The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Country Singer, Jimmy Rose recently said, "If you don't ever take the chance--You will never know the outcome." When Hudson Taylor became deathly ill and had to return to England to receive needed medical care, he wondered if and when he'd be able to take his family back to China. During the healing process, Taylor used the time to reevaluate the ministry and his goal to preach to those living in inland China. The three years convalescing proved invaluable. At this time, the China Inland Mission came to life. Those working with Taylor set up the administration and finances then called for recruits and taught language and Bible lessons. In the hours he didn't sleep, Taylor worked with a helper to write a translation of the New Testament in a Chinese language. A few years after leaving, Taylor brought sixteen missionaries with his own family back to China, ready to begin a new ministry. What would have been missed if he had given up while recuperating from

Today I welcome  Melissa Tagg, a sweet friend who knows how to brighten a group gathering.  I can't even remember when I met Melissa. We've engaged in conversations through the Writers Alley, My Book Therapy, ACFW, and she is a regular visitor here on my website. She's encouraged, supported, laughed, and prayed with both my friends and I. What a kindred spirit. I recently asked Melissa to share how God has led her on her writing journey. This is what she said: Trust- Not Snazzy Time Lines When Mary asked me to write a guest post about my writing journey, my first thought was, “Sure, I can do that. No prob.” Then I sat down to write it. And it wasn’t so easy. Because I feel like my writing journey has been chalk full of cool moments, spiritual tugs and open doors that I can only attribute to God’s sweet timing. And, sure, there have been down moments too. Times when my writing felt stale. When I wondered if I’d ever actual

Panic set in. My husband couldn't find his wallet and he needed to leave for work five minutes ago. I gave him my debit card to buy gas and sent him on his way. We searched his pants pockets, counters, under the sofa cushions, the car, even drove to the last place where he used one of his cards. I pulled all the bedding off the bed and frisked the top of his dresser. Enough. Time to call in the pro. I roamed about my house and said, "God, we've looked more than once in all the obvious places, I need an idea where the unusual place is." I stopped in my bedroom in front of the suitcase hubby uses for most of his work trips and thought, Nah, it wouldn't be in there. He didn't use the suitcase yesterday, but he did use his wallet yesterday.  I nearly had to step over the suitcase to take another step which for some crazy reason was left in the walk path.  I rolled my eyes and thought there is no reason the wallet would be in this suitcase. NO

A picture of unity Mary Vee, Ashley Clark, Pepper Basham Writers Alley friends There are those moments, when the folks around us do not get along. It may be a family squabble, coworkers disagreeing, volunteers clash. Sigh Even more distressing is when we jump on the bandwagon and escalate the issue. My heart breaks when I cozy up to the problem like king Ahab in the Old Testament, instead of pulling away and praying as did king Hezekiah, king Jehoshophat, or king David. I really don't want to grumble or add to the issue, but I do. Sigh . And it is so difficult to simply say "I'm sorry" or to walk away. I think writers are inspired to write specific themes because that is the very issue they are experiencing or need to address in their own lives. For me, the manuscript I completed and pitched at the ACFW conference has this theme: How good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity. Psalm 133:1 When I am out in public, God ha

Today I welcome  Mindy Obenhaus, a gracious lady who loves her family and is willing to follow God's will.  Enter to win Mindy's  August 2013 release, The Doctor's Family Reunion Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I didn't know the story your are about to read when I saw Mindy at the ACFW conference. We just never know when others might be experiencing something that is demonstrating the power of God. Thank God, He has brought Mindy's story to our attention today. You will be blessed. I asked Mindy to share with us the journey God has led her on for her writing career. Of course she graciously agreed, ever willing to share how God has blessed. Here is what she said: Seeing It Is All Good Many writers will tell you that they’ve always been avid readers. Many will tell you they’ve been writing forever. I cannot say that. However, I’ve always had a love of story. As a child, I would contrive these amazing advent

Consider your morning. Photo by Mary Vee As you woke, you inhaled a deep breath of life sustaining air. Was it crisp? Mine was. It was forty-two degrees outside. You stumbled in your morning walk dance to the bathroom and freshened up for the day using water flowing from a faucet. You slipped into your work clothes, even mom's and stay at home workers have work clothes, made from the plants and animals inhabiting our earth. You enjoyed your breakfast, even if it was only a cup of coffee, thanking God for His gift of food/drink. By this time the sun rose in the sky, lighting your home, radiating colors far better than interior lighting. Everything God does is designed to have a thorough, complete, and perfect outcome. His desires are for our good.  I feel rested, satisfied after my sleep last night. My hair and skin are clean, fresh for a new day. My stomach is appeased with the breakfast. The sun sparks happiness in my heart, a special warmth that isn'

I'm traveling home from the conference today and wanted to put a fresh, inspiring thought in your heart while I'm gone. God has blessed us with four lovely seasons. We all have our favorites, of course. But the newness of each season brings fantastic memories (which hopefully wash away any sad ones). Photo by Mary Vee My favorite season is Fall. I love the scent of the cool but not cold air. The colors found in certain areas of the United States are well worth the travel. I grew up in Michigan where trees cascade over roads. A fall trip can be done by bicycle. Maybe visit a mountain forest. Rich, vibrant colors. Take a walk in the woods. Listen to the twigs, leaves, and foliage crunch beneath your shoes. Stop for a moment. Listen. Hear the birds? Many won't be there for long. They'll fly south for the winter. The day I wrote this post a flock of birds flew to the south. Already? Yeah, something about the early bird . . .  Buffalo in Rocky Mountains

The ACFW conference is in full swing. The hotel is filling up with writers anxious to meet each other, renew friendships, and to attend those all important meetings.  Warning, this weekends post will be filled with random fun pictures from the ACFW conference.  Yeah! Scroll down to see about a book give away. Mary Vee, Pepper Basham, Amy Lee Simpson, Casey Harringshaw Casey Herringshaw, Beth Vogt, Amy Leigh Simpson, Pepper Basham Mary Vee and Pepper Basham Cara Putman, Casey Herringshaw Angie Dicken View outside our window in Indianapolis, Indiana There will be a book give away with one of the books I get  at the conference. The winner will have a chance to choose.  Must leave a comment Must be a follower of this website U.S. Only. 

I couldn't figure out, for the longest time, why I had such a problem choosing a topic to write for this post. Ideas always popped into my head then are filtered into something that met the standards I'd set for this website: 1. A topic I can say at least something about. 2. A topic you, my friend, would be interested in. 3. A topic that solicits comments because I don't want to just talk to myself. 4. A topic that honors Christ in some way. And as I worked ahead (since I will be at the ACFW conference), I looked at the date this post would be published. 9/11 Then I understood the reason for the struggle.  This date represents so much. I know where I was when thousands of people sipped their last drop of coffee, when the power went out and men were trapped, when the structure around women's offices crushed down on them, when their families heard from them no more. My heart groans for the family and friends affected--as they remember those they knew. So

This is my rushed week. The week I attend the ACFW Writers' Conference. I leave on Wednesday and will drive back next Monday. Perhaps you are having a time when many events, tasks, whatever are happening/due. If not right at this time, you will have, I'm sure. So here is a blessing for both of us: photo by Mary Vee, taken in Michigan May the Lord Bless you and keep you The Lord make His face shine upon you And be gracious to you The Lord lift up his countenance upon you And give you peace Numbers 6:24-26 KJV For this reason I kneel before the Father,  from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you  with power through his Spirit in your inner being,  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,  may have power, together with all the believers,  to grasp how wide and long and

Today I welcome  Laura Frantz, a gracious lady showing the love of Christ with her smile. Enter to win Laura's  September 2013 release, Love's Awakening Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I was introduced to Laura at an ACFW conference by my a fellow Writer's Alley Cat writer. Immediately I saw Laura's gracious spirit. It's been about two years since and I thought of that Christlike spirit when I noticed her new book release. I asked Laura to share with us the journey God has led her on for her writing career. Of course she graciously agreed. Here is what she said: You Were Born For Nothing Less Thanks so much for having me here, Mary. It’s always a joy to revisit my writing journey as it stays fresh and is always humbling to think how God led me to this place.  In a nutshell… I’ve written stories – historical fiction only – since I was seven years old. I think I came into the world hardwired to write. I didn’t