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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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One Size Fits All

The blinking cursor on the facebook screen asks “What’s on your mind?” I wonder how the status updates would change if people were instead asked: “What’s on your heart?”

My heart has been so heavy lately; feeling like silly putty – stretched and distended. How apt the familiar term “heavy-hearted” is. I’m not even sure how to put the aching of my heart into words on a page, but, as the Bible says, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” This has been on my heart for such a while that my heart is spilling over as my mouth is trying to catch it and filter it. I pray that the words of my mouth are capable of doing the feelings of my heart justice.

In a word. Love. That’s the bottom-line of the disquiet of my heart. Why are we so wrapped up in what we want, who we think we are, what we think we need…deserve, even— that we seem to have lost sight of love? I am heartsick over the fact that we, as Christians, are too often so caught up in ourselves that we don’t even notice the ones around us who are quietly suffering.  Worse yet, we recognize it and choose not to respond.

I was doing a Bible study recently that asked the question “What does it mean to be clothed in Christ?” I wrote down my immediate thoughts and moved on to the next question, but later that week, the Lord brought this question back to mind as I was doing laundry. Our clothing is very personal to us; we take time to pick out the things that flatter our figures, that  fit perfectly, and that represent our personalities. So much of my wardrobe I pamper, washing it on the delicate cycle, hanging it up to dry.

God met me there that afternoon, right in my laundry room. Our clothing is personal to us because it represents us. We carefully choose it. Being “Clothed in Christ” is a very intimate and personal thing, like being clothed in our most flattering dress, or our favorite pair of jeans. What we are clothed in is how we represent ourselves to the world. Do we represent Jesus? Does Jesus fit like our favorite pair of jeans? Are we carefully choosing to clothe ourselves in Christ?

Is He so intimately close to us that He is what represents us, that when others see us, they don’t see that pretty new sweater — they see grace?

I’ve had this song running through my mind for weeks now – you know it: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. It’s the only thing that there’s just too little of…”

How my heart aches for a world where we are able to get outside of ourselves. Oh that we’d be broken-hearted at the realization that there are people, precious sisters and brothers in Christ, who are hurting—who need for us to come alongside them, and just love them. Reserve judgment, give them the acknowledgement that they need, and just be clothed in Jesus. What a selfish people we are if we are apathetic to that. What breaks God’s heart should break our hearts. God forgive us.

It’s so troubling to me to see Christians not encouraging one another. Why is the love missing so often? Do we even recognize it as a lack of love? Why the comparisons? Seriously, why the competition? God knew what He was doing when He handed out spiritual gifts, why aren’t we supporting each other in our callings more often, rather than being competitive? I long to see a world where we embrace the gifts that God has created each of us for, and allow one another to shine…because as members of the same “Body of Christ”, it is ultimately He who shines. We all share the same ultimate purpose. His purpose.

Why does it seem as if we are often lacking the confidence that realizes that your success is my success, and vice-versa? Can love and pride coexist? I don’t know that they are compatible. I see pride as the antithesis of confidence. Loving each other, supporting each other, rejoicing with each other–That. Let us be confident in that.

Lately, it’s my heart’s desire to see us, as Christians, loving each other more. Not paying lip service to love, but really, realllly loving each other. In sacrificial ways. In genuine Jesus-jeans ways. How can we love the world when we, often, aren’t stepping outside of ourselves enough to love each other well? I want my Jesus to fit perfectly; I want to wear Him well. I want less of me and more of Him.  flower

 

(Originally written October 2011)

 

 

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Never can there be too many magnolia pictures. . S Never can there be too many magnolia pictures.
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Says the lens of my eyes; of my soul.
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(“Not so,” says my iphone storage, but that’s a tomorrow problem.)
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Every time I leave my house, I can’t not stop, not stare, not take another jillion pictures.
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This magnolia tree of mine, she keeps a record of time, reaching farther into the sky with each passing year.
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In all her southern glory, she lifts leaves and limbs toward heaven, pointing to the One on whom all glory rests.
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Boldly, yet elegantly, she speaks of a Creator who, year upon year, grows lovely things under the banner of His care in the lives of His own.
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Even in times when life doesn’t feel full of lovely, may we listen to the magnolia’s anthem.
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She doesn’t question the winter, knowing full well that her Maker has yet to deny spring its beauty.
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I wonder how breathtaking magnolias must be in the City of God. ✨
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“Not to us, O, LORD, not to us, but to Your name goes all the glory for Your unfailing love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 💕
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The May calendar has a way of turning our thoughts The May calendar has a way of turning our thoughts toward home, doesn’t it?
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Perhaps, for you, that’s a beloved Home State where the soil smells like childhood and dreams.
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Or, maybe the humble shelter of your youth, where boo-boos were kissed & fairytales carried you into dreamland.
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Perhaps you’re like me, and yesteryear’s home holds heartache and rejection, insecurity and confusion.
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Far too much of my past I spent chasing roots, not sensing an inheritance of belonging within the halls of my kin.
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Layer by broken layer, though, the Lord is healing me from within, showing me that…
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What our hearts long for can’t be satisfied with what our lives long for.
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The temporal can’t pacify the eternal.
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We’re so prone to searching for home in containers not meant to carry its calling—whether in place or people, title or position, acceptance or belonging—that we seek to satisfy its longing with lesser things.
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Having a sense of home within our circles is beautiful and sacred, but—it’s a shallow substitute for the inheritance we have in God.
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No place, no person, no position—no earthly brand of belonging—can ever claim home to your soul like the Haven of Him.
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Quiet your spirit in the shadow of His covering, dear friend, for never will He stop calling you His own. 💕
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Dear friend, do you feel like you’re etching a p Dear friend, do you feel like you’re etching a prayer into the ear of God, day upon year upon decade?
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You’re asking “why,” and “when, O Lord,” yet the situation your heart plays on repeat at the altar of God, remains seemingly unchanged.
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Oh, friend, I understand; me too.
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Sometimes those miracles we’re waiting for, they come at the expense of years of prayer.
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Not because God is cruel, but because God is thorough. He phones nothing in; takes no shortcuts with our hearts.
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The life-mending, soul-touching, supernatural work of God takes time to witness from our perspective.
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Oh, but take heart, dear friend, for God hears the cries of your heart.
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That outcome you’re praying for? Your God is already there, working out the details ahead of you.
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Even when it feels like you’re crying yet one more prayer into the silence, He hears and is moving ahead of you in ways you can’t even imagine right now.
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Hang on, my friend; keep praying, for those prayers are a worthy sacrifice to the only God who is altogether able. 🙌💕
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I wonder, friend, do the demands of life leave you I wonder, friend, do the demands of life leave you feeling downright weary at times?
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If so, I understand. Me too.
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Oh, that our souls would rest in remembering that Jesus also knew what it was to feel weary as He walked this earth in human flesh.
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You are not alone.
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This one’s for the weary. 💗
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Head over to Proverbs31ministries.org. to read & join the conversation! 💕
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