Iron Rose Sister Ministries

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.

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.