Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Wendy Neill, Advancement Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, AR

I love birds. When I watch them, I am awed at God’s creativity and His attention to detail. The tiny, ruby-throated hummingbird can zoom past you, but stops instantly to hover or reverse direction. God gave parakeets, parrots, and macaws vibrant colors and even the ability to mimic human speech! That ability seems to serve no other purpose than to delight us, His children.

I recently moved into a different home and I am thrilled to have a sunroom office, looking out on two bird feeders. Bright red cardinals with their black masks are frequent visitors. I love watching them, but they also watch me! They hop on the bush right outside my window while I work, getting closer and closer. Then they tilt their little heads so they can get a good look at me. I realized the other day that by peering at me through the horizontal blinds on my windows, it must have appeared that I was the one in a cage! I laughed out loud and said “Well, I do feel like I am in a cage these days.”

The pandemic has forced many of us to stay home and to avoid social activities. I am an extrovert and I really miss being around people! All I do is work, eat, and sleep. I don’t leave my house for days at a time, and it feels like a cage.

But sometimes it is good to, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10). It gives us time to reflect, and to redefine our priorities. We don’t have to feel trapped in a cage. We can ask the Father to show us what we can do to glorify Him in the midst of our isolation.

I have often been self-absorbed through this pandemic. Have you? By redefining priorities and asking God for help, we can find ways to reach out to others and encourage them. Writing a card, sending a text, calling just to catch up, getting on Zoom or FaceTime for a few minutes, or even meeting in person when possible, can really be a mutual encouragement. I personally found great joy in sending care packages to college students I didn’t even know during their quarantine in a lonely dorm room.

What are some ways you can break free from your “cage” to encourage others?

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

How would you feel if you got up to make your morning bread, only to find a family of frogs in your dough bowl?

It was the 2nd plague: “The Nile shall swarm with frogs that shall come up into your house and into your bedroom and on your bed and into the houses of your servants and your people, and into your ovens and your kneading bowls” (Ex. 8:3 ESV).

“When the frogs came, Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, ‘Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.’ Moses said to Pharaoh, ‘Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.’ And he said, ‘Tomorrow.’” (Ex. 8:8-10 ESV)

TOMORROW! Pharaoh wanted the frogs gone... he called for Moses... and yet when Moses was willing to pray for God to remove the frogs, Pharaoh decided to keep them around one more night. Why? Did stubborn proud Pharaoh hope that by postponing the petition to God, he could handle the frogs himself?

Do we do the same thing?

“One more night with the frogs” is not the way we want to live our lives. We need to live intentionally... following the path of Jesus.

I believe Satan rejoices when he sees us putting off anything that is important, but especially if it is something that would make our relationship with the Father better.

Stop and think about how you spend your time... what is important to you... and are you spending time in the things that are of first importance?

Paul wrote: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:3-4 ESV).

BUT, there is still daily life to take care of. What can we do to keep our priorities in order and do what needs to be done? Is there something taking your time/energy/finances that you don’t need/enjoy and can eliminate?

Prioritize by identifying things as “must do/have,” “when possible,” and “want.”

Colossians 3:23 (ESV) tells us, “Whatever you do, work heartily (diligently/enthusiastically), as for the LORD, not for men.”

Proverbs 27:1 (ESV): “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.”

We all have unexpected things pop up leading to something important being forgotten. This brings frustration, tears, anger... and sometimes pointing a finger and blaming others.

Do what you can when you can, because we never know when that unexpected need/problem will pop up to demand our time and energy go a different direction.

Let’s learn from Pharaoh and don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today...NO MORE NIGHTS WITH THE FROGS!

Written by Erica Peck Dexter, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, AR

Have you ever given much thought to what your priorities are? Really though. Not just a passing thought of I value God, my family, and friends and then move on to the next thing. What is a priority for you?

Many years ago, I was feeling torn in many directions between work, spending time with my family, and university classes as a non-traditional student. I remember specifically asking God to help me put my priorities in order. Guess what happened? He did. About a month later, I was on my knees, and, without realizing it, I had just said, “Thank you, Lord, for helping me put my priorities in order.” My exact words. I paused and realized, “Whoa, He’s given me exactly what I’ve been asking about!” I smiled and thanked Him again. As I reflected, I could see that in every area of my life He had made things clearer, easier to sort through and prioritize what was most important.

Do you know where we can look to see good priorities in action? Who remembers Abigail from 1 Samuel 25? At this time, David and his servants were living on Nabal’s land, helping to care for the sheep and cattle, had treated Nabal’s servants well, not stolen anything, and had been, in general, really nice guys. They now go to Nabal at a festive time to ask for his blessing and see if he can “give them whatever he can find for them” (vs. 8). Abigail’s husband, Nabal, whose name means “fool, failure” receives David’s servants with a hostile, ugly attitude and sends them away with nothing. When David’s servants returned to tell David how they have been treated, he is, of course, furious. So much so that he says, “I will not leave one male alive belonging to Nabal by morning” (vs.22).

Here is where priorities come in: A servant runs to tell Abigail the news that David is furious, and ask what are we going to do?! Verse 18 says, “Abigail lost no time.” She literally gets cooking, preparing mounds of food and gifts for David and his servants in hopes of quelling his anger and the eminent battle that will take place if nothing is done. In the end, David accepts her gifts, and says to her, “May you be blessed for your good judgement and for keeping me from bloodshed this day” (vs. 33). Wow! She lost no time in acting on that decision, making it a priority. And she was blessed for it.

What priorities are you choosing? I encourage you to be like Abigail and lose no time in doing what the LORD has called you to do. Start today. Take courage and take His hand. You will be blessed.

by Michelle J. Goff

Six specific times in His teaching, Jesus explains what it takes to be His disciple. The first three are found in Luke 14. The last three are found in John.

1. Jesus must be my number 1 priority. Period.
Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
2. I have to die to myself daily.
Luke 14:27, “Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
3. Everything I have is God’s. I am merely a steward of what He has loaned me while on earth.
Luke 14:33, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

²⁸For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ ³¹ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Have I left my discipleship tower half-built? Am I following through with the initial commitment I made to Christ when I was baptized?

Let’s look at the other three explanations Jesus gave for how others will know we are His disciples.

4. Hold to His teaching and abide in His word.
John 8:31-32, “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’”
5. Love one another.
John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
6. Bear fruit—be a disciple-making disciple.
John 15:8, “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

When we simply look at this list of six characteristics, we may feel good about how we are loving others and doing our daily Bible reading. However, upon further inspection, we are cut to the heart and convicted to realize that we are not a good example of a disciple.

The Lord’s mercies are new every morning and His grace is great, but they are not provided as permission to neglect what it truly means to be a disciple.

What is a specific way you can make one of these characteristics a priority today? How can you encourage another Iron Rose Sister to live this out as she encourages you to be a faithful disciple of Christ?

Written by Corina Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina

Redefine means to give a new definition by establishing different characteristics. So, when I think about redefining my priorities, what do I think about?

In some countries, March is a crucial month, for example here in Argentina, the summer holidays are ending and most of the people are starting their normal activities (school year, work projects, etc.). So, it is a perfect time to think about priorities related to a new successful routine. Especially, in my particular case, after having enjoyed the month of prayer throughout February. God definitely surprises us with His connections!

So then, what are the steps I am going to take for my priority list? After being redefined by prayer, I found that in my life there were loose and, perhaps, messy steps in my routines. I know it is difficult to set up priorities in this century when technology changes our lives just with one click. But I found there is only one way to solve this issue.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. (John 10:9, NIV)

Seeking the Door will be my priority. After all, this is what all human beings seek and long for (Rom. 8:9). Our greatest desire is to find green pastures and move into God's freedom. I just need to focus on the door (Jesus), follow His path (showing His Kingdom to this world), and recognize that I need Him and that only in Him can I find the life that my heart yearns for.

By redefining my priority list, I can obtain a restored relationship with my Creator Father who allows me to partner in His redemption plan for creation. This is my first and ultimate priority!

by Michelle J. Goff

We learn a lot about God through the first few chapters of Genesis. Starting with creation, God reminds us that it is worthwhile to recognize a job done well and call it good. Then, after the job is done, call it a day, take a step back, and rest. There is tremendous satisfaction in a time of rest following the hard work of a big project. Work hard, then rest (Gen. 2:2-3).

The Father, the Son, and the Spirit, as One, made man and woman in their own image. By definition and by design, we were made for relationship (Gen. 1:26, 31). Whether walking together and talking in the garden or even in confronting the sin that God knew Adam and Even had committed, God continues to engage in relationship.

After Adam and Eve eat of the forbidden fruit, God begins the conversation by asking them a question, “Where are you?” Did God know where they were? Of course! He’s God! Yet, He asks them a question in order to continue to engage in relationship. Communication is foundational for relationship. God models that listening comes first if we want a relationship to endure. Even though He already knows the answers, God asks Adam and Eve four different questions as He invites them to openly communicate with Him (Gen. 3:8-13).

Sin separates us from God, yet He still longs to be in relationship with us. When we choose something over God and His ways (forbidden fruit, our own desires, plans, ways, or thoughts), they become idols that separate us from God. Sin has no place in our lives—not only because of how it takes place of our number one priority: God, but also because sin brings consequences. There are natural consequences from sin: Adam and Eve knew that they were naked and they felt ashamed (Gen. 3:7). And there are spiritual consequences: Sin separates us from God.

The amazing thing that we learn from God’s priorities is that even though sin separated us from Him, He still made every effort to be in relationship with us. The first sacrifice happened when God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve as clothing (Gen. 3:21). Death and the shedding of blood were necessary when sin entered in because without it, we couldn’t be in relationship with God.

Even when we sin, God still loves us. And He sent the perfect sacrifice of His Son that we might be able to be unified in relationship again (Heb. 10:1). If you do not know of the gift God freely offers through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, please contact us as we would love to share with you the hope of the promise of our own resurrection from our sinful state—made possible through His redeeming blood.

What do God’s priorities in Genesis 1-3 imply for our redefined priorities?
1. Work hard, then rest.
2. Make every effort to be in relationship, especially with God. It’s how we were designed.
3. Love and listen—first to God, then to others, always through the filter of loving God first.
4. The only place sin has on our priority list is to actively allow God to help us eradicate it.
5. God loves us too much to leave us in destructive sin. Accept God’s redeeming love and forgiveness, only made possible through His Son.

This is not a one and done priority list. It is more like a rinse and repeat. Daily. Hourly.
I encourage you to reread the first three chapters of Genesis and share what else we learn about God’s priorities. How does a view of God’s priorities redefine your priorities? Do God’s priorities change throughout the course of the Bible story?