Iron Rose Sister Ministries

When someone has been burned and her skin is healing, the old skin must be scraped away—a painful process—in order for healing to continue. It is part of the transformation process of rebirth of skin cells and rebirth of the person.

When someone has been burned and her skin is healing, the old skin must be scraped away—a painful process—in order for healing to continue. It is part of the transformation process of rebirth of skin cells and rebirth of the person.

Fire has a way of bringing about new birth and transformation. 1 Peter 1:7 speaks of our faith being refined by fire. And Malachi 3:3 states that God sits as a purifier and refiner of silver. But what does it mean to be refined by fire?

Allow me to borrow an often-used illustration whose author I don’t know how to credit:

A young man was reading Malachi 3:3 and wanted to understand what it meant for God to be a purifier and refiner of silver. So, he went to visit a jeweler to ask him what it meant, without referring to the scriptural reference.

The jeweler began to describe the purification process of the precious metals. “I put them in the fire in order to burn off all of the impurities and to make them moldable for whatever piece of jewelry I will make it into. I keep a close eye on the temperature of the fire and how long the silver or gold is in the fire so that all of the impurities can be burned off, but the integrity of the precious metal is not compromised.”

Fascinated, the young man thanked the jeweler and turned to leave, reflecting on how God allows various fiery trials in our life in order to burn off our many impurities.

Before he reached the door, the jeweler spoke again, “Do you want to know how I know when it is ready?”

“How?” asked the man.

“When I can see my reflection in it.”

Have you been transformed by fire to the point that God can see his reflection in your life? None of us like to go through fire, but my prayer for you today is that through the fiery trial, you might be a precious reflection of our loving heavenly Father.

Ever read a verse and see something you’ve never seen before?  I was reading in Exodus 3 and I noticed something new about Moses and the burning bush. God didn’t speak to him from the bush until he went over to look.

“So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.””(Exodus 3:3, 4 NIV)

“When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look...” I had never noticed that before.

Ever read a verse and see something you’ve never see before?  I was reading in Exodus 3 and I noticed something new about Moses and the burning bush. God didn’t speak to him from the bush until he went over to look.

“So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.””(Exodus 3:3, 4 NIV)

“When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to look...” I had never noticed that before. God created the burning bush, but he waited patiently for Moses to go over and look, to take some initiative to see what God was doing and find out more. It was then that God spoke to him from within the bush.

What is God showing you, but waiting for you to take the next step in so that he can speak to you and lead you into transformation?

“The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.” (Psalm 25:14 NIV)

Let’s step in for a closer look.

Transformation, many times, comes through an opportunity to do something new, something we have never before experienced. New opportunities come with a mingling of excitement and fear.
One example of transformation through new experiences came about through one of the bilingual women's retreats we have realized as a ministry. For many, it was definitely something new and unknown.

Chronic pain has become more of a mainstay in my life. My health teeters in a delicate balance. Unfortunately, once one thing gets out of whack, the rest of my body goes into hyper-alert, reacting to what it thinks are threats or toxins.

Without making a grocery list of symptoms or issues that I face, I will suffice it to say that things in my body are currently far from healthy or pain-free—a major challenge considering the aspects of ministry God has called me to.

Someone posed a question on Facebook last week: If you could choose one of the following, which would you choose? A year’s paid vacation; good health/pain free living… There were six choices and I don’t remember all of the options, but those were the “top two” I debated in my head.

The Sabbath rest was the fourth of the Ten Commandments. And while we do not follow the practice of the Sabbath today, there are many parallel commands in the New Testament that we are called to fulfill.
As highlighted in the Exodus and Deuteronomy accounts of the Ten Commandments, rest is not only a reward for a job well done. It is also in preparation for a job to be done.

We rest because He has taken our burdens (Matt. 11:28-29).
We rest in order to renew our spirit (Mark 6:31).
We rest as a quieting of the soul (Ps. 46:10).
We rest to renew our hope (Acts 2:26).
We rest in Christ’s power (2 Cor. 12:9).
We rest to renew our strength (2 Cor. 13:9).
We rest to refocus our purpose (2 Cor. 13:11).
We rest in order to remember all God has done (Heb. 3:7-19).
We rest as an example of God’s rest on the seventh day (Heb. 4:4).
And we look forward to the promise of entering into His Sabbath rest (Heb. 4:1-3, 9-11).

I invite you to be transformed by rest—not just an extra 10 minutes of sleep in the morning or a power nap in the afternoon.
May we be transformed by an attitude of rest that can only be found in communion with the One who is the source of rest and peace.

In April, three back-to-back driving trips left me depleted. With minimal days at home, and various demands on my time, I had nothing left to give.

Carole, my travel partner to Nashville, and I returned early from that trip because of how drained I was. I had nothing more to give. Also, fully aware of my past health issues and the potential to fall back into those intense symptoms and complications, rest became a high priority.

Rest. More than sleep.

Rest. A refocusing of purpose.

Rest. A quieting of the soul.

Rest. Even God needed it.

Acts 4:13 has quickly become one of my favorite verses.
I love how these ordinary, unschooled men’s lives were transformed by the time the spent with Jesus. And everyone knew it.
Moses had to wear a veil when he came down from Mount Sinai because of how his face radiated God’s glory. There was no denying that he had been in the presence of God.
Jim Rohn proposes that we are the average or a product of the five people we spend the most time with. Do you agree? Take a moment and think of those with whom you spend most of your time. Their influence transforms us. And it matters who we spend time with!
The disciples. Moses. People could tell with whom they had been spending their time. How about you?
By what you say, and how you act, can people tell with whom you have been spending your time?
How are you being transformed by the time you spend with Jesus? Can others tell you have been in the Word, and in prayer? Do you radiate God’s glory, by living a transformed life?
May we be transformed and renewed day by day through the time spent with Jesus, and may others take note of it, just like in Acts 4:13 with the disciples.

Acts 4:13 has quickly become one of my favorite verses.
I love how these ordinary, unschooled men’s lives were transformed by the time the spent with Jesus. And everyone knew it.

I had helped a friend sort through her closet. She did the same for me before I moved to Denver. It's amazing how we women collect and hold onto things in our closets. We hold onto outfits that made us feel good years ago, even if they are all worn out and outdated. We hold onto outfits that make us feel fat or ugly or sad and we aren't sure why.

I had helped a friend sort through her closet. She did the same for me before I moved to Denver. It's amazing how we women collect and hold onto things in our closets. We hold onto outfits that made us feel good years ago, even if they are all worn out and outdated. We hold onto outfits that make us feel fat or ugly or sad and we aren't sure why.

What we wear can affect how we feel and how we feel can affect what we wear. I know that on the days when I'm feeling down, I make myself put on waisted pants (no sport shorts or sweatpants) and I put on at least a little mascara and lipstick. It makes me feel more put together and prepares me to face the day.

Clothes can transform us from feeling like a bum to an elegant woman ready for a night out.

How much do we allow our clothes and makeup to affect how we feel as women?  Is that a good thing or a bad thing? How can we use it to God's glory and not for worldly affirmation?

The bigger question: How are we transformed when we remember that we are clothed with Christ?

Today is my parents 39th anniversary. Take a look at these pictures and tell me if you think they have been transformed a bit through marriage. Or send them a congratulatory note, which will be passed on.

The greatest command is clear: Love God. Love others.
Jesus answers the question presented, and clarifies that this command sums up the Law and the Prophets. Yet we complicate the application of this two-step instruction and leave it on a theoretical level instead of making it very personal and practical.
With a focus on listening to God this year, I have come to a new understanding of this clear and concise teaching—a simple way to live out loving God and loving others.
The first step we must take in order to love God and love others? Listen to God. Listen to others.
Simple as that:
Love God. Love others.
Listen to God. Listen to others.
Come learn more about what that means and what it looks like at our Destination Retreat, September 15-17, Called to Listen. Reserve your spot today! Registration is filling fast.

God knows what we need when we need it. And when he put Wendy Neill in my life, it quickly became obvious that it was for more than just the personal blessing of the deep friendship that we enjoy.
Wendy is the owner of Perfect Fit Web Design, and has stayed on the cutting edge of web design, authoring, and production throughout her career. The fantastic, uncompromising element that has brought new life and ease of access to the resources IRSM provides, is not just her skills and experience, but her passionate love for God and his work. Thank you, Wendy!
Through our newly redesigned website, you now have ease of access to our daily blog, audio files, online store, calendar of upcoming events, seminar information, small group resources, online donations, volunteer form, and even our YouTube channel!
Can you tell how excited I am to unveil this resource and continue to share more of the resources God has equipped us to make available to women and women’s ministries across the Americas?!
The newly redesigned Spanish website is coming soon and will offer the same features, with a few additional resources for our Spanish-speaking sisters and mission points.
Please join us in prayer as more women are reached with the tools to connect to God and one another more deeply. And if you are able to financially help us continue to make these resources available, please consider a contribution to offset the discounted cost of the website redesign and also our growing Intern Program.
Thank you! And please share our new website (same address) with others: www.IronRoseSister.com

WHAT is a small group? A group of people (women in our case) whose purpose is to meet together for encouragement, Bible study and prayer.
In order to allow for depth of discussion and opportunity to share, it is ideal for the group to be made up of no more than eight women. Yet, it can be as few as two.
When it is a small group of two, it can also be known as a mentoring relationship.
Mentoring relationships are a dying art, but Jesus himself modeled how we can invest in the lives of twelve or three to make a greater impact in the community at large. Paul highlights the same teaching to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” Teach to teach to teach—makes it easy to remember that it’s 2 Timothy 2:2, two by two by two.
The teaching and mentoring aspects of small group relationships are important. Here are a few more clarifying purposes of Iron Rose Sister Relationships in the Small Group context:
• Encouragement and inspiration
• Prayer
• Understanding and affirmation
• Confidentiality
• Spiritual audit (IRS)
• Mutual call to holy living
• Spiritual friendship and conversation
Whether you are considering starting a new small group, or redefining the one you are in currently, I encourage you evaluate the purpose of your group. Is God the center of your conversation? Are you being an encouragement one to another? Is there confidentiality and accountability?

March 20, 1991 was a Wednesday. I remember it clearly and it is forever marked in my calendar and in my heart as the day my sister, Jenn, and I were born again. After church that night, dad baptized us both. When I came up out of the water, we sang "Jesus is Lord," per my request. That moment comes back to me in vivid clarity every time I sing that song. I wanted the song to serve as a reminder of who was Lord of my life from that day forward.

Baptism is compared to birth—a new life formed in Christ (Rom. 6:4). While God can work on our hearts before we submit to him in baptism, the real transformation into his image begins when we die to self and become one with him in baptism, washing away our sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

In honor of Throwback Thursday, look back to the day you were baptized and thank God for the transformation he has made possible since that time.

If you have not yet died to self and put Christ on in baptism, I would love to talk with you about taking that step or putting you in touch with someone in the city you live that can talk with you.

“We need to get together for a cup of coffee!” I have lost count of the times I have said that to someone. And I have learned that if I don’t put something on the calendar in that moment, even if we both have the best of intentions, the time over coffee (or tea) will never happen.
The same is true of other things that are important, but they lose their urgency in the midst of our other responsibilities and commitments. One of the prime examples of something we want to do, but that will never happen if we don’t schedule it, is a small group gathering with other women. We have to make it a priority.
There is no magical time that works for everyone. However, I do recommend that you set aside a scheduled time that is designated specifically for a small group women’s Bible study.
Here are some of the times I know that women have gathered as a small group.
• Tuesday mornings (for some, this is the sacred gathering time for women’s studies)
• Mondays on the way home from work
• Wednesday night class
• Tuesday/Thursday nights
• Sunday morning Bible class
• Twice a month/every other week
I think you get the idea: There is no set schedule!
My other recommendation for when you gather is that you allow for an hour and a half meeting time. We’re women and we like to talk, but this extended hour also allows for prayer time and depth of conversation and discussion. We could spend the entire time sharing prayer requests and updating each other on life—neither of which are bad things, but it can take away from the meat of what we know we need in order to remain strong and encouraged as a child of God: time in the Word!
So, WHEN? Anytime, but pick a time and make it happen!

The comfort of your own home, a coffee shop on the way home from work, the church building... WHERE you meet, as a small group, is the least important of all of the questions we are asking this week.
I consider Jesus to have been hospitable. Yet during His three years of ministry, He never had a home in which to lay His head.
The physical location of our small group meeting is not as important as the spirit of hospitality we create where we do gather.
There is a small group of women in Florida that gather at a local park weekly so that the children can play while the women study together (a great opportunity to meet new women, too). Another group of women meet at a coffee shop so that no one feels the pressure of cleaning their house to host. I don’t know a church building that has turned women away if there is a room available for them to study.
Be creative in your location. Remember, the WHERE is the least important of all the factors we are considering.
Where does your small group meet?

The apostles were an eclectic group of 12. My sisters and I are a diverse group of four. Who do you have among your group of Christian sisters? Do you have a lot of things in common, or are you a unique group?
A rose bush does not have all of its roses budding at the same time. Part of the beauty of the bush is the bud barely blooming next to the full-bodied rose in full bloom.
Which rose are you in your community? In our Christian community, there are people of different ages, stages, and walks of life. And therein lies the beauty.
Another beautiful facet of a diverse community is that we can grow and learn from one another. The small groups with whom I have participated, and through which I have been blessed the most, are the ones that have a diverse group of women gathering together to deepen their relationships with God and with one another. I like to call them Iron Rose Sisters.
What is an Iron Rose Sister?
An Iron Rose Sister is a Christian sister who serves as iron sharpening iron (Prov. 27:17), encouraging and inspiring others to be as beautiful as a rose in spite of a few thorns.
So, in answer to today’s question of WHO for small groups? The answer is anyone! We grow most when we are stretched out of our comfort zones, and when we hear the perspectives of others. We are blessed when we are given the opportunity to bless others.
Find a group of women and start a small group today!