Having a Martha Home the Mary Way: 31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soul

I’m only on day 4 and love this book already. Great introspection and Bible study along with motivation to get the house clean and organized.

Having a Martha Home the Mary Way31 Days to a Clean House and a Satisfied Soulby Sarah MaeISBN: 978-1-4143-7262-4Retails for $15.99Christian Life/House and HomeABOUT:This book is a How-To on how to care for your home with a 31 day plan that helps you center on what really matters, caring for your heart by loving others.IMPRESSION:For starters, this book cover is absolutely cute. I couldn't wait to pick it up, especially when I saw who the author was. This is my 2nd book to read by Sarah Mae. (I have previously read Longing for Paris, that too was a great read.) I really like and appreciate her style of writing and how present and down to earth she seems. In fact, in one part of the book she talked about how Netflix was a personal distraction, to which I personally could relate, however I don't know that I could cancel my subscription like she did! I'll try harder to be distracted less though. ;)Anyways this is a guide/planning book that will help you through a daily set of challenges, called The Mary Challenge and the Martha Challenge.Martha and Mary are two sisters with complimenting personalities who you probably are familiar with from The Bible. They had a visit with Jesus when they called on him to be with their sick brother Lazarus who died from illness before Jesus could get to him. Jesus resurrected Lazarus.During their mealtime visit with Jesus, Mary sat at the Lord's feet and listened to Him speak intentively with true Christian faith.Martha was the sister who always found herself distracted although she professed her belief in the Lord. Martha got caught up in worldly things, such as cooking and serving dinner instead of taking the time to build a close and personal relationship with Him. She complained to Jesus that she was left with all the work and asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus told her not to worry about small things, but instead the ones that truly matter.You will read this book and ask yourself, Are you a Mary, or are you a Martha?The Mary Challenge speaks to your heart by filling your heart with God's word through reading scriptures, and the Martha Challenge encourages you to get things accomplished, and to hold yourself accountable. This book also encourages you to get your children involved. Take the workload off yourself and to ultimately mold your children through love and practicality and praise. Sarah writes that she hopes her children are able to run a household by age 10. That's the goal I have in mind for my children as well.I loved that Purging was included. Sometimes we feel like we need to hoard things, toys, clothes, unnecessary belongings and getting rid of things can make you feel better."Be surrounded by what brings you joy."I've decided I'm a Martha, but I'd like to become more of a Mary! I really liked how each day was broken up. Scriptures to read, household chores to do and suggestions for self reflection time. This book was inspiring. As a mom, keeping up with household chores, especially laundry can sometimes be overwhelming and tiresome. This book helps break it down. In 31 days you can have a whole new appreciation for yourself and your space. Having an inviting home is wonderful but you have to have an inviting heart as well. This book inspires you to want to be a better person overall. This book reminds you to LOVE yourself because GOD made and loves you. Sometimes the guilt of having a long to-do list that never seems to get smaller makes you feel like you're doing a bad job. At least, for me as a stay at home mom does. Great book."You are not more holy because you clean well, and you are not less holy if you don't."For more information please visit: [...]*FTC DISCLAIMER: This book was sent to me complimentary from Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. All photos and opinions on this blog are my own and true.*

I first was introduced to Sarah Mae’s work though her 31 days to clean eBook and her blog. It was the most refreshing approach to home keeping that I have seen. It has a gentle, balanced, non-judgmental approach that is actually attainable and sustainable. Her bubbly personality makes it fun every step of the way. As a natural procrastinator, I feel victorious when I realize I have been using this method for almost a year! This is not a trend or a fad. This really works! It works because it changed the way you see housework and the purpose of working in your home. I am constantly busy, I’m active, and I’m social. Keeping up with housework was usually at the bottom of my priority list. This book permanently changed my ways. I was so excited when I heard Sarah Mae was enriching her material and putting it in book form. It did not disappoint.The book takes a faith based look at your natural cleaning tendencies of being a Mary or a Martha. In this case I would be mostly a Mary with a few Martha tendencies. The Marthas of the world are natural “neat freaks” and not usually the ones who need a housekeeping program. But, if you are a Martha please give this a look! This is all about balance. It will help you relax and enjoy your home so much more! It’s not about doing it right it’s about doing it well. You will stop fretting about what’s not perfect and start enjoying your home and the experiences inside it!Sarah Mae brings in a team spirit that makes you feel as though she is right by your side the whole way as she guides you through each room of your house. She cheers you on with humor, thought provoking questions, and scripture. She will even tell you to give yourself a cookie. Before you know it, you have a whole new perspective on keeping your home.My own “pro tip”: After working through the book a few times. I entered the daily tasks into my phone’s calendar as I went along and then set them to repeat monthly. Now each day I get a reminder of what my focus for the day is. It works!I would give this book more than five stars if I could.

Loving this book! 🧡

I can't believe all the positive reviews this book got! I don't know how anyone with young children could possibly keep up with this. My main barrier to cleaning the way she suggests is that I simply don't have time. I got to day 8 and couldn't keep up. I actually have a great deal of desire, discipline, and motivation to clean, but my barrier to doing it is that I simply don't have the chunks of time necessary. So I got to day 8 and basically gave up. I have three young children and between the laundry, meals, kids' schedules with school and activities (which are minimal), and doing basic daily surface cleaning, there is no way I can tackle a larger task like she suggests every day. I could maybe take cleaning the pantry, for example, and stretch that job out over a few days or a week. But there is no way I can tackle a different task like this every day - especially if I wanted it to be done to my standards. If your kids are all in school every day, then maybe this book would be useful. For the mom who doesn't have a lot of free time, don't bother with this book!

This is a very encouraging and challenging book for all of us who aspire to higher standards in our cleaning. Sarah Mae has done a great job of giving you a view into her life and let you know you're not alone. Even more than that she encourages you from God's word to help you grow spiritually. This would be a great book to do in a group setting. I haven't finished the 31 day challenges yet but I'm going to preserve with God's help. I am disabled and have had to take the Martha challenges slower than anyone else would have to. I know God is helping me to grow and helping me to depend on Him.

Excellent

I'm really glad I got signposted to this book. There is some really helpful stuff on here and all backed up with Scripture. I found the chapters on loving our families well, rhythms and being intentional particularly useful. A refreshing read, grateful for the chance to read it!

didn't really do anything for me I'm afraid.

I'm not a "Christian" but I do believe in doing things right and with a good heart. a lovely read and a helpful book