Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Nilaurys García, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Canada

I once heard somebody mentioning that they noticed their friend had done a 360-degree turn in their life. My always curious and visual mind pictured the person doing a full lap around the track’s circle and getting back to the same spot, which seemed odd if they were trying to express that their friend had changed significantly. That’s when I learned that the saying “making a 180-degree turn in their life” means to go the completely opposite direction as they had previously gone.

Following the Christian life is also a 180-degree turn we make to obey and follow God’s commands. The prophet Ezekiel shows us instructions on what we should do to live. In Ezekiel 18:21-22 the Lord says:

But if a wicked person turns away from all the sins they have committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, that person will surely live; they will not die. None of the offenses they have committed will be remembered against them. Because of the righteous things they have done, they will live. (NIV)

It is also true that repentance or “turning away from the wickedness we have committed” leads to change. Second Corinthians 7:10 says that “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” I questioned why some people would have such a hard time leaving their past nature and habits when they decide to turn their lives to Jesus. It seems that the answer to that question is not as easy as one would expect. To consider all our offenses as we reflect upon the actions in our lives and the deeds we have done, we start reflecting on our own behavior and what does not match the life that the Lord has called us to live.

But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed and does what is just and right, they will save their life. Because they consider all the offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; they will not die. (Eze 18:27-28)

Then it comes the next step: “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die people of Israel?” (Eze 18:31). To get a new heart and a new spirit, means to change the way we see things, and start anew to renew our way of thinking. Going back to the initial picture of the 180-degree turn, we could say that now that we followed all the steps to get to the opposite place, we need to replace all that we left behind. The Lord also tells us what He is going to replace our old self with: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Eze 36:26). We have our answer!

What I love the most about reading these passages in Ezekiel is the question at the end of verse 18:31, “Why will you die, people of Israel?”. Why would we do what displeases the Lord, instead of what would bring us closer to Him? If we have heard His word and His commands, He has promised to give us new hearts and spirits. He is willing to forget all our offenses.
So, are we willing to truly repent and live according to His will? 

Written by Johanna Zabala, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (Gal 3:27 NLT)

Today, through the new birth of water and the Spirit, I have at my disposal the purest and most beautiful garment that I have ever had or known, and even more, that unites me in Spirit with Christ Jesus.

Such a precious spiritual garment of Christ now in me, received by grace twenty-three years ago and to the glory of God, is what binds me every second of life to being constantly like Him, this being my most sublime first commitment of love.

To call myself a Christian today is to be able to exist more and more like Christ in every area of earthly life. Living in unity with Christ is also the most complete and integral blessing. Today, I live in an increasingly upside-down world, but having been clothed in Christ makes me feel safe, protected, and much loved.

Using the analogy of my new life with Christ, being already clothed with Him, I can confirm that everything I have lived and am still living in God's will with my husband was not and is not just to be happy, but more importantly to ask Him to accompany and support us. No longer being two, but one means we can attain in common the character of Christ, and thus be representatives of His name and image in the grandest garment—His Holy Spirit.

Some time ago, I read something that I have experienced myself: that marriage is where the mind of Christ can be most deeply acquired. I believe that having Him as part of the marriage relationship requires love and sacrifice, and, in a great way, to stop living only for oneself and to be one with the husband and vice versa.

Reading and personalizing Galatians 2:20, we are told, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” He unites me not only in putting on His unique divine garment but in His spiritual nature to follow in His footsteps toward the progressive path that leads to the goal of eternal life.

At this moment, as I am married and walking through the course of my spiritual years, I have indeed learned the importance of being like Christ. It is when I am controlled by human emotions, thoughts, and actions that I most need God and His wisdom, which only comes from the Father through His Son and in His Holy Spirit, who guides the way to the truth and life of Christ.

Like every one of the important aspects of this life, I remember that in my first years as a wife, after all the feelings of butterflies in my stomach, I began to experience a diverse rainbow of emotions, beliefs, and realities that led me to various struggles, increasingly complex, and that required, without a doubt, the Divine Presence.

I remember so many differences arising between the two of us. I remember those moments of uncertainty when every decision, every dream, and every goal was no longer just mine, but now it was my husband's decisions, dreams, and goals as well. Coming to an agreement was increasingly difficult. For example, it was quite a challenge when he liked grey and I liked fuchsia, when he liked details and I liked simplicity, when we found that we were more and more different. But by keeping in the mind of the Lord and His love, we have grown to complement each other more and more every day as one in Christ, clothed with Him.

This unity fills us daily with a love that can do everything, with incomparable joy, a peace that surpasses all understanding, firm self-control, wise meekness, great portions of patience, a flow of goodness, and true faith; characteristics that perfect everything we face to always be like Christ in each of the moments or places where we are. What a blessing it is to be like Christ! Are you clothed in Christ today?

Written by Brenda Davis, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

“Who are you wearing tonight?” Celebrities are asked this question by members of the press as they walk the red carpet at a movie premier or awards show, and it is usually answered with the name of a famous fashion designer.

The apostle Paul tells us about who we will be wearing after we are baptized. “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal 3:27 NIV). Reflecting on this metaphor, I can almost feel Jesus’ presence hugging me like a perfectly fitting garment.

Let’s look at what God’s Word says about baptism.

WHAT
In the Scriptures, we see that baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is our response to hearing and accepting the message of the Gospel, symbolizing our death to sin, the burial of our old life, and our resurrection to a new life in Christ. Baptism is our declaration of faith and represents an unconditional promise to God to do His will.

Baptism is a picture of death and of the grave. Coming up out of the water represents Christ’s resurrection (Ro 6:1-4). So, when you are baptized, you are saying, "I died with Jesus Christ, I was buried with Him, and now I am raised with Christ to a brand-new life— a changed me."

HOW
The Greek root word baptizein, from which we get the word baptize, means to plunge, immerse, sink, or wash. Another word more often used throughout the New Testament is baptizō which means to totally submerge, drown, immerse, or dunk into water.

We find several instances of baptisms In the New Testament where evidence points to immersion. John the Baptist baptized in Aenon near Salim which is along the Jordan River “because there was plenty of water” (Jn 3:23). After Jesus’ baptism, He “came up out of the water” (Mk 1:10). And both Philip and the Eunuch “went down into the water and Philip baptized him” (Ac 8:38).

WHY
Baptism does not appear to me to be merely a suggestion, but rather something extraordinarily important as it connects to our salvation. Several passages bear this out: “Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit” (Jn 3:5). “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mk 16:16). “This water symbolizes baptism that now saves you” (1Pe 3:21a).

Baptism is so important that Christ’s final instructions before He ascended to Heaven were, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).

And when we are clothed with Christ, we receive rich blessings:

Forgiveness of sins and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit: “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Ac 2:38).

Being joined with other believers in the church—the body of Christ: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body” (1 Co 12:13a). “Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all” (Ac 2:41 NLT).

WHEN
Every person who has heard the gospel message and can make a conscious decision to believe in Christ is “eligible.” For some, baptism may follow a process of study, but lengthy Bible study is not a requirement. We find that New Testament believers were baptized in immediate response to hearing the Gospel message for the first time, such as in the story of Philip and the eunuch in Acts 8. Other instances are also recorded:

“But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” (Ac 8:12 NIV)

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” (Ac 22:16)

“At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.” (Ac 16:33b)

WHY NOT?
Sisters, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (Jn 14:15). If you have not put on Christ in baptism, what might be keeping you from submission and obedience to your Savior? I urge you to examine your heart and consider changing your clothes.

Written by Lisanka Martínez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Venezuela

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. (1Jn 1:5-10 NIV)

Change from walking in the darkness to the light…

Sometimes when we are baptized and begin our lives as new creatures, we do not fully understand the meaning of this. Perhaps, for those who grew up in the faith with parents, grandparents, and others setting an example and guiding them from their early childhood, and with constant connection with the Church, it is easier to understand. Even when going through moments of doubt, confusion, and even rebellion, they know the difference between light and darkness.

But for those who, like me, grew up in a secular world, where moral or legal rules were sometimes broken with excuses such as, "It's just part of growing up" or, "I don’t know enough to have an opinion" that encouraged me to do what I knew was wrong, and those differences were harder to internalize.

Did I repent? I thought so, but I made those same mistakes again which was a sign that I was not aware of the nature of the darkness in which I remained.

After many years of visiting the Church of Christ, I decided to be baptized and follow Jesus. I confess that changing my life and going from darkness to His admirable light has been a long process that at times has been uphill. He showed me how deep in that darkness I was, not wanting to know what was abominable to the Lord, and believing, like most of the world, that my actions did not harm anyone, that I tried to respect others, and that I gave everyone their rightful place. That was my mistake until in the church, I started learning about what God expects of His children; that I must obey even when I do not understand, and that in those cases, I must be silent, obey, and pray for the Heavenly Father to give me understanding and to forgive, again, my ignorance.

During the pandemic, I began to notice how others radiated God's light by keeping connected and in communion even without being physically present. I thank God for each of those people who set an example and who, in turn, taught me to reflect God's light to others. I also thank the Heavenly Father that I was able to dedicate myself during all that time to learning more about Him, searching His word, praying, and praising as never before in my life.

Yes, I must confess that's when I noticed, with shame, that my past actions did harm others—especially my beloved oldest daughter, my mother, and myself. That darkness had consequences, but God's wonderful love showed me that fellowship with Him is the answer to everything—that staying in His ways cleanses us from sin, helps us resist temptations, and gives us the way out of every situation. It also allows us to lead by example that the change we have experienced in our lives is because of our obedience to His word.

I continue to sin, yes, but now I have the necessary weapons to face the darkness and the awareness that I must keep the light of Christ shining in my life and show it to those around me so that they also know the salvation and love I found in living in Christ.

Are you going to let yourself be overcome by the darkness, or fight and show the light that is in you?

What do you think you should do when you feel that light going off?

When you go through trials that seem to fill your life with darkness and extinguish the Light that shines in you, think about how the Light of the World came to give us freedom and to shine in the darkness. Stay in communion with Christ and His body, pray, and ask others to pray for you. May God bless you and always guide you into His wondrous light.

Written by Rayne Gomes, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Salvador, Brazil

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Lk 6:36 NIV)

At my job, we provide services to a public organization responsible for granting benefits to citizens. It’s a normal day for me to serve dozens of people who have had their benefits denied, even though they have every right to receive them. Therefore, they contest the decision because, from a human perspective, everyone should receive what is due to them and it is unfair to not give someone what they deserve.

The spiritual perspective of mercy consists precisely of not granting something that is deserved. For us, this is a tremendous blessing because if we take into consideration what we deserve to receive due to our sinful nature, there would be nothing left for us but eternal condemnation.

The writer of the book of Hebrews talks a lot about the mediation and granting of this mercy in our lives. In chapter 2, verse 17, he states: “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God.” It is interesting to see the emphasis that the author puts on the fact that when Jesus came in the flesh, He experienced the same situations as us and lived through the same reality as all humans. However, we know that He did not subject Himself to sin. Therefore, what would make someone turn God’s wrath onto themselves and receive the sentence that we deserved? M-E-R-C-Y.

When we deserved death, condemnation, and eternal distance from God… Jesus came and took our place so that we would not receive what was due to us. What a true relief!

Not only that, but Christ also destroyed that which could disable us eternally, brought us back to the family of God, and can claim that He knows exactly what we go through because He experienced the same pains, temptations, and trials so He could help us while we are in this life. And because He has also experienced this same life, He truly has compassion for us.

We can rest assured that, enjoying this immense benefit provided by Jesus as followers in His steps, there is nothing more important than imitating Him in our lives by also offering mercy to our neighbor. Of course, the application will be different. We cannot make atonement, nor do we need to, because Jesus has already done so, once and for all. However, extending a merciful hand to our brother or sister in forgiveness, love, and empathy leads us to an attitude of mercy, an example left by the Teacher who instructed His disciples in Luke 6:36, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

Take a moment to reflect: How can you be better at expressing your mercy towards others?

Remember, Christ has already done the hardest part, and He will help you along the way!

Written by Beliza Kocev, Brazil Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries

“Mercy triumphs over judgment!” (Jas 2:13b NIV)

I grew up in a very strict environment. The achievements, rarely celebrated, were seen as “she did no more than her obligation.” On the other hand, failures brought many punishments and were often remembered again, and again and again…

At the beginning of my Christian life, someone explained to me the difference between God's grace and God's mercy. In short: Grace—receiving something we don't deserve—salvation and eternal life. Mercy—not receiving something we deserve—punishment for sin and eternal death. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4-5).

We win on both sides! This didn't come for free, although it is for us! But not for God! “You were bought at a price” (1Co 6:20a). John the Baptist presented Jesus as the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world (Jn 1:29), and, by taking away our sin, He promises us eternal life (1Jn 2:25).

God's greatest mercy is to free us from eternal death, which is the consequence of our sin, and that in itself is a reason for great joy and celebration. But God's mercy is inexhaustible (La 3:22), and He gives us the chance to rewrite our story, and to live a new life here on earth! Yet another reason to celebrate! Although we need to deal with the consequences of our actions, we have the chance to live here as new creatures and feel the transformation of God in our actions, words, and even wills.

And part of celebrating God’s mercy is extending that mercy to others: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Lk 6:36). The parable of the unmerciful servant teaches us a valuable lesson: our failure to do God's will— our sin— is more serious than any offense anyone could commit against us (Mt 18:21-35).

“You wicked servant… I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” (Mt 18:32-33). Part of the Christian life is showing the world the light of Jesus. When we are merciful to the people around us, we show our gratitude to God and celebrate the mercy He has given us.

Another way to celebrate is to proclaim this mercy so that other people can also experience it. Living with God, knowing that His goodness and mercy are with us, changes our lives. After all, it is impossible not to have your life transformed by knowing Christ, with eternal life in perspective! “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made” (Ps 145:8-9). In a world full of evil, knowing God's goodness and mercy brings us comfort, encouragement, and purpose.

Another way to celebrate God's mercy is to remember it! When we know God and become aware of our sins, God's mercy touches us. We feel the love of God, expressed in His mercy in sending His only Son, the love that compels us, that led Him to become flesh so that we could be with them eternally. Gratitude and remembrance of God's mercy should not only be in our hearts at the moment of our conversion. They should be a significant part of our ongoing walk of faith. And so, in moments of failure and stumbling, when guilt and shame overwhelm us, let us remember that we can go to our merciful Father. May the memory of His open arms, full of mercy, bring us the courage to not move away from His path after falling.

May we be aware and rejoice in the mercy we receive from God, may we cry out for His mercy in the valleys of our lives, and may we proclaim to everyone how this mercy can also reach them!

In Psalm 89, the psalmist feels so grateful. He contemplates the wonderful actions of the LORD and has a clear intention: “I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations” (Ps 89:1).

How will you celebrate God’s infinite mercy today?

Written by Chrystal Goff, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas, and sister of Michelle J. Goff

“… The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me…” (Gal 2:20b NIV)

Faith. In the Son of God.

If you met me today, you might not expect that I spent many years adamantly hating the God I thought was talked about in church. I remembered hearing as a kid that He was a jealous God, and we should fear him. That sounded scary to a little girl. Combine that with the fact that every relationship I’d been in had been jealous and abusive. Why would I want to worship a God who would hurt me too? Whenever my mom would tell me she was praying for me, I always said, “Don’t. He’s not a nice dude. Don’t say my name to Him. Don’t say His name to me either.”

While I was hating God and hating my name, He still loved me. Every day, I see different ways He is redeeming the scars of my life to bring others out of darkness and to bring Him glory. I live by faith in the Son of God who has been so gracious to set an example of humility. I live by faith in my Creator who provided for me and sheltered me—always—especially when I was hating who I thought He was.

Now, I’m Spirit-led.

I’m the youngest of four girls. Each of us has eight letters in our names; mom’s does too. There wasn’t intentionality for eight-lettered names until the third daughter. In deciding the fourth daughter’s name, continuity was expected. However, the popular secular eight-letter names weren’t popular with my family. Someone suggested “Chrystal, with an H” instead of the traditional Crystal spelling. Everyone loved it. Everyone except the fourth daughter.

Growing up, my sisters all called me “Chrys,” So when I started kindergarten and roll was called, I acknowledged my presence when “Chris” was called… and my presence was mocked for confusing my name with a boy’s name. Hating the name I was given began.

A few years ago, I asked my sister to teach me the Bible. She’s worked in campus ministry and has loved Jesus way longer than me. I figured she was a good one to ask because her calendar was constantly full of “Coffee and Bible” appointments with students, and I wanted to get on her schedule. Inside she was screaming, “Hallelujah!”, but on the outside, she didn’t want to scare away the curious lost sheep. Slowly, she began revealing ancient truths in Scripture.

The day we were studying Genesis 17 where the LORD established His covenant with Abram and changed his name to Abraham, my eyes were opened to how long God has been loving me. LORD in Hebrew is written as four consonants (YHWH). YHWH is the proper name for God. YHWH is the literal breath of life. Without vowels in the Hebrew translation for YHWH, the pronunciation was unknown.
YaH – inhale
WeH – exhale

YHWH—The LORD added an H to Abram’s name and to Sarai´s. He was giving Abram and Sarai a forever reminder of His presence and a promise of covenant to provide for and multiply Abraham and Sarah’s descendants.

I paused. Putting the pieces together. An H. There’s an H in my name. Pausing in my thought to open my mouth and half ask/half state that’s why there’s an H in my name, a realization hit me: He’s always been with me, even when I hated Him. My sister and I started crying as we let this acceptance of love to and from my Eternal Father wash over us.

Now I love my name. I celebrate it. More of my old self dies each day as I wake up new and excited for His mercies. I wake up and wonder where the LORD will have me share His many mercies and blessings in my life.