F.R.O.G. — Fully Relying On God
By Heather Pennington
As I sit down to consider what to write about this week, my focus continues to be pulled to summer camp planning. They are the most fantastic, fun-filled, anticipated, exhausting, stress-inducing, and faith-stretching weeks of the year, and I love them!
Maybe it’s the long days, the unpredictable weather, the regular supply runs, the excited noise, the fast schedules, the tired leaders, or the responsibility of caring for kids and students well. Summer camp ministry is beautiful, but it also reminds us quickly that we cannot do it in our own strength.
As we have been sitting in this series in Philippians, God’s word has hit me in such a fresh, new way that I find myself yet again baffled by His goodness. Paul’s joy in the midst of all he is facing as he writes his letter in chains is enough to make anyone stop and ask what his secret is. The joy, peace, love, and patience pour out of him because he chose to be a F.R.O.G. Fully. Relying. On. God. amongst all he faced. The fruit of the Spirit is not dependent on the circumstances around us or what we are doing to deserve them, but simply being connected to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says in John 15:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
That verse can sound intimidating at first, but it’s actually freeing. We were never meant to carry the weight alone. God invites us to depend on Him daily — for wisdom, patience, joy, energy, courage, and love, just like Paul did.
Not partially relying. Not relying on our own plans first and asking God to bless them later. Not depending only on our experience, talent, energy, or resources.
Fully. Relying. On. God.
A frog survives by staying connected to water. In the same way, we thrive spiritually when we stay connected to the Lord. The moment we try to operate independently from Him, we dry out spiritually.
But more than simply how he provides for us and works through us, scripture reminds us that transformation belongs to God. We are called to be faithful, but God is the one who changes hearts. And that is the heart of any ministry, not just summer camps.
So what does that look like to fully rely on God? Sometimes, relying on God looks powerful, and sometimes it looks incredibly ordinary.
It looks like:
Reliance is built in the small moments.
One of the most beautiful examples of relying on God is found when Jesus fed the five thousand in Matthew 14. The disciples saw lack, but Jesus saw possibility. A small lunch in the hands of a child became more than enough when surrendered to Christ. That’s camp ministry, and could be true for that thing that lies ahead of you this week.
We may feel like what we have is small: limited energy, limited resources, limited time, and limited strength. But God specializes in multiplying surrendered lives. He simply asks us to bring Him what we have.
God is not asking me to carry the camp ministry or for you to carry your big thing this week. He is asking us to walk with Him through each small moment of it, relying on him.
So this summer…
Be a F.R.O.G.
Fully Relying On God.
(And if you find these little frogs hidden in church each week, take one as a reminder to pause and pray for our upcoming summer camps and the things in your life that he is inviting you to rely on him for.)
With joy,
Heather
As I sit down to consider what to write about this week, my focus continues to be pulled to summer camp planning. They are the most fantastic, fun-filled, anticipated, exhausting, stress-inducing, and faith-stretching weeks of the year, and I love them!
Maybe it’s the long days, the unpredictable weather, the regular supply runs, the excited noise, the fast schedules, the tired leaders, or the responsibility of caring for kids and students well. Summer camp ministry is beautiful, but it also reminds us quickly that we cannot do it in our own strength.
As we have been sitting in this series in Philippians, God’s word has hit me in such a fresh, new way that I find myself yet again baffled by His goodness. Paul’s joy in the midst of all he is facing as he writes his letter in chains is enough to make anyone stop and ask what his secret is. The joy, peace, love, and patience pour out of him because he chose to be a F.R.O.G. Fully. Relying. On. God. amongst all he faced. The fruit of the Spirit is not dependent on the circumstances around us or what we are doing to deserve them, but simply being connected to the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says in John 15:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
That verse can sound intimidating at first, but it’s actually freeing. We were never meant to carry the weight alone. God invites us to depend on Him daily — for wisdom, patience, joy, energy, courage, and love, just like Paul did.
Not partially relying. Not relying on our own plans first and asking God to bless them later. Not depending only on our experience, talent, energy, or resources.
Fully. Relying. On. God.
A frog survives by staying connected to water. In the same way, we thrive spiritually when we stay connected to the Lord. The moment we try to operate independently from Him, we dry out spiritually.
But more than simply how he provides for us and works through us, scripture reminds us that transformation belongs to God. We are called to be faithful, but God is the one who changes hearts. And that is the heart of any ministry, not just summer camps.
So what does that look like to fully rely on God? Sometimes, relying on God looks powerful, and sometimes it looks incredibly ordinary.
It looks like:
- Praying before …
- choosing patience when you’re exhausted
- asking God for strength before leading
- trusting Him when things don’t go according to plan
- worshipping even when you feel tired
- believing God is working in a child’s heart, even when you cannot see it
Reliance is built in the small moments.
One of the most beautiful examples of relying on God is found when Jesus fed the five thousand in Matthew 14. The disciples saw lack, but Jesus saw possibility. A small lunch in the hands of a child became more than enough when surrendered to Christ. That’s camp ministry, and could be true for that thing that lies ahead of you this week.
We may feel like what we have is small: limited energy, limited resources, limited time, and limited strength. But God specializes in multiplying surrendered lives. He simply asks us to bring Him what we have.
God is not asking me to carry the camp ministry or for you to carry your big thing this week. He is asking us to walk with Him through each small moment of it, relying on him.
So this summer…
Be a F.R.O.G.
Fully Relying On God.
(And if you find these little frogs hidden in church each week, take one as a reminder to pause and pray for our upcoming summer camps and the things in your life that he is inviting you to rely on him for.)
With joy,
Heather