Echoes of Joy Blog

CREATE: Writing Goals for 2021

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chron 15:7).

In light of my word for the year, “create,” I’ve set two major writing goals for 2021.

I’m getting closer to finishing my first Christian cozy mystery novel, which I’ve titled Death by Dice: A Bunco Club Mystery. You may not know the story behind this book, but it’s been quite a process. I started writing it in early 2016 as a novella, and I completed it about a year later with 20,000 words. Then I decided to challenge myself further and add enough content for a complete novel. It’s taken several years and multiple starts and stops (I’ve quit for up to a year at a time twice due to health and family emergencies). Since last April, I’ve written steadily, and now I have a completed draft at just over 64,000 words! I’m making final revisions, and I’ll send it to my content editor and beta readers within a few weeks. Thanks to all my friends who checked in and held me accountable for finishing this project! Continue reading “CREATE: Writing Goals for 2021” →

Create: My Word for 2021

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers” (Ex 35:35).

I haven’t made New Year’s resolutions in a long time. Instead, I choose a word for the year. I use this word to focus on an area of my life where I believe the Lord wants to make changes or have me grow. I’ve chosen words such as “trust,” “focus,” “compassion,” and “bold.” Last year, my word was “renew.” As 2020 began, I felt burned out. I had no idea how much I would need renewal as the year (and the pandemic) wore on.

This year, God revealed my word to me more slowly than usual. I often have my word for the year in November, or the first week of January at the latest. We were halfway through January before I felt comfortable with the word that kept coming to mind: “create.” Continue reading “Create: My Word for 2021” →

2020: What I Lost

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Prov 19:21).

In last week’s blog post, I wrote about the things I gained and the things that worked for me in 2020. This week, I’m looking at what I lost or what didn’t work. When I know what didn’t work, I can take steps to make changes.

Honestly, 2020 was full of losses—for some more than others. It would be easy to focus on all the bad things, especially since 2021 seems as if it’s just a continuation of the craziness of last year.

But my purpose is not to wallow in negativity. Instead, I want to acknowledge what was lost  so that I can grieve it and move on (because you can’t grieve what you don’t recognize). After that,  I can make changes to the things I can control and move on. Continue reading “2020: What I Lost” →

2020: What I Gained

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col 3:2).

At the beginning of each new year, I like to look back at what worked and what didn’t in the previous year. By discovering what went well, I can move forward and do more of those things.

In 2020, each of us experienced both gains and losses. It is hard to say that 2020 was good by any stretch of the imagination. I believe it is more appropriate to say that some good came from the events of 2020. For example, I wrote a blog post early in the pandemic about people delivering and dropping off groceries and prescriptions for those who couldn’t get out and shop for themselves. Good happened when people looked outside themselves and their comfort zones to help others.

Upon reflection, I have realized some of the good things in my life that came from 2020. A summary of the top five follows. Continue reading “2020: What I Gained” →

Where Is Our Hope?

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast” (1 Pet 5:10).

We entered 2021 with such hope for the future: hope for the pandemic to end, hope for a peaceful resolution to the election chaos of the last few months.

Although we’ve turned the calendar, our problems remain. With COVID-19 continuing to ravage our nation and the chaos in the US Capitol this week, it’s easy to focus on the turmoil around us. But one thing we should remember, no matter what’s going on around us, is that our hope is in Jesus, not this world. Continue reading “Where Is Our Hope?” →