Author Archives: Cecelia Dowdy

Sunday Brunch – Jonah!

Can you believe that Jonah was inside the belly of a fish/whale for three days and three nights?

Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 2:10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

I was talking to my son about Jonah recently. He’d mentioned that he’d thought that Jonah would have been digested by the whale while inside the belly. How could he still be alive? God kept him alive, was the best that I could explain it.

Jonah ran away from his calling and he had to pay the price. He prayed while in the belly of the fish – he prayed to the Lord. The Lord then commanded the fish to spit Jonah out.

While inside the belly, God protected Jonah from harm. He protected him from being digested by the fish. Jonah did not provide sustenance to the fish (as far as I can tell). The Lord kept him safe, which is good.

I keep thinking about how it feels to be trapped in the belly of a whale. It sounds scary and frightful. Is there enough oxygen in there to breathe? I guess so if the Lord provides it for us. How long could one stay alive in the belly of a whale if one were NOT protected by the Lord?

I also felt that this would make a cool movie! Can you imagine making a movie about Jonah? I wonder how one would film the scenes inside the fish’s belly?

So what do you think it was like for Jonah inside the belly of a fish/whale for three days and three nights?

 

Merry and Bright

Merry and Bright by Debbie Macomber

Do you like lighthearted Christmas romance stories?

Well, if your answer is yes, then this book will not disappoint! Merry (aka Mary) Knight is working on a temp assignment at Jayson (aka Jay) Bright’s company. When her mother and brother sign her up for an online dating service, she’s hesitant. She’s so busy working that she has no time for romance. Meanwhile, Jayson Bright is a curmudgeon workaholic from a dysfunctional family.

He’s also Merry’s boss. When they meet online, they don’t realize that they are already connected to one another.

I really liked Merry. She’s a hard worker and she likes the simple things in life. I liked Jay, but, felt he had some growing up to do. However, his bad-temper was partially due to his sad childhood, and it was understandable why he was so grumpy.

The way the story plays out is funny and romantic. I also loved how Merry dealt with the issues in her own life (outside of dating). Her mom is sick with MS and her brother has special needs. In spite of all this, she mostly remains happy and carefree with an optimistic look on life, for the most part.

I also loved reading about Christmas! The holiday scenery and decorations, the way they were described, was so much fun to read about!

So, do you like lighthearted Christmas stories? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Me Before You

Saturday Matinee

Me Before You

Have you ever wondered what life would be like if you became a paraplegic?

This movie is about Will, a cantankerous and bitter young man who has recently become a paraplegic. Louisa is hired to be Will’s assistant. Will objects to Louisa’s presence in his home. But, Louisa is tough, and she refuses to take Will’s objections seriously. She sticks it out because she needs the job.

I loved seeing how both of these characters grew and matured. Will and Louisa come to an understanding and  and their lives drastically change.

Louisa is determined to make this work and she’s not a quitter. She also questions her relationship with her boyfriend. Is he the right man for her?

I think Will is surprised when he actually opens up and starts to trust Louisa.

I hated the ending. Seriously. But, I guess it’s difficult to judge how someone deals with a situation when one has not been in that situation him/herself.

So, have you ever wondered what life would be like if you became a paraplegic? I can’t even begin to imagine that….

New In Town

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Saturday Matinee

New In Town 

Have you ever relocated to a new town and felt like an alien among your new neighbors?

When Lucy’s job sends her from Miami to a cold Minnesota town to restructure a manufacturing plant, she’s stunned when she meets the town’s inhabitants. She’s from a warm city and these are gossipy, nosy, country folk. She doesn’t care for the union representative for the plant employees (Ted).

The town doesn’t know if they can trust Lucy, after all, their livelihoods are in her hands. The plant provides lots of jobs and they don’t want Lucy to cut any of their jobs.

I really loved seeing this small town. It was so realistic and sweet. I especially loved how Blanche took Lucy under her wing and became her friend (as well as her secretary). I loved seeing the townsfolk socialize and look out for one another. I also loved seeing the budding feelings between Lucy and Ted. Such a sweet story.

I really loved seeing how Blanche’s secret tapioca pudding became central to the plot. I love tapioca! I wanted to taste her secret recipe!

So, have you ever relocated to a new town and felt like an alien among your new neighbors?

 

The Choice

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Saturday Matinee

The Choice

Have you ever fallen in love, even though your love interest seems to be the wrong choice for a mate?

The Choice is a love story that is based on a Nicolas Sparks novel (no, I’ve never read the book). When Gabby meets Travis, her new neighbor, she’s irritated because he appears to be a jerk, playing his music too loud. When Gabby’s medical doctor boyfriend goes out of town, this story takes an interesting turn.

The attraction between Gabby (a medical student) and Travis (a vet) is a classic example of opposites attract. When I first started watching this movie, I was bored. But, the movie got better as the attraction between Travis and Gabby deepens and then there was someone who objected to their relationship.

I loved seeing the scenes on the water. Seeing folks hanging out with friends, having a good time, made for some pleasurable viewing.

Travis falls HARD for Gabby. He even takes her for a boat ride to show her his secret island. Gabby struggles to accept Travis’s love. Is it right for them to continue dating, in spite of her circumstances?

I loved seeing the animals in this movie. It’s so cute to see how animals can play a part in bringing two people together.

Overall, a good movie. I was NOT expecting that traumatic event near the end. I don’t want to say what happens because it’ll spoil the film for you.

So, have you ever fallen in love, even though your love interest seems to be the wrong choice for a mate?