• Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

in Uncategorized

When Hard Places Become Timely Places

when-hard-places-become-timely-places-2Perhaps (for sure), I’ve had a daydream (or three) of someone coming by to make beds and vacuum floors—but this wasn’t exactly how I pictured it going down.

Quite the country mile (on a muddy gravel road) from what we’d planned, but, nonetheless, Suite 229 would be our address for a while.

Housekeeping angels aside, those months of hotel life were anything but charmed…except for one undeniable, aqua-tinted perk.

Join me over at my friend Susan Mead’s site to see how one hot, July afternoon I became privy to God’s Day-Timer, His iCalendar…His Divine Appointment Book.  (And, while you’re there, I hope you’ll take a minute to look around Susan’s lovely site and get to know her. You’ll be so blessed by her beautiful heart for God.) Continue Reading…

 

~ Happy to link up this week with these great ladies: Faith Filled Friday, Grace & Truth, Fresh Market Friday, Monday’s Musings , Give Me Grace , Intentional Tuesday , RaRa Linkup , Coffee For Your Heart , Sitting Among Friends , Thoughtful Thursdays ~

18 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.

« When You Forget Your Grace-Face
The Year We Ate Thanksgiving Dinner on a Card Table »

Comments

  1. Ruth Campos says

    September 9, 2016 at 1:58 pm

    I loved the experience you shared!
    God is so good! Aren’t you glad He uses us in spite of ourselves sometimes?!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 9, 2016 at 5:12 pm

      For sure, Ruth. In spite of my limited understanding and desire for comfort. Such a good God, indeed.
      Thanks for visiting and sharing, Ruth. Lovely to see you. xoxo

      Reply
      • Ruth Campos says

        September 9, 2016 at 6:36 pm

        🙂
        It’s a good thing He is so gracious with us; we all have limited understanding, and I imagine most of us prefer to be comfortable to some degree or other.
        Thank you for visiting back on my site as well! Have a great weekend! See you soon.

        Reply
  2. Laura Thomas says

    September 10, 2016 at 10:14 pm

    Yes! Don’t you just love it when God gives us a tiny glimpse of His perfect plan? Thanks for sharing this story… a wonderful reminder for us to look around and see that He is using us (and our family) for His glory, even when it feels like a hotel 😉 Often we use hindsight to see the why’s, but this occasion was pretty special showing you the why right at that moment. I was delighted to find you as my neighbour at #FaithFilledFriday after reading your comment on my blog today! 🙂 Blessings to you, my new friend!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 12, 2016 at 9:48 am

      Hi, Laura, was great to connect with you through Faith-filled Friday. 🙂 Yes, love those glimpses, and wonder…how many we never see. 🙂 Thanks for visiting, look forward to connecting with you. 🙂 ((Hug))

      Reply
  3. Linda Stoll says

    September 12, 2016 at 9:55 pm

    Hi Brenda! I love your new site, your new look!

    Simply lovely, warm, and very welcoming! It’s time to update my RSS feed I see!

    Congratulations …

    ;-}
    Linda Stoll recently posted…Free Webinar ~ Are You In An Emotionally Destructive Marriage?My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 13, 2016 at 7:25 am

      Hey, Linda! Thanks so much for your sweet words; I’m so glad you love the new look. 🙂 So blessed to have you coming alongside me in writing and in sisterhood. Thank you, friend. xoxo

      Reply
  4. Tai East says

    September 13, 2016 at 12:28 am

    Oh Brenda, is so beautiful! Truly warms my heart! Thank you so much for sharing this, Love! GOD bless you, beautiful friend! 🙂

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 13, 2016 at 7:32 am

      Hey, Tai. So great to see you back and at it; you were missed. 🙂 Thanks for always being such a sweet encouragement. ((Hug)) xoxo

      Reply
  5. Crystal Storms says

    September 13, 2016 at 5:25 pm

    Loved this, Brenda!
    I pray we have eyes to see those He places in front of us. Ready to answer His call.
    ((hugs))
    Crystal Storms recently posted…Intentional Tuesday Linkup {Week 70}My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 15, 2016 at 7:54 am

      Eyes to see those in front of us. Yes. Me too, Crystal. 🙂 ((xoxo))

      Reply
  6. Gayl says

    September 14, 2016 at 8:04 am

    What great encouragement both for you and for the mother of the boy! Thanks so much for sharing this in such a thoughtful way. I really enjoyed reading it. I was reminded that we never know who might be watching and how what we do or say will affect them. God knew even though you weren’t aware. Blessings to you!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 15, 2016 at 7:58 am

      Hi, Gayl. 🙂 So true…we never know. So glad God knows, and He appoints us. Incredible that He allows us to have influence in the Kingdom. So glad He’s in control. Thanks for stopping in, Gayl. Nice to see you! 🙂 ((grace upon grace))

      Reply
  7. Lois Flowers says

    September 14, 2016 at 10:47 am

    Brenda, I love everything about this story you shared. It took me back to our own times by neighborhood and town-home complex pools, of friends my girls made just because they were in the same place with someone else. You’re right … you just never know how those encounters are going to touch someone else–child or adult–or what God’s ultimate purpose might be for something that seems so ordinary. So glad to be your neighbor at Intentional Tuesday this week.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 15, 2016 at 8:12 am

      He seems to specialize in making the ordinary extraordinary, doesn’t He? Thanks for visiting, so glad to be your neighbor this week, and loved your words on your site. ((hug))

      Reply
  8. Lux Ganzon says

    September 15, 2016 at 3:26 am

    Looks interesting. Will hop over to read in full.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      September 15, 2016 at 8:29 am

      Lovely to see you, Lux. Thanks for stopping by and reading. 🙂 ((Hug))

      Reply
  9. Betsy de Cruz says

    November 11, 2016 at 3:55 am

    You are such a wonderful writer, Brenda. I think I’d read your post at Susan’s in September, maybe? But I enjoyed it again today. So good. 🙂

    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.

Many a time in life I’ve felt I was standing at Many a time in life I’ve felt I was standing at the edge of a sea, hemmed in by its boundary, unable to discern a path forward.
.
If this feels familiar, friend, I have the sweetest of news…
.
God has not misplaced His plan for your life.
.
Our great God is not bound by limitation. His roads can cross right through our seas, on pathways no one knew were there! 🙌
.
Oh friend, may you rest quietly before your God at the water’s edge, trusting Him to bring you to a place of abundance.
.
The mighty waters of your circumstances are no match for His power, His heart, His purpose.
.
You’re not alone, for He goes before you, ordering unique pathways along His timeline—all for you, my friend.
.
Set your every hope into the tender palm of God and walk in freedom, for He is able. 💕
.
.
.
#uncertainty #godwillmakeaway #godisable #waitongod #trust #faith #rest #believe #powerofgod #hope #abundance #confusion #weary #circumstances #godstiming #nextrightstep #encouragement #ministry #influence #serve #amwriting #christianwriter #godcares #purpose #plans #seek #god #freedom #peace #faithfulgod
Friend, no matter what you’ve been through…hea Friend, no matter what you’ve been through…healing isn’t hopeless.
. 
So often it can feel easier to tamp hurt upon hurt deep into our spirits, than to do a new thing.
.
But, friend, our God is a God of fresh beginnings who makes pathways through the wilderness and steams in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
.
You don’t walk alone, for His kindness and faithfulness walk with you through it all.
.
This book _Good Boundaries and Goodbyes_ by @lysaterkeurst is a beautifully honest resource for learning to understand & create healthy, Godly boundaries in our lives.
.
If you’re looking for a good resource to begin forming healthy boundaries, or are looking for help to understand others’ healthy boundaries, this book is a great place to start.
.
I have an extra copy I’d love to give away. Leave me a comment on Instagram if you’d like to be entered to win.
.
Also, OBS (Online Bible Study) is beginning a free online community study of this book January 23rd. If you’d like to sign up, head over to proverbs31.org.
.
May this be a stream in your desert, dear friend, the dawn of a beautiful new thing God’s set apart for you. 💕
.
.
.
#goodboundariesandgoodbyes #book #boundaries #healthyboundaries #emotionalhealth #stuck #relationships #peoplepleasing #misunderstood #security #letgoletgod #freedom #christianwriter #faith #ministry #influence #hope #amwriting #service #newrelease #grief #weary #rest #healing #heal #peace #moveforward #babysteps #grace #newmercies
About 5-6 years ago I started doing this thing tha About 5-6 years ago I started doing this thing that, at the time, didn’t feel like anything radical or life-changing.
.
I simply started trying to stop eating around 7pm, and not start eating again until 11am.
.
At the time, I’d never even heard the term “intermittent fasting;” I was just trying this new-to-me thing to help with weight management.
.
Over time, I learned that what I was doing was called intermittent fasting, and that it has health benefits well beyond the weight management realm.
.
(Search the word “autophagy” if you’re interested in learning more about that.)
.
I’m not gonna lie, back when I started, 7pm to 11am was hard! It took some time, and I didn’t always do it “perfectly.”
.
These days, I typically go from 6-7pm to 1-2pm. My body has adapted and most days it’s very easy. Often, I’d fast longer except that I take supplements that keep me awake at night if I take them too late in the day.
.
Yes, I came to intermittent fasting for the weight loss. (30 pounds has long been gone.) But, I stay because I’ve never felt better. Allowing my body the restorative time each day has been a game-changer for me.
.
For a few weeks now, I’ve been feeling like I’m supposed to share this…like someone needs to hear it.
.
If that’s you, friend, I want you to know that it’s not as hard as it seems. Start as slowly as you need to. Add another hour or 30 minutes, or even 15 minutes per week until your body adapts.
.
There’s no right or wrong. There are no bad days. It’s a lifestyle of freedom. You can switch it all up when you need to or want to for social reasons. It’s easier than it seems.
.
I’m no doctor. I’m not medically advising. I’m just a girl who has always longed to make a difference, so I share in hopes of helping.
.
No matter what your goals are this year, whether they’re health or relational or work related, it’s okay to go slow. It’s okay to get off track by January 10th and start over again.
.
All is progress, my friend. Baby steps count. 💕
.
#intermittentfasting #health #goals #2023 #fasting #healthylifestyle #hope #growth #liveyourbestlife #leadership #influence #christianwriter #amwriting #ministry #serve #smallbeginnings #progress #slowgrowth
As I sit here, now seven days into being sick, I s As I sit here, now seven days into being sick, I search for words of hope and inspiration to meet us here on this beautiful fresh ground called 2023.
.
Words and energy may escape me, but, as we tip-toe into this newborn year—I wish you adventure and abundance, goodness and growth, peace and every joy this year, dear friend.
.
It’ll go by fast, 2023. Let’s make some memories and leave it better than we found it. 💕
.
.
.
#happynewyear #2023 #freshstart #newmercies #begin #makeadifference #goals #change #new #beginnings #betterthanwefoundit #rest #renew #growth #onestepatatime #youvegotthis #onedayatatime #grace #mercy #leadership #influence #ministry #service #amwriting #christianwriter #hope
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright 2022 Brenda Bradford Ottinger · Log in