Frogs

Our enclosed front porch in Austin has a little water garden bordering the back wall. And the frogs have found it to be a most perfect place to live and be nourished by bugs. But the problem is those frogs are noisy at night. And because it is enclosed, and water carries sounds, their croaking was just a little too loud to let the frogs maintain their homestead. Several nights Molly and Jennifer tried to find the frogs, equipped with flashlights and such but to no avail. But finally this weekend...success. We have a welcome mat at the door and each night, about the same time, a frog would emerge out of the camouflaged foliage and perch patiently on the mat. I guess because the light attracted the bugs, human activity had slowed down and it was the best time to have dinner. So, one frog at a time, two one night, and two with the help of a friend staying over were relocated to the banks of the lake. Two captured with large plastic cups covered with a paper plate, and the others out of instinct and necessity by hand. Oh yuck!

One thing I couldn't help but reflect upon is their ability to leap. Those little suckers can jump and when they did, it scared the ever living daylights out of me, if only for a moment. Because right when I would stoop down to grab them, they would immediately leap in an unexpected direction. I had to be fast if I was to be successful. And believe me there were some failed attempts before success.

Leaping....we all do it...we leap into adventure, we leap into work, we leap into whatever pleases our senses, we leap into trouble, we leap into success and sometimes we even leap into failure. But when was the last time you had to make a leap of faith. A time when you were forced to jump into a full fledged, trusting, direction of faith towards Christ and in Christ. These frogs leaped because their comfort and security was being threatened. And isn't hat when we are forced to leap? When something in our lives has gone awry and we are forced out of our comfort zone. It could be a threatened relationship, an unexpected
health issue with yourself or a loved one, it could be fluctuation of finances, or the loss of a cherished friend of family member, the insecurity of a job, or a tough choice that has to be made within a designated time. You know what it is that has called you into a leap of faith. Taking a leap of faith means that we are trusting in Christ, who we can not see, in circumstances that we cannot control and in an outcome that God can and will overcome through his grace.

We just have to be ready to spring forward in God's direction when we are threatened by situations that
jolt our security and comfort. When situations trigger our innate sense of danger, discomfort, or fear, that is when we have to make that leap of faith. But in order to do that we have to be ready to move on the spot.
No lingering, or debating, or arguing, or analyzing, we have instinctively and immediately leap forward into the path of Christ. And from there wait till we are nudged to continue on.

There are two things about leaping:
1) Frogs don't leap backwards...they only go forwards. How many times do we get caught in the perils of regret when we look back? The past is past...it is done...and gone. Today...right now...is what we have to work with.
It is our choice to make that leap of faith and trust God to help us and guide us or to try to go about life and its hardships without God.

2) A leap is a physical expression of movement. It is not standing still and being paralyzed when confronted with danger. A leap for us is making the move to depend on God. To trust him no matter how scary the situation is that is before you. The ability to faithfully commit our lives to an overseerer who knows how to relocate our thoughts, and perspectives and attitudes.

What do you get when you make that leap of faith to the Lord? Well, the following verses are a good start:


Proverbs 2
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He holds success in store for the upright,
he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
8 for he guards the course of the just
and protects the way of his faithful ones.
9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair-every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.

God wants us to take that leap of faith in the little things that are before us as well as the monumental things.We sit perched on the welcome mat of his Holy Spirit, waiting to seek nourishment for our souls. But it it not until we take a leap of faith that Christ is able to show us His bounty of strength, courage, understanding, wisdom, and grace that he has stored up for us, and fill us with his love.

Dear Lord, I know there are times when I unintentionally disreguard my true need to take a leap of faith and trust you to direct me words and my steps, my attitudes and my perspectives. Help me to be more aware of the grace that you have made available for me and the provisions that you have stored on my behalf, so that I can absorb them, lean on them, use them and in turn pass those provisions on to others. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!