Blog - Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Katie Forbess, Board President of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Missouri

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. (Jn 15:16 NIV)

Iron Rose Sister Ministries actively does things to help women by equipping and encouraging them to grow closer to God and one another, bearing fruit that will last, and hearing their prayers along the way.

Last year, the theme of “Practice like a Wise Woman” shook the ministry and blessed it in ways never imagined. Thankfully, we trusted and sought wisdom, and we truly moved in the ways we felt God calling us. Not perfectly, but faithfully.

That Godly wisdom brought us this year’s theme of “Bear Fruit,” which will touch many parts of our lives and relationships. Personally, I have come to define bearing fruit as this: When I am living in such a way that I am connected to God, like a healthy vine to the branches, and I allow God to work through me, fruit is produced.

While remaining in the love of God, I believe part of bearing fruit is the fruit of the Spirit in me, and another part is the sharing of the truth of the gospel of Christ to someone in a way that they become capable of reproducing that gospel themselves. And all future fruit will go on to do the same. The fruit of more disciples will last long past my time here on earth, and long past the people who know me or will even know about me. This fruit is eternal, so it will last in heaven. In the end, I believe we will all feel connected to the same Vine and the same roots and truly be one in Christ.

On a personal level, as I look at this year, I see there will be a lot of changes, such as a son who will be graduating and going to college, a daughter who could be engaged by the end of the year, and another daughter who plans to start driving by the end of the month. There are always changes. There will be ups and downs. Joys and sorrows. The real question is: Will I bear fruit that lasts during these times?

I’m reminded of Abraham, whom God told that his family would be as numerous as the stars. It took a few failed attempts on Abraham's part and a baby born many generations later to completely fulfill that promise. That baby grew up to make disciples, died for the sins of the world, and then arose, sending all His disciples to go out and make disciples.

The fruit that God is asking me to bear is only possible through this blessing of Abraham’s descendent, Jesus Christ. Abraham could never have known how eternal his fruit would be. The fruit we bear is under God’s control, as well. I may never truly understand what will happen with the fruit He has called me to bear. What a blessing to be part of something so much bigger!

How can we bear fruit that will last during this time in our lives?

How can we trust God with the eternal impact of the fruit we will bear in His name?

powered by social2s

Written by Beliz Kocev, Brazil Coordinator with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:4-5 NIV)

When I first became a Christian, I was under the impression that some things were spiritual and others weren't. In other words, I thought that God was involved and interested in some parts of my life, but that there was no room for God in the other areas, and He wasn't interested in them anyway.

My spiritual life seemed to have nothing to do with the rudeness I directed at my mother or the clothes I chose to wear to class. But guess what? It did! And by not involving God in my choices and actions, I wasn't bearing fruit as I could have been. I was a branch that thought it could connect and disconnect from the vine as it pleased. In other words, I was a branch about to die at any moment.

...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. (Col 1:10)

It was only when I understood that everything is spiritual, and that God must be involved in all areas of my life, that I was able to begin bearing fruit along the way wherever I went. God is interested in everything that is part of who I am, from big decisions like where to live, what profession to choose, how to spend my salary, to things that seem small: how I treat strangers, how I react to unexpected situations...

And in each of these scenarios, there is an opportunity to please God in everything, bearing fruit along the way.

A plant that is not healthy cannot bear fruit. A branch that does not receive nutrients from the tree dies. We, as branches connected to the true Vine, being nourished by the Word, are renewed, and we grow. And it is impossible to have the presence of God through the Holy Spirit without change. The conversion of our hearts produces the transformation of our actions and words as fruit: "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Mt 3:8).

The fruit of our repentance is a powerful testimony that leads to one of the most incredible parts of bearing fruit—multiplication. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).

I want to encourage you to remember that everything is spiritual, to nourish yourself with the Word, and to reflect on the impact your actions have on the people around you (whatever they may be and in any environment)! I want to encourage you to bear fruit along the way, wherever you go—so that the fruit of the transformation of your heart will be seen and heard by everyone. And may God's will always guide your choices.

May we be “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither” (Ps 1:3).

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

2 Timothy 2:2 reads: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (ESV).

Paul is reaching the end of his life, and he wants this precious message to continue to be passed on.

“Entrust” indicates responsibility and stewardship. “Faithful” means those who will treasure what they have and handle it as God intended.

We, as disciples of Jesus, are the only way others will learn about Jesus and why He came to earth. We have been given a mission, and in John 15, Jesus shares His plans with His disciples.

Jesus paints a word picture of Himself as the Vine and His disciples as the branches that bear the fruit. Some of His statements are:

Verse 2: “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

Verse 4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”

Verse 5: “Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Verse 8: “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”

Verse 16: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

When a branch bears fruit, it provides the way by which other fruit can be produced. The branch that does not bear fruit is considered dead.

If you have ever grown a garden or fruit trees, you know an important part of having a healthy plant is to cut off dead or diseased limbs, so they do not weaken the healthy branches. Likewise, Jesus says He will remove those branches that are not bearing fruit.

Some of Jesus’ last words were, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…” (Mt 28:19).

There is joy in seeing someone you have taught become a follower of Jesus.

“Each one teach one” is a common saying among believers, indicating each of us is responsible for reaching someone who can then reach someone else, just as 2 Timothy 2:2 says.

Teaching about Jesus should be a normal part of our lives. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 emphasizes the importance of teaching when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise.

Some ways to reach out to others are:

Invite someone to VBS, gospel meetings, or a Bible study.
Invite your friend for coffee and tell her you have good news you want to share… Then share your faith story and the path that led you to be a Christ follower (to discipleship).
When you are with a friend, ask what she believes, then listen. Be ready to share your common beliefs, but if she mentions something not in Scripture, gently ask where she gets the authority for what she said.
When you are asked a question, turn to Scripture instead of sharing your opinion.
Stay “on target” in your study with others.

If you do not know how to teach someone, find a friend who does and ask them to help you learn. It may be that you are like Andrew and can seek people out and invite them to a Bible class or worship services, leaving the more formal teaching to someone else.

It is important to be alert and realize when a friend may be receptive. Life changes often create an interest that has not been present. When a new family moves into the neighborhood and is making new friends can be an excellent time to set up a study.

For us, it is important to:

know who our authority is.
know what and why we believe.
be willing to search if asked a question we don’t know.

Are you willing to put 2 Timothy 2:2 into practice in your life?

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Agricultural analogies can be found throughout the Old and New Testaments. For farming and shepherding communities in the Bible lands, these were practical examples used to teach us about God’s nature and His Kingdom. John 15 is one of those examples. In that chapter, we find the final time that Jesus makes one of His “I AM” statements, ultimately equating Himself with YHWH, Yahweh, the LORD, or Jehovah.

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (Jn 15:1, 5 NIV)

Through the imagery of the Vine, Jesus illustrates the necessity of remaining in the Vine for the vitality of the branches—relationship with God. He also highlights the importance of bearing more fruit as the branches reproduce and multiply—relationships with others.

Does that sound familiar? Yes! The central core of Iron Rose Sister Ministries’ vision can be found in John 15. We exist to equip women to connect to God and one another more deeply.

Throughout 2026, we will be equipping women in these two relational areas using John 15 as our primary text. The blog posts will develop the theme, the virtual events will expound upon it, and new online resources will be released that will multiply our efforts.

As we roll out the topic through the month of January, I want to elaborate on four key points found in John 15.

Jesus is the True Vine, and His Father is the Gardener (Jn 15:1). God is our source of life and love (Jn 15:1, 9). We must remain in Him and in His love to survive.
We must extend God’s love to others. If we remain in God’s love as His love remains in us, we have love from which to obey His commands to love Him and love others (Jn 15:12-13, 17; Mt 22:36-40).
The fruit of a disciple is another disciple. We show that we are His disciples by bearing the fruit of another disciple. And we were appointed to bear that fruit—fruit that will last (Jn 15:8, 16).
Apart from God, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5). As the apostle Paul described, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1Co 3:6).

Each one of those points could be its own lesson. The teachings of Jesus in John 15 provide such richness, abundance, and layers of application as spoken to His followers and penned by the apostle John.

The first 17 verses of John 15 are written out in chapter 10 of One Single Reason: Conversations with Single Women. The accompanying exercise from those verses affirms that the two deepest desires of our heart are relationship and purpose.

We cannot be disciples nor bear the fruit of more disciples without a relationship with the True Vine.

How can you prioritize being connected to the True Vine this week?

What one step can you take this week to plant, water, or specifically pray for someone in whom God can bring the growth of a disciple?

How can we encourage or equip you toward those goals?

For 2026, let’s bear fruit together!

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

The year 2025 has provided ample opportunity to learn and practice wisdom. As with any type of practice, we did not do it perfectly from the start, but learned along the way and grew as a result.

Faith is a wise woman practice. It is a noun, but one that implies action. The apostle James stated, “But someone will say, ’You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds” (Jas 2:18 NIV). The more we exercise our faith, the stronger it grows. Others see evidence of our faith by our actions.

Hebrews 11 is the highlight reel for many heroes of the faith. It is like the social media summary of their spiritual lives. That brief description of their faith does not permit the detailed retelling of what happened throughout their stories. Each of them had to practice their faith over time. Generations later, we see the fruit of their faith.

Over the past year, women from across the Americas have shared their own words of wisdom as we have highlighted different facets of “Practice Like a Wise Woman.” Whether you read every post as it was published or are a new reader of our blog, we invite you to scroll back through the articles from this past year and reflect on the impact of practicing like wise women who build their houses on the Rock (Mt 7:24).

We should all “Pray about it!” Instead of getting frustrated about what we can’t do, remember when Jesus recognized the woman who sacrificed for Him. In His own words, “She Did What She Could,” preparing Christ’s body for His burial. During the month in which we celebrate the resurrection, we turned to what it means to “Follow in His Steps.” Christ reminds us that we, the church, are His bride. Are you “Rehearsing for the Big Event”? As we practice and prepare, we undergo a “Transformation.”

During the second half of the year, we looked to scriptural and everyday examples that can say, “Follow Me, As I Follow Christ.” When we do so effectively, we enter into “Disciple Training,” but since that training is riddled with mistakes, also known as learning opportunities, we question: “Practice Makes Perfect?”

Therefore, to finish the year strong, we circled back to our primary emphasis by centering on “Wise Woman Practices,” even demonstrated and discussed in a trilingual virtual event. Through the month of November, during which many practice the spiritual discipline of giving thanks, we “Practiced Thanksgiving.” And then, to finish out the year, we have looked to “Wise Women in Action” as our inspiration in preparation for the new year to come.

Each of these topics has been rooted in faith—a faith we have been putting into practice.

Thank you to our faithful readers, to those who respond with encouragement and feedback, and to those who share these posts with others. It is our prayer that you have been encouraged and equipped in your spiritual walk—to grow closer to God and one another. May we continue to put these things into practice like wise women who build their houses on the Rock and also “Bear Fruit” (Jn 15), our theme for 2026.

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

A smile, a seat on the bus, a cup of cold water… There are many ways we can be kind and generous toward others, which is the primary encouragement found in the third parable of Matthew chapter 25.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40 NIV)

The King welcomed those into His Kingdom who had put His words into practice, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” those who practiced love for Him by extending that lovingkindness to others.

The recipients of the King’s blessing were surprised at His words because they did not remember serving Him. He recognized the simple act of the mother who shared food with the hungry child who came over to play with her own children. He honored the consistent way in which the businesswoman brought an extra bottle of water for the homeless man who sat in front of her office building. He celebrated the women who donated new clothes to the battered women’s shelter, not just the forgotten items in the back of the closet.

The parable about the sheep and goats at the end of Matthew 25 follows two others that also emphasize the importance of good stewardship— the proper management of what God has provided. The five virgins who took sufficient oil were intentional about planning ahead. The first two men, with five and two talents respectively, administered well what they had been given, thus multiplying it for when the master returned. Finally, the sheep were blessed by the Father and given their inheritance (Mt 25:34) because they honored the Father and took care of “the least of these.”

For us to be wise women, we must be good stewards of what God has provided.

Recognize that all that we have comes from God. The virgin’s oil, the men’s talents, and whatever the people used to bless others, everything comes from the Great Provider.
Be intentional about how we use what God has provided. The wise virgins didn’t share their oil with the foolish virgins, but the sheep were affirmed for sharing their food, drink, and clothing with others. Both practices have their place in the Kingdom.
Keep a Kingdom focus. Prepare for the Bridegroom, work for the Master, and honor the Father by fulfilling His commands to love.
Check our motivation. Are we falling into the trap of comparison? Are we doing things so that others will see us? Will someone recognize Christ through what we do or say?
Avoid selfishness. If we are going to love and care for others, there will be sacrifices. But remember, we serve a God of abundance who graciously provides beyond what we could ask or imagine.

Take a moment to reflect on these five points. During a week in which many are focused on the birth of Christ, how did Jesus embody and inspire us to do whatever we can for the least of these”?

Finally, using the Common Threads, let’s make it very personal and practical.

From Matthew 25, name an area in which you want to grow or bloom.

What is a thorn that needs to be removed, possibly something that is hindering you from loving “the least of these”?

Is there an area in which you want to dig deeper or need someone to hold you accountable (iron sharpening iron, Pr 27:17)?

One way to dig deeper is to read the entire 25^th chapter of Matthew and pray over these three parables, asking God to reveal the application for your life.

Amidst the holiday season, let’s extend God’s lovingkindness to others and give thanks when others do the same for us. We would love to hear your stories or see pictures of how God has provided opportunities for this to happen!

powered by social2s

Written by Silene Coelho, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Manaus, Brazil

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. (Pr 14:1 NIV)

When I read this verse, I'm reminded that wisdom isn't simply about knowing the Bible or having many years of experience. Being wise means living out God's teachings in a practical way, making choices that build up, not tear down. And this doesn't depend on whether I'm single, married, widowed, or divorced. Wisdom is a calling for all of us.

We need to understand that true wisdom does not depend on marital status. Being wise means living in a way that my actions edify, that my choices reflect Christ, and that my life is useful in the Kingdom. And this is possible for any woman—single, widowed, or divorced. Single Christians should understand that they can experience a wonderful life with freedom, excitement, and happiness while fulfilling God's purpose in their lives.

Being single has taught me a profound lesson: holiness is more than "not sinning" in the sexual area. It's about living set apart for God in all areas—thoughts, relationships, choices. Paul spoke about this in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9, reminding us that marriage is a blessing, but that single life can also be lived for God's glory. I've seen single women get involved in purposeless relationships just to avoid being alone, and I've seen how this can lead to heartache. The wise woman understands that waiting on God is safer than rushing things. This doesn't mean being passive, but choosing paths that preserve peace and purity.

One of the blessings of singleness is the freedom to serve. Paul mentions that a single woman can dedicate herself more to the things of the Lord (1Co 7:32-35). I see this in the lives of many women: they have time to be involved in ministries, visit people, participate in missionary events, and study the Word more intensely. It is also noticeable in the lives of widows who, after their loss, found new strength in Christian service, and in divorced women who rebuilt their faith and self-esteem by serving others. These stories show that serving not only blesses those who receive but also heals and strengthens those who serve.

Even though I am not in a relationship, I know that my daily choices define the kind of woman I will be tomorrow. Choosing friends who draw me closer to God, managing my finances well, investing in my personal and spiritual growth—all of this is building my inner "house." If marriage comes someday, it's important to be emotionally healthy and spiritually strong. Wise women—whether married, widowed, or divorced—show that the right choices today build a solid and blessed future. As C.S. Lewis said, “A woman's heart must be so hidden in God that a man must seek Him to find her.”

Even as an adult and independent woman, I've learned that obeying and respecting authority is part of wisdom. This includes honoring parents (Ex 20:12), even if living alone, and listening to spiritual leaders (Heb 13:17). Obedience doesn't diminish, but protects and strengthens. Widows and divorcees who maintain this posture of humility and respect show that this is a key to preserving relationships and opening doors to new opportunities.

Being single has taught me that self-love is not selfishness, but a commandment that requires patience and constant reflection on my attitudes (Lk 10:27). I have come to value my well-being, to say "no" when necessary, to protect my rest, and to nourish my mind with things that edify. I have also learned that solitude can be a gift—a time to deepen my relationship with God, without distractions. Widows who, after years of caring for others, have learned to care for themselves, and divorced women who have rediscovered their identity after separation, show that loving oneself is being prepared to love others better.

Being wise is a calling for all women, regardless of marital status. "Alone, yes, but not lonely!"—because emptiness does not come from the absence of a husband, but from the lack of Jesus, the only source of fullness. A woman's worth is in Christ, and until the day of the Lamb's wedding (Rev 19:7), her purpose is to live like the woman of Proverbs 14:1, building up and not tearing down.

Let those of us who are single continue to encourage one another to seek wisdom in our singleness.

powered by social2s

Written by Jocelynn Goff, Volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

“Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Mt 25:21a). As Christians, these are words of blessing and affirmation we all long to hear. They bring hope and peace to our souls as we live out our faith in a world full of struggles, hurts, and deception. This begs the question: How can we make sure we hear these words?

To answer that question, let’s look at the whole context of the story that Jesus tells us.

Again, it will be like a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on His journey. The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master, he said, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.’ His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness! (Mt 25:14-21)

If we were to read further, we’d see that the man given two talents received the same affirming words, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Mt 25:23a). However, the man who was given one talent did not receive these same words of blessing. Instead, he received harsh words from his master. “You wicked, lazy servant!” (Mt 25:26a).

Wait, couldn’t the one-talent man have also received the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? Yes, I believe he could have. However, he acted out of fear and assumed his master was a hard man, so he went and hid his talent in the ground.

In contrast, I’m confident that my parents, who have both recently ascended to their eternal reward, have heard those precious words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” They were definitely faithful stewards of the five talents that their Master had given them to bless others and give glory to Him. In turn, they were given other things with which to be in charge. While I realize that the reference in scripture refers to money, I believe it has application for abilities also. My parents used both money and abilities to multiply their Master’s Kingdom.

I’ve also known many faithful stewards who were given one talent but are not acting in fear, nor are they comparing themselves with those who have been given more talents. Rather, by faith, they are in the Kingdom business of using their money and abilities to the glory of God.

The question to each of us is not what number of talents we have been given by our Master but rather are we faithful stewards of those talents? Are we using them or hiding them? I pray that each of us will assess ourselves, be about Kingdom business with what we’ve each been given, and will all hear the blessed words, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

powered by social2s

Written by Kat Bittner, Volunteer and Board Member with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

I recall a time struggling to understand faith vs. works. There was a tendency growing up to believe that one had to be “doing good” to get to Heaven. And I was consumed by that belief. I battled internally with guilt – and fear – that my faith wasn’t sufficient because I wasn’t doing enough. Even after marrying a faithful believer, becoming a mother, and making a home, I felt inadequate as a Christian woman.

However, a wise, Godly woman speaking at a ladies’ event helped me understand something that changed my thinking. It was my flawed perspective on “doing good” that kept me from being the faithful woman of God I wanted to be… and that God had intended for me. She said it starts with a faithful fear of the Lord.

What’s required of us by God is to “fear the Lord…and live in a way that pleases Him” (Dt 10:12 NLT). She further explained that the fear of the Lord is not being afraid of God, or His wrath and punishment, or not going to Heaven. Rather, it is reverence and awe of His holiness and submission to Him. Scripture tells us that the fear of the Lord produces wisdom (Ps 111:10) and faithfulness (Pr 2:1-6; Jas 3:13). And faithfulness is revealed by our fruits or good deeds (Mt 7:17-20). And I learned from this wise woman’s counsel and further study on my own that I am not doing good to be faithful, but the other way around. Because I am faithful, I do good.

I will show you my faith by my good deeds. (Jas 2:18)

I have also come to appreciate that the more I grow in my faith, the more active in my faith I am (Jas 2:18, 24). Because I was “created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10 NIV), I pursue those things which God has gifted me to do. For example, I am passionate about women’s and children’s ministries and devote a lot of my time teaching and serving in areas that further those efforts, like Iron Rose Sister Ministries and Ciudad de Angeles in Cozumel, Mexico. In my home congregation, I teach the 2- and 3-year olds’ Bible class and VBS, serve on our Women’s Ministry Committee, lead several women’s events and classes, and organize the ministry that serves meals to families in need within our congregation. God has also called me to do a good work with my gift and love for singing. I do this by spreading the name of Jesus in sacred song with the community choir of which I’m a part.

I do all this not to earn my way to Heaven, nor do I share this with you to boast. On the contrary, I am active in all this because each day I only want to please the Lord in doing what He has ordained for my life (Ps 139:16). I want to do good things to honor and glorify God because I love Him, and I am thankful to be in relationship with Him. Put simply, I want to do these things. As we have been commanded to “love each other just as I have loved you” (Jn 13:34 NLT), I want to do them because I express my love for God by doing things for others in love.

Every woman is equipped to put her faith into action with the good works that God has especially designed for her. Not every woman will teach. Not every woman will sing. Not every woman will be a wife or mother. But every woman can increase in wisdom through the fear of the Lord. And the wise woman who does good reveals her faithfulness by what she does. And she is to be praised for it (Pr 31:30-31)!

From the mundane task to the most benevolent act – all things should be done for God’s glory and in service to Him (Col 3:23-24). Our faithfulness to God is revealed through the deeds we do, which He has prepared for us according to the unique way He created each of us. Theologian and evangelist John Wesely sums it up well with the following synthesis of his teachings and sentiments: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

What will you do as a wise woman of action, showing your faithfulness to God?

powered by social2s

Written by Jéssica Romero, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Manaus, Brazil

Hannah's story is a true inspiration for us—women who desire to live with wisdom and faith. In 1 Samuel 1 and 2, we see her journey: she was a distressed woman, humiliated by her barrenness, and constantly provoked by her rival, Peninnah. However, amidst her pain, Hannah did not turn away from God. On the contrary, she drew closer. Hannah's sincere cry before the Lord shows us where true gratitude begins: in complete trust in God.

After God answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel, Hannah did not cling to the blessing, but to the Blesser. And it is there that we see how she practiced gratitude deeply and courageously.

Hannah was grateful with actions, not just words. True gratitude goes beyond saying "thank you." Hannah had promised that if she ever received a son, she would give him to the Lord. And that is exactly what she did (1Sa 1:24–28). After weaning him, she took Samuel to the temple and left him there, still a very young boy.

Think how difficult this was. How many mothers would be willing to give up their son so young, knowing they would rarely see him? But Hannah understood that her son was a gift from the Lord. She was true to her word and demonstrated, through actions, that her gratitude was not superficial. As wise women, we are called to recognize that everything we have comes from God and to live generously, giving back to Him what belongs to Him.

Hannah praised God with a heart full of faith: Chapter 2 begins with Hannah's song, a true psalm of gratitude. She declares: "My heart rejoices in the Lord…There is no one holy like the Lord" (1Sa 2:1-2 NIV).

Hannah's praise is not limited to giving thanks for her son. She exalts who God is: holy, just, powerful, and faithful. Her gratitude is centered on God, not just on what He has done for her. This is a sign of spiritual maturity: when we learn to give thanks not only for blessings, but for the presence, character, and sovereignty of our God.

Hannah turned her pain into praise: Before God's answer, Hannah was a humiliated woman full of sorrow. She wept, didn't eat, and was misunderstood even by the priest Eli. But instead of rebelling, she poured out her soul before the Lord (1Sa 1:15).

How many times do we go through difficult situations, and our first reaction is discouragement or complaint? Hannah shows us a different path: that of persistent prayer. And then, when the miracle came, she didn't forget to give thanks.

How many times do we pray fervently, but then forget to return to give thanks with the same intensity?

Applications for us: Perhaps you've been praying for something for a long time—a child, a restored marriage, a job, a healing. Learn from Hannah: go to the Lord, pour out your soul, trust in His will, and when the answer comes, don't forget to give thanks with your life, not just with your lips.

Gratitude doesn't depend on circumstances. Hannah learned to trust before, during, and after the answer.

What about you? Are you willing to practice gratitude even while waiting?

A wise woman recognizes that everything she has comes from God—and that's why she lives with a generous heart, open hands, and a mouth full of praise.

Gratitude that transforms: Hannah wasn't just a grateful woman; she was a wise woman. Her story invites us to trust God more, to surrender what we have with courage, and to praise Him even when it hurts. Gratitude isn't a fleeting emotion. It's a lifestyle. And it's also a powerful spiritual weapon that transforms the heart.

So, ladies, let's follow Hannah’s example!

Is there an area of your life where you need to practice more active and profound gratitude, perhaps even giving something back to the Lord? How can you practically live this gratitude starting today?

powered by social2s

Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, Volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

I used to have a job for the state of Colorado, where I went to various courthouses in a judicial district and typed out hearings and trials at the highest levels of criminality. I will not go into detail, but I heard the worst of what humans do to one another. I sat in the courtroom with evil regularly. I am a sensitive person, and this job of eight years took an extreme toll on my soul and mental health. When I left that job, I was in bad shape. I would spend my evenings drowning out my thoughts with television, YouTube, or whatever noise I could find. There was no peace in my mind. Many a night, I would weep alone in the dark. I found it difficult to exist in a world where there was such evil.

Today, I am in a much better place. I have a relationship and connection with God and others that I never dreamed possible. I still suffer some of the effects of that job on occasion, which causes a loved one to sometimes comment that they wish I had never had that job. The funny thing is, I do not wish that. In fact, I am grateful for it.

It was that work that forced me to wrestle with deep questions about God and the things He allows to happen. It caused me to focus on the things that matter when it comes to sharing Jesus with people. It opened my eyes to the reality that while we sit in our little churches and bicker about how the communion trays are passed and whether the doors in the back are opened or closed during services, the Enemy is ravaging the world just outside our doors, and much of the time, we are doing nothing about it. That work gave me a passion for those who have no one in their life who has ever shown them true, real love—Jesus’ love.

I left that job in 2019 and went back to school. This past fall, I started the second year of my Master’s in Mental Health Counseling. I have enough experience now (though not much) that I can say with confidence that it is the work God created me to do. I am learning skills to help people heal, learn how to be loved, and find God in suffering. I have done a significant amount of healing myself on this journey. I would never have found any of the beautiful relationships I have today if I had never had that job.

James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (NIV).

These verses do NOT mean we must be happy when going through hard seasons and situations. I now know that this means that we should consider it joy because our trials will be productive. When we are enduring unbearable pain and suffering, God is with us in the thick of it, and He is bringing about growth.

My hard times did not end when I left my State job. 2024 was another year of great heartache and loss. But as I endured this season, I knew that from it, God would bring about greater blessings in my heart and my life. I have already begun to see the growth in myself, and I know that more is still to come. While none of us ever wishes for trials of any kind, we can consider them joy when they do come, because we know God is with us, for us, and growing us through the pain.

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, Volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Thanksgiving…gratitude…appreciation. Most of us were probably taught the importance of thanking someone when they did something for us.

In the United States, we have a day in November that we call Thanksgiving. Families and friends often gather to share a meal. They may watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and often a football game. But I wonder how much time is spent in actually being thankful… not just for our physical blessings, but for a God who loves us deeply.

In Ephesians 5:20, the apostle Paul encourages us with these words: “…giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (ESV).

“Giving thanks always” …do we do that?

David, a man after God’s own heart, penned many psalms of thanksgiving. What makes David’s words so special to me is that he had a lot of struggles: he had to run and hide from King Saul for about 10 years… his sin with Bathsheba… constant battles against Israel’s enemies… and discord within his own house among his children.

Still, he had a heart of thankfulness.

1 Chronicles 16:8-36 is a song of David when the ark was returned to Jerusalem after being taken by the Philistines. In verses 8 and 9, we see David bursting out in thankfulness and praise: “Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”

Throughout the book of Psalms, there are many expressions of thanksgiving written by David.

Psalm 100 is the one many people think of first: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations!” (Verses 4, 5).

In Psalm 111, David begins by saying he will give thanks to the Lord with his whole heart.

Psalm 30 seems to have been written after a near-death experience…perhaps when David was fleeing from King Saul…and he closes verse 12 with these words: “O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”

Psalm 9 was probably written after a victory over one of Israel’s enemies, and in verse 1, David says, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.”

In Psalm 28:7, David acknowledges the Lord as his strength and shield:

The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed.”

Psalm 119 shows David’s heart for the Lord as he praises Him with thankfulness:

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (verse 97).

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth” (verse 103).

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (verse 105).

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (verse 111).

These are just a few of the writings of David that show why he is called “a man after God’s own heart” (1Sa 13:14, Ac 13:22).

The key to David’s being a man after God’s heart is found in Psalm 119:10: “…with my whole heart I seek you.”

In reading through the Psalms, one thing that stands out to me is that David was continually meditating on God‘s goodness, what God had done, and how God was continuing to both pursue and protect David… not only from his enemies, but from his own sins. David’s response was one of thankfulness.

God continues to pursue us with the same diligence today. In Psalm 23:6, we read, “Surely goodness, and mercy shall follow me.” The Hebrew word for “follow” means an “intense pursuit” … like a lion chasing its prey. God wants to rescue us from the clutches of Satan. Is our response to His pursuit like that of David… a heart seeking Him and filled with thankfulness?

powered by social2s

Written by Isabela Lima, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Boa Vista - Roraima, Brazil

In 2017, I had to experience grief in a heavy way—heavier than I thought I could handle. We had participated in a spiritual retreat in February where the theme was “Be Strong and Courageous.” And I needed to be.

In May of that year, we received the devastating news that my brother-in-law had passed away suddenly and unfairly. That news tore at the heart of my husband and his family.

I saw him suffering. Everything around us was tears and pain.

Someone he loved dearly had passed away.

It was then that I began to see the great love God had, and still has, for us—His care despite everything. The church cared for us and held us like children who needed to cry in someone's arms.

The pain was immense. The whole city was moved by this horrible thing that had happened.

And seeing my loved ones in that situation, I prayed to God to transfer to me at least a little of what I saw them feeling.

What I didn't know was that a few months later, I would suffer exactly the same thing.

Now it was my brother who had passed away. And I felt completely immersed in a cloud of grief. Once again, the Lord's Church embraced us, and we were cared for with great love. The church cared for us, and we cared for our family.

Grief is dark and incredibly painful. Church services became a place where we simply cried.

But, behind all the pain, a strange (for that moment) feeling of gratitude filled me—not because of what had happened, but because I could feel the powerful hand of someone caring for me in the midst of my affliction. Furthermore, I felt the inheritance of an earthly family, better known as the Church of the Lord, which was completely at my side.

My awakening to serve God more happened after this experience. Through it, I realized that I was a Christian, but I hadn’t been dedicating to the Lord everything I could or should have. So, instead of clinging to the pain, I clung to the idea that I could serve God better, surrender my life to Him, and prepare myself so that, when I saw others going through the same thing, I could help them in some way.

This process was also a form of healing from grief. Serving God, growing closer to Him, and becoming more involved in the work of the church strengthened me. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't be in Boa Vista, serving others today. I understand that everything is subject to the Lord's permission and that there is a purpose in all things. What we need to do is decide from which angle we're going to look: whether it's just the problem itself or how God works through it. After all, in John 16:33, Jesus said that in this world we will have trouble, but to take heart!

I think about this often. It was a trial that made me more mature in clinging to God and trusting my Father, who always knows what's best for me. At no point did I want to take it out on the Lord or question why I was going through this. On the contrary, I wanted to go to His feet, cry when necessary, help those who needed me, and learn to be more present in the church, to work better, and to serve more.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Th 5:18 NIV)

“Give thanks.”: Grief changed me, but it didn’t mold me into its dark pattern of pain. It was through it that I grew even closer to my Heavenly Father.

“In all circumstances”: Even if I lose my family, God is with me, and His promise that one day I will be with Him, living in heaven, is what drives me to long for Him in this life.

After all, who will separate me from the love of God revealed in Christ our Lord?

powered by social2s

Anessa Headshot Written by Dr. Anessa Westbrook, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in York, Nebraska

If you were asked to explain marquetry or pyrography, how would you begin? Likely, few of you even know what these crafts are, so you would probably begin by looking them up. Then, perhaps, you would try to learn a little about the process behind them. When it comes to mentoring, our familiarity with that word can give us a false sense of knowing what it is. It’s like hearing a word in another language and assuming that you know the meaning because it sounds familiar, but then later find out that the meaning is different. Often, we do not take the time needed to reflect on everything that mentoring entails.

Women are specifically told to mentor in Titus 2. Titus 2:3 lays out the personal preparation that must occur beforehand, saying, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good” (NIV). Before someone begins mentoring, there is a preparation process that needs to take place. According to this passage, mentors need to be reverent, watch the way they talk about people, not be controlled by worldly actions, and be prepared to provide good teaching. These qualities take time to develop. What we see reflected in this verse is inner work that is both countercultural and requires the ability to stand one’s ground.

We should not underestimate the power of our influence as women. In Philippians 4:2-3, we see Euodia and Syntyche called out both as partners in the Gospel and with a plea for them to get along. They were obviously influential, but their disagreement was causing issues in the church at Philippi. Mentors should be worthy of imitation. Just as Paul called upon Christians to imitate him in Philippians 3:17, a mentor needs to realize the weightiness of her example. Unhealthy practices should be identified and removed from her life, as they could potentially be replicated in the life of her mentee.

Titus 2:4-5 outlines specific topics for mentors to cover. These topics are mainly domestic in nature, but they represented the everyday reality of women at this time. Paul wanted women to infuse their daily work with purpose and faith, so that they could represent Christianity and their faith well. Today’s mentors should take into account the daily work of their mentees, preparing them to reflect God in their work and personal lives.

Throughout Acts, women played important roles as the early church was being established. Right after the apostles watched Jesus ascend into heaven, they returned to the upper room in Jerusalem. Acts 1:14 says, “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (ESV). In this small community, women wrestled alongside the apostles with how to apply what they had learned from Jesus to their lives as a Christian community.

Throughout the book of Acts, we see women stepping up to use their gifts for Christ. We are introduced to Tabitha in Acts 9, who is described in verse 36 as “always doing good and helping the poor.” After she became ill and died, her absence was felt keenly by the widows whom she was caring for, and ultimately resulted in Peter raising her from the dead so she could continue her work. In Acts 16, we see the influential and connected Lydia and her household’s conversion and baptism. In verse 40, we find that Lydia went on to host Christians in her home. And in Acts 18, Priscilla, alongside of husband Aquilla, shares the good news of Jesus’ life and ministry to Apollos, who was boldly preaching about the coming of the Messiah. This transformed his message. These women used their influence in the circles God had given them, stepped up, and served God faithfully in those areas. Mentors should demonstrate this type of faithful service in their own circles, encouraging younger women to do the same.

Mentoring is not a suggestion or an option; it is what we are called to as women. We should approach our own preparation with intentionality, carefully considering the way we influence and mentor. As you reflect on mentoring, what are some growth areas that you can work on? What type of impact do you think you could make in the lives of other women after working in these areas?

powered by social2s

Written by Johanna Zabala, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

God's wisdom is and always will be a precious gift that comes from the Eternal, manifesting itself in you; in how you carry yourself and in the words that reflect the character of Christ, and not in human knowledge. In James 3:17, it says: "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere" (NIV).

Such divine wisdom is acquired by obeying and persevering in passion, discipline, and love toward God (Pr 1:7); therefore, it is of heavenly origin, it is different from human wisdom, it is asked for in faith, it is demonstrated in trials and difficulties, it is like a guide to daily life, and it produces, among many other virtues, spiritual growth.

As a daughter of the King, practicing God's wisdom fills me with perfect peace and unique joy in the midst of a humanity without that wisdom. Therefore, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Eph 5:15-16).

That is why living day by day in wisdom makes it possible to make the most of every opportunity to experience and act out the immense benefits of security and meekness in Christ Jesus. It becomes a blessing to be able to speak for God in every moment and everywhere I am, bringing calm, life, and purposes that glorify His holy name. This is much better than material well-being or personal success.

In my daily life and in the places that God Himself allows me to be, it is for me an occasion to speak of the most beautiful gift of love that is Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

By having in common the same heavenly Progenitor, we are sisters of the same Father, who is the giver of His infinite wisdom. This entails being attentive to human machinations that counteract the spiritual, a permanent struggle that requires self-control in the Holy Spirit and the soul. His wisdom, which comes from heaven, is like a rainbow of colors that gives light to the heart, the mind, and the way to reflect a full and meaningful life, providing the necessary guidance and knowledge on how to move forward daily and in harmony with God’s divine will.

So, look how beautiful that wisdom is, highlighted in Proverbs 3:13-26, which says:

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place; by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew. My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

This text teaches how precious it is to be under the wisdom of our God, while its daily practice makes us wise and prudent. How wonderful it is to stand at His feet and in His heavenly Kingdom. Blessed are we.

And if at times you feel weak, feel unworthy of His grace and His great love, remember: You are in His grace, in His forgiveness and permanent life, which shows us the possibility of continually coming back to the spiritual, through the Holy Spirit and His perfect wisdom.

Discern in your heart attentively under the light of the Holy Spirit and His wisdom, observe yourself at every moment, and ask yourself: Do I have the wisdom that comes from God or only my own knowledge? "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you" (Jas 1:5).

powered by social2s

Written by Amanda Mirian, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil

In 1 Samuel chapter 25, we find a story involving God, David, Abigail, and Nabal.

David was God's anointed. Nabal is described as a rude, evil, and foolish man; "such a wicked man that no one can talk to him" (v 17 NIV). He was the husband of Abigail, a woman described as intelligent and beautiful.

David and his men offered to protect Nabal's property and servants, charging whatever he could afford. Nabal was a financially prosperous man, but in his foolishness, he refused David's request. David, in turn, was enraged by Nabal's actions and swore to kill all the men in his house.

How do you deal with injustice? What is your behavior when something unjust happens before your eyes?

The general tendency is to be overcome by anger, revolt, indignation, and the desire for the guilty party to be punished. "Whoever did such and such must pay for it!" Sometimes we forget about who was hurt or suffered the injustice, and we invest all our energy in punishing the guilty party. In this context, anger can turn me into an aggressor.

Anger is part of our repertoire of basic emotions; it appears in situations that we consider unfair. It serves to establish boundaries and prevent further harm. The goal is to stop what causes suffering.

Abigail was informed by one of her servants about what David had done for them and about Nabal's attitude. The servant said, "See what you can do" (v 17). She promptly stepped in to resolve the situation. She sent David and his soldiers a generous amount of supplies and went to meet him.

What would you say to an enraged general, marching with his 400 men, heading toward your house with the goal of killing every male? What would be the right words? What would change David's mind?

Abigail's attitude revealed the wisdom that comes from God: She listened to the needs of those who were offended, found ways to meet their needs, was a peacemaker, and based her words and actions on the fear of the Lord. She reminded David of the God he served and the battles that must be fought.

In 1 Samuel 25:23-31, some of Abigail's words were: "The Lord your God will certainly make a lasting dynasty for my lord”; “you fight the Lord’s battles”; “no wrongdoing will be found in you”; “the life of my lord will be bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God”; “When the Lord…has appointed him ruler over Israel, my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself.”

Hearing Abigail's words, David praised the Lord for her, acknowledging that God used her and that with her good judgment, she prevented blood from being shed in the name of revenge.

When Nabal learned all that had happened, he suffered a stroke and was paralyzed. About ten days later, the Lord struck him, and he died. When David learned of Nabal's death, he sent for Abigail and took her as his wife.

James 3:17-18 says,

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

David's anger could never produce God's righteousness. The attitude of a godly woman is one of peace and good judgment. When your heart is filled with fury or when someone overcome with anger crosses your path, remember the attributes of God's wisdom, remember the God you serve, be a peacemaker, and remember that a woman filled with the wisdom that comes from above can prevent war.

Besides wisdom, another characteristic of Abigail was beauty. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says,

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

If we want to be wise and beautiful women, we need to seek these attributes from the Lord. The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives will shape our character and guide us in situations where our emotions call us to war. The right words and correct attitudes in these situations come from God, not from ourselves. We need to be at the feet of the Master, Jesus, listening to and practicing His word, so that we are ready to deal with difficulties – our own or those of the people who cross our path.

powered by social2s

Written by Ann Thiede, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, Arkansas

Set a guard over my mouth, LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips. (Ps 141:3 NIV)

Ten years ago, I joined a Beth Moore scripture memory challenge, wanting to grow more into a wise woman of faith. The verse above was my first choice. You’ve probably heard the expression “bite your tongue!”. If you examined mine closely, you’d see it’s pretty ragged. I feel at times the verse should say, “set a lock on my mouth”!

The apostle James dedicated half of chapter three in his New Testament letter, spelling out in graphic language the danger of the tongue. I encourage you to read the whole chapter. It is Holy Spirit truth worth heeding. Verses eight and nine say the following:

But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.

So, is there hope for a wise woman to tame her tongue? Yes, but let’s first delve into his words.

I’ve fallen into the “deadly poison” trap with gossip. Once, a very dear friend stopped me in my tracks when I started to tell her something about someone. She said, “Do I need to hear this?” I’ve seen and participated first-hand in gossip that hurt relationships, and it’s a “thorn”; a temptation from the evil one, and I do not want him having his way! Better to set a guard on my mouth and use it productively.

Jesus gives us wise words for relationship repair:

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Mt 5:23-24)

Reconciliation presents a healthy, healing way to use the tongue. Getting our hearts right with others gets our hearts right with God more than any offering we could give Him. I’ve experienced others coming to me with a grievance, and thank Jesus for supplying the humility and openness to accept whatever needed to be acknowledged. I’ve also gone to others asking forgiveness for what I believed to be a wrong done with my tongue or actions. It clears the air, leaving no room for the evil one to produce resentment or bitterness.

Another deadly poison of the tongue is cursing instead of blessing. I may not use curse words, but if you looked in my mind sometimes when aggravated, it wouldn’t be pretty, and it would be much easier for unkind words to slip out. Looking at others like Jesus would, not superficially, helps me lift up prayers for their good instead of cursing. Paul said it this way right after calling us to live no longer for ourselves, but for Jesus: “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view” (2Co 5:16a). Once, I saw a woman screaming at her young children in the grocery store. My first impulse was worldly and judgmental. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit reminded me that I did not know her circumstances, her background, or anything about her, which helped me to pull the “thorn” out of my heart and avoid unkind words.

To help us ‘dig deeper’, Jesus says: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Mt 12:34b). It would do well for us to meditate on these words of David, a man after God’s own heart: “Search me, God, and know my heart…” (Ps 139:23a). “Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare Your praise” (Ps 51:15). “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Ps 19:14 ESV). James encourages us to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” (Jas 1:19 NIV).

As you look over these thoughts and scriptures, what will help you become a wiser woman of God, blooming and growing in your quest to tame the tongue? I hope you’ll share with another sister in Christ and encourage one another.

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Sword fighting has never been a sport that appealed to me. If I were to try, I know I would be ill-equipped to wield such a weapon. It would require training, strengthening, and a lot of practice.

Ephesians 6:17 compares the Word of God to a sword, the final piece of the armor of God. The writer of Hebrews states that it is sharper than any two-edged sword (4:12). And in Paul’s instructions to Timothy, he states that the Scriptures can be used to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness (2Ti 3:16).

We hold a powerful weapon in our hands. And we need discernment for how to use it wisely. We don’t cut a sandwich in half with a machete. We don’t use a kitchen knife to cut back the aggressive vines that are growing around the house.

If I am going to put the Scriptures into practice wisely, what do I need to do?

Know the Scriptures. Keep them at the forefront of my mind, heart, soul, and strength. Speak of them when I sit and lie down (Dt 6:4-9). Hide the words in my heart (Ps 119:11).
Know the Author of the Scriptures. I can put the Word of God into practice better if I know the One who is speaking (Jn 12:49). “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well” (Jn 14:7 NIV). The more I hear His Word, the more I will know His voice and be able to discern what is not of Him.
Respect the context of the words in the Word. The Bible contains 66 books that were written in a variety of styles for a broad audience at different points in history and culture. Even if I don’t know all the background of the audience to whom the book or chapter was written, or about the writer of the book (inspired by the Holy Spirit, 2Pe 1:20-21), I can focus on the context of a verse within the entire chapter or book of the Bible.
Put the Scriptures into practice. Just do it! The Bible is the one book that cannot be fully understood until it is practiced.
James 1:25 says, “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”
Learn from my mistakes. Accept grace and move forward wisely. I can fall into the accuser’s trap of critique or condemnation when I look back at the foolish ways of my past (as a non-Christian or even as a young Christian when I didn’t practice the Scriptures wisely). Instead, I can hear Jesus’ words and follow Peter’s or others’ example.
When Jesus tells Peter that he will betray Him, Jesus offers him the hope of redemption and purpose on the other side of that mistake. “But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers” (Lk 22:32).
Trust the Holy Spirit to remind and guide me. When I get distracted or discouraged, I can easily forget the Word and God’s promises. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (Jn 14:25-26).
Pray, persevere, and pray some more. God honors those who seek Him. God hears my prayers and knows my desire to follow His Word and to show Him my love through obedience. He also knows that I am human and will have times of weakness along the journey. Paul expresses a similar sentiment in his letter to the Philippians.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Php 3:12-14)

Thank you for your desire to put the Scriptures into practice wisely. What have you learned that has helped you do that? How can you encourage others and be encouraged to continue in that mutual goal?

powered by social2s

Written by Maria Luzia Casali, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. (Ps 18:32-33 NIV)

After more than 40 years of Christian life, I can say that the journey is not easy. However, our trust in the Rock must be strong.

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? (Ps 18:31)

This psalm shows that we are not strong on our own. Our foundation in the Father is what makes us strong.

How can we stand on this foundation?

First of all: FAITH. We need to have a very strong faith in God and His promises. We need the faith described in Hebrews 11:1 to endure trials.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Also, believing that God fulfills His promises. I get very encouraged when I read Romans 8:28 because I know that God is not human; He does not lie.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Our faith is tested at every moment. We need not look at the problem so as not to sink in the waters like Peter in Matthew 14:22-33. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, so that we can walk with Him.

Something very valuable and extremely necessary during trials is to be in prayer, asking for patience and wisdom.

So far, I've talked about the theoretical part. But what about in life? What should I do? I will now share a few times that my faith has been tested.

1) When my parents died. Was there suffering? Yes. However, my mind wasn't on the grave. My eyes were on my Savior. He would give me the comfort I needed.

2) When all my friends were able to get pregnant and I wasn't. When I decided to adopt, and the process took over seven years on the adoption waiting list, where was my faith? In the Father's promises. "All things work together..." including not getting pregnant and the waiting time for adoption. It's not easy, but by praying and understanding the Father's will, it becomes less painful.

3) When my marriage ended. Where did I go? I went where I'd always gone: God's house, worshiping Him because I trusted in God's promises. And Matthew 6:33 was my anchor. It's a promise.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

And God fulfilled it in my life!!!!!

4) When I discovered my son is neurodivergent. I prayed to see a specialist who was appropriate for his case. God never failed. In addition to complying with the treatment, I always loved, disciplined, and taught God's Word to my son.

5) When my son left home to live with his father. What happened to my faith? This situation was the worst of all for me. I felt betrayed. I was very sad. But I always recalled God's promises, and today, I know it was better for both of us.

Returning to the title of the text: Does practice make perfect?

Perfection characterizes an ideal being who possesses all qualities and has no flaws; a circumstance that cannot be improved.

For me, within this meaning, practice will not lead to perfection because we can always improve our faith and our quality of time with the Father.

However, the more time we spend walking with God, the closer we will be to perfection because it is He who clothes us with strength and sustains us. Our faith must be only in Him. Whatever trial may come, we will remain steadfast.

What I've learned over the years is that we need to take the first step. Faith is ours; prayer is ours. Once we take the initiative, He acts. First, we plant our feet on the Rock. Then, He makes us strong. May we press on from faith to faith until we reach our goal, which is the salvation of our souls (1Pe 1:9).

May our God continue to strengthen and bless us.

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

My humanity was never more apparent than when an overwhelming flood of conflicting emotions confronted me. My pursuit of holiness was confused by my incapacity to handle my tremendous sense of loss and pain. Romans 8 and the admonition to live by the Spirit and not by the flesh felt like a condemnation of my disorienting fleshly state of disarray.

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (Ro 8:8 NKJV)

Wrestling through sleepless nights and an inability to verbalize my cries to God or hear others’ prayers on my behalf, I was faced with my profound imperfections. My fleshly humanity was my hindrance to pleasing God. I was doomed.

The pursuit of holiness is a pursuit of perfection, right? “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48 NIV).

This well-memorized verse from the Sermon on the Mount, along with the admonition from Romans 8, echoed in my mind as the accuser tried to use a misunderstanding of these verses against me. He wanted them to be definitive declarations of my condemnation. However, the Holy Spirit wrestled alongside me to defeat the lies and seek Truth. And so, I looked to the Truth, to Jesus, and His example.

If Jesus came in the flesh, 100% God and 100% human (Jn 1:14), a condemnation of the flesh would imply a condemnation of Christ. Nope. Not happening. I cannot condemn the Son of God for coming in the flesh. He was perfect, a vital part of the Father’s perfect plan to send Him to earth for us (Jn 3:16). Greater truths came back to light and began to clarify my focus. Jesus even empathizes with us in every way, being tempted as we are.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. (Heb 4:15)

We have physical flesh, just as Jesus did. And that was not what was being condemned. Jesus faced all the human emotions and conditions we face. Our physical flesh began without sin in a fallen world. It is our fleshly desires that lead us to sin (Jas 1:13-15). My light bulb of understanding grew brighter.

Jesus Christ, who came in the flesh, provided me a way to be human AND holy. I could learn from His perfect example about how to respond to the human emotions and conditions I face daily.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Ro 8:1-2)

As I go back and read the entire chapter of Romans 8, after Paul’s description of his own wrestling in chapter 7, my eyes fill with tears of hope and gratitude. God knows that I can never attain an imperfect pursuit of holiness on my own. He executed His perfect plan that we might come to know Him more deeply through our process of sanctification (making us holy through the blood of His Son).

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. (Ro 8:11)

Today, I invite you to freedom from condemnation of your physical flesh. I invite you to put to death the fleshly or sinful desires. And if you’re struggling in this imperfect pursuit of holiness (not perfection), I invite you to utilize one of our resources, the book Human AND Holy, written during the time I was wrestling to comprehend the very points in this blog post. You are not in this pursuit alone.

And to complete the thought of the verse we read from Hebrews 4,

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Heb 4:16)

powered by social2s

Written by Corina Díaz, volunteer with Iron Sister Ministries in Buenos Aires, Argentina

A few years ago, I decided to learn to play the guitar. I dreamed of being able to praise God with my own hands, play chords, and sing to Him freely. I practiced, I got frustrated, my fingers hurt, some notes came out wrong, and I compared myself to others. And, on more than one occasion, I thought, “This isn't for me. I'll never be good. I'll never be… perfect.”

And then that phrase became familiar. I repeated it to myself in many other areas of my life:
"But I can't be perfect…

…as a wife,
…as a friend,
…as a daughter of God.”

Sometimes we demand so much of ourselves that we feel that if we fail to meet a visible standard of "holiness," then we are not worthy. We forget that the Christian life is not a life of perfection, but of redemption.

Jesus doesn't ask us for perfection. He offers us transformation.

There's a cultural and often religious pressure to "do everything right." But Jesus never called perfect disciples; He called fishermen, tax collectors, women with difficult pasts, impulsive young people, and ordinary people like you and me.

Jesus doesn't expect us to come to Him fixed; He welcomes us broken and restores us.

My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2Co 12:9 NKJV)

This verse changed my perspective. I don't have to be enough. I don't have to do it alone. Jesus’ perfection makes up for my weakness, my clumsiness, my falls, and my imperfection.

Does practice make perfect?

We could say yes if we understand that practice isn't just about doing things well, but about allowing ourselves to be formed by the Master. Our practice is to surrender every day, to try again, and never to give up. We do this not to achieve human perfection, but out of love for the One who loved us first.

…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Php 1:6 NIV)

God is working in us; we just have to allow Him to do it: surrender to Him what we are, what we are not, and what we cannot be, because when we do, He works wonders.

I want to share with you my prayer, which I titled:

Prayer of the Heart

Lord Jesus:
I come to you just as I am.
Not perfect, not enough, not capable on my own.
But here I am, with my weaknesses, my failures, and my attempts.
Thank you for not asking me for perfection, but for a relationship.
I surrender my imperfections, my desire for control, and my fear of failure to you. Teach me to practice Your presence, Your Word, and Your grace every day.
And may my life be a work in Your hands.

Amen.

powered by social2s

Written by Liliana Henriquez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Bogota, Colombia.

When you first heard this verse, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Mt 5:48 NIV), what did you think? Did you associate it with "always behaving well"? I don't remember exactly what I thought, but I probably would have had the same thought. That's a pretty simplistic view of what Jesus really meant.

Today, after several years following Jesus, I realize that holiness is not a destination that we arrive at and remain, but a path that we travel day by day. From experience, I am convinced that holiness is a process of transformation whose goal is to make us ever more like Christ: in His actions, in His way of thinking, of treating others, and of living in obedience to the Father's will. In other words, God perfects us little by little, from glory to glory.

What does this imply?

It implies that we have a lot of work ahead of us. The version of us when we started this race cannot be the same as the one that ends it. We should come to the encounter with Christ as transformed women.

What can we do?

Recognize that following Christ has a cost.

Jesus was clear: following Him means giving one's whole life to Him (Lk 14:25-33). We no longer command ourselves; we have voluntarily decided to let ourselves be guided by Him.

Obey with submission and love.

If we already recognize that the Father's will is our priority, then we must surrender to Him with trust and love.

Cultivate an intimate relationship with God.

We are soldiers in an army commanded by God. To fulfill our purpose, we need to hear His instructions and be in tune with Him through prayer, the Word, and constant fellowship.

It is easier said than done.

However, as the saying goes, “Practice makes perfect.” If we want to be women of faith and holiness, we must practice, practice, practice... until our character is strengthened and it becomes more natural for us to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in any of its nine "tastes": love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23).

It's not going to go perfectly on the first try. But if we continue to strive with the help of the Spirit, we will be holy as He is holy.

I encourage you to keep moving forward, you're doing well!

powered by social2s

Written by Karol Diogo, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Caring for people is one of the main examples Jesus left us as a way to continue His work, if not the main one: raising up men and women according to His biblical principles.

Paul mentored many people, but it was with Timothy that this work stood out most clearly. The image of a mentor shines through in 1 and 2 Timothy, especially at the beginning of 2 Timothy. There is great richness in mentoring.

I've been mentored by a sister in the Church of Christ for four years. Allowing myself to be mentored by her has been an incredible turning point in my life and my spiritual life. I believe we should all go through this experience. I see this all throughout the Bible. Jesus did this with the apostles for three years, teaching them both theory and practice, just as the apostle Paul did with Timothy, and it produced great results.

We can see these examples in 2 Timothy 2:1-2 and 2 Timothy 3:10-17. If we follow these examples that Paul left us, we will be following Christ's examples for our Christian life.

May we be GIVERS in our Christian walk (people who help others altruistically, prioritizing the well-being of others, even if it means personal cost). May we interact with each other based on the teachings of God's Word in our interpersonal relationships. In Ephesians 4:12-16, Paul speaks of the purpose of the church being built up is that all may attain unity in the faith and the knowledge of Christ. He further explains in 1 Corinthians 10:24, "No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (NIV).

Establishing an intentional relationship with God, setting aside time regularly to be alone with Him, is our first priority. If I am faithful to God, I will be faithful to everything He asks (1Co 4:2). Keeping the Word alive within us so we can pass it on to others is a basic Christian principle we cannot forget. This practice is fundamental to the spiritual life, and neglecting it can lead to superficiality and other harm.

God's faithfulness and love offer us security, as Paul teaches us in Romans 8:31. Therefore, if we are faithful to Christ, we will be faithful in everything. This way, we can help others in need of a mentor, just as Paul needed Barnabas, and Timothy needed Paul's guidance. Sister, one day someone will need you—and me too. Therefore, let us be prepared for that moment, mirroring Christ, Paul, Barnabas, and so many others in the Bible who left this teaching.

I learned the importance and responsibility of having a mentor in my life. We know that our greatest mentor should always be Jesus Christ, but a suitable sister in our lives is also important, as we see in Proverbs 11:14.

What I learn, I immediately put into practice. Just as God teaches us, Paul passed his wisdom on to Timothy, and my mentor passes her wisdom on to everyone she teaches. I want to leave these words of encouragement to all: Always be faithful to God, and we will be faithful in everything we do. Never forget the teachings of our Lord and practice them, for poor are those who know but do not practice them.

Seek a Christian mentor, learn their teachings, and put them into practice. This way, you'll become a mentor in the future, helping other sisters. Dedicate yourself to God and to others. People are very important to God, and if they're important to Him, they must be important to us too. John 3:16 reminds us of this. Today, I mentor four sisters, to the honor and glory of our Lord Jesus. Learn, practice, and teach others.

May God always continue to bless us. May His name be glorified and exalted forever and ever. Amen.

powered by social2s

Written by Kathy Reagan, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Texas.

Think about someone you consider ‘an athlete.’ What comes to mind first? How hard they exercise and train and how dedicated they are, right? Rain or shine, they are carrying on with their training. Nothing stops them.

Are we just as dedicated to our spiritual training (Heb 5:14)?

I began my karate training at age 29. It helped me on many levels: physically (strength, flexibility, balance, and agility to name a few) and mentally (to stay focused and humble). It took three years of daily classes and practice outside of class to achieve my first black belt rank. After that, I was blessed to open my own dojo (karate school) which I had for over 20 years. I had many students throughout the years who trained hard, not only in my classes but also daily at home. These students were a constant delight!

There are many parallels between physical and spiritual training! For both:

We need the will to succeed – it takes deliberate effort. 1 Corinthians 9:24 (ESV) says, “Do you not know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” God’s will is for each of us to “...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2Pe 3:18). Growth in any area isn’t easy, whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual. But we choose to work hard, in the study of His Word, to see improvements in ourselves.

We need daily self-discipline – Let’s read on in 1 Corinthians 9:25, “Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one.” Athletes train hard every single day, not just occasionally or when they feel like it, but consistently.

In what we internalize – spiritual food. Psalm 119:11, “I have stored up Your Word in my heart, that I might not sin against You,” and Colossians 3:16, “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly,” emphasize the importance of Christ living in us. We know that when we allow the world in through our eyes and ears (ungodly TV, videos, reading material, music), it’s like an athlete bingeing on junk food and expecting to do well in competition. It just won’t happen.
In what we do – “But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1Pe 1:15). In James 1:27, we see that God’s will is for us to “…keep oneself unstained from the world.”
In how we think - “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:2). In 2 Corinthians 10:5, we’re instructed to “Take every thought captive to obey Christ.”

Is self-control always easy? No, it is rarely easy. That’s why we rely on our Father, laying each struggle at His feet, bringing each challenge to Him in prayer.

We need daily practice – Of the karate students I taught, the ones who succeeded were those who practiced daily, in class and at home. There are many ways to practice our service to God! What gifts has God given you? Do you have a heart for the poor? Are you able to teach? Are you a natural encourager? Do you love to show hospitality? Just like an athlete practices every day to get better, we also get better at serving God as we step out in faith and serve others. James 1:27 tells us “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction…”.

I had a few students, over the years, who achieved their black belts and then went on to open their own karate schools. They were fully trained. “A student is not above his master”, but when fully trained, will be like his master. Matthew 10:24-25

Spiritual training is so much more important in this life than physical training!

With physical training, you might get in great shape and be lightning fast, strong and agile, but that only has small value for a Christian. Rather “…train yourself for godliness, for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come” (1Ti 4:7-8).

Sisters, let’s make the deliberate effort to grow in the grace and knowledge of God’s Word – study! Ask for God’s help daily to exercise self-control in all things – pray! And intentionally choose ways to imitate Jesus every single day by ministering to others – practice!

As spiritual athletes, I pray that we are a constant delight to our Father in heaven, obedient students who train hard in everyday life to be like our Master.

powered by social2s

Written by Kat Bittner, Iron Rose Sister Ministries Board Member in Colorado

Discipleship is the process of learning from and following a master or teacher. In the Christian context, it specifically refers to the lifelong commitment to follow Jesus Christ, learn from His teachings, and strive to live according to His example. This includes actively applying our faith in daily life and helping others to do the same.

For many believers, however, the word “discipleship” is unnerving. The mere thought of teaching others about Jesus and how to live a faithful life can be intimidating. Perhaps the thing most frightful for Christians is not the act of discipleship but knowing how to live out discipleship. Many of my generation, raised in the church, became accustomed to door-knocking or sharing a filmstrip series about disciples. Gospel meetings and church revivals were popular for reaching a large number of people in a short amount of time. While those means of sharing the Word of God with others were popular and could be fruitful, they were uncomfortable and ineffective ways for many Christians to make disciples.

Yet discipleship isn’t just one thing we should do as Christians; it is the very thing we should do. If we are truly living as followers of Christ, we must share Him with others. Jesus compels us to do that very one thing!

Go and make followers of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt 28:19 NLT)

Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all scripture is useful for training us to do what is right (among other things) and to equip us to do good works. Scripture also repeatedly tells us that we have been given varied and unique talents which can be used to serve others, to make disciples, and to glorify God (1Pe 4:10-11; Ex 35:10; Eph 2:10; Ro 12:4-8; 1Co 12:4-11).

It is with these gifts – or rather, these tools – that God has given to each of us that we should use to "disciple": to make disciples, modeling and teaching what it means to be faithful followers (Mt 28:20). I use my unique talents to share Jesus in a way that is comfortable for me yet fulfills my faithfulness in making disciples.

For example, I love Jesus, and I love food! And I believe God has given me a love of food, the gift of gab, and the skills to cook well so that I can share common ground with others where we might not have Jesus in common. Chef James Beard said that “food is our common ground, a universal experience.” When I provide a meal for a nonbeliever, serve food at a community kitchen for the homeless, or organize a meal for a community outreach or missions event, I can use food as common ground with those who might not otherwise share Jesus in common with me.

I meet people in their place of need and then communicate that Jesus is the reason why their need is being met. That communication might simply be saying “Jesus loves you” or “to God be the glory,” which sometimes sparks greater conversation. In this way, I am being a disciple and inviting others to be disciples through the talents God has gifted me with to do good things. The same can be said of Christians who serve on medical missions, those who minister to the sick or shut-in, or those who provide counsel and assistance to people in crisis. Christians actively doing good for others in ways they are uniquely gifted and in doing those good deeds share Jesus and their own testimony of faith are proactively seeking opportunities to be and make disciples.

My dear sisters, a Christian disciple is one who is changed by Jesus to follow and learn from Him daily. It is one who assists in the spreading of the Good News and is committed to the mission of Jesus (1Jn 2:6; Mk 1:17; Jn 13:35; Ac 1:8). Using our unique talents – those training tools – to share Jesus could look very different for everyone. God may have gifted you a sweet voice for singing Christmas carols in your neighborhood. God may have gifted you with the skills to paint an image of what Heaven might be like. Maybe you have been gifted with patience to visit the elderly or babysit a neighbor’s child when they suddenly get called to work.

German pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer once remarked, “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.” Every Christian, young or old, newly baptized or tenured in faith, must be committed to discipleship. Jesus’ command to make disciples is fulfilled each time we acknowledge Him in our good works. And we can make disciples in ways that use our tools, those God-given gifts, to share Jesus without hesitation.

How will you be and make disciples using your uniquely gifted tools?

powered by social2s

Written by Rayne Paz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Salvador, Brazil

Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68-69 NIV)

Do you remember what or who led you to Christ? There are many paths that lead someone to know Jesus. Some people knew Him from a young age through their parents or guardians, while others come to know Him as teenagers or adults.

In the verses we will work through today, we will see that some people had the privilege of meeting Christ personally, but there was one common detail: the message was not enough for them to remain with Him. In fact, the message seemed somewhat irrelevant by worldly standards. In John chapter 6 (read the entire chapter), Jesus was becoming known; it was no longer necessary for Him to be introduced to the people who came to Him. He seemed like a good teacher, with good things to offer His followers, especially in the most recent get-together where there was even a free meal. But this time, merely thinking He was a good teacher that shared good physical food was not sufficient to continue following Him. Jesus leaves the carnal sphere and presents to those people the true benefit of following Him. However, it was not exactly what the crowd expected to hear.

Just like those people, we once came to know Christ, perhaps initially through some of His material blessings, but there comes a time when we are confronted with truths that are hard to accept. We are put to the test as to whether we are remaining in Him for the right reasons. There comes a time when we must decide to stay. Jesus’ words confront our deepest convictions, and suddenly we find ourselves giving up what we previously thought in order to believe exclusively in Him.

The word used by one of His followers in verse 60 translated as “hard” comes from the Greek word sklhro/ß (sklēros). It does not mean “hard to understand” but rather “harsh,” “severe,” or “unpleasant.” Therefore, it is not that Christ’s message is incomprehensible to us, but rather that it is uncomfortable to our will; it is disagreeable to “self,” and at times it frustrates our expectations.

Jesus’ words were offensive, not incomprehensible. However, sometimes being offended is necessary to make a decision. Jesus already knows our answer, whether we will follow Him or not, just as He also knew the disciples’ answer. But He wants to hear us say it to others and to ourselves, just as Peter recognized, accepted, and proclaimed that there is no other way (verse 68). Deciding to stay means understanding who Jesus is, His redemptive work, and the plan of salvation. It is looking with spiritual eyes of satiety and contentment at the living and eternal food, not waiting for what we may enjoy in this life that is temporary and useless. Jesus is the food that gives eternal life, satisfying us forever.

There is a Portuguese song that sums this up very well: “Christ offers what He is.” Jesus offered the bread of life because He is life itself. Unfortunately, the people in John 6 were not prepared for this. Life here on earth mattered more to them.

Some will not bear this truth or will not be willing to give up their convictions in the name of Christ. Like Peter, we must recognize that there is no one else with whom we can completely trust our lives, not because of what He offers, but because of who He is. That moment was an important step for the twelve: becoming a disciple consists of giving up this life and recognizing that outside of Christ there is nowhere to go.

What about us? Will we decide to stay?

powered by social2s

by Elesa Goad Mason, volunteer with Iron Rose Sisters Ministries in Texas

I have a message from God in my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before their eyes. In their own eyes they flatter themselves too much to detect or hate their sin. (Ps 36:1-2 NIV)

I spent the first 13 years of my life growing up with one brother. Typical brother/sister relationship; friends one minute, then not the next. We never really had that much in common, so our lives and interests went in different directions. It wasn’t until after college when we both were married and building our own families that we grew closer and were more involved in each other’s lives.

Fast forward many years to when most of our children were grown and our lives were successfully running full steam ahead, or so it seemed. One afternoon at the end of a long day, I received a call from him, emotional and very remorseful. He felt God had placed it on his heart to confess a sin that could put his life as he knew it in jeopardy. I was stunned because, other than dad, my brother was the one person in my life whom I felt had such a strong relationship with the Lord that I never dreamed he would ever have to confess a sin publicly, much less to me privately. I was crushed by his sorrow but also amazed by his strength to do the right thing, not knowing the consequences, and to begin a process of confession and subsequent healing that has taken many years to complete.

Since the beginning of time, God has used the sinful nature and weaknesses of man with various personalities to fulfill His will and accomplish His purposes. Apostle Peter comes to mind readily as a sinful man who was impetuous when he quickly lost his faith in Jesus and began to sink in the stormy waters out of doubt and fear (Mt 14:29-31), and as an impulsive man who cut off the ear of Malchus, the high priest’s servant, out of anger because they were arresting Jesus in the garden that fateful night (Jn 18:10). He also quickly declared his loyalty to the Lord and just as quickly denied him three times to protect himself from the angry mob (Mk 14:66-72).

It's so easy to have good intentions in doing the right thing, and just as easy to not. All of that about Peter is to say that God used him in miraculous ways for His will. God channeled Peter’s bold nature to speak an amazing sermon that resulted in the salvation of over 3,000 souls and used him as a pillar in the New Testament church (Ac 10, 15). God is loving and forgiving and used the sinful natures of many people to complete His spiritual purposes; David, “a man after God’s own heart,” Moses, Jonah, Rahab, and the list goes on and on.

After recently talking with my brother, who graciously relived a very difficult time in his life to help me, he explained that, like David in Psalm 38 after his sin with Bathsheba, he felt physically sick and totally crushed down by the Lord because of his sin. He, my brother, had no choice but to confess his sin to his wife and family and throw himself on the mercies of the Lord and those he loved dearly to face whatever consequences he was given. He believed with all his heart that his salvation was because of Jesus on the cross, and not for anything he’s done or could ever do.

God’s favor in us is because of His covenants and promises, period. Like David, despite his sinful nature, God blessed my brother beyond measure, full and packed down. He blessed him with an amazing wife and a long, beautiful marriage, and children and grandchildren who look up to him and honor him as a man of God. As do I. And like Peter, God uses my brother as a pillar in the spiritual community both locally, statewide, and around the world. All because he chose God over sin.

Our relationship with God is wholly dependent on our grateful hearts and true penitence in our sinful natures. God wants to be first, to be loved, and to be trusted in all aspects of our lives and everything we do. Confession is part of that. But living a life with less judgment, filled with loving others more than ourselves, is equally as important in our journeys through this life.

Our reward is an eternity with the very God we worship and the ones we love dearly who have gone before and will follow us after we’re there. I can’t wait!

powered by social2s

Written by Naijuvelin Díaz Leal, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

The word “follow” indicates that we go after, imitate, accompany, or give continuity to something. As far as repentance is concerned, we understand it as ceasing to do evil and changing one's attitude, grieving, and feeling pain for having offended God.

In Luke 22, the Lord Jesus predicts Peter's denial:

‘Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ But he replied, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me’. (Lk 22:31-34 NIV)

When we decide to follow someone or something, that implies commitment on our part; change, union, fidelity, firmness, and transformation, which are all parts of a continuous process that leads us to adopt certain characteristics by which we imitate a model.

Peter experienced the tragic situation of his denial (described in Luke 22:61-62), which he thought he would never do. However, he proved otherwise with his actions, which is why many label him as a traitor or hypocrite. And likewise, turning his eyes to Jesus, he perhaps remembered His repeated questions: "Peter, do you love me?" (Jn 21:15-19) and even though the Lord knew his heart, He gave the great responsibility of caring for the early church to a man with errors, imperfect.

Throughout the book of John, we observe the dominant characteristics of Peter, passionate about Jesus but, at times, dominated by his emotions, in which his impulsive ego reigned more. But in the presence of Jesus, he bowed down. We notice a fragile, grieved Peter, who leads us to recognize changes in attitudes and behaviors that imply recognizing errors, feeling remorse, and taking measures to not repeat them.

To follow Peter in repentance should be to imitate him in the decision to acknowledge sin, turn from it, and follow the Lord faithfully. It is a commitment to change, bearing fruits resulting from repentance, renewing the way of thinking and acting from a spiritual perspective, according to God's will.

Acts 2:14 teaches us the invitation that Peter makes in Jerusalem in response to that repentance that brought about in him restoration and obedience, fulfilling Jesus' previous command, "strengthen your brothers" (Lk 22:32). It is, then, how Peter revalidates this request, strengthens his commitment to follow Jesus and, in turn, leaves us the great teaching that during this process the mercy of God is glorified, which transforms us through the Holy Spirit. This is living in faith in Jesus, fueled not by emotions, but by the Holy Spirit.

Like Peter, you and I go through processes, perhaps on a daily basis, in the face of a world so convulsed that it weakens us until we fall into sin or we err. Let us remember the faithful witness of Peter, who wept bitterly then went on to seek, through his repentance, our Father's forgiveness. Are you willing to follow Peter in repentance? Do you want to be transformed just like Peter was?

To follow Peter in repentance is to reflect him at every step, to regret or feel deep pain for having offended God. By the grace of Christ, are you willing to revalidate the commitment to change and transformation—to continue in holiness?

powered by social2s

Written by Claudia Malaquias, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Minas Gerais, Brazil

There is a fable about two donkeys who were walking to make deliveries, one with a load of sugar, and the other with a load of sponges. After walking for a while, they came across a fast-flowing river.

The donkey with the load of sponges said, “How will we cross? What if the river takes us?”

To which the other responded, “Nothing is going to happen! Follow me and you will see that we are safe.”

As he entered the river, his load of sugar dissolved and, becoming lighter, made the crossing easier. “What did I tell you? Now follow my example and come!”

But, to no surprise, as the other donkey entered the river, the load of sponges swelled with the water, became much heavier, and the current carried the poor animal away.

It is human nature to seek to belong to a group and to do so we often succumb to social influences, which experts call conformism: the passive acceptance of norms, rules, customs, and ideas that shape behavior without any reflection on our part. Therefore, following others without due diligence can result in serious consequences!

When I was first converted, still inexperienced in the Word, I tried to join one of the women's small groups in my congregation just by observing how they presented themselves. Following human instincts, I chose a lively, talkative group that was well-informed about everything that was happening in the church.

However, with time and maturity, I realized that the spiritual fruits that I needed to grow were not really being practiced there. The apostle Paul’s phrase: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1Co 11:1 NIV) is an invitation to imitate him, who clearly reflected our Lord, Christ Jesus, the perfection of love and sacrifice, while at the same time warning us to keep company with those whose choices are guided by God’s will.

At each step of our journey in the Kingdom, we need to direct ourselves to imitate those who have already matured in faith—people who show in their lives the fruits of the Spirit that we may still need to polish in our lives. In this way, little by little, we too will be an example for other brothers and sisters.

Paul felt confident in inviting others to become disciples of Christ by following his example. Do we have the same courage?

Knowing the Scriptures, developing intimacy with God through prayer, meditating on the life of Christ, and obeying His commandments are important for deepening our faith and communion with the Holy Spirit. With these practices as the load we carry, we will be an example for others, and it will become easier to discern good examples for us to follow as well.

In the fable of the donkeys, the mistake was to imitate without considering the load of each one. Sometimes that can be our mistake, too. May we seek our spiritual growth each day through the imitation of those who truly practice the example of Christ.

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (1Co 11:1 NIV)

Immediately after college graduation, my parents and I caravaned me straight to Atlanta, Georgia, where I was going to work as an assistant to the Director of Missions, Bob Brown, longtime missionary in Venezuela. I had interned under him for a summer two years prior and had already begun to travel extensively with him and others to Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, and even Kazakhstan.

I began to make many of those trips on my own, speaking at ladies’ conferences, supporting new church plants, serving through evangelistic campaigns, counseling at youth camps and teaching a class to the young women. Amongst the local Kingdom workers, I was known as Michelle “secretaria de Bob” (Bob’s secretary). The moniker became my last name or primary identifier.

After a year and a half working together in Atlanta, Bob and his family decided to accept the invitation of a small group in Denver, Colorado, to collaborate in a church plant in the southern part of the city (Highlands Ranch). Additionally, the goal was to establish a Spanish-speaking congregation in the area. Over 33% of the population was Hispanic, yet there were no churches of Christ in the entire metropolitan area.

I was invited to join the team that was forming to meet those Kingdom needs in Denver. But I was torn. I had also been invited to take over the job Bob would be vacating as Director of Missions. And at the same time, I was offered the opportunity for full support for 3-5 years during which I would serve as a missionary in Venezuela, in the city of my choice.

Aaaaahhhhh, what should I do?! You can imagine the sleepless nights of wrestling in prayer and indecision. I also sought wise counsel regarding this weighty decision that I felt would alter the course of my entire life.

Naturally, I asked my mentor and boss for his advice. One of my arguments for not going to Denver was that I didn’t want people to say that I was following Bob… “Oh, of course she moved to Denver. She’s just following Bob.” His response to my fear, “So what if they say you are following me? What’s the problem?”

“I shouldn’t follow a man! I should only, ever follow Christ!” (Yes, I know my rebuttal might’ve been different if I were married…)

“Go read 1 Corinthians 11:1.”

“I’ve read it, and I have a problem with it!” (A previous translation I was referencing mentally was “Follow me, as I follow Christ.”)

“Then I think you need to go meditate on that verse.”

“Ugh!”

I can recall that conversation and my level of frustration as if it had happened yesterday. What I also remember is the time that I did spend meditating on that verse. In my immature interpretation, I was focused on a frustration with following Paul or anyone that was not Christ Himself. Through prayer and meditation on 1 Corinthians 11:1, God revealed the importance of the 2^nd phrase, “as I follow Christ.”

The Lord, through Paul, did not call us to follow others blindly, indiscriminately, or naively. God calls us to follow Christ and walk in His steps (1Pe 2:21). But God has also provided us imperfect examples, other Christ followers, from whom we can learn and grow.

If someone sins, I should not follow them into sin. Yet if someone shows repentance, turns from their sin, and follows Christ in their steps toward accepting the grace and mercy God offers, I should follow in their steps of repentance in whatever area that applies to me.

Follow me, as I follow Christ. “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1Co 11:1). I pray that we can all say those words and declare ourselves faithful Christ followers who imperfectly navigate walking in the light as He is in the light (1Jn 1:7).

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1Jn 1:5-10)

Who are you following today?

Who is looking to you as their example of how to follow Christ?

powered by social2s

Written by Johanna Zabala, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

Once, when I was dressed in white on a rainy day, I got muddy. Immediately, you could see everyone's discomfort when they saw me with that dirt stain. Since that day, I don't dress as often in white, and I prefer dark colors to avoid showing dirt and stains.

That beautiful and memorable dress was never the same and I began to take better care of it. I managed, yes, to remove the stain, but every time I wore it, I was more aware of how I needed to be careful to keep it clean. I believe that everything is a learning experience and makes us grow. So I have already learned that it is too easy to transform something white and clean into something dirty, but not so easy to transform it back again after it is dirty.

Ever since my new spiritual birth, I celebrate new life in Christ Jesus (2Co 5:17). In my new life in Christ, every day is a process full of metamorphosis. Amid great challenges, passions, sacrifices, distractions, struggles, and convictions of faith in our Lord, the Holy Spirit does a constant work in the flesh that polishes without equal like refined gold for the glory of our Almighty God (1Pe 1:7).

The Holy Spirit, while working on my constant transformation, has cleansed me of unholy feelings, thoughts, and actions. In accomplishing such spiritual work, because we are human at the same time, an inner change is needed in order to reflect the Holy Spirit and for God to work and transform my character from day to day, to perfect my attitude, and make it like that of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not easy; it is a walk requiring perseverance and constant denial of myself (Lk 9:23).

Every time I evaluate what my life was like before I met Christ, I thank God that I don't know what my life would be like without the transforming action of the Holy Spirit, especially in moments when faith grows weary. But this results in setting aside my comfortable position and focusing on the denial of my earthly purposes and desires, with an eye on Jesus (Heb 12:2), so that I can follow Him and love Him in obedience and truth.

What does it require of me? Effort, trust, and perseverance. I must say, do, and act in the way that only He would act. I must also recognize at every moment the divine and intercessory action of God molding my mind and heart.

In that transforming love that has enveloped and made me fall in love with Him since He first loved me, it has been God Himself in His infinite power and mercy that has lifted me up and strengthened me in all areas of life with Him. He began in my character and has tamed me from the heart to form in me the holy purpose that bears His name.

Everything in life goes through transformation—everything changes—therefore, do not resist change. For you will rise with Him, through obedience to the gospel (Ac 2:38) and by being crucified together with our Savior (Gal 2:20). He is our Prince of Peace, the Alpha and the Omega, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Faithful Friend, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and of course, the One who transforms us. Follow Him and He will do in you what He is doing in me.

powered by social2s

Written by Ayane Nayara, Brazil Assistant for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

When something comes into existence, it goes through several processes. A seed, when planted in the ground and watered, goes through several stages until it becomes a plant that bears fruit. It absorbs water, activates its embryo, and then begins the process of growth and development. It takes days, months, and years. And even when it grows and seems to be at its limit, it continues to grow and transform. With each season, it goes through changes and cycles until the end of its life.

The Christian journey follows the same path… We are born in Christ, and then we enter a process of growth and transformation. It is spiritual, but it goes beyond that. It is a new lifestyle.

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2Co 3:18 NIV)

In chapter three of 2 Corinthians, Paul speaks about the moment when Moses went up the mountain to speak with God, and when he returned, his face shone so brightly that the Israelites could not look at him. Moses was in the presence of God. He was His representative, so his face reflected His glory, like a mirror.

Paul then makes an analogy to our lives today, but in a much more hopeful and free way. Through Christ, we can behold the glory of God and reflect His image in us. We do not need to cover our faces because the reflection of Christ that He transmits needs to be seen by the world with freedom through the Spirit and grace.

But this requires growth and transformation from us. It is Christ who needs to be seen, not us. And this transformation begins when we start to live with the Lord and spend time with Him. Looking at God transforms us. If we look at Him and contemplate Him as Moses did, we can reflect Him in our lives.

For us to be close to God in this way, reconciliation is necessary. We cannot represent or reflect the image of someone we do not know or have a relationship with. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2Co 5:20).

If we continue reading the following chapters of 2 Corinthians, Paul mentions something that can hinder our process.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2Co 6:14-16)

What can hinder us the most is our attempt to maintain the same lifestyle as those who have no relationship with God while we try to reflect God. It’s contradictory. I am not saying that from the moment you reconcile with God, you will no longer have any relationship with those who are not connected to Him. On the contrary, we need to reflect Christ to these people. However, we need to adopt a new lifestyle in communion with others who have the same goal— to be transformed by Christ.

For this, we have the Holy Spirit who guides us and transforms us from the inside out. And we have His church, full of men and women who are in the same process, being shaped by Him and sharpening one another.

And I have news for you: this process is not a one-time occurrence. It is ongoing! It is a daily journey of growth, in which we fight against sin and the things that want to separate us from God. The transformation will require perseverance from us. On this journey we will be pressured, we will be perplexed, we will be persecuted, but the Almighty God, whose ambassadors we are in this world, is with us. “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2Co 4:8-9).

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. (2Cor 4:6)

With this, I encourage you to seek more and more each day the transformation that only God can carry out in us.

powered by social2s

Written by Amy Mathis, Iron Rose Sister Ministries Volunteer In New Mexico

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Ro 12:2 ESV)

I guess you could say I have had two transformations. The first one happened in March 2024, when I was “re-baptized” [story/explanation in a previous blog post]. After that, I thought I was doing well. I went beyond my comfort zone. I became more involved at church by organizing and leading two ladies’ Bible studies and speaking twice at both the fall and spring "Higher Ground" retreats. I even stepped up in more of a leadership role at work.

All that changed in June of 2024. At that time, I had a mental health break due to issues within my family. I attempted twice to get inpatient treatment at my local hospital, but due to factors beyond my control, I was unsuccessful. After that I chose outpatient treatment and found that God’s Word was true.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great powers as it is working. (Jas 5:16, ESV)

Thankfully, after seeing some providers that didn't fit, I was able to find a Christian therapist and started a therapy called EMDR [Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing]. Since August of 2024, I have made progress, but I am still working toward my goals.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. (2Co 3:18)

Because of this progress, I am finding the courage to finally get my driver's license when we move to Texas! I can now think of memories about my mother, without dwelling on the bad memories and, instead, remember the good times we had. I am reminding myself of the truth that my miscarriage was not my fault, as I had been thinking before.

So, I guess you can say that I am working on my second transformation and with my Lord and Savior's help, I can add to my imperfect testimony in Christ!

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20)

From Michelle J. Goff: Amy, thank you for bravely sharing your ongoing testimony of transformation! Thank you for sharing the truths In Scripture that have been significant for you in this process. And thank you for letting Christ be the author of your transformation.

Dearest reader of our blog: If you struggle with some of the similar lies and challenging issues within your family, I want to recommend one of our most popular books recently: Who Has the Last Word? Cutting through Satan's Lies with the Truth of God's Word. You will be guided to recognize the lie, replace the lie with truth, and remember the truth through a specific Bible verse. Let's join together In our Imperfect testimonies of transformation in Christ.

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, Volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Romans 12:1,2 ESV: I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:1,2 NLT: And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Three words stand out in this scripture:

1. The word “sacrifice” means giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important. Even though the Israelites offered a lamb or another animal as a sacrifice, it was an outward sign that did not always reflect a heart for God.

Sacrifices were common to the first-century world. They had been part of religious practices from the time of Cain and Abel.

2. “Conformed” means to be in agreement with or molded into. As disciples of Jesus, we are not to follow the ways of the world because we have a higher calling— to become like Jesus.

3. “Transformed” is a change in a person’s nature, the way they think and the way they live.

A true disciple of the LORD offers their whole being as a living sacrifice to Him— totally living their life for Jesus, instead of following the ways of the world.

When we give our lives completely to God, we sacrifice our wants and desires for His will, allowing Him to transform us into the image of Jesus.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. (2Co 3:18)

As disciples of Jesus, we do not follow the culture of this world, but we go to God’s Word and let His teachings mold our thinking into His will.

Paul tells us in Colossians 2:6: “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

Just as the caterpillar sheds its safe cocoon and bursts into a beautiful butterfly— totally different from the little creature that spun the cocoon— we, too, shed the old life of going along with what the world does and seek to do the will of Jesus.

Peter wrote in 2 Peter 1:4: “He has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.”

Long ago, David wrote in Psalm 119:15,16: “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.” In verse 97 of that same chapter, we read: “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Then in verse 105, David tells us how God’s Word guides us: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

When feasting on the message God has given us becomes more important than spending time in the things the world offers, we will find we are transformed into the likeness of our Redeemer and LORD.

As we think about what is important to us, are we giving our lives completely to God to be holy and acceptable to Him?

powered by social2s

Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

My husband’s current wife is not the same woman he married. Now hold on, it seems like I am talking about two women, but they are both me! Let me explain: we are constantly changing and transforming. The things that happen to us (good or bad), the people we meet, what we hear, and truly anything with which we have contact have an influence on us.

Over time, I have become more sensitive and patient with some things, but also incisive and direct with others. My husband has also changed over time, and we are under the impression that many things that were challenging to us as a couple in the beginning are now smoother because we know each other and work better together, sharing a purpose. The truth is that whether we like it or not, we are gradually transformed, intentionally or spontaneously, and people around us notice these changes just as the rulers, elders, and teachers of the law in Jerusalem did. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (Ac 4:13 NIV).

Peter and John were regular people, but because they were close to Jesus, they were changed into confident and courageous men, aware that the preaching of the gospel was the most important part of their existence, even if it put their lives at risk. From regular fishermen to fishers of men, communion with Jesus transformed them. It is not any different for us — the more time we spend with Christ, the more intense our transformation is.

Before this transformation can be noticed by the people around us, it must happen within us. It starts when we submit ourselves to Jesus, desiring to be more and more like Him. We can’t do it alone. Transformation is not simply a human effort; it is the Holy Spirit working in our hearts. By giving our hearts and lives to Jesus, the Spirit acts within us, changes our values, removes our vices, and makes us more and more like Christ.

Throughout this process, there is something very precious about contemplation. As already mentioned, everything around us has an influence on us and can help or hinder our transformation process— hence the importance of silencing the distractions around us and focusing on our relationship with God. “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2Co 3:18). The word of God gives us the opportunity to know the wonders and power of the Creator, the character and teachings of Jesus, and the miracles and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We have so much to contemplate in order to be transformed.

In what area of your life do you need to grow and develop to be transformed into the likeness of Christ? What thorn do you need to remove to be more like Him?

In what area of your life are you striving to deepen or need someone to help you maintain your commitment to be transformed?

May we maintain the strength and enthusiasm to be transformed, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus until the day of His return. “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Php 1:6).

powered by social2s

Written by Elesa Goad Mason, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Texas

Have you ever loved something or someone so much that you knew in your soul God had a plan for your life with your greatest desire in it? Well, even if you don’t, Jacob did— at least when it came to love. In the beginning of Genesis 29, Jacob begins his journey to find a place to work and live, with his mother’s brother Laban. He needed to find a place to “hide out” to avoid his brother Esau’s anger and desire to kill him for pulling off the successful “deceit of the century” of his father, Isaac, for Esau’s birthright and blessing as the oldest son.

Fear took him there, but love at first sight kept him there in Harran. After staying with his uncle for a month, Laban approached Jacob about a paid position working for him.

Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.” (Ge 29:18)

Laban readily agreed, and the beautiful wedding was set in motion. However, upon waking up after the wedding night, when the alcohol wore off and the veils were removed, to his dismay, Jacob realized that he had bedded Leah, the older sister, instead of his heart’s desire.

Therefore, he was tricked into an additional seven years. The next morning, Jacob’s ranting led Laban to agree to let Jacob marry Rachel after he completed Leah’s one-week marriage bed, but only with the guarantee of seven more years of labor. I often wonder why Jacob was so shocked at the whole plan. After all, wasn’t it his own deception and struggle for redemption that landed him there in the first place?

By marrying both daughters, he created a very complex, eclectic family of his own. Both women competed for his love and attention. In biblical times, the sign of a successful wife was a fertile woman who could bear many children for her husband, particularly males who would carry on the name as well as the bloodline of the father. Leah, the older daughter of Laban, was described as tender-eyed, while the younger, Rachel, was described as lovely in form and beautiful. It was well known that Jacob deeply loved Rachel and was silent about his feelings toward Leah.

This rivalry leads to the birth of twelve sons, who become the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel. The birth of these sons symbolizes the continuation of Jacob's lineage and the fulfillment of God's promise to make his descendants as numerous as the stars.

I often wonder how taking circumstances into our control, such as Laban deceiving Jacob with the “wife switch” wedding ordeal, shows the glory and compassion of the Lord in ways we could never imagine. Leah may have thought she was getting quite a catch, but in the end, she turned out to be unloved and unwanted. God showed Leah empathy by opening her womb to six sons for Jacob, who had no idea during his lifetime what she really did for him… More than 30 generations later (Mt 1), Jesus was born through the line of Judah, Jacob’s fourth son through Leah. Who knew!? God knew!

God uses our unmet expectations to meet His needs— His plans for us. The smile across the grocery store, moving out of the way of an impatient driver, helping a stranger who appears to be in need are ways in which we may have no idea that we are meeting God’s expectations of us. And that’s just the little stuff. When children run away, when marriages fail, when dear friends pass away much sooner than we think they should, God has a purpose and a plan for everything in our lives and decisions.

When we just can’t understand why our plans aren’t turning out the way we had hoped they would, we must believe that God may be changing the wedding ceremony from the dress rehearsal for a reason.

Find a way to encourage those in your lives, including yourself, to trust in the journey deviations that God places in our path to fulfill His desire for salvation for everyone (2Pe 3:9).

powered by social2s

By Wendy Neill, IRSM’s Partners Ambassador

When we live our lives as wise women following our Savior, we will be invited to the biggest and greatest event in all of history: the Second Coming of Christ. I love to visualize that day. I think of it as three events in one:

The Ultimate Royal Wedding
The Master’s Feast
A Victorious Celebration

The Ultimate Royal Wedding

All royal weddings, celebrity weddings, and movie weddings pale in comparison to the wedding we await in heaven. We know the groom is our precious Savior, Jesus Christ. Who is the bride? Your initial response might be “Me!” But let’s look in the Bible to get the bigger picture.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:25-27 NKJV)

Jesus washes His bride, the church, cleansing her of anything impure to “present her to Himself.” In Revelation 19, John tells us our good works are the clean linen that makes up the gown of the bride.

“The wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy people.) Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" (Rev 19:7-9 NIV)

I can’t wait to participate in this wedding of the ages and to enjoy the wedding supper of the Lamb.

The Master’s Feast

See what you think of this vivid language in Isaiah regarding the feast God prepares:

On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. (Isa 25:6-8)

When I taught this lesson to our ladies’ class, I conspired with our seniors to surprise my class with a heavenly banquet. Some brought homemade treats, some gave me money to buy what I needed, and some came ahead for a few hours and decorated the table with fresh flowers, lovely place settings, and little goblets. With the money, I bought a chocolate fountain and set various fruits and other dippable foods around it. It was an evening to remember. We left a seat at the head of the table for Christ, anticipating feasting with Him in heaven.

A Victorious Celebration

In the United States, we have “March Madness,” a national college basketball tournament. “Underdogs” (teams that haven’t won as many games) often beat the favored teams. In 2021, the college I had attended managed to get into the tournament. Although they were serious underdogs, I still chose them to win out of loyalty. Sure enough, they beat the University of Texas by one point! You can imagine the celebration on that court. Everyone was bouncing like pogo sticks, hugging one another, and exchanging high fives.

As Christians, we sometimes feel like we are the underdogs. Satan appears to be winning. But unlike sports teams, we know that we are going to win, and Satan will lose.

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Rev 20:10)

We aren’t the only ones who will celebrate the victory. In Revelation 5:11-14, we see “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” angels and every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea singing to our worthy champion: the Lamb. Imagine all those angels and animals singing in a tidal wave of sound that doesn’t hurt your ears but is utterly thrilling.

Are you eagerly anticipating the big event: The Ultimate Royal Wedding, the Master’s Feast, and a Victorious Celebration?

powered by social2s

Written by Luzia Casali, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Porto Alegre, Brazil

The Word of God applies the symbolism of marriage to the relationship between Christ and His church. Through personal sacrifice, He chose the church to be His bride.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. (Eph 5:25-27 NIV)

In biblical times, after the groom committed to marriage, he would leave his parents’ house to build his own house. After the house was ready, he would marry and take his wife to live in it. We have the same comparison of Christ with the church in Revelation 19:7: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.”

In the Gospel of John, chapter 14, when Jesus spoke to His disciples, He had this Hebrew custom in mind (vv2-3). The following advice, given during that conversation, is useful for the church today.

Do Not Be Troubled

Jesus advises that even when we face personal struggles and trials, we should follow His steps. He is the way (v. 6). He is the one who will give us the right direction for our lives. We can have the peace that surpasses all understanding only by trusting in Him, having the full conviction that He is preparing the rooms and will come to take us to our eternal home.

Believe in Jesus and God

He clearly states that we must believe in both the Father and the Son. And if we know Christ, we will know God as well. Whoever sees Christ sees God.

The way we know Christ is by reading the Gospels. They contain the life, teachings, miracles, death, and resurrection of the Son of God.

Obedience to Christ is a Demonstration of Love

Jesus makes it clear that love for Him and obedience to His commandments always go hand in hand. And how can we obey His commandments? By knowing them.

How can we know them? By studying the Word of God. The Bible is the “mouth” through which God speaks to us. It was written by men, but they spoke on behalf of God (2Pe 1:20-21; 2Ti 3:15-16). It is in the Word that we will know the will and commandments of the Heavenly Father.

Prayer

Christ wants to have an interpersonal relationship with us. Just as He wants us to know the Father's will and His, He wants to know ours too.

He wants us to ask the Father in His name. It's as if He were our guarantor. While this is fantastic, on the other hand, it creates a lot of responsibility. We can't ask for just anything; we need to be aligned with the Father's will. We need to be grounded in His Word. If it is God's will, it will be granted. We also can't forget that He has sent the Comforter. He promised and fulfilled it. He sent the Holy Spirit, and we are His sanctuary (1Co 6:19).

It is the Holy Spirit who helps us in our prayers. In addition to comforting us, He helps us in our weaknesses and in our prayers (Ro 8:26).

Remain Faithful

Just as the bride had the responsibility to be faithful to the groom, the church of Christ must remain faithful to sound doctrine and His commandments.

We cannot worship other gods. For God, this is like committing adultery, according to Jeremiah 3:13: “Only acknowledge your guilt— you have rebelled against the LORD your God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have not obeyed me.”

Therefore, the groom has already fulfilled His part: He went to prepare a place and sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit of God. We, as the bride of Christ, should not be worried because we believe that the groom has gone to prepare our home and will come for us. We should, however, have faith in God and in His Son, maintain a constant dialogue with Him through reading the Bible, obey the Word, and remain faithful to our merciful God.

powered by social2s

Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator at Iron Rose Sister Ministries

I never liked my name. I wrote other names in all my childhood photo albums. I am not quite sure why this was the case, but I always felt like I had a weird and meaningless name (even in Portuguese, Beliza is not a popular name). No one else had that name, and everyone asked where it came from.

I also never liked my last name. In Brazil, Silva is a very common last name. Today, I recognize that I just wanted to feel special, and having a super common last name went against my desire. Throughout my childhood and early adolescence, I made plans to change my name at the registry office when I turned 18. I made plans to marry a man with a long last name so mine would be “special.”

I did neither.

I continue to be Beliza, and today I like that my name is unusual and that my mother dedicated time and thought to choosing my name (in fact, creating it)! Beliza is a rearrangement of my grandmother's name IZA-BEL -> BEL-IZA). And even when I got married, Silva remained (the registry office did not allow me to remove my last name— only to add my husband's name which, by the way, is not as long as I had imagined, ha-ha).

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it. (Rev 2:17 NIV)

I will receive a new name— I don't know what it will be yet— but like a father who chooses the name of his children, God will give me a new name, remembering that I am an adopted daughter and a part of His family— a name much more special than Beliza— an eternal name.

In the Scriptures, we see that a name is more than just a combination of letters. It is a representation of the essence of the person who bears it. When we say, “in the name of Jesus,” we are talking about Christ Himself, not just a combination of letters. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (Jn 14:13-14).

In addition, giving someone a name was a symbol of the authority one had over that person. Adam named the animals (Ge 2:19), and God had already said that Adam would rule over them (Ge 1:26-28). Joseph and Mary did not choose the name of their son— it was up to God to decide that He would be called Jesus (Mt 1:21). From time to time, we see God changing someone’s name as a symbol of a new status, as was the case of Abraham (from Abram), Sarah (from Sarai), and Israel (from Jacob).

A new name, a new status, a new identity.

May we have the strength and courage to remain firm in faith and receive our new name and crown: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever” (1Co 9:25).

I don’t know whether you like your name or not, but knowing that our Father chooses an eternal name for us should make us grateful for His care and affection for us. It should help us remember that there is no greater love than this—to be called children of God. May we keep this in our hearts until the day the words of Revelation 22:4 are fulfilled: “They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

A first-century Hebrew legend states that a good disciple is covered in the dust of the Rabbi. He follows his teacher’s steps so closely that he cannot escape the dust kicked up by his sandals.

A wise woman who practices closely following the steps of Jesus (1Pe 2:21) will be covered in the dust of the Rabbi. What will she look like?

She will love God and seek Him first (Mt 6:33, 22:37).
She will be known for Christ’s love in her (Jn 13:35).
She will talk with God at all hours (Lk 6:12).
She will openly express her feelings to God through prayer (Mt 26:42).
She will ask for the support of others (Mt 26:37-38).
She will serve others (Mt 20:28).
She will be holy: set apart for a purpose (2Pe 1:16).

This is not an exhaustive list. What other characteristics come to mind that a follower of Christ would “pick up” in the dust of the Rabbi?

The more we walk with Him and talk with Him, the more like Christ we will become. Acts 4:13 is one of my favorite verses because it was obvious to others that two simple, ordinary men had been with Jesus.

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. (NIV)

Can you recall a moment in which it was obvious to others that you had been spending time with Jesus?

At the end of a women’s retreat, after a time of worship on Sunday morning, after a Bible class digging deep into the Word, after an intensive time in prayer… any time we can spend in relationship with our Teacher will become the overflow from which we live, act, and speak. Jesus spoke with His Father frequently so that His words would always be an accurate representation of His Father (Jn 12:49).

One Wednesday night, my mom was on the phone with a friend who commented on how exhausted my mom sounded, recognizing how discouraged she was about a situation. “I am tired,” mom admitted, “but I need to go on into the church building. Thanks for your prayers.”

Mom called the friend back after the evening services, and her friend observed, “Wow! You sound like a different person. Are you still tired? I can tell you were truly uplifted by the time with other Christians.”

When we walk in the dust of the Rabbi, we also have the blessing of spending time with others who are “dusty.” None of us walk the Christian walk perfectly. We are practicing. When one falls, another is there to pick us up (Ecc 4:10). And the closer we each follow in the Rabbi’s steps, the deeper we grow in relationship with one another. A wise woman who practices following closely in the steps of the Rabbi will walk with other disciples who are following Jesus.

Connecting to God and one another more deeply, equipping other women to do so… sounds like a great idea for a women’s ministry!

How do you want to grow closer to Jesus, walking in the dust of the Rabbi?

What is a thorn hindering you from following in His steps?

How can you have another Iron Rose Sister encourage or accompany you to “get dusty”? Thank each other for the opportunity to serve as iron sharpening iron as we practice following in the steps of the Rabbi.

powered by social2s

Written by Juaneylla White, Iron Rose Sister Ministries Board Member in Texas

How do we follow in His steps today? I have been asked this question before.

I think that in their journey with the Eternal One, many people also ask themselves: how can I follow in the steps of Jesus? However, only an honest introspection of how we are walking towards eternity drives us to turn the key within ourselves and seek a more assertive direction, turning our hearts to listen to the voice of our Shepherd.

In John 10:27, Jesus declares, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (NIV). I was not always a sheep, but from a very early age, the seed of faith had been planted in my heart. It took almost two decades, since my early years of life, for me to understand that to be a sheep, I needed to let Jesus be my shepherd and that to follow in His footsteps, I needed to calculate how much this decision would cost me.

I needed to understand that the false gods needed to leave my heart so that Jesus could enter and reign — that I was one of those gods with my own will and righteousness that in reality were just filthy rags (Isa 64:6). I also needed to understand that in addition to repenting and recognizing my desperate need for a Savior, I needed to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him day by day.

For me, following in the footsteps of Jesus has always meant walking as He walked. It seems simple, but it’s not so easy when human nature wants to speak louder and fights against the spirit. Living life in obedience to the Word of God means submitting to His will for my life. I see that this is much more than following rules or completing a weekly checklist, but rather a daily lifestyle that not only pleases God, but represents Him, glorifies Him, and imitates Him not only in what suits me but in what most challenges my human and carnal side.

It is renouncing myself and seeking sanctification daily. It is being aware that if I fall, there is a hand that can lift me up; there is a new beginning because God's forgiveness is waiting for me. Following in the steps of Jesus is definitely going against the grain of a fallen society that is separated from God, understanding that my journey (or that of any sincere Christian) towards heaven is not easy, but it is possible because of Christ and His Holy Spirit that lives within me. It is understanding that I am in this world, but I am not from here. It is being like a child in His purity without being childish, rather serving Him with understanding and discernment in my heart and mind. The more I seek Him, the more I know Him, and the more intimacy and communion I have and desire.

The enemy has always used strategies to divert us from God’s purpose and destroy us, so Jesus came on our behalf to destroy the works of the devil and give us life, and life in abundance (Jn 10:10). Following in His steps is having the privilege of being a Christian, of being chosen, of being a beloved, redeemed, proven daughter, a representative of heaven, a messenger of His Word. It is serving and loving my neighbor without falling into the trap of performance or “deserving.” It is living as someone whose purpose in life is eternal things, knowing that I am a pilgrim here and that my homeland is heaven and that is where my treasure is; that is where those are who left me a legacy of faith in Christ. Following in His steps is walking in obedience and submission in the certainty that as a co-heir of Christ, one day I will be in His presence sitting at His table, enjoying full communion where I will see Him face to face.

Following in the steps of Jesus in obedience has been and continues to be the best and most important choice that I make every day, simply because I love Him!

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. (Jn 14:21a)

My desire is to continue following the Lord and encourage others to do the same. May God help us!

powered by social2s

Written by Kim Solis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

This year, IRSM’s goal is to encourage women to be wise, hear God’s Word, and put it into practice. Doing this, we are building our house upon the ROCK (Lk 6:46-49).

The idea of a rock comes up many times in Scripture. In Matthew 16:18, Simon’s name is changed to Peter (which means rock), and Jesus tells him that on the rock of his confession that Jesus is the Christ, the church will be built. Years later, in his first epistle, Peter will again mention a rock.

In 1 Peter 2, he tells us about the living stone and then says that we are built up as living stones to form a spiritual house, one that will proclaim His excellence as sojourners—ones who keep their conduct honorable so their good deeds may be seen, God may be glorified, and foolish people silenced. But Peter warns there are times when we will need to be subject to masters who are unjust, and we will suffer.

It is in this context that Peter pens the famous words that have become titles of books (In His Steps by Charles Sheldon is a quick and interesting read) and initials on bracelets with the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) campaign:

“For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps” (1Pe 2:21, ESV).

What would Jesus do? Well, Peter thought you might ask. Just read the following verses. Even when suffering unjustly, He did not sin. He did not speak deceit. He did not respond in anger or with threats. He simply trusted God to judge justly.

Jesus was a revolutionary then, and His words continue to be so today.

But they are taking advantage of me! Go the extra mile (Mt 5:41).

But they are verbally slapping me with their scorn and accusations! Turn the other cheek (Mt 5:39).

Politics, opinions, laws, social media – our world is more divisive than ever (or at least so it seems). Treat others as you would have them treat you (Lk 6:31). Love your neighbor as yourself (Mk 12:31). It doesn’t matter who they are, what they believe, or how they act. Love your enemy (Lk 6:35).

Walk as He walked. Treat as He treated. Love as He loved.

With the rise of social media, we often say we “follow” someone when all we really do is observe what they do or say and give it a thumbs up to indicate approval. Occasionally, if we really admire the person, we may buy a product they endorse, watch a movie they are in, and maybe even repost a catchy phrase they use or mirror our fashion after theirs. But that is the extent of our “following.”

But what if you were hired to portray this person in a movie? What would you do to study their voice inflection, habits, and mannerisms? If you really wanted to present an Oscar-winning performance, you would have to convince the public that they were actually watching the original person, not just some random fan.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

Imitators. The type of followers who step in the exact footprints, with the same actions, the same words, and the same attitudes.

I yearn to be a wise woman, one who builds her house and life on the Rock. Do you?

Let us cling to the Living Stone, allowing Him to build us into a spiritual house, glorifying God with His light that shines through us.

We are portraying Jesus to the world and when they see us, they shouldn’t just see an avid fan, they should say: “She looks like Kim, but she sure doesn’t act like her. If I didn’t know better, I would say I’m seeing Jesus!”

Let me leave you with a few Common Threads to consider:

What is lacking in your portrayal to reflect Jesus to the world?
Is there something in your actions or attitude that keeps sneaking through and hampering your imitation of Christ?
How can you study Jesus to better portray Him to those around you?

powered by social2s

Written by Ann Thiede, Volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Jesus’s last words on this earth called His disciples to go and make more disciples (Mt 28:19). Doing that is a beautiful, high, and holy calling. It is a common thread in Acts. Peter and John exemplify the calling after being told in so many words not to teach or talk about the name of Jesus: “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Ac 4:20 NIV).

Still wet from baptism in November 1972, I had to tell whoever would listen about my new life in Christ! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2Co 5:17 ESV).

Knowing so little in the Bible, I became the man blind from birth who when healed by Jesus said, “One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (Jn 9:25b NIV).

Sharing Christ in those early years might be compared to bubbles from a soda bottle: they just had to come out! So, my first common thread, my rose, became effectively speaking about Jesus to draw others to Him. Four people during college influenced me to seek the truth. As they had done for me, so I wanted to do for others, following in the steps of Christ who said, “Freely you have received; freely give” (Mt 10:8b)

I encountered a few thorns along the way that could interfere: selfishness, procrastination, and fear, causing me to hold back at times and not speak when the Spirit nudged, afraid of what others may think or too preoccupied with daily life to notice people desperate for Christ.

But greater than these thorns was the desire to become a wise woman, dependent on God, asking Him to lead me to open people and teach me what to say. So began the third common thread, digging deeper to intentionally speak of faith, desiring to make disciples. Paul spoke practical words in one of his letters:

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversations be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Col 4:5-6)

I remember going through a scenario in my mind of talking to a woman I knew, asking what was getting in her way of coming to church. No doubt it was Spirit-prompted preparation because the conversation occurred a day later, becoming a great learning experience of asking questions to find out what was in someone’s heart, not assuming nor having to have just the right words, but discovering.

If we belong to Christ, faith should naturally season what we say. I kept asking God for spontaneous spiritual conversations with friends or strangers. Over time, He has helped me refine the approach, often beginning with salty, comfortable conversation and then moving on to a strategic question: “Are you a person of faith?”

The responses have varied. Some “yes!“ A few “no.” Many veering toward church. All opening a door. The Spirit has helped me steer toward Jesus — His words and His great love for them as well as His impact on my life. I found pocket-sized Gospels of John on Amazon, carrying a few in my purse or carry-on if flying. I still remember the response of a man who I gave one to after a very salty conversation about our lives, faith, and Jesus. “So you think I should begin here?” Glory! I’ve earnestly prayed for him and others Jesus has put in my path, that seeds planted are watered and God brings forth a harvest. Paul exhorts us to make the most of every opportunity, “because the days are evil” (Eph 5:16). People desperately need Jesus!

We are all called to make disciples, and God has supplied us with His Word, love, courage, and the Holy Spirit. Will we love others as He has loved us (Jn 13:34)? Do you have a rose, thorn, or effective strategy for disciple making? I’d love to be encouraged or encourage you.

powered by social2s

Written by Amanda Santos, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil

“Leave everything you have and follow me” is a simple order to understand, but when we read Mark 10:21-22 we see how sad that young man was because he thought about what was included in his “everything” that he would have to leave behind.

Bringing this example to our lives, what is our “everything”? What do we have that is so valuable that sometimes keeps us from leaving it and following Christ? Well, maybe your “everything” is the concern with household chores, or perhaps the desire to acquire a material possession, or you need to handle just one more little thing before leaving everything in God’s hands. That young man really wanted to follow Christ, but his material possessions took up so much space in his heart that he was unable to leave everything and trust in Jesus.

In Luke 9:23 we read the following: “Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’” (NIV).

When Jesus says, “deny yourself,” He is calling us to set aside our selfish desires and put God’s will first. Denying ourselves is an expression of humility and submission. It is recognizing that our own plans and desires are secondary to God’s plans. This call to self-denial is an invitation to live a life of sacrifice and obedience, where God’s will prevails over our personal inclinations.

The second part of the verse calls us to take up our cross daily. The cross, in Jesus’ day, was a symbol of death and suffering, but it has become a powerful symbol of redemption and sacrificial love. Taking up our cross means being willing to suffer and face hardships for the sake of Christ. Taking up our cross daily involves living a life of spiritual discipline, rejecting sin and pursuing holiness. It means accepting the challenges and adversities that arise in our Christian walk with the same willingness and courage that Jesus had in carrying His cross. It is a call to a life of dedication and unwavering commitment to Christ.

And finally, “follow Jesus” means imitating His example, living according to His teachings, and walking in the path He shows us. Following Jesus is a call to live in obedience and faithfulness. It is allowing Him to guide our lives and transform our hearts.

Imitating Jesus involves deeply knowing His teachings and applying these principles in our daily lives. This requires an ongoing commitment to studying the Bible, praying, and seeking fellowship with other believers. It is through this dedication that we can better understand God’s will and align our lives with His purposes.

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (KJV). This phrase from Jesus is calling men to be His disciples, and as disciples of Jesus, to spread His word. It is a call to evangelize and spread the good news of salvation throughout the world. And something I think is wonderful is that we can do this without even having to leave home. When you talk about Jesus to your family, you are evangelizing. And don’t worry — Jesus said, “I will make you.” The knowledge comes from Him, the words come from Him. We just need to be surrendered to His will and ready to do what we can.

Therefore, sisters, may we be willing to give up all control and our own desires to let Christ guide us on the best path. And may our lives be an example of faith, that through our relinquishment and surrender, Christ may be exalted.

powered by social2s

Written by Liliana Henríquez, volunteer for Iron Rose Sisters Ministries in Colombia

One of the most challenging tasks for a human being is to let go of egocentrism and adopt a position of total surrender to God. We mistakenly believe we are all-powerful, but the truth is that nothing moves without God’s will.

When we look at the life of Jesus, we see that He was obedient in everything, even though, humanly speaking, He faced the unimaginable pain of crucifixion. Who would willingly offer himself to endure such intense physical suffering as dying on a cross? Jesus did! And because of this, you and I don’t have to pay for our sins—we have eternal life. In the pivotal moment of His death, Jesus fully surrendered to God and His will, saying, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Lk 23:46, NIV).

In our daily lives, we must “crucify ourselves” repeatedly, or in other words, set aside our own desires and make sacrifices for a higher good.

We set aside our desires to prioritize those of our partner...

We set aside our rest to choose to play with our children...

We set aside our comfort to serve others with love...

We set aside what we want and focus on fulfilling God’s calling for our lives.

In the spiritual realm, things operate under the principle of total surrender to God. Those of us who have accepted Christ as Lord understand that we no longer live to satisfy our own desires, but to fulfill Christ’s (Gal 2:20). We know that those who want to be exalted must humble themselves. Those who want to be served must serve. Those who want to be loved must love. Those who want to receive must give.

This doesn’t mean we always agree with God’s plans. Often, we don’t. In fact, many times, we feel upset because we don’t understand why He asks us to do things that seem “illogical” or outside our comfort zone. However, a true servant of God surrenders because she knows WHOM she is serving and follows the example of Jesus on the cross saying, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done” (Lk 22:42).

A true servant does her part with a surrendered heart and in complete obedience to God—and lets God be God. We don’t need to understand everything God does, but we do need to do everything He calls us to because that’s the commitment we made when we decided to be His disciples.

Is your life fully surrendered to the will of God?

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer for Iron Rose Sisters Ministries in Arkansas

In Mark 14 (ESV) while Jesus was eating with Simon the leper, a woman came and anointed Him with pure nard, a costly ointment. When she was criticized, Jesus replied in verse 8: “She has done what she could.”

What a beautiful acknowledgment of the gift this unnamed woman gave from her heart.

Throughout Scripture, we are told about others who “have done what they could,” even though that exact statement isn’t used to describe their actions.

Noah’s wife… have you thought about the role she played in encouraging Noah as he followed God’s instructions to build the ark? We are told nothing about her except that she is referred to as “Noah’s wife (Ge 6:18, 7:7, 7:13, 8:16, 8:18), and we know she was faithful.

In Exodus, 2 Jochebed protected her infant son when she prepared a waterproof basket and placed him into the Nile River. Then she left her young daughter, Miriam, to watch. The cruel Pharaoh wanted to destroy all the male Hebrew babies, and Jochebed’s heart must have been heavy as she placed her baby boy into the Nile, not knowing what would happen, but trusting God. God was working, and when Pharaoh’s daughter found him, Miriam offered to find someone to nurse the baby… and that person was the baby’s mother. Jochebed was able to have those early years with her son.

In Joshua 2, Rahab is described as a prostitute, but when the spies came, she realized they served a God greater than the Canaanite gods she had known and protected them by hiding them under the flax drying on the roof.

In 1 Samuel 25, Abigail came to David with food for his men, acknowledging that her husband, Nabal, had done wrong in refusing to feed the soldiers. Her generous heart must have caught David’s attention because she became one of his wives after the death of her husband.

The widow of Zarephath (in Sidon) prepared food for Elijah with the last of her provisions, and because of her kindness, her flour and oil never ran out during the famine (1Ki 17:8-16).

Esther became queen and violated protocol by approaching King Xerxes without being called by him after listening to the words of Mordecai, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Est 4:14). In doing so, she saved her people, and Jews celebrate the Feast of Purim to this day.

The angel Gabriel came to Mary, telling her she would bear a son. Mary’s response to Gabriel in Luke 1:38 was, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” She was a virgin, but she was willing to be the vessel for something she did not understand.

During Jesus’ ministry there were women who followed Him, and Luke 8:1-3 tells us they provided for Him out of their means.

In Acts 9, we read of Dorcas who used her needle and fabric to make clothing for widows in need.

None of these women did anything “big” that would attract the news media. They did things that were part of their everyday life.

In Exodus 4:2, God asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” It was a simple shepherd’s staff, but later it would be in Moses’ hand as he stretched it out over the Red Sea and watched the waters part. “Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground” (Ex 14:16).

These and other examples of faithfulness we see throughout Scripture… of people who used what they had… should encourage us to use our talents.

Paul writes in Col 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”

When we look at what we are doing in our daily lives, are we doing what we can as though we are doing it for our Lord, Jesus the Christ?

powered by social2s

Written by Marbella Parra, volunteer for the Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Honduras

As we read the Bible, we find many exemplary stories of women who, with what they had in their hands, did important things that influenced the lives of others and left a mark on eternity. In the New Testament, we find the story of a woman who anointed Jesus with a very expensive perfume, and when criticized by those around her for "wasting the perfume," Jesus defended her by saying, "She did what she could" (Mk 14:8 NIV). He recognized her sincere dedication and her willingness to give the best she had, regardless of the criticism of others. No more was demanded of her than what she could offer, but her act of love and devotion was recorded as an example for all. These words resonate as a reminder that God is not calling us to do the impossible but to be faithful with what we have, whether it be our time, talents, resources, or efforts. It's about living with an attitude of surrender and trusting that God uses every little act done with love for His glory.

As women of God, we have been challenged to put wisdom into practice in our daily lives, as Matthew 7:24 says: "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.". Wisdom is not simply accumulated knowledge, but action based on divine truth.

The woman who anointed Jesus did not wait for perfect timing or approval from others. She simply acted with love and gratitude. In the same way, each of us has daily opportunities to do what we can with what God has placed in our hands. Perhaps it is a word of encouragement, a prayer, an act of service, or a personal sacrifice that, although may seem small, has a great impact on the Kingdom of God.

In my case, my mother has been a great example in this regard. She taught me that even though I had no experience working with children, I could serve in children's ministry and learn how to develop my gifts for God. She taught me that even though I didn't have the gift of public speaking, I could teach other young women and girls with my life and teachings. She taught me that the Lord could use me in His work if I would make my life available to Him. So, I can say that she was an example to me that, although she didn't have all the gifts that she thought she needed, her love and willingness to serve God were greater; she always strived to give what she could and was within her reach for God.

I am sure that each of us strives daily to give the best to God, and we must value that to continue motivating ourselves to do better each time according to the abilities we have. Today, I want to encourage you to think about the things we are giving to God and never underestimate our effort and dedication, as long as it is with selfless love.

Practicing wisdom as a woman of faith involves building on the rock, making decisions with discernment, and acting courageously. It is not a matter of having everything figured out, but of moving forward with what God has given us at this moment. At the end of our day, may we hear in our hearts the Lord's sweet affirmation, "She did what she could," knowing that every act done with love and obedience has eternal value.

What can you do today with what you have in your hands to honor God and bless others?

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

The first time I heard the phrase “She did what she could”, I thought it was a placating remark delivered with a shrug of the shoulders and an “oh well” attitude. When I learned it was a Bible verse, then the context of the verse, not to mention the way in which Jesus honored this woman’s actions, “She did what she could” became a frequently repeated phrase filled with depth of meaning.

This story is told in all four of the gospels. John reveals the woman’s name (12:3); while in the other three, she remains anonymous. Let’s read Mark’s account:

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mk 14:3-9 NIV)

She did what she could. She honored Jesus by anointing Him as the perfect lamb sacrifice.

Jesus could’ve used the same expression when He chastised the rich, honoring the poor widow who put two small coins into the offering.

No one can do it all. It takes everyone doing their part. God created us to be different members of the body with Christ as the head (1Co 12). Paul states to the Ephesians that the body cannot function well unless “each part does its work” (Eph 4:16).

It is easy for us to fall into the comparison trap because we wish we could serve, give, pray, teach, or sing like someone else. She did what she could.

To practice like wise women is to do what we can, when we can, to the best of our ability, through Him who gives us strength (Php 4:13). We are merely instruments in the Lord’s hands to bring about His good and perfect will.

There is grace in the expression, “She did what she could,” because God did not call me to do what He called that woman over there to do. It is up to her to be obedient to our heavenly Father and do what she can do.

Throughout the seasons of my life, my actions of obedience and submission, sacrifice, and service have looked very different. As they should. My 13-year-old self did what she could by dying to herself and putting on Christ in baptism, proclaiming Him to be the Lord of my life. My 26-year-old self moved to Venezuela to live and work with a new church plant as a missionary. My 36-year-old self quit her job, sold her house, and launched Iron Rose Sister Ministries.

Those are the “glory stories” of when I did what I could—the leaps of faith and steps of obedience. The highlight reel may look amazing, but it does not reflect, for example, the difficulty of getting out of bed on time each Sunday morning to make it to church. “She did what she could” sometimes faces the frustration of a never-ending checklist, an ill-spoken word, a forgotten birthday, a missed opportunity, a sin committed, or precious time wasted.

God’s mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness! His Son already did what He could and paid the price as the perfect sacrifice (Ro 5:6-11). It is now our privilege and honor to do our part in the Kingdom.

Sisters, during this month, let’s do what we can— whether in our relationships with God or with one another, through greater involvement with Iron Rose Sister Ministries, by organizing a fundraising event to benefit our Ambassadors Program, starting a new small group… the possibilities are endless! We invite you to hear the words Jesus spoke to honor His precious daughter in Mark 14:8, “She did what she could.”

What is God calling you to do?

How can we encourage or equip you to “do what you can do”?

Is there a thorn hindering you from doing what you can?

Reach out to an Iron Rose Sister and work together to do what you can!

powered by social2s

Written by Claudia Perez, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (Jas 5:13-18 NIV)

There are times when our lives are filled with grief. There are situations in our lives in which our spirit is filled with bitterness. Have you ever felt this way? Who have you turned to in those moments? It is sad to realize how many times we try everything but prayer.

As I studied this topic, the fervent prayer of a righteous woman, I was reminded of a godly woman who prayed fervently, and God heard her—Hannah— a righteous woman who, having an affliction and bitterness in her soul, prayed to Jehovah.

She, with bitterness of soul, prayed to Jehovah and wept abundantly. And she made a vow, saying, "Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head” (1Sa 1:11).

How many times have we prayed to the Lord for what afflicts us? How many times have we made vows or promises to the Lord? How many times have we kept those promises? It is necessary to remember that the prayer of a righteous woman is what the Lord hears. Returning to Hannah's example, the Word tells us that she prayed long before Jehovah and spoke in her heart. "Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk" (1Sa 1:13).

How important it is to pray fervently to the Lord! Prayer entails living a life that is godly, holy, and obedient to God. God looks at our hearts. God sees the fervor in us. Let us remember Elijah. The passage says, "Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years" (Jas 5:17).

Another example is Moses, who had intimate fellowship with God. Let's look at the passage where God speaks to Aaron and Miriam after they have murmured against Moses: "He said, ‘Listen to my words: When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house’" (Nu 12:6-7).

In every example, we have seen fervor and service to God: faithfulness, obedience, and trust in God. Sister, today I invite you to strive together to be righteous women who cry out to God fervently, who accept God's promises, who are dedicated to the service of the Lord, who obey His Word, and who always trust in Him.

After having studied this topic:

Write on a sheet of paper: What place does prayer have in your personal life, home, or local congregation? How can you make prayer grow or flourish in your life?
Describe and identify what situations in your life are taking you away from your prayer time that you want to eliminate with the help of God and your sisters.
Join a sister or prayer group that will help you be a righteous woman who prays to God.

powered by social2s

Written by Lisanka Martinez, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

Every beginning of the year is an opportunity for a fresh start in our Christian life as well. We begin a new biblical year: projects for discipleship, planning activities in the congregation... We focus on praying for what we need to grow spiritually, and obviously, since wisdom is an essential part of that growth, it is always included as one of the first requests on prayer lists.

Let's see what the Bible tells us about it in two well-known verses:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding

fault, and it will be given to you. (Jas 1:5 NIV)

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. (Pr 4:7)

As is well known, when James writes his letter to the 12 scattered churches who have been persecuted and are going through various trials because of their faith, he encourages them to find joy in that situation. He tells them in this way: they will obtain the patience that will perfect them. Without pointing to anyone in particular, he immediately gives them this valuable advice in a general way, addressed to all the recipients: "If any of you lacks wisdom...".

The wisdom to which he refers leads to knowing, understanding, discerning, clearly understanding, having good judgment, making the right decisions, and knowing how to apply and defend the truth in every situation. This was not advised to only a few— all the scattered Christians needed that wisdom— but how to acquire it?

This kind of wisdom can only come from God; only He, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are wise enough to give it. This is why James continues with the second part of this verse: "... you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." As we can see, This is a precious gift that we should ask for and long for in order to share His Word with others to honor, praise, and glorify Him.

As for the second verse, we know that Proverbs is the book of the Bible where many quotations and instructions concerning wisdom appear with the purpose of bringing us closer to God. In its opening chapters, Solomon counsels his sons to seek wisdom and recalls that he received this counsel from David, his father. In verse 7 of chapter 4, Solomon stresses the importance of acquiring that wisdom before anything else, which he tells them is the most important thing they can have— the most valuable possession above anything that man desires. Do you have an idea of the importance of asking, seeking, and acquiring that wisdom with God's help? It will enable us to know, understand, and obey His divine will.

So, knowing that acquiring wisdom has great relevance for our spiritual growth, what stops us from asking God for it first and dedicating ourselves with effort to seek it and acquire it? We should not have limitations or fear to ask for it as we have already learned.

Therefore, one way in which we must grow or flourish is by acquiring wisdom that comes from above. For this, we must eliminate the thorns of indecision, procrastination, and pride (believing that we are already wise because we have great knowledge of the Bible, we can quote many verses from memory, or we have spent time in theological studies). We also need to recognize that we need the help of someone as a sharpener in our lives to pray for wisdom, to practice as wise women in all aspects of our lives, and to remember that God wants us to ask Him so that He can give this wisdom to us without reproach.

Do you dare to practice being wise from now on with God's help? Let’s start by asking Him for wisdom.

powered by social2s

Written by Jo Gower, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

This could be a world changer: praying more like Jesus day by day.

Christ Jesus is the Intercessor of all Intercessors. In John 17:1-26 we read that He prayed for Himself, for His disciples, and for us (all believers).

Prayer for Himself

Father, the time has come. Glorify your son, that your Son may glorify you. (Jn 17:1 NIV)

This is not prideful or selfish. We can read what happened leading up to this Passover meal, He had gotten up from the table to begin the process of washing the disciples’ feet. He wanted them to see how far His love would go (Jn 13). He shared with them that it was time for Him to leave the earth but consoled them explaining that He would send the Holy Spirit as their mentor.

Prayer for His Disciples

Jesus prayed aloud for them and their difficult future. No doubt He knew His disciples would not have a chance against Satan until He was glorified (Jn 7:39).

Being glorified? It will prove that Jesus fulfilled His (and man’s) destiny. It liberated humanity from Satan’s dictatorship. It put mankind positioned over Satan for the first time since Adam and Eve abdicated. Then the Holy Spirit could come to the infant church's aid with supernatural power.

Being glorified forever reversed the degraded condition of the whole human race. Adam’s fall brought shame, sin, and Satan’s oppressive rule. But Jesus brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

Jesus, the last Adam, placed Himself between hell and humanity. In Jesus, God became man and picked up the fallen battle flag that once flew as a symbol of man’s rule over the creation, the flag that fell along with Adam and Eve. Jesus took that flag and raised it again and was glorified… on our behalf! (Heb 2:5-18).

So, Jesus’ prayer for glorification isn’t silly selfishness. It is the same prayer He taught His disciples earlier: “Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done” (Mt 6:10). As always, the Father’s will was Jesus’ prime request. And it’s the Father’s will that one man be glorified on our behalf.

Should we pray to be glorified also?

Yes!!! Paul wrote that, in God’s eyes, we’re already glorified by His grace (Ro 8:30). In the Father’s mind, we’ve already been raised to sit with Jesus in the heavenly realm; this allows Him to “show us off” to the angels and the dark supernatural world. He proves to them that He, not Satan, is truly God and deserves worship (Eph 2:6-10).

So, by Christ’s unselfish work, we share in His position. When He was glorified, so were we. His prayer, “Glorify your Son,” made our glorious destiny a reality.

Jo Gower’s John 17 Personal Prayer Story

For the last few years, I’ve been part of a group that prays over our neighborhood schools. After praying year after year, I decided it was time for a refresher course.

John 17 seemed the perfect prayer to refresh my prayers. It’s Jesus' longest prayer recorded in God’s Word. My desire was and continues to be to intentionally focus on praying more like Jesus. It has helped me to read Christ's prayer slowly and experience its majestic heights—the Son talking with His Father.

I was reminded that Jesus was praying for the church's deliverance from Satan's power. This incredible prayer still protects God's church from the evil one today. It is powerful to pray this same portion of John 17 over our friends, families, communities, and schools.

I sent out a text to some prayer partners to renew our commitment to pray for the local school for another year. I encouraged them to use John 17 as a model: Jesus asks for our protection from the evil one in verses 11 and 15. He prays for our unity in verses 21-23. He even asks the Father to sanctify us (to set us apart for His holy service) in verses 17-18.

How would you bloom in your prayer life after learning to pray like Jesus did?

powered by social2s

Written by Katie Forbess, president of Iron Rose Sister Ministries Board

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. (Pr 27:17 NIV)

During this exciting month of prayer, we are working our way through the prayer calendar. This is a wonderful way of blessing the ministry. There are so many areas covered for us to think about and pray for together. In this way, many of us are able to pray for the people in our lives by breaking into topics and using scripture.

Another way of praying is to pray through the Common Threads, for yourself or someone else. This, to me, is one of the best resources of IRSM. They are so important that they are incorporated into each of the blog posts. Using them in small groups or even in everyday conversations helps to fulfill the mission of IRSM, which is to help women grow closer to God and to one another. We can use the three parts of the logo as a guide to evaluate what’s going on with ourselves. Then we can transform that into a prayer of our own. Additionally sharing the information with others allows you to pray for each other. That’s awesome!

A Bloom - Which of us doesn’t want a friend to pray for the aspirations of our lives? Reading about wisdom, as it is our theme for this year, makes me want to really grow spiritually in that area, and therefore I want to share that with others so that they can hold that desire up in prayer.

A Thorn - We all have them, and we know it. What an awesome blessing to have the confidence of another sister to share with.

An Iron - The three parts of the logo are very special, but the one that really has proven critical to my long-lasting friendships is the iron sharpening iron piece. I suggest you have friends you can ask to hold you accountable to your aspirations to become more like Jesus. Have a friend who can ask the hard questions and make you face a reality that you are struggling to face.

Michelle often says we are the epitome of Iron Rose Sisters. We have been that for almost 30 years. That means we share and “ooh and ahh” in all the right places as we see each other grow spiritually and become the women that God created us to be (THE ROSE).

This has happened through many seasons over the last 30 years— ups and downs of life that lead us through valleys and to high mountains all bathed in the prayers of each other, knowing each other's thorns and being able to navigate them, helping each other navigate difficult moments, and prayerfully removing or at least dulling the sharpness of them (THE THORN).

Michelle is the one I call when I know she will know before I finish saying what I am saying, and what prayers I need. I don’t have to apologize for being myself, but I can be assured that if what I am saying needs some reality and a biblical lens that I’m not looking through, she will provide those. And vice versa! We can and do say things to each other to hold each other accountable and to help each other dig deeper into areas of our lives that need attention (THE IRON).

Using the Common Threads, we decidedly pray for each part of this tool and then place them in God’s hands, not our own. There is no room for power struggles or power trips or manipulation when you hand it over to God. That’s a special relationship. That’s an Iron Rose Sister relationship.

My prayer for you today is for you to use the Common Threads to pray for yourself as well as other Iron Rose Sisters. I pray they will become part of your daily personal reflections and your conversations with other sisters while you are sharing prayer requests.

Question - Do you know and understand the parts of the Common Threads well enough to make them a part of your daily life?

powered by social2s

Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. (Mt 7:25 NIV)

I first went to church when I was a teenager, and I usually say that it was late, to the point that my mind had already been damaged on some level, but early enough that there wasn’t time for me to make some decisions that would have severe consequences for the rest of my life.

Once I started to learn more about the Word of God, I noticed that many things that I had learned or that I had always seen as normal didn’t align with God’s will.

I wanted to do everything right, and for a while, I thought that if I did everything right, nothing bad would happen. After all, I believed that I had been doing everything right… But I came across the first obstacle: the realization that I can’t do everything right. I would have loved to, and I tried, but I failed. I am thankful to God for His grace because He did not give up on me— because His mercies are new every morning (La 3:22-23).

This was my understanding of building a house on the rock: practice what Jesus taught in order to have a house so strong, so firmly established, that storms would not even dare to come close to such a construction. The winds would blow by, the rain would change directions to avoid it, and no weather would reach it.

Well, as time went by, I realized that, yes, I reaped the benefits of good decisions, but the challenges would continue coming, and many times I questioned why those things were happening to me. After all, I was trying to build a strong house! The rain didn’t change directions upon seeing my house. On the contrary, it seemed like the rain called the lightning and thunder to come along with it. I couldn’t understand and I thought that my house wasn’t strong enough.

Building your house on the Rock requires a lot more effort than on the sand and involves denying oneself (Lk 9:23-26). It seemed like I wasn’t trying hard enough, but at the same time, it was too much effort for it not to have worked.

It was only very recently, after years of singing the song that narrates this parable for children, that my brain processed both the house of the wise and the foolish as they each went through tribulations. The rain, the wind, and the floods reached both! It is not because the wise man perfectly obeyed the Lord that he would not go through difficult times.

How did I not realize this? Jesus Himself told us that we would go through difficult moments in life (Jn 16:33). The difference is that, in the case of the wise man who put the Word of God into practice, his house withstood the tribulations.

Jesus explained very clearly that all who practice the Word of God will be able to withstand the tribulations and challenges of life.

I later realized that after the rains, winds, and floods of difficulties, tribulations, and suffering, my house was still standing… not because I was good, or a super civil engineer, or I myself was strong. But because even though my effort was only enough to build an unstable and precarious shack, the Lord is the eternal Rock (Is 26:4).

After a storm, it might take a while before you are able to “get the house in order.” Part of the roof might have fallen off and the wind may have torn down some things. It might take a while before everything that was drenched by the rains has time to dry. But your house will still be standing. You will still be standing!

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).

What areas of your life are being rained on and wind-beaten but are still standing?

powered by social2s

Written by Brenda Brizendine, Assistant Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Php 4:8-9 NIV)

The Bible instructs us to think about good things—things that build us up. Why? Because our thoughts affect our attitudes, our moods, our perception of ourselves, and even our relationships. Our thoughts are tied to our joy, our happiness, and, in general, the quality of life we live.

A few months ago, I started studying the book Who Has the Last Word? written by Michelle J. Goff, with the women in the congregation I attend. This book reminds us that we can use the truth of God's Word to cut through the lies that Satan or we ourselves have placed in our minds or hearts. In it, Michelle teaches us that by remembering the truth of God's Word, memorizing it, and internalizing it in our hearts and minds, we begin a transformation process that allows us to realize the abundant life we can have in Jesus, a life that Satan desires to steal from us.

Last year, as part of the commitment I made to Christ, I chose Psalm 46:10 to study, understand, and live by. Wow, God knew that I would need to be “still” to face all the situations that arose in my life and family! But He knew better than I did that, beyond being still, I needed to remember that He is still God and the Lord over every circumstance.

I enter 2025 with unanswered questions, unresolved situations, and transitions to face, but I am ready to continue practicing living in the truth that God has left in His Word. I will stumble and doubt, definitely, but by returning to His Word, evaluating my thoughts, and deliberately choosing to think on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy,” I will be able to practice being a wise woman.

Romans 12:2 says: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” The next time you notice you’re thinking negative thoughts, choose to replace those thoughts with the truth of God's Word. For example, if you think about giving up, look for the truth in the Word and decide to meditate on verses like Deuteronomy 31:6, Galatians 6:9, and Philippians 4:13. Or when the enemy tries to convince you that you don’t deserve love, remind him of what God says about you in Psalm 139, Jeremiah 1:5, or Romans 8:38-39.

Learning to control your mind can be like trying to tame a wild animal. But the Lord says: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My loving eye on you” (Ps 32:8). Keep practicing: rely on God and keep asking Him for help to know His truth. You will begin to see changes—changes that will affect other areas of your life, and “the God of peace will be with you.”

Now, with what you’ve learned:

Share a truth from God’s Word in which you want to grow or bloom (put it into practice).
Identify a lie you wish to remove with the truth from God’s Word.
Identify a sister who can be like iron sharpening iron in your life and can remind you of the truth you chose in point 1.

powered by social2s

Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

He [Jesus] replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” (Lk 11:28 NIV)

Throughout last year we talked a lot about the importance of our commitment to Jesus, be it in our prayers, in our relationship with other sisters, with the church, with those who are not yet Christians… always bringing all areas of our life before God.

One of the things we discussed was the importance of silencing the noise around us that distracts us from hearing our Lord. God is speaking to us all the time, using His creation, our brothers and sisters in the church, and, most importantly, through the Scriptures.

Last year I had the opportunity to be part of a small group of women who met weekly at my home to study Committed to Listen, a book from Iron Rose Sister Ministries that walks through 40 days of devotions to help us exercise our listening muscles.

Over the course of our weekly meetings, many things happened, and we grew together. And even though we were a group of very different women: women of different ages and professions, single, married, some with kids, others without (one even got pregnant during the period in which we met), when we shared the experiences that we had with the devotionals throughout the week and the reflections that they provoked, we realized how alike we are.

All of us already knew each other. We went to the same church on Sundays, but now we had the chance to deepen our bonds, cry together for pain that wasn’t ours, celebrate the joys and victories, and pray for each other. It was so good that we weren’t ready to close out the group when the book ended and we started another book (Called to Listen) to continue meeting.

When we shared our Common Threads, we often asked for help from each other to change areas in which we realized we were failing. And almost all of our prayer involved asking God for help, strength, and courage to put into practice that which we heard from Him in those exercises.

In fact, listening is the first step: if we don’t listen, we won’t know that there is something to be done, much less how to do it. But what became very clear for all of us over those weeks was that we need to do something with what we hear. We cannot remain inert. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Mt 7:24).

Oftentimes the challenge seems too great. We look at ourselves and it seems that there is so much to be done to improve that we will never arrive at our goal. The Christian life is a journey and throughout the process, it is practicing what we hear and learn from God that causes us to be transformed and to become more like Christ every day. And several things need to be put into practice again and again—with strength and intentionality.

That group of women blessed me so much. Everything we lived and shared edified me a lot. And I could feel God’s love for me through them. I found care and belonging in my sisters.

What if I told you that you could also have an experience like mine? Deepen your ties with your sisters in Christ, practice listening to God, receive support and encouragement, and be challenged to put the things you heard into practice.

I want to encourage you to meet with a group of women, even if they aren’t very close with you (yet), and study together Committed to Listen. On our website, you can find all the information to guide you on how to start the process. And our team is available and ready to answer your questions.

Do you need more encouragement? Here you can watch videos of other sisters sharing their experiences who also participated in small group studies with Committed to Listen in various countries.

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. (Mt 7:24 NIV)

In the conclusion to His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us of the importance of putting His teaching into practice, learning then practicing as His followers. It’s like building a house on the Rock. Women’s hands, aged with wisdom, and their voices in children’s classes have shaped this refrain into a memorable song with actions, hand motions, and a simple tune. No one wants to build his house on the sand because we know that it came crashing down when “the rain came down and the floods came up.”

Even today, when the storms of our lives threaten to tear us down, we must cling to the words of Christ and build, or rebuild, our lives on the Rock.

Last year as a ministry, we highlighted various ways in which we are called to live “Committed to Christ, 24/7 in 2024.” With the release of the latest small group Bible study book, we affirmed that we are Committed to Listen. Now that we have “heard these words of [His],” we must turn our attention to putting them into practice, like wise women.

James 1:5 promises that if we ask for wisdom, God will provide it. Those with more life experience can testify to the fact that wisdom is acquired over time. We learn from our failures. We grow through the struggles. Everything we face in life—every thought, action, reaction, and words that do or don’t come out of our mouths—everything provides an opportunity for us to put Jesus’ words into practice.

Fulfilling God’s teaching takes practice. I didn’t learn to play the piano or do a cartwheel on a balance beam overnight. Both activities took practice. As a child, I played many wrong notes, and I fell off the beam on more than one occasion. Today, I can still do a cartwheel, but I haven’t attempted it on a balance beam. These days, I can only remember a few very basic songs on the piano. Why? I stopped practicing.

What are examples from the Christian life that require practice?

Practicing implies failure and grace. Learning a language is a challenge. For some people, it is easier to hear the unique sounds, comprehend the grammar, and learn the vocabulary. Yet no matter what your language-learning ability, you must begin by speaking like a child, imperfectly and incorrectly. You will never perfect the language without giving yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them.

What have you learned from making mistakes as a Christian?

This year, on Tuesdays (only once/week), we will share biblical and personal stories about how we can build our lives on the Rock, put Jesus’ words into practice, and practice as wise women.

We want to encourage you to use these blog posts as guides for small group discussion, in person or virtually. There will be questions for good conversation and, at times, additional Bible verses for further study.

Let’s practice encouraging each other as wise women! In honor of New Year’s, through our social media channels, share a teaching you want to put into practice this year (maybe through a New Year’s resolution or key word for the year). Alternately, share an example of an area that you want to practice with others.

If you are looking for inspiration, I recommend reading the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5-7) or ordering Committed to Listen as a 40-day devotional that facilitates dedicated listening, thus learning more about what God is guiding you to put into practice (Mt 7:24).

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

At the end of a year, we tend to reflect on what we have done well and what we have done poorly. Maybe it hasn’t been about our actions, but rather our attitudes or words.

The New Year’s resolutions made a year ago may be revisited with frustration and regret, joy and gratefulness, or an apathetic shrug. Others may laugh as those best-laid plans flew straight out the window when (fill in the blank) tragedy happened.

As I reflect on the past year, I can choose to remember the moments that highlight my faults, the circumstances that were outside of my control, or the ways that God worked through them. And I can trust that God will continue to work through all things to bring about good (Ro 8:28).

As humans, we fail to maintain the 100% commitment to Christ that He maintains with us. But God knew that already. And He loves us anyway.

As a ministry, we chose to focus on being “committed to Christ,” taken from Paul’s words to the Philippians.

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. (Php 3:7-11 ESV)

Over the course of the year, through our blog posts, you have heard stories from the Bible and testimonies of women committed to Christ, to prayer, and to the resurrection. They described what it means to be a committed disciple and have a committed heart through a committed life. Most recently, we learned about being committed to one another and to giving thanks.

Back in October, we celebrated what it means to be Committed to Listen: Forty Days of Dedication and invited everyone in English, Spanish, and Portuguese to practice that principle through the listening exercises. No matter when, where, what, or how we listen, we commit to listen to Who defines our why.

The book of Colossians has provided a backdrop for several in-person and virtual events emphasizing our commitment to Christ who is in all, above all, through all, and without whom our commitment to Him would be impossible.

A special thank you to our committed volunteers, prayer warriors, and financial partners, not to mention our amazing team and board members, who have all demonstrated their commitment to Christ through their commitment to our vision: equipping women to connect to God and one another more deeply.

For 2025, we are taking the next step in our priority of being committed to Christ. We will expound upon what it looks like to be a committed follower or disciple of Christ… to put His words into practice and “Practice like a Wise Woman” (Mt 7:24).

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

In the fall of 1965, my grandparents moved to Junction City, Arkansas, to work with a small congregation. Grandad was 73; Mama Dee was 68 and completely blind from diabetic complications. They moved into a house across the street from the school, and, like they always did, began making friends with neighbors.

About three years later, a family moved into a house on the school property. My grandparents noticed four-year-old Alan, and he could often be found at their house eating cookies and drinking milk while Mama Dee told him about Adam and Eve, Moses, Joseph, David, and most importantly Jesus.

The family did not go to church anywhere. The father was an alcoholic who drank much of his school teaching salary. Alan never missed going to church with my grandparents, and as soon as his younger brothers were able to go, he brought them along, too. Grandad taught Alan to read scripture in public, lead singing, and lead prayer.

There were times when I was visiting, and my grandmother would make a pot of soup or roast and potatoes to take across the street to the family.

Occasionally the mother accompanied her children to church. The father was hostile and told my grandad not to take his family to church, but Alan would slip away with his brothers while his dad was away or sleeping drunk and come anyway.

Then, the family moved. My grandparents grieved, and they often prayed that the boys would not follow in their dad’s, Phil’s, footsteps. When the family moved, the dad’s sister who was a faithful Christian lived nearby and was able to be more involved, and she enlisted the help of the local preacher.

The day came when God got Phil’s attention, and Phil was willing to listen. A few days later my grandparents got a letter from Phil, thanking them for loving him and his family, even though he had been a “no-good heathen.” He wrote about being baptized for the remission of sins and said that he wanted to tell others the good news.

A few years ago, I received a message from Alan who said he had told the story of Jim and Dee Layton all over the world… how they reached out to a small child and began telling him simple truths from the Bible, leading him to faith in Jesus. My grandparents lived 1 Corinthians 9:19b: “I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them” (ESV). They saw a need and quietly met that need.

Phil, his son Alan, and Phil’s other sons have spoken at events over the last 45 years or so, reaching people who would never come into the door of a church building. They have taken the gospel message outside the walls and have told the message of salvation to countless thousands.

All of this started with an older couple who noticed a small child and opened their home and hearts to him. I am reminded of Jesus who said, “Let the little children come to me” (Mt 19:14a).

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10). My grandparents had been doing their good works for many years wherever they were, and the love they showed Alan and his family was just the way they lived life.

Paul wrote to Timothy: “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (2Ti 2:2).

An older couple… neither of whom finished high school… a young boy… a sister… another preacher… and the Word of God combined to bring a family into the fold, and that family has been able to reach out to many others.

We look around and see people who don’t know the message someone taught us. Will we be part of Paul’s admonition to Timothy to teach faithful men (and women) who in turn will teach others also?

powered by social2s

Written by Liliana Henriquez, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colombia

I don't know what has happened lately, but I have felt that the world has accelerated, and we are living life at high speed like "X2" in WhatsApp audios. On the one hand, it has been wonderful because we have managed to do many things in less time. Technology has helped us a lot and has made knowledge available to everyone. So there are no more excuses to grow and improve in any area of our lives. But, on the other hand, we live so fast-paced that sometimes, we forget to enjoy the moment and be grateful for the blessings that God is giving us day by day.

Today I want to focus on the positive side of this acceleration, and one of the things I love about this era is globalization. Geographical barriers are no longer obstacles to communicating and connecting with one another anywhere in the world. We already see our individual selves as a whole. We have normalized different time zones and cultures. We have friends and clients all over the world, and we feel they are super close thanks to video calls or Zoom meetings.

Another positive aspect of globalization is everyone's access to the Gospel. People are recognizing the need for Christ. We have seen it in the lives of artists and famous people who have publicly shared their faith journeys and inspired others to make the decision to accept Christ and obey the Gospel. That makes me very happy!

I feel that more and more people are using their platforms or channels of influence to impact the world positively, making Christ better known and giving relevance to the spiritual area. We are exercising our freedom in the right way.

Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. (1Co 9:19-23 NIV)

Christ is not religion. He is a relationship and a lifestyle. It should be noted that we are disciples of Christ not only in the church but in our work, friendships, relationships, etc. It doesn't make sense to be a Christian in select specific areas or places. We are a WHOLE; soul, mind, and body, and we must be coherent and congruent with what we profess. If we are Christians, we must act as Christians in our daily lives. In this way, we can put into practice one of my favorite phrases: "Preach the Gospel at all times, and if necessary, use words" (St. Francis of Assisi).

We were called to make Christ known at every moment. This is the good news that this fast-paced world needs!

powered by social2s

Written by Jelin Robles, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (Jn 1:1-4 NIV)

Reading the book of John transformed my way of thinking and seeing things, and when I discovered that it was intended for the church, I was even more enchanted. I love the book of John.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. (Jn 1:10)

The words and actions described in the first 14 verses of John are very powerful. For me, there are no other verses as realistic and clear as these. Furthermore, the first four verses reveal to us the presence of Jesus at the creation of the world, contradicting the many erroneous statements and beliefs that seek to deny the sovereignty of the Son. We understand that we were created through Him and by Him. The love of Jesus Christ for us surpasses our understanding, for He came as a man, leaving His glory.

He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (Jn 1:11-13)

Out of His love for us, in order that we would all turn back to Him, John was chosen to testify of Christ’s arrival. However, not everyone accepted Jesus as He was. Some rejected Him, but there was another group that accepted Him and He called them His children. What a beautiful and rewarding thought for my heart, knowing that He did this for me and everyone around me—throughout history and those who will live in the future until Jesus returns. My heart overflows with joy because I understand that once I was one of those who rejected Him and did not accept Him, but His eternal love caused me to know Him better until I accepted His invitation to the table and became His daughter.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (Jn 1:14)

His sacrifice motivates me every day to fulfill His will, and that is what I always want to do. May all Iron Rose Sisters be grateful for what Jesus and our Father did for us and may we all strive to please Him.

powered by social2s

Written by Leylane Bertoldo Campos, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Recife, Brazil

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
(Lk 2:11-12 NIV)

“We have to be continually reminded of what we believe.” This phrase was written by C.S. Lewis in his work, Mere Christianity, to alert us to important truths about our faith that need to be frequently nurtured.

In Luke 1, we see the announcement of Jesus' birth. The angel Gabriel declares that Jesus will be “great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:32). The coming of Christ as a child reminds us that the transformation of the world begins in the heart and in small gestures of obedience and faith, showing that God operates in a simple yet profound way, bringing salvation within everyone's reach.

By choosing to be born as a child, Jesus confirmed God's love for us from the first moments of His earthly life. Through His birth, Jesus brought peace and hope to a world filled with anguish and despair, and this cannot be forgotten.

We are living in an era of great turmoil. But December is not an ordinary month. We are not completely immersed in our responsibilities, and we take time to think about and see the present. In December, streets and houses are full of lights and festive decorations, the climate changes, and everything around us seems to be looking for some kind of renewal. We know that a large part of this celebration involves remembering the birth of Christ. Although most Christians know that Jesus wasn't born in December, we like the idea of having a date to remember the birth of our Lord and Savior.

I don't know if this happens to you too, but as soon as the month of December begins, I start to reflect on the past year and on all the things that weren’t accomplished. An unpleasant feeling arises that I didn't do enough, or that I didn't enjoy it enough. However, the good memories and gratitude I have for the present that God gave me always rescues me from these thoughts. I remember that I will never be or do enough, but Jesus is all I need.

Jesus will always be the relief we need in the most difficult times. In Isaiah 9:6 we see the prophet Isaiah bringing hope to the people of Israel by announcing a future ruler who would bring justice and peace: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Although some scholars debate the possibility that this prophecy was a reference to an earthly king such as Hezekiah or Josiah, it is widely accepted that the language used by Isaiah goes beyond any human king. It is probably what is called a double-fulfillment prophecy, referring to a biblical prediction with two distinct fulfillments: a more immediate one and a later one, generally more comprehensive or spiritual.

In this way, this verse became an announcement of God's plan of reconciliation with man. It describes God's nobility and mercy, gifts full of love and kindness from a Father to His children. It's all the relief we need in an increasingly difficult world.

As women, the desire for relief seems to be constant. The daily struggle to find a balance between work and family has been one of the biggest challenges for most of us. We are responsible for the well-being of everyone in our homes. As a result, we think about everything, we think about everyone, and that can be tiring. However, we don't see ourselves doing anything other than taking care of those we love.

To love is a privilege given by God, and we endure the adversities involved in this difficult task because we are renewed daily by God's love and mercy.

When we remember the birth of Christ and the wonderful grace of God, we feel peace. When Christ came as a child, in His most vulnerable form He came as a gift to us all. His coming was the necessary path for us to be reconciled with God— proof of love that we cannot measure, but that impacts our lives and our future and allows us to enjoy the presence of God for all eternity. May this memory be alive in our hearts, not only in December but throughout the year.

powered by social2s

Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer and Board member with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Ro 10:15b, NIV)

Good news is a good thing. Even better is the good news of Jesus Christ. And those who share the good news of Jesus Christ are beautiful. What a descriptor! You see, God wants everyone to know Him. He wants a personal and enduring relationship with all of us (1 Ti 2:3-4; Lev 26:12; 2 Ti 1:9). But for anyone to know God personally and genuinely, they must know Jesus.

My life verse is John 14:6 where Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The only way to know God is to know Jesus. So, everything I do should be centered around helping others to know Jesus. It should be my main goal in life, far beyond any other aspiration.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Ac 20:24).

As a faithful believer, I am to fulfill the call to make Christ known and share Jesus with others so that they will know God. I have never seen myself as a long-term missionary in a foreign country or publicly preaching the gospel as many are gifted to do. However, I can and do share the Good News in other ways. For example, I share stories of God’s redemption in my life and how my relationship with Jesus transforms me daily into a woman yearning to know God more. I share these “good news” testimonies speaking at ladies’ events in my church and community and in my regular job as a writer. I also share in small group Bible studies with women of all backgrounds, many of whom don’t yet know Jesus. Sharing my story makes Jesus more personable because others can see His wonder-working power and love in my life.

Another way I like to share the Good News of Christ is by meeting people in whatever need they have and then sharing my reason for meeting that need. My reason for meeting their need, whether it be a hot meal, a bus ticket home, or a coat to keep warm in winter, is always because of my love for Jesus. My desire to follow Jesus and know God compels me to love and meet the needs of others, especially those who don’t know Jesus. For me, there’s no better way to share Jesus than to answer the question “Why would you help a total stranger?” with a bold proclamation that I do what I do because of Jesus and His love.

Perhaps one of the most joyful ways for me to make Christ known is by singing in my community choir. The music we sing is primarily composed of gospel or hymnal collections performed free of charge for and within my community. Because the music we sing is sacred, concert attendees hear lyrics that richly honor God. But it also represents Jesus through varied expressions and names, some of which are not even recognized by believers deeply rooted in the faith. Combined with a brief tutorial on the origin and history of each piece of music, these songs are an opportunity to make Christ unmistakably known to those who don’t already know Him. And it’s done in the most delightful way!

It is no cliche to say that the world needs God. Truly, God has been so far removed from present-day civilization that those who don’t know God would be hard-pressed to find Him. Modern worldview culture has made it difficult to see God amidst all the disjointed and discombobulated beliefs. But God is here! He’s not hiding or avoiding us. God desires us! God is pursuing us each and every day. We need only to open our hearts to find Him.

…If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. (Jer 29:13-14a NLT)

To find Jesus is to find God. If those who seek God need Jesus to find Him, we who already know Jesus must make Christ known to those who do not. How we fulfill that call to make Christ known can be varied. The one thing that isn’t varied is the responsibility of every Christ follower to share Jesus.

In what way will you fulfill the beautiful call to share Jesus and help others know God?

powered by social2s

Written by Kassie Lamoureux, Executive Assistant for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

The week after our college graduation, my friend, Emma, was getting married. I was so excited about the wedding for many reasons; one being that I was finally going to meet Emma’s older sister. I had heard story after story about her over the past few years. And Emma always said, “Oh, you’re going to love her.” A few days before the wedding, Emma’s sister arrived! The first thing I said to her was, “We’ve never met, but I feel like I know you because of how much Emma has talked about you.”

Just as I felt as if I knew Emma’s sister through the stories she told, others should feel as if they know Christ through us as His disciples. We should be talking about the great things Jesus has done in our lives so that the world knows Him. We should be telling others about Him and saying, “Oh, you’re going to love Him.”

Making Jesus known should be a natural response to encountering His love. But it is also a command He gives us. In the book of Matthew, Jesus’ parting words to the apostles before He ascended into heaven were His instructions to spread the Good News so that more would come to know Him.

All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Mt 28:18-20 CSB)

It is significant that this command to the apostles is the very last event recorded in Matthew. Jesus had just resurrected, and we know from other gospels that He was about to ascend to heaven. I imagine the apostles were asking Jesus lots of questions about what would happen next. So, Jesus left the apostles with an instruction of what they should do once He was no longer physically with them: Go and tell!

This final command to the apostles is of such importance that it has been given a special name by which we refer: The Great Commission. The word “commission” comes from the same root word as “commitment.” As followers of Jesus, we need to be committed to telling others about Him.

The most notable disciple in Acts who committed himself to making Christ known is Paul. He went on several journeys, for years at a time to introduce people to Jesus. He often returned years later to encourage the church, reminding them of “the Lord in whom they believed.”

When they had appointed elders for them in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. (Ac 14:23)

The Great Commission was not only a command for the early disciples. All are called to share the Good News of Jesus.

Another way to think about the word “commission” is to break it down into two parts:

“Co” – with, together, joint
“Mission” – assignment, operation, task, or goal

The Great Commission is the invitation for us as Jesus’ disciples to join (co-) in Jesus’ operation (-mission) to bring all people to God— to make Him known throughout all the world. How cool it is that we have an all-powerful God who doesn’t need our help, but He invites us to participate in the story He is unfolding!

Today, how can you join God’s mission in making Him known? Who can you tell about Jesus? And don’t forget to add “Oh, you’re going to love Him.”

powered by social2s

Written by Kristi Bond, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

If we are “out of our mind,” as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2Co 5:13-15, NIV)

The most memorable lesson I learned in college did not take the form of classroom instruction. It didn’t come from a book, and although I am grateful to my parents and professors who set me on a course of faithful service and academic excellence, this particular lesson was not theirs to give me.

During my first year in college, I worked at a Mexican food restaurant. It was hard work made even harder by the fact that I didn’t have a car for a while, so I had to catch rides from co-workers. I left campus as soon as I was finished with classes, and I arrived back at the dorm late at night with hours of studying still to do. My earnings were hard-won, and I intended to use them well. God knew how to use them better.

One day as I was reflecting on what it might mean to live for Christ, I decided that no matter what happened that day, I was going to have a positive attitude. I hitched a ride to work with about $50 cash in my jacket pocket, expecting to add some tips to it that night, I clocked in and hung my jacket on the pegs in the kitchen and worked my shift. Later that night, I realized the money was gone. I looked everywhere but couldn’t find it – it had not fallen out of my pocket; it had been taken.

I had a decision to make. Was I going to let this event make me angry, or was I going to stick with my earlier decision to let the peace and joy of Jesus Christ reign in me no matter what? Whichever of my co-workers that had taken the money was living for self. But God used that moment to teach me to live for Him —I made the right decision and went back to the dorm with a cheerful heart. It was the best $50 I ever “spent” because it has given me a better perspective not only about money but also about maintaining a positive attitude even when things go wrong.

Martin Luther wrote: “Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to His beloved is that of overcoming self.” It is a gift to leave behind our selfishness and enjoy relationships and actions we might not have taken otherwise. It is a grace from God that allows us to hand over our fears, our failures, and even our trauma to One who can help us function through them. Living for self leads to entrapment in our own misery, and living for others results in enslavement to their actions and values. But living for Christ transforms all of who we are and all of our relationships, creating space for even tough situations to bring peace and abiding joy.

When we overcome self to live for Christ, we don’t have to react negatively or take offense at others. We can seek peace in challenging conversations instead of responding with hateful words – especially on social media! We can see chores and daily tasks as part of something bigger than ourselves and do them without complaint. Every moment is an opportunity to honor God – even when someone takes our hard-earned money.

What does overcoming self and living for Christ look like in your life today?

powered by social2s

Written by Wendy Neill, Advancement Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Have you ever had someone look at you like you were crazy when you talked about God? I have.

My favorite subject is heaven. My greatest joy is encouraging people to look forward to eating twelve crops of fruit from the tree of life (Rev 22:2,14,19), drinking the water of life (Rev 22:1,17), and worshiping God on His sapphire throne surrounded by a rainbow that resembles an emerald (Eze 1:26-28; Rev 4:2-3). I can understand why some people think that sounds crazy!

Apparently, there were people who thought Paul was not right in the head. In 2 Corinthians 5, he is also excited about heaven! He talks about the new eternal body we will get once this earthly body (our “tent”) is destroyed or taken down (v. 1). He says he would rather be away from the body (in other words, dead), and at home with Christ in heaven (v. 8). Paul knew his words sounded like lunacy to some and like logic to others:

If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2Co 5:13-15 NIV)

He doesn’t care if he appears out of his mind or of sound mind. Christ’s love compels Paul to teach because he is convinced of the good news. If we are fully convinced that Christ died for all of us, we can stop worrying about what people think about our state of mind, and just live for Him.

That’s not easy, is it? We don’t like to look crazy. Even if we share with others what Christ has done, we might focus on the more “logical” aspects, or the inoffensive bits. But even Jesus was accused of being out of His mind (Mk 3:21, Jn 10:20). As His followers, we can expect the same treatment.

Today is a good day to quit being self-conscious and instead, be “out of our minds” for Christ and our future hope.

Are you willing to appear “out of your mind” for Christ?
Are you compelled to speak because you are convinced?

Need inspiration? Listen to the song “Crazy People” by Casting Crowns.

powered by social2s

Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

Imagine one fine day you are taking a walk and come across a dog in pitiful circumstances. He’s starved and filthy. His hair is patchy and his neck is swollen and dirty because of the chain around it that’s attached to a large steel stake in the middle of a patch of dirt that passes for a yard. Your heart is moved to help this pitiful creature so you knock on the door of the owner and offer to buy the dog. The price is steep, but you gladly pay it to rescue the poor creature. On your way home, you come across a lovely park so you take the chain off your new dog’s neck and set him free. Now that he's free of the chain and his terrible master, you leave the dog at the park and hope he lives a happy life from now on.

That would be absurd! Jesus does not do that with us either. He didn’t redeem us from slavery to sin and then set us free to figure out the rest on our own. Romans 8:6-7 (NIV) says,

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.

Just as you would take your new dog into your home and treat his wounds, feed him food, give him a safe place to live, teach him how to behave, and show him real love, Jesus does the same for us. Saving us from our sins entails so much more than confessing Him as Lord and getting baptized.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us grow into a Spirit-led life. This process can be excruciating at times. Facing my problems and negative behaviors, and having the humility to realize I needed to change certain things has been a long and often lonely journey. Even more painful can be embracing who God created me to be. At this stage in my life, I have learned to trust Him and bit by bit have been growing into who He wants me to be. I am so grateful for that growth and change.

Of course, I still make mistakes but rather than berating myself and losing nights of sleep, I can make it right and move on. I have learned to see people more like God sees them; that includes myself. To be totally honest, as I write this, I am at a low point. Experience has taught me that I am not here alone. Jesus is my Savior constantly, not just for the forgiveness of my sins. Zach Williams sings, “It might feel like Friday, but your Sunday’s coming.” Before Jesus rose from the grave, there were some dark, dark days when all felt lost. God has plans that we can’t see or understand. Even when it is dark, we can cling to Jesus’ hand and trust that He will bring us through it.

As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” If we were always strong and never down, we would have no need of Jesus. God uses our weaknesses to bring us closer to Him and to each other. I have learned that my weakness gives me compassion for the weakness of others. How can I judge and condemn when I myself am broken? I may be traveling through darkness right now, but “even the darkness is not dark to [God]; the night is as bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (Ps 139:12 ESV).

God continues to save us from our sins, from ourselves, and from Satan again and again and again as long as we follow Him.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Ro 8:1).

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries

“Come, Lord Jesus!” is my frequent cry, longing for deliverance from the struggles of this world. The burdens of this life—on a personal, familial, congregational, and global level—are overwhelming and daunting. When my thoughts are focused on these afflictions, I lose sight of the eternal perspective. I forget that these are only “light and momentary troubles” (2Co 4:17 NIV).

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2Co 4:16-18 ESV)

I am grateful for the hope of the eternal. God is eternal—the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). We are invited into the eternal, which He has set in our hearts (Ecc 3:11 NIV). When we “live by faith, not by sight” (2Co 5:7), we taste the eternal and trust the One who sees what we cannot (2Ki 6:17-20; Eph 6:12).

Your word, Lord, is eternal; 

it stands firm in the heavens. 

Your faithfulness continues through all generations. (Ps 119:89-90a)

I am grateful that I can be set free from sin and death. This broken world is subject to the consequences of sin: death and destruction. And each of us individually is subject to the same. We are wrapped up in sin and death. They consume us as an inescapable law (Ro 8:2), but that does not have to be the end of our story.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Ro 7:24-25a)

I am grateful for the hope of the resurrection. When we are united with Christ in His death and burial, through baptism, we are invited into the resurrection (Ro 6:1-7). I can have a new life (2Co 5:17). I can be renewed every morning (La 3:23).

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. (Ro 6:5)

I am grateful for deliverance—now and forever. When I die to myself, I am delivered from the traps that the accuser throws in my path. I walk in newness of life. Satan and death have already been conquered by Christ (Ro 8:1, 37). Through Christ, I am redeemed from the lies that swirl in my mind, fueled by the father of lies (Jn 8:44). The Spirit empowers me to take captive every thought (2Co 10:5).

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2Co 10:3-5)

I am grateful to share the good news with others and share in their joy (Mt 28:18-20).

When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. (Ac 8:39)

I am grateful for the Word of Life and the Spirit that reminds me of Truth, especially when I am burdened by this life (Jn 1:1, 14:6).

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (Jn 14:26-27)

Through Christ Jesus our Lord, there are countless things for which we can give thanks. What are you grateful for today?

powered by social2s

Written by Karla Dourado, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:17 NIV)

Gratitude is an attitude that transforms lives and the way we relate to each other and to God. Words are important. They can edify, encourage, and convert. But true gratitude goes beyond what we say—it is demonstrated by our actions. James 2:17 says that faith without works is dead. Therefore, gratitude must be shown through our attitude.

Gratitude is action: Serving others, helping someone in need, or even carrying out community tasks are good examples of how we can manifest what 1 Peter 4:10 says: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.”

Colossians 3:17 invites us to reflect on the way we live our daily lives and the importance of recognizing and thanking God in every aspect of it, recognizing the blessings we receive, even in the smallest things. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Th 5:18).

As I write, I remember the times when I went through difficulty in an area of life: I could only focus on the problem. For some time now, I have been trying to practice gratitude. With this change in mindset, I have been able to defocus from the problem and see lessons for myself that I can share with others.

It was a simple choice, but it has had a huge impact on my life and consequently on those around me.

The depth of this biblical guidance continues to impact my life. The idea that everything I do must be done in the name of the Lord makes me realize that I need to be constantly vigilant so that what I say and what I do are aligned because this represents the faith I profess.

Two years ago, something happened in my life—a really challenging moment. Before, I would have let impulsiveness dominate me... but for two years I have been asking God: How can I act in this situation in the name of Jesus? With this, I have been choosing patience and empathy, rather than anger and guilt.

Instead of getting into arguments, I now choose to wait for God to act, with gratitude for everything that happened in these two years. It is not easy, but it is not impossible when we let the Lord direct us. Breathing and letting God act is rewarding, even amid difficulties.

Today, I can see God's care unfolding in every situation and I can thank Him with sincerity from my heart.

I encourage everyone who reads these brief words to be grateful in any circumstance and experience God's care no matter how complicated the situation seems to be.

powered by social2s

Written by Luzia Casali, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Once I bought a small piece of furniture online which needed to be assembled. Because it was small, I tried putting it together without the instructions. What a disaster! I had to redo it, following the steps in the assembly manual. Has anything like this ever happened to you?

In our Christian walk, we need Bible verses that guide us to know if we are building our life as the Father desires. Fortunately, God, through the apostle Paul, left us a true treasure to be our guide in our Christian journey.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:17 NIV)

Have you ever considered how rich this verse is?

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed…”

When Paul says whatever, he means whatever—what we have done or are going to do in our lives as Christian women. And it goes further—it’s not just in action!!! We must also watch what we think. Our actions and thoughts must honor Him. Without a doubt, it is our faith that should drive this behavior.

But to know what we need to be, we need to transform our minds, as Romans 12:2 warns:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

By transforming our minds, we will transform our actions. But how do we do this?

We need to read the Word of God, participate in classes, and pray to the Father for wisdom. The Christian faith is a faith of action, not a static one. It's not just about knowledge; we need to put into practice what we learn from the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a mirror to show us whether our attitudes are in accordance with God's will and whether we are following His will as daughters, wives, mothers, friends, professionals…

As daughters: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Ex 20:12). This means showing them respect even when you don’t feel they’ve earned it.
As wives: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Ge 2:18). We need to help our husbands for the growth of the Kingdom of God and the strengthening of the family.
As mothers: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Pr 22:6). That's a promise! We must teach our children about God and salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.
As friends: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 7:12).
As professionals: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-24). As much as we may not like our superiors, we need to give our best, as if we were working for God.

“…do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”

We need to have His authorization to act. A good illustration of this is when someone writes a check. It can only be cashed if the signature on the check matches that of the checking account holder. If it doesn’t match, the bank teller won’t cash it. The correct signature authorizes the withdrawal of the amount on the check.

Therefore, it must be very clear in our minds that our actions must be authorized by Christ.

“…giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Why give thanks? We cannot forget that we were bought with a high price: the blood of God's own Son. Therefore, what we do must always be done with respect, honor, and submission to the Lord. Because we were bought, our will is no longer ours; we must be submissive to the will of Christ. He must be glorified in our lives.

Christ died in our place, and it is thanks to Him that we have remission of our sins. Because of Him, the veil of the temple was torn and therefore we have access through prayer to the Eternal Father. And the most incredible thing is knowing that we will spend eternity with Him.

Always give thanks to Christ. Always have a grateful heart, no matter what you do.

Our challenge is to keep in mind that our attitudes must be to honor God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit—because Christ authorizes us.

And above all, always have a grateful heart!

powered by social2s

Written by Marbella Parra, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Honduras

Gratitude is a powerful virtue that often goes unnoticed in the midst of our busy lives. However, gratitude not only transforms our perspective, but it also invites us to experience deep joy, just as the apostle Paul teaches.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Php 4:4 NIV)

Paul does not call us to rejoice when all is going well or only on happy days. He invites us to rejoice always, a term that includes both times of joy and sorrow. This attitude of gratitude is an intentional decision that uplifts the soul and opens the door to authentic joy. It is here that thankfulness becomes a powerful tool to connect with the peace and joy that only God can give.

I must admit that, in my life today, gratitude is not something that flows naturally. I'm at a point where daily responsibilities and challenges have led me to feel overwhelmed. There are days when, even though I know God is present, it seems hard to see the reasons to rejoice. I find myself constantly struggling with frustration and burnout, and Philippians 4:4 feels like a challenge that I still can't fully meet.

However, I'm in the process of working on it. Recently, I decided to start practicing intentional thankfulness. I started a gratitude journal, although I have to admit that it has been harder than I thought. There are days when I feel too tired or worried to see anything positive. However, I am committed to trying every day. Sometimes, the list is limited to very simple things: a moment of silence, a ray of sunshine in the morning, or a message from a loved one. I don't always manage to write down three things, but even with just one small thing, I try to remember that this is part of my effort to live the call to always rejoice.

This exercise has shown me that thankfulness is not something I necessarily feel right away; it's rather a practice I'm trying to cultivate. Although I have not attained that full, constant joy that Paul describes, I have noticed small glimpses of change in my attitude. I realize that when I make an effort to be grateful, no matter how small the reason, my day takes on a slightly different tone. It's not that my problems go away, but I feel a small spark of peace that gives me the strength to keep going.

This stage of my life has taught me that gratitude does not always arise spontaneously; Sometimes, it is a conscious decision. Choosing to be thankful in difficult times does not mean ignoring problems but recognizing that, even in the midst of adversity, I can find reasons to rejoice. When I focus on what God has done and continues to do, even if it is still a challenge, I discover that thankfulness can be the channel that will lead me to a fuller, more joyful life.

Paul understood this very well. Despite writing from prison, he was filled with gratitude and joy. He knew the transformative power of thankfulness and how it could bring people closer to deep peace in the Lord. By applying this teaching in our everyday lives, the act of giving thanks not only changes our perspective but also strengthens our faith.

How Can We Practice Daily Gratitude?
1. Make a daily gratitude list: Take five minutes a day to write down three things you're thankful for. These can be as simple as a delicious meal, an uplifting conversation, or the warmth of the sun on your skin.
2. Express your gratitude to the people around you: A sincere "thank you" can strengthen relationships and create an environment of love and respect.
3. Pray with thankfulness: In your prayers, take time to thank God for His goodness and faithfulness. Make gratitude a central part of your spiritual life.

Gratitude is a habit that is built. In doing so, I discover that my life can be filled with joy and rejoicing, not because everything is perfect, but because I am learning to see God's hand in every detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

What are the little things you can be thankful for today? How can you make thankfulness a daily practice that brings you closer to God and helps you experience true joy?

powered by social2s

Written by Kathy Reagan, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice! 

Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

God’s Word, in this passage and other places, tells us that as daughters of the King, it is His will that we live joyful, fulfilled, abundant lives here on earth.

But sometimes, it can be difficult to rejoice, can’t it? So how can we rejoice at those times?

I think one answer to that question can be found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

When we are prayerful and thankful, we are happy and rejoicing.

Giving thanks to God is a mindset.

Check our focus. We know that whatever we focus on tends to grow bigger and bigger in our lives. Colossians 3:2 tells us “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” When we’re thinking about heaven and serving the King during our time here on earth, we are thankful and rejoicing.
Be aware of our enemy’s schemes. He wants us complaining, feeling sorry for ourselves, blaming others, and blaming God. “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pe 5:8). But our Father’s will for us is to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God…” (Php 2:14-15a). When we are following His directions, we are thankful and happy.
Train ourselves. We humans naturally tend to see the negatives, hear the negatives from others, and sometimes even imagine negative things that are not necessarily even there. However, with training and practice we can develop a habit of turning the negatives into positives. God calls us to grow and strive for maturity in the faith (2Pe 3:18) so that we can eat solid spiritual food and not just milk. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb 5:14). We train ourselves each time we purposefully choose to take a negative thing and look for the positive so we can give thanks to God for it.

Recognize that we are swimming in blessings!

It’s a matter of perspective. Proverbs 27:7 says, “One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry, everything bitter is sweet.” When the enemy invites us to recount all our woes, we can be tempted to just give in and have our own little pity party. But we don’t have to give him the victory! Even in the midst of mourning or terrible tribulation, it is possible to rejoice in thanksgiving because we know heaven is our home at the end of the road here on this earth. We know we have the Spirit inside us, guiding us, strengthening us, and comforting us. We know who we are and Whose we are.

Sing out our thanksgiving to God.

James 5:13b says “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise!” I’m frankly not sure if we sing because we are cheerful or if we become cheerful by singing—maybe a bit of both. I love to sing praise and often wake up with a song in my heart. But in the past, I have purposely sung praise when I was very downcast, and God has always blessed my effort to praise Him. We can always find something to thank Him for, and it is a delight to think of our praise rising to God like a pleasant aroma in His nostrils.

It's been a little over three years now since my godly husband of 47 years passed away suddenly from Covid. God is the one who carried me through that unthinkable time. He surrounded me with loved ones who helped lift me up and bear my burdens. And now He has blessed me beyond measure by gifting me a godly man to walk with me over the finish line of life! We have been married a few months now and we enjoy praying and singing praise. (He is a wonderful tenor!) So, I can truthfully say at this time in my life that I am singing this prayer with David:

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Oh Lord, my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Ps 30:11-12)

It is much easier to overflow with thanksgiving in the good times. But as daughters of the King, it IS possible (no matter what the enemy says) to rejoice even in terrible tribulation and mourning.

Sisters, allow me to invite you to focus on thanksgiving in the good and the bad times and watch how our Father delights in blessing us with joy.

Song of praise: God is so good

powered by social2s

Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

We have been richly blessed as daughters of God! Whether it is good health, family, or financial stability, there is always something for which we can be thankful. Furthermore, God’s provision extends beyond physical blessings; He showers us with spiritual blessings in Christ: forgiveness of sins, eternal life with our Lord in heaven, inexpressible and glorious joy, hope that cannot be shaken, a relationship with our loving Father, confidence to approach the throne of the grace, the inspired Word of God to guide our lives, the gift of the Holy Spirit, family through the blood of Christ… in short, everything we need for life and godliness.

Even if our physical blessings were taken away, we would still have so much for which to be thankful. The goodness of God far outweighs our trials and hardships. Paul writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” through strength found in Christ (Php 4:11b-13 NIV). We can always be thankful, despite our situation: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Th 5:16-18).

Daily thankfulness is important because it…

Dispels anxiety. The antidote to anxiety is thanksgiving. When I choose to dwell on my many blessings, fears fade from the forefront of my mind; these two thought patterns are incompatible. While worries may not disappear entirely, their power is significantly diminished in the presence of thankful thoughts. This truth is taught in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Reminds us of our reliance upon God, not ourselves. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). We are dependent upon God, not only for our spiritual blessings such as salvation, but also for our physical needs (Mt 6:25-34).
Teaches us to see the silver lining. We are instructed to train ourselves in godliness (1Ti 4:7), and gratitude is a godly characteristic. When we practice daily thankfulness, we train our minds to look for the positive and focus on the good.

A tangible way to count our blessings is to write them down in a daily thankfulness journal. If you are like me, you may have been unable to consistently keep a diary. Recording every detail of the day simply seems like too much time and effort after living it. When I began a daily thankfulness journal in January of 2022, there was some skepticism – primarily from myself! It turned out not to be a burden, however, but rather a fantastic blessing. I save my thankfulness for each day as a text message, then catch up on my journal entries when convenient. How wonderful it is to look back and see how God has blessed me through the past almost three years!

Let us overflow with thankfulness! “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col 2:6-7). It is important that we connect our thankfulness for our blessings to their source: our Creator.

From James, we learn that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (1:17a). We should be grateful to God and attribute every good thing in our life to him. Let us approach God with a grateful heart and an attitude of thankfulness for His bountiful blessings, eagerly expressing our great appreciation in prayer and song: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Ps 100:4).

We should also praise the name of the Lord to others. Overflowing with gratitude is glorifying to God (2Co 4:15b)! Thanksgiving is essential to letting our light shine in the darkness of complaints and criticisms. Cultivate a heart of thankfulness and share your blessings with others. When shared, sorrow is mitigated, and joy is multiplied!

Challenges for 2025

Start a daily thankfulness small group text. Ask everyone to commit to sending one, “I am thankful for…” text each day. It can be as simple as sunshine or chocolate or related to an event of the day. This is an excellent way to encourage and be encouraged!
Start a daily thankfulness journal and record how God blesses you every day. This is a great way to be continually amazed by the abundant mercies and faithfulness of God in your life!
Speak more about your blessings from God rather than your complaints. People are drawn to positivity and may want to learn more about your hope!

Count your many blessings, name them one by one… indeed, our blessings are many! Let us count them, appreciate them, and overflow with thankfulness for them— to God and to others. Will you count your blessings today and every day?

powered by social2s

Written by Karla Cass, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

As a therapist I see clients riddled with anxiety walk in and out of my office daily. Anxiety among our nation’s children and youth is at an all-time high. The current generation is one of the most anxious generations in history, but Christ calls us to something different. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) tells us,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

As I ponder this verse, I am taken back to a time when I felt the most anxiety in my own life and when I felt I had very little to be thankful for. In a world full of things that can make us anxious, how can we be obedient to scripture and allow “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” to enter our lives?

The Trial
Dear sisters, I will confess that I often struggle with God’s timeline, which has been a main source of my anxiety in the past. I had a particularly difficult time with God’s timing in the spring of 2018. My husband and I were blessed with a beautiful baby girl the day before Christmas in 2014. We discussed expanding our family and I had a definite vision for what our family should look like. After two years of trying to have additional children, we turned to medical professionals for guidance. Right before Easter I received an infertility diagnosis and was told my eggs were of “poor quality.” The irony was not lost on me that while the world was decorated with brightly colored eggs, I was told mine were old and dusty! In a moment, the vision of my family was demolished along with my faith. The enemy used this news to separate me from God and increase my anxiety and depression. I found it very hard to be thankful for any of the numerous gifts God had previously blessed us with. My anxiety about our future and what our family would look like increased daily, and I lost faith in what I had always believed in: that God was always working for our good. Yet despite my attitude and lack of faith, He was still working on my behalf. God continued to work things out for our good and for the good of others because He can see vastly more for our lives than we ever can.

God Never Fails
During 2020, I was blessed with the opportunity to start a support group along with some church friends for women also going through infertility. We were able to lift one another up, support each other, and point one another to Christ. God used my difficult circumstances to bring myself and others closer to Him. In January of 2021, God exceeded every expectation and we found out we were pregnant with our son. He was the perfect addition to our family at just the right time. Through this trial, God worked things out for our greater good and gave me the privilege to serve others walking a similar path.

When we face great trials, how can we increase our gratitude and decrease anxiety about the future?

Relying on the Spiritual Disciplines
I found three spiritual disciplines helpful in drawing me closer to Him and increasing my faith in a time of difficulties.

1 - Keeping a daily gratitude journal helped me focus on the things God had given me and see that He has a perfect plan for my life and gives me exceedingly more than I could hope or pray for.

2 - The spiritual discipline of silence and solitude helped me to drown out the thoughts and opinions of this world and keep my eyes on Christ and what He wanted for my life. It made me carve out time for prayer and supplication. Through this practice, I was able to meditate on scripture and decrease comparison, jealousy, and anxiety which were robbing me of the joy God wanted for me.

3 - Lastly, I increased my time in the Word and was devoted to the memorization of scripture to combat anxious thoughts used by the enemy to make me doubt God and His will for my life.

Though my struggle with infertility was difficult, God used this time to increase my faith and draw me closer to Him. What spiritual disciplines can you incorporate in your daily life to stop the cycle of anxiety and start living the full life God wants for you?

powered by social2s

Written by Lisanka Martínez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

When we read in Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (NIV), it is necessary to keep in mind that it is a command for all Christians in all times, places, and circumstances. Because of this, we notice the commitment that it represents to be able to express ourselves, as the Word indicates, so that our speech is edifying for those who listen to us, always avoiding the opposite.

This commitment, I confess, has been an uphill struggle for me on several occasions, and incredibly more so in my life as a Christian. Before I studied the Word, when I read or listened to this verse, it seemed to me to be directed at people who were mean in their language, uncontrolled, or who always spoke with malice and double meanings, offending and mocking others. I thought it was not addressed to me, who, although I said a bad word from time to time, tried to be careful where and to whom I said it, being respectful of the people with whom I had some contact.

Later, as a Christian, I remember an anecdote that happened to me during a discipleship class in which I participated shortly after being baptized.

I arrived 15 minutes early to the meeting set for 8 a.m. and I found only the sister in charge of the class who had been there since 7:30 a.m. The rest of the group arrived in a span of half an hour. Much later, the sister who led the class was the last to arrive with another of the sisters. When I asked them what had happened to them and why they were so late, the accompanying sister told me that it was the time the person in charge had told her because they needed to wait until everyone was there before beginning.

I was very upset, and I let the leader know that I thought it was disrespectful for her to arrive almost an hour late to start the class. My attitude had its immediate response: her face was transformed, and she spent the next half an hour sharing an improvised lecture (with its corresponding biblical passages) in which she explained why a neophyte like me should not call out a more mature woman in the faith. I listened to her speech quietly, still upset, and then we finally moved on to the prepared class material. Of course, nothing she said convinced me that she hadn't disrespected all of us. Being Venezuelan, I should have been used to that characteristic of many of my compatriots: the failure to comply with schedules and the lack of respect for others' time; however, I was not and still am not.

Reflecting on this experience, I now think that she, with more experience in the faith, should have simply apologized to everyone for being late and told me, the insubordinate one, that we would talk more calmly about the subject later, instead of showing that she was in charge and that the rest of us should respect and obey her. In conclusion, we both failed as friends, sisters, and group members.

How many of you have had something like this happen? (I remember a story shared by our sister Michelle where she related a similar experience involving a church trip to the beach, found in the book, In God’s Right Hand). Fortunately, those experiences now seem very distant, and we remember them more objectively, although for everyone in the group that day, it would not have been edifying despite the use of the Bible and the fact that no corrupt words were used.

Studying Social Work, I learned about what it means to be in a group and even more so if we formed a team: the commitment, the level of confidentiality, and cohesion that this implied. It should have been a piece of cake to transfer that to my church groups many years later. However, experience has shown me that I have failed in my commitment to God and to the members of the group because of the way I am, always trying to give instructions about the right way to do or say things without being loving, understanding, and compassionate enough in most cases. My commitment is not only to teach, but also to listen and show the greatest empathy, and I want my face and gestures to reflect the love of Christ and not just my words. Now, I work daily to correct and change with God's help.

Do you hear yourself and your sisters in your small group showing love?

powered by social2s

Written by Brenda Davis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph 4:29 NIV)

In Stephen Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People® we find Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood®. Like almost all of Covey’s highly respected writing, this is based in Scriptural truth: "To answer before listening— that is folly and shame" (Pr 18:13). “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (Pr 18:2 ESV).

Hearing is easy. Listening? Not so much. So, what's the difference between hearing someone and listening to them? Hearing is simply being aware that they are speaking. Listening is tuning in to what they are saying in order to understand and respond.

In Matthew 15:10, we find that the Lord called on the crowd to go beyond just hearing His words: “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand’” (NIV). Job’s friends heard him express his complaints ten times. Still, Job exclaimed: “If only someone would listen to me!” (Job 31:35a NLT). Why? Apparently, they weren’t listening with the intent of understanding.

Hearing, listening, and understanding are used interchangeably in passages such as these:

“You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the Lord persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets” (Jer 25:4 ESV).
Jesus asked His disciples, "Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?" (Mk 8:18).

Once you have listened and understood what the speaker is trying to communicate, only then is it time for your response. One of the most familiar passages about listening and responding is found in James 1:19-20: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (NIV). I confess that this is a massive challenge for me. I often answer before listening; if not audibly, I do it in my head and then wait for the first opportunity to jump in with my thoughts. I am preoccupied with something in my life relating to what they are telling me, or forming an argument, a retort, or some “wisdom” or advice I’ll share as soon as they give me an opening. It’s as if what I’m going to say is more important than what they are trying to tell me and they will end up feeling, like Job, “If only someone would listen to me!”

The Scriptures caution us about being more concerned with what we are going to say than with wholly listening.

“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them” (Pr 29:20).
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Php 2:3-4).
“Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble” (Pr 21:23 ESV).

But what if someone says something hurtful or provocative? That is when we must try to be “slow to become angry” by not reacting in kind. “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Col 4:6).

When we respond, we have the opportunity to build others up with an encouraging, wise, or inspiring response.

"Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear" (Pr 25:12).
“The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary” (Is 50:4a).
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up” (1Th 5:11).
"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another" (Pr 27:17 NIV).

What if you don’t feel that you are qualified or wise enough to give that kind of response? In Janet Dunn’s Discipleship Journal article, “How to Become a Good Listener” she recommends that we should consider

put[ing] more emphasis on affirmation than on answers… Many times, God simply wants to use me as a channel of his affirming love as I listen with compassion and understanding. Often a person can be helped merely by having someone who will listen to [her] seriously. At times what our neighbor needs most is for someone else to know.

Let us commit to creating a culture of listening and responding in our families and other relationships. Silence the smartphone. Don’t stop their story. Block out the distractions. And pray that God will open your ears and minds, and will guide and bless your responses.

powered by social2s

Written by Claudia Malaquias, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Minas Gerais

The ability to listen is a precious talent, often underestimated in a world where communication is generally understood as speaking. However, true wisdom and understanding come from the ability to listen with an open heart and mind. The biblical passages of Matthew 15:10 and Proverbs 1:5-6 provide a solid spiritual foundation for understanding a listening spirit's profound impact.

In Matthew 15:10, Jesus says, "Hear and understand” (ESV). These words are a direct call to the importance of listening carefully. Jesus often taught using parables, requiring the audience to listen carefully and thoughtfully to capture the true meaning of His words. This form of communication highlights that listening is not simply a passive act, but an active practice of understanding and internalizing the message.

Proverbs 1:5-6 adds to this idea, stating, "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance for understanding proverbs and parables” (NIV). This verse suggests that the listening process is continual and essential for growth in wisdom. By listening, we gain not only knowledge but also the ability to apply that knowledge practically and effectively in our lives.

In my personal experience, adopting a spirit of listening has significantly transformed my relationships and my spiritual walk. I remember a time when I was facing a professional dilemma. Instead of acting impulsively, I sought advice and dedicated myself to listening carefully to more experienced colleagues. This practice not only helped me make a more informed decision but also strengthened my relationships in the workplace. The act of listening created a space of trust and mutual respect.

The habit of listening is also crucial in our family life. There are times when the people we live with (husband, children, siblings, etc.) need someone to listen to them without judgment or interruptions. By practicing active listening, we demonstrate love and empathy, which strengthens our bonds. I have learned that often solutions to problems arise not necessarily from what I say, but from the way I listen.

In the spiritual context, a spirit of listening also results in a deepening of our relationship with God. When meditating on the Scriptures and prayers, listening to God's voice requires silence and attention. There are times when the answers to our prayers do not come immediately, but through an ongoing process of listening and reflection.

Finally, a spirit of listening promotes humility. We recognize that we do not have all the answers, and that wisdom can be found in the experiences and knowledge of others. This recognition makes us more open to learning, and as a result, generates spiritual growth stimulated by the Scriptures (Heb 5:11-14; Pr 1:5-6; 1Pe 2:1-3; Col 1:9-10).

We can then distinguish some advantages of effective listening:

Humility: Recognizing that we don't know everything and that others can offer us valuable knowledge and perspectives.
Self-control: Practicing active listening requiring patience and the ability to control impulses to speak or interrupt.
Openness to Criticism: Being willing to listen to constructive criticism and feedback as an opportunity to grow and improve.

In conclusion, what a listening spirit produces is transformation. It transforms our relationships, our spiritual understanding, and our personal growth. Matthew 15:10 and Proverbs 1:5 remind us that listening is more than a physical act; It is an exercise in wisdom and understanding. By cultivating a spirit of listening, we not only honor God, but we also position ourselves to receive His blessings and guidance more fully. In a world full of noise and distractions, choosing to listen carefully is an act of faith and wisdom that bears abundant fruit in all areas of our lives.

powered by social2s

Written by Amanda Santos, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa

When I was a child, my mother always said, “God gave us two ears and one mouth because we should listen more and speak less.” Although most of the time she was just reprimanding me for being a child who talked too much during classes and services, she was paraphrasing James 1:19: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (NIV).

Today's theme says that “listening is an altruistic act.” If we search for the meaning of altruistic we find that it refers to someone who cares about others and acts voluntarily to benefit them. The Bible contains several verses that talk about altruism such as Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." And John 13:34b says: "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." The act of listening is the same as loving.

We live at such a busy pace that we even set audio messages we receive on communication platforms at advanced speed to hear and solve things faster. How many times do we watch a video of a class, even a sermon, and put it on “2x” because the faster we listen, the better? It seems like stopping and listening carefully to what someone else has to say will cost us so much. I put myself in this position. I've always liked to do things quickly, think quickly, and resolve things quickly. How many times have I chosen a cooking video to watch, and before the cook got halfway through the recipe, I decided that I had already heard everything I needed and could make the rest myself. Almost every time, I failed and had to go back and watch the video again to find out where I went wrong.

I remember a teacher who asked me a question in class: “Did you hear what I said, Amanda?” and I promptly answered yes. Then she asked again: “Okay, but did you listen to what I said?” Maybe at first you will have the same reaction as I did, “But aren’t those the same thing: hear and listen?” And the answer is no. Hearing is the capture of sounds by the ear, a mechanical and natural process that does not require interpretation. But listening is the action of paying attention, understanding and interpreting what is heard, and making use of it. How many times have I heard people but didn't listen to them?

It takes effort, attention, and dedication to fulfill the role of listener.

Effort is required because we need to break this bad habit of speeding things up. If you've gotten used to hearing everything very quickly, you'll find it strange and even uncomfortable having to listen to someone who speaks slowly. So yes, we need to put in effort to be good listeners.

Attention is necessary because our mind easily takes us away from the conversation. We remember that we didn't take the clothes off the line, we forgot to defrost the meat, or so many tasks that if we are not centered and paying full attention, our mind will ramble and we won't actually be listening to our sister.

And of course, listening takes dedication. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” We need to dedicate ourselves day after day to being good listeners. Remember, listening to your brother or sister in Christ is an act of love. It is an act of service to the Kingdom of God.

When we are willing to listen to what a sister has to say, we are giving her a safe and trustworthy space where she can share her problems, confess her sins, and share her prayer requests with God. Being open to being that person who listens with an open heart and loves her sister is serving the Lord. If a sister comes to you to talk, she believes she will be in a safe place, without judgment, and with lots of love.

May we be attentive and available to be God's instruments in the lives of our brothers and sisters, and may our ears be open to listen to what they need to tell us. May our hearts be ready to love and exhort when necessary. And may only the Word of God come out of our lips.

powered by social2s

Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

One of the most comforting memes I’ve ever seen says, “When God put a calling on your life, he already factored in your stupidity.” When God calls us to something, it can be exciting and terrifying all at once. Feelings of “I want this but I have no idea what I’m doing,” and ”What if I mess it up and souls are lost because I was mistaken about my calling” race through our minds. To put my favorite meme another way, God knows everything about you; good and bad, your level of competence, the family you’re from, the church you attend, your deepest fears and failings, the questionable and sometimes destructive patterns in your life. He looked at all of that and He said, “You. I pick you.”

When God called Isaiah in Isaiah 6, the prophet was distressed because he wasn’t perfect and had sinned. After pointing this out to God, Isaiah was cleansed of his guilt and sins. God called again and Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8b NIV). If we have obeyed the gospel and are followers of Christ, we are in the same position as Isaiah. I know people like Isaiah who have something put on their hearts by God and are able to seize the opportunity placed before them without hesitation. God says, “Jump,” and they say, “How high?”

I wish this were the case for me, but it is not. On the spectrum of taking a leap of faith, I fall a lot closer to Moses than I do Isaiah. Let’s look at Moses’ calling by God which started with a miracle and goes on for two chapters. After witnessing the miracle of an ever-burning bush, Moses is told to go to the elders of Israel and convince them, who already believe in God, to go to the king. God tells Moses exactly what he should say and what God will do to convince Pharoah to let the Israelites go. I want to pause and just note that, wouldn’t that be great? Not only would you have a whole crowd of people with you to confront the most powerful king in the world at the time, but God says, “Here is the game plan and how the future will play out.”

Moses argues and argues even after more miracles are performed for him until God gets angry. He is being told to speak again and again and again by Almighty God of whom he has the good sense to be very afraid and he still asks Him to send someone else. But in Exodus 4:14, we see that God already knew that Moses, in addition to being the meekest man that ever lived, had an unmatched and unrivaled fear of public speaking for all of time.

Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you’”. (Ex 4:14)

God wanted Moses to trust Him, but He knew how hard that would be, so He called Moses’ brother out to the wilderness before His conversation with Moses.

It is easy to look at Moses’ story and shake my head in awe at his stubbornness. But then when I look at my own life, I know that I need constant reassurance from God in my calling. God is patient and faithful and always provides it, but when will I push Him too far? Take a look at your own life. Is there something that you feel pushed to do but have found reason after reason after reason not to do it? God has demonstrated and documented His ultimate power for all of us yet somehow we manage to believe that He cannot overcome our individual personality flaws.

I recently started my Master’s program to become a counselor and on the first day of class, the professor asked everyone why they chose Denver Seminary. The stories everyone told were fascinating. There were people from Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and all over the United States. Each person had a unique story. Some were not sure exactly how they wound up at this school. Some had dreamed of coming there. There was one person who had desperately tried to leave the area to get away from home but wound up five minutes from her house.

What I am taking away from the stories shared and from Isaiah and Moses is that when God puts a calling on your life, trust Him. He knows what He’s doing, and He picked you for a reason.

powered by social2s

Written by Wendy Neill, Advancement Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Do you have a favorite book? It might be from your childhood or something you’ve read as an adult. There’s a good chance you’ve been through it several times, and you love to recommend it to others. It might be a fictional story or a nonfiction book that changed your life. Impactful books are written by authors endowed by God with a special gift for words.

Is the Bible your favorite book? I hope so. We’ve probably all had seasons in our life when it was and seasons when it wasn’t. The author of Psalm 119 had a deep, abiding love for the Word of God which remained steadfast even in difficult seasons (see vv. 81-93). Let’s learn from him.

This author definitely had that God-given gift for masterful writing. He wrote Psalm 119 as an acrostic poem. When you were in school, did you ever have to write an acrostic poem where each line started with the next letter of your name? I was terrible at those. The poem always sounded forced.

Psalm 119 is divided into eight-verse stanzas. Within each stanza, all eight verses start with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet! It is hard for us to see that artistic form since we aren’t reading it in the original Hebrew. Can you imagine writing eight verses that all begin with a difficult letter, like “X”? This author does it seamlessly and it doesn’t sound forced. He utilizes his exquisite skill and the entire Hebrew alphabet to express his love for God’s Word.

Keep in mind, he is not talking about the full Bible as we know it. He is referring to the first five books of the Old Testament: God’s laws, decrees, statutes, commandments, and ordinances. Here are some ways he describes God’s law: 

Great spoil/treasure/riches - vv. 14, 162
A delight - vv. 24, 77, 143
A path - v. 35
A comfort - v. 52
A light to our path - v. 105
Sweeter than honey - v. 103
A refuge and shield - v. 114
Better than pure gold - v. 127
Eternal - v. 160
A source of great peace - v. 165

I can say that about much of our Bible, but those descriptions aren’t how I would personally describe Leviticus or Deuteronomy. This guy understands that God’s laws are meant to bless us, just as a wise, loving parent’s rules allow a child to thrive in a safe environment.

Throughout this psalm, the author alludes to listening to God through Scripture.

Teach me your decrees so I can teach others. - vv. 12-13
I spoke to you and you answered me. - v. 26
Direct me in the path of your commands. - v. 35
Teach me knowledge and good judgment. - v. 66
The law from your mouth is precious. - v. 72

I encourage you to listen to God through His Word this week. Ask Him to teach and direct you. Read Psalm 119 first, then the next day, read from your favorite book of the Bible.

What is God teaching you as you commit to listening through His written Word?
How can you fall more in love with Him and the decrees He has set because He loves you?
Is there someone to whom you can recommend His Book?

By the way, because this author loved God’s statutes so deeply—and used his talent to glorify Him—God added this man’s ode to the Scriptures for all future generations! What an honor!

powered by social2s

Written by Elesa Goad Mason, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Texas

Ponder. To meditate and think with intent. Together with prayer, pondering can bring understanding of the ways of God.

It wasn’t until I became a mother that I really understood what the Bible meant when it said “Mary pondered…” There are moments in my children’s lives that I will never forget. Sounds of their voices that had meaning, requiring no words. Certain facial expressions. The innocent look as they slept with a slight hum when they exhaled. All etched in my memory because when I witnessed the beauty of my child, I deeply contemplated and pondered that moment; never wanting to forget the miracle of it all.

Forty years ago, I experienced the closest thing I’ve ever had to God writing on a wall to give me an answer to a deep and troubling question: should I or should I not marry? Making such an enormous decision to combine my life with another person forever brought me restless and sleepless nights. After one especially prayerful one, I felt drained and confused the next morning. I was puttering about doing a list of chores that were reserved for Saturdays. One of them was making a call to a number I didn’t know. In those days (1985) there were no cell phones or internet, so I grabbed a five-inch-thick book called The Yellow Pages. It was filled with ads for every business in the city of Denver. I stuck my thumb halfway through, opened it to a random page, and laid it on the table. I held my breath as my heart started beating rapidly in my chest.

Let me explain: to help navigate such a large conglomerate of advertisements, at the top of each page was the name of the first listing on that page, then a dash with the name of the last listing. After the prayerful night I had just experienced, my random toss had opened to “marriage-mason”. Let that sink in for a minute (and check out my last name)! The humorous side of me said, “ok God, how about two out of three?!”, but I cut out those two words and carried them in my wallet for over 20 years. Four children and four grandchildren later, this coming July will be our 40th Anniversary.

That was the last time God wrote on the wall for me. But there have been many other times that I had to search for ways to listen to what He was saying. Aside from all the typical means of listening to God: studying the Word, focused prayer with Him, and fellowshipping with Christians, I have found several other ways that help me feel the sense that God is speaking directly to me.

Music. I have written in previous blogs that music lifts my soul and comforts, inspires, and encourages me. You might question how God is speaking through the words of man, but frequently the right song will come across the radio at just the right time to fill my need. If that’s not God in control, then I don’t know what is.

Stillness. After I pray, particularly if I need comfort or direction from God, I find that sitting still can bring answers. After asking Him to help me, I owe Him a few minutes of thoughtful, quiet listening. The Psalmist said in 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” God wants me to know that He is strength. If He can protect His people (Israelites) from hostile forces, then I know He’s got me and my problems.

And finally, intentional listening. This is not the same to me as my quiet stillness. I am talking about listening to others and seeking out ways to treat my neighbor as myself. After all, that is the second greatest commandment according to Jesus (Mt 22:39).

Most of my deep connections have been with strangers, through whom I hear God when I actively try to listen. The thing about asking God for spiritual understanding and ways to be of greater service in His Kingdom is that He will always answer and present me with opportunities to show His love by making someone else’s way easier.

I promise if you fervently seek for ways to find Him, He will show you. He always does.

powered by social2s

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

The natural wave in my hair helps it stay compliant when properly styled. However, left to its own devices, my hair has a style of its own, starting with the wispy baby hairs that frame my face, pointing in every direction. Every one of those hairs chooses its own chaotic path overnight, creating the effect of an untamed mane when I look in the mirror first thing in the morning.

After chuckling at the added disparity between my brown and gray hairs (my God highlights), I determine how to tame my tresses. I never leave it exactly how it looked after waking. That would be foolish. Instead, I do at least something about it with my brush.

James 1:22-25 states:

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (ESV)

Listening and doing. Hearing, seeing, understanding, and obeying. It is an ongoing process that requires commitment.

As James illustrates, when we listen to the Word, we are looking into a spiritual mirror. We are called to do something with what we hear. Dedicated commitment permits us to listen again and act on it, like when I catch a glimpse in the mirror later in the day and reach for my brush or adjust a hairclip.

“Listen first and twice.” That listening exercise from Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion reminds us of the importance of listening first to God (and to others). We seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness through His Word and His teaching (Mt 6:33; 2Ti 3:16-17; 2Pe 1:20-21). We listen first to others by holding our tongue and thinking before we respond (Jas 1:19).

Of equal importance is to listen twice. We think we know what we heard. Our confidence regarding our understanding of that original message can lead us to barrel through without confirmation. Or we may lack confidence in what we heard, leading us to doubt. In both instances, it is always wise to listen twice. “Then David inquired of the LORD again…” (1Sa 23:4). Throughout that chapter and in other instances, David listened at least twice.

Jesus demonstrated committed listening first, twice, and always, through consistent, intentional communication with His Father. He constantly rededicated Himself to listening and to speaking only what the Father said (Jn 12:49).

The practice of listening requires commitment. Listening is a practice because we are always learning. No student can perfectly play a piano the first time she sits down at the keys. But the more she practices and plays, the more she learns, and the better she gets. It is a choice to persevere, especially after making a mistake.

A commitment to listening requires ongoing dedication and a determination to practice. When we do it imperfectly, God lovingly invites us to repent and do it better the next time. We hear His mercy and grace. And the more we practice listening to Him, the more we want to hear His voice and follow His lead.

The more we listen, the more we deepen our relationship with Him. The more we listen, the more we fall in love with the One who calls us to obey what we hear. And our commitment to listening is strengthened.

We would love to help you renew or strengthen your commitment to listening! Check out our latest Bible study book: Committed to Listen: Forty Days of Dedication.

Thank you for your commitment to listening through our blog, as well! May God use us as His instruments to encourage and inspire each other to listen and act on what we hear (Jas 1:22-25). We appreciate your feedback and responses. We “listen” to each one.

powered by social2s

Written by Kristi Bond, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb 12:1 NIV)

We learn a lot just from growing old. Aging brings with it a host of ailments that challenge our physical capacities. Although it’s not unheard of, it is rare for 80-year-olds to run races. My back problems can attest that aging is not always fun! But one of the worst problems I have had in recent years has to do with my ability to hear.

A few years ago, I began to experience brief periods of hearing loss. My ears felt full, and I struggled to hear voices, especially my husband’s low voice. These sensations would last anywhere from three days to three weeks, until last year I lost low-range hearing in my left ear for four months. At work, I had to strain to hear my students. Sitting right next to my husband in the car, I often didn’t know he had spoken to me. And at church, it became hard to praise God with my brothers and sisters because my own singing was all I could hear. The audiologist explained that my ears were producing an internal fluid that impacted my ability to hear and that these episodes would come and go, but get worse with time. My ears are working against me!

Sometimes, we are our own worst enemies. This is especially true when it comes to listening. Our priorities and desires hinder us from hearing others. Sin and self-absorption create an internal fluid that blocks out any sound other than our own voice, and we stop listening for the needs of those around us. It’s easy to lose our focus on what God is trying to tell us. We seek pleasure or rest in things other than God, or we lean into our anger, anxiety, or resentment. These periods of hearing loss can be brief, or we can spend a lifetime ignoring God in favor of our emotions or desires.

Hebrews 12:1 tells us that we are running a race. We have the advantage of a running coach who lives within us—the Spirit of the living God. Are we letting our priorities keep us from hearing Him? Is our sin quelching the Holy Spirit? Daily training is available through the Word of God. Are we able to hear His instructions?

Jesus frequently says to His listeners: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Our relationship with God suffers when we listen only to our own desires. Let’s be Christ-followers who have ears to hear!

We often think of running as an individual sport, but we should not underestimate the importance of knowing our fellow runners. I watched a race in the Olympics this year where one runner accidentally tripped up another participant, and both runners fell and were disqualified. How tragic for those who have trained so hard to get to the race of their dreams! We don’t want to be so self-absorbed that we cause ourselves and others to fall. Put another way, when all we can hear is ourselves, we can’t hear each other. If we are to “run with perseverance”, we will need to encourage and be encouraged by our fellow runners.

As I grow older and experience more and more hearing loss, it takes more effort to listen. I refuse to withdraw inside myself, though. Instead, I will actively seek ways to worship, interact, and connect with others despite the disease I am experiencing. Jesus healed a deaf-mute by touching his ears (Mk 7:31-37), and He can open my ears too – both physical and spiritual. I pray that He will remove the sin and selfishness that keeps me from hearing Him and others as I actively seek to listen.

In what ways can you listen more actively to God this week?

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

When I was growing up, my daddy sometimes told me, “It’s hard to hear God’s voice when you’ve already decided what you want Him to say.”

The Hebrew writer tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1 ESV).

Picture a runner strapping on ankle weights and a heavy backpack just before an important race. Do you think he will have a good race? This is what the author of Hebrews is talking about when he tells us to lay aside that which can slow us down.

Sin is a weight that slows down or interrupts our walk with Jesus.

We all know how difficult it is to talk to someone through a closed door. When we talk to or listen to our Heavenly Father, we need the door open wide with nothing to hinder communication.

Sin is a barrier…like a closed door…between us and God.

Sin often comes with pride…and pride prevents us from listening because we want to be in control. We may have decided what we want God to say.
Sin deceives us into thinking God has moved away from us and no longer cares.
Indifference, fear, or shame about our sin will close our ears to His voice. The evil one wants us to concentrate on our sin. However, God has told us to give our sin to Him, and He will wash it away.

Contrast the response of Adam and Eve with David when each were confronted about sin. Adam and Eve were afraid and hid. David responded, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2Sa 12:13 NIV).

Have you experienced the pain of avoiding a friend because of “something” that happened?

Now, let’s apply that to our relationship with God. Whether it is an obvious sin that we are aware of, or we’ve simply quit putting God first in our lives and we know things aren’t right, we feel the barrier, and we are no longer hearing Him.

The prophet Habakkuk wrote: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Hab 1:13). Our Heavenly Father wants us to avoid sin.

The most important thing we need to remember is God will never leave us. We find this promise throughout Scripture. We find it first in Deuteronomy 31:8: “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Our God pursues us to protect us from sin.

Sin is always the barrier that separates us from feeling connected to God.

Isaiah wrote: “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isa 59:2 ESV).

God knew this and understood it. This is why He tells us over and over in Scripture to bring our sins before Him so we can be cleansed.

Think on the following Scriptures…about how they give us hope and assurance:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9 NIV).

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:1,2).

“The blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7).

“But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1Jn 2:1). Jesus, our Redeemer, is standing beside us as we approach the Father.

With those promises that show the Father’s loving-kindness towards His people, we need to ask ourselves what we are involved in that may hinder us from hearing the words of our Heavenly Father.

powered by social2s

Common Threads insta ENG new In the context of small groups or trios of women, we have an opportunity to participate in authentic, genuine relationships that can deepen our relationships with God and one another. Iron Rose Sister Ministries prays that we can equip you in those relationships, especially in your local churches and small groups. And one of the ways we do that is represented by the Common Threads— the three elements of the ministry logo. They are a way of making any Bible lesson very personal and practical: the sermon on Sunday mornings, your personal Bible reading, or your favorite chapter in an Iron Rose Sister Ministries Bible study book.

The Rose in The Common Threads
The bloom of the rose reminds us that we are all beautiful and unique roses in God’s Garden. It represents the areas in our spiritual lives in which we long to bloom or flourish.

“…making it bud and flourish… so is my word that goes out from my mouth…” (Isa 55:10-11).

The Thorn in the Common Threads
The stem represents the thorns we identify and want to remove. They may be thorns like Paul’s (2Co 12:7-10) that torment us, or they may be sin struggles that hinder our growth.

“…a thorn in my flesh to torment me… throw off the sin that so easily entangles…” (2Co 12:7-10; Heb 12:1)

The Iron in the Common Threads
Iron Rose Sisters, as shown in the form of the cross, lovingly serve as iron sharpening iron, as God transforms us into the image of Christ, and as we deepen our relationships with God and one another.

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Pr 27:17)

powered by social2s

Written by Katie Forbess, volunteer and Board President with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Missouri

As iron sharpens iron, 

so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

Looking at past blogs on the IRSM website which I have written or been a part of, I see the foundation of the notes that I have been writing for this blog. It is a comforting reminder that God has been working consistently in the same ways through my commitment to Iron Rose Sister Ministries through relationships, prayer, and reliance on Him.

If you ask me how I am most committed to my Iron Rose Sisters, I will tell you it is in prayer. Why? Because all other things I do have the possibility of failure. Someone won’t like the words or scripture I share or the gift I have chosen. I will let them down with my overwhelming humanness. But through prayer, God uses my holiness to bless them. The Spirit intercedes for them as He does for me. With all the groans and lack of words, He communicates the soul's cry to the Father.

Actions are a must. Listening and following through on the Spirit’s promptings to act are essential (Called to Listen and Committed to Listen books). And the way that I know I can best help someone is to bring them to the Father in prayer.

Prayer is an awesome testimony of love. Recently, a prayer line that I am on spent the whole time praying for a fellow sister who was a caregiver. One of the most amazing things to listen to was other sisters who I know are also caregivers holding up this sister in prayer. For an hour. Prayer after prayer. Some in the form of songs, others through readings of the scripture. A few laughs and a whole lot of tears.

This also happens during the weekly team meetings of Iron Rose Sister Ministries. The meeting begins with a devotional, and prayer is always included; not a general prayer, but a prayer that inserts our lives into the lives of others and presents our hearts before the Lord, always asking in confidence, trusting He not only hears us, but He is in control.

These kinds of relationships are the foundation of IRSM and the goal to grow closer to God and one another. Through moments like these, the team is prepared to make important decisions like the very difficult one made recently to cancel a trip. The trip was planned and prayed over, the events set up, and invitations sent out. Michelle and Julia were prepped and ready. The Spirit was willing but literally, the flesh could not make it. The unity of the team and the trust on all sides that the decision was being made for God’s glory was not easy. But it worked out and the team was amazing in their response to all the things that had to be done, from the refunding of tickets to the communication with the congregations. After countless prayers and some tears, it was evident. God blessed the process.

This is only one example, and I will say with confidence that as the team and ministry grow, the stories grow, as does our faith through our time in prayer.

So, if you want to know how to be committed to your Iron Rose Sisters, my answer is prayer. If you want better relationships, pray. If you want to truly help the sister who just lost her husband, pray. Please do not hear me say that prayer is a magic incantation and that no other action is involved. At the very least God will change your heart, but it’s more likely that He will change your perspective about what action needs to be taken.

Praying always.

powered by social2s

Written by Sâmia Machado, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Brasilia, Brazil

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Th 1:3 NIV)

Dear ones, the church of the Thessalonians was a model church for all times. In 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, we see the success of the gospel and the faithfulness of that church, being the fruit of Paul's work accompanied by Silas and Timothy on his second missionary journey (Ac 15:36-18.23). In these chapters, we see their choice to serve by working together to preach the gospel of Christ.

Over the last three years, I have been able to learn from the Lord the meaning of the word service. Being a servant of the Lord means standing before Jesus with the desire and willingness to genuinely serve. So, if our willpower is weak, we have to exercise it, even if our bodies and minds say they don't have the willpower.

Paul was called to be an apostle and serve the Lord Jesus, having to renounce a lifetime of Jewish customs. As a servant with no choice of where to go, facing persecution, and eventually imprisoned, he happily writes his first letter to the Thessalonians.

Sisters, my family and I have been “on rough seas” since 2021 during my third pregnancy. I was pregnant with twins and lost one of them, leading to an early rupture of the membrane protecting José, the baby I was still carrying. This situation put me in the hospital at 25 weeks pregnant. I was able to maintain the pregnancy until the thirtieth week when the amniotic fluid emptied. Unable to wait any longer, my baby had to be delivered and taken straight to the ICU. In total, I was in the hospital for two and a half months, leaving my home in the care of the Lord with the help of my beloved husband, Emilson, until we were able to go home with our José Victor. I realized how intense the last two months and six days were, when I saw our three children together after so many weeks of absence. Unfortunately, José passed away due to a respiratory syndrome, as a result of a simple cold.

For me as a mother, experiencing that moment of sudden loss made me realize that I should accept God's sovereign will. The desire to give up was intense, but what about my two children who were still with me? And my home? Being in mourning and having to return to work which involved the direct care of mothers and newborns — all of this was part of that rough sea…

Being in the desert of the ICU and seeing God bring my reinvigorated little baby out of there, then going back to the ICU for the second time and leaving without my son alive, returning without a piece of me, was the biggest battle I had to fight against my own will. I had to take care of the home, be a present mother, and start to take care of the family again with this loss. After a few months, I had to return to work assisting with breastfeeding care at the Birth Center where I have worked since then. ii. My dedication to my children, Alice and Benjamin, had to primarily be the continuation of discipling them in the Word of the Lord.

Today, two years and four months after my José Victor's departure, I am inspired by Paul's letters when analyzing the path he followed to serve the Lord. Paul wrote Thessalonians, his first letter to that church, with enthusiasm and love for service. Amid the persecution of the Christians there, he encouraged those new to the faith who, even amid difficulties, did not stop preaching the gospel. Even those who were new to the faith were active in serving the Kingdom, putting into practice the teachings learned from the missionaries.

I refer to each family as a part of the Lord's church, each one being a part of the body that, when joined together, forms the church just as Thessalonica was: an example of a healthy body. Like them, we should also be committed to the gospel of Christ both in our church and in our homes, in any situation, even if there is persecution as there was in the early church.

May we be like the Thessalonian church; active in serving, which was what distinguished it as a model church through the preaching of the gospel throughout Macedonia and Achaia (1Th 1:7-8).

…your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Th 1:3b)

powered by social2s

Written by Alessandra Cardoso, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Sergipe, Brazil

When we stop to think the only begotten Son of God, who came into the world in human form, dedicated His entire ministry to healing, saving, and loving the people around Him, we realize His greatness. He, who is the heir of God the Father, renounced His glory to be among us. With humility and love, He fed hungry people, cured the sick, and healed the hearts of many, including those needing spiritual health.

Nowadays it is difficult for us to understand such gestures of care and service when we look at them from our earthly perspective, but Jesus' greatest purpose on Earth was this: “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28 NIV). Before delving deeper into this verse, I would like to define what the verb serve means: to work in favor of (someone, an institution, an idea, etc.).

Serving is a job, providing a service to something and/or someone, and may receive something in return (like a salary, for example) or simply be a voluntary act. In either case, serving is action. When examining the gospels, we observe Jesus Christ's attitude toward humanity; we see a lovable, docile, kind, compassionate, humble, and merciful man. However, when focusing within the gospels on the three years of His messianic ministry, we see that He proves His divine essence in the form of love and service.

There are countless ways to serve each other in the church of Christ— both our brothers and sisters in the church and those outside. We can actively participate in the congregation’s ministries (children, couples, benevolence, etc.), but we also have the opportunity to take part in the details that are not seen by the majority (preparing the Lord’s Supper, cleaning the building, maintenance, etc.), and we must serve with our wisdom, personal/professional experience, and advice. As Christian women, the range of services is diverse and each one can identify which one fits them best.

If we were to look for a source of inspiration and direction to follow, there is a perfect example of a SERVANT Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master (and by Lord, I mean that we are His slaves— He bought us at a high price). The interesting fact here is: our Lord is owner of the entire universe, Son of God, and our Savior. He became a servant in order to rescue and save many— to be an example for us to follow—because the disciple imitates his master. Therefore, if Christ submitted Himself to servitude willingly out of love for humanity, how can we, His disciples and slaves, not want to follow in His footsteps?

If we reflect deeply on our Christian duties, service is something indispensable for Christians. When done with sincerity and willingness, it has the potential to nourish our Spirit, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and improve our skills. Notably, it is also a huge gesture of love, obedience, and submission to God. When I think about service, I believe that the central point is LOVE, because if I am full of love in my heart, serving is not a burden, but rather a beautiful reflection of what we have within us: the overpowering light of Jesus Christ. Serving is loving. Whoever is full of love to give will certainly serve others with joy. Thinking further, all of this is the result of the fruit of the Spirit being developed and polished within each of us, day by day. It is the mission that Jesus left for us. It is and has always been His desire that serving was more important than being served. It denotes humility and subjection.

A beautiful example of how Jesus demonstrated that He came to serve and not be served is found in John 13:12-14 when Jesus washed the feet of His apostles. He teaches us about His character and, most importantly, gives us the precious lesson about humility connected to service. We often aim for big and flashy things in the church. However, as written in Mark 10:43, our goal should not be to have recognition and prestige— our goal is to simply be faithful servants of Christ Jesus!

I know in our Christian journey, we will have barriers to developing this service within the church. It will not always be the easiest or most fun thing to do. However, I want to encourage you to try. Start with something small and simple, and you can master easily. Remember that serving is: loving, imitating, and glorifying Jesus.

May we be servants of Christ. Amen!

powered by social2s

Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (2Co 1:3-4 NIV)

The Creator of the entire universe is described as the “Father of Compassion”; how beautiful and comforting! However, what exactly is compassion? In Hebrews 1:3a, we read that “the Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Therefore, we can examine the life of Jesus to understand the nature of compassion.

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus travels through towns and villages, “teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness” (Mt 9:35). Jesus had compassion on the people He saw. He healed a leprous man (Mt 8:3), two blind men (Mt 20:29-33), sick members of a large crowd (Mt 14:14), and provided food for 4,000 hungry people (Mt 15:32). In the account of Jesus healing the two blind men, some versions say that Jesus was moved with compassion. When Jesus felt sympathy for others, He did something about it. From Jesus, we learn that compassion implies action.

As disciples of Christ, we are called to follow in His footsteps (Mk 8:34-35). We are to willingly lay aside our sin and self-absorption in the pursuit of Christ, following His example of being moved with compassion. Jesus declares, “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me” (Jn 12:26). According to the picture painted in scripture, compassion is clearly a central part of our commitment to serving Christ; it is even the basis for the separation of the sheep and goats on judgment day. Carefully consider this critical scene:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” (Mt 25:31-36)

Subsequent verses explain that when we show compassion by fulfilling the needs of the least of Jesus’ followers, we are effectively serving Jesus himself. Let us contemplate the eternal value of exhibiting compassion.

The apostle Paul writes,

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Col 3:12-14)

How can we show compassion by our actions?

Volunteer at a pantry
Drive someone to their doctor’s appointment
Prepare food for someone who is sick, grieving, or a new mother
Fervently pray for someone throughout the day
Provide a listening ear for someone who needs comfort
Help someone pack, unpack, or clean their house
Humbly address unrepentant sin in a sister’s life that is endangering her soul
Visit someone in the hospital, recovering at home, or lonely
Forgive someone. Scripture frequently presents compassion and forgiveness together, indicating a connection between the two. As Ephesians 4:32 instructs, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

A hard-working sister in our congregation is a good example of a compassionate Christian. She invited me to volunteer alongside her at a food pantry, woke up hours before sunrise to take me to an outpatient procedure, teaches children’s Bible classes, and regularly helps aging and disabled church members who need assistance. She can almost always be found doing something for someone. Her compassion reminds me of my favorite verse: “God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them” (Heb 6:10).

Compassion implies action. How can you show compassion today?

powered by social2s

Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer and Board member with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (Heb 13:16 NLT)

As a child, I remember playing with the neighborhood children for hours on end. We would wear ourselves out riding bicycles, exploring the woods, playing dodgeball, or just trekking to the convenience store on our military base for snacks and soda. I also remember not one child ever went without what was needed for our group playtime. Someone always had an extra bike to spare or proper shoes to borrow for our forest explorations. I also remember no one left the store without a treat— even if they arrived without a penny in their pocket! It was just rare for us as kids not to share what we could with our friends and neighbors. I even recall the time my brother and I searched high and low for loose change in the house so one of our friends, who was ten cents short on a favorite candy, would be sure to get one along with the rest of us. It took us two hours to find ten cents, but we all walked out of the store that day with a Whatchamacallit® and a smile. What a joy it was for us to give to a friend in need!

Oh! If adults could have the mind of a child, sharing and sacrificing for others, what a wonderful thing that would be. Yet that’s exactly what’s expected of us when others are in need. God calls us to “open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land” (Dt 15:11b NKJV). Whether this help comes from our time, talents, or a monetary gift, it is a Godly thing to do for others. It’s something each of us as believers should be eager to do. And it’s important to remember caring for others is an act of our preparation for heaven.

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life. (1Ti 6:18-19 NLT)

It is honorable for us to help others (Mt 5:16, Ac 4:32-37). We show love for Jesus by meeting the needs of others (Mt 25:35-40). Caring for others is a visible sign of obedience to God and love for Him. Jesus said, “All who love me will do what I say” (Jn 14:23). Ladies, this verse can be reiterated in several ways. Doing what God has commanded is a product of our love. Our acts of obedience are the proof of our love for Jesus. We show love by doing those things He has commanded us to do. And we do not truly know or love God if we aren’t loving others (I Jn 4:7-8).

No matter how you choose to help, it’s important to do so with a sense of esteem. You may only be able to give five dollars to the local food bank or church benevolence fund, but that’s five dollars for someone’s food or sustenance. Perhaps you can’t give monetarily, but time spent visiting with a shut-in or a patient in the hospital can be much-needed spirit care. Someone may need words of encouragement as they navigate a difficult time in life. Babysitting for a young mom who just needs time alone without little ones hanging all over her can be such a help. As a military wife with four children living far from home, and whose husband was deployed for long stretches at a time, that was a huge need for me.

We can reap benefits on the other side, too, of caring for another’s needs. Opening our hands to help others can be a blessing to us just as much as to those we serve. It just makes you feel good inside, ladies! Be assured, if you care for the needs of others, you will reap benefits beyond measure.

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. (Lk 6:38)

What will you do to care for others and in doing so express your love for God?

powered by social2s

Introduced by Michelle J. Goff, then written by her mother, Jocelynn Goff, both in Arkansas

My mother has always modeled hospitality. Growing up, almost every Sunday we had someone over for lunch—people of different languages, cultures, and backgrounds. In honor of this week’s emphasis on commitment to one another as shown through hospitality, I can think of no better candidate to share one of her many stories. In her own words…

One Sunday many years ago in “early marriage days,” my husband came up to me after church saying, “See that man over there? I invited him for lunch.” “You did what?!” I asked incredulously as I looked at the man who had just walked into the church building that morning. He looked like he had slept in his ill-fitting suit. He had huge dandruff flakes all over the shoulders of his suit and in his eyebrows, in other words, a less than appealing presence of a man. I said, “He’s a stranger and we’ve got a baby to think about.” My husband replied, “I thought of that. That’s why I invited the preacher and his wife for lunch as well.” Again, my reply was, “You did what?!” I only have a one-pound meatloaf in the oven. We don’t have enough.” My husband gently said, “We have plenty. This man has $2.32 to his name and needs a bus ticket and ride to the bus station to get to his family. He came to the church for help.” Oh my! I was immediately humbled and changed my response to a prayer. “Dear Lord, please forgive my harsh, immediate judgment and please provide enough for us to share as You did with the small boy’s lunch of five loaves and two fish.” This was my prayer all the way home from church as I was also thinking of what else to add to the one-pound meatloaf.

When we arrived home, I got the meatloaf out of the oven and noticed that it had actually shrunk, not grown. “Oh my! Dear Lord, we still need a miracle multiplication here like You did with the small boy’s lunch.” I added to the meatloaf meal three cans of green beans, two boxes of macaroni and cheese, and a can of fruit cocktail with a sliced banana. Then I sliced the meatloaf and served the meal.

Everyone was served some of everything: meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, green beans, and fruit salad. We had pleasant conversation over lunch. The preacher and his wife agreed to take the man to the bus station and the church would pay for his bus ticket so he could go home to family.

After lunch when everyone had left, I cleared off the table and noticed the meatloaf. Do you know what? I had meatloaf left over! Everyone had been served, yet there was meatloaf left over. I remember in Mark’s account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand, “They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish” (Mk 6:42-43 NIV).

So, the next day as I ate a sandwich made with leftover meatloaf, I was again reminded of my prayer for God to multiply the meatloaf as He did with the loaves and fish and He did, and He gave me leftovers as a reminder of His abundant provision.

My reflection afterward was also on the scripture, Hebrews 13:2, “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” While I do not know if this man was an angel, I do know that every time I remember this event, it causes me to reflect on this verse and consider the real meaning of hospitality. We often think it’s opening our home to our family and friends. Actually, that is fellowship.

Fellowship is when connectedness or relationship is shared among those with a common aim or background. Hospitality is providing an act of service of welcoming, receiving, hosting, or entertaining guests or strangers. It’s an act of service, often to the least of these. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” As I’m sure you, like I, want to serve Jesus Himself then we must learn to serve the “least of these.” This provides the greatest blessing to them, to us, and is Kingdom living.

powered by social2s

Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. (Ro 12:13 NIV)
Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. (Heb 13:2)
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1Pe 4:9)

As a child, whenever I thought of hospitality, I would think of having people over for a nice meal, good conversation, and dessert. My parents did this often and I loved sitting and listening to the adults tell stories and laugh with each other. As an adult in a city with absurdly high housing prices, I cannot afford a home large enough to have more than one person over at a time. I do have a large backyard and on nice summer evenings, I can accommodate a larger group, but mostly I’m limited in this form of hospitality.

The good news for me is that there are other forms of hospitality and I think that is what the Bible is conveying more than merely having someone come to your house. Jesus did not have a home to invite people over for dinner either. In fact, he often needed a place to stay for himself and his followers, yet Jesus is the ultimate picture of hospitality. The Greek word used in Romans 12:13 for hospitality means “love of a stranger.” I know many people who open their homes and are excellent hosts for small group meetings, dinners, and game nights. In contrast, you may have been invited to the house of a person in which you did not feel welcome or comfortable. There are many reasons I have felt uncomfortable in a home, including it was so clean I was scared to step off the welcome mat, their spouse sat in their recliner the whole time smoking and playing Tetris (true story), no food or drink was offered, or the conversation was tense and awkward.

It is clear, from these scenarios, merely opening your home to others is not hospitality. Webster’s dictionary defines hospitality as “offering a pleasant or sustaining environment or being readily receptive.” There is much more to being hospitable than I initially thought. I have a friend who makes everyone who enters her home feel loved, safe, and comfortable. Her home is clean but not fancy. She welcomes you with a big smile and usually has it set up so you can help yourself to a snack or drink. There is an indescribable air of warmth and acceptance. A large part of the welcoming feeling in my friend’s home is her personality.

I may not be able to have gatherings at my home, but I can take the feeling of acceptance, warmth, and love with me wherever I go. Jesus had this same quality. For example, when a woman was thrown at his feet by a crowd demanding her brutal death, Jesus got down on her level. When the mob receded and it was just the two of them left, He spoke to her with love and forgiveness. Again, when He met a woman at a well with a long history of sin, He spoke with her, took the time to know her, and offered her more than she could ever dream; the living water of God’s love. Time and again, Jesus greeted the outcasts, degenerates, and poor with respect, love, and a spirit of hospitality. Hospitality is loving strangers like Jesus did; truly seeing them and being hospitable to their person.

Our church buildings are also places where great hospitality can be shown. How shameful if a visitor joins us as we worship God and feels unwelcome or unseen. The gathering of the church should be a place where the lost, hurting, discouraged, and faithful feel safe, feel loved, and feel welcome. In today’s society, Christians have a reputation as judgmental hypocrites. I used to find this offensive, but experience has taught me that this reputation is not wholly unmerited. In my experience, the central focus of too many sermons has been on sin and bringing sinners to repentance. I think a little more hospitality might go a long way towards bringing the lost to Jesus than a fiery sermon. After all, when Jesus spoke to the lost, He had great compassion and mercy. He reserved His harshest sermons for the religious leaders who were oppressing the people with their man-made laws rather than acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with their God (Mic 6:8).

Sisters, let us be committed to showing hospitality, offering a pleasant or sustaining environment or being readily receptive, wherever we go.

powered by social2s

Written by Ann Thiede, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

I grew up going to one of two churches in our small community. The church was the building. Church also was something that happened on Sundays in the sanctuary of the building. Church did not happen downstairs in the large area with the coke machine— just get-togethers with people who went to that church.

Church had importance, yes, but not enough to cause me to continue going when on my own in college. However, when my serious search for truth began, I went to one right off the university campus. The yearning intensified as I read the gospels, and reached a climax when I surrendered to Christ and shared in His death, burial, and resurrection through baptism.

The people in that church welcomed me warmly and attendance became a priority. It changed from “I have to go to church” to “I get to go to church!” The more I read the New Testament, the more I realized my view of church was misconstrued. It wasn’t the building; it was the people who surrendered to Jesus as Lord and Savior. I found answers to questions of faith and the church within its pages. Learning occurred every time the Bible was opened. I discovered the Acts of the Apostles—all about the beginning of the church and the believers' excitement to share the Good News about Jesus’s death and resurrection. What a great accounting! I strongly encourage you to read or reread Acts with fresh eyes.

In the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Christians in Corinth, he paints a detailed picture of the church in chapter 12, referring to it as the body of Christ. Here is a portion:

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many. (1Co 12:12-14 NIV)

It meant so much realizing I was part of Jesus’s body here on earth, His representative! Paul speaks as well to the church at Rome with these words:

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. (Ro 12:4-6a)

“Each member belongs to all the others.” That is a radical concept. The church is not meant just to be Sunday worship, but members caring about each other daily, even as we care about the parts of our own body — all new to self-centered me. Over the years, I learned valuable and sometimes hard lessons in each church made up of gifted but imperfect people. One lesson: “Bloom where you’re planted.” Struggling to make connections within a large church, I began grumbling until hearing this: “What are you going to do about it?” So I began reaching out to unfamiliar people and hoping to meet visitors. Some new families became our lifelong friends. I also became part of a prayer chain. With joy, I met members we had prayed for when they recovered and returned to worship. Becoming an active part of a small group provided ways to encourage and be encouraged.

For fifty years within various bodies, God has patiently taught me. My first church had many who were gifted in sharing the Good News with others, and teachers who made the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, come alive in powerful and often convicting ways, increasing my love for the Word and a deeper love for God and others. In other churches I have been blessed to learn from those gifted with serving, praying, showing hospitality, giving, showing mercy, humbly leading, and encouraging others, to name a few. Sometimes God has allowed me to look back from wobbly steps in sharing my faith or encouraging others to a greater working of His Spirit. Always it is He who works in us for His good pleasure (Php 2:13). Above all, may love be our motivation as Paul admonishes in 1 Corinthians 13.

How are you blooming where you’re planted? The Holy Spirit excludes no one. You are of great value in the body!

powered by social2s

Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb 10:23-25 NIV)

The New Testament has five verses that mention “good deeds,” and four of those are in 1 Timothy. Paul instructs women to be more concerned about adorning themselves with good deeds than the latest fashions (2:9-10), the rich to be rich in good deeds rather than trusting in their material wealth (6:18), and that good deeds, like sins, will be found out eventually, both the obvious and not (5:25). First Timothy 5:10 provides some examples of good deeds: bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord’s people, helping those in trouble, and being devoted to all kinds of good deeds.

Verses 24-25 in Hebrews 10 grammatically suggest that the opposite of spurring one another on toward love and good deeds is giving up on meeting together. Anyone who has gone to the same church for more than a few years knows that where there are people, there are problems. None of us is perfect, so we sometimes hurt each other accidentally or out of selfishness, or because we ourselves have been hurt. Hebrews is a call to not give up on each other, but to continue in good deeds and to love one another as Christ loved us.

Some of the most bonding experiences with my fellow saints have been when we were out in the world doing good deeds and working for the Lord. We did not have time to squabble about someone getting in someone else’s lane or how so-and-so should have done things this way instead. There was simply such an overwhelming amount of work to be done and people to serve that no one got in each other’s way.

Perhaps the author of Hebrews is instructing the church not to lose the mission of seeking and saving the lost. In America, it is easy to become consumers within our congregations instead of serving others. The list in 1 Timothy covers serving the Lord’s people and those in trouble. Who is in more trouble than the lost? We also tend to hide our own troubles, hurts, and problems from each other. If we only knew the pain and suffering going on within our congregations, suddenly the arrangement of classroom chairs wouldn’t seem as big of a deal. I have a friend who runs a shoe-shining business. Her business has been successful for many years, and she says it’s because she trains her employees to listen to the customers while they are shining their shoes. Her customers are CEOs and high-powered people who frequently find themselves in tears because someone has taken the time to listen to them and care about their day.

The list of deeds does not include handing someone money. When we are doing good deeds for the Lord’s people and the lost—washing their feet, helping to bring up their children, and showing hospitality—these things take time. Even when you get hurt, rather than quitting and finding another church, it is so important to keep doing good deeds and loving each other. We need to keep spending that time, taking time to listen to each other’s needs, and working out our problems.

The message of the world when someone hurts you or offends you is to say, “I deserve to be treated better,” and to leave that relationship, job, or whatever. We, as aliens and strangers in this world, are called to a different response. Do not leave, do not give up meeting together. Instead, awkward as it may be, keep meeting together, keep encouraging each other, and keep doing good deeds together or for each other. It is when we give up that the enemy wins. What is sweeter than the restoration of a friendship when you thought you had lost a friend forever because you messed up? So often Christians focus on commitment in a marital context, but commitments to friendships, to family, and to the brothers and sisters in Christ’s church are just as necessary if the work of God’s Kingdom is to continue. It is not an easy path. Commitment rarely is. But Jesus called us to be set apart for Him— to be different than the world. Continuing to encourage each other and love each other makes us radically different than the world. I pray that we will all make this commitment.

powered by social2s

Written by Jelin Robles, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Campo Grande, Brazil

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2Co 10:3-5 NIV)

In 2 Corinthians 10:5 the apostle Paul talks about submitting every thought to obedience to Christ, and he demonstrates this through his life.

Reading the previous verses, we see that Paul defends his authority as an apostle to the church in Corinth. Even though some judge him, he explains that he is not walking in a worldly way, as some had the audacity to say, but even if he did walk in the flesh he would not act in the same way.

Whatever has been said or done against the gospel, our weapons are powerful in God, destroying every stronghold. But how should we proceed? God does His part and tells us that for our part we must take our thoughts captive in obedience to God, and God will provide help.

As Christians we must obey, but with love.

The Lord Jesus teaches us in Luke 6:45 “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Whatever is in our hearts, that is what our mouths will speak. The heart is also a reference to our minds. In Proverbs 4:23 we find this instruction: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” We learn how important it is to be careful about what we think because our life is directed by our thoughts. Linking the two texts, we understand that thoughts leave the mind (or heart as the Jews called it) as the words we speak.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Php 4:8)

In this verse, we are instructed as to the kind of thoughts that should occupy our minds. In fact, we know that if the Holy Spirit is not with us, we will not be able to fulfill this mission. And once we understand that it is our mind that directs the choices we make in our lives, we will fill our minds with everything that is good and praiseworthy, that is, everything that is true, worthy, correct, pure, pleasant, and decent.

In my Christian walk, submitting my thoughts in obedience to Christ has never been easy, and I still work on it. God is transforming me to take all my thoughts captive, as Paul teaches us, and I know that the weapons of our spiritual army are powerful in God.

God bless, and may He continue transforming the lives of all of us. Hugs!

powered by social2s

Written by Ana Carolina Mourão, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Campo Grande, Brazil

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col 3:1-4 NIV)

I found it interesting Colossians 3:2 was the suggested verse for this blog: Set Your Mind on Things Above. This is a struggle I have with my mind and which has been unfolding for some time. I believe we all face this battle. When I reflect on this verse, I think “If my mind stays and works on things that are from above, then it is filled with what is good and there is no time left for the things of the world.”

Our whole life is for the Lord’s honor and glory. Sometimes we fail, sometimes we judge, but only God is the true judge, and this Judge gave us such grace by sending Jesus to die on the cross in our place.

This is my prayer: Father, I ask you for forgiveness because I sin, but I thank you for your mercy, Lord. I give you my life. I thank you for reaching so many sisters and as long as I live, I believe in your healing. I thank you for the sisters who pray for me, Lord, because I believe in the power of prayer. In the name of Jesus, amen.

A good way to occupy your thoughts with things above is to ask yourself: What do I love to do for the Lord? In my case, it is working with the little ones; playing with them, doing theater, and making fun classes. And you? What is your gift? Invest in it. That's your TALENT. Do you remember this beautiful parable? To each is given their talent, and the one who multiplies it hears, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!” (Mt 25:21).

May our thoughts remain on things above. And what are these things? These would be things that involve the Lord, His church, the brotherhood, widows, and orphans, as this is true religion (Jas 1:27). When we help with visits, women's classes, coffee and tea for church events, and preparing the Lord’s Supper, we are taking care of things from above.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). I would like to highlight one of the fruits of the spirit, kindness, and talk about a brother, Fonseca, the greatest example of kindness I have ever seen on earth. He fought the good fight and left a legacy, three daughters and his wife, with the same good heart. With my own eyes, I saw him buy a bag of food and give it to a family who needed it. His kindness was always immense. Anyone who knew him has to hold back tears when talking about him. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal 6:9-10).

We must always do good to everyone, especially those in the family of faith (Gal 6:10). In fact, it is something which should not need to be mentioned it should be inherent to who we are like in the stadiums where the Japanese collect the garbage without anyone asking.

And think of Jesus, who had all the fruit of the Spirit? With His kindness and mercy, after a life of sacrifice, He died for me and for you. May we keep our minds on things above in preparation for His return!

powered by social2s

Written by Naijuvelin Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.  (Job 42:2 NIV)

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Pr 19:21)

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Ps 33:11)

Acknowledging God's absolute power and dominion over mankind affirms His magnificence and sovereignty; no thought is hidden from Him.

The Word says that what God wills, He does; and all things work together for good.

Acknowledging God has control over all things affirms that nothing is beyond His reach. When we recognize His all-fulfilling dominion, we humbly activate the obedience that molds us and orders our steps by clarifying His purpose for us. We can discern His purpose and define our own, for it is He who puts the will and the doing on our timeline. Consider the attitude of Mary, the mother of Jesus, as shown in Luke 1:38, when she said, ""I am the Lord's servant . . . May your word to me be fulfilled," accepting His dominion and counsel. Through her example, I learn that for God to define His purpose it is necessary to accept His will.

For us to enjoy such great salvation, Mary had to make a firm and positive decision in response to the divine plan. She said yes, opening the possibility of that eternal purpose being fulfilled in her. How important it is to open the way for God to act on our behalf (Ps 138:8). It is a way of getting involved in the commitment we have made.

"God is not the God of nonsense," a sister friend with whom I shared pleasant moments meditating and praying told me, “Because what God wants, He does." This is the phrase that strikes me the most. When I experienced my mother's departure from this earth, I clung very tightly to the quote from Romans 8:28 when the whys came to my mind, and the Word comforted me with this: "All things work together for good." At the time, I still did not understand what that good was. Personally, I understood that for her to have left with faith in the Lord was great gain and that, for me and the rest of the family, brought strength and comfort because we were rooted in the faith and hope of those who leave with God. God glorified Himself; I saw it when a family member was converted to Him; I understood then how God worked His purpose amid both sorrow and comfort.

Another example to consider is that God established a purpose when He created us in His image and likeness. However, it is up to each person to recognize and act on it. I can define God's purpose when I am a reflection of willingness and submission to Him, abandon myself into His hands, trust, and obey Him.

His counsel for eternity is immutable. Trusting in His divine plan can strengthen you in every situation. Waiting on His promise can transform darkness into light. The psalmist suggests that we entrust the way to Yahweh; our longings, our thoughts, and our hope in Him, trusting that the best response is the one He has defined.

We have the freedom to make plans and goals, without considering what God has designed, or simply not seeking His guidance. Is it convenient for me or not? Will God agree? How does God see this within His plans? Will He like it?
Yet, entrusting all your plans to Yahweh will bring positive results to your life. He will affirm your thinking, that is, confirm what you should do. When we have a close relationship with God, we get closer to His purposes and can discover what they are. However, you must consider continually seeking Him, and He will make you understand the way you should walk (Ps 32:8).

It is through deep connection in prayer and meditation on His Word that we can discover and define His purpose. How ways can you define God's Purpose in you?

powered by social2s

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

We often sing:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 

Look full in His wonderful face, 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 

In the light of His glory and grace.

These words, by Helen Lemmel, speak of Scriptures written long ago about our focus in life.

The author of Hebrews writes: “… looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…” (Heb 12:2a ESV).

Other versions refer to Jesus as “author and finisher” (KJV, NKJV, ASV), or “originator and perfecter” (NASV).

My daddy, who grew up on a farm, used the example of a farmer plowing with an old-fashioned hand plow. His rows were straight because he focused on a post or tree in the distance as he plowed instead of looking down at the ground or around at the scenery.

Paul wrote: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth” (Col 3:2).

Our everyday life has things that distract us; it may be necessities such as our work or family, or being focused on the pleasures of life.

When Matthew tells of Peter walking on the water, he writes: “… So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Mt 14:29-30).

Look at what Matthew says:
1. Peter asked to go to Jesus (Mt 14:28).
2. Peter got out of the boat (Mt 14:29).
3. Peter walked on water (Mt 14:29).
4. Then, Peter began looking around at the storm… the winds and waves… became afraid… and began to sink (Mt 14:30).

Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began watching the storm. That is when he had a problem.

We do the same thing when we encounter the difficulties of life, whether it is relationships, finances, health, or something else. That’s what delights the evil one— for us to forget that Jesus is our Rock.

David wrote: For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken (Ps 62:1-2).

Back to Peter: the verses following his cry for help tell us that Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter and together they went back to the boat. This means Peter walked on water a second time… with Jesus at his side. Redemption does this for us when we look to Jesus as Peter did.

Jesus does the same for us when we look to Him.

There is a common quotation that gives me peace about the storms of life:

“Sometimes God calms the storm, but sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child.”

When we focus on Jesus, trusting Him to keep His promises and always be with us, the storms of life have less power over us.

Long ago Moses wrote: Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you (Dt 31:6).

Isaiah restated that promise in different words:

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isa 43:1b-3a)

Fixing our eyes on Jesus means we look for Him in the everyday events of life, and seek to do His will. It means trusting He intercedes for me when I don’t know how to pray, when life tumbles in and the words will not come.

The question I ask is: In my life, what keeps me from focusing on Jesus, my Redeemer?

powered by social2s

Written by Lisanka Martínez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ec 3:1 NIV)

Knowing how to wait on God, trusting He will always give us what He knows we need in His time, and He tells us what we should or should not do, requires practice and our firm commitment.

In my early Christian life, I had only a faint idea of how to tell others about Jesus. I also had a hard time volunteering to pray publicly for fear of making a mistake and giving a bad testimony (more than just stage fright). Even though I was always willing to serve and help in whatever was asked of me and wherever it was needed, I knew that I was not giving all of me. n my home I spent very little time in prayer or study of the Word. Nevertheless, I continued to read the Bible occasionally, attend classes, women’s gatherings, Sunday service, and teach children’s classes.

As we all know, God shapes us step by step through good and bad times as we accumulate experience. In my case, I am ashamed to confess there were moments when I failed and doubted my faith, the affection and interest of my brothers and sisters, and even the meaning of life. However, I kept attending, I kept serving, I kept trying to understand, and I kept taking my family to church activities until I understood what a commitment to Christ is.

In the past if someone asked for prayer, I thought, "Let's pray now." When someone needed comfort, I was there even though I only repeated the usual phrases and struggled to express myself. But now that I am more fully committed, I also pray even when they don't ask for it, and I continue to do so until I see an answer to that request. If I see that someone needs comfort through a hug or a kind word, I will give it to them, and if I am far away, I communicate with heartfelt phrases of empathy and love. In the past when physical effort was needed to do something, I did it, but only mechanically. Now due to my current health condition, if I want to support an activity that requires physical effort beyond my capacity, I know I can ask for help from others, and I collaborate in everything I can. I am now encouraged when I have the opportunity to knock on doors and invite others to a church campaign or activity. I go with enthusiasm and I love to look for the lost. My commitment has become stronger.

Knowing exactly when my commitment to Christ increased is a difficult thing—it may have been when I was disabled and had to leave my job as a preschool teacher. However, at that time I increased my involvement in Sunday school work. It could also have been when my girls left the nest, sadly, because I could have been a better example for them. But during that time, my health kept me very busy and mostly focused on prayer. Then came the time of the pandemic where, thanks be to God, my husband and I were able to dedicate ourselves to reading and studying the Word daily, contacting brothers and sisters from other places. Thanks to the technological resources inspired by God, we were learning, having the desire to study more every day, practicing what we had learned, and sharing it with others.

I now understand that committing to Christ is a pleasure, that we must feel love, accept responsibility, have enthusiasm, dedication, and desire to learn and feel very good with each step we take in that direction. I also know this commitment will sometimes tempt us to try to overcome obstacles on our own and fatigue or discouragement may result. It is a task that tests us many times and does not always give the expected results.

If we dedicate our time to working for the Lord, He will bless it. I know I should not give up when adverse situations arise. My health is going through hard times; I pray while I cry because of the pain, but I also praise very strongly. When I want to attend an activity but my economic situation prevents me from doing so, I ask those who attend to send me photos, audio, or videos of the activity, and I share them, feeling grateful for the technology. Every day, I share with someone about God and the Gospel of salvation.

Do you think we should commit only when physically and emotionally well? Does your financial situation influence your work for the Lord? Let us remain committed even when we are faced with challenging times.

powered by social2s

Other Languages

Visit Our Store

Donate

The Gospel Is Bearing Fruit That Will Last

Bearing Fruit "Along the Way"

The Multiplication Model of Bearing Fruit

Bear Fruit and John 15

May You Continue to “Practice Like a Wise Woman”

Whatever You Did for the Least of These

Wise Woman in Action: Living Life to the Fullest as a Single Woman

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant

A Wise Woman of Action

How Hannah Practiced Gratitude

Practicing Thanksgiving Through Suffering

Practicing Thanksgiving like David in the Psalms

Choosing to Give Thanks

Preparing to Be a Mentor to Younger Women

How Precious It Is to Live Under the Wisdom of our God!

What a Wise Woman Did (Abigail)

Taming the Tongue: Is There Hope?

Putting the Scriptures Into Practice Wisely

Does Practice Make Perfect?

An Imperfect Pursuit of Holiness

Why Do I Want to Be Perfect?

Holiness: A Separate, Not Perfect Life

Mentorship Story

We Are Spiritual Athletes

Discipleship Tools

Committed to Each Other

God Demands Our Love

Following Peter in Repentance

Follow Me as I Follow Christ

Follow “as I follow Christ”

An Excellent Transformation

Transformed Into the Image of Christ

My Imperfect Testimony of Transformation in Christ

Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds

As a Couple Grows Older, They Grow Together and Are Transformed

God Always Knows

Our Big Event: Three Events in One!

Getting Ready to Meet the Groom; He Is Getting Ready Too

A Crown and a Name That Will Last

In the Dust of the Rabbi...

How Do We Follow in His Steps Today?

Follow in His Steps

When You Cannot Help Speaking

Come, Follow Me

She Did Her Part and Let God Be God

Bible Women Who Did What They Could

An Example of “She Did What She Could”

She Did What She Could

A Righteous Woman's Prayer

Prayers for Wisdom

Praying Like Jesus Did Based on John 17

Praying Through the Common Threads

Build on the Rock or Build on the Sand

What You Have Learned or Received or Heard from Me…

Committed to Listen and Put it into Practice

Practice like a Wise Woman

IRSM 2025 Theme: Practice like a Wise Woman

How We’ve Been Committed to Christ 24/7 in 2024

Making Christ Known Across the Nations

We Are a Whole

Celebrating the Christ Who Became Flesh

When Christ Came as a Child

A Beautiful Thing to Share Jesus

All Are Called to Share the Good News of Jesus

Knowing Christ and Kingdom Living

Out of Our Mind for Christ

Thankful for Deliverance in Christ

I Am Grateful for Deliverance Through Jesus Christ Our Lord

How to Give Thanks in Word and Deed

Whatever You Do… Give Thanks!

Intentional Thankfulness - A Path to Rejoicing

Thanksgiving Brings Us Joy

A Thankfulness Journal

Thanksgiving Instead of Worry

Listening in Small Groups

Encouraging Words: Committed to Building Each Other Up in Love and Understanding

What a Listening Spirit Produces

A Righteous Woman's Prayer 

Praying Like Jesus Did Based on John 17 

Praying Through the Common Threads 

A Beautiful Thing to Share Jesus  

Knowing Christ and Kingdom Living  

Thankful for Deliverance in Christ  

Thanksgiving Instead of Worry 

One Way or Another, He’s Gonna Getchya, Getchya, Getchya 