Tag: God

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy First Sunday of 2024! Thanking God for life, love, health, purpose and peace. Going to start this year off with one of my favorite worship songs. Found it among today’s Facebook memories and thought I would share.

Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans
Lyrics: AZLyrics.com

The room grew still
As she made her way to Jesus
She stumbles through the tears that made her blind
She felt such pain
Some spoke in anger
Heard folks whisper
There’s no place here for her kind
Still on she came
Through the shame that flushed her face
Until at last, she knelt before his feet
And though she spoke no words
Everything she said was heard
As she poured her love for the Master
From her box of alabaster

And I’ve come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary’s alabaster box
Don’t be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And I dry them with my hair
You weren’t there the night He found me
You did not feel what I felt
When he wrapped his loving arms around me and
You don’t know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box

I can’t forget the way life used to be
I was a prisoner to the sin that had me bound
And I spent my days
Poured my life without measure
Into a little treasure box
I’d thought I’d found
Until the day when Jesus came to me
And healed my soul
With the wonder of His touch
So now I’m giving back to Him
All the praise He’s worthy of
I’ve been forgiven
And that’s why
I love Him so much

And I’ve come to pour
My praise on Him
Like oil from Mary’s alabaster box
Don’t be angry if I wash his feet with my tears
And dry them with my hair (my hair)
You weren’t there the night Jesus found me
You did not feel what I felt
When He wrapped his loving arms around me and
You don’t know the cost of the oil
Oh, you don’t know the cost of my praise
You don’t know the cost of the oil
In my alabaster box

Listen, when CeCe says– “You weren’t there the night Jesus found me. You did not feel what I felt when He wrapped His loving arms around me.” Whew!!! ONLY God knows. Forever grateful for His unconditional love, mercy, and grace. I am pretty sure someone else can relate. No one will ever quite understand the cost of our oils. All they need to know is that we are still here! Amen.

I pray this song continues to bless you as much as it does me. Wishing you a wonderfully, peaceful Sunday.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

All We Have Is The Present

Shaun Bradford

I cannot believe we are almost one full week into 2024! Time is doing what it does—moving forward without a care in the world. It does not care about feelings, life, peace or chaos. Nope. It just moves right along. Which brings me to today’s Facebook memory—staying present. I believe when we stop fighting time life seems to flow so much more effortlessly.

Facebook Memory: January 5, 2023

Let’s not be so consumed with the past or the future that we miss out on today’s blessings. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. All we have is now.♥️

Staying present represents our respect for time.

Today, I challenge you (doing the same for myself) to stay present and enjoy the gift of now. Have a wonderful day and beautiful weekend!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Life

Are You Sabotaging Your Prayers?

Shaun Bradford

Are you sabotaging your prayers by speaking against them? Not intentionally, of course. I mean, who would intentionally speak against something they are hoping or praying for?

As Pastor Joel Osteen said, “You can’t pray for victory and talk defeat.” Which is something I plan to be more mindful of moving forward. Also, when we pray, we must believe. We must believe that it is already done. Love you!♥️ ~Shaun

Victory mindset only!
Life

Happy New Year’s Eve 2023

Shaun Bradford
2024 is loading… Blessings are headed your way!

Social media has been excited for weeks now for this day—12/31/23 (123123)—to come so I thought I would mention it. (Smiling). Life is interesting and people are even more interesting. Gotta love them both.

Anyhoo…

Today is the last day of 2023. I pray whatever you were hoping for happened, or somewhat happened. Below is what I wrote last year in my final blog for 2022. I will say my 2023 turned out as I had somewhat hoped it would have because I stayed true to how I approached it, with humbleness and gratitude. I did not ask for much nor expected much, and was grateful for every blessing God sent my way. Here is what I wrote last year.

Happy New Year’s Eve by Moi

Y’all, 2022 was one eventful year! I’m so grateful God was with me every step of the way. So grateful for His guidance, grace and unconditional love.

Each year, instead of a setting a New Year’s resolution, I set a theme for the year. This year’s theme for 2022 was “Unapologetically Me.” I loved and lived up to it. I didn’t set it for others to see, or even notice. It was personal. It was for me to feel and embrace, and I did. Let’s just say it’s how I needed to end this decade of my 40s. Smiling

This coming year I’m entering a new decade of life, my 50s, and want to do things a little differently. Nothing bold. Nothing deep. The energy I’m taking into 2023 is humbleness and gratitude. It’s the energy I would like to have as I usher in the next half of my life. Gotta leave the negative energy on this side of my century. Smiling. Honestly, I’m looking forward to turning 50. God is good.

Okay.. so here is the ultra-condensed, yet very significant version of my accomplishments in 2022:

• I conquered a few fears.
• I found myself again.
• I released control.

I just wanted to add, releasing control was probably the most rewarding. This year, so many things happened that were beyond my control. I had no choice but to give in and go with the flow. Then, there were the things I could control. Well, I found out they weren’t worth the headache or heartache, so I let them go. Y’all, I never knew releasing control could be so freeing. This is a whole-nother level of freedom I never knew existed and I’m loving it!

As I mentioned earlier, I am focusing on humbleness and gratitude in 2023. Not expecting much. Not asking for much. Just grateful for what I already have. If God decides to bless me with more, I will be just as grateful.

As I enter 2024, I plan to remain humble and grateful for everything I already have and anything extra God decides to throw in. The amount of peace I have experienced by doing so has been immeasurable so why change it!

Next year, my goal is to continue practicing what I recently began doing a few days ago which is to stop fighting against (worrying about) things that unexpectedly pop up in my life, and to go with the flow. To allow God to navigate through the craziness while I rest in Him. To have my listening ears open and be prepared to move when He says move and relax when He says relax. To stay at peace despite the chaos and confusion happening around me. To continue loving the way I love as well as embrace the love surrounding me. To build a stronger relationship/bond with God. To stay under His covering and protection. When I tell you God’s protection is everything! Whew!! You better try it! Lastly, to take care of Shaun. Yes, to take care of me. To love and protect myself just as much as I do others. To put myself first so that I my cup remains full while I pour into others.

Well, that’s that. Praying you have a wonderful New Year’s Eve. Talk to you later.

Love you!♥️

Shaun