The Frog Run

By rosaH

Published April 3, 2009

QuietWaters Compass Online

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COMPASS ONLINE

A Digital Help Toward Renewal from QuietWaters Ministries

Volume 9, Number 4

April 2009

Greetings!

When I receive a call enquiring about our counseling program from a pastor, a pastoral spouse, or a missionary, I’m often talking to someone who is tired and burned out. Burn out does come from over work, but not over work alone. Burn out occurs when over work is accompanied by discouraging words from those around you. Are you feeling defeated by negative words spoken by a congregation member? Then read on and learn a lesson from a frog.

Please forward this Compass Online to someone who would be encouraged to read about frogs.

Your church board would benefit from “Team Renewal.” Forward this Compass Online issue to your leaders and encourage them to consider joining us this summer for the Leadership Retreat, “Overcoming the Peaks and Valleys.”

Check out the Coupon below.

Blessings,

Jim

The Frog Run

Frog 2b

by Jim Schlottman

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began.

Honestly: No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as: “Oh, WAY too difficult!” “They will NEVER make it to the top.” Or: “Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!”

The tiny frogs began collapsing one by one. Except for those, who in a fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, “It is too difficult! No one will make it!” More tiny frogs got tired and gave up.

But ONE continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn’t give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it? A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal. It turned out that the winner was DEAF!

The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people’s tendencies to be negative or pessimistic, because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you–the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).

A friend sent me this email; you may have received it too. As I read this story, I thought of its application to you as a pastor-Christian leader. It may be the whispered words or the overheard comments that invade your dreams.

It may be the well meaning leaders who say: “Oh, WAY too difficult a program for our church.” “You will NEVER make that budget.” “Not a chance that we will succeed with that program.” “The goal is too high.” Sound familiar?

The most important statement in the email was that above all: Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Remember: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Matthew 19:26 and Mark 10:27)