Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Ayane Nayara, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. (Ps 10:14 NIV)

When we have a relationship with God, we can enjoy many of His characteristics; we get a taste of what He is. We taste His love, His faithfulness, His kindness, His mercy, His grace, His generosity, among other attributes of our God, including His commitment.

To better understand this attribute, let’s think about its meaning. Commitment is an obligation assumed by one or more parties. It is an agreement or pact made by someone with another being or with themselves.

God as our Creator and Father is committed to us. Since the creation of man, He has made promises and covenants with humanity and His people. He planned every part of our journey and He committed to fulfilling it. Unfortunately, these covenants were broken, not by God, but by man. When a covenant is broken, both parties no longer have the obligation or commitment to fulfill what was agreed. However, what we do does not change who God is.

God takes on a responsibility with us. Like a true father, He knows our needs and despite our faults, He is committed to keeping His covenant. At all times, He seeks to teach us, make us grow, and bring us back to His path.

In Jeremiah 29, part of His people was exiled in Babylon. It was a difficult time for them. Israel had failed God; they once again broke the covenant with the Father and were suffering the consequences. However, the Lord remembered them and made this clear when He sent them a letter through the prophet Jeremiah, asking them to remain firm, not to listen to false prophets, to multiply, and stay alive.

In verse 11 He says, “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” All along, the Lord has been committed to helping, loving, and rescuing His people.

In the Old Testament, He made a covenant with one people, while still blessing others. From humanity: broken alliances, broken promises, betrayal in worship, among other failures; from God: fidelity and commitment.

In the New Testament, He makes a covenant not only with one people but with all those who are open to His will. He gave us His Son so that through Him we could draw closer, and He left us His Spirit as proof of the commitment He has made to take us to our heavenly home. From humanity: the same situation as in the Old Testament; from God: He remains committed. Unlike before, we now have His grace that allows us to get closer to our Father. Even so, in response to His unconditional commitment, He asks us to commit. We need to seek and strive to bring who we are to who the Father is. He does not force us to enjoy who He is, but He is available when we seek Him.

We must always remember that no matter what we do, God remains committed to us as long as we repent and return to Him.

Remember: God is a Father committed to helping, loving, and rescuing us.

He loves us, allowing us to learn from the consequences of our mistakes. He helps us, revealing our sin, guiding us where to walk and what our attitude should be to grow. And He rescues us, reminding us of our covenant with Him and fulfilling His promises.

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.” (Jer 29:12-14a)

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.

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.

Written by Adriana Rocha, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Brazil

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Php. 4:6 NIV)

When I converted to Christ, I discovered that I possessed a weapon to use against my problems: prayer! In my process of learning to pray, I also realized how many things within me I needed to work on and improve. But, oftentimes with the wrong motives, I used prayer as a blindfold that kept me from seeing what was really happening and what I needed to do.

Over the past few years, during a very difficult period of my life, I have had my most intense experience with prayer. Although I did not intend for prayer to be a last resort, it was all that was left when all the other options were no longer available. But I was in a battle that I did not fight alone—I always had my relationship with God. In the moments that discomfort kept me from sharing with my brothers and sisters about the situation, I sought comfort in God.

This situation taught me that I need to pray, asking for help from God to see things as they truly are, discernment to know how I should proceed, and understanding of how and what to pray for. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Ro. 8:26). Once we understand what to do, we need to ask God for the strength to act.

One of the things that was very positive for me during this process was having a friend persevering in prayer with me. This dear, trusted sister spent hours on the phone with me. Our time together sharing what was happening and praying was very important to me. When I didn’t want to be patient and wanted to simply act without waiting for what God had prepared for me, this sister helped me to see the importance of God’s process of preparation. It is so precious to have someone praying with us: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Mt. 18:20).

Oftentimes during the break in church service, we would go into a room so that I could share how I was feeling, and we would pray together because I didn’t want anyone else to hear about the bad things that were happening. “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” (Jas. 5:16). Her encouragement for us to pray together made all the difference for me. She was also going through some difficult struggles and our friendship allowed us to pray for her problems as well.

But this time with her in communion and prayer did not replace my alone time with God. I continued praying “alone” too! I learned that even though God knows all things, rather than throw around random situations, my prayers should be specific. I prayed even in the moments that I didn’t know what to say to God, trying to hand over the situation to Him instead of spending my energy on something that I couldn’t do anything about.

I prayed even on the days that I had just enough strength to slide out of bed and get down on my knees and, not knowing what to say, just cry. “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer. 29:12-13). I feel that God has given me the strength and heart to keep me on my feet while facing this problem, sustaining me so that the new demands won’t shake me.

During the entire situation, one verse remained on my mind: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Jos. 1:9). If going through all of that was as difficult as it was, imagine going through it without God’s sustenance.

To conclude, I want to remind you that prayer frees us and brings us relief. It is a blessing to give up our worries to God. Even when we are unable to express them with words, God knows what we mean. “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Col. 4:2). We cannot do what is not up to us. We need to hand our worries over to God. People often say: “All I can do is pray,” as if that were something small. But praying is the most important action of all. Instead, we should say, “I’m going to do the best thing I can do: pray!” Stop going around in circles on your own, come to the Creator, and follow His guidance.

What about you? Are you willing to be prepared by God to act after your prayer?

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?

Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

A precious camp counselor (we will call her Elizabeth) shared a memorable anecdote with me. Elizabeth had been married, but her husband sadly fell into sin and decided to be with another woman. After time had passed, the other woman wanted to learn about Jesus. Unsure of who else to ask, she approached Elizabeth. Elizabeth said she will never forget sitting in her kitchen, sharing the gospel with the woman who had stolen her husband and wreaked havoc on her life. It was the hardest thing she ever had to do. But saving a soul was more important than her heartache; she set aside her damaged feelings for a higher purpose.

Elizabeth maintained a degree of distance from the other woman to protect her heart. It is okay and healthy to set boundaries with other people. In his podcast Excel Still More, Kris Emerson describes how the apostle Paul did precisely that. Two missionary journey companions he had previously trusted were no longer allowed to travel with Paul after they had deserted him: Demas and John Mark. After traveling with Paul and participating in his ministry, Demas deserted Paul “because he loved this world” (2 Tim. 4:10 NIV). In his previous letter Paul affirmed that God, “wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:4). We see a desire for mercy on those who had deserted him in 2 Timothy 4:16. Despite this desire, Paul could no longer trust Demas and warned Timothy about him.

There can be Christians who we are unable to trust because of their continued bad choices. We still love and care for them. Loss of trust is neither desiring nor determining condemnation; rather, placing boundaries is protection. Scripture teaches, “Do not be deceived: bad company corrupts good character” (1 Cor. 15: 33). We don’t want unhealthy influences in our lives. Having close relationships where we can influence someone for Jesus without being led astray requires balance. Second Corinthians 6:14 instructs us to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. We might think we are strong enough, but we may find out that is not the case.

Therefore, we need to draw and maintain boundary lines. Those on the other side of those boundaries are still valuable people. Jesus teaches that the two greatest commands are to love God and love our neighbor (Mark 12:28-31). When the opportunity presents itself to maintain this balance and teach the truth, we should follow Elizabeth’s example and take it.

In Ecclesiastes, we are reminded of the value of mutual relationships in which “if one falls down, his friends can help him up” (Ecc. 4:9-12). Those we keep close should “help us up” by encouraging our strength and devotion. We can listen to their advice and trust them, for “those who walk with the wise will become wise” (Prov. 13:20). These are the people with whom we regularly communicate and feel safe opening up to. Through forming relationships with the trustworthy and wise, we build a support system that strengthens our faith and gives us the confidence and ability to influence others for Christ.

Due to their immense value, we need to prioritize building and reinvesting in healthy relationships that may have been neglected. This requires observing and appreciating their positive character, bringing them close, and deepening a relationship with them. We may need to take the initiative and discover how we can encourage the other person as well.

Conversely, if there is an unhealthy relationship that is hurting you or your relationship with God, it needs to be addressed. Jesus teaches us to cut off the hand or eye that causes us to sin (Matt. 5:29-30). If you have a relationship with someone who is leading you into sin or working against what you are trying to do for the Lord, it may need to be ended. If it cannot be ended, then limit the time you interact with that person. A little space might help you have a healthier faith and could benefit the other person. Pray, ask for God’s guidance, and read His Word before deciding.

While Paul and Barnabas were preparing for their second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them. In contrast, “Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company” (Acts 15:38-39).

Paul could not trust John Mark because he had previously abandoned them. Later, however, Paul asked that John Mark be brought to him because John Mark had been “helpful to [him] in [his] ministry” (2 Tim. 4:11). As time passed, change must have taken place. From this, we can learn that there is hope for relationships to be restored. Our God is in the business of redemption and restoration; sometimes in this life, sometimes in the next.

No matter the outcome, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Rom. 8:28).

Written by Vivian Arcila, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Canada

Listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! (Ne 1:6 NLT)

The book of Nehemiah not only sequentially details the biblical way to resolve conflicts and crises but also highlights the importance of confessing sin as an essential part of restoring our relationship with God.

It is interesting that when Nehemiah learns of the situation in Jerusalem and its captives, the first thing he mentions in his prayer is confession, not only of his personal sin but also of his family and his nation. He knew that the disobedience of the people of Israel had resulted in their destruction, and he felt responsible as well. Since ancient times, we have noticed that sin that is not corrected and is practiced deliberately can affect not only the person who commits it but also their family and even an entire nation.

Psalm 14:3 says, "But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!" As a God-fearing man, Nehemiah was aware that, although his works were pleasing to God, the human being is a sinner by nature. Nehemiah may have felt that he could have done more for his people before things got worse, but the truth is that confession is an essential part of our Christian lives.

Our walk in Christ begins with acknowledging that we have sinned before Him, repenting of our sins, and confessing Jesus as our Lord and Savior, which is confirmed with baptism and perseverance. Romans 10:9 says, "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." The doors of spiritual blessings begin to open with confession.

However, confession does not get stuck at the moment when we give our lives to Jesus. It should be a daily act to recognize Christ's lordship and discover our faults. In the face of every difficult situation, we must examine ourselves and confess our offenses to our Creator. In that moment of reflection, think about how much our personal sin has affected the family and, in some way, the community or society, and confess before God our participation in it, either directly or indirectly. It is not only sin to do evil to our fellow men, but also to fail to do good as James 4:17 says, "Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it."

Am I studying the Bible, praying, examining myself, and confessing my sins frequently? That helps me connect to God and cultivate a meek character that my family, church brothers and sisters, neighbors, drivers, people at the grocery store, and coworkers will notice. Not having good communion with God affects us personally because we lose peace, which is reflected in the treatment of our relatives and neighbors, causing a domino effect on the individual, family, church, society, and the whole world.

Let's try to make an effort daily in our relationship with God because it impacts, in one way or another, the life of our family and the lives of the people around us. Before we met Jesus, we were like a city with walls destroyed by sin. Now, we are being built on the rock that is Christ.

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

“Then He [Jesus] said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.’” (Lk. 9:23-24 NKJV)

It was my sophomore year in college when everything seemed to be in a neat, tidy package. Good grades, in a prestigious sorority, on the university union board. And I had the freedom to make my own decisions. Self-denial? A foreign concept.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (Tit. 3:3a NIV) was an accurate description of my self-centered life at the time. Alcohol was my friend and I led others into drinking. And alcohol abuse had a bad way of loosening inhibitions. I desperately wanted approval.

In the middle of a seemingly good life, God interrupted and shook my world upside down. It was a tiny taste of what the Apostle Paul went through when Jesus knocked him off of his “high horse” with a blinding light. (See Acts 9:3-6.) He knocked me off of mine when someone I cared about raised the question of whether or not I was a Christian. I was stunned and upset, but also ignorant. The natural tendency could have been to get defensive. Instead, I chose to seek the truth and began in earnest to read the gospels and listen to Jesus. As a child, a seed of faith had been planted in my heart just waiting for this moment.

His words astounded and drew me! The more I read, the greater the desire to let go of worldly things—to please Him instead of myself. The cursing stopped. Happy hours stopped. I chose to be in my right mind. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Ro. 5:6). How could Jesus love this ungodly woman so much? It was humbling.

But what would my parents say if I made the decision to follow Him heart and soul? My religion had only been dutiful Sunday attendance, which had gone by the wayside. What would my sorority friends say? I decided nothing else mattered but knowing Jesus as Lord and Savior. 

I cannot say my parents were thrilled. Mom did not have much of a Bible background and was intimidated by her changed, joyous daughter. They aimed verbal barbs at me from time to time. I wept and prayed and held on to Christ and my new spiritual family, the church. And I found reassurance in these words of Jesus:

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” (Mt. 19:29 NKJV)

Some of my close sorority friends were offended when I told them I’d become a Christian. Peter in his first letter said this could happen. “Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you” (1 Pe. 4:4 NLT).

Nothing from my “before Jesus” days compared to “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Php. 3:8 NIV). God called me to Him even in my sinfulness. Losing my life to find it in Jesus has been an amazing journey. Fifty years later, I am still a grateful debtor, more in love with the One who paid my debt.

What have you counted as loss to gain Christ?

Written by Crisamarie Rivas, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Ecuador

The Bible, as a source of wisdom and spiritual guidance, reveals profound messages about creation and the purpose of humanity. Within this wonderful narrative, women are presented as beings created with a specific purpose, full of value and meaning. Through carefully selected Bible verses, let’s explore the role and importance of women in the divine plan, and how these truths can inspire us in our daily lives.

The Creation of the Woman: A purpose designed by God.
"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him” (Gen 2:18 NIV).

God created the woman as a help suitable for the man. The word "suitable" means adequate, appropriate, or complementary. This reveals that women are not mere companions, but play an essential role in the life and purpose of men. They were designed to be partners who bring unique skills, perspectives, and gifts.

Motherhood: A Purpose of upbringing and formation.
"She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue" (Prov. 31:26).

The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 exemplifies the purpose of nurturing and training through wisdom. Women can influence and guide future generations with love, patience, and advice. As mothers, grandmothers, and mentors, their impact on the formation of character and values ​​is incalculable.

Service and Ministry: A purpose of impact.
"... and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means" (Luke 8:2-3).

Women in Jesus' ministry were passionate followers and valued collaborators. These women were not only beneficiaries of His love and healing but also gratefully served Him. This highlights the purpose of women in service and ministry, demonstrating that their gifts and resources can be used mightily for the advancement of God's Kingdom.

From personal experience, I can say that I was created with a purpose since my birth because God has used me to leave a seed in the hearts of the people I have met. That is why I invite you who are reading this to wisely put into practice the purpose that God created in you.

In addition, we can find important examples of women who had a great purpose in the Bible: Esther saved her people from being killed, Mary gave birth to our Lord Jesus Christ, and Ruth left her home and customs out of love for her mother-in-law. Thanks to their offspring, David and Jesus were born. Thanks to them, we can understand that we were born for a special purpose and that God places us where we should be to fulfill His purpose in our lives.

I am sure that the Lord used me in my past and will continue to do so in my present and future, but for this, I must let Him use me according to His will.

As we reflect on these biblical truths about the purpose of women, it is important to remember that each woman is unique and has a personal role in God's plan. Regardless of traditional or cultural roles, women are called to embrace their divine purpose with courage and confidence.

Every loving interaction, every wise advice, and every act of service has an eternal impact on the world around us. Women are not simply companions, but leaders, educators, and bearers of light in the darkness.

In conclusion, the Bible reveals to us that women were created for an intrinsic and worthwhile purpose. As partners, mothers, leaders, and servants, women can positively influence the world and glorify God through their lives. May we embrace with gratitude and joy the purpose that God has given us, seeking to fulfill it with love and determination in every area of ​​our lives.

Written by Liliana Henríquez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colombia

In the same way that a sheet of paper can take on different shapes as origami figures, interpersonal relationships can be shaped in different ways according to the expectations we have. Naturally, we expect the people with whom we relate to have characteristics that are similar to ours: the same values, same points of view, liking the same things, etc. However, this is not always the case. In the course of my adult life, I have had friends who have only stayed next to me for certain seasons of my life, and other friends that I still have and with whom I maintain a close friendship. I've had friendships that I've had to let go of because we were not on the same page anymore and it was better to go our separate ways like Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15.

Expectations not only apply at the level of friendships and couples, but also in ministry and work life. I believe that it is valid to accept that sometimes we grow in different directions, that we have different personalities, and that, as a wise Spanish proverb says, “Cada cabeza es un mundo,” or “Every head is a world.” The most important thing is that we learn to have realistic expectations, know how to communicate with others so that the relationship is strengthened, avoid idealizing people, and be aware that regardless of the type of relationship we have, our essence should not change. We are Christians and above all, love and respect must prevail.

We are light and we must shine. (Matt. 5:14)

We are salt and we must give flavor. (Matt. 5:13)

We have the Holy Spirit, and we must bear Its fruit. (Gal. 5:22-23)

I know it hurts to leave friendships and relationships that we thought would last longer. But it is important to know how to identify when we are no longer the right companion for someone and when someone is not right for us because, in the end, we likely would end up hurting each other. The first priority should always be to fix or restore the friendship or relationship, but if after working through that whole process, harmony between both parties is not achieved, it is best to say goodbye.

It is important to choose wisely the people who will accompany us in the different seasons of our lives. When developing relationships, some healthy expectations that we should have, are with nurturing people who:

• Bring out the best in us.
• Bring us closer to God.
• Rejoice in our successes.
• Support us in our saddest moments.

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble." (Prov. 17:17 ISV)

I want to continue developing relationships with people who, regardless of our different shapes and personalities, allow me to maintain my Christian essence. I want to continue being light, salt, and bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in all my relationships. And you? What are your expectations at a relational level?

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.

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?

Written by Aileen Bonilla, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Ecuador

“And I promise to be faithful to you in sickness and in health, in abundance and in scarcity, and to love and respect you all the days of my life until death do us part.”

We all know these beautiful words, whether because we are married or, if you are not married, I am sure you have heard them at someone else’s wedding or in a movie. In the same way, God uses human language to better communicate with us. He uses our traditions, and one of them is the marriage vow, those promises we make to our future husband. In fact, God compares marriage to the relationship we should have with Him.

He wants us to see Him as a spouse whom we always seek to please with passionate, respectful, faithful, and unbreakable love. For this reason, faithfulness is very important for God since it will “measure” our faith. But what do I mean by faithfulness? This word comes from the Hebrew “emet,” which is associated with paternal kindness. This quality or attribute is characteristic of God and is received freely. Furthermore, this quality gives strength to the personal relationship we have with our Creator.

It is easy to understand that we have a God who is faithful to His promises; we know that if He tells us that we will not lack food, we must believe Him and sleep peacefully. However, when we are tested in faithfulness, we must be attentive whether we will always be there for Him. While it is true that this attribute belongs to God by nature, He wants us to be faithful to Him no matter the circumstances we are going through.

For me, this is a hard theme to talk about; during this time of mission alongside my husband, God has tested us in this. Our monetary circumstances have been difficult, and at the beginning of the mission, my oldest son's health was deteriorating. However, we tried to fight day by day with the discouragement that often wanted to take over our minds.

Despite the adverse circumstances and deserts that God allows in our lives, I must realize that these painful processes teach us a lot, even to pray, not more intensely, but to know how to ask. Usually, we pray for God to solve all our problems, but we do not pray for Him to give us the wisdom to seek a solution (James 1:5).

Faithfulness is a gift that we must ask for every day because our nature is to be the opposite. We see this in the people of Israel who were constantly unfaithful to God despite having seen all His wonders.

Like the Israelites, in our time I have seen how easily people go after other gods, reflecting their lack of commitment to God. They do not wish to know their Lord as their spouse. They do not want to study His Word and live in awe of all He has done, but rather, they live in pursuit of earthly things. That is why God demands that we love Him above all things (Deut. 6:5-9), not with a religious love subjected to rituals, but with a pure and sincere love, like the love of a bride—always tender, always fresh.

Are you pursuing this kind of faithfulness in your walk with God as your faithful spouse?

Written by Jennifer Percell, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Missouri

As I followed two pickup trucks filled with our possessions, my heart was full of all the reasons I didn’t want to move. Suddenly my four-year-old son's treasure box bounced off the back of the truck in front of me. Could this day get any worse? I cried as we scoured the ditch for his penny collection and the favorite rocks my little boy thought irreplaceable.

“God, I signed up for this when I married a preacher, but I didn't realize how it would hurt to watch my children sacrifice. They are so sad about leaving our home. I want to help people find all the wonders of knowing You, but I don't know how to do that when three children depend on me for everything. God, I will go to this tiny church in this dreary town, but I don't know where I will find the time to meet the people who will listen to your Word. I am completely overwhelmed. Please bring people I can teach right to my door; I don't have any energy to go find them!”

Two days later I sat on the curb drenched in sweat and grape Popsicle. Cleaning and unpacking were brutal tasks in 100-degree weather and the squirming baby on my lap looked as unkempt and exhausted as I did. The tinny music from the ice cream truck had brought us running for relief.

“Welcome neighbor!” I can still remember looking up at the smiling face wreathed in sunlight, as my embarrassment gave way to joy. How I needed that smile! She introduced herself as the local Welcome Wagon President. She lived two doors down, and she was holding a ginger-haired toddler as messy as my own!

“That house has been empty for a year— it must be filthy. I’ll get some rags and be right over!”

God certainly sent this wonderful woman to lessen my load. We became fast friends, and her three children were instant playmates for mine. Through my new friend, I met many others and had lots of opportunities to show the love of Jesus. But God answered every detail of my prayer because the first person we baptized into Jesus in that town was my precious Welcome Wagon neighbor. She and two of her children have served God for over 30 years now.

During 45 years of ministry, God has given my husband and me countless relationships. Sharing His love always results in new Christian family. When He gave His precious Son to pay the price for our souls, He ensured that we would never be alone among His people. The reconciliation we receive because of His atoning sacrifice sets the tone for reconciling with like-minded hearts throughout our spiritual journey.

Paul expressed so well how great relationships are born of the atoning love of God.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 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. (Phil. 2:1-4 NIV)

The love of our God fills us to overflowing, and from the overflow, we develop relationships that will last for eternity. Again, Paul says it best.

I pray that out of His glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together will all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide
and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:16-19)

My cry to the Lord all those years ago on the side of the road was for the strength to lead others to Him. He always responds with so much more than I ask for. I asked Him to send me people who would respond to Him because I had no strength to seek them. He sent a friend who strengthened me as Keith and I led her to the Word and to salvation.

Our God is the God of relationships; don’t you want to reach out to others and see how He will satisfy every longing of your heart?

Written by Kathy Thompson, Office Assistant for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

In the gospel of Luke, towards the end of chapter 10, we read the story about Jesus when He came to have dinner at Martha’s home in Bethany. As women, we may have heard multiple lessons about how stressed and distracted poor Martha was when Jesus and His apostles came to eat dinner at their house.

But I’d like to take a minute and look a little closer at Mary in this story.

Let’s suppose that Mary had come over to her sister’s home to help prepare and serve dinner for a very special visitor and His 12 friends – no small feat. Even in modern times, with refrigeration and large indoor kitchens, it isn’t a cake walk to serve dinner to 13 guests! There were many details to take care of, much preparation that had to happen so that the meal would come off in a smooth and timely manner. And, of course, it had to be especially delicious, in honor of their special guest. I imagine that hospitality was very important to Martha, and, on this occasion, she depended heavily on her sister to help make that happen in the most seamless way possible.

In some ways, we women haven’t changed much over the centuries. We all want to offer visitors to our homes a clean and comfortable environment and delicious meals. And make it all look easy, even effortless, while in fact, there has been a large amount of thought, preparation and work put into it beforehand, right?

Let’s imagine that as Mary busily helped her sister in the kitchen, she caught snippets of what the men were talking about in the living room. The more she heard of what Jesus was teaching His apostles and her brother, the more she wanted to hear. Before long, she couldn’t resist slipping into the room and finding an out-of-the-way place to sit and listen. Then she began just drinking in every word that came out of His mouth. His words were unlike any she had ever heard! They were sinking deep into her heart, penetrating her soul and she just couldn’t get enough. His teachings made perfect sense to her, on many levels, some she didn’t even understand herself. They uplifted her, challenged her, inspired her, and I can imagine that these were words she had longed to hear all her life, but had never heard until now.

Imagine her reaction as she slowly began to understand that she had, sitting in front of her: the Son of God! The Messiah that was to come into the world! The One that she had been taught her whole life to expect and wait for. He was here! In her small town! Sitting in her sister’s living room!
All thoughts of the meal preparation disappeared from her mind. The fact that she had come to help Martha was no longer important. All that mattered was this amazing Man and His teachings! All she wanted was to get to know this Man better and hear more of His life-giving words!

Are we ever that focused on Jesus?

A song comes to mind that I love to sing: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
“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.”

I imagine that is exactly what happened to Mary on that afternoon in Bethany, so many years ago: Mary focused on Jesus. Not the meal she was supposed to be helping with, not her sister. Only Jesus. And everything else faded to dim.

What did Jesus think of Mary’s laser focus? When stressed-out Martha asks Him to direct her to help, His reply is: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). The good part: feasting on Jesus’ teachings.

We read in Colossians 3:1-3 “If then, you’ve been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

Mary was seeking the things above, not the things of earth.

So now we ask: How can we do the same? How do we focus on Jesus like Mary did? And set our minds on things above? Life tends to go flying by in a blur, doesn’t it? We have so many responsibilities and activities and interests…so many things distracting us from putting our full attention on our Savior.

How do we stop and take time for the Lord every single day, every hour?

What would it take for you to turn your focus to Jesus? It’s different for everyone.
For me, the change in focus, came with the sudden death of my husband, last summer, to Covid. We had just moved to a lovely small town to retire. Then he passed on to his reward in paradise and I found myself in a new town, in a new church where I didn’t know anyone yet, without my sweet husband, feeling, in essence, completely alone...

But you know, I was not alone. God was there with me. He gently picked me up and carried me through each painful step. He provided a loving Christian family who reached out to me, cared for me, and prayed for me, even though they hadn’t known me up until now. I drew closer to God than I had ever been in my lifetime. Laser focused on Jesus.

Each of our journeys through this life are different. It doesn’t take a death in the family to refocus our eyes on the Savior. What would it take in your life? You can decide at any moment, like Mary, to set your eyes on Him, to listen to Him and feast on His teachings.

Today, in 2022, we can sit at Jesus’ feet anytime we desire. We have, sitting in front of us, the Son of God. We can drink in His every word. We can allow His words to sink into our hearts, penetrate our souls, and we won’t be able to get enough. You know that His teachings still make perfect sense today, they uplift us, challenge us, and inspire us. We just open the Bible and there it is, all that He had to teach us, laid open in front of our eyes.

Sisters, I’d like to encourage us all to be like Mary and allow Jesus’ teachings to fill us up, to the extent that it’s all we want to focus on. Let’s allow the things of earth to grow strangely dim as we read about His life, hear His parables, and understand the will of God for our lives in His Word.

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we should be called children (daughters) of God, and such we are…” (1 John 3:1a).

It’s so great a love that we can’t help but turn our eyes upon Jesus, until everything else fades.

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #childofGod #focusonJesus #turnyoureyesuponJesus #laserfocusonJesus #guestwriter #blog

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

“I forgive you… and I love you!” What sweet words when sin has created a breach in a relationship!

Forgiveness comes from our Heavenly Father. Even before the world was created, He knew forgiveness and reconciliation would be part of the plan (Eph. 1:4; 2 Tim. 1:9).

In Exodus 34:6-7 we read one of the earliest descriptions of our God, “… merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (ESV). God’s desire to forgive is part of who He is—it’s part of His character. It is why He sent Jesus to earth and why Jesus was willing to die for our sins.

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, part of the prayer he taught them was, “… forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). We ask God to forgive us—but that means we must also have a heart to forgive others.

In Colossians 3:13 Paul wrote, “… bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

When Jesus was teaching His disciples, Peter asked Him how often he should forgive someone, then suggested, “’Seven times?’ Jesus replied, ‘Seventy times seven’” (Matt. 18:21-22).

The Jews looked back to Amos 2:6 and concluded that they were only required to forgive three times. By asking Jesus if seven was enough, Peter had more than doubled the traditional limit, using a number that in those times symbolized completion or perfection rather than a literal limit to how many times we are to forgive.

Forgiveness from God is unlimited when a person is repentant.

Two things to remember:
       When I forgive, the person may or may not accept it.
       When I ask for forgiveness, the person may or may not give it.

Either way, I have done what God wants me to do.

When I forgive, it takes away my anger and resentment. It means I no longer focus on the sin or hurt, and I may choose to forgive, even if the person has not asked for forgiveness. We live in a world where there are unintentional slights and hurts, and sometimes the offender is totally unaware of how his actions are received.

When I am forgiven, it means the person no longer holds me accountable for those actions.

However, forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation. There may be consequences that can’t be repaired. Some things can never be fixed. The relationship may never go back to what it has been.

That is where our God is different. When He forgives, our sin is forgotten, and the relationship with us as His child, which He intended from the beginning, is restored.

Having a forgiving heart does not mean overlooking sin and brushing it aside. It may mean we confront the person, in love. Galatians 6:1 reads, “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”

We have a responsibility to watch out for others and confront them as Nathan did David (2 Sam 12). We all need a friend who will come to us if they see us doing something that will separate us from God.

The ultimate goal of forgiveness is to be able to return to a holy relationship with our Heavenly Father.

When we pray for forgiveness from our Father, let’s never forget that this forgiveness cost Jesus pain, suffering, and death. That’s how much we are loved!

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

Grace is defined as undeserved favor. “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV).

I wanted to tell you how saying and hearing, “I forgive you,” is an important part of the forgiveness process. But in the story I will tell, no one told us they were sorry, and we could not say, “I forgive you.” However, I can certainly tell you about the healing that can happen through forgiveness and the fulfillment of the ministry of reconciliation that Christ has called us to.

Grace is defined as undeserved favor, and it is very connected to forgiveness.

Last fall when someone did something unthinkable against my family, we sat at the dining room table and forgave them before we even knew who or what was going on. We knew the whole situation was based on a lie that God would have to bring to light. It was a serious “the truth will set you free” situation.

Why did we choose to forgive? We couldn’t have lived with the waiting and the stress and the unknown of what the following three weeks would bring if we hadn’t. We had been told every Sunday of our lives that Christ died for our sins and we are all sinners and no one is without sin and we must forgive others. Now we had to put it into practice, and we learned that like everything God does, He does it for the good of those who love Him.

The forgiveness we gave had nothing to do with who the offender was because we didn’t know who told the lie. We didn’t forgive because of how awesome we are, because we are not. The only way I can explain it is that the love we have for God and the desire we have to follow the example of Christ in our daily lives made forgiveness our first response. We felt the power of His forgiveness and knew that it was something that we were called to share.

Forgiveness doesn’t have anything to do with me or the other person. Forgiveness has everything to do with obedience and our true reconciliation with God.

Jesus is clear in the Lord’s Prayer regarding the connection between forgiving others and God forgiving us. We have to forgive others in order to be forgiven. I think this is because we can’t even start to fathom God’s forgiveness until we go through the process of forgiving others. The difference is that we are sinners just like the one we are forgiving, unlike God who is perfect and forgives us anyway, in the most complete way.

Can you remember the feeling of being forgiven of your sins when you came out of the waters of baptism? Can you remember the feeling of taking the Lord’s Supper for the first time as a member of the church?

Do you remember a time when you hurt someone and had to ask for forgiveness? Do you remember the worry of wondering whether they would forgive you or not? With God, we do not have to wonder. We are forgiven and we will be forgiven. What will we do with that within our other relationships?

“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12).

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

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; Do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will also help you. I will also uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Is 41:10 NASB20)

Fear. It’s probably the loudest voice inside my head: Will I ever be enough? Will I always walk with a cane? Will I ever be able to do the things I used to? These thoughts and so many more flood my mind, especially when I am still.

On November 12, 2020, I told my husband I didn’t feel well. Praise God he recognized I was in trouble and called 911. I woke up several days later in the ICU having just been removed from life support. Those days were frightful as my prognosis was uncertain due to numerous blood clots. Our family endured gut-wrenching conversations to say goodbye; conversations I couldn’t reply to or remember.

After seven weeks of recovery, I came home, weak and unable to walk alone. That tremendous loss of freedom meant I couldn’t do anything; things I believed to be my gifts in service to the Lord. And my life lessons didn’t end there; my body was so riddled with arthritis that the following year I endured three joint replacements just to walk. More recovery, therapy, doing nothing, and worst of all, more fears.

I am a half-glass-full gal. I was so grateful for my improvement as I no longer needed a walker! But why was I still unhappy? Why was I angry about walking with a cane? Bottom line: why did God let me stay if He was going to take away my freedom and ability to do what I wanted: things for Him? I prayed fervently, but for so long there was silence. Silence, until I began to listen.

Music has always been the lifter of my soul. Listening stabilizes my mood and centers my mind away from me and on to happier things. Steven Curtis Chapman touched my heart when he sang, “My Redeemer is faithful and true. Everything He has said He will do. And every morning His mercies are new.”

I came to realize that God let me stay here because He is faithful and true. He answered the prayers of many who loved me. He loved me so much that He needed me to stay here longer, not because He still had much for me to do, but because I still had much to learn about myself and my place in His Kingdom that I could still do with a cane.

But before any of that, I had to deal with my faith.

Faith is the antithesis of fear. Fear made me question everything about the unknown. Faith is belief that God has my unknowns in His hands because He says He does. The prophet and musician Asaph sang “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart” (Ps 73:26). After years of stillness, I realized I was not connecting to God through his Word other than snippets that blessed me. Paul teaches “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Ro 10:17).

God wants me to rely on Him without reservation. It took God out of the equation when I felt responsible for all the good things I had done. I believe that rain came into my life for a reason; I needed to appreciate the Son. So, I try each day to recognize and praise God for everything in my life by going into his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. God gives me protection and strength but praising Him must come first.

By taking small opportunities to show the love of Christ, conversing with God on a more intimate level, and daily consuming His Word, I am emerging from a me-centered world to one full of possibilities. I still slide back into jealousy when I see pictures of friends skiing or taking walks along the beach. The old Elesa emerges with questions of “why me?”.

God loves me dearly and chose my specific path with all its hills and valleys. His “still small voice” in my quiet moments keeps me centered and focused on the truth. His truth. I continue to do what I can to strengthen my body. But as His precious creation, His truth is I am enough, whether I walk with a cane or not.

My fears are gradually giving way to faith. He has always been faithful and always will be. I look forward to the future God has for me. If I keep Him in my heart and mind, He will never leave me or forsake me, and I believe Him! And so, I use music to fill my soul and remain Christ-centered. What about you?

Written by Sadia Morales, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Mexico

Has your life been full of confusion? Have you come to feel so confused that you have had to run to your room or someplace where you could be alone? In that place, have you felt as if you were sitting under a juniper tree where you just wanted to die; where you cry so much that you fall asleep tired, exhausted, afraid, with many lies rolling around in your head and in your heart?

On one of those days, I received a message that filled my life with confusion—a confusion that caused me to flee into the darkness of the night where only lies, fear, and tears accompanied me.

A great confusion seized me... just like Elijah in that desert. Do you know the story? He was confused even though he had come from many victories, victories in which he showed the power of God. Elijah came to feel this way in 1 Kings chapter 18.

Many of us, despite many victories won, arrive in the desert on day one of our journey through a time of confusion and sit down under the juniper tree just wishing to die (1 Kings 19:4-18). We eventually fall asleep, and while we rest, God works. But many times, instead of resting and letting God work, we do the opposite. Many times, we work without stopping so we do not allow ourselves to feel. But really, we must stop to rest (Ps. 46:10).

It is in those moments when God Himself will send angels to pick you up and tell you, “Eat.” It can be your husband, your children, your family, your friends, your acquaintances, or God Himself giving you the strength to get up and eat and drink so that you are able to go back to bed for the rest needed to continue your journey. And again, the angel will touch you saying, “Get up and eat, woman, because a long road awaits you.”

That physical food, as well as spiritual, will strengthen us to take the road to Horeb, the mountain of God. It took Elijah 40 days and 40 nights to get there. And you? How long have you been in this fight where lies overwhelm you, where you feel persecuted, where you fear for your life, and you continue to hide in a cave of fear or shame because a tragedy or some message or news brought confusion to your life and you don’t know how to get out or what to do?

You may have been in the cave for a long time, but today, Jehovah your God says to you, “Daughter, what are you doing in here?” Go outside and stand on the mountain before Jehovah, for Jehovah your God always passes by; He has always been there. Just go out to see Him. But first sharpen your physical and spiritual senses, because a great and powerful wind will blow through the mountains and break the rocks. And just as it was for Elijah, Jehovah will not be in the wind. And after the wind, an earthquake will pass, but Jehovah will not be in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire will pass, but Jehovah will not be in the fire.

Life itself is full of confusion. It may tear us, break us.

Perhaps our problems make us feel that we are at the center of an earthquake, or in the midst of a troubling situation we feel a suffocating fire that does not let us breathe. It seems like that fire will consume us. But today I tell you, He is a God of peace. He will arrive! Of course, He will come, just as He came to Elijah in a gentle and delicate wind. Elijah heard it, covered his face, and went to the door of the cave. Then a voice came to him whispering, “What are you doing here, _____?” (add your name).

Jehovah tells you, “Go my daughter. Go back to your path— you still have a lot to do.” “Keep all the things I have commanded you. I will be with you every day, until the end of the world." Amen (Matt. 28:20).

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

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36 NIV)

At my job, we provide services to a public organization responsible for granting benefits to citizens. It’s a normal day for me to serve dozens of people who have had their benefits denied, even though they have every right to receive them. Therefore, they contest the decision because, from a human perspective, everyone should receive what is due to them and it is unfair to not give someone what they deserve.

The spiritual perspective of mercy consists precisely of not granting something that is deserved. For us, this is a tremendous blessing because if we take into consideration what we deserve to receive due to our sinful nature, there would be nothing left for us but eternal condemnation.

The writer of the book of Hebrews talks a lot about the mediation and granting of this mercy in our lives. In chapter 2, verse 17, he states: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.” It is interesting to see the emphasis that the author puts on the fact that when Jesus came in the flesh, He experienced the same situations as us and lived through the same reality as all humans. However, we know that He did not subject Himself to sin. Therefore, what would make someone turn God’s wrath onto themselves and receive the sentence that we deserved? M-E-R-C-Y.

When we deserved death, condemnation, and eternal distance from God… Jesus came and took our place so that we would not receive what was due to us. What a true relief!

Not only that, but Christ also destroyed that which could disable us eternally, brought us back to the family of God, and can claim that He knows exactly what we go through because He experienced the same pains, temptations, and trials so He could help us while we are in this life. And because He has also experienced this same life, He truly has compassion for us.

We can rest assured that, enjoying this immense benefit provided by Jesus as followers in His steps, there is nothing more important than imitating Him in our lives by also offering mercy to our neighbor. Of course, the application will be different. We cannot make atonement, nor do we need to, because Jesus has already done so, once and for all. However, extending a merciful hand to our brother or sister in forgiveness, love, and empathy leads us to an attitude of mercy, an example left by the Teacher who instructed His disciples in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Take a moment to reflect: How can you be better at expressing your mercy towards others?

Remember, Christ has already done the hardest part, and He will help you along the way!