Author: Shaunelius Sterns

I have been married to my wonderful husband for 21 years now. I am a Christian, poet, singer, songwriter, and artist. I have five beautiful children. I enjoy writing and reading my Bible. I also love to pray for others. I love nature and being outside on sunny days. I love spending time with my family and watching shows that makes me laugh.

Advancing and Improving

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Inspirational Video

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Scars In Heaven : A Place for Healing, Hope, and Eternal Perspective

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Scars in Heaven Group Invitation

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Scars in Heaven Group Invite

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Scars in Heaven

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Inspirational Prayer

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Wellness Warriors Group Invitation

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🌿 Wellness Warriors: Who We Are and What We Stand For

In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and neglect the most important thing we have—our health. That’s where Wellness Warriors comes in. We are more than just a community; we are a movement of individuals committed to living well, staying balanced, and supporting one another on the journey toward lasting health and vitality.

💪 Who We Are

Wellness Warriors is a group of health-conscious individuals who believe that wellness isn’t a one-time achievement, but a daily practice. We are people of different ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles who share a common mission: to make healthier choices every day and inspire others to do the same.

Our name says it all—we are warriors for our own health. We face challenges head-on, whether that’s managing stress, staying active, improving our nutrition, or maintaining mental clarity. And just like warriors, we don’t fight alone—we stand side by side, encouraging one another to keep going.

🌱 What We Stand For

At our core, Wellness Warriors is built on five guiding values:

1 Holistic Health – We believe in caring for the whole person: mind, body, and spirit. True wellness means balance in all areas of life.

2 Community Support – Together, we are stronger. We lift each other up, share our experiences, and celebrate victories—big or small.

3 Sustainable Living – We value habits and practices that support long-term health, not quick fixes.

4 Positive Mindset – We embrace optimism and gratitude as powerful tools for mental and emotional well-being.

5 Growth & Learning – We stay open to new knowledge, wellness practices, and ways to improve ourselves.

🥦 What We Do to Stay Healthy

Wellness Warriors is more than just a name—it’s a lifestyle. We commit to practices that keep us thriving, and while everyone’s journey looks different, here are some of the ways we stay healthy together:

1.

Nutritious Eating

We fuel our bodies with wholesome foods—fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. We share recipes, meal-prepping tips, and encouragement to choose foods that nourish instead of drain us.

2.

Staying Active

Movement is medicine. Some of us love walking, others prefer yoga, weight training, or dance. Whatever the form, we celebrate staying active as a key to strong bodies and sharp minds.

3.

Mental Wellness

We take mental health seriously. Wellness Warriors practice mindfulness, journaling, prayer, meditation, and gratitude exercises. A healthy mind is just as important as a healthy body.

4.

Self-Care Rituals

We don’t just push hard—we also rest and recharge. Whether it’s skincare routines, relaxing baths, or unplugging from social media, we honor the need to pause and care for ourselves.

5.

Accountability & Encouragement

Most importantly, we hold each other accountable. We share our progress, cheer one another on, and provide the gentle push needed when motivation fades.

🌟 Why It Matters

Being a Wellness Warrior isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. We know life comes with ups and downs, but we choose to rise every time. Each healthy choice we make builds resilience, and each step forward inspires someone else to take their own.

Together, we stand as proof that wellness is not just a goal—it’s a lifestyle worth fighting for.

✨ Final Word

At Wellness Warriors, we believe health is wealth, and true strength comes from within. By standing together, supporting each other, and committing to daily healthy practices, we are shaping not only our own lives but also inspiring those around us.

We are strong.

We are balanced.

We are resilient.

We are Wellness Warriors.

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Do Not Be Anxious

Do not be Anxious

Adapted from the ESV Men’s and ESV Women’s Devotional Bibles

The high point of the Sermon on the Mount may be Matthew 6:33:

“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

But first, Jesus engages the gods that keep us from seeking the kingdom: reputation (vv. 1–4, 16–18), wealth (vv. 19–24), and security (vv. 25–32).

The section on wealth concludes not with a command, “Don’t serve money,” but with a choice: “No one can serve two masters. … You cannot serve God and money” (v. 24). Jesus speaks to disciples who have chosen God: having taken that step of faith, they need not be anxious about material things like food or clothing (v. 25). The command “Do not be anxious” (or “Don’t worry”) appears in the beginning, middle, and end of this passage (vv. 25, 31, 34).

Jesus explains why disciples shouldn’t worry:

1. We shouldn’t worry because, “is not life more than food” (v. 25). Since God cares for all parts of life, he surely cares for our material needs.

2. Since God cares for his lesser creatures, such as birds, he surely cares for us, his children (v. 26).

3. Worry accomplishes nothing. It can’t lengthen life and may shorten it (v. 27).

4. God adorns flowers with unmatched beauty, and he clothes grass faithfully. Flowers and grass are symbols of the brevity and fragility of life (Isa. 40:7). Life is fragile, but if God cares for plants, he will protect us, despite our little faith.

Jesus’ disciples have faith, but their worry proves the weakness of their faith. Great faith comes not by looking inward, to the believing self, but by looking upward, to God. By faith we stop thinking like pagans, filled with anxiety about food and clothing. Pagans, thinking like orphans, worry. Disciples, thinking like children, relax.

Anxiety may not always be sinful. It’s wrong to tally our worries or let them congeal into one mass of anxiety (1 Pet. 5:7), but Paul had a proper anxiety (same Greek word) for all his churches (2 Cor. 11:28). Paul felt concerned, but he apparently saw his anxiety as a problem, not as a sin. There is a form of concern that is not sinful, as we take that concern to God.

Then, as faith quiets our fears, we find God’s will and follow it. We may plan for tomorrow’s food, but we don’t worry, knowing the Father supplies every need. Liberated from worry, we seek his kingdom and righteousness.

— Written by Dan Doriani

Access more Devotional teachings for your time in God’s Word with the ESV Men’s and ESV Women’s 

I shared this article because it is filled with wisdom, and knowledge. We live in a world where we experience stress, depression, worry, and anxiety. Jesus doesn’t want us to worry about unnecessary things like what we will eat, or what we will drink, or wear. God provides everything we need just as He provides for the birds of the air, and the flowers in the fields, are we not more important than they? We are important to God. We are His creation. He loves us more than our minds can fathom. It is all right to be concerned about something or someone, but to worry is a sin. What do we have to worry about that God cannot handle? What do we have to fear that God can’t protect us from? Nothing. That’s right, Nothing. God is all-powerful. He holds the whole world in His hands, and what makes us think that He won’t provide for us, and protect us? We are loved beyond recognition and that will never change. God’s love and provision for us endures forever. With that being said, and as always, thank you for joining me on my journey with Food for the Soul. Have a blessed week in the Lord.🙏🏾❤️✝️

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Defining Lukewarm

Defining Lukewarm

Adapted from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. —Revelation 3:14-17

For years, many of us have misunderstood what Jesus meant when He called the Laodicean church “lukewarm.”

We’ve been taught that being “hot” means being passionate for God, “cold” means being hostile to God, and “lukewarm” describes Christians who are spiritually apathetic or halfhearted. But this interpretation misses the profound geographic and cultural context that would have been crystal clear to the original audience.

This is why understanding the background of the Bible is so important.

The Water Crisis of Laodicea

Picture the wealthy city of Laodicea, boasting of its resources and self-sufficiency. Yet beneath this prosperity lay a fundamental problem that every citizen lived with daily: their water was utterly useless.

Just six miles north, the city of Hierapolis was famous for its hot mineral springs. These steaming waters cascaded down white travertine cliffs, creating natural therapeutic baths that drew people from across the region. Hot water had a purpose: it healed, it cleansed, it restored.

Eleven miles to the east, Colossae was renowned for its cold, pure mountain waters. Crystal clear and refreshing, these waters satisfied thirst and revived weary travelers. Cold water had purpose: it refreshed, it satisfied, it gave life.

But what about Laodicea, you might ask?

Despite all their wealth, they had to pipe in their water through Roman aqueducts from springs five miles away. By the time this mineral-heavy water reached the city, it arrived (you guessed it) lukewarm: too cool for therapeutic bathing, too warm for a refreshing drink. Archaeological evidence still shows us the calcified pipes, thick with lime deposits, a testament to water that served no useful purpose.

CALCIFIED WATER PIPES AT LAODICEA

Image of calcified water pipes at Laodicea from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary

The Real Meaning of Lukewarm

When Jesus said, “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot,” He wasn’t expressing a preference for spiritual hostility over spiritual apathy. He was using a metaphor every Laodicean would instantly understand.

Their lukewarm water was useless: it couldn’t heal like the hot springs of Hierapolis, and it couldn’t refresh like the cold streams of Colossae. It was functionally worthless, good for nothing except to be spat out in disgust.

Jesus wasn’t talking about the temperature of their passion. He was talking about the effectiveness of their faith.

Useless Christianity

The Laodicean Christians weren’t lacking zeal; they were lacking impact. Their works were barren and ineffective. Like their city’s lukewarm water, their faith served no useful purpose. It didn’t bring healing to the broken like hot water, and it didn’t bring refreshment to the spiritually thirsty like cold water.

These believers probably attended church regularly. They likely participated in religious activities. But their Christianity was functionally useless. It didn’t transform lives, didn’t meet needs, didn’t advance God’s kingdom, and didn’t reflect His character to a watching world.

This is what made Jesus want to “spit them out of His mouth”. Not their lack of enthusiasm, but their lack of effectiveness.

The Self-Sufficient Trap

Laodicea’s wealth had bred a dangerous self-sufficiency. “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” they declared. But Jesus saw their true condition: “You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

When we become comfortable in our prosperity, whether material, spiritual, or social, we risk falling into the same trap. We maintain the appearance of faith while losing its transformative power. We become like lukewarm water: present but pointless, existing but not effective.

A Call to Usefulness

Jesus doesn’t want you to choose between being passionately hot or hostilely cold. He wants your faith to be useful. He wants your Christianity to accomplish something meaningful in His kingdom and in the lives of others.

Will your faith be like hot water: bringing healing, restoration, and cleansing to those who are hurting? Will it be like cold water: offering refreshment, encouragement, and life to those who are spiritually thirsty?

Or will it be lukewarm: technically present but practically useless, maintained but meaningless, claiming the name of Christ but accomplishing nothing in His name?

The Choice Before Us

The call to the Laodicean church, and to us, isn’t to manufacture religious excitement or choose spiritual indifference. It’s to make our faith effective. It’s to ensure that our relationship with Christ translates into real impact for His kingdom and genuine service to others.

Don’t let your Christianity become lukewarm water, present but powerless, claimed but ineffective. Let it be hot with healing grace or cold with refreshing truth. Let it be useful in the hands of the One who calls you to follow Him not just in name, but in transformative action.

The question isn’t whether you’re passionate enough. The question is whether your faith accomplishes anything that matters for eternity. That’s what Jesus is really asking of His church, not more temperature, but more effectiveness.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” – Revelation 3:20

If you benefited from this explanation of Jesus’s use of Lukewarm, consider gaining similar insights from the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary—On sale this week!

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Fetch Invite.

Turn basically anything you do into gift cards with Fetch. Earn at stores, restaurants and shopping online. Even playing free games. Download Fetch with my link or use code 6W7P4Q to get a bonus when you submit your first receipt.
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Revelation 21:4 Devotional

Today’s verse comes from Revelation 21:4, a verse that offers profound comfort and hope to all believers. This scripture is a promise from God that a time is coming when all pain and suffering will cease, and all tears will be wiped away. This promise is set in the context of the new heaven and new earth, where the former things – the pains and trials of this world – have passed away.

In our current reality, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sorrows and difficulties that we face. Whether it’s personal loss, physical pain, or emotional distress, the challenges of life can sometimes feel unending. But the promise in Revelation 21:4 is a reminder that these things are temporary. As believers, we have a future hope that is secure and glorious, where God Himself will comfort us and remove all sources of pain.

The assurance of God’s future promise also invites us to reflect on His present faithfulness. Even now, He is with us, offering comfort and strength in our trials. Each challenge is an opportunity to trust Him more deeply and to experience His faithfulness. This verse encourages us not to lose heart but to hold onto the hope that is set before us.

Moreover, this scripture opens our eyes to the heart of God. He is not indifferent to human suffering. The God we serve is one of compassion and mercy, who is actively working towards a future where sorrow and pain have no place. This truth can transform how we live today, inspiring us to act with compassion towards others, knowing that we are all part of a larger, divine narrative that ends in healing and restoration.

Let us pray:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise of a future without pain, where every tear will be wiped away. Help us to hold onto this hope in our daily struggles and let it guide how we treat others. Teach us to rely on Your strength and comfort as we await the fulfillment of Your promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Do you have any questions about today’s verse?

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Vogue Vibes Group Invitation

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Fashionistas Unite Group Invitation

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Spiritual Lifestyle Group Invitation

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Spiritual Fitness Group

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Group Invitation

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The Poets Poetry Group

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Summer Dreamin’

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The Responsibilities of the CDC: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

“The Responsibilities of the CDC”, including how it continues to combat COVID-19 through monitoring variants, science-based interventions, and public health guidance—complete with answers to your key questions and inspiration for future generations.

The Responsibilities of the CDC: Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the United States’ national public health agency, tasked with safeguarding the public through disease control, injury prevention, health promotion, and more . Its role has never been more essential than during the ongoing COVID-19 landscape.

1. Monitoring Variants: Staying Ahead of the Virus

COVID-19 has not disappeared—it continues to evolve. The CDC is at the forefront of variant surveillance, using the National SARS-CoV-2 Strain Surveillance system and collaborating with WHO and other agencies to track variants such as NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus), XFG (Stratus), KP.3.1.1, and XEC . Recent news confirms a rising surge driven by the “Stratus” variant, with infection levels increasing across 45 states, even as hospitalizations and deaths remain low .

2. Vaccinations: Are They Still Necessary?

Yes—vaccines remain our most powerful defense. The CDC strongly endorses updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccines for everyone aged 6 months and older, with particular emphasis on adults, older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those seeking to minimize Long COVID risk . However, recent guidance has shifted: recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women are now framed as “shared decision-making” rather than a firm endorsement .

3. Masks, Distancing, and Preventive Actions: A Flexible Approach

The CDC continues advocating core prevention strategies, especially during periods of heightened transmission. These include staying up to date with vaccines, practicing good hygiene, maintaining cleaner indoor air, and staying home when ill . While broad mask mandates are no longer in place, masks remain recommended in crowded or high-risk indoor settings. Social distancing is likewise situational—not universally mandated, but encouraged when community spread is high or for vulnerable populations.

4. Treatment & Scientific Innovation

Beyond monitoring and vaccination, the CDC enhances public safety by supporting early testing and treatment access—especially antiviral therapies like Paxlovid, which remain effective despite evolving variants . The CDC’s scientific teams conduct lab-based evaluation of variant impacts on diagnostics, treatments, and vaccine efficacy .

Connecting Past, Present, and Future

Have things changed since the early pandemic?

Absolutely. In the beginning, strict lockdowns, blanket masks, and emergency-use vaccines were essential. Now, with most of the population having some immunity and access to treatments, strategies have shifted toward precision and flexibility. That said, vaccination, testing, isolation when sick, and mask use in certain contexts are still critical tools—not relics.

Will future generations still need to act?

Yes. The CDC’s responsibilities—surveillance, updating vaccines, guiding public health actions—will persist. Future families will rely on annual boosters, improved treatments, and scientific advancement to stay ahead of COVID and emerging threats. The agency’s push for sustainability in vaccine development and rapid variant adaptation ensures readiness ahead.

Call to Action

• Stay informed—check credible CDC updates regularly.

• Stay vaccinated—follow current guidance for you and your loved ones—even if booster policy shifts, immunity wanes, and new variants emerge.

• Stay cautious—mask up in crowded indoor settings, practice good hygiene, and stay home when you’re sick.

• Advocate for science—support continued funding for CDC research and public health infrastructure despite political pressures.

Reflections & Words of Wisdom

In a world forever changed by COVID-19, we often underestimate the quiet guardians of our health. The CDC remains that guardian—transforming from an agency of emergency response into one of evolution, balance, and resilience.

Let this be our guiding thought: “Science is not just about answers—it’s about asking the right questions, staying curious, and protecting the trust between knowledge and community.”

COVID-19 isn’t over, but it’s not in charge. The CDC continues to listen, learn, and lead—knowing that tomorrow’s safety depends on choices we make today.

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