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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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Valley of Blessing

We looked like a normal family. On weekends. Every Friday night, my husband’s plane would land, and we’d cram all manner of family life into two insufficient days before Monday barged in with the next flight out. Week after week, month after eight long months. Weekdays were a crash course in “single-mom” life for me as employment changes split our…
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The Ministry of Hard Things

As the sun whispers its rise in the window behind me, I lay in bed praying for strength to start another day. All too many mornings lately seem to inherit yesterday’s tired spirit. Begging the energy to put on my big girl slippers, I make the bed, brush my teeth, and wake my son as I head downstairs (all while…
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Surviving on a Diet of Prayer and Tears

Slumping deep into his chair at a corner table for two, he ate waffle fries alone on a holiday evening. The sun laid down quietly in the window behind him as snowy hair fell against a face that spilled secrets of sorrow. Vacant eyes and a somber spirit caught my heart. The people-watcher in me wondered about his story; I…
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God Has No Grandchildren

Exactly one minute ago, my eldest son was learning to drive — according to Mom-Time, that is. Now here we are, cruising the back roads of Surreal-ville, as my third son has found his way behind a wheel. These are the moments when I sigh in solidarity with Dr. Seuss: How did it get so late so soon? Oh, how…
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When Showing Up is Hard to Do

Most summer days, you can find me rocking away time on my front porch. I like to think of it as an investment in my sanity. Like many southern porches, ours displays an American flag gracefully flying in the wind with the same freedom its stars and stripes represent. High in the breeze, it’s the backdrop of my daydreams, my…
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Every New Beginning Comes From Another Beginning’s End

  Friends, the “Special Announcement” I alluded to last week is a bittersweet one. I hope you’ll take a listen to the short video above for the details. As always, I’m so grateful for every single one of you who’ve shown up at this table time and time again. Your friendships have blessed me beyond all words. I’ll still be…
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Thank you, Jesus. 💗 . . . #goodfriday #thankyou Thank you, Jesus. 💗
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#goodfriday #thankyoujesus #kjngofmyheart #lordofmylife #nonelikeyou #kingofkings #lordoflords #newcovenant #bloodofthelamb #finalsacrifice #redemptionforall #bible #sacrifice #surrender #trust #believe #scripture #chooselife #sundayscoming #happyeaster #godisgood #amwriting #influence #leadership #eternallife #grace #mercy #hope #forgiveness
Anyone else feel like April snuck in through the b Anyone else feel like April snuck in through the back door while we were still greeting January in the foyer?
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Pretty sure I just said this about March exactly a day ago.
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Slow down, Time! What’s your rush?!
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Truth is, time doesn’t wait for us, but faithfully surrenders to the rhythmic path its Maker ordered it to trek.
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Friend, are you feeling like all the plans you had great hopes for back in January got caught in the undercurrent of Time’s fast pace?
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Guess what? It’s a fresh month, a fresh quarter, a fresh day full of new mercy & strength.
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I haven’t incorporated exercise as much this year as I’d like, so I’m setting some new exercise goals for April!
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What about you, friend? What new thing might you pick up, or pick back up, in April?
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We’ve got this! Move over January, April has a seat at the Change Table, too!
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Cheering you on, friend! On April 30th, what will we wish we had done this month? THAT, let’s get up & go do that! 💗🎉
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#Aprilisthenewjanuary #liveyouronelife #makeitcount #youvegotthis #begin #beginagain #bettertogether #goals #babysteps #leadership #influence #grace #freshstart #godsstrength #newmonthnewmercies #youmatter #success #grow #amwriting #dreams #notimelikethepresent #onedayatatime #plantdreams #dothework #showup #motivation
How easy it is to forget that our source is not fr How easy it is to forget that our source is not from within ourselves, nor from our hustle.
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True life & ministry & purpose is found only when we remain nestled in the Vine.
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“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
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What are you working so hard to do in your own strength today, friend?
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Let’s lay our striving down, and reconnect to the Source of all we’ve ever really needed—Jesus.
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#itsallaboutyoujesus #heisthevine #wearethebranchs #bearfruit #scripture #bible #noothergods #faithful #jesus #god #purpose #striving #hustle #fruitful #fruitfullife #leadership #influence #amwriting #writersifinstagram #relyongod #heisthesource #allinall #thywillbedone #pray #restinhim #godisincontrol #breathe #surrender
262 ounces of San Marzano tomatoes, 7 pounds of gr 262 ounces of San Marzano tomatoes, 7 pounds of ground beef, 3 bright bell peppers, 2 giant onions, so many garlic cloves, a bucketful of seasoning (ish), a handful of bay leaves, some mushrooms, and plenty of Pecorino Romano later...
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Spaghetti, anyone? 😊
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Future me will be so grateful as she puts on a pot of water for pasta, grabs sauce from the freezer, & gently warms this labor of homemade love on the stovetop.
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Do you do any freezer cooking? I’d love to know what’s stocked in your freezer. Feeling so uninspired in the kitchen lately; would love some fresh ideas! 💗
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Bon appetit! 😊
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#yagottaeat #stillwriting #kitchentherapy #freezermeals #freezercooking #homelife #family #kitchen #cooking #momlife #faithfulgod #dailybread #amwriting #writerslife #writersofinstagram #writeeatrepeat #leadership #influence #progress #plan #godsgirls #godprovides #cooking #serve #ministry
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