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Put a face on your story

Betty Slade • Sep 09, 2023

Today I welcome author Betty Slade as she shares about her most recent release.


I painted a portrait in oil in 2009 of Mary Magdalene, titled Mary, do not cling to me. Her eyes haunted me and I felt she had something to say. I saw her pain and her yearning to tell me about her redemption.

 

With only eight verses in the Bible about Mary Magdalene, I wrote her story, a fiction based on actual events. I titled the book, Spirit of the Red Candle, Journal of Mary Magdalene. From a life snatched away in childhood to an unbearable demon-possessed existence, she buried her inner self. She flaunted her pride and lost her dignity. When she came to herself, she turned from the seduction of lies, blew out the red candle, and wrapped her soul in the promises of God. I put a face on the story of Israel, her unfaithfulness and her redemption.

 

God of the universe, put a face on His plan and His story’s destiny. God put Himself into His story. Jesus is the face of God’s love.

 

“…Before we were even born, he gave us our destiny, that we would fulfill the plan of God who always accomplishes every purpose and plan in his heart.” (Ephesians 1:11, TPT)

 

God is the Master Story Teller. He paints portraits of stories, events, journeys, prophecies, poetry and passion. Not with brush and paint, words and sentences, but with our lives. We become the face of God’s story.

 

We see examples of this in the books of the Bible. He didn’t name his books after towns and events. He named them after people. When he wrote about humanity, he used the life of Job to lay out the story of man’s condition.

 

Ruth, a gentile was a friend to Israel. She gave the world a son, the forefather of the king who will sit on the throne of God forever.

 

God wrote a love letter to Israel penned by Solomon. This beautiful song spoke of the love between a Shulamite maiden and the king. It portrayed the love between Jesus and his church, God and Israel, and a man and woman.

 

He prophesied His crucifixion through Jonah’s experience in the belly of the fish for three days.

He wrote his story from before time to after time through the life and face of Isaiah.

 

He told the story of a husband’s love for his wife through the life of Hosea and Gomer. Hosea was instructed to take a wife of prostitution, marry her, and bear children. When she was unfaithful, Hosea was instructed to take her back from the slave block and love her. God showed redemption and second chances for Israel, his unfaithful wife.

 

We are completed by Jesus and we also complete Him. We are the face of His plans and His story’s destiny. We carry the face of Jesus to a dying world.


A Review from a Reader

 5 stars What a Winner! A Fun Compelling Story & Romance for all Ages

What a Winner! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!! The Mystery is intriguing; the Romance tender, fun, and tantalizing; the story of this special, endangered breed of horses not only enlightens, but is heartrending and brings a sense of urgency to their fate .
Slade's characters really came to life for me and made me cheering and crying for them; her setting on a Western ranch in the Colorado mountains was fresh and compelling, and for me, nostalgic for a simpler life free from the outside pressures that keep trying to destroy a way of life that is unique, special, and beautiful; the writing is so good and professional that it sucks you into the story as if these are real people you care deeply about and fear for, as they confront generational secrets and external dangers that threaten their family and its way of life.
I highly recommend this excellent story for readers of all ages, from young adult through old-timers like me, and am eager to read Slade's promised two sequels and reconnect with the lives of these new friends. ~~ Dr. C. Neal Johnson

 

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