This is a GREAT article! I know that you will all enjoy it.

Pastors Stan and Dr. Cindye Coates are good friends of mine who pastor a Solomon's Porch church in Marietta, GA. Dr. Cindye has given me permission to publish her article here in my Hubpages.

I pray that you will be greatly inspired and motivated to LEAP this year!

Your online pastor, Dr. Kluane Spake

by Dr. Cindye Coates

copyright 2008 

cindyecoates@juno.com

30 days has September, April, June and November

All the rest have 31, February 28 - but in a leap year 29

Every 4 years is a leap year that contains 366 days, with February 29th as an additional day. Even though this is in deed a literal "leap year" on the calendar, we should not rule out the idea that "leap" could be a plan of action for 2008.

When we use the word leap as a verb it means to move forward, pass abruptly from one state or condition to another, to act quickly or spring forth suddenly from one point or position to another; to pass over; to ascend, arise, excel, spark, and or scale. Leap used as a noun is sudden and decisive increase, an abrupt transition from one condition to another, a shift, self-propelled movement upwards and forwards, a significant change, or advance. A leap is anything but complacent stagnation or regression.

A Leap of Faith

When we were young, life was all about the pursuit of fun and adventure. When we grow up, caution and calculation sets in and we think we must look before we leap. Sometimes we don't leap at all because there's not always someone there to catch us. When we grow up we find there's not always be a safety net and there is disappointment. We ask ourselves, " When did it stop being fun and start being scary?"

Now is the time to set our sights on higher ground which requires greater courage and boldness. We'll have to trust our "gut" so to speak, and dig down deep to find the strength to do what we have never done before. All great accomplishments require taking a leap of faith. No risk, no gain.

We have to wait until we hear the steps of God sounding in the midst of our doubts and inadequacies, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment. This is where we are detoxed from disappointments, betrayal, and great loss. All that seems to have been unfruitful and even wasteful serve only to fertilize the seeds sown. There will always be seed, time, and harvest. Harvest is inevitable and will happen in spite of us. Our focus must always remain on planting seeds and watering the seeds of others.

When Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, he called his "small step for man" a "giant leap for mankind".

Anything can be achieved in small steps, but it takes courage to leap over a great gap of opposition and impossibilities. We can't do this with an open mind to every unsettling fact and an open ear to the cold voice of skepticism. Henry David Thoreau said, "We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success". We leap by faith, not by sight.

Our destiny is much bigger than we are, as it often determines the success of others. When we hold back, others will be held back also. We are the catalysts, barrier breakers; pioneers blazing a trail for those who are depending on us to shine and lead the way. People are watching. The value of our efforts are unquestionable and we must overcome all inconveniences and take a running leap through the hoop of hope even if it is in flames. Greatness must be baptized in fire.

Light is produced by a quantum leap in physics. Quantum leaps are the sole cause of the emission of electronic radiation which occurs in the form of quantized units called photons. It is discontinuous; the electron jumps from one energy level to another instantaneously. The phenomenon contradicts classic theories, which expect energy levels to be continuous. Jesus said, " You are the light of the world."

Light is produced by leaping.

Doing is a quantum leap from imagining. Thinking about swimming isn't like actually getting in the water. Getting in the water can take your breathe away. The defense force inside us wants us to be cautious, to stay away from that requires immediate action. It's job is to protect us from anything resembling danger, but it's often wrong. Actions worth doing are worth doing without hesitation. It's time to take a leap even if is calls for an abrupt and radical change.

Leaping for Joy

A leap of faith brings favorable results causing leaps for joy! In fact, the scripture supports this and it is both kingly and prophetic in nature.

Relating to kings, as the ark of the LORD was entering Jerusalem, King David was leaping and dancing before the LORD. ( 2. Samuel 6:16 ) King David wrote in Psalm 28:7, " The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Later in the Song of Solomon 2:8, the Schumalite woman exclaims, "Listen! My lover! Look! Here he comes, leaping across the mountains, bounding over the hills." Leaping is kingly, royal and victorious.

The prophet Isaiah declared is chapter 53, our redemption will cause the blind eyes to be opened, the deaf ears to be unstopped, the lame will leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. In much the same prophetic way, Malachi said, " ...you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things". We are in that prophetic day of leaping and overcoming all that has held us back. Leaping is prophetic causing things the spring forth.

"Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert. (Is. 43:19) Even when things look bleak, we are to leap. Jesus said, "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven." He also taught us to pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven so we can expect an earthly reward to mirror the heavenly one respectively.

The Inward Leap

An outward leap beings with an inward leap. The life from God on the inside will leap when it comes in contact with Christ. When Mary was carrying Christ, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with that which was promised her by the Lord. The first chapter of Luke says: At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. The baby in Elizabeth responded to the presence of Christ with a leap.

The Greek word for leap means to be quickened inside as that of a fetus or the sudden movement of something seemingly small and unassuming. It is the unexpected awareness which causes expectation and hope. This inward leap causes God's will to come up on our radar. It is brought on by the Lord Himself and we're never left feeling shortchanged and embarrassed. This hope will not disappoint. In fact it is quite the contrary. It is impossible for this hope to disappoint.

The inward leap is the witness that something is alive and viable. It is the signal to go forward in the direction of the things hoped for; it is the evidence of the unseen. To ignore the quickening is to bypass a refreshing time of restoration of that which was lost. It could deny the season of exhilaration that rejuvenates the soul. The leap within is uplifting and reassuring. It is the charge that we long for and subconsciously desire. When it happens, go with it because after all, it is leap year!

Dr. Cindye Coates has lots of relevant articles and books available for your study on her website Solomon's Porch

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Let's learn together and build the Third Day Church!

Thanx. Your online pastor, Dr. Kluane Spake