Tag: Sunday

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

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy 50 years 6 months to me!!! Yes…I am 50 1/2 years old and beyond grateful to see this day. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine living this long. I never dreamt of age 50. As a child, 50 was old and who as a child dreamed of being old? I know I didn’t. If I can remember, most of my dreams were centered around my 20s and early 30s. Now, lo and behold, I am over 50! How awesome is that! Y’all, God is absolutely amazing!

As always, my Facebook memories are sooo timely. This memory from two years ago nicely sums up the last six months of my celebration.

Facebook Memory: December 24, 2021

Here is a quote from Michelle Obama’s “Becoming.” I believe questioning our worth is a natural part of our growth process. Whenever we take on new tasks, or decide to move beyond our comfort zone, part of us wonder, “Am I good enough?” Well, I am here to tell you that you are. You are good enough and you are more than equipped to handle whatever comes your way. You got this!

Yes, I am enough. I am continuously evolving and becoming the woman God created me to be.♥️

Over the past six months, I have had some very interesting experiences. Experiences that had me questioning God’s intentions. Had me asking more questions than I have ever asked Him before to include am I equipped to handle situations. And y’all, I have encountered some really interesting situations since turning 50. Listen, when I asked for this side of 50 to be completely different from the last, I had no idea what I was asking for (laughing), but God did. Shaking my head. My life and its adventures…

As I wrote two years ago—which I now know was a message for my future self—I am good enough. I am more than equipped to handle whatever comes my way. I’ve got this!

As I write, I cannot help but smile and praise God because I am truly blessed. Y’all, I am 50 1/2 years old and still here and healthy and loved. My babies are well and flourishing. My siblings and their families are all healthy and happy. My friends and family are still here. What more could I ask for. Again, I am so very blessed.

I have six more months left in my jubilee year. I do not know what’s to come; however, I do know that whatever comes God is good and I am covered. Y’all, God’s covering is everything. And His peace!!! Listen, there is none like it. You better get you some!

I pray you have a beautifully, blessed Sunday. Love you, always.♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Happy Sunday, y’all!

Since I began posting twice or more a day, I have not had much to write about on Sundays. Sundays used to be my spill day. Now I share all week long. Maybe I need to redefine what I share on Sundays. Maybe I will make it a theme day. I don’t know. We have two Sundays left in 2023, which means I have a little over two weeks to decide if I am going to give you a different “Hello Sunday.” Since I am switching things up for Year50, I might as well switch it up too.

By the way, I will be 50 1/2 (smile) next Sunday! Will give you an update on how the past month and last six months have gone. Just know that God is still working on me. Baby, I feel like I have been in some kind of spiritual boot camp. I guess this is what a jubilee year actually feels like. It’s the part no one mentions.

Anyhoo… here is a little something I wrote in my journal entry on December 17, 2014, which is quite indicative of my oh so wonderful jubilee experience. Can’t you feel the sarcasm? But hey, it is my world, right? Don’t know why I expected different. Laughing

Journal Entry: December 17, 2014

Remember God works in the supernatural! Facts vs Faith. Choose faith!

Guess I was hyping myself up! Laughing. Most of my life I have chosen faith over facts. Yes, way before I had the relationship I now have with God. Doing so has always drove realists and pessimists crazy. Y’all, I cannot help it. It’s in me. Not saying I do not have doubts—because I do have doubts—but faith always win. Always! So why change now? Nah…won’t do it. Cannot afford to. I must continue to choose faith, even if it seems like Crazy Faith, as Pastor Mike Todd calls it.

This is all for now. Thank you for reading. I pray you have a lovely Sunday.

Be Blessed♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

Woke up in the middle of the night because it was storming. I could hear the rain pouring down and the wind blowing. We had had tornadoes and tennis ball sized hail reported in different areas of our state so I knew it was probably bad outside. Instead of getting up and looking out the window or looking at the weather app, as I would typically do, I rolled over and went back to sleep. Said I would worry about the weather if or when the weather alerts and sirens sounded—which never happened. Right now it’s very calm out. The storm has passed and there is no more rain in the forecast.

I believe my experience is an example of how things should play out when we encounter storms in our lives. We should not worry or panic but give them to God. Then, we should rest in Him knowing He has us covered.

Right now, Greg O’Quin ‘n Joyful Noyze’s song, I Told the Storm, is playing over and over in my head. Here is a snippet of it:

Even though your winds blow
I want you to know
You cause me no alarm
‘Cause I’m safe in His arms
Even though your rain falls
I can still make this call
Let there be peace
Now I can say go away
I command you to move today
Because of faith
I have a brand new day
The sun will shine
And I will be okay
That’s what I told the storm

I told the storm (told the storm, storm, storm, oh yes I did)
To pass (ohh ohhhh)
Storm you can’t last (you’ve got to go, yeah)
Go (go away) away (I command)
I command you to move today (you to move, ohh yeah)
Storm (oh storm yeah)
When God speaks (when my God speaks)
Storm (you don’t have a choice in the matter)
You have to cease (you have to cease, yes that’s…)
That’s what I told the storm (what I told the storm)
Lyrics: Musixmatch

Y’all, we must speak to our storms and let them know we are covered by THE almighty God. They may toss us around, but they will never destroy us. Amen

I pray you have a wonderfully, blessed week. I will be back later with another post.

Love You Always♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

This memory is the perfect follow up to how Beyoncé’s film left me feeling last night. Y’all, I can’t even make this stuff up. Who knew my next memory and message (why do I hear DJ Khaled saying, “God did!”—hilarious) was going to be a reminder that I was created for greatness. Not in an egotistical way, but in a way where I have to stop playing small. It is absolutely imperative that I use every God given talent I have to fulfill my purpose—to fulfill His purpose. I keep telling y’all Year50 is different. It’s so different that sometimes it frightens me. I said I wanted the next 50+ years to be completely different and Voila! it is so.

Facebook Memory: December 3, 2022

Sometimes you have to remind yourself that you were created for greatness. Nothing but greatness follows you. Remember, YOU ARE God’s child!♥️

God’s child. Divinely made. ONE of one.

Praying you have a wonderful day. Remember, YOU were created for greatness. Stop shying away from your calling.

Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

This time I remembered it was Sunday. I don’t know what I was thinking last Sunday. Laughing

I didn’t really know what to write for today’s Hello Sunday so I went searching for inspiration. Well, I didn’t have to search long. When I opened X (I really wish he wouldn’t have rebranded Twitter), I had a notification that someone had retweeted one of my tweets from months ago. It was a comment I had made during former First Lady Michelle Obama’s book tour for The Light We Carry. It was a quote from her father—“You fall. You get up. You keep moving.”

Your faith will sustain you.

That’s today’s message–

You fall. It happens. Life happens.

You get up. Brush yourself off. Your story isn’t over.

You keep moving. That was only a small part of your story. God has so much more in store. Soooo much more.

Praying you have a wonderful Sunday. I love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Ask! It’s That Simple

Shaun Bradford
It’s really that simple. Ask!

That was the post I shared last year—November 19, 2022. The segment below is what I also shared that day when I reposted a picture of me meeting Senator Cory Booker at a political event on November 19, 2018. Not going to share that picture (laughing) because I was cheesing so hard that gum was hanging out the corner of my mouth. Y’all I was so happy about that meeting and here’s why.

Facebook Memory: November 19, 2022

I’m going to share this memory EVERY time it pops up because it’s a reminder for me that God does listen and answer. Sometimes I find myself focusing so much on the big things I’ve asked for and received that I forget about the smaller things in between.

About a week or so before this picture was taken, I casually mentioned to a friend that I wanted to meet Cory Booker. The next thing I knew, he was making a quick stop in Hattiesburg. I needed this memory, this reminder that no request is too big for God to fill.

Y’all, God hears us and He does answer. We don’t have to beg for what we want, just ask and leave it alone. We don’t have to find ways to help Him make it happen. Just ask and leave it alone. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.

That meeting was pretty cool because it showed me the power of a simple ask, as well as the love, kindness and grace of God. Y’all, I just love the way He loves me. His gifts are always tailored just for me. They make me feel like a child opening gifts on Christmas morning—I be so giddy.

A year earlier, I wanted to meet someone else and a few weeks later I met them—in Hattiesburg. I didn’t even have to leave town. God sent both of them to me. How wonderful was that!

Anyhoo…I am so grateful for that memory and reminder that nothing is impossible. All I have to do is ask. That’s love.

Okay…now I’m crying.

My prayer for you is that you experience God’s love as well. Those were examples of pretty big gifts; however, every day I receive gifts. Every single day. And I attempt to acknowledge all of them such as being alive, safe, loved, and healthy. My kids are safe and healthy. These are amazing gifts! I am truly blessed.

That’s all I have right now. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday and blessed week.

Love you!♥️

Shaun

Life

Hello Sunday

Shaun Bradford

I believe I will make the following Facebook memory my screensaver. I am finishing up two papers that are due by the end of the day, and I need the encouragement.

Facebook Memory: November 12, 2022

YOU were born to WIN! I love you and God loves you too. Have a blessed day!♥️

I was born to WIN, and so were you!

On another note, so many exciting things are happening this week! Besides this being the final day of this term (Woohoo!), two of my besties are turning 50 this week. One has a birthday tomorrow, November 13th, and the other on Tuesday, November 14th (friends since age 2 –♥️). Then on Friday, November 17th, a documentary about my fave (added the “e” for those who cringe when I write “fav”), Mr. Tyler Perry, will premiere on Amazon Prime Video – Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story. Woohoo!

This is going to be some week!♥️

Shaun

Life

Just Had to Share

Shaun Bradford

This isn’t going to be long. Just watched this message by Pastor Steven Furtick. When I tell you it’s confirmation that I cannot give up. Y’all, I am not too late or too old to achieve my goals and dreams. Everything will happen according to God’s plan and timing.

I just love the way God loves me. This message was just for me.♥️

Here’s Pastor Furtick’s message: The Limp Won’t Make You Late.

Shaun