Flannery O’Connor is known for her short stories, but she packed images large and alarming into her economical word count. Murder, road side ambushes, and the cast of grotesque characters who populated her writing reinforced her oft-quoted credo:
“You have to make your vision apparent by shock — to the hard of hearing you shout, and for the almost-blind, you draw large and startling figures.”
In Pierced and Embraced, Kelli Worrall borrows one of O’Connor’s “large and startling figures” to write in bold script a parable of the gospel. The story of a defenseless old woman being violently gored by a bull portrays the shocking nature of grace as O’Connor’s protagonist is stabbed through the heart with one horn and encircled about the waist by the other.
It was the piercing that grabbed Kelli’s attention in the midst of her struggles with infertility and the heartbreak of three miscarriages. She raged against the unfairness and felt abandoned by God until He helped her to see the embrace of His love that came alongside the piercing. She began to study the lives of women in the New Testament and was startled to note that Jesus’ manner of dealing with women was a uniquely gentle pursuit of their hearts.
One by one, Pierced and Embraced recounts the stories of seven New Testament women, their encounters with the Savior, and His impact upon their lives. At the same time, Worrall weaves in her own story of a challenging childhood, her marriage and career, the adoption of two children, and a growing faith and obedience.
- Prophetically warned that a sword would pierce her heart, Mary of Nazareth embraced and was embraced by the call of God to a one-of-a-kind journey that put the power of God on display in a humble, faithful life.
- The woman at the well found, at the end of Jesus’ piercing questions, a grace-filled embrace of her need and her longing — and then a new identity as “an instrument of change in the lives of many others.” (80)
- Pierced physically, emotionally, and spiritually by life, we all hurt. The woman with the hemorrhage had experienced life’s piercing, but received the embrace of acceptance and healing when she placed desperate and believing hands upon Jesus’ garment.
- Used as bait in a moral and theological snare for Jesus, the woman caught in adultery was about to be executed by a cadre of the self-righteous. Jesus turned the tables, and skewered her accusers with His piercing interrogation. Expecting death and shame, the guilty received forgiveness and hope for a new beginning — a hope that encourages this present-day believer to come quickly for the embrace of forgiveness and the all-important words: “Neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on sin no more.”
- Worrall experienced the piercing anguish of God’s waiting room in the six year process of an international adoption. Mary and Martha waited on pins and needles for Jesus to heal their dying brother Lazarus. When Jesus shows up, He works in ways that no one could have predicted, but the lesson reveals that the jolting embrace of a wild and powerful Savior leaves His followers convinced of His presence and His love.
- The woman with the alabaster jar pours out her worship with abandon and beauty and yet experiences piercing disapproval. Jesus’ rebuke of the scolds in the room is an embrace to all the beauty-lovers, the lavish prais-ers, and the devoted followers who put the glory of God ahead of practical concerns and even their own reputation.
- Chosen to know Jesus and to make Him known, Mary Magdalene has been the subject of much speculation through the centuries since her eye-witness experience of the resurrected Christ. Pierced by sorrow and then embraced by a commission to be Jesus’ “apostle to the Apostles,” Mary received the privilege of being the first herald of the resurrected Christ.
Because He is timeless and immutable, Jesus continues to work in the lives of women, drawing us into conversation, commissioning us to share His message of Truth, and piercing our hearts with the conviction that His words are true and His path worth following. May we find grace in this following life to lean into His gentle embrace as we are transformed and empowered for our own beautiful offerings of service and worship.
//
This book was provided by Moody Publishers in exchange for my review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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I love the women of the New Testament, Michele, so I’m sure I’d like this book. Jesus’ relationship with women exemplified his grace, love and inclusion of women in his ministry – something many religions have seemingly overlooked.
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Yes, and His response was completely counter-cultural — a detail we sometimes overlook!
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Definitely. Jesus turned the world upside down.
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Thank you for this wonderful post of women of the New Testament.
I am sure most women can relate to most, if not all, of these women.
I am your neighbor at LMM.
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Blessings to you, Neighbor!
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Reblogged this on The Mimosa Blossom.
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Thanks, Michelle!
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This sounds like a lovely book! I keep dropping in here and adding books to my list of things to read! Still got to go grab Jayber!
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Thanks for visiting, and for your regular encouragement!
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Great review, Michele! Sounds like an important and encouraging book. Thanks!
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I really could have used this book a few years ago! I helped co-lead a teenage girls’ Bible class on the women of the New Testament when my youngest was a teen. There’s not a whole lot of verses about women, but the stories that are there are valuable.
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Yes, and this book does an especially good job of sharing the stories of the women, but focusing on Jesus’ dealings with them, His compassionate heart. I hadn’t thought about its usefulness as a resource for teaching youth, but you’re so right.
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This sounds like a great book- some of these are among my favourite Bible stories and it’s always good to explore them further and discover what they have to say to us today.
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I’ve not read O’Conner yet but her name keeps coming up in my search for classics. I love the way this author took the thought of piercings and found so many applications and examples in the Bible. How wonderful that He who was pierced for us works in and through the piercings we experience to draw us closer to Himself and shine His light through us.
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She was a powerful and gifted writer, and I’ve never seen anyone else take her work and apply it in this way, so I was fascinated. I went through a phase of reading her work and anything I could find biographically about her quite a few years ago. There’s a new bio I want to read someday.
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I think my mom would have loved this book. She outraged pastors and church folks at the beginning of the women’s lib movement by saying Jesus was the one who started it. She spoke up often and loudly about how He lifted women up from all kind of circumstances, giving affirming and giving them dignity. It sounds like Worrall shows them the same honor. Thank you for sharing her work.
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She sounds like a wise and strong woman! And history does support her claims!
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This sounds like an encouraging book- especially with its strong Biblical focus. Thanks for your review, Michele.
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You make me long to read this book…and it sounds like it would be a great book club discussion book. Maybe I’ll start a book club in my new city!
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You should! I would love to conduct this group in person, but, alas, I don’t have the freedom right now to be able to say, “On THIS night of the week we will meet.”
If you do, let me know how it goes!
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Looks like a great read, Michele!
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This sounds like a powerful book. Even though you have slowed down on the number of books you read, you seem to find ones that are thought provoking and itching to be read. Thank you as always.
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I’m thinking that this would be a great book to read with a group of women — someone suggested teens in the comments, as well.
Thanks, Mary, for stopping by!
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I love about how Jesus treated and dealt with women much differently than others of his time. This books sounds like one that many women will enjoy.
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Michele, this sounds like a wonderful book. It looks at these women from a very different perspective in using the word “piercing”. Thought provoking for sure but then, you always seem to be reading books that do just that – provoke. Thank you for sharing from your readings!
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We’re reading quite a few of the same books these days, Joanne, and I have certainly enjoyed your insights. I’m behind on my “launches” but will begin Holley’s book this evening, so . . . I’m getting there!
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You know who fascinates me in the NT? Lydia, the business woman. No one writes about her.
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We can learn valuable lessons from watching others. What a wonderful summary of women that we an relate to and their journeys through pain to embracing.
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Yes, and we forget that these biblical women also spent time in the in between space of not knowing the end of their story. Jesus clearly steps in and changes the ending for each of these women.
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Such a valuable list of powerful and helpful faith-driven resources. I, too, have a lot of cancer in my family tree…finding methods of coping with it when you are faced with it is so important. I so appreciate this round up of works. Thank you.
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
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Great to hear from you, Shelbee.
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I might have to check this book out. Blessed to be your neighbor at Tell His Story this week!
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I hope you get the opportunity to do that! Blessings to you!
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Our Reverend is a woman and she speaks often of women in the bible, it is fascinating. I had 3 miscarriages and suffered infertility for a while, it was hard to understand God’s plan, but now I am blessed with 3 living children who have strong belief in God and are amazing little people. I have to trust in his plan and one day hope to be reunited with the babies I have in Heaven #mg
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Such a healthy and God-honoring perspective, Mackenzie. I loved the way Kelli shared her journey toward that and tied it into the stories of biblical women.
Thanks so much for reading and for taking the time to comment.
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Thanks for the book review. There;s so much trash out there today, it’s great to know that there are uplifting and affirming stories out there that we can confidently read!
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How sweet the reminder that He has a gentle heart for us. Makes me feel special, and warm, and free. ❤ Looks like a fabulous message, Michele, thank you for sharing. 🙂 xoxo
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Loved how your reflections cause me to pause, Michele. I read and re-read trying to figure out which woman I most identify with. What stuck with me is the Samaritan women becoming an instrument of change. Praying that our encounters with Jesus cause us all to spread His message.
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This sounds like a really interesting concept for a bible study. I’ve never done a series on New Testament women. Jesus always had time for women and they play such an integral part in the new testament and yet it’s always the Pauls and Johns that we remember. #mg
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There are some great personalities in the NT. One of my favorites who doesn’t get much coverage anywhere is Priscilla. I
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Sounds like an interesting book, Michele. Thanks for introducing it. I truly believe that truly meeting Jesus changes us for the better. Have a blessed weekend!
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Amen! We see it in our own lives , we bear witness to it in our sisters in Christ, and we have the written record preserved for our encouragement!
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It’s interesting to read about the females in religion. It’s usually males that et the attention. #mg
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So true, but the ones the made it into the canon are well worth our attention.
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Thank you for sharing your review of this thought-provoking book on the #LMMLinkup. I enjoyed learning about this resource.
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Thanks, Mary, for all you do!
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Great review- thanks for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday and sorry for the late commenting
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Sounds like a good one! Thanks for sharing this with us at Booknificent Thursday at Mommynificent.com!
Tina
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sounds like a great read! Thanks for sharing in BloggersPitStop #SimpleIndianMom
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Thanks so much for sharing at Love to Learn; sounds like a wonderful book.
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[…] was thankful to be able to share Kelli Worrall’s Pierced and Embraced on the blog at the beginning of the month. In her study of the lives of women in the New Testament, […]
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Great review! Thanks for sharing on the Love to Learn hop this month!
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My pleasure! Thanks for the warm welcome!
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