Posted in Moments and Musings

Everything is New

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” – 2 Cor 5:17

Can I make a confession? This is a verse I have often discarded as “well, that’s great but I’ve been born again for a while now so…..this only applies to new Christians”.

However, today I was looking for verses that deal with starting a new season and this popped up in my search. I was about to swipe left on it when the Spirit stopped me and said, “wait! This IS for you. I’m doing something new in you right now. And five minutes from now, I’ll still be doing something new. And tomorrow, I’ll still be doing something new.”

Isn’t that just THE BEST news ever?

Lately, I feel like everything wrong with me has been highlighted, underlines and bolded in my brain. It’s a cruel voice circling around and around saying:

You’re not good enough.

You’re not pretty enough.

You’re too old.

You’re too dumb.

You’re not like everyone else.

You’re too fat.

You’re a failure.

This is quickly followed up by another voice, full of condemnation that says, “and what’s worse, you know better but you don’t read the Word enough, don’t pray enough and so God isn’t/can’t use you.” . And before long, if you listen enough to these voices, you stop believe the encouragement being spoken into your life every day by people who love you and know better.

It’s no secret that the devil lies. It’s no secret he wants you to feel isolated, depressed and lonely. It’s no secret that he uses comparison to accomplish all of this. HOWEVER, it’s also no secret that God has overcome evil. It’s no secret that our Heavenly Father knows when we’re feeling low and unloved and worthless. It’s no secret that He’s a very present help in a time of need and He uses His people to remind us who we are in Him.

I’ve spent a lifetime battling being a perfectionist and a lifetime failing at being perfect. (Imagine that!) Very recently, during a walk with my dog, God shouted to me to stop being so hard on myself. He already died for me. He already approves of me. He already loves me and nothing can stop that. Furthermore, He’s not done with me. And until Jesus comes, He never will be. And all I need to do is accept and receive. Easier said than done somedays but, like billions of other people on this planet, I’m a work in progress.

So why write this blog? And why does this verse suddenly mean so much?

Because Jesus. Plain and simple. The old is gone and the new is here because of Jesus. I used to look at this verse in a very linear way – as a one and done type of thing. You’re born again and BOOM, you’re new….end scene. Figure it out. Read your Bible. Pray….lather, rinse, repeat.

In Revelations 21:5. Jesus said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” The word behold means “to see or observe especially something remarkable” (Oxford Dictionary). The word making is “the process of producing something” but more importantly, it’s an action word in the verse.

So let’s answer my above questions –

Why write this blog? Because I know I’m not the only one experiencing this. I know there are others, like me, who are wanting something new so desperately we can taste it but our perfectionist, process-driven brains are frustrated because there is no such thing as a one-size fits all perfect process and it haunts us. Jesus died once for all but we are not a one size fits all species. Thankfully, God is not a one size fits all God.

Why this verse? Because it’s critical for us to know the old things are gone and the new things are here. It’s a process that happens over and over again. God is the King of removing the old and making the new. We need help daily to remove the old and refill with something new.

Jesus is the new. He’s here. Now. And He is enough.

Photo by Aaron Burden via Unsplash

Posted in Moments and Musings

Mrs. Emilie Schubert

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

Several years ago, while praying for my girls, God impressed on my heart to start praying for their future husbands. I was obedient and began praying for young men I didn’t yet know. Two years ago, Ben Schubert walked into Emilie’s life.

He is everything I prayed for; a man after God’s own heart, a man who shares her vision for home and family; a man who will take the time to find out how her brain works; a man who will encourage her and validate her intelligence, a man who knows how to handle money; a man who values his own family and who values Emilie’s family as his own.

They both worked together to create a wedding day to remember. Unlike many young couples, they kept their focus more on planning for a marriage instead of just a wedding day. The end result was a lovely day full of family, fun and – most importantly – Jesus. They did everything themselves from flowers to charcuterie cups to cupcakes and centerpieces. Friends and family helped with photography and music and the church Ben grew up in provided the venue.

It was a simple and charming wedding.

So now, Emilie Sorensen is now Emilie Schubert. She’s moved out and is busy creating her new life, settling into her new job and her new role as a wife. I love her and my new son-in-law so much and love the life they’re building. I pray Jesus continue to guide them and strengthen their relationship as they keep Him in the center of everything they do.

Posted in Bookish and Bingeable

The Opera Sisters

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

By Marianne Monson

NOTE – Special thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

British sisters Ida and Louise Cook use their love of opera as means to travel back and from between Germany and England while saving the lives of Jewish people.

Lately, it seems like every time I read historical fiction, I learn something new. This book was so different. I had no idea these two women existed and I was completely unaware of their bravery. Also, while I knew London got hit hard during this war, I found myself really saddened by just how hard. I wasn’t aware how many civilians lost their lives. I also didn’t know that Hitler actually did declare war on the United States and looked forward to taking her down. So this book was quite an education. 

What worked really well for me: 

  1. This book was very well researched. From opera to historical facts, research poured into every page. Footnotes were included at the bottom to give resources from where information came from. 
  2. There was a lot of emotion in this story. There wasn’t one character that didn’t make me feel something. 
  3. The story itself was brave and bravely told. It kept a good pace but the story itself kept you going, wanting to know what was next and who was saved..and who didn’t make it.
  4. The character growth was really present. Louisa and Ida are made completely different by the war and their actions during the war. Their whole family changes.  

What didn’t work for me: 

  1. The ending seemed a little abrupt. Although, that could have been me because I really wanted to know so much more about these ladies. 
  2. If you don’t know opera, there were some spots that got quite technical. I grew up on opera so I was able to fully appreciate those moments. 

Out of all the historical fiction you may read, make this book one that you do. One quote especially resonated with me after experiencing these past couple of years: 

“My dears, the past few years have enlightened us all,” Rosa told them. “It’s easy to think there are sharp lines dividing the good people and bad people, but most humans have dark passions inside waiting to be stirred up. It’s easier than we think to become convinced that decency is for the weak, that democracy is naive, that kindness and respect for others are ridiculous. The whole world has been reminded these past few years that the things we care about have to be nurtured and defended because even seemingly good people have the potential to do hideous things.”

My rating: :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:

Posted in Bookish and Bingeable

The Hideaway

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

By: Norma Curtis

Heidi (Hedi) Fischer is a WWII camp survivor, mother of one daughter, grandmother of one granddaughter and she just said goodbye to the love of her life, her husband Harry. She hasn’t seen her daughter in many years due to a fallout they had and therefore, hasn’t seen her granddaughter since she was a toddler. At 90 years old, her plan now is just to die. 

Thea is her granddaughter who has never really settled into any one job, one place, one relationship and is on the move again when she comes apon a small home by a small lake needing some love and attention. She decides to rent it out for the summer. Then she gets a call from her mother saying her grandfather has just died and would she attend the funeral. Maggie, her mother, lives far away and due to her broken relationship with her parents doesn’t want to attend. Thea agrees. 

Thea meets up with Hedi at the funeral and they share lunch afterwards. The plan is for Thea to return to her life while Hedi goes home to die. Hedi’s spiteful neighbor has been watching Hedi get rid of everything in her home. Her husband’s books, furniture, clothing, everything is gone and, after a confrontation with Hedi, she calls social services on her. Social services calls Thea to come and look after her grandmother after which Thea decides to bring Hedi to the summer home she’s renting. 

Hedi decides to confide in her granddaughter all that she never told her mother about her life at the camps, how she met her husband and the promises they made to each other never to talk about what they both went through. A bond forms between the two women and by the end of the story, Thea realizes what a treasure Hedi is and nothing like her mother described. 

I really liked this story. Hedi is a fiery woman full of flaws, regrets and imperfections. She’s also full of a lot of love. As her story unravels, I really loved how we get to see the contradiction between her and Harry; Hedi is strong and fierce and very much an in-your-face type of person while Harry is quiet, gentle and very forgiving. Same with Thea and Maggie. While Maggie very much a supporting character, she’s very quick-tempered, bold and outspoken, like her mom. Thea is gentle, kind and forbearing. 

Here’s what really worked for me: 

  1. Character development – There is a nice character development in this story. I would imagine it would be hard to do this with a 90 year old character since most people are set in their ways however, Norma Curtis handles this with ease in the character of Hedi. 
  2. The setting was lovely – Set in England just outside of London, the house feels like every summer home I’ve ever wanted to visit, up to and including the outhouse. (Although, if I’m being honest, I’m an indoor plumbing girl all the way.) 

3. The relationships – The relationship between Thea and Hedi is so moving. It made me wish to talk to my grandmother again.

Here’s what didn’t work for me –

  1. Maggie – I’m not really sure what she was so upset about. Either I missed it or it wasn’t written well enough. But I really didn’t like her at all. She was too cold. Too much without heart. Her anger, or whatever it was, felt forced.
  2. The ending – It was beautiful but again, the character of Maggie was really hard to believe. First she hated her mother so much that she thought her dead and, in one short conversation, she’s all over it!
  3. The relationship between Maggie and Thea – First, I was curious as to why first names were used and not titles. For example, Thea called Maggie “Maggie” and not “Mom”. But I really couldn’t understand why their relationship was strained. 

Overall, this is a lovely story. I loved Hedi over and over and wished for her to be my grandmother so many times. Then I wished for my own grandmother and wished I could introduce her to my girls.

NOTE – Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. 

My rating: :star: :star: :star: :star: 

Posted in Bookish and Bingeable

The Teacher of Warsaw

Posted on by Vikki Lynn Sorensen

By: Mario Escobar

NOTE – I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the eARC. 

It’s hard to know where to start with this review without having fully digested the ending. This story is warm and cold, hard and soft, anger-inducing and tear-extracting. It had all the feels and in all the right moments. 

Janusz Korczak is a sixty year old teacher living in Warsaw in 1939 when Nazis invade and his world collapses around him and the Jewish orphans who live at his school. The story progresses as one would think; the Nazis invade and little by little, freedoms are taken away until they are all rounded up and impounded in the Warsaw ghetto. Once there, their lives take a turn for the worse until the painful end. 

Here’s what worked well for me – 

  1. This book felt written very much off the heart of the sleeve of someone who desperately wanted to convey this story. 
  2. The idea of this hero in the autumn of his life yet still so strong, so fierce, so gentle and so kind fighting for children when he was given every opportunity to escape is awe inspiring, to say the least. 
  3. The relationships Janusz had with those around him, from the children to adult, who gave their all and more at a time when tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed played out well in this story. 

Given this book was based on a real-life hero, it would be remiss of me to add anything negative to this. This story was simply beautiful and so very tragic. It stays with you long past the last page. Read it with a box of kleenex. 

My rating: :star: :star: :star: :star: