Blog Layout

Roads in our Hearts

Betty Slade • May 12, 2023

Today I welcome author Betty Slade with her newest release. She was supposed to be here on May 9th, but I lost her in my Inbox and didn't get this set up. My apologies to her and to her readers. Strap yourself in for an exciting and informative post.


On Monday mornings I bring a five-minute spiritual challenge to the writers in our Wolf Creek Christian Writers’ Network. This prompt is designed to motivate and inspire. I challenge them to value their voice and their sacred story. The story the Lord HAS given them and only they can write.

 

Their voices are important and need to be heard. But some are stuck. Only they know what holds them back, fear of exposure, or fear of not being good enough. I am familiar with some of their excuses. No time to write, poor education, no one cares what I think, or I don’t have anything of value to write. I’ve dealt with those destructive voices in my past, even believed them. But I have found a road that took me out of my own way so I can write.

 

That road is Jesus. He says He’s the way…. He’s not only saying I am the road, but I am the direction, I have gone the distance and I will go the distance for you.

 

There’s a hurting world that needs our words. Writers are gifted with words to change and influence the world around them. Their paths take them through dark valleys of tears where others only find pain, but they dig deep to find a pleasant pool.

 

Writers experience their own pain deep in their core. Only they know what it takes to bring them out of darkness. Usually, it takes years of prayer and seeking answers, in order to extract pleasant pools from their soul’s deep dark valleys.

 

It takes courage to be vulnerable, and let strangers know your hurt, your angst, and your inability to cope. And it takes more courage to write it down, to put pen to paper, let the ink flow, and let others read about you.

 

I read this Psalm to the group knowing someone needed to hear this. “…Within their hearts are the highways of holiness. Even when their paths wind through the dark valley of tears, they dig deep to find a pleasant pool where others find only pain. He gives to them a brook of blessing filled from the rain of an outpouring.” Psalm 84:5-7.TPT

 

The scripture literally reads in Hebrew, there are “roads in our hearts to bring us into the presence of God.” Those roads could be forgiveness, love, or understanding for those who have committed injury to us or that we have caused injury to. That road in our hearts is designed to lead us out of the slump, or trauma, and back to a loving God.

 

As writers, we have been given much, we’ve been in the presence of God. We’ve traveled the “road of holiness,” and yes, the path of darkness, and have experienced victory. How can we refuse not to let the ink flow from our pens and give someone else a word of healing, encouragement, or comfort?


My newly released book is Taming Wild Hearts, Book One of Disappointment Valley Series, published by Elk Lake Publishing. On Amazon in e-book https://amzn.to/43L2mYy

Paper Back  https://amzn.to/3N5Pfvr

 

About Taming Wild Hearts: The Curly Mustang from Disappointment Valley

Nova Bree Steele is on the run after witnessing a murder in San Francisco. She hitchhikes to a ranch in the heart of the Rocky Mountains in search of Joe Crawford, a good man she heard could help her.

 

Modern-day cowboy, Luke Barrett rescues a rare Curly Sulphur Mustang from poachers in Disappointment Valley, Colorado. He and Bree join the efforts of a doctor working to save the Curly Sulphur Mustang breed from extinction. Relationships are forged with strength and courage to find their purpose.

 

Their lives, and the life of a rare mustang collide in the crosshairs of greedy men and the San Francisco Syndicate. They must find common ground and learn to work together, or they won’t survive the pursuits of evil men.

 

Fictional based on actual events.

 

About Betty J. Slade

 

Betty J. Slade is an author, columnist, and artist. She has written over six hundred articles in her weekly column, The Artist’s Lane, for the Pagosa Springs SUN Newspaper. She writes about courageous women of faith and country families. She writes about courageous women in perilous times.

 

Sulphur Mustangs are the last strains of relatively pure horses the Spanish brought to North America and are in danger of extinction. I hope this book raises public awareness of this American treasure.

 

Share by: