Tuesday, April 12, 2011

People of the Book - Kathi Macias

Publisher:  New Hope Publishers
Pages:  320
Source:  Received a review copy from the author
Genre:  Christian Realistic Fiction, Adult and Young Adult

Kathi Macias has created a book that reaches into us and speaks to our heart.  My favorite quote from the book was, “God doesn’t make mistakes”.  This book came at the right time.  Years ago I felt called to the missions.  I don’t mean foreign missions.  I was called to be a teacher.  I started out in private schools and ended up in public.  God uses us where he sends us.  I have always said that God has placed me as a teacher to plant seeds and lets someone else water them.  With all that is going on in the world of teaching, I was beginning to doubt my calling.  That doesn’t mean that God won’t one day move me out of teaching.  This book was an affirmation for me.  I deal with students of all cultures and religions.  In that way, I can relate to Sarah who spends time speaking to Muslim girls in Saudi Arabia.  She meets Nura in a chat room and tells her about Jesus, Isa as Nura calls him. She shares her faith with her cousin Farah.  Both of them are called to Jesus.  They give their life to him knowing what it could cost them.  I felt for Sarah carrying the burden of a murdered brother and not having the reassurance he had accepted the Lord.  I felt for Nura and Farah who wanted their families to know Isa.  How willing are we to step out for God.  What cost are we willing to pay?  

Up until this week, I taught an after school writing class.  I had a young man who constantly asked me about my beliefs and what it meant to be a Christian.  He told me that his mom had told him that she was going to get him a Bible, years had gone by, and he still didn’t have one.  My mother once again donated a Bible to give to him.  He bugged me for three days until I got it to him.  Inside the Bible I had marked the passages for the Roman Road, a simple prayer he could pray for salvation and my email address so he could contact me whenever he had questions.  I was excited at the end of the day and I shared it with one of our secretaries.  She looked at me and thanked me for blessing her.  I told her I would continue doing what God told me to do no matter what.  I was looking for this job when I found it, and will not lose it until God is ready for me to lose it.  A few minutes later, someone else came out and told me I needed to watch what I said to students because I could be fired.  I’ve been accused of bringing my religious beliefs into my classroom when I agreed with a parent’s concerns because of her Christian beliefs.  This book will go on my shelf at school because my students need to see what goes on.  If I can put great Christian books on my shelves then I am planting seeds.   I pray that God will continue to bless Kathi and authors like her.  I pray he will continue to bless them with stories that will reach others.

I enjoyed this book immensely.  At the end of the year when I must choose my top 10 favorites, it is going to be very difficult because God has sent some great books my way.  I would recommend this book not only to Christians but also to anyone interested in the difference in Christian and Muslim beliefs and what people are willing to do for their beliefs.  This is a necessary read.

1 comment:

  1. Thank you so much, Sandra, for posting about my latest release. Many blessings to you and your followers!

    ReplyDelete