hope

Five Years with Mississippi Thriving

Whew! When I tell you God knows how to keep the tears of gratitude flowing. I hadn’t expected to see this memory today.

Just thought I’d include the picture too.☺️

Five years ago, I created the social media platform Mississippi Thriving to help individuals, agencies, and organizations share helpful and healthful information with Mississippians. I also wanted it to serve as a resource hub for our communities and a place where people outside Mississippi could visit to see the positive things happening in our state. Statistically and politically, Mississippi looks pretty bad; however, in reality, we’re moving and making progress—slow progress, but progress. Maybe it’s not noteworthy to the world, but it means everything to us.


Y’all, God is so good. Only He knew how much I needed to see this memory today. I just love how He loves me.🥰

Forever grateful and blessed.♥️

Shaun

hope

Transformation

** Had this already scheduled to post before I found out President Carter passed. Was going to reschedule it but won’t. I pray that this message encourages someone to allow God to move in their lives. I love y’all!!♥️


We’re only days from 2025, and a change is already happening. I know you can feel it because I surely can!

It’s the feeling of God transforming you into who you were created to be. Don’t resist it. Instead, lean into it and allow Him to work.

Love you!♥️

Shaun

♥️

hope

Remember Your Why and Your Purpose

You got this, and God’s got you!

Remember your “Why” and your purpose, and never stop pursuing them. You have the Greatest of greats—the Almighty God—backing you, AND YOU are His child. Don’t let anything stop you, not even you. Smile

Keep going!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 45

While looking through an old notebook that I was using as a journal and as a study guide (not sure why I was using one notebook for both😩), I found a letter I had written but never sent to my sister. Here’s a snippet of what I wrote.

30 January 1993

At the time, I was 19 years old and stationed at Ramstein AB, Germany. Y’all, I was just a baby. However, even back then, I made note of gems that I still live by today:

  1. True happiness can only be found within. (Thanks, Master Splinter)
  2. God will place us where we desire to be, but it’s our responsibility to make things happen. (A good one, right?!)
  3. Life isn’t easy… but it’s so worth living.

As I mentioned in the letter, I was where I had always dreamed of being, but I wasn’t doing anything with the opportunity I had been given. Looking back, I realize no one in my circle had the same or similar goals or dreams. So, instead of venturing out and doing my own thing, I adapted to their world. From what I had written—“I don’t have any goals anymore.”—I believe I had lost hope.

How sad…

But very eye opening.

It’s so important that we surround ourselves with like-minded people or our dreams and aspirations will suffer. Or…we must be strong enough to venture out and do our own thing to keep our dreams alive.

Life is interesting and God is good.

Forever grateful for His wisdom and love.♥️

Shaun

hope

Hello Sunday

Good Morning!☀️

Can you believe we’ve already reached the end of 2024?! This year flew by, but by the grace of God, we’re still here! Hallelujah, we are still here.🙏🏽


On December 29, 2021, I shared—

“Your next chapter will be AMAZING! Receive it. Speak it – “My next chapter will be AMAZING!” Own it!”

I’m smiling because I spoke it, received it, and now I’m owning it. I’m not sure when I stopped viewing my life as chapters in a book. Maybe it was during or after the COVID pandemic, or maybe it was last year, my Year 50. All I know is I haven’t thought about another chapter or looked forward to something AMAZING in years. I don’t have to because I’m already living in it. My life is already AMAZING—it just keeps getting better!

Y’all, I am absolutely loving this side of 50! Thank You, Lord, for making this side different and better than I ever imagined.


Now, don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with viewing your life in the context of chapters. As you can see, I also did. However, I’ve reached a point where I try to find the AMAZING in everyday moments instead of waiting for it to miraculously show up in the future. Life is just too precious and short to keep waiting for something amazing to happen when it’s already happening now. Just look around and you’ll see it. Then, once you see it, receive it and own it. It’s yours!

That’s all I have for you now. Wishing you an AMAZING, relaxing Sunday.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

The Time Is Now!

That’s how I ended my journal entry on December 28, 2014—“The time is now!!”

I wrote—

“2015 is only days away, am I ready? This is a must, not a want!! Get moving Shaun. Let God be your guide. I know you feel lost but you got this. The time is now!!”

I just love reading past journal entries. I swear they were written for me today. Baby, if no one else was going to motivate me, I was definitely going to motivate myself.

Today, I’m only days from 2025—I can’t believe it’s been ten years! Unlike ten years ago, I no longer feel lost or unsure about being ready. Nope, not this time. This time, I’m ready, moving, and God is guiding my every step. This time, the time is now!!

Ain’t God alright?!

Beyond Blessed♥️

Shaun