He Shows Himself in Others’ Works
Sometimes we miss God because we’re only willing to “count” those instances when He speaks directly to our hearts, or blesses us directly in some obvious way. Those events are awesome, but we have many other opportunities to witness His presence among us. I love to see His hand in other believers’ labors.
That’s one of the reasons I was so happy when I learned that my new friend Kathi Macias, whose influence on me I shared here recently, would provide me with a copy of the first two titles in her fiction series, Extreme Devotion, so that I could tell you about them. I’ve read the first title, No Greater Love, and I hope you do, too.
The cover announces that the story has themes of “Forbidden romance…an unlikely martyr….an even more unlikely hero.” The wonderful thing about Christian fiction in general, and this book, particularly, is that these themes are presented through a lens of values I understand.
This story is set in South Africa in 1989, near the final years of apartheid. Our protagonist is Chioma, a 16-year-old orphan who works with her younger brother as a laborer on the farm of the Afrikaner Vorster family. She carries the scars of having witnessed her parents’ murder; early in this tale, she watches as her brother, her only remaining relative, is killed.
Kathi moves the story at a lively pace–I had trouble putting it down–and focuses unflinchingly on well-drawn characters who show us the pain of institutionalized inequality and ultimately, the saving grace of our Father’s love, even in the face of cruelty and death. Her plot is inventive. To learn more about what happens, get ahold of this book. I will tell you that ultimately the good guys win–but not in the way you might imagine.
No Greater Love surely was born of extensive research, as the dynamics of apartheid and the stunning South African landscape live on its pages. It’s in this aspect that I see God working through Kathi.
Studying an ugly aspect of our human history is painful to anyone with a heart. To study it thoroughly enough to write convincingly of its circumstances is tough. It takes a special kind of obedience to His calling to immerse oneself in that kind of misery in order to share a story with the world. But Kathi chose to subject herself to that hurt so that we could benefit from her gifts through this book.
That’s God, right there.
You can find No Greater Love and several of Kathi’s other books at Amazon.com.
2 Then the Lord said to me, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. Habbakuk 2:2 (NLT)
Um, in hindsight, I forgot one important point: I loved this book and recommend it. You won't be sorry!
Thanks so much, my friend! I'm on my way to post this on Facebook now. Blessings!
It is my pleasure, Kathi. I have already passed my copy on to my co-grandma-in-law (or whatever I call my son-in-law's mom).
In her book “No Greater Love,” Kathi vividly portrays the terrible and heartrending chaos of apartheid times. This is a story of love and self-sacrifice. It depicts the horrors of apartheid and reminds us afresh of Christ’s ultimate love and sacrifice. Jesus Christ is the only true way, the truth and the life. God’s love transcends all barriers and breaks down the walls erected by men to separate one man from another.
Kathi Macias has a humble and selfless heart, filled to overflowing with Christ’s love. It is not surprising that she is being used by God to bless the hearts of people all over the world. I am one of those people. I am so grateful to Kathi for reaching out to me and to countless others across the globe. She lights up our world with Christ’s love. Thank you with all my heart, Kathi!
Great book, I cried, I laughed, I did not want it to end!