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Summary: All Christian women need to read this book!
Review: I learned so much about the Mary and Martha from reading this book. I went back and read all I could in my Bible about these two sisters of Lazarus. This is one of my Top 10 Christian books -...!I lead a small group Bible Study in my home and we're studying the book of John. Time and again, I would open this book by Joanna Weaver and read to my group out of it. Finally, they all decided they needed a copy of their own! And some of them are in turn passing it on to other friends and relatives. The author makes herself vulnerable in this book, passing along personal anectdotes and stories we can all identify with. This book shows you how to sit at Jesus feet like Mary while still getting stuff done like Martha. Please read it - you'll love it too!...! May God bless you and your family!
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Summary: Wonderful Book!
Review: I read this book as a group study with my church, and it was fabulous! It really helps turn your heart the right way, which is God's way. I wrote a note to Joanna Weaver thanking her for her wonderful inspiration, and was pleasantly surprised to receive a card back from her. She told me she has been so blessed by the readers of this book, and the emotions go both ways. She is truly a messenger of God, and her books are worthy of an open heart and open mind.
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Summary: Awful
Review: I read this book as part of a program at my church. I read the whole thing from cover-to-cover, trying to read the with what the author lacks in her writing: an open mind. Not only was this book extremely anti-Semitic, but it presented Jesus as the only way to salvation and all who don't accept him will be condemned to hellfire. I simply don't believe that, and I apologize if I offended anyone by saying that, but it's true. Another thing about this book that I disliked is the corny style of writing. Joanna Weaver uses parables and quotes that make no sense to demonstrate her ideas. In fact, practically half of the book isn't even in her own words: it's quoted from other books and people. It really bothered me how she described Judas Iscariot. She said that he was evil and had a "heart of greed". How on earth would she know? The author also contradicts herself by saying that Martha was wrong to be so busy in the kitchen when she should have been listneing to Jesus. In another chapter, Weaver talks about how we must use our talents and skills to serve the Lord. Isn't that what Martha was doing? Although the root message of this book is good, I would definitely NOT reccomend it to anyone. It was all-around awful.
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Summary: Great gift!
Review: I recently ordered this book for a good friend of mine, who is going through a bit of a tough time. She LOVES it! It has been so encouraging to hear how the book has changed her way of thinking with simple, and practical... yet thought-provoking ideas. Certainly Worth buying as a gift, or for yourself!
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Summary: antisemitic?
Review: I think that the heart of the message contained in this book is living in a balanced way and maintaining perspective. Often we get wrapped up in many things that in the end won't be all that important. A reviewer claimed that the author of this book was contradicting herself by saying that Martha should have sat at Jesus's feet and also talking about using one's talents for God. The two things aren't contradictory. The problem was that Mary was too concerned about the physical details, not leaving herself any room in her thinking to take advantage of the opportunity to sit and learn from the master, to be healed and renewed and fed spirtually by the bread of heaven. An analogy might be the mother who is so caught up working, decorating her house, working out, etc. that she misses out on a relationship with her own children and husband. Later, when she realizes that what she spent her time on was far less valueable and important that what she could have spent it on, it's too late. Also, the author is not the originator of the idea that Jesus is the way the truth and the life and that no man comes to the Father, God, but by him. That is written in the bible. Most religions that I know of teach a set of laws that are necessary to live by, and a time after a person's death where they will be judged by that standard and rewarded with an everlasting life for being judged worthy or "hell" for being judged unworthy. Every religious system that I know of involves living up to a set of laws to be deemed worthy. But the gospels of Jesus Christ and the Pauline epistles say that no man shall be justified by the works of the law. The book of Romans says that in God's eyes there are none that are righteous, not one. He sent Jesus as the sacrifice and payment of our sins, and upon acceptance of that gift, we are clean in God's sight. He made an easy way for us to be assured of being with him in heaven because we can't live up to the law. He made available eternity with him as a free gift. As a result the fear and uncertainty about our future is taken away. Christians don't serve God out of fear that they might end up in hell, they serve and strive to obey their Lord out of thankfullness and love, because they have been freed. Anyone can be saved by accepting Jesus's gift of grace and mercy, no matter what they have done or will do. I have experienced trying to live up to a set of laws and feeling insecure about my spiritual future because of seeing how often I fail to meet the standard. I don't see the peace and security and joy that I have received in Christ in any of the other religions that I've studied about. The bible says that those who are Christians have fellowship with their Lord Jesus Christ and I believe that this book is very helpful for developing a richer closer relationship with him.
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Summary: Simple analogy, deep counsel
Review: Joanna Weaver uses a simple analogy, the living room or the kitchen, to bring hurried, harried women needed truths about balance in their lives. Mary, of course, was the woman in the living room, and Martha was in the kitchen. I appreciated Joanna's willingness to open up her life and provide memorable stories and fresh symbols. For example, she compared picking up the house in the morning with the confession needed in prayer time to keep our spiritual house "fresh" for God. Women's Bible study groups will find this book targeting many needs.
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Summary: Living Room Intimacy
Review: Living Room Intimacy was the chapter that spoke the most to me, though the entire book was excellent. It gave me a new perspective on what it really means to develop that personal relationship where you're conversing with the Savior instead of always rushing to Him for help in a harried life! When I started getting up an hour earlier in the morning just to be with Him, I have actually become LESS stressed even though I am on less sleep and have fully active days with full time work and two kids (ages 9-14) that keep me running everywhere. Add to that a husband that travels and I'm often handling it all on my own...but wait, no I'm not because I have God's help. I find he's there when I call a lot quicker when I've spent time with him regularly than before when I only prayed in crisis situations. Interestingly, the crises have diminished as a result! I'm now looking forward to going deeper into an even more personal "living room intimacy" with Him. I agree with the other reviews in that this is a book you will want to come back to again and again. I will also be giving several copies of this book as Christmas gifts this year!
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Summary: Life-changing!!!
Review: The author has truly allowed the Holy Spirit to guide her in the writing of this book. I came across the book while shopping in the Christian bookstore, and was drawn by the title. Every chapter is life-changing and underscores what most women experience as we attempt to balance our relationship with God and all the commitments we have to family, work, and friends. I have been using this book for our church's women ministry. The partipants have been impressed by Ms. Weaver's ability to echo each of our experiences, giving them validation, and helping us find "Our Mary Heart in A Martha World." I encourage every women to buy this book.
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Summary: I Needed This Book
Review: This book was really helpful to me in making me realize that I really do need to "slow down" and listen for God's presence more. I could not have read this book at a more perfect time as i was invited to be a part of a prayer group and needed to have encouragment to slow down a little more. Which, as an evangelical liberal is probably the area of growth that i need the most as a daughter of God. My only real critique of the book was that some of the illustrations seemed to be more geared toward middle aged women as I think this sort of book should be geared toward ALL christians.
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Summary: what a great book
Review: This was a wonderful book! I have always loved the story of Mary and Martha, and this book only added to my appreciation of it. I loved how practical Joanna Weaver was in her approach to the story and I loved her heart felt humility in her writing. If you struggle with finding intimacay with God, this is definitely a book that you must read. I plan on re-reading this book often, especially when I feel like a "Martha" and not a "Mary".
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