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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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Who Do You Think You Are Anyway?

Who do you think you are anyway?
You’re just a random girl with a common dream.
You know you’ll be misunderstood.

Sound familiar?

Like a relentless housefly on a hot summer day, he’s the pesky accuser, forever seeking to edge his way between our head and our heart.

He holds court, as if the “Truth, whole Truth, and nothing but the Truth” would entertain his arguments. Satan–father of lies, counselor of confusion.

Oh for a pest-deterring screen door on the foyer of our minds. Amen?

Oh, but Jesus.

The sandal-wearing, dusty-footed flesh of God steps right through the pages of Matthew, looks us square in the spirit, and draws us into the scene.

With one simple directive, Jesus hollers, “Order in the court”, authoritatively dismantling Satan’s case.

As the trusted few who were privy to the breath of his voice gather near, He instructs: “What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear.”(10:27,NLT)

Sitting cross-legged, shade trees stretched green above, He warmly huddles the disciples around His weary flesh. Leaning in, he urges them to glean by the armloads these private treasures He’s imparted.

Then—deep brown eyes of the Messiah meeting wide eyes of His beloved, He smiles: “Here’s the best part! Guys in the back, listen up! Take these truths, elevate them—build my kingdom!” 

Oh, the timeless beauty of the Living Word. A mandate from antiquity catching us up in its tide as our generation carries the whispers of a Savior on to the next.

Still huddling us close, He speaks into our lives in personal ways—advancing His Word from the gables of our times.


And doesn’t Satan just love it when we question our ability to discern the Divine Whisper?

If he can get us to believe the paralyzing, “You have nothing to offer”  lie, he renders a jury of onlookers deaf to our testimonies, removing our witness from the stands, leaving weakness and inadequacy to falsely testify in our stead.


Oh, but, take heart! The pesky accuser’s been overruled by one confounding, yet crucial, fact—our presumed lack is the very thing that enables us, for God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

Whatever He’s uniquely whispered into your spirit—don’t be afraid to stand in that calling. Boldly speak His heart from the risers of your life.

Satan has no authority in the courthouse of your calling.
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Your qualification isn’t found in worldly measures, but solely in the One who took you aside, graced your cheek with the warmth of His breath, and invited you into the adventure with Him.

Who do you think you are anyway?
You’re called.   

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  1. Bev @ Walking Well With God says

    February 9, 2017 at 6:14 am

    Brenda,
    Oh how the enemy whispers in our ear and wants to discourage us. What a wonderful reminder that our presumed lack is actually what enables us. We may feel like we don’t have what it takes…that’s how Moses felt, and look what God was able to do through him. Thanks for the encouragement that we don’t have to give the enemy a voice in our calling. God’s voice is the only one that matters.
    Blessings sweet friend,
    Bev xoxo
    Bev @ Walking Well With God recently posted…Craving Connection 2 – A Journey Through Life’s SeasonsMy Profile

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  2. Megs says

    February 9, 2017 at 7:04 am

    Our lack can be consuming sometimes, can’t it?
    Thank you for the encouragement here, today!
    Happy Thursday, from the Chasing Community Linkup!
    Megs
    Megs recently posted…The Squid Hat (#jammed daily devo, day 40)My Profile

    Reply
  3. Joanne Viola says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:25 am

    This post brought such confirmation to my own thoughts today. This here spoke deeply > ” Oh, the timeless beauty of the Living Word. A mandate from antiquity catching us up in its tide as our generation carries the whispers of a Savior on to the next.” I am so very grateful for the flawless Word we have been given. May you have a blessed Thursday!
    Joanne Viola recently posted…90 Days in John, Romans & JamesMy Profile

    Reply
  4. Paris Renae says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:33 am

    What a great post – the enemy messes with us and we fall for those lies those accusations. NOT TRUE -we are daughters of the most high God and dearly loved. Thanks for the reminder.

    Reply
  5. Kristi Woods says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:34 am

    Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL encouragement, Brenda. That verse from Matthew? Girl, my head was nodding feverishly in agreement. It’s similar to the unction the Lord has given me for ministry – “Look what the Lord has done!” I love reading your words. Good stuff!

    Reply
  6. Lisa/Syncopated Mama says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:57 am

    Who do I think I am? I’m His!
    Lisa/Syncopated Mama recently posted…Peg + Cat: A Totally Awesome Way to Introduce Math to Your Preschooler!My Profile

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  7. Leslie says

    February 9, 2017 at 9:37 am

    Brenda, This is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!! I am printing this out and putting it in my notebook of things I read when I am discouraged about my writing. That verse from Matthew was already very special to me and seeing it here again today really helped remind me that He is with me and has given me an assignment with a distinct purpose in mind. Thank you so much for sharing this! {hug!}

    Reply
  8. Lesley says

    February 9, 2017 at 12:54 pm

    I love this. Voice is my word for the year and your post covers so many aspects of that: choosing to fight against the voice of the enemy, listening to God’s voice as he whispers to us and then being bold in speaking out when he asks us.
    Lesley recently posted…The Mystery Of GraceMy Profile

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  9. Jeralyn Egger says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    Brenda….your words were “timely” for me today. It’s been one of those “why bother?”…”who cares?”…”little ole me pity party days”. What a sweet reminder that I am called and I can silence the voice of the enemy.

    Reply
  10. Jill says

    February 9, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    So good, Breanda! Thanks for reminding me and all of us, that the only thing that matters is His calling. Our weakness is exactly where He’ll speak for us to live out our calling. Wisdom and encouragement here, my friend!

    Reply
  11. Ruth says

    February 9, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    I love this quote, “our presumed lack is the very thing that enables us, for God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.” It’s so true!

    Thanks for hosting this linkup! You’re doing a great job!!!

    Reply
  12. Maree Dee says

    February 10, 2017 at 12:50 am

    Oh boy, this post hit home. The enemy screams so loud in my ear sometimes I am almost positive it must be true. We must learn how to decipher the voices.

    Maree
    Maree Dee recently posted…How Does One Trust God In All Circumstances?My Profile

    Reply
  13. Alyssa says

    February 10, 2017 at 1:29 pm

    This was such an encouragement to read this morning, Brenda. “Father of lies, counselor of confusion” – isn’t that the truth. Love the reminder of 2 Corinthians 12:9.

    Reply
  14. Liz says

    February 10, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    Amen! This is SO encouraging! XO
    Liz recently posted…Dreaming Doesn’t Mean DiscontentMy Profile

    Reply
  15. Lux G. says

    February 11, 2017 at 12:31 am

    Amen and amen!

    Reply

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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.
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Friend, no matter what you’ve been through…hea Friend, no matter what you’ve been through…healing isn’t hopeless.
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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.
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I simply started trying to stop eating around 7pm, and not start eating again until 11am.
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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.
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