Tag: Jesus’ love

Birthday Reflections

Posted on by Staci Mauney

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Eph 5:15–16)

I’m introspective by nature, and I like to take some time around my birthday to reflect on my life. This sort of self-reflection must have something to do with getting older. I’m quite sure I wasn’t so contemplative in my twenties.

A friend of mine recently posted about how he uses his birthday as a springboard to reflect and realign his life goals. I loved that idea, and then I realized I’ve been implementing it for a while. No wonder I liked it! Continue reading “Birthday Reflections” →

Hope in Troubled Times

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (Jn 14:27).

When I first learned of the coronavirus (COVID-19), it was in China, and then Iran and Italy. It was far away from me and my family. Even when reports of confirmed cases emerged here in the U. S., they were in states thousands of miles from me. But reality set in when the NBA canceled their entire season in my state, in my city. I realized the disease was much closer and more widespread than I wanted to acknowledge. Continue reading “Hope in Troubled Times” →

Finding Common Ground

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. 23 I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.” (1 Cor 9:22b-23 NLT)

When I lived in Germany in the late 1990s, I spent most of my time at the Army base’s library. My then-husband worked and was out on maneuvers a lot, and I couldn’t find a job on the small base, so I had a lot of time to myself.

An older, retired Army man served as the base librarian. With his white hair shaped in a crew cut and his gruff demeanor, I felt intimidated by him. Sometimes, he was friendly, but more often than not, he would bark out a hello or glare at me when I entered the building. Even so, I didn’t stay away. The library was my refuge, and I wasn’t going to let a gruff old man keep me away. Continue reading “Finding Common Ground” →

Strangers Among Us

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are doing for the brothers and sisters, even though they are strangers to you.” (3 Jn 1:5)

Recently, an older gentleman with a small dog about the size of Lilly approached me when we were leaving the park after a walk. I needed to get to work and stopping for him was a minor inconvenience. But something about this man and his dog made me pause, and I waited for them to reach us. Continue reading “Strangers Among Us” →

41 Days to 41

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But show me unfailing kindness like the Lord’s kindness as long as I live…” (1 Sa 20:14)

After my fortieth birthday last year, I learned about something called 40 days to 40 in which you pick a theme and do one thing each day to fit that theme for the forty days leading up to your birthday. Since I missed out on doing it last year, I decided to do it this year, even though it’s not a milestone year. Every birthday is one to be celebrated, and each day is one for which to be thankful. This year, I’m doing 41 acts of kindness to 41. I’ll complete forty-one acts of kindness – at least one per day. I started the challenge on July 3. Continue reading “41 Days to 41” →