• Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

in Uncategorized

#ChasingCommunity Linkup 26


Guess what time it is? It’s time for another edition of 5th Week Fan Girls!

Around here when a month has five Thursdays, we take that opportunity to show the love to our fellow writers. In addition to linking up our personal posts, we take time to share a post that’s been a recent blessing to us from another site as well.

If you’re comfortable, please feel free to link up a post that’s been meaningful to you recently from another friend’s site this week! (As well as your own, of course.) #FanGirls!


<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
I’m linking up today with my friends at #ChasingCommunity. Come join the fun!
Tweet This
 Loading InLinkz ...

27 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.

« #ChasingCommunity Linkup 25
#ChasingCommunity Linkup 27 »

Comments

  1. Bev @ Walking Well With God says

    June 29, 2017 at 6:09 am

    Brenda,
    I think I’ve been on the DL way too long. I don’t know what day it is. I was convinced yesterday was Thursday and I was looking for your linkup and then when I kept not seeing it, I started to worry – is Brenda okay….it’s not like her to post. I prayed for you and I was just about to message you when it finally dawned on me that it was only Wednesday. I share that so you know how much I look forward to hearing from you and joining your community here. Know you are loved, were thought about , and prayed for. One more week until I can join the real world again and perhaps know what day it is lol.
    Love and blessings,
    Bev xo
    Bev @ Walking Well With God recently posted…The God Of ComfortMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:11 pm

      Awe, thank you friend. <3 Glad you'll be able to be up and about next week. I'll probably hear you celebrating from here. 🙂 ((hug))

      Reply
  2. Michele Morin says

    June 29, 2017 at 6:54 am

    I wanted to share Maree Dee’s wonderful post that dispels myths about perfectionism — so good!
    But, alas, she had already posted it, and the linky tool fussed at me about it, so instead I will give the post a shout out here! If you struggle with perfectionism, read and learn!

    Thanks, Brenda, for encouraging us to “chase community” by lifting our heads from our own small worlds and wondering how we can promote another sister’s work.
    Michele Morin recently posted…Musings — June 2017My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:14 pm

      That was a great post, Michele. 🙂 Thanks for mentioning it. — Thanks for joining the chase, friend. It’s a worthy one, I pray–blending the sisterhood for His glory. <3 Always appreciate you and your words. Hope you have a great holiday weekend. ((xoxo))

      Reply
    • Maree Dee says

      June 30, 2017 at 7:47 pm

      Michele – Thank you so much for the shout out about my post. I am so glad you like it. Maree
      Maree Dee recently posted…Dispelling The Myths About PerfectionistsMy Profile

      Reply
  3. Joanne Viola says

    June 29, 2017 at 8:32 am

    Brenda, I loved that you are doing this on 5th Fridays and was thrilled to share a post in addition to my own. Thank you for doing this and for prompting us to do so as well! Blessings!
    Joanne Viola recently posted…Come and SeeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:17 pm

      Thank you for all your sweet encouragement, friend. You bless. So glad you’re here. ((xoxo))

      Reply
  4. Linda Stoll says

    June 29, 2017 at 9:05 am

    What a gracious invitation, Brenda, sharing the good stuff that hasn’t come from our own pens! I loved Erin Loechner’s Small Step No. 10 aka The 2 Words to Avoid for Clear and Honest Communication With Anyone
    http://designformankind.com/2017/06/honest-communication/
    Linda Stoll recently posted…The Pathway of a Brokenhearted FriendMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:22 pm

      Thanks for sharing that, Linda. Will go over and check it out tomorrow. Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, my friend. ((hug))

      Reply
  5. Sandy says

    June 29, 2017 at 11:38 am

    Thanks for the great link up!
    Sandy recently posted…Summer Reading List + Free Bullet Journal PrintableMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:18 pm

      Thanks for sharing your words here, Sandy. ((hug))

      Reply
  6. Julie says

    June 29, 2017 at 12:16 pm

    Brenda- love the quote and image! Thank you for blessing us with this space!
    Have a great 4th of July!
    Julie recently posted…The Bible and Anxiety: How God Delights in the UnderdogMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:20 pm

      Happy 4th of July weekend to you and your family too, Julie. ((xoxo))

      Reply
  7. Abby McDonald says

    June 29, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    What a beautiful idea- sharing the love. Thanks, Brenda! You are a gift.
    Abby McDonald recently posted…Why Sometimes It Takes More Faith to StayMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:21 pm

      Awe, Abby. Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. You bless, my friend. ((xoxo))

      Reply
  8. Lyli says

    June 29, 2017 at 10:34 pm

    Love this idea, Brenda. Thank you Deb for sharing my post. xo

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 30, 2017 at 9:20 am

      <3 Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, friend. xoxo

      Reply
  9. Anita Ojeda says

    June 29, 2017 at 11:35 pm

    Thanks for visiting me over at my link up! I love the fan-girl idea :). Have a wonderful week and my God continue to bless your ministry!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      June 30, 2017 at 9:24 am

      Great to visit with you, Anita. Love that you had a fan-girl here this week; that makes my heart smile. 🙂 May He continue to bless your ministry as well, Anita. Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend. ((hug))

      Reply
  10. Donna Reidland says

    June 30, 2017 at 4:38 pm

    What a nice idea to link someone else’s post. I’m sharing Crystal Twaddell’s “Find Yourself by Losing Time.” Everything about this summer series has made me feel refreshed, even her photos! Have a blessed 4th, Brenda!
    Donna Reidland recently posted…“Worship, Arguing & Fools” June 30My Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      July 1, 2017 at 10:28 am

      Thanks for sharing that, Donna. Love the idea of “losing time.” 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, friend. ((xoxo))

      Reply
  11. Maree Dee says

    June 30, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    Brenda – I love the quote you added and what a fun idea for the 5th Thursday of the month. I read so many good ones this week. I just can’t decide. I will give it a little more thought and hopefully make it back before it closes.
    Maree Dee recently posted…Dispelling The Myths About PerfectionistsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      July 1, 2017 at 10:32 am

      🙂 Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend, Maree. ((hug))

      Reply
  12. Lux G. says

    July 2, 2017 at 5:41 am

    We all need a community that will lift us higher.
    Lux G. recently posted…6 Key Lessons From Getting SickMy Profile

    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