Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Jittery. Accelerated. Nervous. Stressed. Overwhelmed. Unsettled.

These and other words can be used to describe how I feel when I am anxious. And as students, teachers, and parents, begin the new school year, anxious feelings abound for many.

What do you do when you are anxious? It is not as simple as saying “Don’t be anxious about anything…” However, Philippians 4:6-7 does not end there. “…but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

And the promise? “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

By saying that we shouldn’t be anxious about anything, Paul acknowledges that it is a real struggle, but he carries it a step further and provides a recipe for peace.

We can transform our anxious thoughts into anxious prayers, which become transformed into peaceful prayers.

Amazing how restorative prayer time with our loving heavenly Father can be.

Which end of the spectrum are your prayers on today? Anxious or peaceful? Paul provides an invitation for transformation—made possible when we, in every situation, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.

Jittery. Accelerated. Nervous. Stressed. Overwhelmed. Unsettled.
These and other words can be used to describe how I feel when I am anxious. And as students, teachers, and parents, begin the new school year, anxious feelings abound for many.
What do you do when you are anxious? It is not as simple as saying “Don’t be anxious about anything...” However, Philippians 4:6-7 does not end there. “...but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

I often have trouble sleeping. I remember lots of crazy dreams each morning, which makes me think that when I do get to sleep in portions of the night, that I am not hitting a deep enough REM cycle to take advantage of restful sleep. I am also a night owl, not a morning person, and I do my best writing at night.
This can be an especially complicated problem on Sunday mornings... an over-heated church building only makes my eyelids heavier when it comes time for the sermon. I have been known to stand up at the back of the meeting place in order to stay awake and attentive.

I often have trouble sleeping. I remember lots of crazy dreams each morning, which makes me think that when I do get to sleep in portions of the night, that I am not hitting a deep enough REM cycle to take advantage of restful sleep. I am also a night owl, not a morning person, and I do my best writing at night.

This is an especially complicated problem on Sunday mornings... an over-heated church building only makes my eyelids heavier when it comes time for the sermon. I have been known to stand up at the back of the auditorium or gym in order to stay awake and attentive.

In a recent devotional, we read Psalm 121, which mentions that God does not sleep or slumber. One of the words in Spanish implies that He doesn't get sleepy. What a wonderful thought! God is watching over me, and He is attentive to everything every one of His children is doing—without batting an eye, without getting sleepy.

What a peaceful thought—I can rest secure knowing that God does not sleep. He is in control. And that, my friends, fills us with peace.

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." (Psalm 121:1-8 NIV)

God loved us by sending His Son (John 3:16).
And Jesus personified that love for us by humbling himself (Phil. 2:5-11). The King of Kings, equal to God, took on the form of a baby—the most vulnerable one can be—all for the Father´s glory.
He submitted to His Father’s will and became obedient to death, even death on a cross—the most painful moment of His life, separated from His Father, having taken our sin upon His shoulders.
And Jesus loved us by taking the very nature of a servant—washing His disciples’ feet (John 13) and patiently teaching them all things—leaving us an example to follow as well (1 Peter 2:21).
Love does not do things for its own benefit. Jesus Christ gave us the perfect example of humble, selfless love.
May we celebrate that love this week!

In the book of Philippians, the primary theme is joy, but the entire book can be considered good cognitive therapy. It encourages and instructs us on how to transform our thoughts and see things from God’s perspective.

When we see through God’s eyes and trust His plan, His sovereignty, and His control over everything, it becomes easier to obey the command to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice!”

If I see God as greater than my circumstances, I don’t see the giant Goliath as the Israelites saw him, rather, I see God how David saw Him: as the God who can conquer my giants. And therefore David rejoiced in the opportunity to confront the giant and give God the glory (1 Samuel 17).

How can you change your perspective, trust God, and decide to rejoice?

Desire and want can be overwhelming. They can possess a person and consume their thoughts and actions.

Recently, I was asked how I was going to live with a situation in my life that will most likely never change—ironic in light of how much has changed in my life in recent years…

But no matter what the circumstances, I think the answer is found in Philippians 4:12.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learnedthe secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Paul´s contentment did not come naturally or immediately. It was learned.

I will learn to be content.  I will learn not seek to satisfy that desire outside of my relationship with God. He will supply all my needs in Christ and continue to use me as a blessing for those around me as I live “content in any and every situation.”

Are you learning to be content?

Desire and want can be overwhelming. They can possess a person and consume their thoughts and actions.
Recently, I was asked how I was going to live with a situation in my life that will most likely never change—ironic in light of how much has changed in my life in recent years...
But no matter what the circumstances, I think the answer is found in Philippians 4:12.
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Paul´s contentment did not come naturally or immediately. It was learned.
I will learn to be content. I will learn not seek to satisfy that desire outside of my relationship with God. He will supply all my needs in Christ and continue to use me as a blessing for those around me as I live “content in any and every situation.”
Are you learning to be content?

Kim, please introduce yourself and tell us about your family.
My full name is Kimberly Faith Solis (previously Kershaw, but now married to Raul Solis). I consider myself from Portland, Oregon, though I have only lived there for 8 of my 48 years. I was not raised in the church, but came to Christ and was baptized the summer after my senior year of high school thanks to my best friend, who invited me to church.

Two years later I went through the Adventures in Missions program in Lubbock, Texas, and went to Toluca, Mexico, to work with the missionaries there for two years. Well, at least I thought it would be for two years, but it was there that I met my husband Raul! Three children and 25 years later, we have temporarily moved back to Oregon to take care of my mom and work on getting my husband’s US citizenship.

Our three kids are: Diego (age 23), Isaac (21) and Angie (19). Raul and I work for the Instituto Latinoamericano de Estudios Bíblicos (ILEB) in Toluca. We both write and teach courses and I manage the online learning platform for the Institute.

What does obedience mean to you?
Wow! This is a really huge question. I am learning that obedience is EVERYTHING. We often think that the goal in life is to be happy... we want to live “happily ever after.” But I have learned that our goal should be to simply be obedient, and let God work out the details of our joy (which is so much deeper, and not dependent on circumstantial happiness.)

I think obedience is doing what we know God wants us to do, forgive, love, accept, serve, even when we don’t understand why, don’t agree, or don’t even want to. It’s doing these things even when we think God is being unfair or too demanding. It’s trusting in His will and reason, and not in our own.

What has obedience looked like in your life?
I really have struggled with what to write and what to share. My road with obedience has been an interesting one, especially when doing what God says has not been easy. There are many people who hurt us in our lives. Perhaps they disappoint our expectations, they reject us or abandon us in times of need, or they don’t treat us as we should be treated.

In one such situation, I felt called to forgive someone who hurt me deeply in many ways. I felt the Word showed me to place the relationship in God’s hand, instead of taking care of matters myself in a vengeful way. This was hard. For years I struggled to forgive. What I really wanted was to separate this person from my life, but God kept our roads crossing, time and time again. I made a “deal” with God. I challenged God saying, “The only way I’ll let you continue to let him be in my life is if he becomes a Christian.”

God is amazing. He didn’t strike me down in anger. I believe he understood not only my broken heart, but also the broken life of this person and it wasn’t too long later that my husband baptized him into Christ! Now I had to keep my part of the deal. I finally thought I had forgiven only to find, a few years later, that I still harbored resentment and anger deeply buried in the recesses of my heart.

The culmination of my obedience came when this person became very ill. When I heard the diagnosis, my first reaction betrayed the truth I had tried to hide. “Finally! He’ll be gone,” I thought, and instantly felt guilty. I had obeyed faithfully throughout the years and allowed this person to continue to be a presence in my life, and yet I had not been able to do so completely with a forgiving heart. It was then that God began to challenge my willingness to truly obey, especially when it was extremely difficult to do so.

As his illness progressed, I went to visit this person and was presented with a difficult situation. The person who was taking care of him needed to step out and I was the only one there to help out while she was gone. God was asking me to serve him, to serve the one who hurt me, to obey His command to love... even our enemies.

To be honest, I didn’t want to do it. I even yelled at God in my heart, “You’re asking too much with this one! I don’t want to serve him.” But I knew I couldn’t say no, not to God. I bit my lip, held my breath and served... and something really amazing happened.

A couple of days later I was preparing to head home, he (who never expresses his emotions, who rarely really spoke about anything personal, and who had never said anything about what happened between us) looked me in the eye and said, “You really didn’t have to come.” I knew that behind those words was an apology for all the pain he had caused me, a thank you for never shutting him out of my life, an acknowledgement that, of all the people in the world, I was the last one who should be serving him in his time of weakness.

I left and got on a plane home, crying the entire trip. A tremendous weight was suddenly lifted off my heart. I no longer asked for his death, but asked God to spare him or to at least give him peace in his last months. I also sent word and asked someone to relay a message to him in case I didn’t get to see him again. I asked them to tell him that I forgave him, completely and sincerely. The message was given, and I was told he just wept like a baby. I did get to see him before he passed, but we did not have the chance to exchange words; he was not conscious enough to carry on a conversation. God even granted me my last prayer that I had said that day flying home, the tears washing all my anger away... I got to sit with him in his last moments, singing hymns and asking God to take him into His presence with mercy and love.

Several years have passed. I understand now that forgiveness is a road, sometime a very long one, but one that can only be traveled in obedience. I search my heart for any lingering anger or pain and only find sorrow—for the life that gave him such emptiness and desperateness for control, and for the impact that had on me and my family... and I also find a lot of peace.

Peace that only comes from God. Peace that surpasses all understanding.
And peace that only comes through obedience.
If I had not obeyed...
Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.
Forgive one another, as I have forgiven you.
Love your enemies. Serve one another.
Not my will, but yours be done.
I would not have found peace and healing for my soul. And for his.

Is there a Bible verse that encourages you about obedience? Or a Bible character you admire for his/her obedience?
Several. I think the main one is Hebrews 12:1-2:
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

I admire many Bible characters for their obedience... perhaps my favorite is Peter who, tired from fishing all night with no luck and then cleaning his empty nets, is told to row out to deep waters and cast once again. He must have thought Jesus was crazy. He must have thought it was a waste of time. He could have simply refused. But he didn’t. He trusted. He obeyed. (But at Your word I will let down the nets.) And, he reaped a great reward.

What most helps you be obedient?
Remembering who it is that is asking me. God is not just some human authority. God is He who knows all, sees all, and who loves me with His entire being. I owe Him everything. I cannot deny His will.

What most hinders you from being obedient?
Me. I hinder me. I am often too busy and distracted to hear His subtle voice and therefore I miss opportunities to obey. I have made a promise that when I feel nudged by His Holy Spirit, I will obey what I am being nudged to do, but I also have to keep my mind in tune to hearing those nudgings. That is hard to do if I am not communing with the Spirit daily in His Word and in prayer.

What blessings have you received through obedience?
So many! But, like I mentioned previously, the biggest has been the gift of true forgiveness and reconciliation before it was too late.

Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.

This has become a theme verse for me recently. May it bring blessing to you today.

The holiday stress and increase in activities has slowed, yet quiet moments can still be hard to come by. The college student hears questions of what she is going to do with her future. The new wife worries about the echo that still rings in her ears from the in-laws comments regarding different holiday traditions and customs. The mother of toddlers has forgotten the meaning of quiet altogether. And the empty nester wishes her house were a little noisier again.

Have you ever noticed that you can’t be angry and thankful at the same time?
There is a peace that comes from an attitude of gratitude. And Paul provides a formula for this indescribable peace in Philippians 4.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 26:3 ~ “You will keep in perfect peace whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Philippians 4:7 ~ “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
John 14:27 ~ “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John 16:33 ~ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Reflecting on these four verses and the concept of peace, what are your Common Threads this month, or maybe the Common Threads you want to work toward in the New Year?
Don’t forget to share them with a friend and pray together over each other.

Peace in the Word
Inspired by, but not as long as, Psalm 119

Alpha and Omega, Your Word is without end.
Brilliant in its inspiration, only the
Creator could have authored such
Decrees.
Eternal in its purpose,
Faithful in its presence,
God alone speaks
Heavenly words of life that
Impact and bring
Joy to all who heed them.

On the road again… with a 26’ Uhaul and my car, headed across the country to change my residence and the home base of IRSM from the mountains of Colorado to the foothills of the Ozarks in Searcy, Arkansas.

Today is the day that we begin the trek across the country, but this transition began several months ago. In a matter of two months, I will have made two moves, emptied two storage units, finalized and published two books (pre-order yours today!), made two trips for speaking engagements, hosted an intern, a swap party, and a Destination Retreat workday (register now!), as well as welcomed my beautiful niece into the world.

Are you exhausted just reading that list? Only through God and His help through others, have I had the strength to survive this transition, and also find peace through it.

Calm in the chaos. Shelter in the storm. Peace in the craziness.

Paul expresses the backwards thinking of God’s perspective and promises in the book of Philippians, which we will refer to a lot in this month’s blog focus on peace.

What does peace look like for you?

How has God brought about peace in a chaotic time of transition in your life?

Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?

The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?

To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?

On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?

In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?

Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,

And Jesus calls us to Heav’n’s perfect peace.

Today, I will leave you with the words to a popular hymn, written by Edward H. Bickersteth, 1875

Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

Peace, perfect peace, with sorrows surging round?
On Jesus’ bosom naught but calm is found.

Peace, perfect peace, with loved ones far away?
In Jesus’ keeping we are safe, and they.

Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.

It is enough: earth’s struggles soon shall cease,
And Jesus calls us to Heav’n’s perfect peace.

“Forgive and forget”? Or “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me”? Which is it?
Forgiveness is a tricky, complicated thing. Satan twists and distorts our definition of it. He attempts to discredit or water down God’s forgiveness. And he confuses our understanding of what it means to forgive others.
Today, I want to offer a reminder of the peace that comes through true forgiveness.
The peaceful state of those who have been forgiven and can rest in that forgiveness reaches to depths that can only be understood by tasting the true forgiveness offered by God.
In Christ, we are no longer bound by our sin. We have been forgiven and set free from its entrapment. And, in turn, we can offer that forgiveness to others.
The peaceful state of those who have done the forgiving and can rest trusting in our merciful heavenly Father is also attainable.
Have you tasted the peace that comes through forgiveness? Do you think it is possible?