Create In Me a Clean Heart...by Pamela Sonnenmoser(Guest Blogger)

        
          I'm honored to introduce my new friend, Pamela Sonnenmoser, to our blog.  She is an energetic, creative, passionately  talented Mighty Woman of God.  She loves to teach, equip and inspire others to draw towards  God's amazing love.  Although  I've only known her a short while, her zeal to encourage others is contagious!

  

Create In Me a Clean Heart

                                                                                        By Pamela Sonnenmoser

 

It is hard to believe that another year has passed and that we are already a month into 2011. How did you do with all of the resolutions that began 2010? If you are like most people, the resolutions you made lasted about two weeks. Some of you might have made it until February, and a meager 15% of you might have actually kept your resolve for the entire year.

I have resolved in past years to keep my house cleaner, lose weight, send cards out more often, and quit procrastinating as well as a few other things that I can’t remember. A few years ago I resolved to read the Bible through again.  I even picked up one of those guides that help you read through the entire Bible in a year. I started out great, but as soon as a cold morning brought a round of hitting the snooze button to stay under the covers longer, my resolve met the frenzy of waking up late and it was over. I read God’s Word and studied regularly for the rest of the year, but my “plan” was dissolved and my guide to read through in a year got buried under the stack of junk mail littering my coffee table and eventually found its way to the burn barrel.

The next year I was given one of those Bibles that are designed to be read in a year. Each day there is a dated selection to read. I will admit it seemed like the answer, but if I needed to study something else for an article or a talk I was giving, that day’s reading was traded for the more pressing text. Then I would be off a day or two, and my resolve was once again replaced by other priorities.

We all look forward to a new year. For many people, January 1 is a release from the year before and a new lease on life. We hear people say things like “2011 has got to be better than 2010.” Or, “2011 is the year I will …” I am sure you can complete the sentence. I am also looking forward to the rest of 2011. My speaking schedule is filling up and God is opening doors for ministry, even into 2012. Yes, 2011 holds many things that I am looking forward to.

                                                    

As I was preparing my planner for the coming year I began to think of things I want to change in the new year. My pondering brought me to a scripture that I have always loved. Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

That was it, my new year’s resolution for 2011! Create in me a clean heart. My prayer for 2011 and every day of my life needs to be for the Lord to clean my heart.

 I was talking with someone recently about nutrition and healthy living, he pointed out that our bodies are full of toxins that come from the environment, foods we eat and chemicals in the water and so on. He said that we need to cleanse our body periodically to flush those toxins out so that healthy things can take their place.

It was a light-bulb-moment for me as I thought of my heart for God. I love the Lord with all of my heart, but I live in the world. Like most of us, I don’t live in a bubble. I hear things I would rather not hear and I see things I would rather not see. I protect my heart as much as I can and I try to be spiritually healthy by studying God’s word and spending time with him in prayer and praise. Yet, there are still thoughts that creep into my mind that are far from holy. There are things that come from my mouth that I wish I could erase as soon as they hit the air. Where do they come from? Why would someone who loves the Lord and wants to please him say or even think such things?

Sometimes I forget that my spirit needs to be cleansed. Daily I must ask God to create in me a clean heart. My spirit needs renewal, daily to remain strong in faith. I cannot wait until my thoughts are muddled with the garbage that is acceptable to the world. Every day I pray that the Lord will take out the impurities and sweep out anything that interferes with my relationship with Him. I don’t want to be cast away from his presence because I allowed the trash from the world to overcome me.

Psalm 51: 10-13

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. 13 {Then} I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

My relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship I have. It is the only one that is worthy of my all. He is the only one who has given me His all. His word is full of everything we need to walk in right relationship with him. It is a clean heart and a steadfast spirit that I need in order to show the joy of the relationship I have found with the Savior. How else can I lift Jesus up? How else can others be drawn to Him?

So, what resolution have I made in 2011? To share the joy and love of Christ with everyone I meet. This time, it’s a keeper!

Thank you, Pamela, for taking the time to share with us today your wisdom and insight.  Pamela is giving away one of her books called, Praise and Paraphrase . Please leave a comment today and we will enter your name into a drawing for this weekend. 

Pamela Sonnenmoser is the founder and director of Fresh Cup Ministries. She is the author of Praise & Paraphrase: 90 Days of Spiritual Truth from Every Day Life (CrossRiver Media, 2010), and the soon-to-be-released, Beside the Empty Cradle (Beacon HIll, June 2011). She is an international speaker for churches, retreats, camps, luncheons and other women's events. Pamela lives on a farm near Kansas City, MO with her husband John and a menagerie of dogs, cats and critters. For more information please visit her website at www.freshcupministries.com.

 

Ripple Effects...by Laryssa Toomer (Guest Blogger)

     I am privileged to run alongside this beautiful sister in Christ, Laryssa Toomer, on this journey ministering to women and leading them deeper into God’s healing Word.  Laryssa has always been a shining example of a Mighty and Bold woman of God to me.  She’s been one of my greatest encouragers in my walk with writing and pursuing my destiny in Christ.  She is an incredible friend, who keeps things real, simple and amazingly fun.  She is full of wisdom and insights beyond her years.  Laryssa is straight from the Giver of every good and perfect gift.  I introduce to you my friend, homeschool mother of three beautiful children, retired military wife, strong runner/triathlete , Christian Speaker and Free-Lance writer, Laryssa Toomer! 

RIPPLE EFFECTS

Small things count. They really do.

Too often we believe that we have to do something “major” in order to have a major impact. Especially as women, we’re constantly fed media messages that tell us “we’re every woman,” that we can do it all, and that our value and worth are tied to quantity. We attempt to do “big” things in the name of influence, often at the expense of small opportunities that have great impact. I’ve been guilty of these attempts in years past--even in the name of advancing the Kingdom of God--only to feel completely exhausted, overwhelmed, and disillusioned. But that’s when God taught me about the power of small acts and small steps--things that I often overlooked. A vivid picture of the ripple effect comes to mind.

Wikipedia explains the ripple effect as “a term used to describe a situation where, like the ever expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it, an effect from an initial state can be followed outwards incrementally.” I especially like this simple, online definition: when one event produces effects which spread and produce further effects, etc. I love this.

One event. Further effects. Extending.

Many times when I’m resting in between laps in the pool, I often tap on the water just so I can watch the ripple effect. I’m fascinated at how one small tap produces effects much further than where I tapped. It reminds me all over again that small things count and often impact in ways that I may not always see. I read a quote that says: “Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”

I encourage you to think about the power of one, simple in the context of your daily activities (home, in the workplace, online, etc.). A smile. An extra hug. A simple “hello.” A phone call or text message. An “I love you.” One-minute prayers throughout the day (versus trying to have marathon sessions). Mulling over one, Bible verse. Practical acts such as greeting the Wal-Mart cashier by her first name. Drinking one less soda. Cleaning out one drawer. These are simple, do-able, and have ripple effects--some reaching further than others...and some that are immeasurable, reaching as far as future generations in our families and in others’.

What act can you do today that would ripple into your life, health, family, someone else’s life, etc.? Please carry on the list in the comments!

Thank you, Laryssa, for taking the time to share with us today your wisdom and insight.  Laryssa is giving away one of her books she is published in called, The Mommy Diaries.  Please leave a comment today and we will enter your name into a drawing for this weekend.

Laryssa often refers to herself a gal who’s been captured by God’s amazing grace, who glories in the Cross of Christ. This retired Army wife is a homeschooling mom loves to teach the Bible, write, and share life together with others (over coffee of course!). She enjoys cooking, participating in endurance sports, and foolishly jumping on the trampoline with her three children. Her greatest joy outside of God is spending time with her husband Jeff, who now serves in vocational ministry as a Site Pastor. Laryssa blogs about life “At Home” over at www.laryssaonline.com. Her speaking site is www.laryssatoomer.com.

It Happened at Walmart

It is my pleasure to introduce a new friend of mine. She is a wonderful inspiration and I know you all will just love her to pieces! Please welcome Victoria to EEE!

Victoria is a slave to Christ and a dork for the '80s. Whether homeschooling, housewifing, or hiding from the laundry heap, she’s grateful to be a continual work of progress in God’s hands. You can find her at her new site where she writes about Biblical Friendship each Friday. http://biblicalfriendship.com


I’ve never quite been able to reconcile the “me” inside with the version other people see. Sometimes shy, others outgoing, there’s just no telling what impression I might leave. When asked point blank, I finally put a name to the dichotomy—I am a closet extrovert.

Oh, I’d love to take you by the hand as we chat and laugh the time away, I’m just too chicken to chance looking like a fool and giving away too much of myself in the process. God is wooing me out of my closet and into the life He’s called me to live—one I’m perfectly content to look a bit foolish living if it makes Him a tiny bit more famous.

Having only just discovered the Lord’s movement to break down the barrier I’d been hiding behind, I wasn’t expecting the prompting He placed on my heart. I certainly wasn’t looking for something so profound, but there it was, and it happened at Walmart!

In fairness, I practically live at Walmart, so where else was it going to happen?

The place was swamped. I made my way toward the checkout lanes with a sigh as I equipped myself to take it all in stride. There ahead, a woman wrapped up her payment and I dashed toward the empty conveyor belt. Stopping to snag my sweetie an orange Fanta from the cooler, I thanked God for giving me some small way to tell my husband he is loved.

Once the cashier had finished with the customer ahead of me, she greeted me that same small greeting you’re sure everyone is trained to deliver though so few actually do. I extended the same courtesy she had shown me, and replied. She looked me square in the eye and thanked me for talking to her.

The way she said it said so much.

Then it happened.

That look-like-a-weirdo moment I’d always wished for and away all at one time—God told me to ask if I could pray for her. Right then. Right there. Ask her, this total stranger just trying to do her job, if I could pray for her.

The weirdest part? I didn’t even hesitate! I can’t say enough how not like me this was.

Please know that it is God alone that made me woman enough to “man up” to the task!

Naturally, the cashier was surprised by my question, but she didn’t skip a beat in answering. After simply saying, “Yes,” she paused for a moment as we stood looking at one another.

We both knew there was more to follow, though I don’t think either of us expected what she’d say next.

“Yes. My daughter just died two years ago; you can pray for me.”

There just aren’t words to fit the emotion in her eyes. All I could do was take her by both hands, look straight into her sweet face and let her know beyond all doubt that I would be praying for her.

On my way home, the Lord gave me such a vivid illustration to go along with the lesson He had began teaching me in that checkout lane. As one car after another slowed down in effort to look out for a gnarly, mangy old stray dog weaving his way in and out of traffic, I couldn’t help but wonder why we never slow down that way for the woman at the post office, the guy ahead of us in line at the bookstore, or even the cashier at Walmart.

Who knows how many stray people we zip past in our daily lives?

God does, that’s exactly why He prompts us to do the seemingly strangest things!

It’s a beautiful burden our Heavenly Father has placed on us, to care for one another!


A big thank you to Victoria for spending some time with us. To add to her fabulous-ness, she is giving away a year subscription to Hope for Women magazine. Check it out! Leave a comment below, and on Tuesday we will randomly draw a name.

Salty Conversation

For our first official guest post, I am honored to introduce a dear friend of mine. Along with our love for writing, we also have sons born only a month apart who have the same name. Small world, huh? Please join me in welcoming YA author, Stephanie Morrill.

Stephanie Morrill is a twenty-something living in Overland Park, Kansas with her husband and two kids. Her only talents are reading, writing, and drinking coffee, so career options were somewhat limited. Fortunately, she discovered a passion for young adult novels a few years ago and has been writing them ever since. Stephanie is the author of The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series and is currently working on other young adult projects. To check out her blog and read samples of her books, check out www.StephanieMorrillBooks.com and www.GoTeenWriters.com.


I’m a huge fan of salt.

I’m even kinda picky about my salt. I use Diamond Crystal’s Kosher salt and even drive to a specialty spice store here in Kansas City to purchase it. I use it for everything. Baking, cooking. You know, your basic salt needs. I’m fascinated by how many recipes call for salt. Ever made chocolate chip cookies and left out the salt? They don’t taste quite as good. They lack dimension. Same with blueberry muffins. I made that mistake a few weeks ago, and the muffins just tasted flat to me.

This has left me sensitive to every mention of salt in the Bible, and during my reading time on Monday, I came across this beautiful passage:

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” Colossians 4:5-6

As I mulled this over, my eyes kept catching on Paul’s use of “seasoned with salt.”
My mother is a fabulous cook, but I can remember two meals that were utter failures. The time she fixed shark (no comment) and then the time she made what we refer to as “the salty soup.” I don’t know what exactly happened there, but I remember taking a bite and the salt overwhelmed my mouth. It was the only bite I took, and then we all ate peanut butter and jelly for dinner.

But to season is to heighten and perfect the flavor. And it’s different for each taste bud, which I suppose is where Paul’s “so you may know how to answer everyone” thing comes into play. Because everyone is at a different place in life, has a different family history, different religious background. That must be taken into account. As Paul says, “we must be wise in the way you act toward outsiders.”

I love this verse. As a woman who’s jammed her foot into her mouth aplenty, I aspire to become known for graceful, well-seasoned conversation.


Wow! Something to think about. Thank you, Steph! Now, we want to hear your thoughts. Steph is giving away one of her books, so leave a comment below and we'll draw a random name on Saturday.