Tag: timing

hope

My Journey With God, No. 102

Shaun Bradford

Sitting here reflecting on when my life took a major shift around 10-11 years ago. I was entering my fourth decade of life, and was in the process of getting a divorce. Looking back, I can’t believe I went through and overcame as much as I did. God is so good!

On June 13, 2015, I wrote in my journal that my house was about to be foreclosed on, and I didn’t know where I’d get the money to save it. Well, I never got the money, and it went into foreclosure. That was a difficult year—probably one of my most difficult ones—but I made it.

I started that entry with—

“Thank you Lord for all you’ve done and continue to do. Lord I thank you for grace. I thank you for loving me. So many times I don’t see a way, but you make a way.”

Well, God didn’t make a way in the way I wanted Him to. I lost the house. However, I’ve gained so much more since that loss. The knowledge and experience I’ve gained from multiple setbacks and restarts over the years have only made me stronger.

I ended the entry with a self-discovery that has shaped who I am today. I wrote—

“I’ve tried to be like others, but it didn’t make me happy. Now I’m embracing the true me, the forever evolving me, and I love it, but some don’t. They liked the fake Shaun. Well, I’m me!”

I love how I picked up on and embraced the “forever evolving me.” Because that’s who and what I am. I am forever evolving. Who I am today will not be who I am next week, next year, or ten years from now, and I’m okay with that, because I love being me!

God, thank You for making me, ME!♥️

Shaun

hope

Stay True To Who You Are

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I pray that you’re well.🌸

Here’s one of my Facebook memories from three years ago (June 13, 2022).

“Nothing that is truly for you will require you to betray yourself in order to achieve it.”

I believe this quote to be true. You will never have to betray yourself for whatever is meant for you. What’s meant for you will align with your purpose, which can only be fulfilled by being authentically you. So, stay true to who you are. Everything will come at the right time and fall in line. Believe me, God’s got you!

I pray you have a wonderful day and beautiful weekend. May both be filled with love, joy, peace, and laughter.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

hope

Nothing Wasted

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning☀️

How are you?

I hope you’re doing well.🌸

If you don’t remember anything else, remember this—nothing is ever wasted. Not one thing. Not a single tear. Not a single heartbreak. Not a single setback. Nothing is wasted.

Live!✨

I love you,

Shaun

hope

Blessed… Beyond Blessed

Shaun Bradford

I held my first board meeting as president today.

It feels great to be back.

Pausing to take in God’s presence and goodness.

This is my Year51.

This is my life beyond 50.

“Beyond Blessed” was my theme for my 51st birthday year. Haven’t decided on one for my 52nd year. We shall see.

Year52 is loading…

Beyond Blessed♥️

Shaun

hope

God, Show Me You

Shaun Bradford

Good Morning!☀️

How are you?

I pray that you’re well.🌸

I slept in again! Maybe my body is trying to tell me something. Hmmm… I guess it’s time to practice what I preach and focus more on self-care. Even though I still feel like I’m in my 20s mentally, the reality is I’m getting older. And if I want to see a healthy 100, I need to start making changes now. Which means, I must figure out how to manage my first post. I love writing when I wake up. I always want my “Good Morning” to be an actual first of the day greeting. Anyhoo… we shall see what I decide to do.

On another note, I woke up singing Kirk Franklin and the Family’s song, “Let Me Touch You.” The song says—

When I’m down
Let me touch You
When I’m lonely
Let me touch You
When I’m discouraged
Let me touch You
Like I never have before
Lord, I need You more and more, Jesus
Let me touch You and see if You are real

Such a powerful song! I don’t have to touch Jesus to know that He’s real. I know He’s real. However, lately, I’ve been asking God to show me Himself. I see him in the tiniest of things, but I want to see Him in bigger things where I can say, “Baby, THAT WAS GOD!!!!” And I don’t want it to come in the “I was about to get hit by a car and God saved me” or “I was on my deathbed and God brought me back to life” way. In other words, I don’t want to experience a tragedy for me to say, “That was God!”. No, I want to see Him while I enjoy life.

I thought today’s Facebook memory from three years ago (June 6, 2022) went well with the rest of the post, so I decided to share it here instead of posting it later. Y’all, that rose was perfect. I received it at an event I attended several years ago. The theme of the event was “Beauty for Ashes.”

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am extremely grateful for everything I have and for the way God continuously blesses and loves me. But I desire to see more of Him. And I don’t believe there’s anything wrong with me asking that of Him. I am His child, right?

Okay… I believe I have written enough. I don’t want to publish this any later than I already am. I pray you have a beautiful day and weekend. May they be filled with love, joy, peace, and laughter.♥️

I love you,

Shaun

**I wouldn’t be me if I didn’t mention that my fav has another new movie streaming on Netflix! It’s called Tyler Perry’s STRAW, starring Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, and Sherri Shepherd. I can’t wait to watch it. Check it out!

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