Crossing Your Jordan

Kiss You Now by Jan Thompson is the most heart-warming contemporary Christian novel that reveals the heart of God to the reader. It is the seventh book in the Savannah Sweethearts but can be read as a stand-alone.

The novel shows that no one is too old to be used by God. There is no retirement for the Christian. While we still have breath, there is work to be done for Jesus – a hurting world needs to know Him.

The main characters were wonderfully drawn and a mixture of mature, new and lapsed Christians. Pastor Hiram at a hundred and three years old was inspirational in his faith. “He [God] will sort out the junk from the jewels” – a real gem. Pastor Hiram lives, continually doing Kingdom business. “Do God’s will God’s way.” He lives with one eye on eternity, looking forward to seeing Jesus.

Within the novel two lead characters are both recovering from past events that are strangling the life out of them. “Do not let your past paralyze you from God’s purpose.” If we live in the past, we will miss out on all that God has for us in the present and the future. With God’s help we can move from our fears. We may need to keep giving our fears to God until we ‘feel’ His peace.

As Christians we must continue to grow. Often our times of greatest growth are also times of greatest pain. “In that season of pain, grief and loss… [he] had found Jesus Christ.”

We need our church family. Virtual church is no replacement for actual church. Surely we can make time in our busy schedules to meet with our brothers and sisters in Christ once a week for a couple of hours. “Too busy for church. Too busy for family.” Our priorities are in the wrong place if we let work rule our lives. We need a healthy work, life, church balance. The reader’s heart is warmed by hearing “restore me to a right relationship with You.” May all our prodigals come home.

The breath of God permeates the whole novel. Kiss You Now is a sweet story as well as being full of godly advice and lessons. I just could not put it down. Jan Thompson awakened my heart, spirit and emotions in this powerful book. I must leave you with sound advice from Pastor Hiram:

“Live a full life in Christ. Help others live well.”

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

JULIA WILSON