Tag: my journey

hope

June 2, 2019

Shaun Bradford

Since I began the day with a memory from June 2nd, I thought I’d end with one.

Here is what I shared on June 2, 2019.

This photo was taken at Dooky Chase’s restaurant in New Orleans in February 2018.
Taken in October 2014

You will probably see the second picture every year because meeting Marcus Samuelsson and Leah Chase was like God’s hand touching my heart and soul. I had never experienced anything like it before. I simply said I wanted to meet them, and maybe a month or less later, I was with them. After thinking about what I shared in my first post of the day, “June 2, 2014,” I believe that trip set everything into motion. (See my previous post, “June 2, 2014.”)

Anyhoo…

I wish I could have sat down with Chef Leah Chase just one more time, but it never happened. Today, I spent the day with my 83-year-old retired Air Force friend (she’ll be 84 in September). I just love being in her presence. Listening to her reminisce about her earlier years and recent adventures (she loves to travel) makes me smile.

My heart is full.🥰

I hope you had a lovely day, and pray you have a restful night.♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

hope

June 2, 2014

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I pray you’re doing wonderful!🌺

June 2, 2014 at 6:59 AM

I wish I knew what I was thinking at that very moment. I wonder if I had caught a glimpse of my future. I was in New Orleans getting ready for Day Two of my culinary experience. Actually, it was a culinary media training where I was being trained to speak in front of a camera while preparing food. Even though I still haven’t done much with the training, it was a great experience, and I met some wonderful people.

I really do love my life.

I didn’t write anything in my journal on that day; however, when I returned home, I wrote:

“New Orleans was definitely a great professional experience. I came back with a sense of worth. I felt like I could actually accomplish my goals. I now have a different outlook on life & my role in this universe. I am destined for greatness & there’s nothing wrong with it. Thank you God for helping me realize my potential.”

Wow! So many gems in that statement. What an interesting, roller coaster ride of an eleven years it has been, and now I’m here. Here in this time and space. What will I do with it?

Well, that’s all for now. I pray you have a great day and wonderfully blessed week.

I love you!♥️

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I pray that you’re well.🌸

By the way—Welcome to my Birthday Month!😌🎉

For those who don’t know, I LOVE celebrating my birthdays, and I usually celebrate the entire month of June. So, if you don’t like people being extra, you may need to mute me because I tend to celebrate any and everything. Lol. Listen, if a butterfly happens to cross my path and I smile (all it takes is a smile), baby, that’s God’s gift to me and ONLY me.☺️ Yeah… prepare to be sick of me.

I love life.

I love my birthdays.

And I absolutely love my God.

Now that I’m getting older, every day and every year I’m alive feels more and more special. Just knowing that I am still here, and that I am surrounded by love, makes my heart sing praises to my God. Father, I thank You.🙏🏽

The theme I chose for Year51 was “Beyond Blessed,” and I am blessed. I am truly, truly blessed. I’m not sure what this coming year’s theme will be. I still have a few weeks to come up with something. Until then, I hope you’ll stick around and celebrate my month with me. And to everyone celebrating a birthday in June—Happy Birthday Month to YOU! Let’s celebrate!!🎉

I pray you have the most amazing day! May it be filled with pure, unconditional love, indescribable peace, and an abundance of joy. YOU deserve it!♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

Never Settle For Less Than God’s Best

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I hope you’re doing fabulous!🌸

This Facebook memory from three years ago has me smiling.

“YOU are worthy of God’s absolute best. You don’t have to settle for less.”

When I look back over my adulthood, I can list times when I settled for “good enough.” That job was “good enough” because it paid the bills. That relationship was “good enough” because I didn’t have to be alone—but I felt lonely (Whew!). My life was “good enough” because wanting more meant stretching myself and becoming uncomfortable.

I’m smiling because I can see how my life has changed over the past few years, especially since turning 50. That’s when I stopped settling for “good enough” and began striving for THE BEST—the best for ME. Now, my “best” may not be your idea of the best, and that’s okay. For a long time, I made decisions based on what others thought was best for me, leaving me feeling miserable. Y’all, trying to live up to other people’s expectations will drain you mentally as well as physically. Believe me, you breathe a lot easier when you dance to the beat of your own drums. PLUS, I don’t know about you, but God won’t let me settle for less than His best. He just won’t.

Today is the last day of May, which is significant in so many ways. For me, it’s the day that one cycle ends and another begins. Tomorrow, I enter my 52nd birthday month. Praying that God graces me with immeasurable favor and that He blocks every weapon meant to hinder or destroy me or my progression. May He cover me with His love and surround me with His peace and joy. Amen

Repeating my affirmation from three years ago (please feel free to do the same):

“I am worthy. Yes, ME. I am worthy of God’s best.”

I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day. May God’s love and peace surround you and your family.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 97

Shaun Bradford

“Consistent & Sustainable“ were my focus words for 2020.

Today, the word “consistent” has been on my mind, hence the reason for the image above. I had to see if I had shared anything about it lately and happened to find that screenshot in my photos. Now that I see that the word “sustainable” was added, the message is clear.

Nothing is sustainable without consistency.

Talk about a word!

I hear you, God!♥️

Shaun

hope

Hopeful

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I sincerely hope you are well.🌸

Today, I’m doing the same as I did on this day three years ago. I’m keeping the message simple. No frills or extra words needed.

Remain hopeful.🙏🏽

I pray you have a beautiful day and wonderful week. May it be filled with love, joy, and peace.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 96

Shaun Bradford

On this day six years ago (May 26, 2019), I wrote the following—

“Goodbye comfort zone. It’s time to create the life I’ve always dreamed of.”

Then, when I shared it, I added the caption—

“Leaving my comfort zone,” and used the hashtags—Refocusing and Rebuilding.”

I wish I could say everything happened instantaneously, but it took me a while to leave my comfort zone—actually, it took a few years. Believe me, it wasn’t easy. I had become so comfortable where I was.

I’m so glad I made that decision. If I hadn’t, there is no telling what my life would be like today. I needed a change so I could grow. I needed my babies to see me evolving. I owed it to God to use the gifts He’d given me. And I owed it to myself to keep pursuing my dreams and purpose. I needed to become ME.

I am so very grateful for God’s love, grace, and patience with me. He did not give up on me or let me give up on myself. There were so many times when I wanted to quit and settle, but He wouldn’t let me. Y’all, He’s such a good God.

Sitting here in awe.

I’m no longer where I used to be.

I did it! ✨♥️

Shaun

hope

This Is How God Works

Shaun Bradford

This is how God works in my life! When I tell you He loves me!🥰

Short story…

Last night, in my post, “Service Before Self,” I wrote—

“I miss that life [Air Force life]. I miss the camaraderie. We were more than coworkers and colleagues. We were family.”

I ended it with—

“I believe I need to visit an Air Force base soon. I need to see my people.”

Fast forward to God hearing and delivering!

Below is a reply from my friend, who happens to be a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel. Notice the time stamp: Friday, 8:55 PM. That was the time she replied to one of my Facebook stories. Well, I didn’t see it until after 8:00 AM this morning.

After seeing her message, I called her several times, but the calls kept failing. Then, I texted and messaged her, but she never responded. By 8:30, I was heading to her house. When I tell you all kinds of thoughts were going on in my head. “What if she was on the road and her car broke down?” “What if she was hurt or needed me to drive her somewhere?” “What if she had fallen and couldn’t get up?!” She is 84, so it’s possible (plus she’s always joking about it😅). So, what was I supposed to think?

By the time I got to her house, I was in tears and preparing myself for the worst. Her car was in her driveway, so she wasn’t stranded somewhere. I rang the doorbell, and guess who came to the door smiling? It was her, all happy to see me. All I could do was hug her. Y’all, she had forgotten that she had replied to my story. And her message was supposed to say, “Call me” instead of “Car.” Ugh… That crazy autocorrect! And when she said she needed “some help,” she meant she needed help finding something.

Anyhoo… I ended up spending the day with her and having a lovely time. It wasn’t until this afternoon that I realized God had given me what I wanted and needed—time with my Air Force family, and I didn’t have to wait.🥰

I am forever in awe of my God! I cannot express enough how truly grateful and blessed I am.♥️

Shaun

** By the way… THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!!! In exactly ONE MONTH, I will be 52!!!🎉🎉🎉

hope

More Than Conquerors

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I hope you’re well.🌺

Yes, YOU!

All day yesterday and now, this morning, the song that’s been on repeat in my head is Kirk Franklin & the Family’s song, “Conquerors.” The song says—

We ran the race, we kept the fight. We shed our blood for what was right. We carried our cross through storm and rain. Because of Christ now we can say—We are conquerors, conquerors. We are conquerors, conquerors.
. . . More than conquerors. More than conquerors. More than conquerors.

Whatever you may be up against, know that God’s given you the strength to endure and overcome it. You are more than a conqueror.

I pray you have the loveliest of days. Remember, God’s got you.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

Trust, Peace, And Patience

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I hope you’re well.🌸

“Peace is trusting God while patiently waiting through the process …”

“You cannot have peace without patience.”

That’s what I shared four years ago. Today, I feel it more than ever as this side of 50 ticks down. The only way I can maintain the level of peace I have is first to trust God, then remember to be patient. Both are key! There’s so much God is doing while I’m waiting and moving—because I’m definitely moving—through the processes to get to where He’s taking me. Yes, where God’s taking me. I used to try to figure it out, which caused my impatience; however, now, I move and operate under the flow of His guidance.

That’s trust.

That’s patience.

That’s peace.

I pray your patience is bringing you peace. Please have a beautiful day. May it be filled with love, happiness, and joy. And if you need a little more patience, may it be filled with patience too. Smile.♥️

I love you always,

Shaun