May we take a moment to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we not just talk about being the change we want to see in the world, but may we put love into action. Even the smallest act of love, like Matt’s towards me yesterday, can make a big change in someone’s heart, including our own💕🙏💕
With love and hope,
Shawn
Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
- 1 John 3:18
Matt: I am grateful you are my Mom.
Me: 😳 Wow, Matt! I am grateful to be your Mom. Where did that come from?!
Matt: My Sun Chips bag told me I needed to tell someone I am grateful for them. You are the only one here, so I had to say it to you.
Me: 😂 🤗
Well, he didn’t have to say anything at all, so I’ll take it!
I invite you all to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
Let’s follow Matt’s lead and tell someone today we are grateful for them, even if they aren’t our top choice😉
With love and hope,
Shawn
Thanks @sunchips for encouraging my son to live out love today💝
Give thanks in all circumstances
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Prayer is the bridge between panic and peace” - Unknown
May we...
pause. breathe. pray.
And let the peace of God rule our hearts and minds today.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:5-8
May we remember to...
pause. breathe. pray.
And seek the beauty in our day; in our surroundings and in one another.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1
I wouldn’t share this if I hadn’t experienced the truth in these words myself. I share this today in case one of you needed to hear them, or be reminded. If so, I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we tear down the walls of perfection we have subconsciously built, and humbly admit where we are broken. The aim for perfection creates walls that are a cage for our souls, where there is freedom in the broken, in imperfection, in being the real you, and the real me.
God already knows the real us, and he loves us, in our brokenness. Maybe today is the day we let go of fear, admit our brokenness and take a step towards God.
With love and hope,
Shawn
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18
Do you need to calm your soul this morning? Me too.
Rather than watching the news or scrolling through social media, I am purposefully choosing to fix my eyes on Jesus.
Why?
He is able to calm the storm in our soul.
I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we look to Jesus and see how he leads with wisdom, knowledge, humility, courage, truth, integrity, and unwavering character. He was an effective communicator, just, he sits beside those considered outcasts, he walked the walk and was as selfless as they come, to the point of dying for others, including you and me.
Jesus, lead us today. Give us knowledge on how to best reflect your light and love in this messy world, and wisdom to choose a leader who will best reflect your character, and do your will.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. - Matthew 6:9-13
“May we agree to disagree yet still love one another unconditionally.” - @andy_stanley @northpointcommunitychurch
With love and hope,
Shawn
“Above all, love each other deeply...” - 1 Peter 4:8
In this season, may we not forget to...
pause. breathe. pray.
And see that change can be a beautiful thing.
With love and hope,
Shawn
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
- Isaiah 43:18-19
Last night I opened my phone before heading to bed to learn it was national daughters day. I felt this overwhelming sense of failure for not posting about my wonderful daughter. I was about to sit with my phone to find the right pic to post and the right words to write about her, but instead I...
paused. breathed. prayed.
And recognized where I needed to be was offline, beside my daughter, wishing her a national daughters day.
I share this with you today in case you can relate to how I felt last night. We see something online and feel like we need to post something. The pull of social media can rule my heart.
If you can relate, I invite you to join me to...
pause. breathe. pray.
May we not allow what is on social media to rule our hearts but instead allow God’s peace, truth and love to rule our hearts. May we know that we are not less than, nor is the relationship less than, if we don’t say something on social media. There are so many of the national “days” we will inevitably miss some of them. That doesn’t mean our love for those people in our lives in less than if we don’t post about it online. The real connections we need most are the offline, in person connections. May we never forget to make those first. And if we choose to share online, may it be from the peace in our heart, and not the expectation of what social media is calling for us to be and/or do.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. - Colossians 3:15
Thank you @bravelikegabe for keeping @gigrunewald ‘s legacy alive, and for all you do for our ACC community💕🙏💕
Repost with @make_repost
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In 2017, Shawn, a mom of three, was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma when a tumor was found in her nasal cavity and upper palate. She underwent a surgery to remove the tumor, which included removing her palate. She now wears an artificial palate called an obturator. “My experience has given me great compassion for others with invisible wounds. I realize we all walk around with them, in some way shape or form. I am truly grateful to be able to use what I learned with my walk with ACC to come beside others, and encourage them through whatever they may be walking through.”
Shawn is an inspirational author and speaker who dedicates her cancerversaries to helping others. On the one year anniversary of completing treatment, she launched her book, Our Struggles Have Purpose, which describes 55 life lessons she learned through her walk with cancer, from diagnosis through the end of treatment. “I wholeheartedly believe my struggles have led me to my deeper purpose; to love others beside me, from family to strangers, and to encourage those next in line.”
Shawn’s husband helped her stay active throughout treatment, arranging a place for her to stay where she could walk 3 miles to and from treatment every day. She found nourishment in the fresh air and routine walk in nature. Shawn describes this as finding what her body is able to do to take care of her mind and spirit. “Find what you like to do, and what you are able to do, and go and do it. By doing what we are able to do isn’t just for our body’s wellbeing, but will help nourish us within as well.”
Shawn, thank you for sharing your story and lifting up those around you. We can be #BraveLikeShawn today by walking, wheeling, or running some miles for ourselves and for those we love!
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