On the Verge

December 31^st … we're on the verge of fresh new year.

This is the day some people begin thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. Others choose a word or phrase to motivate them in the next 365 days. I like to sit down with questions for reflection, to make sure I’m still on track and staying true to my priorities.

“Verge” means edge, rim or margin—the limit or point beyond which something begins or occurs. Being “on the verge” means almost doing or experiencing something; being very near or within striking distance; on the brink of something; or in transition to some new state or quality.

That perfectly describes my anticipation of the new year, and all of life, really. Being on the verge brings us to the point of change, perhaps even to a new adventure.

Being on the verge is an opportunity to upgrade our lives, to launch out into new projects, to decide how we will make a difference not only in our own lives, but in our homes, our churches and our communities.

I was reading in Isaiah and a scripture leaped from the pages of the Bible into my heart: 

“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19).

God says, don't remember the "former things.” It’s not just that God wants us to move past all our mistakes. God wants us to move past His marvelous works. He doesn’t want us to get stuck in the past. He doesn’t want us to put Him in a box, believing God must always work a certain way. He wants to do a new thing, perhaps more than we can even imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

That new thing may be a change in location, a change in circumstances, a change in direction or goals ... or even a change in us!

In this passage, God revealed Himself as Israel’s wonderful and only savior. The Almighty wanted Israel to understand how He was working on their behalf in their tough times—still leading, still challenging, still saving, still giving great grace.

Earlier in the chapter (verses 15-17), God revealed himself as “the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” When we consider what may be ahead in our own lives, we must not forget who our God is—His character and the roles He plays in our lives.

He is our Creator, our source, the One who makes all things new. He transforms us. He is our King, our loving ruler, always working for our good as well as His glory. And He is our Savior, our deliverer, the One who gives victory.

No matter what’s ahead, He will be there. He is leading. He wants us to follow and surrender to His rule. You may not see what God is about to do, but you can believe He is already working. He declares in verse 19, “now it shall spring forth.” What he’s going to do is already beginning to sprout in you or through you. It’s just beneath the surface.

But the passage also says, “… shall you not know it?” To “know” in Hebrew is a total embrace of something … a total receptivity (like in husband-wife intimacy). God was saying, “Will you embrace the new thing I’m going to send into your life, no matter what it is?” Will you be open, available, ready to move with Him.

Why does God do “new things” in our lives? It’s not for our own glory; it’s to give a new platform for praise. “This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise” (v. 21).  God wants us to anticipate His new work, to trust Him in the process, and to praise Him when it begins and after it bears fruit.

To summarize:

• Remember what God has done for you in the past, but don’t get stuck there.
• Don’t limit God ... don't put Him in a box.
• Anticipate God’s “new thing” in your life—no matter your feelings, no matter your circumstances.
• Wonder over who God is—His character, roles and work. Do you know how "big" God is?
• Surrender to (embrace) what God will “sprout” in your life in the days ahead.
• Get ready to praise Him every step of the way!

You are on the verge of something exciting. Do you believe it? Are you ready to embrace the “new thing” God is bringing? If not, how can you prepare your heart today?

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Ministries, is the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God (with Pam Farrel), and Upgrade with Dawn. In these ministries and as President of the San Diego chapter of Network of Evangelical Women in MInistry (NEWIM San Diego), Dawn encourages, edifies and energizes women with  scripture so they can better enjoy life, bless others and honor God. Dawn and her husband Bob have two grown, married sons and three granddaughters.

The Health and Wealth Connection

Ellie Kay’s new book, co-authored with Danna Demetre, offers wisdom principles from the Author of Life. In Lean Body, Fat Wallet, they help us upgrade two key areas of life: health and finances.

“It is as important to be fiscally fit as it is to be physically fit—but spiritual health trumps all else,” Ellie said.

Ah … I’m glad Ellie added that last phrase. When we are spiritually in tune with God, He gives us wisdom for every area of life.

Ellie continues …

One of the best ways to get our health and wealth in order is structure our lives according to Biblical principles. For example, Romans 13:8 says, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another.”

We are encouraged to love each other and to have no financial debt other to care for each other with a God-sized love. Furthermore, we can do a better job of caring for others if we are physically healthy enough to do the work and financially healthy enough to support the work.

The beginning of a Lean Body and Fat Wallet lies in getting rid of consumer debt.

Getting out of debt is like going on a diet—it may sound simple, but it sure isn’t easy.

The only thing that really works is to:  spend less and save more.

Proverbs 22:7 says, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Debt doesn't benefit a marriage, a family or your future. Just as being overweight leads to health and emotional concerns, so debt has its consequences as well.

On the other hand, those who have a low debt load experience many benefits.

• There are fewer arguments over money their households.
• You can answer your phone and not worry about having to screen calls from creditors.
• You also have the freedom to financially bless others in need.

Stepping on the Scales: How to Know If You’re Financially Overweight

Maybe you’ve thought, “Hey, I’ve put a few dollars here and there.” There’s no more effective way to see if you have a problem, than as stepping on the scale.

You need to go on a debt diet if you:

1. Use credit card cash advances to pay for living expenses.
2. Use and depend on overtime to meet monthly expenses.
3. Use credit to buy things that you used to pay for in cash (i.e. groceries, gasoline, clothing).
4. Use the overdraft protection plan on your checking account to pay monthly bills.
5. Use savings to pay bills.
6. Use one credit card to pay another.
7. "Float" the bills: you delay paying one bill in order to pay an overdue bill.
8. Pay only the minimum amount due on charge accounts.

Consider making an appointment with the counselors at NFCC.org (National Foundation for Credit Counseling). You can also get out of debt sooner by reducing spending and repurposing those funds. As soon as you save in one area, immediately channel the money saved toward your debt load. If you don’t take that saved money and put it toward a credit card or other debt, then it will just get reabsorbed into your spending.

By following these biblical principles of good stewardship, you will find yourself with a Leaner Body and Fatter Wallet as well as the freedom that comes from living a healthy and wealthy life.

Do you need to go on a debt diet? Which of Ellie’s points do you think would help you the most?

Ellie Kay is a regular expert on national television with ABC NEWS NOW’s Money Matters and Good Money shows. She is also a national radio commentator, a frequent media guest on Fox News, and CNBC, a popular international speaker, and the best-selling author of fourteen books including her newest release, Lean Body, Fat Wallet (Thomas Nelson, 2013). For money savings links, or to view Ellie’s blog, go to www.elliekay.com.

The Greatest Upgrade of All

As I'm pondering the meaning of Christmas on this Christmas Eve, I'm thinking about the ultimate UPGRADE.

The greatest upgrade of all time originated in the heart of God. He desired to transform our minds and hearts so He could have a relationship with us. But to do that, He had to do something about our desperate sin problem.

So "the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14). God didn't send Jesus to condemn the world, but to save it (John 3:17). This perfect baby would grow up to be our restitution with God - the "atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 2:2; Romans 6:23). This had to happen because God could not have a relationship with sinners like you and me; we are all sinners (Romans 3:23), alienated from the Creator God.

The Author of Life loved us (John 3:16; Romans 5:8) and desired to give "forever life" to us, but we cannot receive His gift until we believe in what Jesus accomplished on the cross and in the power of His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; Romans 10:9-10). We need to place our trust in Jesus' work for us.

God's salvation is a free gift (Ephesians 2:8). There are no good works or attempts at self-help that can make us right with Him. Self-help tends to cultivate independence from God, and much of it can lead to unbiblical thinking - being "wise" in our own eyes (Proverbs 3:5-7).

God says we can be justified - legally declared righteous by Him - on the basis of Jesus' shed blood (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:22). We receive God's mercy and forgiveness, and His purposes for us are all wrapped up in our relationship with Christ.

The miracle is, God exchanges our sin for Jesus' righteousness. It is the greatest, most transforming upgrade of all time ... if we will receive it.

And then, God does not leave us alone in our daily struggles. He gives us another gift, the Holy Spirit,  and He sanctifies us - He makes us holy (John 17:17; Romans 6:6; Hebrews 10:14; 1 Corinthians 6:11; Jude 1:24). He makes us "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:3-4). Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our loving Father God continues to work in our lives to make us more like Jesus (Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18).

We have the joy, privilege and opportunity to cooperate with God in His work of making us more like His Son.

In other words, we "upgrade" in our daily choices whenever we trust God, surrender to His control and obey the truth principles and commands of scripture in every area of life: finances, marriage, attitudes, parenting - everything!

"For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Everything we will ever be and do to glorify God is accomplished through our union with Jesus. We will glorify and enjoy the Father as we learn to "fear" Him properly, look to Jesus, walk in the Spirit and become wise in the Word (Proverbs 9:10; 16:6;  Hebrews 12:2; Galatians 5:16; Colossians 1:9-10).

The Puritan writer Thomas Watson once wrote, "The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions .... We glorify God when we live to God." We can glorify Him in the ordinary ... the everyday choices we make. And that is the purpose behind all the "upgrades" you will see on this blog and website.

This Christmas - remember:

Your transformation began in the heart of God, and He is pleased when you cooperate with His work in your heart!

The Father's love was poured out to us in a lowly manger in Bethlehem, and His love continued to pour out when Jesus died for our sins. We still hear His words echoing through the ages:

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life" (John 6:47).

What an upgrade!

How has God changed you ... encouraged you ... challenged you ... and made you more like Jesus? I'd love to hear your story.

Or ... do you still need to trust the Savior? You can do that today. Here is a suggested prayer you might pray:

"Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I do not deserve eternal life. But, I believe You died and rose from the grave to make me a new creation and to prepare me to dwell in your presence forever. Jesus, come into my life, take control of my life, forgive my sins and save me. I am now placing my trust in You alone for my salvation and I accept your free gift of eternal life. I ask You to teach me how I can now make choices every day to please and honor you. Thank you, Jesus."

Friend, if you have prayed that prayer, let me know so I can rejoice with you.

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Ministries, is the creator of three blogs: Heart Choices Today, LOL with God (with Pam Farrel), and Upgrade with Dawn. In these ministries and as President of the San Diego chapter of Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry (NEWIM San Diego), Dawn encourages, edifies and energizes women with scripture so they can better enjoy life, bless others and honor God. Dawn and her husband Bob have two grown, married sons and three granddaughters.

Note: The Heart Nativity Ornament is from Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, Frankenmuth, Michigan.

He Came for Failures

Lynn Mosher's writing consistently motivates reflection. She encourages people to make changes so their lives glorify God - and isn't that what Upgrade is all about?

"I grieve when I fail the Lord," she says, "when my obedience lacks its first response."

Oh, how I get that. We all fail God. But I'm so glad Lynn doesn't leave us to linger in our sorrow over sin and failure.

She continues ...

But then I remember it was for failures that Christ graced a rough-hewn manger. It was for failures that He breathed His last earthly breath as He hung in disgrace for the failings of the world.

It was to a failure, one who penned the precious psalms that touch our hearts in time of need and, yet, as a man after God’s own heart, sinned and ripped apart his fellowship with the Lord, then repented and repaired it.

It was to a failure, one who had denied Christ three times, that the command of “feed My sheep” was given.

It was to a failure that Jesus gave His first greeting in the Garden of Gethsemane on that initial Easter morn.

It was to a failure who had been the foremost despiser of believers, yet became one of the greatest servants of the Gospel, the Lord blessing his ministry and his writings for all time.

I think, no, I know my greatest failure is to not give the Christ-child a place to live in my heart, in my circumstances, in all my life.

He came…

As Mary lovingly swaddled the future Sacrifice of the world, she placed Him in a trough, and there, the miracle of the manger took place: the empty manger, the vessel cradling the tiny body of mankind’s salvation, became full - full of love, full of expectation, full of holiness, and full of humanity.

With only the joyous display of heavenly praises from angels, He came, confined by the boundaries of time and limitations of a physical body.

…for failures, He came.

For me, He came. For you, He came.

But where does He go to be born and live today? In the hearts of believers.

“How silently, how silently the wondrous Gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven.

No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.” *

Have you offered the manger of your heart to cradle the birth of the Babe of salvation? Or are you as the innkeeper, turning away the Saviour of the world, telling Him that you have no room for Him, that your “inn” is full? Do you then miss the miracle of the manger?

God still seeks His mangers … hearts willing to hold Him.

For you ...

He came!

Does your heart have room for Jesus?

Lynn Mosher lives with her hubby (since 1966) in their Kentucky nest, emptied of three chicklets and embraced three giggly grand-chicklets and an inherited dog. Lynn’s passion is to encourage others and glorify the Lord with her writing. Stop by for a refill at her website, Heading Home, lynnmosher.com.

* Christmas song quoted: Third verse of “O Little Town of Bethlehem”

Shepherds, Wise Men and Angels

Cathy Horning reminds us of a sad reality: in the midst of our holiday celebrations, some - either by choice or because of circumstances - are not celebrating. One way to Upgrade our Christmas celebration is to think of ways to incorporate others who need some comfort and joy.

"Since my childhood, a favorite Christmas tradition has been to arrange the Nativity Scene," Cathy says. "Each year, I set up the old wooden stable, placing baby Jesus in a manger filled with hay. Next, I added Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the magi. And, last of all, I carefully placed the angel to watch over them all."

We all have favorite holiday traditions, and Cathy captured one of our own family's favorites. But she also remembers some not-so-pleasant times.

Cathy continues ...

My least favorite part of Christmas was being lonely. Because our extended family lived thousands of miles away, our Christmas usually consisted only of my parents, my little brother and me. Most holidays, we opened our presents on Christmas Eve. You see, my father worked for the airlines, and airplanes did not stop flying to honor Jesus' birth.

Each Christmas morning, I waited impatiently until my mother finally gave me permission to run to the neighbor’s house. There, in a family full of children (ten to be exact), I ate yummy food, shared presents, and joined in their festivities. The noisy and fun-filled home made me long to have a large family of my own one day.

Many years later, I married into a huge extended family. Plus, God blessed me with a small tribe of my own. After my husband and I, with our four children, moved away from our loved ones, Christmas day became a lonely time once again.

Until the year, our family decided to host a Christmas Day Open House.

We invited those who were alone, or far from family, or estranged from loved ones to join us to celebrate Jesus birth. Thus began one of our families favorite Christmas traditions.

Of course, we were not the first to invite others to this holy celebration (Luke 2:6-18; Matthew 2:1-2).

Two thousand years ago, Mary gave birth to baby Jesus, in a lowly stable far from home. She and Joseph must have felt so lonely that first Christmas day. But, they were not alone!

God had already set in motion a party to celebrate the birth of His newborn Son.

An angel had invited shepherds to come and see the Holy Babe - while a star illuminated the sky to lead wise men, already seeking Jesus, to welcome and worship the Infant King. 

I believe, from the very first Christmas, God never intended Jesus birth to be celebrated alone. From poor shepherds to rich magi, God invited all to celebrate together the birth of His Son.

This Christmas, as you set out your Nativity Scene, is there someone feeling lonely who your family could invite to join you in the celebration of Jesus birth?

Here are a few people our family invited. 

• A family far from their extended family
• A single man or woman
• Single parent families
• Military families

Can you think of others? 

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:1-2).

When you think of the word "lonely," who in your circle of aquaintance instantly comes to mind? How can you reach out to "remember" that person this month?

Cathy Horning has been a women’s ministry leader, Bible Study teacher, speaker and writer for more than 20 years. She loves the Word of God. Nothing brings her greater joy than sharing with others how very precious, practical, and powerful the promises and truths in God's Word. Married for thirty years, Cathy has four grown children, eight grandchildren, and many spiritual sons and daughters. She loves long walks by the bay, a good book or movie, Starbucks ice tea, and especially family get-togethers. Read more by Cathy at her website.

Photo of lonely woman: Image courtesy of graur razvan ionut at FreeDigitalPhotos.net