My First God Loving Interview with Staci Hart Mauney

Hello friends, today I have a special blog for all of you. I did an interview with my dear from from The Heart Community Collection, Staci Hart Mauney. She is a writer, blogger and a pet mama to her sweet dog. She is also editor for many people in the publishing business. Staci also wrote a few devotional books herself.

http://stacimauney.com/

You can learn more about staci in the link to her website I have added. Okay let's get to the fun part of this... our interview converstation.

WOG: Hi, Staci, thank you for doing this interview with me, how are you today?

Staci: I’m doing well! Thanks for having me. WOG: So let's talk about how God plays a part in your writing, because I see that you write devotionals as well.

Staci: God has played a part in my writing for as long as I can remember. Even before I wrote devotionals, I wrote short stories with a focus on faith and redemption. My first short story was published in Chicken Soup for the Shopper’s Soul. Then, a few years later, I had a short fiction story published in Oklahoma: The Fountain of the Heartland, which was an anthology with short pieces from Oklahoma authors. The themes of my short story included adoption and restoration of relationships. In 2011, a friend encouraged me to start a blog. It was a good idea, because it gave me a reason to stick to a writing schedule. I didn’t know what kind of blog to write, so after praying about it, I settled on a devotional blog. I wanted people to learn about God through my personal experiences with him. I turned my blog posts into a devotional book series, and even though my experiences are different from other people’s, they see themselves in the stories that I tell—especially the stories about my dog. WOG: Can you please share with me the moment you felt God's presence?

Staci: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel God’s presence. Both my grandma and my mom told me about Jesus when I was young, and even at such a young age, I felt as if he were my friend and constant companion. WOG: If you could tell anyone who is struggling with letting God in, what would you say to them in hopes of having them be open to God?

Staci: I would tell them that what they are feeling is perfectly normal, and it’s okay to be honest with God about how they’re struggling—he already knows and is willing to help. Also, it can be hard to trust someone if they don’t know him. I would encourage them to read their Bible to get to know God better and to join a small group or find a community of like-minded people so that they can learn and grow together. Above all, I would encourage them not to give up and not to lose hope. WOG: Last question, do you talk to God in moments of joy, like if you won an award for your book, would you immediately talk to God about your enjoyment?

Staci: Yes, I try to thank God immediately for any good news that comes my way. That doesn’t mean I always remember, but I really do try. I think it’s important to thank God in moments of both joy and sorrow. During difficult times, it can be hard to remain thankful, but if we look for the good things in the middle of the bad, we can find things to be grateful for. We may not be thankful for our circumstances, but we can be thankful for God’s presence in our lives and for his sovereignty. WOG: Thank you again Staci, for joining me for this wonderful interview and I hope that through your story, God's work will be fulfilled.

I hope that through this interview, you have also learned God's impact on someone like Staci and how she and God together can make a difference in today's world. Please check out her book through her website and please stop by; https://www.theheartcommunitycollection.com/ and also check us out and our community work within the CHD families.

Thank you for your loving support and may God bless you.

Hugs and Prayers: Wonder of Grace Blog: Lisa Dang Colvil