This blog tour is for the gift edition of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, which is celebrating its 10th Anniversary.
From the publisher:
An invitation for every woman who’s ever felt she isn’t godly enough, isn’t loving enough, isn’t doing enough.
The life of a woman today isn’t really all that different from that of Mary and Martha in the New Testament. Like Mary, you long to sit at the Lord’s feet…but the daily demands of a busy world just won’t leave you alone. Like Martha, you love Jesus and really want to serve him…yet you struggle with weariness, resentment, and feelings of inadequacy.
Then comes Jesus, into the midst of your busy life, to extend the same invitation he issued long ago to the two sisters from Bethany. Tenderly, he invites you to choose “the better part”–a joyful life of intimacy with him that flows naturally into loving service.
With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story, Joanna Weaver shows how all of us–Marys and Marthas alike–can draw closer to our Lord: deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy.
My thoughts: Author Joanna Weaver had me at the words,
Part of me is Mary. I want to worship extravagantly. I want to sit at his feet.But part of me is Martha — and there’s just so much to do!
What woman hasn’t felt this way at some time (or more likely, most of the time)?
In her book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Weaver leads women gently through the process of acknowledging what is truly important and aligning our lives with that priority. The author shares struggles from her own life (occasionally infusing a little humor), presents the truth of God’s word, and offers very practical guidance — concrete things you can do today to conquer worry, determine where your life is out of balance, get creative with your quiet time, etc.
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World is easy to read, yet packed with truth that can be life-changing. As I read through it, I found myself encouraged and challenged anew to accept Jesus’ invitation to choose “the better part” — pursuing deeper intimacy with him.
If you’re interested in winning a copy of this book, click on over to this post on Joanna’s blog. She’ll be giving away 7 copies of Having a Mary Heart. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on that post.
She is also giving away 7 copies of With This Ring, her latest release. To enter that contest, simply leave a comment on Joanna’s blog tour post (same link) telling her which chapter of Having a Mary Heart was your favorite and why.
I just participated in a bible study using this book. I highly recommend it!
this is on my ‘to be read’ shelf, soon as I slow down the Martha in me and spend some time being the ‘Mary’. I’ve heard great things about it.
My mom absolutely loves that book! There’s a free study guide on the author’s website, which I thought was pretty cool.
I’ve always loved the contrast of Mary and Martha. I’m totally the Martha, and I know that while her heart was in the right place, I’ve got to find a better balance.
I am leading this Bible study and we are just getting started. I saw the Butterfly skit in the book and was wondering if anyone has recorded this and would I have access to it? Any ideas that would add to this study? We have 2 hours each week and I want to use this time to enrich my ladies walk with the Lord.I am very excited about what He will teach us each week. Thank you.