• Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

in Uncategorized

Hourglass Interrupted

You’ve probably known this—I’m probably slow—Enough-O’clock: it doesn’t exist. Why am I so late to the of-course-not party?

So often, I discount the sacred echoes enslaved within the deep of my spirit. All too faithfully, I set aside my passions – determining that I don’t have enough time to dive in and do them justice.

Hourglass InterruptedNot so, says Jessica Turner, who recently released her first book, The Fringe Hours. For the last few weeks, I’ve been reading along with a lovely bunch of ladies from the (in)bloom book club, and reflecting on the fringe in my time.

These aren’t fluffy fringe hours that Jessica speaks of; that’s not a book that would have piqued my interest. Her premise is one of uncovering those moments that lie on the perimeter of our days – the minutes that, when combined, accumulate in time…and treasure. The loveliest of treasure—treasure of purpose fulfilled. A fringe that challenges the not-enough-time myth.

Please tell me I’m not alone. That your life is loud, and demanding, and all-consuming too. That you also struggle to hear the bellowing of your soul amidst the relentlessness of the daily.

One thing the Lord’s teaching me this year, and Jessica’s book mirrors, is that when I suppress the hunger pangs of my soul—my callings as a daughter of God—then I’m living right smack within the city limits of my own narcissistic form of holy discontentment. I can check every item off of my to-do list (a sister can dream), and I can even do it with a smile on my face, but this restlessness—the one that begs to be fed—the one that was drawn into me by my Maker for His purposes—it clatters against the prison within. Frustrated. Hungry. Unrequited.

I wake up with it. I walk through the dailys of life with it. I tuck it in beside me at night. It shadows my everything—waiting for the clock to strike “enough”; waiting to dance freely, feet unchained.

The beautiful, blessed, chaotic daily’ness of life—it should serve as inspiration for the inner art, not as competition for it. Diluting the temporal by pouring in a heavy hand of the eternal—doesn’t come naturally. More often than not, my inner feels subservient to my daily. How unfortunate. The temporal—it’s ever-constant; it’ll meet me there every time…right in the daily. Oh, but the eternal—the mystery of power bound up inside the elegance of a soft mist. Hollow unless it’s uncaged, fed, nurtured. Worse than a Survivor contestant going home with an immunity idol in his pocket, is a gift—a calling—dusty, still in its original packaging, waiting to be explored.

Hourglass InterruptedToday, I’ll set out to be a student of the soul. Rather than wait as the sands of the hourglass fall to rest at Enough-O’clock, I’ll unchain the inner cries, beholding as they dance freely – with purpose – as if they were created for it. Careful to let the fringe accumulate in time…and treasure. Sure, you’ll still find me thick in the blessed-busy of the daily. I’ll fix supper. I’ll make appointments. I’ll laugh, and possibly cry, with my people. And…

I’ll write.
And read.
And, perhaps, sneak up on the first buds of spring with my eager new zoom lens.

I’ll dust off the purpose within—offering it back to Him—used, worn, explored.  Chasing Holiness

 

4 Comments

Thanks for the Company!

Subscribe to receive updates and 15 lovely printables created just for YOU!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

« A Thousand Words in Sepia
Glory Whisperers »

Comments

  1. Robin says

    March 26, 2015 at 1:04 pm

    Yes!! Offering yourself, poured out, back to God! He gives us these stirrings and passions to be used for our good and His glory, and in the most special of instances, for the advance of the Gospel’s sake. Lovely…so thankful you’re a part of our study this go ’round!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      May 15, 2015 at 8:37 am

      (((Hug))) Thank you, Robin.
      Thankful to be a part!

      Reply
  2. Holly Barrett says

    July 9, 2015 at 6:00 am

    Love this, Brenda! Yes I live in a crazy, stressed out schedule that feels like it is sucking the life outta me! 🙂 I keep trying to get it under control but it seems like I’m just too tired to turn it around. But that heart pull is strong, so I get up everyday and start over. And some days it is better. Now, if I can just string a bunch of those better days together in a row!! 🙂
    Holly Barrett recently posted…Broken Treasure {Giveaway}My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      July 9, 2015 at 9:16 am

      Glad I’m not alone. 🙂 Life has a way of becoming a blur around us sometimes, doesn’t it? It’s a delicate balance trying to honor the purpose within while still trying to maintain the rest of life.
      ((Hug)) Thanks for stopping in and sharing today, Holly. <3

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Tags

(In)Courage But God Callings Children Control Faithfulness Family Fear Fill in the Blank Freedom Friendship Giveaway God Graceful Guest Posts Home Hope If My People Inclusion Marriage Motherhood Nature P31 Pain Prayer Proverbs31Ministries Purpose Quotes Racism Rejection Rest Seasons Sisterhood Surrender Teens
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

From the Author

Encouragement for Today Badge

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Never can there be too many magnolia pictures. . S Never can there be too many magnolia pictures.
.
Says the lens of my eyes; of my soul.
.
(“Not so,” says my iphone storage, but that’s a tomorrow problem.)
.
Every time I leave my house, I can’t not stop, not stare, not take another jillion pictures.
.
This magnolia tree of mine, she keeps a record of time, reaching farther into the sky with each passing year.
.
In all her southern glory, she lifts leaves and limbs toward heaven, pointing to the One on whom all glory rests.
.
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.
.
Even in times when life doesn’t feel full of lovely, may we listen to the magnolia’s anthem.
.
She doesn’t question the winter, knowing full well that her Maker has yet to deny spring its beauty.
.
I wonder how breathtaking magnolias must be in the City of God. ✨
.
“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 💕
.
.
.
#magnolia #spring #beauty #glory #godsglory #wordship #praise #faithfulgod #riseup #showup #christianwriter #ministry #amwriting #leadership #influence #serve #growwhereyoureplanted #pictures #grace #bible #weary #listen #joy #life #lovely #plants #garden #majesty #southern #naturespeaks
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?
.
Perhaps, for you, that’s a beloved Home State where the soil smells like childhood and dreams.
.
Or, maybe the humble shelter of your youth, where boo-boos were kissed & fairytales carried you into dreamland.
.
Perhaps you’re like me, and yesteryear’s home holds heartache and rejection, insecurity and confusion.
.
Far too much of my past I spent chasing roots, not sensing an inheritance of belonging within the halls of my kin.
.
Layer by broken layer, though, the Lord is healing me from within, showing me that…
.
What our hearts long for can’t be satisfied with what our lives long for.
.
The temporal can’t pacify the eternal.
.
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.
.
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.
.
No place, no person, no position—no earthly brand of belonging—can ever claim home to your soul like the Haven of Him.
.
Quiet your spirit in the shadow of His covering, dear friend, for never will He stop calling you His own. 💕
.
.
.
#home #mothersday #belonging #longing #rejection #insecurity #questions #confusion #heartache #brokenness #leftout #healing #acceptance #inheritance #haven #soul #rest #childofGod #included #christianwriter #ministry #influence #leadership #amwriting #abandoned #forgotten #loveofgod #youreenough #comeasyouare #faithfulgod
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?
.
You’re asking “why,” and “when, O Lord,” yet the situation your heart plays on repeat at the altar of God, remains seemingly unchanged.
.
Oh, friend, I understand; me too.
.
Sometimes those miracles we’re waiting for, they come at the expense of years of prayer.
.
Not because God is cruel, but because God is thorough. He phones nothing in; takes no shortcuts with our hearts.
.
The life-mending, soul-touching, supernatural work of God takes time to witness from our perspective.
.
Oh, but take heart, dear friend, for God hears the cries of your heart.
.
That outcome you’re praying for? Your God is already there, working out the details ahead of you.
.
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.
.
Hang on, my friend; keep praying, for those prayers are a worthy sacrifice to the only God who is altogether able. 🙌💕
.
.
.
#questions #confusion #heartache #uncertainty #weary #prayer #miracle #godisalreadythere #faithfulgod #hope #praise #remember #waitongod #trust #faith #patience #ministry #serve #influence #leadership #godisable #christianwriter #amwriting #worthygod #exhausted #drained #grateful #struggle #stress #bible
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?
.
If so, I understand. Me too.
.
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.
.
You are not alone.
.
This one’s for the weary. 💗
.
Head over to Proverbs31ministries.org. to read & join the conversation! 💕
.
.
.
#weary #exhausted #tired #spent #hope #jesus #rest #weariness #busyness #struggle #serve #ministry #leadership #servantleadership #influence #humility #godknows #godcares #legacy #boundaries #wisdom #prayer #makeadifference #sacrifice #peace #faithfulgod #proverbs31ministries #followjesus #itsgonnabeokay #godisnear
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright 2022 Brenda Bradford Ottinger · Log in