Category: Pets

Renewal in the Time of COVID-19

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Ps 90:12 (NIV)

Due to the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) around the country, we are faced with continued quarantine and isolation. My calendar, which is usually filled to overflowing, is now clear except for a few work deadlines.

Rather than focusing on the negative, I’m looking for silver linings. I’ve become accustomed to finding lessons in everyday situations in order to write posts for this blog. This situation is so extraordinary that I know God has something for me to learn.

One message I’m hearing loud and clear is that I need to be more selective about how I spend my time. That includes taking better care of myself. My word for the year, renew, comes to mind. Continue reading “Renewal in the Time of COVID-19” →

Coping with Anxiety with Lilly Doggins

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind” (Job 12:7–10).

Fears surrounding the coronavirus (COVID-19) rise every day. We’re inundated with the news twenty-four hours a day. Rising death tolls and dire predictions about hospital supplies and the economy keep us on edge. Social distancing, while necessary, leads to isolation and other negative mental health effects.

Like everyone else, I’m experiencing a myriad of emotions right now. One minute I’m calm and focused on the task at hand. The next minute I’m sad about all the loss we’re experiencing right now and worried about family members, friends, and my business. Continue reading “Coping with Anxiety with Lilly Doggins” →

All the Lonely Hearts

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted” (Ps 25:16).

We all feel lonely at times. Loneliness can sneak up on us whether we’re in a crowd or by ourselves. When we spend time alone by choice, we come away feeling refreshed and energized. But when being alone isn’t our choice, it can feel overwhelming and draining.

Continue reading “All the Lonely Hearts” →

Battling the Winter Blues

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Authors’s note: This award-winning post was originally published on March 4, 2018.

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Th 5:11)

The long, cold winter and gray skies were bringing me down. It seemed winter would never end, and this year my seasonal affective disorder (SAD-an apt acronym if ever there was one) has been triggered more often than in many recent years. The older I get, the more I hate cold weather, which is common of many of us who have SAD. The combination of cold, gray skies, and short days is enough to send me into a spiral of irritability and sadness. I try to keep those feelings to myself so that I won’t damage my relationships, but my friends and family who know me best are aware of how I feel and try to encourage me and talk me through it. Continue reading “Battling the Winter Blues” →

When Creativity Stops Flowing

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Ps 19:14)

This blog post almost didn’t happen. Writing an original blog post each week along with other fresh material can be a daunting task. Because I write in a devotional format, I don’t feel comfortable just throwing something up on my blog for the sake of meeting a deadline. I approach each entry thoughtfully and with prayer so that the Lord can use my words for his purposes.

I maintain a long list of possible blog post topics, but even though I had potential subject matter on hand, I couldn’t dredge up the words to pull it all together this week. When I prayed for guidance, I heard…silence. And then I realized that the silence, the lack of an idea, the difficulty writing a coherent blog post, was the idea for this entry. Continue reading “When Creativity Stops Flowing” →