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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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#ChasingCommunity Linkup 60


Happy March, friends! (I KNOW! March? Really? Slow down 2018!)

I have some fun things planned for spring that I’m excited to share with you. Life’s handed me some unexpected challenges I’ve needed to prioritize, so it’s taking me a little longer than expected, but I hope to have some new happenings here soon!

Thank you for your patience, and for all your prayers. And, as always, thank you for being here—you bless my heart in all the ways. ♥

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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!
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I’m linking up today with my friends at #ChasingCommunity. Come join the fun!
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26 Comments

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Comments

  1. Stella says

    March 1, 2018 at 5:28 am

    Happy new month Brenda! Blessed to have you here, thank you for hosting.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:03 pm

      Same to you, Stella. Thank you for being here. 🙂

      Reply
  2. Becky Hastings says

    March 1, 2018 at 6:47 am

    Excited to hear what’s to come friend!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      🙂 ♥ xoxo

      Reply
  3. Debbie Williams says

    March 1, 2018 at 7:01 am

    Happy March Brenda. Looking forward to seeing what you have to share with us.

    Thank you for the link-up.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:04 pm

      Happy March back at you, Debbie. 🙂 Thanks for being here. ♥

      Reply
  4. Bev @ Walking Well With God says

    March 1, 2018 at 7:14 am

    Brenda,
    Now you’ve got us curious?? What’s in the works?? March is coming in with rain, rain, rain….what does that mean for us?

    Blessings sweet friend,
    Bev xo

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:05 pm

      I’m actually enjoying the rain today. It’s one of those days where I’m tired and just want to be indoors anyway, so the rain is kind of comforting in a weird sort of way. 🙂 ♥

      Reply
  5. Lesley says

    March 1, 2018 at 7:19 am

    I agree, it’s hard to believe it’s March already! I wish someone would tell the weather here as we currently have a foot of snow with more forecast! At least the lack of public transport and police advice not to travel will give me some extra writing time as I have nowhere to go! Hope March is good for you- look forward to hearing your updates!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:07 pm

      Ooh, hope you get some great writing time today, Lesley. Sorry for all the snow still. I pray the Lord meets you in the stillness of late winter snow and puts His words on your heart. ((Hug))

      Reply
  6. Michele Morin says

    March 1, 2018 at 7:51 am

    Happy March, Brenda!
    It sounds as if you are going to be busy and blessed. Can’t wait to hear the details!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      Happy March to you, too, friend. Thank you for being here. ♥

      Reply
  7. Linda Stoll says

    March 1, 2018 at 8:04 am

    your invitation is gentle, Brenda …

    ;-}

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:08 pm

      ♥ ♥ ♥

      Reply
  8. Kristi Woods says

    March 1, 2018 at 8:09 am

    Happy March, Brenda. <3 It sounds as though Feb. landed with a few unexpected events or plans. Praying for you.

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:09 pm

      It’s been a winter full of the unexpected, but God’s been good. So very good. Thanks for the prayers, friend. ♥ xoxo

      Reply
  9. Rachel Lee says

    March 1, 2018 at 8:18 am

    Looking forward to what fun things you have planned! PS- it always takes me doubly as long to complete anything! 😉 Thanks for the linkup Brenda!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      Haha, me too, Rachel. Guess we need to learn to allot extra time from the get-go! 🙂 Thanks for being here. ♥

      Reply
  10. Lisa/Syncopated Mama says

    March 1, 2018 at 8:49 am

    I cannot believe it’s March already! I hope it’s a great month for you!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:11 pm

      Hope it’s a great March for you too, Lisa. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Jill says

    March 1, 2018 at 9:02 am

    Excited to see what’s coming ahead for you my friend! Praying and thanking God for you today!

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      ♥ Awe, thank you, friend. You bless. ♥

      Reply
  12. Sherry Stahl says

    March 1, 2018 at 2:54 pm

    Praying for you Brenda 🙂 <3
    ~Sherry
    xoxo

    Reply
    • Brenda says

      March 1, 2018 at 4:12 pm

      Thank you, Sherry. Hope you birthday month is filled with all the goodness you deserve, sweet friend. ♥

      Reply
  13. Donna Reidland says

    March 1, 2018 at 11:23 pm

    Happy March to you, too! Hopefully, spring is just around the corner, although after a mild almost warm February, our temperatures have dropped drastically. I look forward to the new things you have in store. Blessings!

    Reply
  14. Amy Jung says

    March 2, 2018 at 8:25 pm

    Blessings as you try new things this spring and navigate your way through the unexpected! 🙂

    Reply

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Every-which-way I turn, I sense it: Heartache. Su Every-which-way I turn,  I sense it:
Heartache. Suffering. Pain. Sorrow.
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My compassion can barely stand itself.
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A tide of trouble beats against the shores of my heart, begging a prayer or two or ten.
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Compassion can sometimes feel like more than a heart was made to hold.
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We long for life and health and peace for our families, our communities, our world…ourselves.
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Flipping through my Bible this morning; my eyes catching on years of faded ink underlining generations of ancient truths,
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Verse upon verse…underscored reminders of the tender nature of God,
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Sacred pages alive with precedent,
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Revealing a heart beating wildly with compassion for a world in pain.
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Oh, to step in the shadow of the Savior,
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Who chose to feel compassion’s ache, instead of looking away.
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More than ever I recognize that it’s the Christ in us that swells compassion upon a hurting world.
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These are the glory days of hope. 🙌
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For we have this confidence: There will be another day—when pain will not exist. 🙌
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Thank you, Lord, that our hope is not misplaced in You. 💗
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Dear friend, life can be overwhelming at times, AmIRight?!
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Praying today that your soul may find rest & peace in the gentle heart of God who never leaves us alone. 💕
.
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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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If this feels familiar, friend, I have the sweetest of news…
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God has not misplaced His plan for your life.
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Our great God is not bound by limitation. His roads can cross right through our seas, on pathways no one knew were there! 🙌
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Oh friend, may you rest quietly before your God at the water’s edge, trusting Him to bring you to a place of abundance.
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The mighty waters of your circumstances are no match for His power, His heart, His purpose.
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You’re not alone, for He goes before you, ordering unique pathways along His timeline—all for you, my friend.
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Set your every hope into the tender palm of God and walk in freedom, for He is able. 💕
.
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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.
. 
So often it can feel easier to tamp hurt upon hurt deep into our spirits, than to do a new thing.
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But, friend, our God is a God of fresh beginnings who makes pathways through the wilderness and steams in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)
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You don’t walk alone, for His kindness and faithfulness walk with you through it all.
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This book _Good Boundaries and Goodbyes_ by @lysaterkeurst is a beautifully honest resource for learning to understand & create healthy, Godly boundaries in our lives.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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May this be a stream in your desert, dear friend, the dawn of a beautiful new thing God’s set apart for you. 💕
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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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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.
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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.
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(Search the word “autophagy” if you’re interested in learning more about that.)
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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.”
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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.
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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.
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For a few weeks now, I’ve been feeling like I’m supposed to share this…like someone needs to hear it.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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All is progress, my friend. Baby steps count. 💕
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