Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World

Hi girls

Little did I know what I was letting myself and you into when I chose the book (I liked the title)and I am really sorry to have missed the book club meeting. I found the book both challenging, encouraging and inspiring. I am sure that there are many Martha's out there and a few Mary's.
I always felt guilty that I was a Martha and in some ways still am but encouraged to know even in the business and seasons of life that we can have a Mary heart.

I found the picture of the hoola hoops very apt in my particular season and trying to endeavour to be closer to God - not easy - but thats because I need to sit at his feet!!!

Glynne

Our Next Book

Our next book has been chosen by Heather West and is Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren. This book is subtitled "What happens when you say yes to God" and it traces Kay's journey to discover a new area of work by helping to make a difference to people with HIV/AIDS. This book has a study at the back which helps you to think through your own response to each chapter. Kay also has a range of other resources to help you enter her world on her own website including more study resources.

We have just had the privilege of hearing Lynne Hybels speak this morning about her involvement with HIV/AIDS relief work in Zambia and as I was buying my copy of Dangerous Surrender I also bought a copy of Lynne's book "Nice girl's don't change the world." I have already read this as it is a very slim volume, and was pleased to see that money from sales goes to the HIV ministry. This book is a perfect sandwich to transition from Being a Mary in a Martha World to Kay's book.

It tells how Lynne has her own breakthrough from God from a world of surrender to serving everyone else's ministry and deep depression that results from being buried alive to an awakening in to the real self that she alone can be, which gave her the courage and energy to start fresh. Lynne was a Mary barricaded into a kitchen and is now a Mary/Martha set free to live out her own calling in her own way. It is a deeply inspiring story demonstrating how Jesus loves and woos us and will never stop trying to reach us with his undeserved love and grace. So I have the book if you need to borrow it, but if you can invest in Lynne's ministry and buy a copy yourself!

Having Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

This is a thought provoking book that one can return to at different stages of one's life and find new nuggets of truth relevant to the ever changing needs that each season of our life brings. I took some time to get into the flow of the book because I am essentially not a Martha or "kitchen" type of person. I am far more comfortable with Mary in the "living room" and welcome the service that the Martha's around me offer!

I found the section in chapter 6 about kitchen service most helpful, and in particular this quote, "Service without spirituality is exhausting and hopeless. But in the same respect, spirituality without service is barren and selfish." This captures the whole issue of balancing the two as if they were two sides of a coin and must always be together in our lives.

I discovered the study at the end of the book when I had finished it (der????)-so perhaps you might like to use it as you read through it and really let the book work through you like yeast in dough. Jacqui

Reminder for the next "ACTIVATE" meeting

The details of the next meeting are as follows:

Date: Saturday, 6th September 2008.
Hostess: Ly P
Venue: ......
Time: 7.30pm

Val Cottee will be joining us at this meeting to share briefly with us some of her teachings on "Having a Mary heart in a Martha world". At this meeting, Heather West will be disclosing the next reading book. I’m sure she has something interesting in mind for us.

Thank you Ly for offering to host us.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Saturday.

God Bless.

Ope