Iron Rose Sister Ministries

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Published: 21 March 2018

• guest writer
• Women's Spiritual Health

By Jennifer Percell

The #MeToo movement is growing. Each day more people come forward and I am saddened by how many suffer from the selfish acts of others. Me too.

As I listen to brave women tell their stories I remember my own isolation and crippling fear. I remember being physically captive and mentally isolated from others by the stigma of the shocking and repulsive acts. During the abuse and for many years after, my mind fought the lies my abuser recorded there for his own protection. Messages seared into my brain by his words and actions caused despair that seemed insurmountable. I was wounded and broken, and I felt no hope for rescue from the hopeless life that trapped me.

Then one day I found myself with a bunch of church kids. I had gone to a retreat with them to escape for a day and had entertained thoughts of running away while I was out of the house. That afternoon we were all sitting under a tree. One boy with a guitar, one with a Bible. The boy with the Bible read:
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:37-39).

Now, 43 years later I can still feel the shock, someone was telling me that there was power and love that was stronger than my abusive father. That was the first glimpse of hope in my life and I craved more and more of this new information.

I learned that God is the Great Physician, He heals, His love is real, and He sees me as precious. I could trust Him, He made me, and He could fix my brokenness. And best of all, He could go with me into the horrible places I was suffering. He could enter my mind and emotions during the abuse and hold me close to Him. He could protect my soul from the pain that was killing all hope in me.

Three years later I could finally leave my abusive home. I knew I needed lots of help. God provided counselors and medications and a support network of good people. All of these were priceless as I fought hard for healing and I recommend that anyone who has suffered use all these tools.

But I believe that it is God who truly healed my heart and soul. It was only when I crawled upon the lap of my heavenly Daddy and let Him hold and comfort me did I truly feel relief. I remember how He gave me 15 minutes of peace and later twenty. How there was a whole morning without hyper-vigilance and focus on my own surroundings. How one day I noticed I had been in the middle of something for a whole day, living my life and not fearfully on the outside looking in.

Only my God could go back through all the pain with me and let me be a needy child again. This time one with a strong, safe and kind Father. A Father who could carry me out of the worst of times and into a life of hope and joy and peace.

If you have suffered abuse and not yet found healing from the inside out, go to the Great Physician. He was there with you protecting your mind and heart from irreparable damage. He is there today ready to repair every broken piece you give to Him. For nothing in all creation can separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus your Lord.

May all of us who have been healed by our Great God say, “Me Too... God has healed Me Too”

Jennifer Percell

If you would like additional information about the #ChurchToo movement as well, we invite you to read this article by the Christian Chronicle.

#IronRoseSister #womenspiritualhealth #metoo #healed

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Published: 14 March 2018

• guest writer
• Women's Spiritual Health

Straight from the Word... Prayer Guide
Written by Carolyn “Jo” Gower

Iron Rose Sister Ministries has been covered in prayer from the beginning and in February, we turned our attention once again to our Father in Heaven asking for His plan in 2018 for this ministry. Prayer is also vital for our spiritual health, which is our theme this month.

The Bible mentions prayer more than 870 times. There seems to be a pattern of prayer in the Bible that should get our attention regarding our relationship with the Father. We are to communicate often with Him using His word and prayer. Prayer is not “saying prayers” but rather prayer becomes as natural as breathing as we draw closer to God. Jesus said, “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself" (John 12:32, NIV). Therefore “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart...” (Heb. 10:22a, NIV).

The Bible chronicles some 650 prayers and records 450 answers. The Bible also records 10 major lessons on prayer by Jesus himself during His ministry. His disciples considered prayer training to be essential: “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples" (Luke 11:1, NIV).

So how important is it to learn how to effectively pray? We miss out on blessings, “...You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). We could miss out on playing a part in bringing many people to Christ. In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So, pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Jesus wants to use our prayer life as a tool to provide more workers, whether you become someone who is sent, or God uses you to do the sending. Both ways more workers will go and this will continue in fulfilling the Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20.

As we think about Iron Rose Sister Ministries and our spiritual health, the following scriptures can be used as prayer starters. By taking one scripture at a time, it will help in flooding the gates of Heaven for the needed blessings for this ministry, for yourself, and for others.

Suggested Bible passages as prayer starters:
• Pray for your enemies. Matt. 5:43-44; Luke 6:27-28
• Pray in sincerity. Matt. 6:5-8
• The Model Prayer. Matt. 6:9-15; Luke 11:1-4
• Ask and it shall be given. Matt. 7:7-12; 1 John 5:13-15; Luke 11:5-13
• Ask for workers. Matt. 9:35-38; Luke 10:1-2
• Pray as a group in unity. Matt. 18:18-20
• Pray for all nations. Mark 11:15-17; Matt. 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46
• Always pray and don’t give up. Luke 18:1-8
• Humble yourself before the Lord. Luke 18:9-14
• Effective prayer makes the difference. Mark 9:28-29
• Believe and don’t doubt. Mark 11:20-25; Matt. 21:18-22
• Don’t pray for show. Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:47
• Pray to overcome temptation. Mark 14:38; Luke 22:40, 46; 1 Cor. 10:13
• Pray in Jesus name and obey His commands. John 14:13-15, 15:7, 15:16, 16:23-27
• Pray with passion. Heb. 5:7

All of life’s questions can be answered straight from the Word of God including how to pray. Even when we don’t know what to pray there is help, “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” (Rom. 8:26, ESV).

We are greatly blessed serving God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit that help us pray! While you join us in praying for Iron Rose Sister Ministries, I’m praying for you as you serve Christ and grow in your spiritual health.

#IronRoseSister #spiritualhealth #prayer #Bibleprayers