As For Me And My House
One Friday Afternoon by T K Chapin is a contemporary Christian romance and the second book in the Diamond Lake series. It can be read as a stand-alone.
The main theme of the novel is our need to trust God and to have faith. We need to make God a priority in our lives. We do not serve a God only to be taken out on Sundays and then packed away for six days. We serve a God who wants to be a part of our whole lives. Trusting God is not like trusting man. God will never let you down.
The novel shows the danger that money and feeling comfortable can have on our relationship with God. “After Nathan began making more money in life, my prayers slowed and my reliance on God dwindles too.” No-one ever wakes up and decides to move away from God. “It’s a slow fade.” As our lives become more comfortable, our reliance on God may diminishes as we prefer to lean on ourselves and our money and possessions.
There is the theme of awakening. The novel shows how we need to wake up and see what is happening in our lives if we have excluded God.
Meeting with other believers in church is vital if we are to stay in and grow our relationship with God. We need to surround ourselves with godly friends who love us enough to speak godly truths into our lives.
Knowing the scriptures from the Bible is of vital importance. When tough times come, and they will, we can remember and stand on God’s promises.
Life is a battle. We battle against the flesh. “Our selfishness in the flesh has a way of masking our eyes from the truth and blinding us of God’s plan in our lives.” If we are not careful our eyes can lead our whole body astray.
There is the theme of forgiveness in the novel. “I knew God requires me to forgive. Not when convenient, not when it feels right, but to forgive,” We all need forgiveness. We all need to extend forgiveness. Forgiveness is not always easy to do but it is essential.
I am really enjoying this Diamond Lake series. All of T K Chapin’s novels honour God and have God at the very heart. I can highly recommend One Friday Afternoon. It is a great afternoon’s read.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON