Tag: love

faith, Life

Hello September

Shaun Bradford

September is here, and summer is coming to an end. I enjoyed the summer, but I’m looking forward to what autumn brings.🍂

The song of the hour is Earth, Wind, and Fire’s “Keep Your Head to the Sky.” The song says—

Step right up, and be a man
‘Cause you need faith to understand
So we’re saying for you to hear
Keep your head in faith’s atmosphere…

That last line says it all—

“Keep your head in faith’s atmosphere.”

Listen, as you go about this month, remember who you are and Whose you are. Let faith guide the way.

Wishing you a month filled with blessings, love, happiness, peace, and joy.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

empowerment, hope

Life, Time, and Clarity

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

Here’s today’s quote—

“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” –Nelson Mandela

Quote of the Day – 8.31.2026

Earlier, I came across a post from a renowned author and photographer (we’ll call her Lis) whom I met years ago after she spoke at an event I attended. I know I caught her off guard with my enthusiastic claim that our meeting was somehow a divine encounter. I said something to the effect that I knew God orchestrated our meeting and that we’d work together someday. Well, that day never came. Laughing. However, we became Facebook friends, and she did meet my mom. Lis interviewed my mom for a book she was writing and took photos of her—which made my mom feel so special. So, although we never worked together, the time she spent with my mom was so worth our meeting. Smiling.

The reason today’s quote and Lis’ post are so significant is because they were both divinely timed. Lis shared her post three days ago, but I didn’t see it until this morning, after today’s quote was posted. You see, Lis and I both began our doctoral journeys (in different fields) at the same time (Summer of 2018). She finished and became a professor, and I quit and started pursuing other ventures/adventures. Seeing Lis’ post reminded me of the journey I sometimes question whether I allowed fear to stop me from pursuing. I know that my heart wasn’t truly in it; however, deep down it was still a goal I wanted to achieve. It was a space that challenged me, and I caved under the pressure—just being honest and transparent.

Again, I needed to see the quote and post because I have so much work to do that will require me to operate at a different level. A few months ago, I became the southern region representative for our state’s Public Health Association. Public health, advocacy, policy making, and program development were the focus of my DrPH (Doctor of Public Health) degree.

I have a lot to think about and some decisions to make. This time I need to let hope guide my decisions and choices, not my fears.

Y’all, pray my strength in the Lord. Smile

Have a wonderful day and week!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

faith, trust God

Hello Sunday (291)

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday, Y’all!☀️

This morning’s post is for anyone who can use a little encouragement. Know that difficult times don’t always last. They do pass. I’m not just saying this because it sounds good, but because I know firsthand that they do pass—they do not last. God really does have a way of making everything all right.

The song of the hour is “Be Encouraged” by William Becton. The song says—

I know right now it’s impossible to see,
but God is gonna work it out if you just believe. Remember this one thing while you’re going through, if God delivered Daniel, He’ll do the same for you.

Be encouraged no matter what’s going on,
He’ll make it alright,
but you gotta stay strong.
Lyrics: Musixmatch

Listen, hang in there. Stand on your faith and stand on God’s word. Trust Him. He’s got you!

Wishing you a lovely Sunday and beautiful week ahead.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

gratitude, Life

Living Life On My Terms

Shaun Bradford

Happy Self-Love Saturday!🌺

After going down numerous rabbit holes watching interviews with and about Dolly Parton, I’m never going to apologize for fully enjoying and living life on my terms. Maybe I’ll never be invited into certain rooms or be everyone’s cup of tea; however, at the end of my life I’ll know that I lived it to its fullest being my most authentic self and doing what I love. I wouldn’t be honoring God if I didn’t.

Y’all, I truly love who I am. This wasn’t always so. I wasted many years wishing I could fit in. Wishing I could be invited to this or that, or accepted by certain groups of people. Now, I don’t care whether or not I’m invited or accepted. Those who love me, love me. Those who were tolerating me are slowly being removed from my life, and I’m learning to let them go. I’ve found that it’s true, God will replace what you thought you lost with better.

I’ve said this so many times over the past few years that I’m beginning to sound like a broken record—I am absolutely loving this side of 50. I am so grateful for my life.

God, thank You for making me, ME. Thank You for loving ME.

I pray you have a wonderful Saturday! Be sure to be extra loving, kind, and gentle with yourself. Give yourself grace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.

Life

Question: What Do You Want Most?

Shaun Bradford

Finally settling down. This day was anything BUT the “rain day” I had planned. I’m laughing because isn’t that how it is at times. The mistake I made was opening my laptop and forgetting to put my phone on Do Not Disturb. Gotta do better.

Anyhoo… I was sitting here and the question came to mind, “What do you want most?”. Not what you want at this moment, but most from life.

What do you want most?

As I often do, I’m sharing this question with you because I know I’m not the only one who needs to sit with it.

Once you find your answer, strive for that. Make that your focus.

I would say to answer the question without thinking financially or in monetary terms, but if that’s what YOU want most, then that’s what you want most. Don’t let anyone’s opinions or influence stop you from going after what YOU want most. Just don’t make it a person because that would be creepy. Just saying…

You may wonder how you would know when you’ve figured it out. Well, I believe that if you really think about it—as I am doing now—it’s that thing that’s been with you since childhood. It’s the one goal or dream you can’t seem to shake. It’s that thing that’s soul-deep.

By the way, I wish I’d had Dolly Parton on my list of people to meet. She was soooo cool!! Definitely my kind of person. And I didn’t know she loved butterflies as much as she did. I love butterflies.🦋😩

Y’all, we must keep hope alive. We can’t let it die with the greats of our time. We have to carry it on. And not only hope. We must carry on love, kindness, compassion, empathy, and goodness.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

**Can you guess what I want most? **

gratitude

It’s A Rain Day

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning🌧️ And Happy Thursday!

Right now, my room is dark, and the only sound I hear is coming from the rain falling outside my window. I thought about getting up and doing something productive. Then I looked at my schedule and my day is FREE.

Since rain is in the forecast for the entire day, I’m going to make this a rain day. I’m going to make myself a cup of hot chocolate. Find something to eat for breakfast. Then, I’m going to get back in bed and enjoy the rain. Yep! I’m getting back in bed.

Y’all, I do not take days like this for granted. I know it’s a privilege that I get to spend my day how I choose. For this, I am forever grateful. I’m truly blessed.🥰

I pray you have a wonderful day! May it be filled with love, grace, and kindness.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

hope, praise

When You Praise

Shaun Bradford

“When You Praise” by Fred Hammond is the song of the hour. The song says—

When you praise, when you praise,
There should be a fire in your heart.
Hands up raised, when you praise,
Consuming every part because you know
The GOD we serve will make
His presence known, when you praise,
When you praise.

Keep the praises going! God is making His presence known.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope, empowerment

Change Begins With YOU

Shaun Bradford

Change requires change, and that change begins with you. Whatever change you desire to see, start making moves toward that change. Do not stop until …

Change

On this day a year ago, I wrote another blog post titled “Change.” Here’s what I shared then—

“Change requires change.” [Originally shared on August 25, 2023]

This morning, I was torn between sharing this Facebook memory and one from 2018 that said, “Don’t limit God.” Then it dawned on me that both were actually connected. We limit God when we choose not to change. As we know, change isn’t always easy, and most of the time it requires more work than many of us are willing to put in unless we want it badly enough. However, if we truly want to see God do the impossible, we must be willing to release the limits off Him and be ready to change to align with where He’s taking us.

Question: Are you willing to put in the work to change?

Change is what I’ve been experiencing lately. Not in a bad way, but an empowering way. What I wrote last year is exactly what I’m experiencing today—

“We limit God when we choose not to change… if we truly want to see God do the impossible, we must be willing to release the limits off Him and be ready to change to align with where He’s taking us.”

Y’all, God is so good. It always amazes me how He subtly takes us from point A to point B, and we have no clue it’s happening. We may feel something happening, but it doesn’t actually resonate until we see reminders like past posts or journal entries.

I’m so grateful for the change I see in me. I’m embracing it—all of it. I’m so thankful and blessed that God loves me.

Have you experienced anything lately that you asked for or just thought about?

I pray life is treating you kind. Side note: Why am I hearing Whitney singing “I hope life treats you kind…”? I just love my life. It’s so random.

Anyhoo…

Have a wonderfully blessed day. May it be filled with peace, joy, and love.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

hope, trust God

Happy 53 Years & 2 Months To Me🎉

Shaun Bradford

Today, I’m taking a moment to celebrate two months of being 53 years old. Y’all, it’s a blessing that I do not take lightly.

Over the past few weeks, I have witnessed so much suffering, pain, loss, grief, and sadness. So many young lives lost. So many people losing hope. Honestly, seeing it all made me want to retreat into my bubble and disconnect from everything outside my small circle. No matter how much light I tried to fill my timelines with, the more heart-wrenching stories seeped in. It was too much—so overwhelming. I know I can’t disconnect as I did before. I have too much work to do, and my purpose won’t allow it—Not this time!

As I prayed last night, God gave me this message—

You were never meant to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. It’s far too heavy a burden to bear. If you really must help, here’s what …

Release It To God

Today, I’m giving every burden and every care to God and celebrating life.🌺

I pray that you do the same. I know it’s much easier said than done, and I’m pretty sure I’ll have to remind myself to do so throughout the day. Smile, I’m human. But we’ve got this because God’s got us!

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with peace, love, and joy. You deserve it!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration. 

hope

Good Night (71)

Shaun Bradford

Ending the night with Colin Powell’s quote—

“Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”

We must remain optimistic no matter how dismal things may appear. I know on some days it’s easier said than done because right now so many people are hurting. However, we must continue to believe things will get better soon. Y’all, we cannot afford to lose hope. We must remain optimistic.

Wishing you a peaceful night. Please get some rest.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

**Be sure to stop by Shaun’s Daily Inspiration and get your daily dose of inspiration.