SOUL JOURNEY - Jacquelin Thomas
BET/New Spirit
May 2004
SYNOPSIS:
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4+) Tricia Ann Blades
REVIEW: Jacqueline Thomas has done it again! The author of A CHANGE IS GONNA COME and SINGSATION has produced an inspirational novel that is her best yet! This novel will lend stir her readers to examine their lives and desiring to seek God’s face in the call He has placed on their lives.
Ms. Thomas has taken the controversial issue of women in the pulpit, interweaves it with the issue of relationships between men and women, father/mother and daughters and the impact their relationship with God has on these relationships to produce an emotional yet well articulated novel in SOUL JOURNEY.
“…Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”{Jeremiah1:5} Journee Carter is portrayed as a woman with a burning desire for God and the things of God. The word of God is like fire shut up in her bones, a fire that must be let out. God has called this young lady to preach the Word and it has always been her dream to do so but in order to accomplish this, she must undertake a journey. This journey is a long one with many battles to be fought, with many dragons to slay and as she progresses she must be able to discern which are the obstacles sent to destroy and those that are meant to lift her up. It is a journey where she learns wisdom, where she understands her calling and where she is able to use the passion and strength God has given her to withstand the wiles of the devil.
Rene is to Journee as Elizabeth was to Mary. Just as the babe leapt in the womb of Elizabeth; so too the joy is manifested in Rene, at the prospect of Journee finally being able to fulfill her dream. Elizabeth was barren in the womb for many years whereas Rene found herself deep in the miry clay but her testimony is reflected in the words “He also brought me out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and established my steps, he put a new song in my mouth” (Psalm40:2b,3a). This new song and established steps enabled her to walk worthy of her calling and be rewarded in relationship as she waited on God and allowed God to lift her up!
Kingston Lavery is smooth, debonair, handsome and with the charm and personality that can turn a young woman’s heart and mind if she is not careful. Herein lies a broken man who, instead of picking up the pieces, seeks to cover them with lust and the desire for money instead of filling his life with the presence of God. Kingston is the wolf in sheep’s clothing and becomes the devil’s advocate. He fires the fiery darts of his master and almost destroys God’s woman. It’s a pity he didn’t remember that the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him!
Reverend Theodore Carter is embedded in traditionalism and the unfortunate misinterpretation of the gospel. His role, however, is one that fuels the fire within his daughter. She has desired from the time she knew herself to be like him. He loves her but now needs to open himself to God and allow God to break down the strongholds and vain imaginations that has been embedded in the deepest part of him.
Ms. Thomas uses SOUL JOURNEY to compare relationships ordained by God and relationships ordained by man. She shows that God’s hand must be in our relationships in order for them to be effective and bear fruit. Delighting oneself in the Lord and wanting to do His will is of utmost importance in relationships, whether there are romantic or familial. His will must be done, His word must be obeyed, but going against Him can only lead to destruction. There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is destruction. This is outlined in the relationships covered within the novel.
A powerful novel, SOUL JOURNEY’s impact could be life changing if read with an open heart to God. It will leave the readers desiring to answer the call of God and aching in their heart to know God’s purpose in their lives!