The Storyteller | Mary Vee

Rather than show the scorched building, I am showing the front of the church. The mission of the saints Those of you who are friends with me on Facebook (and if we aren't friends-send me a request, I will gladly friend you), may have seen my posts from this last week. The church I attended as a child and grew up in, burst into flames last Saturday, gutting much of the structure. We aren't sure why. Someone suggested a new boiler might have been an issue. Within seconds, beloved church friends formed a message thread on Facebook to pray. We invited childhood friends who had moved to other states and shared with them what we knew. Those living locally watched the news and reported updates. One person walked close to the scene to get pictures and post them. My heart ached horribly over the event. So many memories, all in praise and honor to the King.  We stayed up into the very late hours, sharing God's work accomplished in that building, and rose early the next ...

Today I welcome  Deb Raney, a dynamic lady who knows how to make you feel important. She is kind, laughs, and ever so much fun to be with.  Enter to win Deb's  October 2013 release, Silver Bells Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I met Deb at the 2013 ACFW conference. Of course I knew what a famous author she was before I walked up to her desk for my meeting. I initially felt like the ugly duckling walking into the chambers of a great queen. It took her two seconds to help me feel like her Christian sister. And she did this while critiquing my work! Now that is amazing. I immediately wanted to hear more from her and am excited to read her books. This is a lady you want to meet. I asked Deb to tell us how God led her on her writing journey. Here is what she said: God Has Proven Himself Faithful Again and Again Since I was big enough to hold a pencil and scratch out a few wobbly marks, writing was how I expressed myself....

I especially value when God speaks one message through several avenues. He knows when I need more than one dose of His message to get me to listen. photo by Mary Vee Bozeman, Montana Recently, one of the loops I'm connected with had a discussion about those difficult, annoying jobs we do. The one person lamented over a task, which admittedly ranked in this category.  The other friends counseled: "There was a time when I had 3 kids 4 years and under. I was SUPER busy, but feeling very unproductive in my heart. So I started praying things like "Lord, I'm washing these dishes for you. Help me do it to the best of my ability." "Lord, I'm changing this diaper because you've given me this beautiful (and exhausting) child. Help me do it for you with the best of my ability", "Lord, I'm raking up these stupid leaves again. They're very beautiful. Help me do this for your glory. " Pepper Basham The next day, I found ...

For my writing time today, I researched places and people for my new manuscript. I watched You Tube clips which included how to's, interviews, and on location testimonials/travelogs. Great! I visited New York City and the Rocky Mountains all in one day. Today's post is brought to you by one single comment I heard while watching a video in my research. My story opens on the campus of Juilliard, a specialized music, theater, and dance school in New York City. Beginners need not apply. Only the best and driven to learn walk the halls. One drama student shared a particularly fun activity. The video showed a room with mirrors, even on the ceiling. "You see yourself and learn to accept what you see--good and bad. You see your strong self, your funny/happy self, and yes, your deep, dark self." I thought her youthful words carried wisdom.  I first asked myself, would it be all right to do this activity with my hair curled and make-up on.  My inner self answered, ...

Today I welcome  Carrie Turansky, a lady with a kind spirit, a personality that can see from a distance and immediately cause you to want to meet her.  Enter to win Carrie's  October 2013 release, The Governess of Highland Hall Scroll to the end of the post to see how to enter. I asked Carrie to share with us how God has led her on her writing journey. This is what she said: Touch With God's Love I found Carrie waiting for the elevator at the ACFW conference and shouted, "Carrie! I want a photo!" I’ve loved reading since I first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. I soon graduated to chapter books and spent many happy hours, lying on our porch swing reading. Those lazy days gave my imagination a chance to grow, and they helped me develop a love for well-told stories. My love for writing began when I penned my first novel at age twelve, Passport to Paris. I wrote i...

The school year/sports season/event practice is in full swing. We've stepped up to the plate and volunteered For Too Much. Are you running ragged, wishing you hadn't committed to so much? I see all those hands up out there. Perhaps some of you are considering which activity you could bow out of with the most grace, at this very moment. Ah huh. The problem isn't always the activity we agreed to do, our eyes have been opened and we're reminded about the time constraints and having to leave the house when a storm is raging and wouldn't it just be nice to stay home for once? Ah huh. Guess who's talking to you. Wednesday is my main ministry night. I have volunteered with AWANA, stepping into every position possible, for too many years to count. Sometimes I wonder, maybe I'm taking the blessing away from someone else? Bad choice to let this thought sneak into my brain. It wedges the door open for tons of nasty thoughts. This grousing isn'...

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 ...