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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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Peace by Piece

The relentless heat of a late southern summer hung in the air as I cheered from the sidelines of my son’s football game. At half-time, while stretching beneath the searing sun, a curious wonder caught my eye. High above the field, like a vivid smile in the sky, I noticed an upside-down rainbow! Puzzled by this unusual sight, I did…
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To the One Who Longs to Feel Known

Songs of soft praise laced with the warm scent of coffee hovered in the air as cheerful ladies trickled through the doors and walked toward the sound of their names, beckoned by familiar voices. I was new in town and had barely talked myself into attending the Ladies’ Night at church, where no one knew my name. As I scanned…
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Letting Go of Clutter and Holding On to Peace

The Carolina clay has housed our family roots for over a decade now, but prior to settling here, we moved many times across many years. As exhausting as those moves were, they lent timely opportunities to shed excess belongings. Yet, as we settled into longterm living, I began to sense an unexpected weight of weariness. Amidst the bustle of a…
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When the Fear of Being Misunderstood Upsets Our Peace

Through a blur of tears I studied the message, confused by the words it contained. For years I’d served in a lovely women’s group and, sadly, a newer member of the group had mistaken something I’d said and filed a complaint. Instantly, the angst of misunderstanding upset my peace as I realized I’d been inaccurately accused. In hindsight, I should…
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When Life Doesn’t Follow Your Plans

Short on time and long on haste, I jotted a nearby address into my car’s GPS one morning and, to my surprise, the highlighted route stretched wide across the dashboard map. What ever happened to the shortest distance between two points being a straight line?, I thought, as I backed out of the driveway. But as my pace calmed and…
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Seeing God in the Middle of Your Messed-Up Plans

I’ve had my share of daydreams about living on permanent vacation, but this wasn’t how I pictured it going down. After moving to a new city for work, we couldn’t find a home that fit our family or our budget, despite how hard we tried. And to our surprise, this new city of ours even had a waiting list for…
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Friend, if you’re feeling passed over lately, un Friend, if you’re feeling passed over lately, unacknowledged, overlooked…you might just be in a beautiful position to be used by God.
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Young King David knew what it was to be overlooked, left in the fields to tend the sheep while his brothers were brought before Samuel & considered for kingship.
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Yet, in the end, it was the overlooked & under-acknowledged David who was anointed King and called a man after the LORD’s own heart, by God Himself.
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Oh, friend, even when it feels like no one notices—keep showing up!
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The Lord sees your humble acts of service all wrapped up in the crumpled gift wrap & raveled ribbon of a living sacrifice.
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It’s worthy work, dear friend—witnessed in the secret places by the Almighty Himself. 💗
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#keepswimming #showup #riseup #forsuchatimeasthis #forgodsglory #kingdomwork #sacred #worthy #unseen #unnoticed #overlooked #unappreciated #unworthy #passedover #unqualified #humble #trust #godsees #godknows #godsplan #usedbygod #godsstory #bible #livingsacrifice #service #amwriting #influence #ministry #leadership
Happy Fri-Yay, friend! 💛
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I’d love to hear…have you ever seen an upside-down rainbow?

The 2nd pic is a photo I took of the upside-down rainbow I share about in today’s P31 Devotion, Peace by Piece.
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If you’re like me, so much of life can feel upside-down, too, at times. Can I get a witness?!
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Yet, more and more, I’m realizing the legacy of those upside-down pieces of our stories—for the God who shaped our souls for purpose understands every part of our lives from the eternal perspective of completion.
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I’m praying for you today, friend, that you sense the ever-present God of Peace surrounding you…holding you.💗
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Would love for you to pop over to Proverbs 31 Ministries to read the full article and share in the conversation today, my friend! 💗
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#upsidedownrainbow #rainbow #peace #perspective #purpose #comfort #pain #weary #confusion #why #puzzling #mystery #god #rest #eternalgod #upsidedownlife #ministry #influence #serve #proverbs31ministries #amwriting #godsees #godknows #godcares #hisways #trust #believe #hope #unseen
Oh, that our souls would bathe in the quiet, unrus Oh, that our souls would bathe in the quiet, unrushed rhythms of summer.
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These glory days where rest seeps into the parched landscape of our busy lives and revives us from within.
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For there is beauty here in this sabbath of calm.
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#summer #rest #weary #sabbath #porch #read #relax #unwind #unrushed #seasons #unhurried #slow #live #breathe #beauty #God #time #slowdown #notice #listen #writeon #influence #ministry #writersofinstagram #amwriting #amresting #amreading #frontporchlife #summertime
Nothing quite like getting with people who get you Nothing quite like getting with people who get you. 💗
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I forgot to take pics most of the week, but loved seeing every new and familiar face. 😍
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Thanks for the memories, friends. 🥰
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#shespeaks22 #writerslife #writersofinstsgram #ministry #influence #grow #create #forthegloryofgod
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