Brenda Rodgers

Category: Faith

  • Weekend Prayers and Links

    As I write this I hear freezing rain beating the window panes. This is, I think, is the fourth time we’ve gotten some form of frozen precipitation, and this southern girl is beyond over it! It could turn spring the day after Christmas, and I’d be perfectly happy. I’m ready to bring my flip-flops out of hibernation.

    I hope you are warm wherever you are and preferably by the sunshine! I think we are actually going to get some of that this weekend. The high Saturday is 62! So that will be a little reprieve as I continue to dream of the warm days to come.

    You all, sweet readers, have been on my mind all week. You know how people say that, or they say, “I’ll pray for you”, but you don’t really know if they mean it? Well, I mean it! You’ve been in my thoughts and prayers all week.

    Weekend Prayers and Links for Single Women (more…)

  • Thoughts from a Newbie Lent Observer

    I didn’t have this post planned for today, and so I’m writing it in the middle of the afternoon planning to hit “publish” as soon as I’m finished. I typically try to be a little more prepared with my writing, but this one just came to me this morning as I sat down and realized: Today starts Lent.

    I grew up in a Baptist church and have attended nondenominational churches ever since, so “Lent” was not really ever recognized in my world – nor was Advent. It’s only been in the past several years that I have come to appreciate these special times of the year as we prepare for Jesus’s coming and for His death and resurrection. Which is why I write this post.

    Photo Credit: Creative Commons: Tim Green aka atoach
    Photo Credit: Creative Commons: Tim Green aka atoach

    (more…)

  • Why the Desire for Marriage is Good, but the Pursuit of Marriage is Not

    Mixed messages abound in the Christian-singles-world about the desire for marriage.

    You’re expected to desire marriage and pursue it above all else when you’re young. Marriage is the ultimate goal, and there’s no greater calling on a person’s life. That is until you start squeaking up against 30. Then the rules change.

    As you get older, and marriage is still unforeseeable, you’re told you should just quit pining over it and move on, that the desire dilutes your love for God and reveals a heart of idolatry, and Jesus should just be enough.

    I’m here to tell you, both of these messages are wrong. Why? Because they’re rooted in shame. Shame on you for not getting married right out of college and then shame on you for even wanting to get married. Jesus is the antithesis of shame.

    Why the Desire for Marriage is Good (more…)

  • Weekend Prayers and Links

    Ahhhh! How has your week been? Mine has been crazy busy! I hate saying that because it’s not supposed to be that way, but this week was one of those weeks. I’ve been cleaning out cabinets and drawers and you would not believe how much junk stuff I have. I mean three boxes of Arbonne products that have never been opened but are at least five years old. I’m so embarrassed! I’m actually not much of pack-rat compared to umm . . . my husband . . . but you wouldn’t have known it this week.

    Weekend Prayers and Links for Single Women (more…)

  • Modesty, Your Body, and a Privilege to be Earned

    The first time I thought about modesty was a few years ago. The subject took to the blog-world and everyone started debating it. Before that modesty was a non-issue in my life. My style never allowed me to really push the limits with immodest clothes. I’m more of a Banana Republic girl myself – clean, classic, timeless. Modesty is just not one of my struggles, even though I can name a dozen other areas that take its place.

    Then I had my baby girl. When you have a baby you begin to think the most bizarre thoughts you never even considered before. Suddenly the gap between “maybe acceptable” and “not-at-all acceptable” tightens. This happened for me when I went to buy her first swimsuit.

    Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net
    Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

    (more…)

  • Prayer Friday :: I Want to Pray for You

    It’s Friday, and I feel led to pray for you, my sweet readers, as we head into the weekend. I know how hard weekends can be sometimes when you’re single, so today I lift you up in prayer. I pray specifically Romans 15:13 over you – that the God of hope will fill you with joy and peace in believing that He is good, He is righteous, He loves you, cares about you, and hears you, and He knows every pain in your heart. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit will you abound in hope. So may the Holy Spirit hold you close and continue to intercede for you.

    Please leave a comment if you would like for me to pray for you by name. You can either list your request or simple write “an unspoken prayer”. I don’t need to know what it is because God already knows, but I would love to call out your name specifically to Him. You can also leave your name and request on the Facebook page. 

    Hope Romans 15-13

    Love to you and have a good weekend!!