Denise Hildreth

It’s been pretty hard to quit talking about faith. And it’s not just because I’ve been teaching on it each week at our Bible Study. But because for the last three months God has perpetually been making me walk my own out. In BIG ways. This week it was even bigger. It was the Abraham kind of faith. The walk up the mountain kind of faith. The, “are you willing to trust me with your promise” kind of faith. What I found is that the past three months had been preparation for that one moment.

That one moment of complete and utter surrender and trust. I know the promise God has given me. I just didn’t realize He would test my heart towards it so quickly. But He did. And honestly, probably better earlier than later. Because God is all about wanting to continually know that we are far more in love with the Giver of the Gift, than the gift itself. He is so gracious to fill our lives with good things. James writes in Chapter One, “every good and perfect gift is from the Lord.” I can’t imagine that verse wouldn’t be in there if God wasn’t pretty consistent in handing out good and perfect gifts. But He will come to us once we’ve received that gift and say, “Okay, now who are you going to serve? Where will your true allegiance lie? In me, or in what I’ve given you?”

Abraham had waiting a long time for Isaac. At least 25 years, but it could have been up to 40. Then there were 13 years between Ishmael and Isaac. And this man is old! Dirt old! Past viagra old! He is old. And he has waited for so long and finally God places in his hand this boy that he has longed for, prayed for, waited for, and when he holds this gift of God’s extravagant love in his hands, God says, “Now give him back.”

Man, I hate “give him back” moments. They are the epitome of faith. They are where faith is tested in its ultimate form. But without them, we can never see God in his fullest capacity. And if we’re not willing to walk faithfully through them, we will never know God in that secret place. Abraham was called a “friend of God” because He trusted God with everything. Including his greatest treasure.

I’m not sure what God may be asking you to surrender today, asking you to be willing to lay on the altar. But what I do know is that just like that ram was in the thicket waiting on Abraham’s obedience, God’s perfect provision for whatever He’s asking of us will be waiting as well. May we never become so consumed with the gift that we lose  sight of the unspeakable and indescribable love of the Giver.

Growing Up In The 80s Survey

Merlin or Simon Says
Simon

Smurfs or He-man
Smurfs- the little blond girl

Strawberry shortcake or Barbie
Barbi because she had Ken

8 track or cassette
Had both actually- Kenny Rogers on 8 Track- loved it!

neon rubber bracelets or leg warmers
So leg warmers

side pony tail or fro
Side pony Tail
Tab or Rondo
Pepsi actually- I know shocker!

Summit or Twix
Twix

Spam or Treet
Spam

Duran Duran or Wham
Wham-Loved that first Wham video on MTV

belted t-shirt or leggings
bleted t-shirts

frosting colored lipstick or lip smackers
Lip smackers

mousetrap or clue
Clue

Gilligans Island reruns or Brady Bunch reruns
Both

Atari or intellevision
Atari-pong

Valley Girl or Preppy
Preppy

Wax on or Wax off
Both- the Karate Kid was it!

I sat around a table last night with nine amazing women. Each heart pregnant with vision. About six months ago I began to ask the Lord to bring women in my life who had ministry leadership callings that I could pour into. And I began to watch as He did just that. And then, my precious friend Tina had a vision to bring people like that together. A vision I didn’t have to coordinate!

As we sat there eating this amazing meal and laughing and gabbing ninety-miles a minute, impersonating our favorite lines from “Diary of a Mad Black Woman” there was an instant connection in our hearts. But as we each went around the room and shared the vision God has placed in the soul of us our hearts leaped inside of us. Just like John the Baptist leaped in Elizabeth’s womb when Mary hugged her.

Vision ignites vision. It just does. And without it, we die. Without something in the soul of us longing to be birthed, and come to life, then we have nothing worth living for. That is why it is so important to surround ourselves with people of vision. Because vision breeds vision.

It might have been a long time since you’ve dreamed anything. Maybe had one and it didn’t happen like your picture. Or maybe you had one and you wouldn’t let it develop fully and in your impatience it was aborted. Or maybe you just never thought God could actually have a dream for you. Oh my sweet friends, He so does. He placed that creative dreamer inside each of us. And he wants us to let go of our picture, trust Him with His perfect timing and trust Him that He gives good gifts to His children.

If you haven’t dreamed in a while ask God to bring dreamers into your life. People with Big Hairy Audacious Goals. And I am certain that when He does, your very womb will leap!

1. Do you like sleeping on Satin sheets?
No- you slide right out the bed!

2. Can you whistle?
yep

3. Favorite color?
White

4. Would you be a pirate?
Only if I’m hanging out with Johnny Depp.

5. What songs do you sing in the shower?

Celine Dion- I am so Celine in the shower.

6. Favorite Girl’s Name?
Ava

7. Favorite boy’s name?
Christian

8. Last thing that made you laugh?
My friend Berrylin at lunch today. I mean laugh out loud!

9. Best bed sheets as a child?
My brother’s Bambi sheets. I was too scared to sleep by myself.

10. Worst injury you had as a child?
Busted my head open when I was 4 on my Aunt’s coffee table. 5 stitches. Only scar.

For the last two and a half years I have watched God operate in the details of my life. I always knew He loved me. But I never knew Him the way I know Him now. A God who cares about the smallest pieces of my life, the smallest detail of my life. It’s easy to believe He cares about the big things. He’s God after all. But to come to the realization that how my dog dies, where my watch is hidden, the fact that I there are some jars in my pantry that I can’t open anymore, matters to Him, has changed the very nature of my life.

If I could relay any truth to people it would be this one. That we have spent our lives missing how intricately woven into the fabric of our stories, the Author really is. And why is that? Why is it that we can know He knows the hairs on our head, that He knit us together in our mother’s womb, before we were even a thought to many of our mother’s, and yet think for some reason He doesn’t care about what is happening in our lives today at this very minute. Thinking He is unaware, disengaged, disinterested.

But it isn’t that He is any of these things, it’s that we are incapable for some reason at this moment to see Him. God is always there, always moving, we are what prevents us from seeing Him, experiencing Him, enjoying Him. My prayer is that tonight before your head hits the pillow that you would ask Him to remove whatever may be preventing you from seeing Him. Now, beware, don’t ask if you don’t want to know. And don’t ask if when you find out you aren’t willing to do anything about it. Only ask if you are ready, willing and determined to deal with it, and change it.

The word the Lord gave to me for this season is that God was doing a stripping away, so that He could reposition us for His purposes. Stripping is painful. But there are some things we cannot, I repeat, cannot, take with us into the next seasons of our lives. They will weigh us down and ultimately we will be taken under by them. So He is stripping us bear. But I also know He won’t do it unless He knows that we are able to deal with it. So, if He is tugging your heart it is because it is time for us to deal with whatever He is tugging on.

Don’t be afraid. Instead, realize this is our opportunity to assist God in a miracle. The next chapter of our stories…

1. Favorite hobby?
Hanging out with the people I love while enjoying a good meal.

2. Do you have A.D.D.?
No, I have OCD when it comes to traveling and sleeping on strange sheets or touching remote controls in hotel rooms, so I travel with my travel Lysol and my friend Heather just bought me “travel sheets”, but I am ADD free!

3. What’s your favorite shoes?
A pair of Acrylic wedge heeled, Calvin Kleins with this nude skinned strap that runs across the toe.

4. Middle Name?
Denise

5. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment?
1. The battery is running out of my computer
2. My head is killing me from a sinus headache
3. When is it too early to take a nap.

6. Current worry?
I’m flying Southwest home. Have they fixed all their issues yet that have caused their planes to malfunction?

7. How did you bring in the New Year?
Honestly, I can’t remember past last month.

8. Where would you like to go?
Seaside anytime…

9. Do you own slippers?
Of course, I’m a girl!

10. What color shirt are you wearing right now?

Black…who cares about this stuff…seriously.

Last Tuesday evening the night before Bible Study, I was having my Pastor and his wife over for dinner. About an hour before they got there I felt my body shutting down, throat closing up, body aches, not able to hold my head up. Roast was in the oven almost ready. Fresh corn and butter beans were fixed. Biscuits were about to go in the oven, and I didn’t know how I was going to make it through the evening. I finally picked up the phone and called Angie and said, “Angie I’m really sick, and I can’t believe this, but I don’t think I can do dinner tonight.” Then I started to cry, “Will you please pray for me, Bible Study starts tomorrow.”

She said, “We are right here. We are going to come in and pray for you.”

I said, “What if I’m contagious.” I’m thinking Swine Flu here, because I never get sick.

She said, “We’re coming in anyway.”

They came  in and so preciously prayed for me while I laid my head on Angie’s chest like a baby. When they got through praying I said, “I had a really good dinner for you. You can take it home with you if you want.” And we all laughed. I crawled in the bed at eight and didn’t wake up until my alarm went off at five forty five.

I woke up with a really sore throat, but grateful to have the energy to get up and go. By the time I got to the church at 9:30 to begin our new fall study the registrants began to pile in. It was going to be a big day and I needed a big God to show up. With a hundred ladies trusting me with the word of the Lord I had nothing but the ability to trust the Lord. A perfect way to start a series on FAITH!

Faith was all I had Wednesday. And once again, faith is all God asks for. And I think He likes it best when we have nothing in us to give, because it is when we are in complete and utter dependence on Him.

The message Wednesday morning was all on Jesus. From the beginning to the end. How He was there at the beginning of creation and how His death gave us the ability to live forever. It was powerful, and beautiful and all about Him. And when it was over, I climbed into a friend’s car, laid my head back on the seat and thanked the Lord for giving me the strength to get through the morning.

My precious friends and co-laborers took care of every detail and let me leave without having to worry about a thing. I climbed on a plane a couple hours later, headed to Maryland for a few days of rest and woke up Thursday morning with no voice. I mean absolutely no voice. Once again, I was humbled and amazed at God’s sweet love for his children.

As I had spent the last three months preparing for the lessons, I knew the lesson on Jesus would be the first lesson I taught. After all, we all need to become deeply acquainted with The Author in order for Him to write our stories. All I can say is I’m very glad He was intricately writing my story that day, or there would have been no way I could have shared His. I’m also grateful for the place of faith He has  taken me and for the place of faith He is going to take each one of us through this study.

If you are interested in doing “The Author” study independently with the workbook and the CD’s, send a request for information to revolution@denisehildreth.com

Growing Up In The 80s Survey

Merlin or Simon Says- Simon for sure

Smurfs or He-man – Smurfs- loved the little girl with blond hair, even though my dad thought the Merlin guy was from the devil! Hysterical….

Strawberry shortcake or barbie- Barbie- She had Ken

8 track or cassette – Both- Cassettes of everything- 8-track of Kenny Rogers!

neon rubber bracelets or leg warmers- leg warmers- I wanted to be Jennifer Beals from Flash Dance.

side pony tail or fro- Oh Side pony tail.

Tab or Rondo- Neither! Pepsi actually. I know, don’t have a heart attack.

Summit or Twix- Twix

Spam or Treet- Spam- Fried!

Duran Duran or Wham- Wham! Loved George Michaels- Wake me up before you Go-Go. One of the 1st Videos I remember.

belted t-shirt or leggings- Belted t-shirts…

frosting colored lipstick or lip smackers- lip smackers. It tasted so good!

mousetrap or clue- Clue- I was always Miss Scarlett

Gilligans Island reruns or Brady Bunch reruns- Both

Atari or intellevision- Atari- Pong!

Valley Girl or Preppy- Preppy Valley Girl…

Wax on or Wax off- I waxed on and off. I loved Ralph Macchio

Once a week every summer, my three nieces get their “Aunt Niecy” experience. This summer was no different. But boy

I love this picture!

I had the blow-out surprise and moved into the top spot, above Aunt JuJu and Aunt Sarah. Just in case either of them were wondering:)

When my brother and sister-in-law dropped them off to me in Augusta, where I had been for a wedding, we headed to Atlanta, where we met my sweet friends Susan and Sharon Kennedy for a wonderful afternoon at The Atlanta Aquarium. Oh my…I have never liked Aquariums. A bunch of fish swimming around has never been my idea of a good time. But this place was amazing. Nestled across the grassy knoll from my favorite Atlanta Hot Spot- The Coca-Cola Museum, was the Aquarium.

Yes- that would be a shark above our head!

There was even stingray petting...Can you pet a stingray?

I got them home to Nashville late in the evening and Abigail, the little one, said, “My word, that was a long trip!” She wasn’t lying, with the stop at the Aquarium, lunch with Susan and stop at the outlet mall, it was a long day.

But Tuesday night I had their “big” surprise. It was the whole reason we scheduled this trip at this time. One week before Bible Study! So, Tuesday night, I take them downtown Nashville, thinking I’m going to sneak them to their “surprise” by driving behind the Coliseum. Little did I know that there would be thousands of littles girls behind the Coliseum screaming with signs. Hannah said, “Are we going to see the Jonas Brothers?”

I said, “How did you know that?”

She looked at me oddly, “Aunt Niecy, that girl’s sign said, ‘I love the Jonas Brothers!’”

So, yeah, I completely shot myself in the foot. It wasn’t like that at the Donny Osmond Concert! But boy were they excited! I mean smiles stretched for miles. We got in the coliseum, with their new Jonas Brother’s t-shirts donned by Abigail and Lauren.

How much do they love me now?!

My best friend Deneen ended up having five empty seats next to her, (far better than the ones I purchased the day the tickets came on sale and she got hers three weeks ago!) Probably the only 5 free seats in the Coliseum. So we moved over by her and for the next two hours I listened to little girls scream. And I don’t mean for a moment. I mean for two solid hours! I don’t know one song those boys sang. Couldn’t understand one word, but I am officially deaf.

Deneen ended up coming down with a fever and I took home the five kids (Deneen’s son Andrew and his friend Jeremiah) who were slap happy by the time we hit the car and I left at that crew all the way home.

Thursday night they got their Aunt Niecy and Uncle DD and Aunt Sarah on rollerskates. It’s the first time I’ve done that in probably 17 years. But it was like riding a bike. Aunt Niecy rocked! We even did the Hokey Pokey! Yeah, I said, it, the Hokey Pokey!

Uncle DD & Aunt Sarah taking a jaunt...

Georgia was far more interested in the video games.

On Friday it was payback time. They had to help me put together our workbooks for Bible Study. Abigail said, “Are we through yet!” Hannah said, “We owe Aunt Niecy big time for taking us to the Jonas Brothers!” I wasn’t going to correct her, because I needed their help too bad.

Happy...

On Saturday my brother Darren and his wife got to join us for the weekend and brought my little nephew Jake. We took the afternoon to go to the zoo. First time I’ve ever been to the Nashville Zoo and I’ve lived here almost 18 years! Crazy

Jake and the snake! Why does this make little boys so happy?

This is our version of being behind bars. As close as I ever plan on getting….

On Sunday we headed out to church and I had to hug my babies bye. I hope they enjoyed the week and time with me as much as I did them. As quickly as they grow you have to take advantage of the time you get. And it was all priceless to me…