Iron Rose Sister Ministries

The apostles were an eclectic group of 12. My sisters and I are a diverse group of four. Who do you have among your group of Christian sisters? Do you have a lot of things in common, or are you a unique group?
A rose bush does not have all of its roses budding at the same time. Part of the beauty of the bush is the bud barely blooming next to the full-bodied rose in full bloom.
Which rose are you in your community? In our Christian community, there are people of different ages, stages, and walks of life. And therein lies the beauty.
Another beautiful facet of a diverse community is that we can grow and learn from one another.
The small groups with whom I have participated, and through which I have been blessed the most, are the ones that have a diverse group of women gathering together to deepen their relationships with God and with one another. I like to call them Iron Rose Sisters.

What is an Iron Rose Sister?
An Iron Rose Sister is a Christian sister who serves as iron sharpening iron (Prov. 27:17), encouraging and inspiring others to be as beautiful as a rose in spite of a few thorns.
So, in answer to the question of WHO for small groups? The answer is anyone! We grow most when we are stretched out of our comfort zones, and when we hear the perspectives of others. We are blessed when we are given the opportunity to bless others.
Find a group of women and start a small group today!

The WHAT of Small Groups
WHAT is a small group? A group of people (women in our case) whose purpose is to meet together for encouragement, Bible study and prayer.
In order to allow for depth of discussion and opportunity to share, it is ideal for the group to be made up of no more than eight women.
Yet, it can be as few as two. When it is a small group of two, it can also be known as a mentoring relationship.

I recently had an image of myself as Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins.  Not the chimney sweep, not the one jumping into paintings, not even the one in the pin striped suit dancing with penguins (although I do enjoy walking like a penguin with my nephew).

No, I imagined myself with a lost and dumb-founded face after attempting to play and sing a song as a one man band.

As a known multi-tasker, I can fall into the trap of wanting to do it all: walk to the beat of the drum, clash the cymbals, blow the trumpet, hit my head against the horn, and also play the harmonica.  Or not.

No one can do it on their own.  The beauty of a band is that a diverse group of people join together to play a variety of instruments, all directed by a conductor to create a beautiful sound that transmits a message to the audience.

There is very limited, if any, beautiful sound coming out of a one man band and the only message being transmitted is one of chaos.

As we move forward in Iron Rose Sister Ministries, please consider the ways in which you can play a part, bringing together a beautiful sound that transmits God's message to women across the Americas.

In light of that prayer, please also lift up Katie Finch, our summer intern who will be arriving in Denver Monday, June 8.

I used to have an image of myself as Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins. Not the chimney sweep, not the one jumping into paintings, not even the one in the pin striped suit dancing with penguins (although I do enjoy walking like a penguin with my nephew).
No, I was imagining myself with a lost and dumb-founded face after attempting to play and sing a song as a one-man band.
As a known multi-tasker, I can fall into the trap of wanting to do it all: walk to the beat of the drum, clash the cymbals, blow the trumpet, hit my head against the horn, and also play the harmonica. Or not.

Martha went from distracted to convinced (Luke 10:38-42; John 11:17-28a).
We observe Mary’s transformation from first love, to pilgrim love, to an invincible love (Luke 10:38:42; John 11:28-36; John 12:1-3).
The Samaritan woman went from wanting a drink of water to sharing the news of Living Water with her entire town (John 4).
These and other women’s encounters with Jesus will be discussed with the women in attendance at the Baxter Lectureships in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, this week.
Jesus took the time to see women for who they were, value them, challenge them, and use them as an example for others.
The generous widow who gave her last two coins (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 22:1-4); the widow whose son was raised when Jesus saw her pain (Mark 5:21-24; Luke 7:11-17); the Canaanite woman whose faith was stronger than many Jews (Matt. 15:21-28; Mark 7:24-30); the adulterous woman whom Jesus treated with grace and truth (John 8:1-11). And my favorite woman who encountered Jesus? The woman healed from an issue of blood (Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:43-48). Her physical healing pales in comparison to the emotional healing provided by the Great Physician and Comforter.
What is your favorite story of a woman’s encounter with Jesus?
How has your life been transformed by encountering Him?

Chronic pain has become more of a mainstay in my life. My health teeters in a delicate balance. Unfortunately, once one thing gets out of whack, the rest of my body goes into hyper-alert, reacting to what it thinks are threats or toxins.

Without making a grocery list of symptoms or issues that I face, I will suffice it to say that things in my body are currently far from healthy or pain-free—a major challenge considering the aspects of ministry God has called me to.

Someone posed a question on Facebook last week: If you could choose one of the following, which would you choose? A year’s paid vacation; good health/pain free living… There were six choices and I don’t remember all of the options, but those were the “top two” I debated in my head.

The Sabbath rest was the fourth of the Ten Commandments. And while we do not follow the practice of the Sabbath today, there are many parallel commands in the New Testament that we are called to fulfill.
As highlighted in the Exodus and Deuteronomy accounts of the Ten Commandments, rest is not only a reward for a job well done. It is also in preparation for a job to be done.

We rest because He has taken our burdens (Matt. 11:28-29).
We rest in order to renew our spirit (Mark 6:31).
We rest as a quieting of the soul (Ps. 46:10).
We rest to renew our hope (Acts 2:26).
We rest in Christ’s power (2 Cor. 12:9).
We rest to renew our strength (2 Cor. 13:9).
We rest to refocus our purpose (2 Cor. 13:11).
We rest in order to remember all God has done (Heb. 3:7-19).
We rest as an example of God’s rest on the seventh day (Heb. 4:4).
And we look forward to the promise of entering into His Sabbath rest (Heb. 4:1-3, 9-11).

I invite you to be transformed by rest—not just an extra 10 minutes of sleep in the morning or a power nap in the afternoon.
May we be transformed by an attitude of rest that can only be found in communion with the One who is the source of rest and peace.

Acts 4:13 has quickly become one of my favorite verses.
I love how these ordinary, unschooled men’s lives were transformed by the time the spent with Jesus. And everyone knew it.
Moses had to wear a veil when he came down from Mount Sinai because of how his face radiated God’s glory. There was no denying that he had been in the presence of God.
Jim Rohn proposes that we are the average or a product of the five people we spend the most time with. Do you agree? Take a moment and think of those with whom you spend most of your time. Their influence transforms us. And it matters who we spend time with!
The disciples. Moses. People could tell with whom they had been spending their time. How about you?
By what you say, and how you act, can people tell with whom you have been spending your time?
How are you being transformed by the time you spend with Jesus? Can others tell you have been in the Word, and in prayer? Do you radiate God’s glory, by living a transformed life?
May we be transformed and renewed day by day through the time spent with Jesus, and may others take note of it, just like in Acts 4:13 with the disciples.

The greatest command is clear: Love God. Love others.
Jesus answers the question presented, and clarifies that this command sums up the Law and the Prophets. Yet we complicate the application of this two-step instruction and leave it on a theoretical level instead of making it very personal and practical.
With a focus on listening to God this year, I have come to a new understanding of this clear and concise teaching—a simple way to live out loving God and loving others.
The first step we must take in order to love God and love others? Listen to God. Listen to others.
Simple as that:
Love God. Love others.
Listen to God. Listen to others.
Come learn more about what that means and what it looks like at our Destination Retreat, September 15-17, Called to Listen. Reserve your spot today! Registration is filling fast.

Written by Brenda Brizendine, Volunteer Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado 

Have you ever felt like you were carrying the entire weight of planet Earth on your shoulders? Or have you felt a very deep sadness? But what makes these feelings even more troubling is that you don't have any idea why.

I remember very well one particular day when I felt this way. I can't describe how real that weight felt. All I wanted to do was cry. I was so overwhelmed by this feeling that I couldn't concentrate on anything.

I wanted to pray and ask God to help me with that weight, but I couldn't complete even a single sentence in prayer, and I didn't know how to ask or what to ask for. But I remember that God directed me to ask for support in prayer from my group of sisters, prayer warriors, who had accompanied me for a long time on my Christian walk.

It was when I shared my request with them, and we agreed to pray for mercy and for God to take away this overwhelming burden, I was released. Through that unity in prayer, even from miles away, the battle was fought for me, and God freed me from the burden that I was carrying.

To this day, I can't find a reason for those feelings, but I am very aware of what I felt when that load was being lifted from my shoulders and my heart was being filled with peace and joy as I read the words of prayer that the sisters shared in our group chat.

Their faith, united in prayer with mine, made something supernatural happen. This reminds me of the passage in Matthew 18:19-20 (NIV)

“Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

And also, the passage found in James 5:16b, “pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”

The enemy tried to defeat me because he found me alone, but when my heart was united with the hearts of my sisters, something powerful happened. The power of the unity of the family of God once again conquered evil with good, sadness with joy, tribulation with peace.

It is important that we develop that community of faith. If you've ever seen the movie "Facing the Giants," there's a scene where a group of people come together to pray for the kids at school. Things began to change. Things started to improve. Powerful things begin to happen when we come together in common agreement, and they are asked in the name of Jesus.

In his novel, This Present Darkness,Frank E. Peretti describes what he imagines our prayers together can do when we are in agreement. It is like clearing the way so that the angels can complete the mission that God has given them.

I currently meet regularly with a group of friends and sisters to pray over our children. Each week we share specific requests, and together, in single-minded agreement, we share these deep desires with the Father. We have seen many of those requests answered. And we are confident that we will continue to see the Hand of God at work in the lives of our little ones. I encourage you today to find your own prayer group, remembering that where two or more are united in the Name that is above all names, there is the power of the Holy Spirit to work miracles.

Allow me to share a prayer with you:

Eternal Father, Great, and Strong You are! I come to you through the Lord Jesus Christ, declaring what Your Word says— that where two or three are gathered together in Your name, there You are in the midst of them. At this moment I come in agreement with my sisters to cry out to You and invoke Your presence. You are Almighty God and for You nothing is impossible. I ask you to take control of our lives and those of our families, keeping us from illness, and supplying us with everything we need in a supernatural way. In the name of Jesus, Father, we humble ourselves and cry out to You for our nations and we ask You to establish Your kingdom. Shower down Your power and glory upon the world, pouring out repentance and conversion on every inhabitant of our countries. Lord, thank You for the power we experience in agreement and help us to maintain unity and keep us from division and strife. In the name of Jesus, Amen!

For those who may remember me posting this before, please forgive me, but it expresses very well the feelings I have struggled with this past weekend.
As a part of the community of former missionaries, I would like to give them a shout-out today to the tune of “This World is Not My Home.”
One of the comments that most made my cringe would I would return for furlough and fund-raising was “Welcome home.” I understand and appreciate the sentiment behind it, but I was not “home.” Home had taken on a quite different meaning in the context of a different culture and language.

As a part of the community of former missionaries, I would like to give them a shout-out today to the tune of “This World is Not My Home.”

One of the comments that most made my cringe would I would return for furlough and fund-raising was “Welcome home.” I understand and appreciate the sentiment behind it, but I was not “home.” Home had taken on a quite different meaning in the context of a different culture and language.

Don’t get me wrong; there are many people and places that make me feel at home—a part of the family and comfortable to grab a glass out of the cabinet, snooze on the couch, or wash my own dishes.

In the kingdom, God has granted us with the blessing of family and community that transcends borders, cultures, and languages.

But when you have lived a lot of places and been a part of people’s lives in multiple locations, you tend to long for heaven, where all of those people you know and love will be together for eternity.

Every time I meet someone that has spent time in full-time ministry or that has lived in another country, we have an instant connection. I recently heard a quote from a missionary who had returned to Chile after several years in the U.S. She was asked if she was glad to be back in Chile or if she missed her life in the U.S. after having spent a number of years back on U.S. soil.

“I’m definitely glad to be back in Chile. In the U.S., people expect me to be American and I’m not really American after having lived overseas as a missionary. Here in Chile, they don’t expect me to be Chilean, so I can just be myself.”

Truly, this world is not our home.

What home are you longing for today?

What is a community? A group of people that identify themselves as being part of a group, joined by belief, geography, interest, or other commonality; a feeling of fellowship and understanding shared by a group of people that have a particular characteristic in common.

I have yet to find a Venezuelan community in the Denver area, but that does not stop me from inviting others into my own Venezuelan community, created by making arepas (stuffed corn patties made of finely ground pre-cooked cornmeal), black beans, or fried plantains, sharing stories about my time living in the country’s beauty and enjoying the fellowship of its people.

What communities are you a part of? What communities do you wish you were a part of? Any communities you need to leave?

I pray that IRSM serves as a supportive community of women who are striving to grow in their relationships with God and one another. Throughout this month, we will explore the concept of community. We will look at what it means to be a community and what Jesus teaches about it.

We would love for you to share your ideas about community! Email us at ironrosesister@gmail.com if you have a story about community, a verse to share, or a great example of community to impart.

What is a community? A group of people that identify themselves as being part of a group, joined by belief, geography, interest, or other commonality; a feeling of fellowship and understanding shared by a group of people that have a particular characteristic in common.
I doubt I will find a Venezuelan community in the Searcy area, but that does not stop me from inviting others into my own Venezuelan community, created by making arepas (stuffed corn patties made of finely ground pre-cooked cornmeal), black beans, or fried plantains, sharing stories about my time living in the country’s beauty and enjoying the fellowship of its people.
Tomorrow, I will gather with a community of LSU fans to cheer on the Tigers, even though (or especially since) we are in the rival state of Arkansas, away from our home team.

WHAT is a small group? A group of people (women in our case) whose purpose is to meet together for encouragement, Bible study and prayer.
In order to allow for depth of discussion and opportunity to share, it is ideal for the group to be made up of no more than eight women. Yet, it can be as few as two.
When it is a small group of two, it can also be known as a mentoring relationship.
Mentoring relationships are a dying art, but Jesus himself modeled how we can invest in the lives of twelve or three to make a greater impact in the community at large. Paul highlights the same teaching to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” Teach to teach to teach—makes it easy to remember that it’s 2 Timothy 2:2, two by two by two.
The teaching and mentoring aspects of small group relationships are important. Here are a few more clarifying purposes of Iron Rose Sister Relationships in the Small Group context:
• Encouragement and inspiration
• Prayer
• Understanding and affirmation
• Confidentiality
• Spiritual audit (IRS)
• Mutual call to holy living
• Spiritual friendship and conversation
Whether you are considering starting a new small group, or redefining the one you are in currently, I encourage you evaluate the purpose of your group. Is God the center of your conversation? Are you being an encouragement one to another? Is there confidentiality and accountability?

“We need to get together for a cup of coffee!” I have lost count of the times I have said that to someone. And I have learned that if I don’t put something on the calendar in that moment, even if we both have the best of intentions, the time over coffee (or tea) will never happen.
The same is true of other things that are important, but they lose their urgency in the midst of our other responsibilities and commitments. One of the prime examples of something we want to do, but that will never happen if we don’t schedule it, is a small group gathering with other women. We have to make it a priority.
There is no magical time that works for everyone. However, I do recommend that you set aside a scheduled time that is designated specifically for a small group women’s Bible study.
Here are some of the times I know that women have gathered as a small group.
• Tuesday mornings (for some, this is the sacred gathering time for women’s studies)
• Mondays on the way home from work
• Wednesday night class
• Tuesday/Thursday nights
• Sunday morning Bible class
• Twice a month/every other week
I think you get the idea: There is no set schedule!
My other recommendation for when you gather is that you allow for an hour and a half meeting time. We’re women and we like to talk, but this extended hour also allows for prayer time and depth of conversation and discussion. We could spend the entire time sharing prayer requests and updating each other on life—neither of which are bad things, but it can take away from the meat of what we know we need in order to remain strong and encouraged as a child of God: time in the Word!
So, WHEN? Anytime, but pick a time and make it happen!

The comfort of your own home, a coffee shop on the way home from work, the church building... WHERE you meet, as a small group, is the least important of all of the questions we are asking this week.
I consider Jesus to have been hospitable. Yet during His three years of ministry, He never had a home in which to lay His head.
The physical location of our small group meeting is not as important as the spirit of hospitality we create where we do gather.
There is a small group of women in Florida that gather at a local park weekly so that the children can play while the women study together (a great opportunity to meet new women, too). Another group of women meet at a coffee shop so that no one feels the pressure of cleaning their house to host. I don’t know a church building that has turned women away if there is a room available for them to study.
Be creative in your location. Remember, the WHERE is the least important of all the factors we are considering.
Where does your small group meet?

The apostles were an eclectic group of 12. My sisters and I are a diverse group of four. Who do you have among your group of Christian sisters? Do you have a lot of things in common, or are you a unique group?
A rose bush does not have all of its roses budding at the same time. Part of the beauty of the bush is the bud barely blooming next to the full-bodied rose in full bloom.
Which rose are you in your community? In our Christian community, there are people of different ages, stages, and walks of life. And therein lies the beauty.
Another beautiful facet of a diverse community is that we can grow and learn from one another. The small groups with whom I have participated, and through which I have been blessed the most, are the ones that have a diverse group of women gathering together to deepen their relationships with God and with one another. I like to call them Iron Rose Sisters.
What is an Iron Rose Sister?
An Iron Rose Sister is a Christian sister who serves as iron sharpening iron (Prov. 27:17), encouraging and inspiring others to be as beautiful as a rose in spite of a few thorns.
So, in answer to today’s question of WHO for small groups? The answer is anyone! We grow most when we are stretched out of our comfort zones, and when we hear the perspectives of others. We are blessed when we are given the opportunity to bless others.
Find a group of women and start a small group today!

“Where” is the least important question, as we discussed yesterday, but today’s question, WHY, is the most important. If we know the “why,” all other questions are answered without obstacle.
How many one another verses can we put into practice when we are sitting side by side in a Sunday morning assembly? Now think about how many one another verses we can put into practice when we are engaging in deeper relationship, face to face, or around a table, in the context of small groups?
To answer the “why” of small groups, we are going to go straight to Scripture and recognize the power of small groups for realizing the teaching of these verses.
Notice the one another and each other language in the verses listed below. This is not an exhaustive list, but the top 30... I couldn’t pick just one or two!
1. Galatians 6:2 - Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
2. Zechariah 8:16 –speak the truth to each other
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – therefore encourage each other with these words.
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – encourage one another and build each other up
5. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 – we ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
6. Hebrews 10:24 – spur one another on to love and good deeds
7. Hebrews 10:24 – encourage one another (by meeting together)
8. Hebrews 13:1 – keep on loving each other as brothers.
9. James 5:16 – therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
10. John 13:34-35 – love one another – by this you are my disciples
11. Romans 12:10 – be devoted to one another; honor one another
12. Romans 12:16 – live in harmony with one another
13. Romans 15:7 – accept one another as Christ accepted you
14. Romans 15:14 – instruct one another
15. Romans 16:16; I Cor. 16:20 II Cor. 13:12; I Pet. 5:14 – greet one another with a holy kiss
16. 1 Corinthians 1:10 – agree with one another
17. Galatians 5:13 – serve one another in love
18. Ephesians 4:2 – be patient, bearing with one another in love
19. Ephesians 4:32 – be kind and compassionate to one another
20. Ephesians 5:19 – speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
21. Ephesians 5:21 – submit to one another out of reverence for Christ
22. Colossians 3:13 – bear with each other and forgive... just as Christ forgave you
23. Colossians 3:16 – teach and admonish one another
24. Hebrews 3:13 – encourage one another daily
25. 1 Peter 1:22 – love one another deeply, from the heart
26. 1 Peter 3:8 – live in harmony with one another
27. 1 Peter 4:8 – above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
28. 1 Peter 4:9 – offer hospitality to one another
29. 1 Peter 5:5 – clothe yourselves with humility toward one another
30. 1 John 4:12 – if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us