• Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

in Uncategorized

Hope is (blank)?

Whether 2016 ended on a high note, or we couldn’t get outta there fast enough—one thing each new year carries across the threshold of time is — Hope.

Isn’t that January’s song? Our hopes for the year ahead?

It’s an evolution, hope.
Ever growing, living, speaking.

I wonder—how is hope showing up in your life lately?

At the start of this barely unwrapped year, here’s my attempt to fill in the blank:

Hope is dawn’s awakening, drawing the morning sky.

Hope is the ocean returning wave upon wave, and the rustle of wind in the trees.
Which, if you suspend sight—let your ears do the seeing—
they sing the same song, the waves and the wind.

Hope is a warm supper around a generational table.

Hope is a toddler’s tiny feet in daddy’s big shoes.

Hope is January. Hope is December. Hope is Eternal.

Hope is a letter in the mail, a chair on the porch, a tree in season. Any season.

Hope is time. Time to be. To dream. To listen. To love.

Hope is before. Hope is after. Hope is in the midst.

Hope is a grace of God. Always given at just the right time.

Hope is the gospel of the daily, the faith of the future, the redemption of the past.

Hope is back roads, porch lights, rocking chairs and fireflies.

Hope is Christmas. Hope is Easter. Hope is Thursday.

Hope is the essence of “But, God,” the fabric of faith, the secret of old.

Hope

The believer’s anthem. The Spirit’s praise.

What about you? How would you fill in the blank? Hope is __________.


<a href="http://brendabradfordottinger.com/chasing-community/"><img  src="http://brendabradfordottinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Linkup-button.jpg" alt="" width="250" height="250" /></a>

It’s a casual, pony-tail & sandals environment around here, but a few important reminders:

  • Please remember to visit and leave some encouragement for other friends who’ve linked-up today — this is the heart of community & your words of support could be just the thing another friend needs to hear today.
  • Please only share like-minded words of spiritual encouragement and insight.
  • Please grab the #ChasingCommunity button, or link back here underneath your post. (So others can find us and join the fun too!)
  • By linking up & leaving your email address you agree to receive #ChasingCommunity updates.

Thank you for bringing your dish to the table–May your ministry of words find community here.

Ministry+Friends=Fun. I’m linking up today with my friends at #ChasingCommunity. Come join us!
Tweet This
 Loading InLinkz ...

* This week’s linkup is closed, but we’ll meet you back here on Thursday for another #ChasingCommunity!

 

45 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.

« Winners and Words
If My People »

Comments

  1. Bev @ Walking Well With God says

    January 19, 2017 at 6:17 am

    Brenda,
    Hope is having good friends to walk alongside you during hard times reminding you tomorrow will be better.

    Blessings sweet friends,
    Bev
    Bev @ Walking Well With God recently posted…Oh To Be On FireMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:04 pm

      Love that, Bev. Good friends are gold, aren’t they? Thanks for sharing. 🙂 xoxo

      Reply
  2. Linda Stoll says

    January 19, 2017 at 6:55 am

    Yes … let’s hold up hope for each other, Brenda!
    Linda Stoll recently posted…How Can I Pray For You Today?My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:05 pm

      Let’s! ((Hug))

      Reply
  3. Megs says

    January 19, 2017 at 7:09 am

    Hope is happiness. I’m learning a lot about how God wants us to be happy people this week.
    Happy Thursday! Visiting from the #ThoughtProvokingThursday linkup.
    Megs

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:08 pm

      Hope and happiness are very intertwined, aren’t they? Thanks for sharing that, Meg. 🙂 ((hug))

      Reply
  4. Michele Morin says

    January 19, 2017 at 7:48 am

    “Hope is the essence of ‘but God'” I love that phrase! Thanks for words of hope on this snowy Thursday!
    Michele Morin recently posted…Till We Have Faces (3): Holiness and HorrorMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:10 pm

      oooh, is it snowy in Maine? Wish it were snowy here. 🙂 Love snowy days. Thanks for being here, Michele and for being such a wise and faithful mentor to so many of us. xoxo

      Reply
  5. Sherry Stahl says

    January 19, 2017 at 7:49 am

    Hope is knowing that God has been with me in the past, He’s with me today and He’ll be with me in whatever my tomorrow looks like.
    ~Sherry Stahl
    xoxo
    Sherry Stahl recently posted…{New Series} New BeginningsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:12 pm

      Yes…today, tomorrow, and yesterday — He’s got it all covered in Hope. I like that, Sherry. Thanks for sharing. ((hug))

      Reply
  6. Kristi Woods says

    January 19, 2017 at 7:57 am

    Hope is Jesus. 😉

    Reply
    • Nicki Schroeder says

      January 19, 2017 at 8:11 am

      Amen! 🙂
      Nicki Schroeder recently posted…Spread A Little SonShine Wherever You GoMy Profile

      Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:13 pm

      For real! So true. Love that, Kristi, thanks for sharing. 🙂 ((hug))

      Reply
  7. Nicki Schroeder says

    January 19, 2017 at 8:11 am

    Hope is the essence of “But God,” I like that Brenda. So true!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:14 pm

      Thanks for coming by and sharing, Nicki. 🙂 ((hug))

      Reply
  8. Laura Rath says

    January 19, 2017 at 8:17 am

    Wow, Brenda, the post I’m linking up is all about hope! Hope is…always ours through Christ.
    Laura Rath recently posted…Hope When You Can’t Fix ItMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:18 pm

      Always ours — love that, Laura. How fun that we’re both writing about hope this week. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, today. ((hug))

      Reply
  9. Michele O'Leary says

    January 19, 2017 at 8:18 am

    Hope is His promises.

    Beautiful, Brenda.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:19 pm

      Yes — His promises. Isn’t that so true?! Thanks for sharing, Michele. 🙂 xoxo

      Reply
  10. Lesley says

    January 19, 2017 at 8:45 am

    “Hope is the essence of “but God.”” That sums it up beautifully. Hope comes from believing that God can bring something good from it, somehow, no matter how bad it seems.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:21 pm

      I hadn’t thought of it that way before, Lesley. I like that. 🙂 Thanks for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Jill says

    January 19, 2017 at 8:59 am

    Hope is eternal hits it home for me. It’s His never-ending presence in the midst of the unknown. Thanks for the reminders, Brenda!
    Jill recently posted…What Got in the Way?My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      Presence…I like that, Jill. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and being so supportive. xoxo

      Reply
  12. Lisa/Syncopated Mama says

    January 19, 2017 at 9:14 am

    Hope is what I feel when I watch my daughter!
    Lisa/Syncopated Mama recently posted…Where Does LOVE Hide? by Mary Manz Simon, illustrated by Hannah WoodMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Awe, how sweet is that, Lisa?! 🙂 A future full of hope. Thanks for coming by and sharing, today. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Dawn says

    January 19, 2017 at 10:49 am

    Such a soul-filling offering, Brenda. Beautiful and encouraging. Hope is the potential moments where we wait for God and we see that He has always been there.

    Thanks for this.
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:26 pm

      That’s beautiful, Dawn. I love that. Thanks for sharing! ((hug))

      Reply
  14. Julie says

    January 19, 2017 at 12:24 pm

    Hope is God has already gone before me, knows what I will experience and holds out His hand to me. I don’t have to be fearful!

    #gracemoments

    I’m glad to be joining your linkup too! 🙂
    Julie recently posted…7 Questions I’m Asking My Husband this YearMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:28 pm

      An absence of fear — oooh, I need to linger on that one. Thank you for sharing that, Julie. 🙂 And, thanks for coming by and sharing today, nice to meet you! 🙂

      Reply
  15. Paris Renae says

    January 19, 2017 at 1:34 pm

    Brenda , love this : ) hope is eternal -God with us -Jesus for us -and Holy Spirit in us…

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:30 pm

      Well, we can’t ask for more hope than that, can we? Beautiful, Paris. Thank you for sharing! 🙂

      Reply
  16. Victor S E Moubarak says

    January 19, 2017 at 3:09 pm

    Hope is to be sure without any evidence.

    God bless.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:34 pm

      So true, Victor. Welcome! Thanks for coming by and sharing today. 🙂

      Reply
  17. Joanne Viola says

    January 19, 2017 at 3:11 pm

    Hope is knowing that our God is with us and will get us through. Blessings!
    Joanne Viola recently posted…A Healthy UnityMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 19, 2017 at 3:31 pm

      Love it. 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Joanne. 🙂 ((hug))

      Reply
  18. Ruth says

    January 19, 2017 at 9:57 pm

    I like your idea of the wind and the waves singing the same song of hope!
    For me the ultimate Hope is Jesus, Savior, and coming again to make things right and to bring us to glory.

    Reply
  19. Maree Dee says

    January 21, 2017 at 9:48 am

    Hope is knowing God is in charge and he will bring good out of everything.
    Maree Dee recently posted…Do Not WorryMy Profile

    Reply
  20. Lux G. says

    January 22, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Hope is keeping the fight because you know there will be victory in the end. 🙂
    Inspiring!

    Reply
  21. Dianne Thornton says

    January 24, 2017 at 9:22 pm

    Lovely to find your linkup, Brenda! Hope is knowing that your young adult children are in God’s hands! He knows where they will go to college and how they’ll get there. Hope is knowing that even though the lessons are hard for them, they aren’t too hard. Hope is knowing they are learning to leaning on Him on their own. 🙂
    Dianne Thornton recently posted…Do You Bear the Family Resemblance?My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      January 26, 2017 at 12:54 pm

      Diane, I’m right there with you. Claiming your definition today as well. Prayers for your kiddos. Thank you for sharing. ((hug))

      Reply
  22. Debby says

    January 25, 2017 at 11:57 am

    Brenda, so glad you stopped by little space on the inter webs because it led me here to your lovely words. I love that January’s song is hope. YES! Such an uplifting post. Thank you!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. “The Broken Way” Provides a Way Forward | Waxing Gibbous says:
    January 19, 2017 at 6:57 am

    […] linking up this week with Purposeful Faith, #TellHisStory, Coffee for Your Heart, #Unite, Chasing Community, Missional Women and Grace & […]

    Reply
  2. This is for you and me as we enter 2017 says:
    January 19, 2017 at 7:42 am

    […] me and other Jesus bloggers here: #raralinkup, #testimonyTuesday, #thoughtprovokingThursday, & #chasingcommunity. […]

    Reply
  3. Cool Warmth – plantedbylivingwater says:
    January 19, 2017 at 11:23 am

    […] Chasing Community […]

    Reply
  4. From Fish-filled to Faith-filled – plantedbylivingwater says:
    January 19, 2017 at 11:28 am

    […] Chasing Community Linkup […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply to This is for you and me as we enter 2017 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 Photographs Prayer Proverbs 31 Ministries Purpose Quotes Racism Rejection Rest Seasons Sisterhood Surrender Teens
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

From the Author

I am a member of COMPEL Training Encouragement for Today Badge She Speaks

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Arise, Spring; glorify thy Maker. . “Sing to the Arise, Spring; glorify thy Maker.
.
“Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1
.
.
.
#Hemakesbeautufulthings #glorifygod #praise #spring #garden #flowers #glory #heavencamedown #amwriting #beauty #creatorofall #leadership #influence #nature #grace #faith #believe #bible #waitongod #scripture #glorytogod #bestillandknow #considerthelillies #bless #behold #writersofinstagram #Hesgotthewholeworldinhishands
Thank you, Jesus. 💗 . . . #goodfriday #thankyou Thank you, Jesus. 💗
.
.
.
#goodfriday #thankyoujesus #kjngofmyheart #lordofmylife #nonelikeyou #kingofkings #lordoflords #newcovenant #bloodofthelamb #finalsacrifice #redemptionforall #bible #sacrifice #surrender #trust #believe #scripture #chooselife #sundayscoming #happyeaster #godisgood #amwriting #influence #leadership #eternallife #grace #mercy #hope #forgiveness
Anyone else feel like April snuck in through the b Anyone else feel like April snuck in through the back door while we were still greeting January in the foyer?
.
Pretty sure I just said this about March exactly a day ago.
.
Slow down, Time! What’s your rush?!
.
Truth is, time doesn’t wait for us, but faithfully surrenders to the rhythmic path its Maker ordered it to trek.
.
Friend, are you feeling like all the plans you had great hopes for back in January got caught in the undercurrent of Time’s fast pace?
.
Guess what? It’s a fresh month, a fresh quarter, a fresh day full of new mercy & strength.
.
I haven’t incorporated exercise as much this year as I’d like, so I’m setting some new exercise goals for April!
.
What about you, friend? What new thing might you pick up, or pick back up, in April?
.
We’ve got this! Move over January, April has a seat at the Change Table, too!
.
Cheering you on, friend! On April 30th, what will we wish we had done this month? THAT, let’s get up & go do that! 💗🎉
.
.
#Aprilisthenewjanuary #liveyouronelife #makeitcount #youvegotthis #begin #beginagain #bettertogether #goals #babysteps #leadership #influence #grace #freshstart #godsstrength #newmonthnewmercies #youmatter #success #grow #amwriting #dreams #notimelikethepresent #onedayatatime #plantdreams #dothework #showup #motivation
How easy it is to forget that our source is not fr How easy it is to forget that our source is not from within ourselves, nor from our hustle.
.
True life & ministry & purpose is found only when we remain nestled in the Vine.
.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
.
What are you working so hard to do in your own strength today, friend?
.
Let’s lay our striving down, and reconnect to the Source of all we’ve ever really needed—Jesus.
.
.
#itsallaboutyoujesus #heisthevine #wearethebranchs #bearfruit #scripture #bible #noothergods #faithful #jesus #god #purpose #striving #hustle #fruitful #fruitfullife #leadership #influence #amwriting #writersifinstagram #relyongod #heisthesource #allinall #thywillbedone #pray #restinhim #godisincontrol #breathe #surrender
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright 2020 Brenda Bradford Ottinger · Log in