Book Review: Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (Givaway!)

I was thrilled to be included in the blog tour for the Gift Edition of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Joanna Weaver. I've heard the title many times in Christian circles, and it intrigued me, but I think I am just now in the place to really learn from this book.

As soon as I opened this book, I knew it was written just for me. Through Joanna Weaver, God has provided an oasis in the middle of the parched dessert of my spiritual life. In the first chapter, Joanna says:

"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. The thought intrigues you. Deep inside of you there is a hunger, a calling, to know and love God... Yet part of you hangs back. Exhausted, you wonder how to find the strength or time. Nurturing your spiritual life seems like one more duty-one more thing to add to a life that's spilling over with responsibilities... There is more to this Christian walk than you've ever experienced. And you're just hungry enough- just desperate enough- to want it all."

This is me. I've always derived my self-worth from what I do- how I perform, and what others think of me. I've been on a journey to be satisfied with just being, instead of constantly doing. With Jesus, my kids, my friends, and myself. After reading this book, I'm a little bit closer.

Dealing with anxiety disorder, I have so often wanted to "pull [my] shredded confidence around trembling shoulders, cover [my head] and beg to be excused from the regular business of life." (p 25) Joanna has given me some real mental, spiritual, and practical tools to ditch the discouragement, disengagement, and worry, and make the "choice that leads to peace." Because, as she so succinctly points out, "worry magnifies the problem, but prayer magnifies God." (p 47)

What I love about the gift edition of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, are the pink boxes, containing practical steps to achieve the spiritual goals Joanna writes about. There are

• Top Ten Ways to Tame Your Worry Habit (53)
• Dumping Rocks (63)
• Listening to Your Soul: A Balance Checklist (202)
• And one of the most powerful ones, "A Test of Love" on page 191, to see if we truly love God.
  

As I was preparing for this review, looking back through the book, I realized that I really want to read it again. And that is not like me. Once is usually enough, thank you. I feel this is a book that one could read many times, and glean different "nuggets" each time, depending on what God's doing in your heart at the time. This time, I'm going to use the study guide in the back, and maybe suggest it to the ladies in my church small group.

So from my more-Mary-like heart, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know Jesus, and the rest for your soul that He promised.

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You can win a copy of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by simply leaving a comment here on this post at Real Life Review!

***If you are a RL Review subscriber, you get an extra chance! Leave a separate comment, saying, "subscriber." The contest will run through Friday night, June 27th.

Joanna will also be giving away 7 copies of Having a Mary Heart. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on Joanna's blog tour 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 telling her which chapter of Having a Mary Heart was your favorite and why.

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Joanna Weaver was voted the Most Promising New Writer of 1997 at the Mount Herman Writer’s Conference. She has authored Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and written for publications such as Focus on the Family, Home Life, Aspire, and The Evangel. A pastor’s wife for more than eighteen years, she and her husband have counseled many couples, both those approaching their wedding and those struggling in marriage. The Weavers live in Montana and have taught young married classes and spoken on the topic of marriage throughout the northwestern United States.