Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Whenever I make a list of things I am thankful for, water is always top on my list.
Clean water to drink and hot water for a shower both became more appreciated after living and traveling overseas.
But my spiritual perspective on the blessings of water has grown. I know that water is what cleanses and saves us (1 Peter 3:20-22, Acts 2:38).
And, we also see that water is personified as Living Water in Christ and through the Holy Spirit (John 4:13-14, John 7:37-39).
We never have to be without that water—the only water that will truly quench our thirst and make us clean. Jesus highlighted this in His conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:14).
Today, take a moment to give thanks for water, in all its forms, and for all its blessings.

A two-year old who doesn’t get her way may throw a temper tantrum. A teenager may give you the silent treatment. What do you do when you don’t get your way?
The two-year-old’s temper tantrum is not going to change mom’s decision to not let her take the hot pan of cookies out of the oven. Mom knows her daughter’s tender skin will get burned and wants to protect her.
The teenager’s silent treatment is an ineffective strategy to soften dad’s reaction to her request for a new car.How do you react when God doesn’t answer your requests?

One of the most challenging aspects of prayer is trusting God’s answer.

We must depend on Him to answer our prayers in His way and in His timing.
When God responds to our prayers, He sometimes replies “yes,” “no,” or “wait.” However the way in which God always answers our petitions is with spiritual growth.
So, no matter what the answer, our best response is to give thanks:

Thanks for knowing what’s best.
Thanks for protecting me.
Thanks for providing for what I need, even if it isn’t what I want.
Thanks for increasing my faith.
Thanks for staying in control, even when I want to take control of things.
Thanks for being God!

#IronRoseSister #thankful #MichelleJGoff #IRSM

THANK YOU! to those who donated for #Giving2x2TuesdayIRSM. More than $1,000 was donated from people in 8 different states. And the opportunity for giving has not ended. We continue to seek new financial partners, especially those willing to make a pledge for monthly or one-time donations in 2019.

In the meantime, through this blog, we will continue the blessing of giving thanks, specifically thanking God for His different names and His characteristics revealed through those names.

One name I have reflected on a lot lately, especially in the midst of this end-of-year giving campaign, is Jehovah Jireh, our Provider.

The first time we see God being called by this name is on a mountain in Moriah. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. In faith, he followed God’s instructions and trusted that God would provide life for his son. Abraham trusted the promises of God that He would make Abraham into a great nation through his son, Isaac.

Genesis 22:14
So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

My faith is not as strong as Abraham’s. Doubts flood my mind and I find it hard to trust in God’s provision for Iron Rose Sister Ministries when Satan attacks and I see our needs looming large.

I am extremely grateful for our prayer partners and prayer warriors who are trusting with us for God’s continued provision for IRSM. Since our first year, I have prayed for God’s provision: financial and workers. I am humbled by His increased provision of workers, especially in the past year... then why do I distrust His answer of financial provision both now and in the future?

In honor of the end of November, focused on gratitude, and in recognition of the Common Threads, I will share my own recent convictions and reminders regarding Jehovah Jireh. And I invite you to share your own answers to the Common Threads with an Iron Rose Sister and pray together.

An area in which I long to grow or bloom: Trusting God’s provision.
The thorn I want to remove: Doubts and worries, especially as they relate to God’s provision.
The way in which I want to dig deeper or need someone to hold me accountable: When doubts creep in, and fears raise their ugly heads, I want to answer them with Scripture (e.g. Prov. 3:5-6; Phil. 4:19; Matt. 6:25-34).

Thank you for your prayers and thank you for being part of how God answers our prayers for provision!

In Scripture, we see “thanks,” as a word and as a concept, take on various forms. In the Old Testament, it is more often translated as “praise.” Whether in the Old or New Testament, we see the words:
Thanks.
Gratitude.
Praise.
Grateful.
Appreciation.
And we see these words in the contexts of a
Psalm.
Offering.
Prayer.
Song.
In his book, Five Love Languages, Gary Chapman highlights that there are multiple ways to express and receive love. Similarly, thanksgiving can take on various forms:
A verbal expression of gratitude.
An attitude of appreciation.
A sacrificial gift.
Time spent together.
Service with a smile.
A hug or high-five.
Today, I encourage you to give an offering of praise in song to our Heavenly Father. And choose a creative way to express your thanks to someone in your life—a person with whom you haven’t expressed your gratitude recently.

“A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit.” Erasmus said that, contemporary and admirer of Martin Luther. When I read this thought, I am surprised because I had never known and I am sad for all that would have changed if only I had.
I look down at the pen, this pen I keep wielding, one writing her way all the way to one thousand. This pen: this is nothing less than the driving of nails. Nails driving out my habits of discontent and driving in my habit of eucharisteo (means thanksgiving with its root word meaning grace). I’m hammering in nails to pound out nails, ugly nails that Satan has pierced through the world, my heart. It starts to unfold, light in the dark, a door opening up, how all these years it’s been utterly pointless to try to wrench out the spikes of discontent. Because that habit of discontent can only be driven out by hammering in one sharper. The sleek pin of gratitude.”
One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp, pg. 49-50

The books of Ruth, Esther, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, and Lamentations are known as the Scrolls of the Megilloth. These five books of history, poetry and prophecy are read every year during designated festivals as part of the spiritual rhythms for the Jewish nation. This practice has been in place for centuries as a constant reminder of God’s salvation, His eternal plan, and everlasting love.

Each book or scroll reveals and reminds us of God’s salvation, plan, and love in different ways: Ruth through relationships, Esther through struggles, Ecclesiastes through wisdom, Song of Songs through a love story, and Lamentations through lament.

In the United States, inspired by the Thanksgiving holiday at the end of November, many people have adopted the practice of the spiritual rhythm of thanksgiving throughout that month. Before the commercialization of Christmas, the opportunity to pause and give thanks is vital for resetting our focus and renewing our faith.

• When I give thanks, I remember that God is the Great Provider and that His salvation is complete.
• When I give thanks, I recognize God’s eternal plan and trust that He knows what is best.
• When I give thanks, I dwell in God’s love and rest in His Presence.

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1-3

What are your family traditions at holiday time?

Thanksgiving dinner alternates between my parents hosting and my aunt and uncle hosting at their home, just an hour away. With as many family members and friends as can make it each year, we gather to eat generous helpings of the traditional foods, made from recipes passed down for generations and from new recipes that accommodate some of our crazy food issues.

Yesterday afternoon, after we had worn her out with the food and family festivities, a family member in her early eighties, widowed about a year and a half ago, was calling it a day. As I gave her a hug and wished her a blessed evening, she took a moment to sincerely thank me, and all of us, for being there together. She said, “These traditions are important: being all together like this. They are part of what make us family. Thank you for being here.”

I was humbled by her generous and heartfelt thanks, knowing that there was nowhere else I would rather be. And then I got thinking about her choice of the word “traditions.”

What traditions do you have? In life? For the holidays? As a family?

What that family member was highlighting through her thanks was three significant things:
Traditions are part of what make us who we are.
Traditions give us a sense of belonging.
And traditions are things with which we identify ourselves and others.

Today, Black Friday, many have a tradition of shopping together to get the best deals. On Monday, the tradition of increased online shopping created the term Cyber Monday.

And, in recent years, a new tradition has come about, shared by many nonprofits: Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday is an opportunity to give back from what we have received and increase the awareness of groups whose purpose and vision is to give and bless others year-round.

Iron Rose Sister Ministries (IRSM) strives to equip women to connect to God and one another more deeply, equipping them to equip others, to equip others, and so on. The 2x2x2 pattern of equipping is reinforced by Paul’s teaching in 2 Timothy 2:2.
“and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men (and women), who will be able to teach others also.”

Get it? 2x2x2...
This is the tradition we promote, the vision we cast, the purpose we serve.

Will you partner with us and make giving to IRSM a new tradition, multiplying our traditions, 2x2x2?
   1. IRSM traditions are part of what make us who we are: The tradition of giving from what we have been given, equipping from what we have been equipped.
   2. IRSM traditions give us a sense of belonging: Partnering with a ministry that equips women to truly belong to the family of Christ and be equipped to invite other women into that sense of belonging—different roses in God’s garden, in spite of the thorns.
   3. IRSM traditions give us a sense of identity: We pray that you identify with our vision and help us equip women across the Americas to unite with their identity in Christ, in English, Spanish, and bilingual contexts.

Mark your calendar for this Tuesday, November 27, #Giving2x2TuesdayIRSM.
And while this one-day tradition is significant, we are looking for more partners in giving for 2019. Will you join us in maintaining our exponential growth?

Thank you and God bless you in your giving traditions.

Have you ever received something for which you are deeply grateful? We are speechless. Maybe it was a surprise, an unexpected gift, or an undeserved blessing. We feel inadequate in our expression of thanks and our words seem cheap in thanking the person.
I have a friend who always seeks a way to bless others.
Another friend never tires in her service to the Lord and preaching the good news to others.
If you were to ask either of these friends about their motivation, they would tell you that they see it as the only way to express their thanks to God for all He has done in their lives.
God wants us to thank Him for what He has done and what He has given us. But there are many other ways to express our thanks. God loves when we thank Him verbally, but He also wants us to live a life of thanks.
When we recognize the depth of His love and unmerited blessings, “Thanks,” just isn’t enough... We long for a better way to express ourselves. How can we live a life of thanksgiving?

What happens when we give thanks? Ever realize how much it puts everything else in perspective?
When we give thanks, we...
1) Remember who God is, His faithfulness, goodness, justice, and mercy.
2) Rest, knowing that God is in control.
3) Reflect on the big picture.
4) Recognize the countless blessings.
Whether you are giving thanks for who God is, for a challenge in your life, or for a blessing you have received, let’s take a moment and give thanks.
If you would like to hear more about the blessings and perspective we gain by giving thanks, feel free to listen to the lesson from this past Saturday in Baton Rouge, “And Be Thankful.”