Please help me welcome one of my fellow Pelican Book Group authors, Zoe McCarthy. I love her post on filthy rags of our "righteousness," and I think you will too. Be sure to say hello in the comments (below), and help make Zoe feel at home here on Chirp 'N Chatter!
Scrubbing Our Filthy Rags
Sometimes when a
woman has been badly hurt, she raises her jerk-detecting antennae, a daily routine
that becomes as common as brushing her teeth. Over time and on a smaller scale,
her distrust bleeds over to strangers, her family members, and her friends—to people
other than the person who initially wounded her heart. If questioned why she’s
so touchy, the story of how someone blindsided her readily comes to her mind and
possibly to her tongue. She has grown to consider her distrust a righteous act.
What if God
decides it’s time such a woman return to becoming the lovely woman He designed
her to be? Only God can orchestrate the right people, circumstances, and perhaps
a bit of humor to help her realize what He teaches in Isaiah 64:6. All of us have become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up
like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
In writing
Amanda’s story in Gift of the Magpie,
I’ve come to understand from a woman’s perspective what Isaiah was saying. Many
times from whatever catalyst, we women have matured into females who nag loved
ones, believe people should see us as good examples, or distrust others as
Amanda does. Thankfully, God can reveal to us that we aren’t so different than
our family members and neighbors, and possibly, that we’re worse!
God loves us as
we are, but He’s known as a God who doesn’t leave us wearing filthy rags. He
offers Jesus’ work on the cross to clean our rags to be as white as snow, but
He also expects us to change and become better people. If need be, God is happy
to arrange that to happen.
For me, God has
orchestrated my salvation, some callings I resisted, and recently, to devote my
Sabbath to worshiping him, spending time with Him and His Word, and loving on
others.
What has God
orchestrated in your life that you’re now thankful for?
Gift of the Magpie Blurb
Amanda
Larrowe’s lack of trust sabotages her relationships. The English teacher and
award-winning author of middle-grade adventure books for boys has shut off
communication with friends and family to meet her January 2 book deadline. Now,
in the deepest snow accumulation Richmond, Virginia has experienced in years,
Camden Lancaster moves in across the street. After ten years, her heart still
smarts from the humiliating aftermath of their perfect high school Valentine’s
Day date. He may have transformed into a handsome, amiable man, but his
likeability doesn’t instill trust in Amanda’s heart. When Cam doesn’t recognize
her on their first two encounters, she thinks it’s safe to be his fair-weather
neighbor. Boy is she wrong.
Zoe
M. McCarthy Bio
A full-time writer and speaker, Zoe M. McCarthy,
author of Gift of the Magpie and Calculated Risk, writes contemporary Christian
romances involving tenderness and humor. Believing that opposites distract, Zoe
creates heroes and heroines who learn to embrace their differences. When she’s
not writing, Zoe enjoys her five grandchildren, teaching Bible studies, leading
workshops on writing, knitting and crocheting shawls for a prayer shawl
ministry, gardening, and canoeing. She lives with her husband in the Blue Ridge
Mountains of Virginia. Zoe blogs regularly at www.zoemmccarthy.com.
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