Being homesick

~Tuesday thoughts~

Have you ever been homesick? It’s an awful feeling. Especially when your home is far away and you can’t do anything about it.

I have this country I really, really love and would LOVE to be in right now. I’ve been there before and it’s actually where I was born, so I can definitely call it “being homesick”. The problem is, there’s really not much chance of me being there sooner than a little over a year (and I’ve been waiting awhile already).

While I am where I am I dream of stepping out of the airplane and soaking in the air. I dream of visiting familiar places and meeting the people I know. And I cry. Sometimes for a good long while, because it hurts that I can only imagine it and I can’t be there.

One thing that really helps me is knowing that my God knows how it feels. I think Jesus was probably homesick for heaven while He was here on Earth. He knew how much better it was there. And even though He could get back, He didn’t. My point is that JESUS KNOWS HOW IT FEELS TO BE HOMESICK. And when you cry out, because it seems you can’t stand it anymore, He’s there for you. And He has you right where you belong.

Amen.

Belle and the Beast: A Christian Romance

~Monday Music & Movies~

Belle’s dad broke a work of art at rich Eric Landry's house, who is now threatening to call his boss and have him fired. So Belle steps in. She agrees to be Eric’s assistant until he feels the debt is paid off. Just how hard will it be to work for this ill-tempered man who everyone calls “the beast” and is rumored to be a drunkard? Is there any good in him at all?

“Beauty and the Beast” in modern days, this Christian romance is sweet and often humorous.  There were so many times when we just laughed and laughed.

The idea of the story is that God wants us to be happy. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, but that doesn’t mean God isn’t there or that He doesn’t care.

I recommend “Belle and the Beast” to all who love romance, laughter and a movie for His glory. 

Here's the trailer to"Belle and the Beast", and here it is on Amazon. 

Blog changes!

Hi, all! :)
I'm making a few changes to my blog posting schedule. Hurray! After looking at other blogs and thinking about it a bit, I've decided that a more organized schedule would be good. It will a) help you know what to expect from me, b) help me know what to write about and c) provide a feeling of consistency.

So here’s the “official” schedule. :)

•  Monday Music & Movies is where I’ll talk about/review a song or movie that can help us grow in the faith.
• Tuesday Thoughts is where, as before, I’ll post my thoughts on life, Scripture, relationship with God, etc. 
• Friday for Friends will include thoughts and Bible verses on an aspect of friendship and show how Jesus is the Friend. 
• Saturday Stories are going to be either book reviews, something I wrote or a quote I find interesting. 

Maybe I’ll also try and sprinkle in some guest posts, who knows?

Hope you enjoy!

Blessings, Sofia Marie 

Worth the Wait by Laura Jackson

Typical Ellie: As the flat iron worked its magic, she planned the coming days. Homecoming was only three weeks away and, like the rest of her life, she wanted it to be perfect.

Ellie Lansing has the perfect life: a good family, an understanding best friend, but most of all an awesome and loving boyfriend. And then it comes crashing down. Her mom gets cancer and her oh-so-amazing boyfriend turns out to be not so amazing. What did she do deserve this? She always followed all the rules and this is where they got her. Didn’t God owe her an easy life?

The idea of Worth the Wait is interesting and practical for many Christians, teens or older. Ellie learns that following the rules does not guaranty you an easy life. She also discovers how great God’s plans for her are, even if that’s not what she had planned. I appreciated that sex before marriage was always shown as the wrong it is.

Another great part of the book was the mission trip that completely changed Ellie’s perspective on the world. Personally, I think that the book would have been a lot more pleasant if there was more about that and the youth group and at least a little less about Dylan. Also, a prologue would help the readers grasp just how perfect Ellie’s life used to be and thus appreciate the vastness of the changes.

Worth the Wait is good read that leaves you wondering: “What will the second book be about?” The second book in the Waltham Academy series is Worth the Time.

For more on Laura Jackson, visit her blog and Facebook page. You can also find her on Twitter and Pinterest.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, which I have written.

Nature's beauty

Have you ever seen the blue of the sky on a spring day with fluffy clouds passing by? Have you seen a dog in one cloud, a mouse in another? And then looked again ten seconds later and they were dragons instead?

Have you ever glanced at the forest from a window and seen the shadows the clouds make on the pine trees?

Have you ever seen little clutches of grass in the middle of sand and rock, swaying wherever the wind goes, but staying rooted in their spot?

That is beautiful. That is HIS creation.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:20 (NIV)

We can glimpse a little of Him through the nature around us. Take a look around and notice what He has made. It is GRAND.

How about you? What are some of the things you see God in? 

Helping others

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:34-40 (NIV)

We need to take this more seriously and help those around us. The time and work it takes will be so worth it when the King tells us 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father'.

Any big ideas, anyone? Or small ones, too, of course. :) Please share.

Luminary by Krista McGee

Typical Thalli: I smile to myself as I realize I feel less and less a part of the State. That Thalli from the State is disappearing, being made into Thalli from New Hope.

Forty years ago there was a nuclear war. The ten scientists who were thought to be the only survivors have maintained an emotion-free world underground. Thalli is an anomaly. She was scheduled for annihilation, but with her friends she escaped. But is there any point? Is there any life above-ground and if there is, will the people be friendly?

Krista McGee is a wonderful author. I'm surprised again by the number of plot twists in her books. Another great thing: Thalli matures so much in Luminary. She learns to trust the Designer whatever the situation.

One thing, though, I would love if Krista McGee changed is the amount of “telling” in the story. Instead of “he was angry” I’d love to see his fists clenching, his eyes turning red, his feet stomping. But again, the plot twists make up for that and go beyond. I recommend this to any Christian reader and lover of science fiction. And if you’re new to the genre, like me, you might just love it anyway.

This is the second book in the Anomaly trilogy. The first one is Anomaly and the third, Revolutionary, is coming in July. I can't wait!

For more on Krista McGee, visit her website and facebook page.