Climbing Heavenward

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And still I'm not completely happy with my skating. I always feel I can do more and climb higher. ~Oksana Baiul




Oksana Baiul is a skater.  She has a fascinating life story: parents divorced when she was two, raised by her mother who died of cancer when she was thirteen, leaving her without any living relatives.  Skaters work hard and Oksana certainly pushed herself in her career.  In 1993 at the age of fifteen  she was World figure skating champion, and in 1994 won the gold metal at the Winter Olympics.  And still she said, "I'm not completely happy with my skating.  I always feel I can do more and climb higher.

I feel that way about my walk with God.  I'm not completely happy with it.  I always feel I can do more and climb higher. It's just that life happens.  There's cleaning and laundry to do.  Special friends fall and break bones.  Babies are born.  I get to the end of my days and wonder if I could do more for God, to climb higher in my spiritual life. 

And that is important.  Paul, in his letter to the Colossians told us,  Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus. This means to perform our everyday duties like Jesus would.  People will be watching how we respond to both the good and frustrating things that comprise our days. Even then, people can misinterpret our actions.  Aren't you glad those around us aren't the judge of our spiritual life? 

Who is?  Our Lord Jesus Christ.  He takes note of each breath, each thought and each action.  He knows if we are living in His character, in His name. I find if I whisper those words of Paul when I'm faced with disappointment, heartache or frustration, then my heart processes what my mind cannot, and my response is loving, sympathetic and kind.  When I am faced with blessings from the Lord, then, too, my response will be as Christ's. 

It seems easier to respond to negative times in our life more appropriately because we turn to God.  When blessings come, it's easy to feel pride, because somehow we think, Look what I did.  I deserve it.   Dewy Browning said, Remember when they make the ice, they make it slippery side up.  The same can be said about God's blessings...they are slippery side up.  Overconfidence can cause us to fall much more quickly than disaster. 

Actually, in thinking about it, it's often the blessings others receive from God that trip us up.  Why is it so hard to rejoice with those who rejoice, or as the Bible in Basic English says, Take part in the joy of those who are glad?  Why is that so hard?  Why does jealousy bubble in our heart when our friends are rejoicing?

Proverbs 14:30 tells us that envy rots the bones.  Here's another bit of wisdom by Solomon: Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? (Proverbs 27:4)  Would you have thought jealousy is worse than anger?

Jealousy made Cain kill his brother.
Jealousy made Joseph's brothers sell him to Egyptian merchants.
Jealousy in King Ahab caused Jezebel to kill a neighbor.
Jealousy in King Saul made him hate David.

And what about when Miriam was jealous of Moses.  She griped to Aaron until he became jealous, too.  Do you remember her punishment?  Leprosy.  One week away from the camp, alone with her sin.

Oh, yes, not only does it eat us up, it comes with a price -- murder, kidnapping, hatred.  One way to climb higher with God is to take care of the jealousy issue.  When God puts His finger on an area of my life, I begin to memorize what He says about it.  Thus, in hiding the Word of God in my life, I find it easier to seek forgiveness.  And, when I ask God for forgiveness, He always grants it -- immediately.

While we can enjoy a greater level of satisfaction with spiritual growth, we should continue to climb higher. But remember, Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus.  Then we can celebrate what God is doing in our lives and sing,

All for Jesus, all for Jesus!

All my being’s ransomed powers:

All my thoughts and words and doings,

All my days and all my hours
.

* * * * *

You've probably guessed which book I am suggesting today.  It was one of my favorites as a child. 

Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates

by

Mary Mapes Dodge

1924

There are reproductions galore of this title, but since I found this old one on Amazon I had to share it with you.  It's $29.99 if you are interested.  You can buy a newer copy for about $3.00.  There's a Kindle download of this book available, too.

And what would a skating party be without hot chocolate?  It would be the finishing touch on a few stolen hours reading the book, too.

Fill a jar with the Hot Chocolate Mix.  Attach a tag saying, "Add 1/3 cup mix with 1 cup boiling water." Tie the tag to the jar with ribbon.

You could also tie a box of instant cocoa to the book with a tea dyed ribbon.

Hot Chocolate Mix

3 cups powdered milk

1 lg. package chocolate pudding (cook and serve)

1/2 cup Nesquick
1/2 cup powdered coffee creamer

1/3 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup cocoa

1 cup = 1/3 cup mix plus one cup boiling water

For my more serious readers, I suggest another old book, written by E [Elizabeth] Prentiss, Stepping Heavenward.  A used copy is $12.00 and Amazon also has some collectibles.  It's the diary of a young girls starting at age 16 and continuing through her married life.  One of the reviewers on Amazon said, "The best catalyst for spiritual growth I know."

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