Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

We have been richly blessed as daughters of God! Whether it is good health, family, or financial stability, there is always something for which we can be thankful. Furthermore, God’s provision extends beyond physical blessings; He showers us with spiritual blessings in Christ: forgiveness of sins, eternal life with our Lord in heaven, inexpressible and glorious joy, hope that cannot be shaken, a relationship with our loving Father, confidence to approach the throne of the grace, the inspired Word of God to guide our lives, the gift of the Holy Spirit, family through the blood of Christ… in short, everything we need for life and godliness.

Even if our physical blessings were taken away, we would still have so much for which to be thankful. The goodness of God far outweighs our trials and hardships. Paul writes, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” through strength found in Christ (Php 4:11b-13 NIV). We can always be thankful, despite our situation: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1Th 5:16-18).

Daily thankfulness is important because it…

• Dispels anxiety. The antidote to anxiety is thanksgiving. When I choose to dwell on my many blessings, fears fade from the forefront of my mind; these two thought patterns are incompatible. While worries may not disappear entirely, their power is significantly diminished in the presence of thankful thoughts. This truth is taught in Philippians 4:6-7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• Reminds us of our reliance upon God, not ourselves. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9). We are dependent upon God, not only for our spiritual blessings such as salvation, but also for our physical needs (Mt 6:25-34).
• Teaches us to see the silver lining. We are instructed to train ourselves in godliness (1Ti 4:7), and gratitude is a godly characteristic. When we practice daily thankfulness, we train our minds to look for the positive and focus on the good.

A tangible way to count our blessings is to write them down in a daily thankfulness journal. If you are like me, you may have been unable to consistently keep a diary. Recording every detail of the day simply seems like too much time and effort after living it. When I began a daily thankfulness journal in January of 2022, there was some skepticism – primarily from myself! It turned out not to be a burden, however, but rather a fantastic blessing. I save my thankfulness for each day as a text message, then catch up on my journal entries when convenient. How wonderful it is to look back and see how God has blessed me through the past almost three years!

Let us overflow with thankfulness! “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Col 2:6-7). It is important that we connect our thankfulness for our blessings to their source: our Creator.

From James, we learn that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (1:17a). We should be grateful to God and attribute every good thing in our life to him. Let us approach God with a grateful heart and an attitude of thankfulness for His bountiful blessings, eagerly expressing our great appreciation in prayer and song: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name” (Ps 100:4).

We should also praise the name of the Lord to others. Overflowing with gratitude is glorifying to God (2Co 4:15b)! Thanksgiving is essential to letting our light shine in the darkness of complaints and criticisms. Cultivate a heart of thankfulness and share your blessings with others. When shared, sorrow is mitigated, and joy is multiplied!

Challenges for 2025

• Start a daily thankfulness small group text. Ask everyone to commit to sending one, “I am thankful for…” text each day. It can be as simple as sunshine or chocolate or related to an event of the day. This is an excellent way to encourage and be encouraged!
• Start a daily thankfulness journal and record how God blesses you every day. This is a great way to be continually amazed by the abundant mercies and faithfulness of God in your life!
• Speak more about your blessings from God rather than your complaints. People are drawn to positivity and may want to learn more about your hope!

Count your many blessings, name them one by one… indeed, our blessings are many! Let us count them, appreciate them, and overflow with thankfulness for them— to God and to others. Will you count your blessings today and every day?

Written by Marbella Parra, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Honduras

Gratitude is a powerful virtue that often goes unnoticed in the midst of our busy lives. However, gratitude not only transforms our perspective, but it also invites us to experience deep joy, just as the apostle Paul teaches.

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Php 4:4 NIV)

Paul does not call us to rejoice when all is going well or only on happy days. He invites us to rejoice always, a term that includes both times of joy and sorrow. This attitude of gratitude is an intentional decision that uplifts the soul and opens the door to authentic joy. It is here that thankfulness becomes a powerful tool to connect with the peace and joy that only God can give.

I must admit that, in my life today, gratitude is not something that flows naturally. I'm at a point where daily responsibilities and challenges have led me to feel overwhelmed. There are days when, even though I know God is present, it seems hard to see the reasons to rejoice. I find myself constantly struggling with frustration and burnout, and Philippians 4:4 feels like a challenge that I still can't fully meet.

However, I'm in the process of working on it. Recently, I decided to start practicing intentional thankfulness. I started a gratitude journal, although I have to admit that it has been harder than I thought. There are days when I feel too tired or worried to see anything positive. However, I am committed to trying every day. Sometimes, the list is limited to very simple things: a moment of silence, a ray of sunshine in the morning, or a message from a loved one. I don't always manage to write down three things, but even with just one small thing, I try to remember that this is part of my effort to live the call to always rejoice.

This exercise has shown me that thankfulness is not something I necessarily feel right away; it's rather a practice I'm trying to cultivate. Although I have not attained that full, constant joy that Paul describes, I have noticed small glimpses of change in my attitude. I realize that when I make an effort to be grateful, no matter how small the reason, my day takes on a slightly different tone. It's not that my problems go away, but I feel a small spark of peace that gives me the strength to keep going.

This stage of my life has taught me that gratitude does not always arise spontaneously; Sometimes, it is a conscious decision. Choosing to be thankful in difficult times does not mean ignoring problems but recognizing that, even in the midst of adversity, I can find reasons to rejoice. When I focus on what God has done and continues to do, even if it is still a challenge, I discover that thankfulness can be the channel that will lead me to a fuller, more joyful life.

Paul understood this very well. Despite writing from prison, he was filled with gratitude and joy. He knew the transformative power of thankfulness and how it could bring people closer to deep peace in the Lord. By applying this teaching in our everyday lives, the act of giving thanks not only changes our perspective but also strengthens our faith.

How Can We Practice Daily Gratitude?
     1. Make a daily gratitude list: Take five minutes a day to write down three things you're thankful for. These can be as simple as a delicious meal, an uplifting conversation, or the warmth of the sun on your skin.
     2. Express your gratitude to the people around you: A sincere "thank you" can strengthen relationships and create an environment of love and respect.
     3. Pray with thankfulness: In your prayers, take time to thank God for His goodness and faithfulness. Make gratitude a central part of your spiritual life.

Gratitude is a habit that is built. In doing so, I discover that my life can be filled with joy and rejoicing, not because everything is perfect, but because I am learning to see God's hand in every detail, no matter how insignificant it may seem.

What are the little things you can be thankful for today? How can you make thankfulness a daily practice that brings you closer to God and helps you experience true joy?

Written by Kathy Reagan, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice!


Philippians 4:4 (ESV)

God’s Word, in this passage and other places, tells us that as daughters of the King, it is His will that we live joyful, fulfilled, abundant lives here on earth.

But sometimes, it can be difficult to rejoice, can’t it? So how can we rejoice at those times?

I think one answer to that question can be found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

When we are prayerful and thankful, we are happy and rejoicing.

Giving thanks to God is a mindset.

• Check our focus. We know that whatever we focus on tends to grow bigger and bigger in our lives. Colossians 3:2 tells us “Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” When we’re thinking about heaven and serving the King during our time here on earth, we are thankful and rejoicing.
• Be aware of our enemy’s schemes. He wants us complaining, feeling sorry for ourselves, blaming others, and blaming God. “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1Pe 5:8). But our Father’s will for us is to “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God…” (Php 2:14-15a). When we are following His directions, we are thankful and happy.
• Train ourselves. We humans naturally tend to see the negatives, hear the negatives from others, and sometimes even imagine negative things that are not necessarily even there. However, with training and practice we can develop a habit of turning the negatives into positives. God calls us to grow and strive for maturity in the faith (2Pe 3:18) so that we can eat solid spiritual food and not just milk. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Heb 5:14). We train ourselves each time we purposefully choose to take a negative thing and look for the positive so we can give thanks to God for it.

Recognize that we are swimming in blessings!

• It’s a matter of perspective. Proverbs 27:7 says, “One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry, everything bitter is sweet.” When the enemy invites us to recount all our woes, we can be tempted to just give in and have our own little pity party. But we don’t have to give him the victory! Even in the midst of mourning or terrible tribulation, it is possible to rejoice in thanksgiving because we know heaven is our home at the end of the road here on this earth. We know we have the Spirit inside us, guiding us, strengthening us, and comforting us. We know who we are and Whose we are.

Sing out our thanksgiving to God.

• James 5:13b says “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise!” I’m frankly not sure if we sing because we are cheerful or if we become cheerful by singing—maybe a bit of both. I love to sing praise and often wake up with a song in my heart. But in the past, I have purposely sung praise when I was very downcast, and God has always blessed my effort to praise Him. We can always find something to thank Him for, and it is a delight to think of our praise rising to God like a pleasant aroma in His nostrils.

It's been a little over three years now since my godly husband of 47 years passed away suddenly from Covid. God is the one who carried me through that unthinkable time. He surrounded me with loved ones who helped lift me up and bear my burdens. And now He has blessed me beyond measure by gifting me a godly man to walk with me over the finish line of life! We have been married a few months now and we enjoy praying and singing praise. (He is a wonderful tenor!) So, I can truthfully say at this time in my life that I am singing this prayer with David:

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness, that my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent. Oh Lord, my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Ps 30:11-12)

It is much easier to overflow with thanksgiving in the good times. But as daughters of the King, it IS possible (no matter what the enemy says) to rejoice even in terrible tribulation and mourning.

Sisters, allow me to invite you to focus on thanksgiving in the good and the bad times and watch how our Father delights in blessing us with joy.

Song of praise: God is so good 

Written by Karla Cass, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

As a therapist I see clients riddled with anxiety walk in and out of my office daily. Anxiety among our nation’s children and youth is at an all-time high. The current generation is one of the most anxious generations in history, but Christ calls us to something different. Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) tells us,

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

As I ponder this verse, I am taken back to a time when I felt the most anxiety in my own life and when I felt I had very little to be thankful for. In a world full of things that can make us anxious, how can we be obedient to scripture and allow “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” to enter our lives?

The Trial
Dear sisters, I will confess that I often struggle with God’s timeline, which has been a main source of my anxiety in the past. I had a particularly difficult time with God’s timing in the spring of 2018. My husband and I were blessed with a beautiful baby girl the day before Christmas in 2014. We discussed expanding our family and I had a definite vision for what our family should look like. After two years of trying to have additional children, we turned to medical professionals for guidance. Right before Easter I received an infertility diagnosis and was told my eggs were of “poor quality.” The irony was not lost on me that while the world was decorated with brightly colored eggs, I was told mine were old and dusty! In a moment, the vision of my family was demolished along with my faith. The enemy used this news to separate me from God and increase my anxiety and depression. I found it very hard to be thankful for any of the numerous gifts God had previously blessed us with. My anxiety about our future and what our family would look like increased daily, and I lost faith in what I had always believed in: that God was always working for our good. Yet despite my attitude and lack of faith, He was still working on my behalf. God continued to work things out for our good and for the good of others because He can see vastly more for our lives than we ever can.

God Never Fails
During 2020, I was blessed with the opportunity to start a support group along with some church friends for women also going through infertility. We were able to lift one another up, support each other, and point one another to Christ. God used my difficult circumstances to bring myself and others closer to Him. In January of 2021, God exceeded every expectation and we found out we were pregnant with our son. He was the perfect addition to our family at just the right time. Through this trial, God worked things out for our greater good and gave me the privilege to serve others walking a similar path.

When we face great trials, how can we increase our gratitude and decrease anxiety about the future?

Relying on the Spiritual Disciplines
I found three spiritual disciplines helpful in drawing me closer to Him and increasing my faith in a time of difficulties.

1 - Keeping a daily gratitude journal helped me focus on the things God had given me and see that He has a perfect plan for my life and gives me exceedingly more than I could hope or pray for.

2 - The spiritual discipline of silence and solitude helped me to drown out the thoughts and opinions of this world and keep my eyes on Christ and what He wanted for my life. It made me carve out time for prayer and supplication. Through this practice, I was able to meditate on scripture and decrease comparison, jealousy, and anxiety which were robbing me of the joy God wanted for me.

3 - Lastly, I increased my time in the Word and was devoted to the memorization of scripture to combat anxious thoughts used by the enemy to make me doubt God and His will for my life.

Though my struggle with infertility was difficult, God used this time to increase my faith and draw me closer to Him. What spiritual disciplines can you incorporate in your daily life to stop the cycle of anxiety and start living the full life God wants for you?

Written by Luzia Casali, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Once I bought a small piece of furniture online which needed to be assembled. Because it was small, I tried putting it together without the instructions. What a disaster! I had to redo it, following the steps in the assembly manual. Has anything like this ever happened to you?

In our Christian walk, we need Bible verses that guide us to know if we are building our life as the Father desires. Fortunately, God, through the apostle Paul, left us a true treasure to be our guide in our Christian journey.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col 3:17 NIV)

Have you ever considered how rich this verse is?

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed…”

When Paul says whatever, he means whatever—what we have done or are going to do in our lives as Christian women. And it goes further—it’s not just in action!!! We must also watch what we think. Our actions and thoughts must honor Him. Without a doubt, it is our faith that should drive this behavior.

But to know what we need to be, we need to transform our minds, as Romans 12:2 warns:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

By transforming our minds, we will transform our actions. But how do we do this?

We need to read the Word of God, participate in classes, and pray to the Father for wisdom. The Christian faith is a faith of action, not a static one. It's not just about knowledge; we need to put into practice what we learn from the Holy Scriptures. The Bible is a mirror to show us whether our attitudes are in accordance with God's will and whether we are following His will as daughters, wives, mothers, friends, professionals…

1. As daughters: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you" (Ex 20:12). This means showing them respect even when you don’t feel they’ve earned it.
2. As wives: "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him" (Ge 2:18). We need to help our husbands for the growth of the Kingdom of God and the strengthening of the family.
3. As mothers: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Pr 22:6). That's a promise! We must teach our children about God and salvation in His Son Jesus Christ.
4. As friends: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Mt 7:12).
5. As professionals: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (Col 3:23-24). As much as we may not like our superiors, we need to give our best, as if we were working for God.

“…do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”

We need to have His authorization to act. A good illustration of this is when someone writes a check. It can only be cashed if the signature on the check matches that of the checking account holder. If it doesn’t match, the bank teller won’t cash it. The correct signature authorizes the withdrawal of the amount on the check.

Therefore, it must be very clear in our minds that our actions must be authorized by Christ.

“…giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Why give thanks? We cannot forget that we were bought with a high price: the blood of God's own Son. Therefore, what we do must always be done with respect, honor, and submission to the Lord. Because we were bought, our will is no longer ours; we must be submissive to the will of Christ. He must be glorified in our lives.

Christ died in our place, and it is thanks to Him that we have remission of our sins. Because of Him, the veil of the temple was torn and therefore we have access through prayer to the Eternal Father. And the most incredible thing is knowing that we will spend eternity with Him.

Always give thanks to Christ. Always have a grateful heart, no matter what you do.

Our challenge is to keep in mind that our attitudes must be to honor God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit—because Christ authorizes us.

And above all, always have a grateful heart!