Tag: God’s plan

hope

Sustainability

Shaun Bradford

I have always believed in creating something solid. Something that would outlast even me. Something sustainable.

Sustainability was always one of my first thoughts when asked to work on community-based research projects, especially those that had the potential of making or breaking communities—leaving them healthier or leaving them worse.

I always asked—and I’m pretty sure many were annoyed—What’s the plan for after?

After the funding ends.

After the results aren’t found favorable, or publishable.

After a bigger and better opportunity comes along.

What’s the plan for the community?

I have found that commitment, longevity, and endurance are key to sustainability. You have to be committed to the plan (the vision), and in it for the long haul. You have to push through the hard times. Now, I am not going to lie, there were times when I wanted to give up. Times when my heart was so broken that I did give up. Y’all, people be peopling. However, I am now realizing that when God has a purpose for your life, even you can’t stop it!

So, here I am.

What I am building will last. I know this to be true because God didn’t give me a vision for something temporary. For a quick fix. He gave me a vision for something sustainable, where communities will thrive.

Here’s another great share from Bruce Van Horn. When I tell you his posts kept me encouraged! He is missed.

Slowly, but surely, things are happening.

One crawl, one step, and one leap at a time. It will happen… It is happening.♥️

Shaun

hope

Timing

Shaun Bradford

Just a friendly reminder. You are not behind. No, you’re right where you should be at this moment in time. Remember, everything happens according to God’s timing, not ours.

While waiting, your/our (yes, myself included☺️) job is to continue following God’s instructions and guidance until whatever we dreamed comes to fruition. And you know those instructions I’m referring to. Yeah…the ones you keep putting off like God doesn’t see you. Smile. Well, follow those instructions first, and everything else will fall into place. Before you know it, you’ll be standing in your dream.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Make It Happen, Today!

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

Whatever you desire, it’s up to YOU to make it happen. Please do not wait for your circumstances to change. Start with what you have. Yes…that little bit. And God will do the rest. I’m telling you what I know to be true, not what I’ve heard.

Last year I shared, “Make it happen.” Two years before, I did just that. Smile. And I continue to do so today.

Shared on September 30, 2023 with the caption, “No more excuses. Make it happen.”

September 30, 2021

This was me making it happen with the little that I had.

Believe me, God has placed everything you need to get started within your reach. The outcome doesn’t have to be perfect. God will perfect things along the way. All you have to do is initiate the process and He’ll do the rest. No more wasting years waiting—like the man in the Bible sitting by the pool waiting for someone to put him in so he could be healed. No, no more waiting! You need to make it happen, TODAY!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday! I pray your weekend is going well. Mine has been pretty great so far. I can’t complain.☺️

Today’s Hello Sunday is a reminder that the person people see you as today has been years in the making, even decades. Meaning, you did not become who you are overnight. It’s also a reminder to be gentle, kind, and patient with yourself as God continues—because the process is never ending—to shape and mold you into the person you know you’re meant to be. Remember, who you are today is only a glimpse of who you’re becoming. Smile♥️

Love you,

Shaun

“It takes time, patience and grace to become the person you know you are meant to be. So, be kind to yourself while God is working.” –Facebook Memory, 2021

hope

Breathe… You Are Going To Make It!

Shaun Bradford

I know life has been somewhat rough at times, and you have felt like giving up more times than you care to admit, but hang in there. Please don’t give up. I promise you, you are going to make it. Speaking from a wealth of experiences. Y’all, I made it!!!

Always remember, God has the final say. You were never meant to fail, but to prosper.

Now…

Breathe and keep going!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

God’s got you!

hope

Keep Going!

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! Couldn’t decide which Facebook memory to share, so I decided to share both. The message—

Persevere and create the life you desire and deserve. Don’t stop going or creating until you’ve achieved both. Then… KEEP GOING!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Facebook Memories

September 27, 2022

Perseverance– steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Persevere.♥️

September 27, 2023

No holding back. Create the life you desire and deserve.♥️

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! Here’s what I shared on September 22, 2019, five years ago.

When I tell you this one post has had me crying for a few minutes now. So many emotions about this memory, about this particular “purse note.” It was the very first of my notes. When I wrote it ten years ago, I was told to keep it near and to reference it often. That I would need it. I had no idea what that meant, but I was obedient.

Over the years, I began to read it less and less often. At one point I was reading it almost daily. At times, I questioned some of the things I had written inside (nothing juicy, just things only I would eventually understand). This year, I’ve only read it twice. The crazy part is, it has actually taken ten years for me to fully grasp what I wrote. Hence, the reason I’m crying.

As I wrote a few blogs ago (had no idea it would tie into this one), be obedient. God really does know the outcome. He sees and knows all. Yes, I’m pretty emotional behind this one. Y’all, I just can’t believe I have kept this note in my purse for 10 years!! I am blown away by my compliance, my belief, my obedience (over the years), my willingness to follow God’s word and allow Him to lead (took a minute…well, almost 10 years to get here). Talk about mind blowing!

Whew! I’m going to end here and leave you with this. You never know what you can do until you do it. Allow God to lead. You may not understand the assignment, and half of the time you may even think you’re crazy. Just do what He asks. As I wrote on the back of the note, “God blessings are better than life.” I used to cringe every time I read it without the apostrophe (God’s). However, today, I see it differently. God blessings—meaning the size of the blessings—are better than life.

That’s all I have for you now. I pray you have a wonderfully, blessed Sunday.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Divine Connections Are Amazing

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! On this date last year, I wrote:

Divine connections cannot be created, duplicated or forced. They just happen.

You never see the connections coming.

Y’all, I am so grateful for the divine connections I have made over the years. They’ve always come at the right time. While some connections have been brief, others have lasted much, much longer—both having a significant impact on my life.

Honestly, I am forever in awe of how God orchestrates these connections. It’s literally me minding my own business then BAM, out of the blue, the connection happens. It’s bumping into someone at a meeting; us responding to the same social media post; our kids attending school together; or some sort of weird thing that just happens out of nowhere—the kind that can’t be explained (the most interesting kind). As I said before, these connections just happen; and I must say, they’re pretty amazing!

As years come along, I am looking forward to even more divine connections. Y’all, there’s so much more for me to do, and I know I will not be able to do them on my own. Plus, for me, life is just more interesting and fun when God places the right people in my world. Smile

Well, that’s it for now. I pray you have a great weekend!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

In Sync With God

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning! God is working. He’s moving. Make sure you’re working and moving with Him. Keep going until you see what He said. Then, await further instructions.

That’s the message!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

In sync with God.
hope

Celebrating Every Success

Shaun Bradford

On September 3rd, I wrote (see “No More Hiding God’s Greatness”):

When was the last time you publicly celebrated your achievements? Is it something you find easy to do? Asking because I have always found it difficult, until recently. Now, I celebrate even the smallest of successes. … I mean, how can I fully represent God if I continue to downplay the magnitude of His greatness in my life? Y’all, He’s been too good to me. As I have said many times before, I am beyond blessed.

Y’all, I’m staying true to what I wrote. No more hiding what God’s doing. I also wrote in that post that back in 2016-2017 barely anyone knew I was the president of our state’s dietetics’ association. The only ones who knew were the dietitians who belonged to the organization, and some of them probably didn’t even know if they weren’t active. Don’t get me wrong, I was honored to hold the position; however, I was too humble for my own good to walk in it. Today, I realize that when you downplay your role, not only do you limit your effectiveness, but you limit your reach. You limit what God can do. Lesson learned.

Here I am today…

My first time in this position was nine years ago (2015-2016). Next year I’ll be president again. Thanking God for second chances!

Listen, when God places a dream in your heart—it will be. When I first held the position nine years ago, I felt as if I was finally walking in my purpose. I just knew that I was where I belonged, and it was only up from there. Then, life happened, and things didn’t go as expected. So, after I had served my three years (president-elect, president, and past president), I assumed that part of my life was over.

But it wasn’t…

Never in a million years did I expect to do it again. Even up until the moment I was asked if I’d consider running, the thought had never crossed my mind. However, once it was out there, I was reminded that I had said on this side of 50 I would not say “No” to things and opportunities that aligned with my purpose. And this still aligns with my purpose. So, instead of saying “No,” I said “Yes.”

Ha!! And to think I thought that part of my life was over.

Listen… DO NOT give up!♥️

Love you,

Shaun