About Dee

Clues Leading To My Conversion

One of my favorite quotes is from Lauren Winner in  girl Meets GOD. When you look back to clues, before your conversion, sometimes you wonder, she writes:

Surely any idiot should have been able to see from the second chapter that it was Miss Scarlett in the conservatory with the rope.

First Clues

Before kindergarten I wondered,  “Who made my hand?”

I melted every time I heard “O Holy Night”.

I wondered how my professor at Northwestern University could rip apart the Bible and not be afraid of God.

When my  “fanatical” sister Sally arrived to tell me about Jesus I wanted her visit to end, but a freak October blizzard hit Indianapolis and she stayed and  preached three more days.

Sisters: l to r, Bonnie, Dee and Sally

How amazing that He chose me before the foundation of the world. It is just that it took me twenty-one years to catch on.

Family

Dee with Steve in 2002

Steve was such a gift to me. He prayed over me, believed in my ministry, and even, as he lay dying from a terrible cancer, said, “You will fly so free.” I surely don’t want to fly without him, but I am learning to live what I teach.  Christ is enough. I miss Steve more than I can say, but I am so very thankful for the years we had.

Dee and Steve's six children: l to r& Beth, Julie, John, Anne, Sally & J.R.

I know I am blessed to have six children who love God, and five precious grandchildren. My daughters have sometimes spoken with me, and Sally has her own website (sallybrestin.com)

Our Four Grandchildren

BACKGROUND

I grew up in a loving family in Wisconsin. Since Steve has gone to be with Jesus, I have returned to spend much time here in this little village on the thumb of Wisconsin.

Growing up, I lived in West Bend, Wisconsin. Both my parents were also writers and my dad told me I might not be as pretty as my sisters (What?) but that I could write. He made fifty copies of a book I wrote when I was eight called, “My Dog Chloe. “

Believe it or not, I was a theatre major at Northwestern University. (My mother wanted me to marry a movie star.) Though I dropped out of theatre, I did like speaking in front of a crowd. However, it wasn’t until after Christ that I had anything worth saying!

When Steve was in residency, I was leading an evangelistic Bible study for residents’ wives and couldn’t find a good guide. So, I wrote Proverbs and Parables for The Fisherman Bible Studies, which was one of the first series of Bible study guides. Luci Shaw, the editor, insisted on  “no editorial content.” Let the student dig himself and ask questions! Don’t give answers. When I couldn’t resist giving a few editorial comments in my friendship guide, Luci told me  to go write a book on friendship! I wrote The Friendships of Women. When Focus on the Family called and wanted to feature it, I was over the moon. How blessed I have been!

It is the desire of my heart to make Christ’s Word relevant to women today. The book Christ-Centered Preaching by Bryan Chappell has profoundly impacted me. I love to use pictures, drama, and music to help women see the truth as well as hear it.

I am a member of a PCA church (Trinity Presbyterian)  which is the conservative branch of the Presbyterian church. I embrace my sisters in Christ from every denomination. I have, however, truly loved Reformed Theology, especially the emphasis that it is Christ and Christ alone not only for salvation, but for living the Christian life.