It came as a sweet message pinging through Facebook as I readied myself to drift off to sleep. Jerking back to wakefulness, I read the message several times, not even sure if what I was reading was real. I typed a short response, hit send, and hoped that I would still fall asleep as planned. 
Sleep did come, but I woke up the next morning wondering if the message was real. I checked Messenger and discovered I really did have a message from Jennifer Dukes Lee. She had just announced that after a number of years, she was closing down the Tell His Story community. When I read this news, I felt a deep sadness. This was always a sure thing, a place to link up and find encouragement from a beautiful community. In my head, I asked “Why now”? Never once did I imagine that a message as I was falling asleep was one asking me to consider opening my doors to host the Tell His Story community. It was God’s way of showing me how the story continues when you say “yes” to Him through others.
[Tweet “And now the story continues. What looked like the end is now a beginning.#TellHisStory #linkup”]
And now the story continues. What looked like the end is now a beginning. God provides beautiful opportunities to share who He is and honor Him in how we live our lives. This beginning is a chance for us to come together, get to know each other, and open our hearts to community. I don’t know about you, but I need you all. I need community to keep me grounded and to show others what beautiful encouragement looks like.
Jennifer created a beautiful legacy. One that is now being passed to me. I am excited, nervous and cannot wait to see how God is going to work. Life experience teaches us that throughout our lives we find times when the old bumps into the new. It becomes beautiful, but not without growing pains. Tell His Story has been given a second chance. We can expect growing pains, but in the midst we will see such beauty as we never imagined.
An old farm house/barn caught my eye recently. It fit into the scenery perfectly. But in the same sweeping view, the new shiny silver of a working farm almost blotted out the charm of the old. Let’s consider how this is God’s way of continuing to make things new while still recognizing that it takes the old foundation to make the new that much better.
Tell HIs Story is what it is today because Jennifer built a beautiful foundation. Her gentle encouragement and wise storytelling brought us together each week. Let’s build on this cornerstone as we continue new traditions of joining in community weekly.
Today we are saying “yes” to change and growing a legacy that points to God. Let’s allow change to move us forward rather than hold us back. Share the news and encourage others to join us in this safe place where stories matter and who we are is all because of God.
Today the story continues. I will leave you with these words from Jonah Sachs spoken during his Ted talk.
Stories shape our world. They’re like verbal DNA. They tell us who we are and what’s important and how we should behave. Stories create our future. Stories matter.
And now the story continues with you! Link up your story below.
Loading InLinkz ...
Mary, you are the perfect person to take up the reigns here.
Jennifer built a beautiful platform, and you will keep it beautiful and it will continue to grow and blossom and reach the hearts of women all over the world.
May God bless you and all who participate here!
Just a wee personal comment… on the subscribe place the type is impossible for me to read and it is so pale here I can only just see it… so in the interests of inclusiveness. please make it black?
I don’t want to miss a single thing 🙂
I love this, Mary, and I am so excited for you to receive the #tellhisstory baton. It’s exciting to see so many familiar faces.
Thank you for saying “yes”, and letting God do what He wants to do through you.
Eyes on Jesus… you shine! Psalm 34:5
~Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! You are a sweet encourager and meeting you in person confirms that. I am honored to host this beautiful community and I am looking forward to seeing how God brings people together. Glad you are here.
Mary, thank you for allowing the story to continue at your place! God bless you; I’m sure you will be an awesome hostess!
What sweet words of affirmation. I’m blessed you are here and look forward to seeing you and reading your stories.
I am very pleased for you Mary G. And, I see you got all the glitches ironed out. You will do “Tell His Story” great justice – you are a brave woman of excellence. xo
You are so kind and encouraging. May God watch over this community and may we honor Him with our words.
So happy the story is going to continue! This is a beautiful post to start off with in both words and photos! I am looking forward to all God is going to do in the days ahead!
Thank you, Joanne! I pray we all look to the One who writes our stories as we share our stories in this space. Blessed to have you here!
What a launch, Mary!
;-}
So very happy for you …
And it’s even better because you are here! Thank you and I look forward to your wise stories here at #TellHisStory.
Excited to see you taking over, Mary and thankful for the blessing Jennifer has been also. May God encourage and equip you and the community here, as you serve Him from your heart.
Jennifer created a beautiful foundation and now has passed the legacy to me and all of you. May we continue to minister each other through our words and encouragement.
Excited you are continuing this great link-up. God bless as you host it each week! : )
Thank you, Cathy! May God bless this community and continue to bring just the right people each week. Glad you are here!
Congrats, Mary! It couldn’t have been handed off to a nicer blogger! And I’m so glad we get to continue what Jennifer started! Thanks for another lovely place to linkup!
Thank you sweet friend! I vote growing community and encouragement is such a blessing to me and others. Thank you for being part of the community.
I’m so glad Tell His Story is continuing! Trusting God’s guidance for you.
Thank you, Barbara! I receive your words for God’s guidance. Blessings on your week.
So blessed to link-up with you today, Mary! I know that you will do a wonderful job hosting and I’m so looking forward to joining you here again! Thank you for sharing and thank you for hosting! Blessings! 🙂
What a treat to have you here, Tai. May this place be one that encourages you greatly.
So excited to be joining you here, sweet friend!
And I am thrilled that you are here too. This community is a beautiful place to grow and learn from each other.
So excited for you friend! This really spoke to me today “Life experience teaches us that throughout our lives we find times when the old bumps into the new. It becomes beautiful, but not without growing pains”
We need the old to grow the new and Jennifer has created such a wonderful foundation to build off of Blessings to you and love that you are here linking up.
Woot! Woot! So fun that she handed the baton to you, Mary! Praying that all goes smoothly for you as you make the hostessing transition :).
Love that you are here, Anita! I know you are a long time member of this community. Here’s to a familiar yet new place for all to come and share their stories in a safe, encouraging environment.
Mary, this is so exciting that you will be carrying on #TellHisStory! Blessings to you in this new venture.
Thank you, Gayl! I am honored to be the new hostess for this beautiful community. I am so glad you are here!
So excited about this, Mary! She couldn’t have made a better choice. 🙂
You are one of my biggest supporters. Thank you sweet, Kate!
I love that you’re able to build something new on the wonderful foundation Jennifer created. Look forward to linking up!
Jennifer is so gracious to pass the baton to me. I am praying that God uses this community for writers to come together for encouragement. Glad you are here.
Mary, I am excited that you will be the new hostess of Tell His Story. Take things at your own pace! I am rooting for you and lifting you in prayer.
Yay! It will be a fun adventure that is only better because of people like you joining in this community. Thank you for cheering me on and for the prayers.
So excited for you friend. I know you will serve this community well. I look forward to linking up one day in the not too distant future.
Barbie, I look forward to reading your words again; I miss you!
A big thanks to you, Barbie, for believing in me years ago and walking alongside me as a co-host for The Weekend Brew. It was such a lovely place to be. I look forward to you joining us here too.
Oh, many blessings to you Mary, as you continue stepping “brave” along the path that Jesus calls you to. I am so happy to see you continuing the group that Jennifer started. Hugs to you today!
Thank you, Bettie! I love new challenges but I love them even better because I know God is walking by my side. It is so good to see you here as I step out into this new beginning.
I love the analogy of the old charm of the farmhouse still shining through as something new is being built. When taking on something that has been built and add in our flavours, it sure helps to have a sturdy foundation already in place! I’m glad you said ‘yes’ to the change! Look forward to reading His stories.
I imagine you might have some amazing photos of your own of old and new farms. The thought of how the old lays the foundation for the new is something I have thought about before. It is so fitting for this new beginning. I look forward to when you add one of your own stories to the rest.
I thought of you yesterday, Mary (as I tried to figure out what day it was and got the wrong answer for a few minutes, thinking it was Tuesday), with all the anticipation of a new thing beginning for you.
Blessings to you as you sort out the details and as you try not to let the technical stuff get in the way of relationships and the joy of the gathering! Thanks for saying yes to a new challenge.
There was a lot of anticipation and I read and re-read the post probably 50 times. I am so glad to have you along for this new journey. Seeing you here always makes me happy.