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by Michelle J. Goff
We learn a lot about God through the first few chapters of Genesis. Starting with creation, God reminds us that it is worthwhile to recognize a job done well and call it good. Then, after the job is done, call it a day, take a step back, and rest. There is tremendous satisfaction in a time of rest following the hard work of a big project. Work hard, then rest (Gen. 2:2-3).
The Father, the Son, and the Spirit, as One, made man and woman in their own image. By definition and by design, we were made for relationship (Gen. 1:26, 31). Whether walking together and talking in the garden or even in confronting the sin that God knew Adam and Even had committed, God continues to engage in relationship.
After Adam and Eve eat of the forbidden fruit, God begins the conversation by asking them a question, “Where are you?” Did God know where they were? Of course! He’s God! Yet, He asks them a question in order to continue to engage in relationship. Communication is foundational for relationship. God models that listening comes first if we want a relationship to endure. Even though He already knows the answers, God asks Adam and Eve four different questions as He invites them to openly communicate with Him (Gen. 3:8-13).
Sin separates us from God, yet He still longs to be in relationship with us. When we choose something over God and His ways (forbidden fruit, our own desires, plans, ways, or thoughts), they become idols that separate us from God. Sin has no place in our lives—not only because of how it takes place of our number one priority: God, but also because sin brings consequences. There are natural consequences from sin: Adam and Eve knew that they were naked and they felt ashamed (Gen. 3:7). And there are spiritual consequences: Sin separates us from God.
The amazing thing that we learn from God’s priorities is that even though sin separated us from Him, He still made every effort to be in relationship with us. The first sacrifice happened when God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve as clothing (Gen. 3:21). Death and the shedding of blood were necessary when sin entered in because without it, we couldn’t be in relationship with God.
Even when we sin, God still loves us. And He sent the perfect sacrifice of His Son that we might be able to be unified in relationship again (Heb. 10:1). If you do not know of the gift God freely offers through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, please contact us as we would love to share with you the hope of the promise of our own resurrection from our sinful state—made possible through His redeeming blood.
What do God’s priorities in Genesis 1-3 imply for our redefined priorities?
1. Work hard, then rest.
2. Make every effort to be in relationship, especially with God. It’s how we were designed.
3. Love and listen—first to God, then to others, always through the filter of loving God first.
4. The only place sin has on our priority list is to actively allow God to help us eradicate it.
5. God loves us too much to leave us in destructive sin. Accept God’s redeeming love and forgiveness, only made possible through His Son.
This is not a one and done priority list. It is more like a rinse and repeat. Daily. Hourly.
I encourage you to reread the first three chapters of Genesis and share what else we learn about God’s priorities. How does a view of God’s priorities redefine your priorities? Do God’s priorities change throughout the course of the Bible story?
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Written by Michelle J. Goff
When Iron Rose Sister Ministries first began in 2013, Board President, Katie Forbess, and I, Founder, Michelle J. Goff, knew that God had called us to greater things than we could imagine (John 14:12). Yet we did take the time to verbalize some of what we imagined as dreams and long-term goals, asking God constantly, through prayer, to reveal when would be the right time to fulfill them, drop them, or redefine them.
To explain some of that foresight and vision God provided, when initially registering the name of the nonprofit in Colorado, Iron Rose Sister Ministries was chosen, for multiple reasons. Iron, like iron sharpening iron from Proverbs 27:17. Rose from the uniqueness of the roses in God’s garden, each in different stages of their growth, and more beautiful together, in spite of our thorns. Sister because of how we are sisters in Christ, but also left in the singular for two reasons: 1) We each have a personal responsibility to be that Iron Rose Sister in other women’s lives, and 2) in Spanish, the plural for sister, “hermanas,” as a term that, when used by itself, also means “nuns,” which we are not! Finally, Ministries, in the plural because the English name and U.S. based registered nonprofit would be the parent company (or “big sister”) for other ministries in other languages over time.
Along with the initial registration of our name, we also registered the name Ministerio Hermana Rosa de Hierro, the Spanish equivalent, (Hermana-Sister, Rosa-Rose, and Hierro-Iron). But if you notice, Ministerio is the singular form (not MinisterioS). This is because it is one of the “little sister” companies of Iron Rose Sister Ministries.
Since the beginning, we have placed a priority on providing the same resources in English and in Spanish, in addition to the ways we modeled the use of those materials in bilingual contexts. Over time, we have seen how different needs in each language have altered some of our offerings in each language, for example, publishing the Spanish blog three days/week and the English blog only once weekly.
We are now also privileged to introduce Ministério Irmã Rosa de Ferro, the Portuguese branch as we begin, in the first part of this year, to roll out Portuguese materials! The need for Portuguese resources to equip the more than 106.5 million women in Brazil has been on our radar since “across the Americas” has always been a facet of our primary vision statement. However, we did not envision what God would do to open doors in Portuguese-speaking Africa, specifically in Angola and Mozambique!
We have partnered with Luso African Missions Partners International (Luso is like saying Portuguese-speaking in Africa). Their purpose is to help facilitate the translation of Bible study materials into Portuguese. LAMP, Int’l’s director, Nathan Holland, and I have been discussing the need for Portuguese women’s materials for years, but during COVID shut-downs, the timing was right for LAMP, Int’l to initiate their services and for Iron Rose Sister Ministries to partner with them, as well as develop our own Portuguese Team. There will be an International edition of the books, highlighting the African dialects. And the Brazilian edition, which will be distributed in Brazil and in the U.S. A new Portuguese-speaking mission team in south Florida is excited to receive these resources, as well.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Prov. 19:21)
This proverb comes to mind as I reflect on the way God has used prayer to guide, and even transform the timing and the direction of the initial dreams. Prayer has been integral in the redefining that has taken place in Iron Rose Sister Ministries and her “sister” ministries:Ministerio Hermana Rosa de Hierro and Ministério Irmã Rosa de Ferro. It is our prayer that God continue to redefine our dreams and guide us each step of the way.
A special thank you to our Iron Rose Sisters and Iron Rose Sister Ministries Partners all across the world who continue to dream and grow with us through your prayers and your support!