everything. And me volunteering as a student to assist with a research project lead me to becoming a research dietitian. Isn’t God awesome?!

My experience from my research days as a student led me to hire students for my projects. During the summers, I would hire them to assist me with data collections in rural Mississippi. Y’all, we had so much fun! Most of our trips required overnight stays. So, I would rent a 15 passenger van, reserve hotel rooms and take them to local restaurants to eat. Since most of them had never seen rural areas, or interacted with people from underserved communities, I wanted them to get the full experience. Plus, I love adventures and boy did we have some! Sometimes the GPS led us to some sketchy spots. So grateful for good phone service and a full tank of gas (always kept it above 1/2 full), we always made it to our destinations and had stories to tell afterwards.

Yeah…that’s what I miss! I miss the students. I miss the trips. I miss the conferences. I miss my colleagues. I miss meeting new people. I miss the communities. I miss the adventures and stories. Now, how can I make it happen again without going back to work for a university or with people who don’t share my same values?

I guess that’s something to tackle this week. Very few people know I have a nonprofit. Been tweaking things over the years. Maybe this year is the year I finally launch a project. Gotta start somewhere and with what I have.

I needed this! Started off not knowing what to write and in the midst of writing, discovered a plan. God is absolutely amazing!! I just love how He works. I am truly, truly blessed and loved.

Thanks for reading my first official rambling of the year. Again, God is so wonderful! So grateful to know Him.

Praying you have a wonderfully, blessed day!♥️

Shaun