Tag: worship

Why I Write

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.” (Dt 10:21)

If you’ve followed me very long, then you know about my twisty writing journey. As a child, I enjoyed writing and even started a book called Just Say No when I was about eight. Apparently, I had taken to heart the message about staying away from drugs and wanted to convince others to do the same. As a teenager, I joined the school newspaper staff as a writer and then an editor, and I went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in mass communications. If there was something to be written, whether an article, academic paper, or novel, I wanted to know how to do it. Continue reading “Why I Write” →

Growing in Community

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Gal 6:2)

As believers in Christ, we carry a sense of responsibility for each other, known as community. Growing up, my family, my church friends, and my school friends formed my communities. I didn’t have to search for them; they were just there. When I started kindergarten, one of my cousins was in my class, along with several of the girls I knew from church. I can still remember spending the day with my cousins or friends from church, making cookies, riding bikes, watching movies, or playing with makeup. We were in and out of each other’s homes and lives, and I thought that was just how it was supposed to be. Continue reading “Growing in Community” →

The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

Posted on by Staci Mauney

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Mt 6:17-18)

As Easter draws closer, we look for ways to deepen our spiritual life and draw closer to Jesus. Fasting is one spiritual discipline we can use to do this.

When fasting, we give up something we enjoy – food, liquids other than water, social media, TV or movies – and we use that time to study Scripture and pray.

Fasting can be done any time, not just at Easter or as part of Lent. Some people fast before making a big decision (see Acts 13:2-3; 14:23). Some people fast at the beginning of the year to reset their minds as the new year begins. Continue reading “The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting” →

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” →

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” →