Author: Staci Mauney

Reminders of Christmas

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Ps 100:2)

Inevitably, I leave behind a Christmas decoration or two when I put everything away in January. When I come across these items, they serve as happy reminders of the joyous season just passed. It was with that thought in mind that I decided to do three things to keep the spirit of Christmas alive this year even after the holiday season was over. First, I left the Christmas decorations up a little longer. Second, I continued to listen to Christmas music whenever the mood would strike me. And third, I decided to add Christmas books to my reading list throughout the year. Continue reading “Reminders of Christmas” →

Celebrating Valentine’s Day

Posted on by Staci Mauney
My Valentine

“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…” (Phil 4:12b)

In high school, I was part of a club that ran a Valentine’s Day fundraiser. Students ordered carnations in red, pink, or white, with each color representing love, like, and friendship, respectively. The members of the club, including me, delivered the carnations to the excited recipients on Valentine’s Day. Everyone held their breath that day to see who would get which color, and I know very little school work got done. Continue reading “Celebrating Valentine’s Day” →

Focusing on Health in 2019

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31

As I look back over 2018, I’m repeatedly drawn to my health goals. My goal was simply to be healthier. It was a pretty broad goal, to be sure, and I realize now that I wasn’t specific enough in how I wanted to reach that goal. Many of the health problems I experienced in 2018 could have been prevented. Some were caused by pushing myself too hard. I worked even when I was sick, rarely taking a day off, which leads to more illness and potential burnout. I also struggled with seasonal depression more than usual, so this year, I’m taking steps to combat that issue. You can read all about it here in my recent blog post. Continue reading “Focusing on Health in 2019” →

Surviving the Dreary Days of Winter

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 27:1)

Now that we’ve settled into January, you may notice you’ve been feeling a little down. The January blues is a real mood disorder that can be brought about by many things such as taking the holiday decorations down, going back to work after extended time off, or spending too much money during the holidays. It’s situational, and that’s what makes it different from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which is due to lack of sunlight. The January blues usually last for a few weeks, while SAD can last for months, and for some people, the two mood disorders can coincide.

Knowing that I suffer from SAD, I’m preparing for the long, dark days ahead. The week after Christmas was a dreary one here in Oklahoma, and I noticed symptoms of SAD, including irritability and forgetfulness, setting in quickly. Continue reading “Surviving the Dreary Days of Winter” →

The Enemy of the Good

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov 3:5-6)

I’m a big believer in goal setting. I set goals that span the year, and I’ve learned to break those goals into smaller chunks so that they’re more manageable. Reaching my goals, whether it’s the large ones or the smaller ones along the way, gives me a great sense of accomplishment.

Goal setting is backed by scientific research, and it’s also scriptural. While we won’t find a checklist in the Bible, we do see those in the Bible setting goals and striving for them. Moses’ goal was to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the Promised Land. John’s goal was to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. And Jesus’ goal was “…to seek and to save the lost” (Lk 19:10). Continue reading “The Enemy of the Good” →