Showing posts with label Catherine Martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catherine Martin. Show all posts

Saturday, September 4, 2010

A Woman's Walk in Grace by Catherine Martin -- Book Review



A powerful and inspiring exploration into how you can grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is what you will find in A Woman's Walk in Grace: God's Pathway to Spiritual Growth by Catherine Martin.

In this helpful book, Martin, the founder of Quiet Time Ministries, takes you on a stroll through God's garden of grace, "where you will...

* trade your ashes for God's beauty and your poverty for His riches
* relax in the assurance that Christ is living His life in your
* follow the Lord's leading through the seasons of the soul
* enjoy God's gift of a new day
* embrace God's dreams for your life..."

This is the third book of Martin's I've read. Each has touched me in a wonderful way and I feel better prepared to continue my Christian journey as a result. Like the other two books, I felt drawn to pick up A Woman's Walk in Grace, in the midst of personal struggles. Nothing major, just things that frustrate and distract me from remembering that my life belongs to God, that my life became His when I accepted the gift of grace He so willingly provides.

Last Sunday, we held a council meeting at our church and we discussed programs we are interested in developing over the next year. One of the things our pastor mentioned is the importance of daily prayer for these events; that no meeting should take place without first offering ourselves to God and asking for his blessings upon our time together. Imagine how inspiring it felt to see my pastor's words reaffirmed while I read A Woman's Walk in Grace.

As with A Woman's Heart That Dances, the author uses a common item--in this book, a garden--to create perfect analogies for how you can grow spiritually and mature in the Lord.

A Woman's Walk in Grace also reminded me why I rarely stop reading before I get to the end of a book. About 150 pages in, I felt the book was getting a bit repetitive. Martin had shared many personal stories, stories of great Christian women, and numerous accounts of men and women from the Bible. I already felt that by now I was ready to begin putting what the author had shared into practice. Then, however, I came to a chapter titled, "The Fine Art of Gracing Another", which spoke of listening to God, responding to His leading, and then lavishing God's grace on another. My heart swelled thinking of the people I have known who have done this for me, and Martin's words encouraged me to be more faithful about doing this for others.

As if this wasn't enough, I came to page 228. The story that unfolded there and onto the next page, brought me to tears. The story of the two criminals being crucified alongside Jesus is not new to me. I've read it many times. And yet, this time, as the author shared this particular portion of scripture, my throat tightened and my eyes glistened. How amazing it is to know, as Martin said, "Grace finds you wherever you are and goes out of its way to save you. And then grace carries you into heaven."

If you are a woman seeking to know more about God's love in action, you'll definitely want to read, A Woman's Walk in Grace by Catherine Martin. I highly recommend it, and believe that the Lord has blessed the author with a rare gift to draw women to Himself through her words.


Title: A Woman's Walk in Grace
Author: Catherine Martin
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (March 1, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0736923802
ISBN-13: 978-0736923804
SRP: $12.99

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

A Woman's Heart That Dances by Catherine Martin -- Book Review



Are you seeking a unique invitation to recognize the Lord's initiation toward us? Do you struggle with allowing God to lead your steps? Do you long to participate in a dance with your Lord and Savior that will last through eternity? A Woman's Heart That Dances: Keeping in Step with God's Design for You by Catherine Martin can help.

A gifted dancer and teacher, Catherine Martin uses the imagery of dance to create this powerful and touching book that will help you:

  • "recognize and respond to the Lord's surprising invitation to you
  • engage in the romance and adventure of an intimate, personal relationship with Him
  • follow His lead as He choreographs the story of your life"

With stories from her personal experiences, women she has met, and women from the Bible, Martin shows how you, too, can accept the Lord's invitation to dance, just as she has.

As I mentioned earlier in the week, this has been a rough time for me. I over committed myself this summer, then learned my book is coming out this month instead of in October, so the stress levels are high. When I got into a screaming match with one of my daughters, I realized something had to give. Unfortunately, what has given, is my quiet time with the Lord. With the exception of creating Sunday school lessons, planning Vacation Bible School, and attending church once a week, my time with the Lord has been next to none. I'm sure He was prompting me to pick up this book and remember He was waiting.

As with Martin's previous book that I reviewed, Drawing Strength from the Names of God, A Woman's Heart That Dances reminded me that God is always there; I must stop and cast my burdens onto Him so that He may sustain me.

Some of my favorite passages discussed Anna, Mary Magdelene and Mary's sister, Martha. Mary Magdelene's story, as Martin points out, is an amazing one.

One cannot read A Woman's Heart That Dances without feeling encouraged, loved, and eager to gain or renew an intimate, personal relationship with God.


Title: A Woman's Heart That Dances
Author: Catherine Martin
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736926402
ISBN-13: 978-0736926409
SRP: $12.99

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Book Review: Drawing Strength from the Names of God by Catherine Martin



God has always spoken to me when I needed it; so it was no surprise last night, after a terrible week, that I felt drawn to pick up my copy of Drawing Strength from the Names of God by Catherine Martin. This gift book, a companion to Martin's, Trusting in the Names of God: Drawing Strength from Knowing Who He Is, touched my heart just when I was longing for its words.

  • El Sahddai - He is Enough for You
  • Yahweh Jireh - He is Your Provider
  • El Ro'i - He Sees You
  • Yahweh - He is Everything You Need
  • Yahweh Shalom - He is Your Peace
  • Abba, Father - He is Your Father
Are some of the names from which I drew strength last night.
Included with the stunning photography are Bible verses, examples from Scripture, and prayers. Each section begins with the words, Draw Strength from (name), followed by Draw Near to (name), and lastly, Delight in (name). This allows the reader to understand the meaning of each name and how we can draw strength during any season of our lives from God.
A truly touching and beautiful book, Drawing Strength from the Names of God, will inspire you in your walk with the Lord. It is also a meaningful, yet, non-confrontational way to draw others to Christ.
I'll be buying a few copies of this book for Christmas gifts this year. Displayed on a coffee table or the top of a bookshelf, many hands will be picking up Drawing Strength from the Names of God by Catherine Martin, and learning how easy it is to draw strength from the names of God!


Title: Drawing Strength from the Names of God
Author: Catherine Martin
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
ISBN-10: 0736925783
ISBN-13: 978-0736925785
SRP: $14.95