Having a Mary Spirit: Allowing God to Change Us from the Inside Out

Joanna Weaver is the best-selling author of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Having a Mary Spirit, Lazarus Awakening, and the award-winning gift book With This Ring. Her articles have appeared in such publications as Focus on the Family, Guideposts, and HomeLife. Joanna and her pastor-husband, John, have three children and live in Montana. Visit her website at www.JoannaWeaverBooks.com.

Devoted fans of Weaver's bestselling title, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, have waited some seasons for a follow-up worthy of this original Mary/Martha signature piece. According to Weaver, a six-month writing sabbatical morphed into six years while two children grew up, a third was born, church-building projects loomed large, relational miscommunications snowballed and inner chaos reigned. She admits that the tugs between flesh and spirit took their toll on her flagship message for Christian women to achieve life balance between the soulfully serene "Mary" and perfectionist "Martha." Weaver spends 16 delightfully entertaining and spiritually hefty chapters challenging and entreating women to allow God entrance to the heart's inner places for a "soul-surgery" of sorts. She discusses guarding one's heart from distractions and cynicism; bringing thoughts under control; honing a fearless, courageous attitude; and learning to adopt a discerning, malleable and servant-minded spirit. Weaver's insight is keen and far-reaching, patient and practical. Clearly, the substance of this material is neither new or unique, yet Weaver has a way of approaching even well-worn subject matter with a neighborliness that both charms and enthralls. (Oct. 10) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

In her new book, Having a Mary Spirit, Joanna Weaver, introduces us to the super-antagonist known as Flesh Women, our evil alter ego. As our sinful nature struggles to control us, she leads us on a journey to discover our own Mary spirit. The journey isn't easy. On the way we learn to identify where in our life Flesh Women exists, and to turn her over to Christ for banishment to the lower realms.
We all have our core issues; struggles of discouragement, self-worth, pride, fear, bitterness, gossip, envy, lies, and ingratitude. These must be identified and destroyed before we can be the woman God created us to be. Yet it isn't our own doing that brings about change. As Weaver points out, being with Jesus Christ isn't enough: we need His Spirit in us. Step-by-step, Joanna strives to bring the reader closer to His Spirit. Included in this book are many beneficial sidebars that offer practical advice for our journey.
I found Having a Mary Spirit to be a wonderful encouragement for my own Christian life. With chapters such as "A Mary Heart," "Twisted Sisters," "Mind Control," "The Flesh Women Diet," and "Spirit Led," Joanna instills in the reader a desire to seek a change in her own life. Through humorous anecdotes, Joanna shares with the reader from her own experience and warns her of the pitfalls she might uncover in her own journey to create a Mary-like spirit. – Janice LaQuiere, Christian Book Previews.com

Praise for Having a Mary Spirit 

"Once again, Joanna Weaver guides us gently, lovingly, yet firmly along the life-changing path of righteousness. Her honesty about her own struggles assures us we're not alone. And her commitment to biblical truth reminds us God will be with us every step of the way. I promise you'll emerge from this reading experience a changed woman!"
–Liz Curtis Higgs, best-selling author of Bad Girls of the Bible

"Reading Having a Mary Spirit is like having a cherished friend visit and speak right to my heart. As someone who loved Having a Mary Heart in Martha World, this second book focuses on intimacy with Christ, but it also takes us deeper, showing us--through personal anecdotes and touching stories--the joy found in turning ourselves over for a holy makeover. If you're ready for a transformed spirit, you'll adore this book!"
–Tricia Goyer, award-winning author of eight books including Generation NeXt Parenting

"It seems the most authentic books are the ones that inch their way out of an ordinary life and quietly speak of all that is eternal. That is the case with Having a Mary Spirit. This personal and life-pondering book will strengthen and soothe the places in your spirit where your everyday life has left you parched. Drink deeply!"
–Robin Jones Gunn, Bestselling author of Sisterchicks® on the Loose! and Take Flight!

Weaver spends 16 delightfully entertaining and spiritually hefty chapters challenging and entreating women to allow God entrance to the heart’s inner places for a "soul-surgery" of sorts. She discusses guarding one’s heart from distractions and cynicism, bringing thoughts under control, honing a fearless, courageous attitude, and learning to adopt a discerning, malleable and servant-minded spirit. Weaver’s insight is keen and far-reaching, patient and practical. …Weaver has a way of approaching even the most tried subject matter with a neighborliness that both charms and enthralls.
–from the Starred Review, Publishers Weekly