An invitation for overachievers to discover what it means to rest as God’s daughters without compromising their God-given design as doers.
Though she didn’t sit at Jesus’s feet like her sister Mary, biblical Martha was loved just as she was — and you are too. This practical resource invites modern-day Marthas to sit down spiritually as they exchange try-hard striving for hope-filled freedom without abandoning their doer’s heart in the process. Doers need to be affirmed in their innate design to do rather than sit, yet also be reminded that they don’t have to overdo it in order to be worthy. This book is not an exhortation to add or subtract things off your to-do list, but it is an invitation to embrace the “good” of the Good News. Here is an offer to step into your position as a daughter of God and to enjoy life as a doer.
Katie M. Reid is an author, speaker, and singer who encourages others to find grace in the unraveling of life at katiemreid.com. Her first book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done, released on July 10, 2018 (published by WaterBrook). Katie’s writing style is transparent, poetic, and reflective. She has published articles through: Focus on the Family, HuffPost, MOPS, LifeLines, iBelieve, and LightWorkers and is a contributor in Tales of Our Lives: Reflection Pond and the Five Minute Friday book. Her album, Echoes of My Heart, is also available for purchase. Katie delights in her hubby, five children, and their life in ministry. Hot or iced tea and cut-to-the-chase conversations are a few of her favorite things.
Guest Post by Katie M. Reid
While we don’t know for sure, there is speculation that Martha and Mary, the famous sisters from Bethany (see Luke 10:38-42), were either orphaned (and not yet married), widowed (and not yet remarried), or a part of a celibate Jewish sect. (1)
Regardless, in Luke 10:40, it seems that Martha exhibited a mindset that is often associated with the orphan spirit, when she talks about feeling like she has been left alone to do the work.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
I don’t know about you, but as a women who identifies with Martha, I can relate to feeling like it’s all up to me to get things done. I can be resentful of others when they don’t help out in the way I think they should. Sometimes, I even get frustrated with God when He doesn’t show up in the way or timing that I think is best.
Another characteristic of the orphan spirit (or the hired help mentality as I like to call it) is that you serve to earn the Father’s love. But the good news is that Jesus offers us grace — a gift to be received, not a prize to be earned. His love for us is settled on the cross, and it is not dependent on how many items we cross off our to-do list.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. — Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
Martha was designed to be a doer (which is a good thing) yet she did not have to work from a place of striving and anxiousness. And the same is true for us. Yes, there are good works prepared for us to do, but those works are not what make us worthy.
We exchange our hired help mentality for a beloved daughter’s mentality, when we realize who we are in light of who God is: accepted, forgiven, and delighted in. Then, we serve — not from a place of striving and fret — but from a place of strength and peace; knowing that Jesus has not left us alone but adopted us forever.
Learn how your soul can be at rest, even when your hands are busy, in Katie’s new book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done. A bonus 5-week bible study (for individuals and groups) is included.
(1) Source: https://margmowczko.com/martha-mary-and-lazarus-of-bethany/
Giveaway!
Thanks to Waterbrook, I have a copy of Made Like Martha to give away! Just leave a comment to enter. (US only.) The winner will be randomly selected July 19, 2018.
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I want Learn how my soul can be at rest, even when my hands are busy, in Katie’s new book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done. Thanks for a chance to win a copy of the book.
I am totally a Martha. And probably put too much stress on getting things done. Finding time to rest is a constant struggle.
July 19 th is my birthday..tomorrow is my sisters birthday.we always shared a birthday but she got glioblastoma and this will be my third birthday we havent shared after sharing them together for 45 years of my life.she was 6 years older but this book strikes a chord in my heart because my sister always compared me and her to mary and martha and would say she would be the one cleaning while I was sitting at Jesus feet talking lol.I was feeln kinda sad and when I saw this reminded me of her sayn that and almost like she was sendn me a message from heaven..Im excited about reading this book
I tend to be a doer like Martha. I would, no doubt, benefit from reading this book.