Tag Archive | Sarah Loudin Thomas

These Empty Places by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Sep6

Finding True Treasure

These Empty Places by Sarah Loudin Thomas is a powerful and beautiful Christian historical novel that I adored. It is set in small-town America in 1930.

This is a book about love and relationships – whether with people, places or God. It is also a time when the old order of things is breaking down. “Her father had grudgingly agreed [to marriage] once he’d confirmed Preston’s bank account.” This was an old class system of marriage alliances to bolster families.

We witness different types of marriage. A couple chose love over wealth. Another chose financial security over love. Both marriages worked but in different ways. Being older when facing marriage definitely brings a different set of priorities.

A younger character is not comfortable in his skin. He continually feels that he needs to earn love. For him, rising up the financial ladder will bring love – he doesn’t realise that his other half loves him for who he is, and not the size of his bank account. “Rich or poor, or anywhere in between, honesty is the soil in which strong relationships grow.”

1930 in America was a difficult time for many. The Wall Street Crash of 1929 saw many people lose their money. But “when God closed a door, He often opened a window.”  We find that “It’s troubles that have done the most to shape me into the woman I am today.” We grow more in the valleys than we do on the mountaintop. It is in the valleys that we realise our great need for God.

When we know God, we can praise Him in the valleys as well as on the mountain top.

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These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas

Jan21

The Rescuer

These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas is a powerful Christian historical novel that consumed me from the start. It has its’ roots in facts and there are actual historical figures in the book.

The novel is set between the wars in the early 1930’s as Hitler is rising to power. Much of the novel is set in America but some is set in Berlin.

During World War I, a young German man in the navy found himself interred in an enemy alien camp in America. He wrote to his fiancée in Germany until the letters just stopped in 1917. His mother and fiancée are still waiting for news of him in 1932. A newspaper cutting means a young woman travels to America to find out what happened to her young man. This reminds the reader that when we are lost, God seeks us out. He will leave the ninety-nine in order to search for the one who is lost.

We learn that there were dodgy goings on in the internment camp. Only now, in 1932 are activities coming to light. A cold case springs to life as the truth is sought.

A life that stagnated in Berlin, buds and blossoms in America. “Her life had gone from the grays… of Germany to this multicoloured happiness… on a fledgling college campus.” America is the land of opportunity. This is in contrast to Germany where lives are being eroded and closed down.

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When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas

May29

Trusting In The Dark

When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas is a powerful Christian historical novel set in 1930. Some details are factual, around which the author has woven her story.

The main focus of the novel is an ancient feud, sparked by jealousy of the gifts from God. It is Old Testament stuff – an eye for an eye but Jesus shows us a new way, He calls us to love our enemies and to forgive. “God loves everyone – no matter how wrong we might think they are.” It does not matter what we think of people, each one is a child of God.

The feud is fuelled by anger. We need to let our anger go. When we cannot do this in our strength, we must ask God for help. “It was going to take long hours on his knees to let this anger go.”

God asks that we are obedient to His calling. At its core, the novel has the Jonah theme. Sometimes God has to bring us to our knees before we obey Him. Far better to respond when we first heart His voice.

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The Sound Of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas

May14

Following Your Dreams

The Sound Of Rain by Sarah Loudin Thomas is a marvellous Christian historical novel set in 1954.

The story has the theme of healing – both physical and from scars of the past. A sufferer of PTSD (unrecognised at the time) must learn how to live again when everywhere he turns reminds him of his loss. He needed “a safe place to heal from the war.”

We all have dreams for our children but when their dream and our dream create conflict, rifts occur. We need to listen to God’s call on our heart. “I’ve learned to listen when the good Lord gives me a holy nudge.”

We are called to help others but “You can do God’s work anywhere.” We do not need to travel overseas to find lost and hurting people.

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