Denise—A Mighty Tree

She is a tiny little thing. Little hands and feet. Pixie haircut. Precious heart-shaped face. So very petite. Beautiful voice.

Denise Bryant may be tiny in stature, but spiritually she’s a giantess—she towers like a mighty tree planted beside the waters. Denise would be the first to say she is a crooked tree. A bent tree. Yes, she is a bent tree (aren’t we all?). But trees, who want to grow, bend toward the light and the water.

Denise bends toward the light and the water. Daily.

Denise and I have had seasons of close friendship, but in recent months God has called us to something new and wonderful. He called us to be prayer warriors for each other. There are mornings her prayers come to me via text and I sit in the dark and weep; it is so obvious the Holy Spirit has been speaking to her, stirring her spirit for me. I just reread her New Year’s prayer for me. Not generic God Bless Her prayers. Specific. Detailed prayers. For me. And I am humbled.

God positioned Denise in the midst of an adventure she didn’t quite expect. Certainly she didn’t plan it. Denise is the lecturer/leader of our local Community Bible Study. CBS. Almost two hundred women and children attend on Friday mornings. They truly study God’s word. But the word community is particularly important. This is not the study of just one church’s women’s group. This is a truly a community study with over forty churches represented. Unity in the Body of Christ is happening under Denise’s leadership. Unity among women. And we know, don’t we, that unity among women is a God-thing.  

This is among the many reasons God made this tiny woman a tall tree. Leaders must be tall trees; their tops reaching the canopy. But this lends them to catch a great deal of wind. God is faithful and he is reinforcing Denise to have a flexible and tensile strength in the midst of these high winds. 

Glory to Him!

For thirty-one years she has been married to a great man named John. She has two adult children, Jonathan and Anna (I love them both!). And a great daughter-in-law, Crystal. She and I often commiserate about the challenges of mothering adult children.

Denise’s interview could have gone on for pages and pages. But here’s her answers to the Pomegranate questions.

1.   What is your most comforting and challenging scriptures passages in this season of your life?  

Most comforting scripture - Ps 138:8

The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Most challenging - the passages in Hebrews concerning apostasy (CBS is studying the book of Hebrews this year.)

2.   What are two books that have made great impact on your life?

Brennan Manning - RuthlessTrust and Abba's Child
Ann Voskamp- One Thousand Gifts 

3.   What are your two strongest gifts?  

Teaching—in addition to CBS, Denise also teaches a Sunday School class in her church. 

Encouragement—(I have been the recipient of this gift too many times to count. One of the ways you can pinpoint a gifting God has given you is if the Body affirms this gift. I see fruit of these gifts in Denise’s life on a regular basis.) 

4.   If you could have a conversation with your 21 year old self what would you advise her? What would you tell her?  

Be happy with who you are and to forget about trying to get it all right because it is not possible. (Emphasis Tamera’s. Do you notice the pattern emerging in each woman’s advice to her younger self?)  Enjoy the ride instead of focusing on the end result. Be comfortable with who you are not what you do. The sooner you can understand that you can't be perfect and keep everyone happy the better life will be.

5.   If you could share any encouragement with the Body who is reading here today what would it be?  

Embrace the Shepherd and enjoy the journey whether it is in the valley or on the mountain top. I am still working on this one.