Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Nilaurys García, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Canada

I once heard somebody mentioning that they noticed their friend had done a 360-degree turn in their life. My always curious and visual mind pictured the person doing a full lap around the track’s circle and getting back to the same spot, which seemed odd if they were trying to express that their friend had changed significantly. That’s when I learned that the saying “making a 180-degree turn in their life” means to go the completely opposite direction as they had previously gone.

Following the Christian life is also a 180-degree turn we make to obey and follow God’s commands. The prophet Ezekiel shows us instructions on what we should do to live. In Ezekiel 18:21-22 the Lord says:

But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. (NIV)

It is also true that repentance or “turning away from the wickedness we have committed” leads to change. Second Corinthians 7:10 says that “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” I questioned why some people would have such a hard time leaving their past nature and habits when they decide to turn their lives to Jesus. It seems that the answer to that question is not as easy as one would expect. To consider all our offenses as we reflect upon the actions in our lives and the deeds we have done, we start reflecting on our own behavior and what does not match the life that the Lord has called us to live.

But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. (Eze 18:27-28)

Then it comes the next step: “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die people of Israel?” (Eze 18:31). To get a new heart and a new spirit, means to change the way we see things, and start anew to renew our way of thinking. Going back to the initial picture of the 180-degree turn, we could say that now that we followed all the steps to get to the opposite place, we need to replace all that we left behind. The Lord also tells us what He is going to replace our old self with: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Eze 36:26). We have our answer!

What I love the most about reading these passages in Ezekiel is the question at the end of verse 18:31, “Why will you die, people of Israel?”. Why would we do what displeases the Lord, instead of what would bring us closer to Him? If we have heard His word and His commands, He has promised to give us new hearts and spirits. He is willing to forget all our offenses.
So, are we willing to truly repent and live according to His will? 

Written by Beliza Kočev, Brazil Coordinator with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

In 2023 I had the opportunity to meet sisters from several African countries who were in Angola for a church event. I, along with two more sisters, represented Iron Rose Sister Ministries, developing activities and classes. In one of the classes, we talked about the temple in Jerusalem and the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies (Ex. 26:33). When we taught about the death of Jesus and about how at that moment the temple veil was torn (Mt. 27:51), we illustrated this by tearing a piece of fabric apart while we narrated what happened, and their reaction surprised me…

They were so excited! They started to celebrate! You know when it’s the tournament final and everyone celebrates when their team wins? That was the scene that I was witnessing! Those women were celebrating that the death of Jesus gave us direct access to God. The price for sin was paid.

This is how we should all celebrate, knowing that Jesus conquered death when He was resurrected! Jesus’ resurrection is the most important fact of Christianity (1 Co. 15:14). The resurrection is the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Testament, the manifestation of the things Jesus had announced to His disciples, and the confirmation that He is the Son of God.

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. (Php. 3:10-11 NIV)

Paul was in prison when he wrote the letter to the Philippians—in prison as punishment for preaching the gospel. And even though in some moments he likely didn’t expect to survive, he invested his time in captivity writing much of what today we know as the New Testament. Even amid his difficulties, Paul shared his great desire to know Jesus and experience the power that raised our Savior out of the tomb.

The resurrection of Christ brings us hope. The evil and pain of this world are small compared to His power. And not only small, but temporary. 1 Corinthians 6:14 says, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” If we want the hope of resurrection, we cannot live as if Jesus had not been resurrected—as if we were on the losing side.

Reading Romans 6 we understand that just like Jesus died and was resurrected, it is God’s will that we die to sin and live for Christ. By following Him, Jesus gives us the opportunity to resurrect to a new life; not only eternal life when we leave this earth, but starting now to enjoy communion with God and the power of the Holy Spirit to help us overcome sin.

Imagine the life of those who saw Jesus die and later resurrect. Their lives completely changed. Faith is the certainty of what we don’t see, and the resurrection of Jesus changed our lives even though we were not eyewitnesses.

The power that took down death is the same power that takes down the power of sin in our lives. May our desire be like that of Paul: to know Christ deeply and feel within us the power of His resurrection.

Written by Beliza Patrícia, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in João Pessoa, Brazil.

It is said that the first step is the most important one on the journey. What we do before waking up says a lot about our day. We dress up fancy for a first date because we know the impact that moment will have in our relationship. The first step itself does not determine the whole journey, but it’s a fact that it is important and special.

That’s also what happens in the Christian life, whether you were born in a christian household and were exposed to the gospel at a young age or you only learned about the path to salvation when you were already an adult. The fact is, everybody faces the choice of being a christian, a disciple of Christ. That doesn’t happen as if from magic, we all have habits and temptations that pull us closer and further away from God. Overcoming those is not an easy task and asks for though choices from us, big or small. But this journey starts with baptism.

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:37-38)

After listening to Peter’s sermon during Pentecosts, the Jews understood what they had done. They recognized they needed to do something, change their attitude. Peter’s guidelines were clear, they needed to repent and be baptized. That moment, where three thousand people are baptized is considered the beginning of the church. If we read the following verses we can see that some people changed their way of living. Meaning, baptism was not just a ceremony, baptism marked the beginning of a new life. Sin no longer had power over those people, over their thoughts and actions. They were free! Free to become more and more like Jesus.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

When I speak with people getting closer to the Church their opinion is most usually that baptism is only a symbol, not something that important, what really matters is doing the will of God daily. I would like to shed some light on that idea through scripture:

After resurrection, Jesus told his disciples:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit [...] (Mateus 28:19)

Jesus sent his apostles to every nation to make disciples, His followers, and the way to make disciples was clear, through baptism.

I recognize there’s willingness to want to do God’s will, but the truth is: we can’t do it alone. The Bible shows us that we can’t be saved by anything we do. Sin parts us from God and it’s consequence is spiritual death, have our spirit far away from our Creator. Only through Christ, who sacrificed for us even though he had no sin, we can be saved. And the way to connect to Christ is through baptism.

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. (Romanos 6:3-8)

Baptism doesn’t need a specific day, doesn’t need to be done in group, doesn’t need to be on a specific place (see Acts 8:36-38). But it does need a heart that believes Jesus is the son of God. That in that moment when we accept Jesus paid the debt for our sins we receive the Holy Spirit of God in us and that at that moment we’re starting a new life. It is through faith (in Jesus Christ) and not because of our own actions that we are saved.

If you’ve already made the decision to start a pact with God and be baptized for forgiveness of your sins receiving the Holy Spirit, I want to invite you to remember that day. Remember all the bible studies that led you to that decision, the brothers and sisters in Christ that were with you on that day…and may that memory bring you strength and encouragement! You are a new creature! Keep following the goal! If you haven’t made that decision yet, I want to invite you to study what the bible says about who Jesus is and who you are, and you’ll be ready to start your journey with Christ.

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #Baptism #GuestWriter #Blog

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

Years ago, a friend of mine was in trouble. She was in mental anguish and deep emotional pain. One particular night in a text conversation, she was using words and phrases that were quite alarming. I stopped to pray for her, “Lord, I know it takes a whole lot of guardian angels to keep me alive every day, but if you will send some over to my friend to strengthen her right now, I will stay home and try not to do anything too stupid for a while.”

I never mentioned this prayer to my friend. Several weeks later, I overheard her talking about that night and she said, “I just felt like extra angels were surrounding me in that moment.” My prayer may not have been the most flowery or impressive, but the Holy Spirit knew what I meant and helped me communicate to God what was needed.

More recently, I found myself in a situation where I needed wisdom and didn’t have time to go to the scriptures for guidance. A young person under my care had disregarded my instructions and her behavior was putting her physical safety at risk. I had to go on a search for her and when I eventually found her, I was fuming mad. Speaking to her immediately would have resulted in humiliating her publicly, so I decided to wait for a more private setting.

As I waited for the event to end and for everyone else to leave, I prayed to God for wisdom. By the time I was able to speak to her, God had answered my call and my planned speech had completely changed from one of anger and admonishment to a much more needed conversation of self-care and self-worth. I know that had the Holy Spirit not been there to guide me, things would have turned out very differently and probably much worse. With God’s help, we both left the conversation feeling encouraged, closer to God, and closer to each other.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. (Rom. 8:26-27 ESV)

We are also promised wisdom through the Holy Spirit. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

In Matthew 10:19-20, Jesus is saying to His disciples,

When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

There are many other times when the Spirit has helped me remain calm in a tense situation, comforted me when I felt lonely and alone, or prompted me to reach out to a stranger or friend in need. Jesus was right (as usual) when He said One greater than He was coming to help us.

I have often thought how wonderful it would be to have Jesus here in person. Wouldn’t it be amazing to sit at His feet and listen to Him teach? What a blessing it would be to ask Him what to do in a particular situation. Who should I vote for? What should I say to repair this relationship? Am I doing a good job?

In John 14, verses 15-19, Jesus promises not to leave us as orphans but that the Spirit of Truth, a Helper, will come to us and live with us and in us. In John 16:7, Jesus says, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.”He also proclaims to His disciples in John 14:12, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul talks about the spiritual gifts of healing, prophecy, speaking in and interpreting tongues, and miracles. But at the end of the chapter in verse 31 he says, “And I will show you a still more excellent way.” Immediately following is “The Love Chapter,” 1 Corinthians 13. Healing people and prophesying would be amazing “powers” to have, but Paul says even more excellent than being able to perform miracles is love. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and helps us to love each other as Christ loved us. Through love and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can perform “greater works” than Jesus did while on earth. Are you in tune with the Holy Spirit living in you? Do you believe what Jesus said?

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

There’s a common saying in most parts of Brazil, “Tell me who you walk with and I’ll tell you who you are.” Repeated by mothers, grandmothers, and teachers, this saying has a very clear meaning: we are like the people we spend time with. But this understanding isn’t new. Amos 3:3 says, “Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?” (NIV)

Young Christians will hear 2 Corinthians 6:14 in innumerable Bible studies and classes. “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” A yoke is a piece of wood that connects animals enabling them to work together, pulling a cart, for example. This way, the weight is equally distributed between the two. However, if the animals are too different, the yoke will distribute the weight of the wood unevenly, causing one of them to carry a load that is too heavy. In other words, the yoke will be unequal.

This illustration is often used as an alert about the difficulties of a Christian marrying a non-Christian. And this makes total sense: the union of marriage isn’t just physical! It’s also a spiritual union! But does this illustration apply only to marriage? No! Whether we get married or not, we have relationships with others who participate in and influence our lives. Therefore, we need to be attentive and have clear criteria when choosing who we will walk with. But why?

Maybe you think, “I’m strong! I can carry the yoke!” Let’s look at the explanation that the scriptures provide about why we shouldn’t put ourselves in the position of being unequally yoked, showing the differences that make a Christian incompatible with the sin of the world that 1 John 5:19 tells us is controlled by the evil one.

What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people”. (2 Cor. 6:15-16)

• Righteous vs. Wickedness— Jesus came to justify (make us right), taking away sin; now whoever believes in Jesus lives for righteousness, not for evil.
• Light vs. Darkness — Sin and the lies of the world are darkness but the truth of Jesus illuminates the life of the believer.
• Christ vs. Belial — The term Belial was associated with Satan, as the expression in Hebrew means worthless; in other words, Christ’s adversary. The believer lives for Christ and is the devil’s enemy.
• Believer vs. Nonbeliever — The believer believes in Jesus and doesn’t reject Him.
• Temple of God vs. Idols — The believer has Jesus living within them, which is why they are a temple of God; therefore, they cannot worship other gods.

This biblical passage emphasizes all the things that we as Christians should not associate with. Second Corinthians 6:14 says, “Don’t team up” (NLT); in other words, we can be the ones who put ourselves in situations like this and decide to live unequally yoked. However, it is important to clarify that the passage does not refer to isolation. Avoiding an unequal yoke does not mean distancing ourselves from people who aren’t Christians, but rather from the wrong things they do.

We are called to build real and deep friendships with nonbelievers, spreading the love of Christ, but we cannot agree with sin, nor participate in it (John 17:15-18). When we are among people who are not Christians we should give testimony of Jesus Christ, and oftentimes this involves knowing how to say no in many situations. Jesus Christ always walked among corrupt people and gentiles, but He never contaminated Himself with their sins, He didn’t accept or conform to their behavior, and He showed them the path of light by preaching the gospel and repentance.

Are you choosing your associations wisely?

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

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Is. 53:7 NIV)

Knowing His betrayal and arrest were imminent, Jesus was in anguish. His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. The time had come. Death was no longer in the distance; it had arrived at His doorstep. How could He go through with it? How could Jesus suffer not only abandonment, humiliation, torture, and crucifixion, but bear the sins and sorrows of humanity? Christ was able to be committed unto death because of His humility, trust in God, and love for us.

Humility.

[Jesus], being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! (Php. 2:6-8)

Jesus wanted the cup to pass from Him and prayed that it would, but He humbled Himself and accepted God’s plan (Mt. 26:39). The divine Son of God willingly assumed the lowest social status, served, sacrificed, and suffered so He could sympathize with us and secure a means of salvation. According to the previous verse in Philippians 2, we are called to have the same Christlike mindset and attitude of humility (v. 5)!

Trust in God.
Because Christ humbled Himself and submitted to death,

God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php. 2:9-11)

Jesus trusted that God would take care of Him and glorify Him at the appropriate time. His faith was greater than His turmoil. “Being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly…” (Lk. 22:44). Jesus poured out His heart in prayer. He didn’t hold back His emotions or His pain. He also didn’t hold back Himself; He fully obeyed His Father and laid down His life (Jn. 10:17-18). Christ’s deep trust in the Father enabled Him to commit to death.

Love for us.
While someone might possibly dare to die for a righteous person, dying for an unrighteous person would be generally considered preposterous. However, Christ died for us while we were still sinners: “At just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Ro. 5:6). In addition to creating us, giving us the very breath in our lungs, and holding all things together in the Son, Romans 5:8 identifies how God demonstrates His love for us: “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Truly Christ is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep (Jn. 10:14-15).

Christ’s commitment to death was more than a commitment to His own death; it was a commitment to our death as well.

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Co. 5:14-15)

As disciples of Christ, we should follow His example. We should be willing to die for our Lord.

Rather than one monumental sacrifice we might make in the future, our focus should be on daily devotion: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Lk. 9:23-24). That calling comes with a promise: “…be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

We are called—committed—to die to ourselves and to live in Christ, for Christ, because of Christ, and with Christ in us.

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:19-20)

In light of Christ’s commitment to death and our calling to follow in His steps, “let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2).

Like our Lord, let us practice humility, trust in God, and love. How can you excel still more in each of these areas?

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

And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (Gal 3:27 NLT)

Today, through the new birth of water and the Spirit, I have at my disposal the purest and most beautiful garment that I have ever had or known, and even more, that unites me in Spirit with Christ Jesus.

Such a precious spiritual garment of Christ now in me, received by grace twenty-three years ago and to the glory of God, is what binds me every second of life to being constantly like Him, this being my most sublime first commitment of love.

To call myself a Christian today is to be able to exist more and more like Christ in every area of earthly life. Living in unity with Christ is also the most complete and integral blessing. Today, I live in an increasingly upside-down world, but having been clothed in Christ makes me feel safe, protected, and much loved.

Using the analogy of my new life with Christ, being already clothed with Him, I can confirm that everything I have lived and am still living in God's will with my husband was not and is not just to be happy, but more importantly to ask Him to accompany and support us. No longer being two, but one means we can attain in common the character of Christ, and thus be representatives of His name and image in the grandest garment—His Holy Spirit.

Some time ago, I read something that I have experienced myself: that marriage is where the mind of Christ can be most deeply acquired. I believe that having Him as part of the marriage relationship requires love and sacrifice, and, in a great way, to stop living only for oneself and to be one with the husband and vice versa.

Reading and personalizing Galatians 2:20, we are told, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” He unites me not only in putting on His unique divine garment but in His spiritual nature to follow in His footsteps toward the progressive path that leads to the goal of eternal life.

At this moment, as I am married and walking through the course of my spiritual years, I have indeed learned the importance of being like Christ. It is when I am controlled by human emotions, thoughts, and actions that I most need God and His wisdom, which only comes from the Father through His Son and in His Holy Spirit, who guides the way to the truth and life of Christ.

Like every one of the important aspects of this life, I remember that in my first years as a wife, after all the feelings of butterflies in my stomach, I began to experience a diverse rainbow of emotions, beliefs, and realities that led me to various struggles, increasingly complex, and that required, without a doubt, the Divine Presence.

I remember so many differences arising between the two of us. I remember those moments of uncertainty when every decision, every dream, and every goal was no longer just mine, but now it was my husband's decisions, dreams, and goals as well. Coming to an agreement was increasingly difficult. For example, it was quite a challenge when he liked grey and I liked fuchsia, when he liked details and I liked simplicity, when we found that we were more and more different. But by keeping in the mind of the Lord and His love, we have grown to complement each other more and more every day as one in Christ, clothed with Him.

This unity fills us daily with a love that can do everything, with incomparable joy, a peace that surpasses all understanding, firm self-control, wise meekness, great portions of patience, a flow of goodness, and true faith; characteristics that perfect everything we face to always be like Christ in each of the moments or places where we are. What a blessing it is to be like Christ! Are you clothed in Christ today?

Written by Brenda Davis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

“Who are you wearing tonight?” Celebrities are asked this question by members of the press as they walk the red carpet at a movie premier or awards show, and it is usually answered with the name of a famous fashion designer.

The apostle Paul tells us about who we will be wearing after we are baptized. “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal 3:27 NIV). Reflecting on this metaphor, I can almost feel Jesus’ presence hugging me like a perfectly fitting garment.

Let’s look at what God’s Word says about baptism.

WHAT
In the Scriptures, we see that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is our response to hearing and accepting the message of the Gospel, symbolizing our death to sin, the burial of our old life, and our resurrection to a new life in Christ. Baptism is our declaration of faith and represents an unconditional promise to God to do His will.

Baptism is a picture of death and of the grave. Coming up out of the water represents Christ’s resurrection (Ro 6:1-4). So, when you are baptized, you are saying, "I died with Jesus Christ, I was buried with Him, and now I am raised with Christ to a brand-new life— a changed me."

HOW
The Greek root word baptizein, from which we get the word baptize, means to plunge, immerse, sink, or wash. Another word more often used throughout the New Testament is baptizō which means to totally submerge, drown, immerse, or dunk into water.

We find several instances of baptisms In the New Testament where evidence points to immersion. John the Baptist baptized in Aenon near Salim which is along the Jordan River “because there was plenty of water” (Jn 3:23). After Jesus’ baptism, He “came up out of the water” (Mk 1:10). And both Philip and the Eunuch “went down into the water and Philip baptized him” (Ac 8:38).

WHY
Baptism does not appear to me to be merely a suggestion, but rather something extraordinarily important as it connects to our salvation. Several passages bear this out: “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16). “This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you” (1Pe 3:21a).

Baptism is so important that Christ’s final instructions before He ascended to Heaven were, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).

And when we are clothed with Christ, we receive rich blessings:

Forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Ac 2:38).

Being joined with other believers in the church—the body of Christ: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body” (1 Co 12:13a). “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all” (Ac 2:41 NLT).

WHEN
Every person who has heard the gospel message and can make a conscious decision to believe in Christ is “eligible.” For some, baptism may follow a process of study, but lengthy Bible study is not a requirement. We find that New Testament believers were baptized in immediate response to hearing the Gospel message for the first time, such as in the story of Philip and the eunuch in Acts 8. Other instances are also recorded:

“But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Ac 8:12 NIV)

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” (Ac 22:16)

“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” (Ac 16:33b)

WHY NOT?
Sisters, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (Jn 14:15). If you have not put on Christ in baptism, what might be keeping you from submission and obedience to your Savior? I urge you to examine your heart and consider changing your clothes.

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

Lucille made tissue paper flowers—the big, bright colorful ones that add a splash of joy to life. She made mobiles with delicate ribbon fish, dresses for orphans, and activity bags for children. She recycled hundreds of pairs of non-slip socks by brushing them carefully to remove the pilling so they could be donated to nursing homes. She was 90 and doing all of these things when I met her. She died just a month before her 106th birthday. That morning Lucille taught some ladies how to make tissue paper flowers, then she set up her first cell phone. She sat down in her chair to take a nap and woke up with Jesus.

Carolyn loved to teach the Bible to children. She was instrumental in starting a camp in her home area and cooked there for many years. When she could no longer cook, she made blankets—hundreds of cozy quilts for children who were attending camp for the first time. She told them that the comforter would remind them they were loved and would help them get through homesickness. After she died at the ripe old age of 100, we found two of her quilts in the supply room at church. They were given to her great-grandchildren, and her comforting love lives on.

Lois was the daughter of an old-time circuit preacher. She was one of a group of Christians who founded the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Texas. She raised three children in the Lord and passed her faith down to her great-grandchildren. Lois was a “Rosie the Riveter” during WWII. She met her much loved sports hero Nolan Ryan at a Texas Rangers game on her hundredth birthday and finally saw her precious Lord at 104 years old.

As I thought about the opportunity to write a story of personal committed faith, dozens, if not hundreds of faithful Christian women I have been blessed to know paraded through my thoughts. Some conquered illness, suffered loss of relationships, the death of loved ones, wavering beliefs, and weakened faith. Many sisters followed our Lord through all the darts life threw at them and gave me precious examples to follow. All of their stories are encouraging and have helped me stay the course when my steps have faltered.

But Lucille, Carolyn, and Lois all stood out in my thoughts. These three lived their faith for 85 to 90 of their over 100 years on this earth. They held on to Christ and His church through major wars, the Great Depression, riots, assassinations, hunger, times of plenty, hard physical work, deep emotional losses, disease, and the loneliness of old age. None of them complained about their circumstances—rather, each gave generously to me from their strong spirits and steady faith.

For Lois’ 100th birthday party, we decorated one section of the church auditorium walls for each decade of her life. As I walked around the display that followed our nation from covered wagons to super jets, and circuit riders to podcasts, I realized that each of those decades was lived one minute at a time. Life is made up of tens of thousands of often tedious minutes that together comprise a life of faith.

The commitment to our faith is to spend each of those moments realizing the priceless statement of our purpose we find in Ephesians: “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10 NIV).

Each of these women filled over 30,000 days productively serving their families and their Savior. Somewhere along the way they understood that a Christ-filled life was their hope of glory as we read in Colossians 1:27.

Each of them spoke to me of their dependence on God. They had learned through many hard times that their hope and strength and joy was found in our God. Each of these women were joyful, gentle, and full of love despite so many trials and sorrows. My time with them was clearly filled with the presence of God's Holy Spirit, who lived a century in each of their faithful hearts.

Their personal examples of committed faith were visual aids to strengthen my life in Christ. These servants exemplified the verses I want to leave you with. Over 100 years of dedication was possible because they served a faithful Father.

“For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Ps. 100:5).

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Heb. 10:23).

Will you use your years, few or many, in committed service to the King whose faithful daughters will live with Him in glory?

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

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 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 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 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).