Loving the Unloved: Life's lessons outside the classroom

One of my teenage daughters had a story she wanted to tell… so I’m giving her a platform to do it. I hope you enjoy but even more I hope we can learn as adults what she’s learning as a teen.

A few months ago I went on a service day trip to a local Christian school for underprivileged kids with my small group from school. Being a first year school, they had one kindergarten class of 14 and they plan to grow one class per year. This trip opened my eyes to the poverty in our own community, not just third-world countries.

When we arrived, they put us straight to work cleaning three of the classrooms. They didn’t have time to clean them since they only have 5 or 6 regular staff members, so we jumped at the opportunity to help in this area. Once we finished cleaning the rooms, it was close to lunch time so three other girls and I went to prepare lunch for the kids. However, we didn’t know we would be able to actually eat with the kids!

After lunch was ready we went into the cafeteria to wait for the kids. I sat at a table with some friends and we talked about our experience until the kids came. After a few minutes, the kids came running in with huge grins on their faces. You wouldn’t even know these kids lived rough lives at home by their expressions when they saw us. The three kids with us at our table were Kistin, Markiel, and Brendan. Kistin and I sat together and talked the most. She was the kindest, sassiest, funniest little girl. About half way into lunch she turned to me, took out one of her hair clips - a navy bow - and said with a smile, “You are awesome, take this and keep it!” I later heard her telling one of my friends about how that was a good bow, not a cheap one. Even a girl who had so little was so generous with what she did have. I still have that hair clip and always will.

After lunch we went outside for recess. This was my favorite part of the day. The kids had little bikes they would ride down the hill. Daniya asked if she could ride down the hill with me. So – keep in mind that I’m about 5’9” – I sat down on the tiny bike that didn’t even come up to my knee. Daniya climbed on my back and we rolled down the hill together at least 5 times. But it was totally worth the awkward discomfort of a tall girl on a short bike to see the smile on that girl’s face and hear her beautiful laugh. To most people, this may seem like a common thing. I mean, she’s a little girl; of course she’s going to smile and laugh all the time, right? That’s what I thought too until I saw her crying inside one of the tunnels on the playground. I figured she had fallen or something. I went in to try to calm her down and I asked what was wrong. She said, “I’m just having so much fun here with you and all your friends and I don’t want it to end because I know what’s going to happen when I go home.” I was brought to tears. Right then and there I knew why we were sent there – to love the unloved. I had noticed before how skinny and possibly malnourished she was, but I didn’t think too much of it until she said those words. “What’s going to happen?” I wondered. I could only fear the worst. I wanted to scoop up her little body right then and there and take her home with me. The people who seem happy all the time still have struggles and pain in their lives. The people who smile the brightest are usually the saddest; that’s why it is such a beautiful thing to see them laugh.

The kids showed us how to whip and “nae-nae,” play basketball, and ride a bike. They also made us “salads,” and some even gave us parting gifts. They impacted our lives so much and they don’t even know it. I can only hope we impacted them as well and they remember the 12 girls that love them and will always have them in their hearts and prayers. Even more, I hope they remember that God loves them with a never ending love.

Just imagine how all of those kids are treated at home: neglected, abused, starving. They are beautiful children who don’t deserve any of this. If it wasn’t for the wonderful ladies and volunteers that teach, cook, and clean to make the school possible, they would be in that environment all day, every day. Instead, they are taught the alphabet, counting, and shapes at school. Some kids came to the school not even knowing how to spell “cat” and now they can read and write sentences as kindergarteners!

It’s been awhile, but I contacted all the girls that went on the trip and asked them what they remember most about the kids…

“They were so lovin’ and sweet and I remember one saying, ‘Come at me, I’ll beat you at basketball!’ and another one saying, ‘I love God and the world.’”

“I thought it was cool how the school leaders said the kids have such hard lives but you wouldn’t know it by how they act and by their innocence. Their sweetness was so genuine.”

“The thing that stuck out the most to me was Daniya talking about her abusive life and everything going on in her life.”

“I mostly remember the fun times we had just playing with the kids and letting them forget everything that has happened in their lives for a little while. I remember them saying they didn’t want to go home and even one child whose parents sold all her stuff so they could pay their bills.”

“I remember playing with them at recess and eating lunch with them. That was a party! Then I remember my girl Armya saying they took her daddy and her other daddy and then they took her stuff like her fishing pole. That’s what I remember and seeing the beautiful innocent little face she had. It’s making me almost cry thinking about her; I don’t know what’s going on in her life but I’m praying for her.”

Sometimes we have to get out of the classroom to learn the most important lessons. My day with these kids helped me realize that poverty isn’t only a third-world problem. It’s right here with us. We think we have so little when we actually have so much. If an underprivileged kindergartener can be generous with a hair bow, how much more can I give to others? If they can be happy in such a hard place in life, then I can be happy in the circumstances my life has given me. Finally, it’s easy to love those around us in our normal life. Most people are scared or don’t think they can love people who are different or in not-so-easy lifestyles. It turns out it’s easy to love those in different places and conditions. All you have to do is love like God loves – by loving the unloved.

A Reason to Laugh: Sometimes the biggest service is small

Grow Barefoot had the privilege of helping a young woman take her first short-term mission trip recently. Elizabeth’s parents wanted to give her a special gift for her college graduation gift, as most parents do. For this family, a special gift meant a trip to serve in an orphanage in rural Haiti. It may be tropical but it’s a far cry from Cancun, Nassau, or even South Padre Island, Texas.

I caught up with Elizabeth after her trip and asked her to share some thoughts about her trip, life in Haiti, and how the trip impacted her.

The following is her response…

Haiti was my first mission trip. I’d had a desire to go serve at Haiti Home of Hope for several years but the timing never worked out until this year. I was excited to find a wonderful group of people at the last minute. Though I’d never met any of them before this trip, I felt very welcomed into their group. I loved talking and getting to know them over our time together.

I’m a very hands-on person and like to work on projects when I’m with a group. It can be anything ranging from building something to organizing stuff in a room. When we left for Haiti, we had no idea what we were going to be doing and that made me a little bit apprehensive. I like to have a plan and know what is going to happen. When we arrived, Bill and Jennifer told us there weren’t any big projects that needed done at the moment so our main job was to entertain the kids while they were on break from school. We had Bible lessons and craft projects for the kids which they used as decorations for their Christmas party and in their rooms. While to some this may not seem as important as providing people with filtered water or a roof over their heads, it was the need that needed met at this time. I hear parents at home talk about having their kids home on break – usually only 2-3 kids per house. Imagine having 40 kids hanging around, all wanting attention. The real needs may not be the most newsworthy or glorious but we were there to serve others, not ourselves. What good is planning to do all kinds of monstrous projects if that is not where the need lies?

Many people come back from a mission trip with some new insight or this awesome lesson that they’ve learned. I didn’t come back with either of these. What I did come home with was the joy of having served Bill and Jennifer, the kids, and some of the local people. I experienced a different culture and saw the happiness the people receive from a simpler lifestyle. The kids at the orphanage were smiling, laughing, and so excited we were there. The girls asked all day long if we were going to sing and dance with them in the evenings. They loved to do so and no other group had done that with them.

People in America get so caught up that we lose sight of the importance of little things. I loved my trip to Haiti and definitely would like to go back or do something similar in the future.

Elizabeth’s words remind me of the verse, “And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me’” (Matthew 25:40). We so often think our service has to be big…and amazing…and professional…and beautiful.

Sometimes service in God’s kingdom is helping a friend take care of her kids. Sometimes it’s singing a song with a lonely child. If we do what God calls us to do, then it’s all big, amazing, and beautiful.

Boots on the Ground: Engaging the spiritual battle

My local church is known for its cross-generational outreach. Many churches may choose to focus on a particular age group but we have made an effort to maintain an extended family atmosphere with plenty of young children, teens, young adults, and those who aren’t quite so young anymore. That’s why my friends range from twenty years younger to forty years older than me.

Al and Carolyn West are a couple that fall into that older than me category. They don’t act like it but they have grandkids older than my own kids so they must be older than me.

Al had the privilege to participate in a Heartland Honor Flight in recognition for his past military service. He wrote the following regarding his experience. I asked for the privilege to pass his insights along to you…

What an amazing experience to join other local veterans for an unforgettable visit to our nation’s capitol to pay honor to all veterans who have (or are) sacrificing and defending our heritage of freedom. It was truly an awesome day and one I will always cherish. …

While in Washington DC, I was amazed that our nation’s capitol was filled with so many memorials to the defense of our liberty as a nation under God. We visited the memorials to the fallen of battle from WW2, the Korean War, Viet Nam War, Arlington National Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial, and the Flag Raising at Iwo Jima (Marine Memorial). As the only Coast Guard veteran in the group, I returned home with a greater appreciation for our heritage, our national patriotism, and courage.

Until Jesus returns, there will always be conflicts and attacks against our way of life as we live out what is called our American Dream of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” As long as there is sin and evil in this world, there will always be ideologies that will hate our individual freedoms and the fact that we are a “…nation under God with liberty and justice for all.” Visiting those memorials, I was reminded that they honor the physical conflict and sacrifice of a freedom loving people. But there is also a spiritual battle for the souls of men. All of us who name the name of Christ are soldiers, locked in that struggle to the death.

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12 NASB).

The forces of evil cannot be “contained.” There must be “boots on the ground!”

When duty called, Al stepped up and served his country as have thousands of men and women in the past and present. What I appreciate even more, however, is Al’s recognition that as followers of Christ we fight an even greater battle. I repeat what Al wrote that we are also in “a spiritual battle for the souls of men.” We are “locked in that struggle to the death” as we fight for their freedom. The spiritual battle isn’t fought with air strikes; the spiritual battle for the souls of men requires boots on the ground. 

We are those boots. 

I Do Believe; Help Me!

A friend of mine, Sheri Kaetzel, recently returned from her first mission trip to Africa. In case you’re wondering, this wasn’t a Grow Barefoot trip. Not that it matters because, after all, we’re all working for the kingdom of God. We’re all trying to fulfill the same great commission. We’re all trying to spread a message of hope and light to a dark world. But I just wanted you to know.

I loved reading her trip stories at her blog, The Leaking Window. This particular one, however, I knew I had to pass along so I asked her to share here on Grow Barefoot. I wanted to share it because she reveals her fears, sense of inadequacy, and lack of belief in undertaking a short term trip to a difficult region. But she went anyway. She stepped out in faith, trusted God, prayed for help, and in so doing, accomplished what God asked of her.

That’s what He asks of each of us – a little faith and trust, some prayer, and some action. Even if we never leave American soil, He calls each of us to serve Him somewhere…with someone…in some way…everyday.

So, thank you, Sheri, for being faithful. And thank you for sharing your story with us!

For this thinker-type personality my thoughts are hard to formulate about our recent trip to Africa. There are so many words and thoughts, but making them land on my keyboard seems a bit difficult. But I will force them out because if I don't I fear they might be lost. And that would be tragic.

At the beginning of the trip Pastor Ray Noah tackled the questions that were plaguing almost all of us throughout the trip: Lord, why am I here? What do I have to offer? He admitted he still wondered himself. But he felt God had given him a word to embrace: BELIEVE.

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

• BELIEVE... you are here in God's will. No matter how you got here.
• BELIEVE... you are here for a divine purpose.
• BELIEVE... you are walking in God's provision.
• BELIEVE... God will use you to bless those you come in contact with.
• BELIEVE... God will use those you come in contact with to bless you.
• BELIEVE... this trip will change your life-trajectory.

And know that whatever lies before us we should... 

• BELIEVE that God has already gone before us.

It makes me think of Beth Moore's study Believing God when she shares, "As forcefully as God has ever spoken to my heart, He said, 'you believe in Me, Beth. Now I want you to believe Me.’”

Believe Me.

And that's what I had to do. Believe God. Believe He would use this suburban house-wife and mother for a divine purpose in Africa…

…whose only assignment was to teach widows how to knit a hat.

…who felt insignificant for the mission. 

…but believing that He would use this willing vessel.

And now that I have returned home I wonder what God would have me do with all He has shown me. And I guess I need to believe that He can use me as much at home as He did there. And that I will pass that message on to those who are willing to hear it.

And that I will encourage those I come in contact with to...

Believe God.

Live Free: Away from Religion and into Relationship

Hopefully you joined us last week for my review of the book Memory’s Door by James L. Rubart. Some of you might have wondered why I did a book review – I’ve never done one here before and, in general, they don’t fit within the purpose of the Grow Barefoot blog.

Moment of honesty here – I’m not doing this because the book is so wonderful (although it is) nor am I doing it to help the author sell more books (although that would be ok too).

I’m doing it because I believe in Jim Rubart’s personal ministry.

Jim’s heart is to bring people into an intimate, freeing relationship with our awesome God. That same God also happened to give Jim an incredible talent for story-telling; Jim uses that gift as an avenue to bring people into the freedom of Christ’s love.

Along these lines, I asked Jim a few more questions about his newest book, Memory’s Door, and his personal ministry.

Religion vs. Relationship

From the book, “For one Christian to weigh another down with rules and regulations that are not their own…that is the greatest enemy of Christianity. Religion. …

“The spirit of religion is an enemy who is crushing churches, dividing fellowships and friends, turning God from a person into a manifesto of dos and don’ts that crush the spirit and turn Christianity into a program devoid of true godly power and devoid of love.”

Q: Religion versus relationship is a strong theme in this book. How would you distinguish between a religion-based faith and a relationship-based faith?

A: Simple. A religion-based faith is about what you should and shouldn’t do. Don’t smoke, don’t drink, don’t swear, don’t go to R-rated movies. Do read your Bible, go to church, pray a lot, give 10% of your money away.

A relationship-based faith is all about the relationship. Let’s hang out. Get to know each other. Have conversation. Tell the other how amazing they are. Almost sounds like a friendship, doesn’t it? Almost sounds like two people in love. Maybe that’s why Christ calls us His bride. Maybe that’s why there’s going to be a wedding feast at the end of the age.

Live Free

Q: Apart from the books, the tagline for your ministry is "Live Free." What does that mean to you?

A: There’s only one path to absolute freedom – absolutely dying to self. The more I throw off the old worries, wounds, cares, and idols I still try to hang onto, the more I press into friendship with Jesus, the more free I am.

The more I don’t care what people think of me, and simply live out of my true self, the freer I am.

So in the end, “Live Free” means immersing myself in the person of Jesus so completely that I don’t exist anymore; I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. But understand – this new person that Christ lives inside of is not an annihilation of me, but is the birth of a new being, the one Jesus purposed me to be from before the beginning of time (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new person is a glorious, perfected James L. Rubart that is holy and true and pure. In that state we live without walls, without boundaries, without rules, but in perfect relationship with the Trinity. That is living free.

A huge thank you to Jim for taking the time to share his thoughts with us.

At Grow Barefoot, we seek to Live Free · Pursue Holiness · No Excuses. One of our goals is to help you grow in your relationship with God and His Word. Hopefully, you can now see why we appreciate Jim and his ministry.

Only by stepping away from the rules and regulations of man-made religion can we enter into a free, loving relationship with Him who created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. In that place, we find the power, love, security, and purpose for which we strive.

Memory's Door

“Believe the Word of God and live in that freedom, or take up the chains from the past and wrap them around your heart.” – Tristan Barrow, a character from the book Memory’s Door by James L. Rubart.

Memory’s Door is the second book in a trilogy by James L. Rubart. Can you read this book without having read the first one – Soul’s Gate? Yes. Will you enjoy it as much? No. 

Similar to the first book, Memory’s Door will challenge what you believe. It will question your ability to discern truth in the moment of attack. It will beckon you to a new level of reality where the world around you won’t always be as it seems.

The book is available on Amazon, B&N, CBD, and at your local bookstore.

Sometimes the purpose of fiction is purely to entertain. That’s ok, but I prefer something that goes to the next level; a book that makes me think and maybe even shows me something new. Memory’s Door is sure to entertain but it meets you at that next level as well. I recently talked to Rubart about some of the underlying messages of Memory’s Door.

Christian Celebrity

American Christian culture has become obsessed with celebrities. Musicians, authors, preachers, and teachers – marketers only have to slap a name on a product to sell thousands of copies. Fortunately, many of our Christian celebrities never sought out the position. However, for some, fame and personal glory eventually overshadow the heart of their ministry. Rubart confronts this phenomenon in Memory’s Door.

Q: One character in the book has a relationship with Christ but he allowed his own glory and prestige to overpower his kingdom work. In our culture that glorifies celebrity status, this is an easy trap. How can Christian leaders battle against this tactic of Satan?

A: I would encourage them to exercise their hearts. The springs of life flow from the heart, which is why we’re told to guard it above all else (Proverbs 4:23). Once someone is put in a position of leadership, the accolades come, the perks come, and the insane schedules and busyness come. Those things crowd out the chance to exercise the heart.

This life is not about what we do, it’s about a relationship. One primary relationship with Christ from which all others flow. Mary of Martha and Mary had it right.

The other thing a leader can do is refuse to let the poison of fame seep in. Years ago I saw an author friend of mind stand against this in a powerful way. He was in a Q&A and one of the people there said, “So what’s it like dealing with all the fame you’re getting these days.”

The author’s answer? “Sorry, we’re not going to go there.”

The questioner pressed. “Yeah, but what’s it like to be so famous now?”

The author said, “Nope, not going to even stop on that for a second.”

In other words there was no good answer. To even address the question would open a crack for the enemy to worm his way in.

Discernment

This week I thought I’d be at a conference in South Carolina. Twelve hours before my friend and I were supposed to leave, circumstances started impeding our departure. Our immediate tactic was prayer as we started trying to discern if circumstances were God’s way of keeping us home (our response: submission) or Satan’s way of keeping us from going (our response: fight back). You’ve probably been in a similar situation.

Memory’s Door challenges the reader’s ability to discern. I asked Rubart, “The Warriors Riding have a hard time discerning if the people they encounter are angelic, demonic, or human. In reality, how do you discern if a situation, idea, opportunity, etc., is from God or is a temptation that Satan is using to keep you from the truth?”

A: Two ways – wisdom and revelation. Wisdom comes from the Word. We test the validity of a spirit or person or idea against the Word. Does it align?

The second way is revelation. Jesus says his sheep will hear his voice, the voice of the Spirit. The Spirit is our Guide, our Counselor, and the One who will lead us into all truth. So we learn to listen. Unfortunately, this is a foreign concept to many Christians. You mean God still speaks? Yes, He does. If you’re one of his sheep, he longs to speak to you.

This book is full of so much good stuff I can’t share it all at once. Click here to read the rest of my interview with author James L. Rubart on his book Memory’s Door and his personal ministry.

Until then, “Listen to the truth of the Spirit and make no agreement with the lies of the enemy.” – Reece, another character from Memory’s Door.

The Glorification of Busy

You call a friend on the phone to see if they'd like to get together this weekend. They answer...

“Oh, I'd love to! But, Jacob has three birthday parties on Saturday plus his soccer game. We don't really want to go to the birthday parties, but well, each of these kids came to his party last month so we kind of feel obligated to go. Anyway, Jason is working that day so I have to do all the running around by myself. I'm sure by the time I do all that, go to the grocery store, get my nails done, and work out at the gym, I'll be exhausted!”

Why do we answer like this? Why can’t we say, “I’d love to but I already have a lot going on. Maybe an evening next week?”

We are a busy society - no one’s going to deny that. But we’ve moved past being busy. We now glorify it. 

Not only do we cram our schedules full of activities, but we also have to make sure our friends know how busy we are. We have to give them the list of everything going on. We have to make sure they know how over-the-top busy we are.

As Christians, we even like to spiritualize our busy-ness. Have you ever thought or heard something like this…

“I just don’t have time to pray regularly! I mean, after all, I already sing in the choir, serve as an usher, teach a children’s class, and go to small group every week. How can I fit in one more thing?”

Let’s go back to my earlier question – why do we glorify being busy? Here are some possible reasons…

• If people know how busy we are, they won’t ask us to help with something that might make us uncomfortable. And yet Jesus taught, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you” (Matthew 5:42).
• Proclaiming our busy-ness makes us appear important; it makes us feel valuable. Jesus’ words deny this, however. We are valuable because God made us. Period. “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
• We’re uncomfortable with being still. We pack our lives full so we don’t have to stop and think about what’s missing and what’s important. The ancient Hebrew songwriter knew better, though. He wrote, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
• Our friends will judge us if we aren’t busy enough. It’s become a competition to see who can be the busiest. We only need to focus on one thing though – rather than compete with our friends, we need to focus on what God calls us to do. King Solomon, in all his wisdom, eventually realized this, “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Moses knew it too when he wrote, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5).

Mary Beth Dahl wrote on her blog this week…

“There is a purpose that we are here. There is a reason that this is the age in which we live. There is a plan that involves a hope and a future.

And

We have within us the ability to fully live life, to completely love others, and to introduce the world to hope...

Now is the time to live our lives with purpose.”

She wrote these words as a counter to a lifestyle focused on random sex, partying, and drugs. I think they also counter a lifestyle focused on the glorification of busy-ness as well, especially as we look at the response to this lifestyle in the next few articles.

This article is the first in a series. Continue on…

• Make Choices, Not Excuses
• Choose Not to Stress
• Choose to Enjoy Life
• Choose to Serve God
• Choose to Glorify God

Why do you think we glorify busy-ness? I listed four possibilities earlier – what can you add to the list?

No Excuses: Conquering 7 excuses that hold us back

Live Free · Pursue Holiness · No Excuses

If you visit often, you're probably familiar with the Grow Barefoot tagline. To us, it's more than a catchy slogan - it's a lifestyle choice. We actively choose to live free from slavery to sin and free from the rules of man-made religion. We actively choose to pursue a life of obedience to God's Word in order to honor Him. Finally, we actively choose to do what He wants us to do without offering excuses for why we can't. A key purpose of our ministry is to help you do the same.

Ron Edmondson wrote the following article on his blog, Graced Again. His is one of my favorite blogs so when I came across this article this week, I knew I had to obtain permission to pass it along to you.

The 7 Best Excuses We Make

There’s always an excuse if we’re looking for one. I’ve made so many. Even when we are certain God has called us to something, we will stall because an excuse is always near. Most excuses seem reasonable at first glance. Common sense even.

But, following a dream, especially a God-inspired, God-sized dream, always requires a certain level of risk. Walking by faith. Stepping into the unknown. Overcoming excuses.

Are you stalling? Maybe you’ve even run out of another good excuse. If an opportunity is still staring you in the face, let me help.

Here are 7 of the best excuses I’ve used or heard:

I can’t – You don’t have what it takes…and so far…aren’t trusting God to provide what you lack. (Gideon would agree. Judges 6)

I won’t – Or at least you won’t give it a try. In fact…if the truth is known…you’d rather run…some more. I did this one for years. (How did that work for Jonah?)

I don’t know how – It seems overwhelming…and you are either to proud to admit it or aren’t willing to learn. (Think Noah knew how to build a boat that large? Genesis 6)

I don’t have time – God calls for obedience now…and you’re preoccupied. And, chances are…with this as an excuse…you never will have time. This has worked for me before too…for a season. (See Luke 9:59.)

I’m all alone – It feels that way sometimes, doesn’t it? It’s true. Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees. I once thought I was the only one with a burden to plant a church. Little did I know. God had an army prepared. (Elijah thought He was alone…and found out otherwise. 1 Kings 19)

I’m afraid – And you can choose to let fear control you. I have. Many times. It’s a powerful, motivating excuse. Much could go wrong. And, our mind is capable of quickly creating worst-case-scenarios. (Could we learn from Esther? Esther 3)

I can’t afford it – You’re afraid the dream will be more expensive than the provision of God. You wouldn’t verbalize this one, but it’s real, isn’t it? (Tell that to the widow in 1 Kings 17…or the disciples who picked up 12 baskets of leftover bread. Matthew 14)

There will always be an excuse to not follow the dreams God lays on your heart. Obstacles in life are plentiful. You can keep making excuses, or you can address them one excuse at a time. The one who achieves most is often the one most willing to overcome excuses.

Are you? What excuse are you using to stall on God’s plan?

About Ron Edmondson: Church planter and pastor with a heart for strategy, leadership, and marketing; especially geared toward developing churches and growing and improving the Kingdom of God.

I'll answer Ron's question first. For me, I had a whole slew of excuses - just like Moses at the burning bush. Moses had killed a man, he couldn’t speak well, he didn’t think he was important enough, he was afraid the people wouldn’t accept him. 

Past failures, physical limitations, low self-image, fear – all these things and more kept me from growing in Christ and serving in the way He called. However, God was with Moses and helped him to overcome all the excuses. God promised to help me - and you - as well, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” Philippians 1:6. If He is the one who completes the work in us, then, we are without excuse in accomplishing the task to which He calls us.

Now it's your turn. Repeating Ron's question, What excuse are you using to stall on God's plan? 

God's Word Awakens Reality

Grow Barefoot's May focus is the Word of God. We've been talking about the unity of the Word in articles on here, Facebook posts, and Tweets. I'm excited this week to have guest blogger Mitzi Smith join us. Mitzi has a heart to search God's Word, realign her truth with God's Truth, and then write what she learns to change the world. If you know me and Grow Barefoot at all, you'll know this is the kind of ministry that is very dear to our own hearts! As we continue to look at the Word of God this month, I hope you're blessed by her writing.

God’s Word was not my answer.

For most of my life I’ve upheld God’s Word as a holy book. I valued its sacred text and read its words as the ultimate guide for the highest standard of living. But God’s Word was never the answer. And though I searched the scripture and marked its pages, it was only a book of rigid rules or impossible boundaries.

To me, the words only amplified my weaknesses. I felt like a failure with never enough faith or never enough goodness to follow His plan. It wasn’t a lack of biblical teaching. I memorized plenty of verses. From Adam in the Garden to John on the Isle of Patmos, I knew the basic storyline and understood its message of redemption and grace.

But it wasn’t until I was completely crushed of myself that I experienced God and His presence. I was alone, desperate, and trapped within my own darkness when God pulled me from my pit and lifted the veil to reveal Himself.

God revealed Himself.

Now God’s Word was no longer historical, but eternal. I held God’s breath within its pages and now my senses were awakened so that I could know Him—not as a vague idea but rather a reality.

I could taste and see His goodness (Psalm 34:8). I inhaled His fragrance (Psalm 45:8) and heard His voice (John 10:4). More than anything, I felt His presence and became aware of His movement within my life.

That’s when I moved. The more I discovered, the more I pursued. The more I chased Him, the closer He became. Rather than rules, His Word was a haven. Rather than failure, I was free.

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14 NKJV).

Jesus came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37) so that we could live it out.

God’s Word awakens reality.

It lives and actively works to transform our hearts and minds from a mere existence to an abundant life.

His book is holy. It’s where we have the opportunity to discover who He is—a holy righteous God who gives us life within His truth.

God’s Word is our filter for all other sources of information. It’s our standard in which we base all things. But more than that, God’s Word is His Life on the page to liberate, to change, and move us forward in His reality.

Mitzi is a writer, speaker, and Bible teacher with a passion for helping others discover the revealing Truth of God’s Word. You can visit her at www.writtenreality.com or follow her tweets through her Twitter page @MitziCSmith.

From Deity to Death: Jesus 8 Steps Down

So What? has been a popular article on this blog. It compares Jesus’ act of washing His disciples’ feet with Philippians 2:5-11. So, when my pastor preached an incredible sermon a few weeks ago on this same passage, I knew I had to get his permission to pass his message along to you! (If you haven’t read So What? – you might want to; you can do so by clicking here. Don’t worry, we’ll wait.)

His sermon, From Deity to Death, went through eight steps Jesus took in descending from His glory in heaven to His death on the cross. Although this sounds like it might make a good Easter sermon, our study of the book of Philippians brought us to this passage in mid-December – a time when the birth of Christ was forefront in my mind. This different holiday perspective led me to text our pastor later, “The step from deity to humanity was a greater descent than that from humanity to crucifixion.”

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God…” (Phil. 2:5-6)

Jesus let go of His equality with God

“…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,” (Phil. 2:6)

Jesus is the second person of the Godhead but He didn’t hold on tightly to what was His. All the glories of heaven were rightfully His and yet, He released them.

Jesus was our example to let go of our rights.

Jesus emptied Himself of who He was

“but made himself nothing” (Phil 2:7)

Jesus emptied Himself of any personal advantages or privileges entitled to the Son of God. He nullified His position and His power. Yes, He cleansed, healed, and performed miracles – but always in reference to the will of the Father.

He emptied Himself of His glory, the benefits of His attributes, and His position; He was now despised rather than glorified. He emptied Himself of honor, adoration, and eternal intimacy with the Father.

Jesus was our example to empty ourselves of what we think is due us.

Jesus took on the form of a servant

“taking the very nature of a servant,” (Phil 2:7)

Jesus became a slave, a bond servant in every sense of the word. He owned nothing – no land, no house, no animals. Even at His death, everything was borrowed. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” Mark 10:45.

Jesus was our example of humility; He Himself said, “no servant is greater than His master” (John 13:16). Let me add something here – Jesus said those words as He washed the disciples’ feet. So What? See how once again these two passages are fitting together?

Jesus was made in the likeness of a man

“being made in human likeness.” (Phil. 2:7)

The Creator and King of kings took His place among common man. He wasn’t given, nor did He allow Himself to receive any special treatment. In the beginning, Creator God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26). However, sin entered the world. In order to provide redemption, God instead was now made in the likeness of a man.

Jesus was our example to sacrifice for others.

Jesus appeared as a man

“And being found in appearance as a man,” (Phil 2:8)

Jesus became 100% man. So thorough was His humanity that, apart from the declaration of angels, the Father, and Jesus Himself, those around Him wouldn’t have known that He was God in the flesh. Jesus appeared as a normal, regular person.

The King of kings – the Lord of lords – God in the flesh suffered. He wasn’t rugged and handsome; nor was He royal and kingly looking. He was unknown and rejected. Few realized that He was different.

Jesus’ success wasn’t about beauty, fame, power, fashion, or money. His number of followers didn’t even determine His success. His accomplishment of the task for which the Father had sent Him determined His success.

Jesus was our example that obedience to God is our definition of success. Our success is not about our appearance and how others perceive us. We don’t have to have special insight, a large following, glory, or money. We base our success on how God perceives us.

Jesus humbled Himself

“he humbled himself” (Phil. 2:8)

God became flesh, common man, unrecognized by almost all – but that wasn’t enough. Jesus humbled Himself; literally, He laid low.

In our early steps, Jesus lowered Himself in relation to God as He let go of His equality with God and emptied Himself of who He was. Now we see that He lowered Himself in relation to mankind – people whom He had created!

The peak of Jesus laying Himself low was during the latter days of His ministry – His arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Those He had created mocked Him, falsely accused Him, spit upon Him, beat Him, and scourged Him. They left Him naked and bloody.

Yet, He never defended Himself, never expressed bitterness, and never accused. He actually prayed for them. He didn’t demand His rights as God; He didn’t even demand His rights as a man.

Jesus was our example to lay ourselves low when others rise up against us.

Jesus obeyed unto death

“and became obedient to death” Phil. 2:8

Romans 5:19 says, “through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” Jesus is the only one who will die solely because of His attitude of obedience. You and I will die whether we’re obedient or not, but not Jesus. The only reason He died was because of obedience.

He came to do His Father’s will – the theme of His life. Jesus chose obedience unto death because it was the will of the Father. Before His arrest, Jesus said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father” (John 10:17-18).

Jesus was our example of obedience – even in extreme situations.

Jesus died on a cross

“—even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8)

John the Baptist was beheaded, Steven was stoned, and Jesus could have died one of many different ways. But His way was the death of the cross. The death reserved for slaves, the lowest of criminals, and enemies of Rome.

Jesus became a curse because of the type of death He endured; “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13)

Crucifixion was a physical torment unlike any other. Jesus’ crucifixion was a mental torment as His people rejected Him. His was a spiritual torment as the Father forsook him. Jesus final step of humility was to be mistreated unmercifully.

Jesus was our example – not to allow ourselves to be mistreated by others for no apparent reason – but rather, that “it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:19-21).

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Eight Steps used by permission of Jerry Tharp (adapted from John MacArthur Commentary Series)

The Faithful, Outside-the-Box Side of Grow Barefoot

This week I’m excited to introduce you to the final member of the Grow Barefoot Board of Directors. However, he isn’t a stranger to this blog or this ministry. Jimmy Woodall was the first Grow Barefoot guest blogger with his article Husbands, Love Your Wives. He also wrote a series covering his recent trip to Africa.

You may think he only does these things due to his close connection to me. He is, after all, my husband. I promise you, though; he does these things out of a heart’s desire to serve God. He is first and foremost a man of God.

Of his decision to become a Christian, Jimmy wrote the following…

I grew up in a Christian home; as far back as I can remember I always went to church. But that didn't matter. What mattered was that when I was five I memorized John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus] that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I believed in God and I believed in Jesus. I wanted to make Jesus the Lord of my life. So at that young age, I repented of my sins and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

During junior high and high school, I started applying more of my faith in Christ. I continued to grow in Him until my senior year. As I headed off to college, I realized I was also headed away from my Christian family. Now that I was going to be on my own I had to make my Christian walk mine. I had to make the effort to apply what I had learned and do what God called me to do. Since then, Jesus continues to direct my life in so many ways.

Jimmy’s years since college have focused greatly on His service to God. God calls all believers to serve Him in some way. Jimmy wrote the following of His call…

I have always felt God calling me to service and missions. In college, I served as a leader in the Baptist Student Union. We traveled to churches around the region leading worship and presenting the gospel through music and drama. After college, I served as the Youth Ministry Leader for our church for ten years. During that time I had a great time leading the youth in discipleship and various mission trips around the USA. Currently, I serve as the Missions Deacon at church; I lead our mission’s team to involve our church body in the lives of our missionaries and to oversee the missionaries we support.

Jimmy’s heart for missions and his life experiences make him a perfect fit for this new aspect of Grow Barefoot’s ministry. However, his involvement with Grow Barefoot actually goes back to the beginning…

My wife finished writing her first book, Seven Roles, One Woman, about three years ago. We were trying to learn the publishing industry and marketing. We couldn't find the right avenue because all the norms were too limiting. My wife’s vision for the future didn’t focus exclusively on the message of one book and it especially didn’t focus on herself. God led her to the establishment of Grow Barefoot. I have been guilty by association ever since. At that time, Grow Barefoot was exclusively a teaching ministry helping believers to live free and pursue holiness while they lay aside the excuses that hold them back. As the Lord has brought in more opportunities and more ideas we have followed Him to where we believe He wants this ministry to grow.

Despite Jimmy’s early involvement as “guilt by association,” he is excited to step in to the ministry more wholeheartedly as we expand in a new direction. He describes his new work with Grow Barefoot as follows…

I will be leading the new missions connection side of the ministry. We want to develop a website for missionaries and churches or believers to connect. Similar to a mission’s version of Craig’s List, this site will help connect churches with available resources to missionaries with specific needs. A large part of this ministry will also be building relationships with churches and missionaries to more effectively bring the two together.

Jimmy brings a unique and diverse skill set to this new volunteer position. From an architectural degree to the hands on experience of building his own home, Jimmy has a wide array of experience with construction, electrical, architecture, and engineering. For several years he has worked in sales and project management within the construction industry. The lessons learned there will help him to work on teams to bring ideas together and then direct others to the goal. Finally, Jimmy has an incredible ability to see solutions to issues that most would consider to be “outside the box.”

Spiritually, Jimmy’s gifts are faith and service. He believes that if we step out in faith that God will guide our every move and action. He guides us to obtain His will and His glory no matter how messed up we are or how many errors we make along the journey.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."