Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Many churches, conferences, and events are taking advantage of the number of this new year, “20/20” as an optometrist would say it, to remind us to have clear vision (1 Cor. 13:12), to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb. 12:2), and to focus on the unseen instead of the seen (2 Cor. 4:18). During the month of January, we will join in highlighting that emphasis, especially as it ties in with our spiritual theme for the year.

Iron Rose Sister Ministries’ spiritual theme for 2020 is “Part of the Whole” (Eph. 4:16; 1 Cor. 12:12-27).

Above all, we must keep our eyes fixed on the Whole, the I AM. In order to see Him clearly and maintain our focus on Him, we must come to know Him more deeply... know Him by His name.

We invite you to participate in an interactive small group Bible study, starting in January. The latest book, I already AM, is available through our online store, on Amazon, and also now on Kindle! This study is designed to help us keep our focus in the right place, affirm and strengthen our belief and get to know the I AM in deeper and broader ways through an in-depth study of His name.

In the meantime, stay tuned for “Our Part in Prayer” for our Prayer Month in February. And later in the year, we will explore topics like, “There is no small part,” “Christ is the head,” “Our obedience allows others to do their part,” “Celebrating the part others play,” “You are part of the one-another,” “Finding your part,” “Addressing the sticky parts,” “Thankful to be a part,” and a refocus of vision to keep our eyes fixed on the Whole.

Isn’t that exciting?! Yet, my favorite “part” of what is to come are the conversations and upcoming book celebrating Single Women as a vital part of the Whole. If you would like to join that conversation, we are still gathering research and conducting interviews, so let us know.

Thank you for being a part of the whole that God has brought together to His glory! Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. And thank you for your vital part of these important conversations, Bible studies, and equipping processes.

Written by Michelle J. Goff

Reflecting on the year 2020, some wince with pain, others retreat even deeper into their feelings of loneliness and isolation. While a few rejoiced in new birth, many mourned the passing of a loved one.
This global pandemic has brought us to our knees,
Yet God has met us there.

The best made plans were a reminder that we are not in control. Virtual gatherings replaced face-to-face encounters and creativity was required in order to find ways to stay connected.
Smiles were covered by masks until a distanced, outdoor gathering became feasible.
The global pandemic has revealed our true need for relationship,
But God knew this all along and sent His Son that we might find peace in true relationship with Him.

Dividing lines of politics, race, and mask-wearing have been drawn. Churches have split and elders have resigned, weary of standing in the gap or feeling forced to pick a side. Satan has picked at festering wounds of those drowning in hopelessness.
The global pandemic has highlighted some of our preexisting conditions,
Yet God, who is our hope, has redeemed and united us.

Time in prayer was extended as the prayer list grew. The Word became our Rock as uncertainty clouded our thinking. A play on words for teaching about 20/20 vision in the year 2020 became a real-life test of how we can keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
This global pandemic has challenged our view,
Yet God has remained faithful, never-changing, in control, the same yesterday, today, and forever.

It has not been all bad…
This global pandemic has provided new opportunities.
God has opened the door for virtual gatherings of Christians all over the world. Hunger for prayer and Bible study has grown, developing new friendships and connections, beyond what we could’ve originally designed.

What have you learned about God during this year?
What has the year 2020 revealed in you?
What do you want to leave in the past?
What do you take away from what you have learned moving forward?

Paul admonishes in Philippians 3:13-16, “But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

How can we hold true to what we have attained from 2020 in the new year?

This past year has been a refining process for everyone. And just as precious metals go through a refining process in order to be made into something new, our refining process allows us to be redefined by the Creator.

As we grow into our redefined identity in Christ, the continual process of transformation and sanctification allow us to rejoice in His mercies that are new every morning (Lam. 3:23).

For the year 2021, Iron Rose Sister Ministries will be focusing on what it means to be Redefined. Personally, the refining process of 2020 has facilitated many facets of being redefined by God. And as a ministry, we have been refined and look forward to some redefined roles among our staff and clarified vision in equipping women to connect to God and one another more deeply. God is truly “just getting started,” even after seven and a half years as a ministry! Stay tuned… And thanks for prayerfully walking with us on this journey. We look forward to hearing more of your stories of being redefined, as well.

Seeing the I AM Clearly
Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

A few months ago, I had the blessing of attending the Iron Rose Sister Ministries Destination Retreat. It was an incredible experience to be surrounded by so many Spanish-speaking women of faith! I loved meeting, learning from, and growing with these Christian ladies. Hearing their personal testimonies was encouraging and worshipping together in a bilingual context was rejuvenating.

In one of her keynote addresses, Michelle made the following point: our little “I” gets in the way of seeing the great “I AM.” That statement stuck in my mind. The more I processed it, the more I realized how true it is! How many problems are caused—directly or indirectly—by me getting in the way?

A great example of this pitfall is in marriage. I love my husband. We share a lot of the same beliefs, values, opinions, and interests in life. However, that does not mean that he is me. But so often, I forget that. I expect him to think, feel, and react the same way I do. I expect him to prioritize, plan, organize a closet, load a dishwasher, set a thermostat, and decorate a Christmas tree the same way I would. And trust me, we’ve had our fair share of conflicts because of it!

It can be the same with God. Sometimes, I forget that God is not like me. From his beautiful masterpieces in nature, I know He is creative. From His amazing love letter written in three languages, I know He desires relationship. From the six days of creation followed by His cessation of labor on the seventh, I know He values hard work and rest.

But God is not like us (Psalm 50). He doesn’t get hungry; in fact, He doesn’t need anything at all. The whole world and everything in it belong to Him. God is holy. He is never indifferent to sin, even when we have a difficult time staying serious about it. God’s word judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, whereas we cannot even judge ourselves, let alone our neighbor. God always loves us, even when others let us down. People don’t always have our best interest at heart, but God always looks out for our long-term good. We want forgiveness without a change in behavior, blessings without obedience, and love without sacrifice, but God does not. God is a merciful, forgiving, and loving consuming fire who hates sin and destroys his enemies. And that is hard to wrap my head around.

We don’t get closer to God by digging deeper into ourselves or ingesting the teachings of men. When we try to see God through the lens of ourselves, we will inevitably make God into our own image. To see the I AM clearly, I must remove myself from the picture. I must stop trying to project myself and what I like onto God and instead allow Him to define Himself through His word. It’s 2020. Are you seeing clearly?