Category: Holidays

Returning to Our First Love

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“I [The Lord] have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” (Jeremiah 31:3)

Valentine’s Day is upon us once again, and Cupid’s arrows are flying! This holiday is celebrated by those in love (and by those who love romance) and spurned by those who are single. However, in recent years, I’ve seen a rise in Galentine’s Day events, and I even coordinated one myself last year, to celebrate some of the wonderful women in my life. I applaud all those who have decided not to let Valentine’s Day define them by their relationship status.

For many years, I did not enjoy Valentine’s Day. Even when I was married, it was not a holiday I looked forward to due to the pressure that I put on myself—to find the perfect gift that expressed my love, to arrange a nice dinner out (knowing there would be a crowd, and I don’t like crowds), or to prepare a lovely dinner at home—an exhausting undertaking. As a single person, the pressure has disappeared, but reminders of my singleness are everywhere this time of year. Continue reading “Returning to Our First Love” →

The Hope of Easter

Posted on by Staci Mauney

[Jesus] told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” (Luke 24:46-47)

During Holy Week, we were reminded that the culmination of this season is Easter Sunday, when we observe Jesus’s resurrection. From Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the Lord’s Supper to the betrayal by Judas just a few days later, Holy Week is a whirlwind of ups and downs that mimic our own lives today.

As we celebrate Easter this year, remember the true meaning, which is found in the following truth: Jesus overcame death. He was humiliated and offered as a sacrifice on the cross. He died and rose from the grave, confirming he was the Son of God.

Continue reading “The Hope of Easter” →

Sharing the Love of Christ

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Do everything in love. (1 Corinthians 16:14)

The fourth Sunday of Advent symbolizes love. Did you realize that we have only one word in the English language to express the emotion of love? We use the word love to describe how we feel about pizza, our families, and our hobbies, among many other things.

The Greek language has at least six distinct words for love. Each of the six words represents a different type of love: philautia, the love of oneself; pragma, the type of love two people show when they’ve been married a long time; storge, the love between parents and children; philia, brotherly love or the love found between friends; eros, romantic love; and agape, the deepest, most abiding type of love. Continue reading “Sharing the Love of Christ” →

Joy to the World

Posted on by Staci Mauney

…for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

Joy can be difficult to find during the Christmas season. Perhaps our lives haven’t turned out the way we thought they would. Maybe we’ve lost someone close to us or been rejected by someone.

In Western culture, we equate joy with happiness, but these are two different things. Both are emotions, but happiness is determined by our circumstances. Joy goes much deeper and is one of the fruits of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). The Greek word for joy is chara and is closely related to charis, or grace. Joy is the natural response to the work of God in our lives. Continue reading “Joy to the World” →

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men

Posted on by Staci Mauney

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

During the second week of Advent, we focus on peace. When you think of peace on earth, what comes to mind? Often, we think about the absence of war or conflict. Peace of mind, peace in relationships—all can be boiled down to the calm that comes when there’s no conflict.

That is one meaning of peace, but the peace mentioned many times over in the Bible is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of God. Continue reading “Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men” →