A Cord Of Three Strands

Season Of Hope by Brenda Anderson is a most delightful contemporary Christian novel. It is part of the Potter’s House series.

Brenda Anderson writes realistically about what can happen when we fail to put God first in our lives, in our marriages and even in our churches. The Word of God must be central to our churches. We are not in a popularity contest. We are called to be faithful not popular. We must never water the Gospel down to appeal to the masses. Church is all about hearing the Gospel and pointing others to God. “It wasn’t New Hope that changed [him]. It was all Jesus.” Churches do not change people. It is God who changes them.

Sometimes people go to churches for years but never really know God. “She was a PK, a preacher’s kid, and yet she knew nothing about God.” Our faith is our responsibility. We do not get into Heaven on the shirt-tails of another.

There are times when we feel helpless. It is then that we need to lean on God. “I feel so helpless… We can be vigilant in prayer.” Prayer is so powerful. We must never flippantly offer to pray for others and then not do it. If we offer, we must lift others up in prayer.

The Bible is God’s instruction for life. Some view God as a ‘fun stealer’ but God gives us rules and boundaries to keep us safe. We need to stop “seeing the Bible as a book of rules… but rather… a love letter from God.”

Within the novel dementia is touched upon. This quote is so beautiful. “He doesn’t always know her, but she always loves him.”

Within the novel we witness marriages and lives in trouble. If we do not build our lives on the firm foundation of God, when tough times come (and they will) our lives will crumble. We need God in our lives and in our marriages. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.

Children are always a gift from God – not a mistake, not an accident but a gift. “Even with all the bad choices they’d made, Evie was still a blessing.”

I absolutely adore all Brenda Anderson’s novels. Each one is beautifully written, grounded in God and dealing with issues that may affect us. Season Of Hope is a wonderful read. Treat yourself and grab a copy today.

I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

JULIA WILSON