Weaver - Having a Mary heart in a Martha world : finding intimacy with God in the busyness of life

Often a book fails to live up to its title, but Joanna Weavers Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World more than lives up to its promise. I found the book easy to read, personal, and well-written with a message much more than surface deep. The book probed, challenged, and encouraged me to live day by day as a Mary in a Martha world, while showing the positive qualities of both Mary and Martha personalities. Readers will be blessed!

CAROLE MAYHALL, author of Come Walk with Me and Here I Am Again, Lord

Joanna Weaver has a heart that sings. Whenever Im around her, she makes me smile. Her voice rings out true and clear in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. This book invites us to join in the chorus of daily communion with Christ, despite the pressures that threaten to silence us. Consider it as sheet music for your soul.

ROBIN JONES GUNN, best-selling author of The Glenbrooke series and The Christy Miller series

Balance. Thats what it is all about, and Joanna Weaver has found it, described it, and called us to this wonderful, practical work. If you have ever struggled with how you can find one quiet moment while longing for a deep holy communion or if you have been discouraged because neither seems possible, you will be challenged and blessed by Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World!

JAN SILVIOUS, author of Foolproofing Your Life

With candor, humor, and passion Joanna Weaver invites us to cultivate a Mary heart that delights in time with God and assigns him top priority. Yet she doesnt discard the service-oriented Martha. Instead, she wisely and practically models how to balance the Mary and Martha qualities in us all. I especially appreciate her thoughts on expressing lavish loveto God and to humanity.

JUDITH COUCHMAN, Designing a Womans Life author and seminar leader

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Ive been blessed to have many friends walk with me on this journey called writing a book. Friends whove read manuscripts, dropped off home-cooked meals, prayed me out of tight spots, and told me to go for it! when I felt I couldnt go on. Looking back on the journey, I cant imagine how one could walk it all alone.

Though I cant thank everyone by name, I must thank Erica Faraone and Tricia Goyer for their gifts of perspective and encouragement, as well as the women of my church, FaithBuilders, and One Heart/Blessed Hope for their faithful intercession. Special thanks to my friend, Rosemarie Kowalski, who allowed me to use her story in chapter 4 to illustrate the freedom of grace, capturing the very essence of this book.

To my editor, Anne Buchanan, my heartfelt thanks. Truly two are better than one. Thank you, Anne, for helping me find the right words to convey the message that has so filled my heart and for all the laughter weve shared along the way.

To the great people at WaterBrookCarol Bartley and Liz Heaney, to name twomy deepest gratitude as well.

I am especially grateful to my agent and friend, Janet Kobobel Grant. Thank you for all the wonderful things you are.

And finally, to my husband, John, and my two incredible kids, John Michael and Jessica. Your loving support and patience have been precious and costly gifts, treasures Ive not taken for granted. John, thank you for believing in me. Kids, thank you for all the chuckles and for letting me share you with the world. Youre the best!

But most of all, Lord Jesus, thank you for making it possible for each one of us to know youreally know you!Marys and Marthas alike. Go beyond these inadequate human words, and by your Spirit, lead each one of us into your presence. Help us discover the joy and the secret of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.

Soli Deo Gloria. To you alone.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lords feet listening to what he said.

LUKE 10:3839

Have you ever tried to do it all?

I have, I do, and I probably always will. Its not only in my nature; its also in my job descriptionand yours, too. Being a woman requires more stamina, more creativity, and more wisdom than I ever dreamed as a young girl. And thats not just true for todays busy women. It has always been the case.

In 1814, Martha Forman was married to a wealthy Maryland plantation owner. You might expect she spent her days sipping tea, being fitted for lovely gowns, and giving orders to her servants as she chatted with important guests. Instead, Martha worked right beside her servants from four in the morning to eleven oclock at night. Among her daily activities were the following:

Making thirty to thirty-four pounds of old tallow into candles; cutting out fourteen shirts, jackets or trousers; knitting stockings; washing; dyeing and spinning wool; baking mince pies and potato puddings; sowing wheat or reaping it; killing farm animals and salting the meat; planting or picking fruits and vegetables; making jams, jellies, and preserves with

So, what did you do today? You may not have slaughtered a hog or harvested wheat, but I know you were busy. Whether you were out selling real estate or at home kissing boo-boos (or both), your day passed just as quickly. And your mind and body are probably as tired as poor Martha Formans as you steal a few moments to spend with this book.

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. To truly know Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Spirit. Youre not after more head knowledgeits heart-to-heart intimacy you long for.

Yet a part of you hangs back. Exhausted, you wonder how to find the strength or time. Nurturing your spiritual life seems like one more dutyone more thing to add to a life that is spilling over with responsibilities.

Its almost as if youre standing on the bottom rung of a ladder that stretches up to heaven. Eager but daunted, you name the rungs with spiritual things you know you should do: study the Bible, pray, fellowship

Hes up there somewhere, you say, swaying slightly as you peer upward, uncertain how to begin or if you even want to attempt the long, dizzy climb. But to do nothing means you will miss what your heart already knows: There is more to this Christian walk than youve experienced. And youre just hungry enoughjust desperate enoughto want it all.

Perhaps no passage of Scripture better describes the conflict we feel as women than the one we find in the gospel of Luke. Just mention the names Mary and Martha around a group of Christian women and youll get knowing looks and nervous giggles. Weve all felt the struggle. We want to worship like Mary, but the Martha inside keeps bossing us around.