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A Song In The Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse

Jul2

For Such A Time As This

A Song In The Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse is a powerful historical Christian novel that I could not put down. I read it in just two sittings, pausing only to sleep.

The action is set in Europe during 1938 as the world watches on as Hitler’s Nazi Germany consolidates its’ evil regime. This evil radiates outwards from his seat of power in Berlin.

The leading lady is a blind pianist who uses her God-given talent to bring joy to others. As the months count down, she realises that she, too, is one of Hitler’s ‘undesirables.’ “Because I’m blind… I could be seen as less than worthy. Unfit to live.” This opens the eyes of her soul as she does everything in her power to rescue and help those who are viewed as ‘less than’, especially the children. “I can’t sit by and do nothing.”

She is not alone in her endeavours, as her grandmother also has a heart for the persecuted and hurting. “She was willing to use the wealth and resources God had given her to help.” Her age does not stop her from acting.

We witness a life that realises their need for Jesus. “The Lord felt so distant. But she’d been the one to stop communicating.” Now is the time to return to Him. When we know Jesus, we can have peace despite our circumstances. “I’m in the Lord’s hands, and that’s the best place to be.” No Jesus, no peace. Know Jesus, know peace.

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A Writing Upon The Sand by J M Kirkley

Jun29

Trust Him

A Writing Upon The Sand by J M Kirkley is a very charming Christian historical novel that I adored. It is grounded in facts as we witness and learn about, the Galveston disaster of 1900.

There is the theme of taking care of the orphans. Under the right conditions, they will thrive.

We see the importance of living well. It is said of a grandmother, “She traded a privileged life for serving in ministry… She lived generously, despite hard times.” Generosity is more than just money. It is about time – where we spend our time shows where our hearts are.

We learn the importance of being correctly grounded. “May your character be not writing upon the sand, but an inscription upon the rock.” We need good foundations in our lives. We need to build our lives on Jesus so that when the bad times come (and they will), we need to keep our eyes fixed firmly on Him.

What do we do when God is silent? We trust. “Emily found no shred of consolation the longer her prayers went unanswered, when God remained silent.” Sometimes there are no answers, and we must just trust and hold on to the hem of His garment, figuratively speaking.

“Maybe God wanted her to desire knowing Him more than having answers.” God longs for us to come to Him and to rest in Him. “Whatever happens, may God’s peace comfort us.” God’s peace will still our hearts, even when all around us is crumbling.

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The Ledger by Steven Manchester

May26

The Last Honorable Gladiator

The Ledger by Steven Manchester is a gritty contemporary Christian novel that is powerfully written with a clear message at its’ heart – God is with us, always – even if we don’t feel His presence. Even if we don’t acknowledge Him. God will never leave us alone.

“It’s difficult to watch our children make horrible mistakes and not intervene” are words spoken by God in the novel. He is our heavenly Father. The same words can be true of earthly parents. We have to give our children space to grow. “I’m going to worry about my little girl for the rest of my days… It’s the price I have to pay for being a parent.”

The setting is within a state penitentiary in Mississippi. We follow three characters – a long-serving inmate; a long-serving officer; and an inspector of conditions – only one of them feels far from God and has a very black heart. The other two come to know God, realising “true pain is feeling distance from God.” Bodies may be imprisoned but souls can be free.

We all have free will. We all make choices and must live with the consequences. We see the pain caused to God when His children choose the wrong path but “I can’t give you free will and then force myself on you,” says God.

God longs for each of us to come to Him. Sometimes it is a dazzling Damascus-road experience, at other times it is a gentle Emmaus-road experience. “God don’t use a microwave when He’s cooking. He uses a crock-pot.” God never gives up on us.

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