A year ago, I faced a decision that required much processing and prayers before coming to a conclusion. The offer was flattering, humbling to know someone believed in me, and surprising that God laid my name on the asker’s heart.

Jennifer Dukes Lee graciously offered me the opportunity to keep the doors open for the Tell His Story community. I accepted and a year later here we are spending time together each Tuesday. It is a blessing and gift to know that you all want to be here and find the time to encourage each other. In appreciation for this last year, I wrote a letter of thanks to Jennifer. Please read to the end for a giveaway announcement and to read some words that Jennifer wrote especially for all of you.

Dear Jennifer Dukes Lee,

Thank you for the invitation to stand in this space and open my doors to the Tell His Story community. It has been a whirlwind of a year. As Tuesday rolls around each week, I take a minute to thank you silently for the opportunity and gift you gave me a year ago.

The doors were already opened wide through your gift of storytelling and invitational spirit. I just opened them a bit wider to continue to welcome the new, steadfast, and those seeking a place to feel encouraged. It has been a year like no other, not just in taking over Tell His Story, but personally, as family dynamics changed multiple times.

Thank you for laying a foundation of trust, truth, and transparency. You made it easy for me to continue forward. When you entrusted this little corner of the online world to me, you empowered me to grow my gift of encouragement and hospitality. I am forever grateful.

What I thought I knew about the community turned into what I know about the hearts of these visitors and those who stay awhile. They tenderly hold precious stories as if they would break if dropped. Encouragement is their love language as both a giver and receiver. Learning about God and His truth is a community activity. We cheer each other on and gather around other members who are struggling in any way.

Your faithful follower, friend, and now keeper of the Tell His Story Community!

Mary

The month of June is the perfect time to celebrate the one year anniversary. I reached out to Jennifer as a way to say “hey, look how far I have come and thank you for this opportunity.” She in turn responded graciously with the following words of encouragement and her willingness to giveaway a copy of It’s All Under Control, her latest book.

Grace and peace to you, the writers of Tell His Story! 

I think of you often, and am filled with happiness over the ways that Mary has nurtured and stewarded this community in the past year. 


Let me encourage each one of you today as you do the important work of telling stories. Like you, I know the frustration of the blinking cursor when words won’t come. I know the trepidation of hitting “Publish” on a story that feels exceptionally vulnerable. I know the heartache of rejection.

And, like you, I also know the joy that comes in knowing that my story has made a difference in the life of someone else.

Yes, my friend, your story makes a difference.

Words hold power, ever since God first spoke these four: “Let there be light.”


Stories have been a Gospel-proven means by which we can understand one another – and by which we can understand ourselves.

We need your story.

That’s what Tell His Story has always been about. 

Keep up the good work of storytelling, dear ones. 

You are the chroniclers, the people who help others make sense of the world with your words.

Story is how we know that, no matter what happens, we can get back up again.

As I reflect on this community today, I think of a song by Katherine Hankey — a song that has been my anthem during my years as a storyteller. May you carry these words, like a song, in your heart today. 

I love to tell the story;
more wonderful it seems
than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;
and that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

Love,

Jennifer

It's the one year anniversary of #TellHisStory and we are celebrating with a giveaway and some words of encouragement from @dukeslee Share on X

With grateful hearts and encouraged souls, let’s move forward this week knowing God sees and knows who we are and is blessed by our creative hearts.

With gratitude,

Take a minute to leave a comment about what you are most grateful for and you will be entered to win a copy of Jennifer’s latest book, It’s All Under Control. I loved this book and found it was the perfect encouragement in my stage of life. This book also comes with a companion bible study. You can find them both on Amazon, HERE, and HERE.

Please visit Jennifer Dukes Lee on her website and leave her some love. The giveaway for Jennifer’s book will end on Sunday, June 16 at midnight. You don’t want to miss next week as I share some of the top posts from the last year and also you have the chance to win some more books!!!

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

#TellHisStory Link Up
 
Each week we gather here as storytellers, word weavers, and encouragers to make His name known. Our story is God’s story and this small corner of the blogging world, where we come together each Tuesday, needs you. This is a place where poetry, snapshots, prayers, and stories find a safe spot to nod in agreement that what we have to say matters.
 
I am glad you are here and would love to have you join the #TellHisStory community. Add your own encouraging post through the link below. Spread some love by visiting your neighbor and leave your own encouragement. Add the #TellHisStory button to your post so others can join in on the fun. Click HERE to get the button.
 
Your story matters and the #TellHisStory link up continues because of you.

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