Tag Archive | Instant Apostle

The Further Adventures Of Isabella M Smugge

Sep29

As Delightful & Perceptive As Always

The Further Adventures Of Isabella M Smugge by Ruth Leigh is the most wonderful contemporary Christian offering. It is the fourth book in the Isabella M Smugge series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading the previous books in order, for maximum enjoyment and for character development.

I am a massive Isabella Smugge fan and get so excited when a new book comes out. I alternate between wanting to read and see what happens and wanting to savor the book. I chose to savor book four. It was a totally wonderful, absorbing read.

Isabella Smugge is a huge hearted character who tries to see the best in people and to help where she can. She is a ‘new’ Christian who is trying to find her way. “Religious people who are doing it properly read their Bibles every day and engage in something called devotionals too.” She is trying to be the best version of herself. “As I try to be a better parent, friend and daughter, and continue to dip into church life, I’m changing.”

Isabella Smugge is also hilarious. Her observations are priceless and spot on. “Trying to juggle work and children is no joke. I don’t know how people without staff … do it.” And her observations on home groups – “Homegroups were set up for those who think that going to church on Sunday just isn’t enough!”

The world of Isabella Smugge has been very Instagram based. She has presented a perfect picture to the world but now she is learning to be real. There is a highly amusing scene with a potty training toddler and a puking cat, just as she is about to host home group. It doesn’t get more real than that!

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Vision Of Light by Gillian Poucher

Jan14

Shining In The Dark

Vision Of Light by Gillian Poucher is a simply marvellous Christian contemporary suspense that captured my attention from the start.

The novel explores the theme of life being a battle between the powers of good and evil. We witness the presence of evil as we ‘hear’ the voice of the murderer. The reader tries to work out who this is as we periodically drop in on their thoughts. In a twisted way, the murderer believes they are performing a service, providing mercy killings.

We follow a character who can smell and sense goodness and evil. A character is called to battle and to overcome the darkness, even before they know Jesus for themselves. The light of Jesus is far greater than the darkness around.

A character is consumed by guilt from his childhood, believing “there can be no healing from the scars of the past.” Jesus is the great physician. He can take our guilt, pain and hurt, and redeem us, setting us free from the prison of the past.

There is power in prayer. It does not need to be elaborate, just heartfelt. “He isn’t at all sure that God will answer the simple prayer of an ordinary man.”

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The Continued Times Of Isabella M Smugge by Ruth Leigh

Oct31

Charming! Delightful! Wonderful!

The Continued Times Of Isabella M Smugge by Ruth Leigh is an absolute delight. It is the third book in the Isabella Smugge series but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading the previous two books first for maximum enjoyment and to follow character progression.

I absolutely adore Isabella Smugge. She is open and down to earth, speaking her mind, and yet she comes from a privileged background, so is slightly out of touch with the masses. She has a huge heart and is also as a new Christian, a work in progress. I recognized some of her thinking. “And what did she mean, God was far away?… He stayed in the same place and waited for people to approach Him.” She also thinks that God would not want to be bothered with her small concerns as He would be busy with bigger problems. Issy Smugge is very easy to relate to.

As a new Christian, Isabella Smugge has some unusual views of God. “I thought God waved His magic wand and sorted everything out.” It comes as a surprise to her that Christians have problems too. “I don’t understand why God lets this kind of thing happen, Claire ticks all the boxes in the world of religious people.” We were never promised a trouble-free life, quite the opposite. Jesus tells us that in this world you will have problems but He also promises to never leave us but to walk beside us throughout all of life.

Isabella Smugge occasionally misses church, believing that God will understand (which He will). Her attitude to going to church is hilarious at times. “I was ready to go [to church] and collect some more holy points.”

I found the scene in church where Isabella Smugge is clearly touched by the Holy Spirit, incredibly moving. As God touches hearts, the tears often fall but they are good tears as they are the healing tears of God.

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Talking To Calippa Cumberland by Chick Yuill

Nov23

Heart Warming

Talking To Calippa Cumberland by Chick Yuill is the most heart warming and delightful Christian novel that will soothe your soul.

The novel opens on Christmas Eve in 1976. The following chapters are all set on various Christmas Eves as we dip in and out of a life. This is not just a novel for Christmas. This is a novel for life.

I loved the inclusion each year of the Christmas number one. Music evokes memories within the reader.

We hear of characters who are lost. “I’ve always felt a little bit lost” declares lead character Lori Bloom aged 24 years old. I think we can all relate to feeling lost until we are found by Jesus. “We both know that we are lost.” In the Bible we hear the stories of the lost coin, the lost sheep and the lost son. The good news is – if we are lost, Jesus is looking for us. It is no coincidence that the lead character’s surname is Bloom. Jesus wants us to bloom under His care.

Over the years we lose those we love – either through life moving on or through death, the ultimate journey. To be human is to face loss.

Everyone needs to have a safe place. For Lori aged nine and three quarters, it is home. “Number 17 Morley Road is a place of safety and shelter, within those walls I’m sure that no bad thing can reach me or harm me.” As Christians, our safe place is not found in bricks and mortar but resting in the arms and heart of Jesus.

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