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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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What If…

What if…

What if time served us rather than us serving it?

What if the church were a judgement-free zone?


There’s nothing worth more
that will ever come close

 

What if poverty wasn’t?

And humility was?


No thing can compare
You’re our Living Hope

 

What if we lived as a people who believed in the power of prayer?

And we embraced acceptance, forcing playground politics into extinction?

 


Your presence, Lord

 

What if we looked each other in the eyes, giving voice to the unspoken?

And took new people under our wing, remembering that we were new once too?

What if we lived like we were dying, honoring the whisper of time we’re given?

 


I’ve tasted and seen of the sweetest of loves
where my heart becomes free and my shame is undone

 

What if we traded gossip for grace? Comparison for compassion? Disgrace for dignity?

What if transparency trumped appearances?

And stillness replaced busyness?


Your presence, Lord

 

What if we ate the bread of unity, and drank the wine of laughter?

And were half as considerate of a world without Christ as we are of a world with electronics?

 


Holy Spirit You are welcome here
Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

 

What if we were fluent in the language of forgiveness?

And deaf to the voice of empty criticism?

 


Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for
To be overcome by your presence, Lord

 

What if our chains were bound to the eternal rather than the temporal?

And we raised palms in praise rather than fingers in blame?

 


Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the the glory of Your goodness

 

What if we served the least of these?

And counted it all gain?

What if…


Let us become more aware of Your presence
Let us experience the glory of Your goodness

 

(This is an edited re-post; original posted in 2016.)

 


Quick Programming Note: The Linkup will be taking a break next week (April 5th) to celebrate the Easter holiday. I pray you all have a wonderful week celebrating the RISEN Savior, and I look forward to seeing you back here again on Thursday, April 12th. Much Love. ♥ ♥



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19 Comments

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Comments

  1. Bev @ Walking Well With God says

    March 29, 2018 at 5:36 am

    Brenda,
    Great “What if’s” to ponder as we head into Easter!! I love Francesca Battiscelli and this version of “Holy Spirit” was a beautiful way to worship and start my day. Wishing you a joyous and blessed Easter sweet friend!
    Love you,
    Bev xo

    Reply
  2. Liz says

    March 29, 2018 at 5:50 am

    Love that song… And your words made me think of proleptic living… It’s an old Word Nerd Wednesday Post… Living as if the future were true now! Thanks for the challenge to do that today and always! Blessings friend!

    Reply
  3. Becky Hastings says

    March 29, 2018 at 6:37 am

    Such beautiful “what ifs!” I love that we can hold onto hope of God’s love and heart for us, even when it’s hard to imagine.

    Reply
  4. Sarah Geringer says

    March 29, 2018 at 6:41 am

    Happy Easter to you, Brenda!

    Reply
  5. Joanne Viola says

    March 29, 2018 at 7:23 am

    Brenda, beautiful post! May we hold onto all that can be as we place our hope in Christ Jesus. May you and your family have a blessed Easter!

    Reply
  6. Anita Ojeda says

    March 29, 2018 at 7:36 am

    Beautiful questions, my friend. Only through Jesus can any of those ifs happen here on earth.

    Reply
  7. Michele Morin says

    March 29, 2018 at 7:42 am

    “Fluent in the language of forgiveness”
    Yes.
    We have been forgiven much, and yet it comes so hard to us to forgive others.
    Blessings to you as you celebrate Easter and take some well-deserved days of rest from the blog!

    Reply
  8. KellyRBaker says

    March 29, 2018 at 9:09 am

    Wow, so creative and powerful! And I love that song! We are finally going to start teaching it to our worship team in the next few weeks. Happy Easter!

    Reply
  9. BettieG says

    March 29, 2018 at 10:24 am

    Dear Brenda,
    These are such powerful reflections, for anytime really, but even more so during this Holy Week before Easter. Oh! If we would truly let the Grace and Mercy of Jesus sink deep into our hearts! May you have a Blessed Easter!

    Reply
  10. Anna Smit says

    March 29, 2018 at 11:02 am

    Happy Easter, Brenda. Amen to this especially: “And were half as considerate of a world without Christ as we are of a world with electronics?”

    Thanks for your encouragement here.

    Reply
  11. Maree Dee says

    March 29, 2018 at 11:34 am

    Brenda, What a beautiful post and one of my favorite songs.

    Reply
  12. Lisa/Syncopated Mama says

    March 29, 2018 at 11:46 am

    Happy Easter and thanks for hosting!

    Reply
  13. Meghan Weyerbacher says

    March 29, 2018 at 11:47 am

    Have a happy Easter, Brenda!

    Reply
  14. nylse says

    March 29, 2018 at 11:51 am

    What if…indeed.

    Reply
  15. Lesley says

    March 29, 2018 at 2:52 pm

    Yes… what if? The world would be so different! Hope you have a lovely Easter, Brenda!

    Reply
  16. Jerralea says

    March 29, 2018 at 2:57 pm

    Loved this post, Brenda! Especially this line, “What if we lived like we were dying, honoring the whisper of time we’re given?”

    The whisper of time we’re given – so descriptive! Makes one think!

    Reply
  17. Rebecca Jones says

    March 29, 2018 at 3:03 pm

    Beautiful words, Brenda.

    Reply
  18. Lauren Sparks says

    March 29, 2018 at 8:51 pm

    Your “What If’s” sound a lot like heaven, but are also great motivation to do better here on earth. Happy Easter!

    Reply
  19. Donna Reidland says

    March 30, 2018 at 12:56 am

    Great questions, Brenda. Thanks for challenging us to think about them more deeply!

    Reply

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Winter always seems to rally in March here in Caro Winter always seems to rally in March here in Carolina where I live.
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Oh, how that parallels life sometimes, doesn’t it, friend?
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Weary seasons often challenge the boundaries of their timetables, refusing to surrender to brighter days.
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Dear friend, the God who saw you ahead of your bir Dear friend, the God who saw you ahead of your birth, whose precious thoughts about you are greater than numbers can contain, He recorded purpose for you long before your life existed in time!
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It’s true. 💗
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Over at Proverbs 31 Ministries today, I share a memory of Younger Me and how the Lord met me—and meets you!—in the midst of our insecurity with the confidence to be ourselves & the belonging our hearts crave.
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The timeliness of God is a mystery & miracle unto The timeliness of God is a mystery & miracle unto itself…
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I’d already prepared this post & had it ready to share today, when I happened upon this verse in my quiet time this morning:
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“Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered Himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” (Eph. 5:2)
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Wherever you find yourself this week, friend, look around you. Notice the ones God places in your sphere.
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Living a life of love need not be complicated. It can be as simple as a timely smile, letting someone know they’re seen.
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