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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

The Confidence to Believe You Belong

The Confidence to Believe You Belong

It was my first day at a new school—midyear, where everyone knew each other and no one knew me. Nine…
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Letting Go of Clutter and Holding On to Peace

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…
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Seeing God in the Middle of Your Messed-Up Plans

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….
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Valley of Blessing

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…
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A Girl I Once Knew

A Girl I Once Knew

Doesn’t seem that long ago….. I once knew a girl who had a baby boy—a  beautiful fair-haired, blue-eyed little one…
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The Weight of the Wait

The Weight of the Wait

Shuffling through my small Kentucky kitchen, I flipped the calendar page. October 2008 — new month of the year, same…
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Remember When

Remember When

Remember when we went to “Putt-Putt” on Labor Day for our first date —and made it a tradition? I wouldn’t…
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Summer’s Classroom

Summer’s Classroom

And—just like that, it’s September. Hi friend, How was your summer? Go anywhere fun? Read any good books? Tackle a…
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Home is (blank)?

Home is (blank)?

Mother’s Day has a way of centering thoughts on home, doesn’t it? For some it’s the home of their youth…
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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, if you’re in a season that feels challenging & relentless, run to the God who holds all things together. 
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Root your hope in Him, for He will not deny your spirit its Spring.
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The creation of beautiful things is a messy, time-consuming process; don’t lose hope, my friend, your spring will come.
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So, plant your garden of dreams and longings in expectation, for our God is a trustworthy God who makes all things beautiful in their time. And there is no beauty like beauty born of burden.
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God has not forgotten you, friend. Rest in the promise of what you can’t yet see, for He is forever able. 💕
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#spring #hope #dream #longing #weary #rest #trust #faith #faithfulgod #seasons #surrender #brighterdays #relentless #challenging #beautifulthings #beautyforashes #expectation #burden #struggle #christianwriter #amwriting #leadership #influence #ministry #serve #bible #godisable #jesus #springwillcome #waitongod
Oh, friend, no matter what you’re going through Oh, friend, no matter what you’re going through today…there is a God who is greater.
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Greater than confusion. Greater than joy. Greater than the exhaustion. Greater than the love.
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Lean into His promises. Trust His wisdom. Rest in His care. Live in His strength.
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For every single word of the Lord proves true.
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He is faithful.
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Today.
Tomorrow.
Always. 💕
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#faithfulgod #hardship #heartache #confusion #regret #pain #weary #lost #hope #comfort #exhaustion #faith #rest #trust #ministry #influence #serve #leadership #christianwriter #amwriting #scripture #truth #godisgreater #godspromises #godsword #longing #lonely #comeasyouare #godsgotthis #trustworthy
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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We’d love for you to join the conversation today over at proverbs31ministries.org . Meet you there, friend! 💕
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#insecurity #belonging #freedom #beyourself #beyou #youreenough #justasyouare #p31 #ministry #proverbs31ministries #newgirl #awkward #confidence #comfort #purpose #service #leadership #christianwriter #faith #god #godslove #influence #bible #community #fittingin #findyourplace #trustgod #showup #onelife #identity
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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For, indeed, “The best use of life is love.”
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Spend it well. Use it up, pour it out, make a difference with your one life, my friend. The world needs the love you have to offer.
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And, never forget how very adored you are by your God. No thing in all of creation—past, present, or future—can ever separate you from His tender heart for you. Forever He’s the lover of your soul. 💕
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#love #belonging #care #godslove #life #lovingwell #heartofgod #loverofmysoul #rest #hope #showup #riseup #ministry #serve #anwriting #christianwriter #leadership #faith #influence #godlovesyou #bible #trust #weary #revive #renew #refresh #loveothers #bethechange #makeadifference #onelife
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