Brenda Rodgers

Author: Brenda Rodgers

  • Is It Okay to Live with Your Boyfriend Before Marriage?

    This past Monday morning I opened Facebook and found out that I missed the biggest wedding of the year so far – The Bachelor wedding. Honestly I didn’t even know it was coming on. Downton Abbey takes precedence in T.V. watching these days, but had I known the Bachelor wedding was going to be on at the same time I may have recorded it. I’m a sucker for big weddings.

    I confess that in years past I have been a Bachelor/Bachelorette fan. Every week I’d sit on my sofa watching girl after girl breakdown into tears, wanting to make fun of them, but instead being embarrassed that they eerily reminded me of myself. Yes, I was THAT single girl. The one who sobbed and begged and lost all ounce of dignity not even realizing it until months later. Then the thought of the incidence made me want to climb into a hole and never come out.

    But there’s only so many times you can see two people fall in love in midair after jumping out of a plane while another girl sits back at the house hyperventilating from crying so hard. I haven’t been a big Bachelor fan the past few seasons. However, that hasn’t stopped me from keeping my eye on Sean Lowe.

    Is It Okay to Live with Your Boyfriend Before Marraige - ID-100152434
    Image courtesy of artur84 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • How to Start Reading the Bible

    Last week I shared with you the one reason you need to read the Bible – to claim God’s promise of an abundant life. Most of us agree that Jesus came to earth to give us eternal life, the first part of John 10:10b that says, “I came that they may have life”. But it’s the second part of that verse that we doubt – the part that reads, “and have it abundantly.”

    Jesus came to earth so that we can experience abundant life NOW! We experience abundant life through a relationship with Him, by knowing His character, and understanding there is a bigger, eternal story He is writing.

    Photo Credit: Creative Commons: Brett Jordan
    Photo Credit: Creative Commons: Brett Jordan

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  • 3 Things a Guy Must Have Before You Date Him

    I sat across the table from her as we chatted. She was young, just out of college, and she told me about this guy she’s been dating. She told me how much she liked him and how sweet he was to her.

    I asked her the typical questions. Where did you meet? How old is he? What does he do?

    They met through friends. He was young, too, and he waited tables.

    “Oh, is he waiting tables while he’s in college?

    “No, he just waits tables for his job.”

    “Is he interested in restaurant management?”

    “Oh, I don’t know. He doesn’t have a car right now. But he’s working hard to get one. I take him to work and pick him up most days. I let him use my cell phone, too, because he doesn’t have one.”

    Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
    Image courtesy of photostock / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • The One Reason You Need to Read the Bible

    I followed Jesus a long time before I started reading the Bible. That is before I read the Bible on my own outside of Bible study and Sunday school and church.

    In college I sat on my bed one night with my Bible open to some random book. I had no idea what I was reading, but I just knew I should be reading it. My roommate walked in, and even though she was a Christian too she looked at me in a peculiar way communicating, “Why are you doing that?” Even in Christian circles reading your Bible was just not done. It was almost faux pas. You were definitely crossing over to the Bible-thumping side.

    The One Reason You Need to Read the Bible 2169114132_bb475d15d4_z
    Photo Credit: Creative Commons: Brett Jordan

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  • 16 Bible Verses for When You’re Lonely

    Weekends were brutal.

    Sometimes I would go into my apartment after work on Friday evening and not come out until Sunday. Having talked to no one. Having seen no one. Then I would go to church and even though I talked to a few people it didn’t make a difference. My lips moved but my soul still ached. I knew that in a few short minutes in would be over. I’d be back in my apartment again – alone.

    Nothing reminds you that you’re single like weekends do.

    After I moved inside the city (before I lived outside of Atlanta), I became more involved at church, and my community grew. There were less desperately lonely moments, but they never went away totally.

    No matter how big your social circle there are going to be lonely times when you’re single. The choice is whether you fall into them or resent them. I pray you fall into them.

    Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
    Image courtesy of Sira Anamwong/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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  • How Your Story Can Change the World {An Invitation to the (in)RL Conference}

    I never thought much about storytelling, really, until I started blogging almost six years ago. I certainly didn’t think about telling my stories. But when I started writing here something cathartic happened. My past bubbled over into my present, and I couldn’t shake it.

    I wanted something good to come from stories that brought me so much pain and so much joy. I figured that if nothing good came from them then they were lived in vain, in a sense. Desperate to make my stories have a purpose, I slowly opened up and began telling them one by one.

    Then the emails came. Messages from all of you, from all over the world, telling me thank you and that you understood and that you made a different choice because of something I wrote.

    There was redemption.

    I began to think that I’d live those stories again if it meant they would help someone else. I saw a glimpse of the bigger story. The past started to make sense.

    Every living person has a story to tell. And for every story there is someone who needs to hear it. And the person who hears it creates their own story with possibly a bit of how yours changed theirs. Then, they share their story with someone new. Your story can change the world. 

    We need your story.

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    This year the (in)RL Conference is all about story-telling. I want to invite you to a community where your story is hoped for, needed, and welcomed. Yes, that can be a little scary. But at the same time it’s freeing.

    Someone is waiting to hear your story. Someone is waiting for your story to change their world.

    If you’re not familiar with (in)RL, it’s a two-day conference in April right in your hometown wherever that may be. Women from around the world host the (in)RL conference in their homes or local coffee shops or even churches. And you’re invited. Regardless if you don’t know anyone yet, you’re still invited.

    Registration starts today! And it’s FREE!

    Here are all the details: 

    When: The (in)RL Online Webcast kicks off on Friday, April 25 and (in)RL Meet-ups follow on Saturday, April 26.

    What: In 2012 we explored the nitty-gritty of community. Last year we took a closer look at what it takes to stay rooted in community, even when sometimes walking away would be so much easier. This year we’re looking at the power of story. No matter how much life you’ve lived or what you’ve walked through, you have a story. And girl, we need your story! More than 30 women in different stages of life will share their personal testimonies and stories of community, the messy and the beautiful and the beautifully messy.

    More Info and Registration: Go to the (in)Courage website here to learn more about the past (in)RL conferences and to register for a meet-up near you (or to host your own)!

    Extra Fun Stuff: We’re giving everyone who registers a free backstage pass to all (in)RL content from 2012 & 2013! {access expires April 24, 2014}

    AND

    Anyone who registers on the www.inrl.us page on January 15th will be entered to win a FREE Allume Conference ticket!

    New This Year! Instead of charging for (in)RL, we’re offering a Giv(in)g opportunity. Click here for more details.

    Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask me! I hosted (in)RL the first year and attended last year! If you live in NC, I’d also love to meet you at this year’s meet-up!