Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas 

“Legacy” is defined as a long-lasting impact of action. We all have a legacy that goes in two directions: influence on us from those who went before us, and our influence on those who come along behind us.

Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:5 (ESV), “I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”

Not everyone has a parent or grandparent to lead them. We need to be watchful for those we can help.

2 Timothy 2:2 is important in our walk of faith; it tells us to share what we know. “What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Our legacy of faith is an ongoing chain where one shares what he learns, then that person shares with someone else… and the message continues to spread.

Think about how you learned to cook. For many of us, we were taught by a mother or grandmother, and when we had children, we taught them (and maybe some of their friends). Now we see our children teaching their children to cook. In our family, my grandchildren enjoy a pound cake recipe that goes back to my grandmother who married in 1913.

Our faith grows as we interact with those who have gone before us. Ask questions about how they came to faith or the special people who influenced them. Listening to others is an important part of inheriting a legacy of faith.

As we pass down that legacy, it is not always necessary to sit down with a Bible to teach. When you teach someone to bake a cake, mention Elijah and the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. When you turn on the faucet for water, talk about Rebecca drawing water for Abraham’s servant’s camels in Genesis 24. Short, simple comments plant the seed for more in-depth study.

My grandmother was blind from the time I was 10, but she could relate beautiful word pictures. She and Grandad always got to know the children in the neighborhood where they lived, especially the “unchurched,” and when these children would come over for homemade cookies and milk, my grandparents would tell them Bible stories. Some of these children are now preachers, elders, deacons, and Bible class teachers.

Opportunities to share our faith are all around us. The Bible is full of everyday events that tell of God’s Message, and we can use similar times in our lives to connect with that message.

We have been given a beautiful story… One more important than the trivial conversations we often have.

The simple story we need to be able to share has these highlights:

• There is one God who created the world, including man.
• Man sinned, destroying his relationship with God.
• God loved man… Genesis 3 contains the first prophecy of a Redeemer to restore that relationship.
• Over 800 Old Testament prophesies tell of the coming Messiah.
• Jesus the Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life, was crucified, buried, and rose on the 3rd day. He returned to His Father until the time when He will come back to take us home with Him to the Father.
• Faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God is the beginning of our relationship with God.
• Repentance and immersion for the remission of sins follow as demonstrations of that faith.
• Continuing to live a faithful life takes us home to God.

In Deuteronomy 6:7, the Israelites are told, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Sharing our legacy of faith is part of daily life.

Some of Jesus’ last words to His apostles were in Matthew 28:20, “…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

If the message is in our hearts, it is easy to be aware of times to share the good news. Let’s be sure we do!

Written by Aileen Bonilla, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Ecuador 

Breaking the generational cycle of disobedience is a very big responsibility placed on our shoulders by God. However, He promises to be by our side at all times, and not only this, He also promises to lighten our load because His yoke is easy (Matt. 11:28-30) and His grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

With this in mind, let me share some thoughts about the generational cycle between Saul and his son Jonathan. The scriptures tell us that God chose Saul to be the first king of Israel. King Saul had serious character flaws, so why would God anoint such a man to rule His people? The answer may not be totally clear to us, but it is evident that God allowed this situation so that His people would realize that no human king could compare to Him, and that absolutely no one could be as good as God Himself.

Saul was an arrogant man. However, the position he had been given was not what made him prideful; it simply exposed what was already in his heart (Prov. 23:7). Being the first king of Israel certainly must have reinforced his pride. This king did not trust God: he made foolish and unwise oaths (1 Sam. 14:24), and he did not comply with God's commandments. This leads us to conclude that he did not fear God. He did not value even the life of his own son (1 Sam. 14:44); however, in spite of this, Jonathan decides in his heart not to be like his father.

The Bible describes Jonathan as a brave, strong man, and a good warrior, but it also describes him as a man of love (1 Sam. 18:1), a loyal friend, and a good son. Above all, he was a young man who feared God and lived to assure that nothing or no one would hinder Jehovah's purposes.

Jonathan knew that the Spirit of God was no longer in his father. Recognizing this truth was very critical, because everything Saul did was subject to his human nature, rather than out of a desire to please God. As a result, it was impossible to trust him. Jonathan decided not to be like his father. To make such a crucial decision, his bond with the Lord must have been very close since God is the only one who can help us break these generational chains.

Any one of us can choose not to follow the same destructive path as our parents if we grew up in a non-Christian family. Asking God to help us break those unfaithful generational cycles will bring light not only to our current family, but will also build future generations of believers, and God will pour out His blessings on all of them. It all begins with creating a close relationship with God. Then He will show us what sinful attitudes we have inherited from our unbelieving ancestors which will enable us to break the generational cycle and be transformed into faithful followers.

This is also a way of fulfilling the command of Jesus when He says, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple”(Luke 14:26 NIV). Jonathan was not willing to sacrifice obedience to Jehovah for the unholy whims of his father. Many times, without realizing it, we carry bitterness in our hearts, because our parents were also bitter. We downplay the importance of church involvement because we do not believe that God requires this, and as if that were not enough, at least in Latin America, faithfully congregating every Sunday with the Lord’s church is no longer a priority.

Jonathan was clear about his purpose on this earth—to give glory to God at all times—even to the point of offering his own life so that his best friend David could live, assuring that the messianic lineage would continue its course until it reached Jesus. In the same way, we must fervently ask that God show His purpose for us so that we can live giving Glory to Him, and above all, accept His grace every day to break family yokes that are not healthy. Building a spiritual life that transcends for many generations depends on our effort and courage, but above all, it depends on the openness and sensitivity of our hearts toward the voice of God.Saul closed his heart to Jehovah; therefore, the Spirit of God left him.

Today, I first encourage you to pray and ask God to show you His purpose for your life. Second, ask Him to help you live for this purpose and, in this way, He will break every chain that ties you to the past.

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

Be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. (Deut. 4:9 NIV)

While barely mentioned in the New Testament, two Christian women, Lois and Eunice, were no doubt familiar with this scripture due to their Jewish heritage. It is evident that they practiced this teaching because we read of the influence they had on their grandson/son, Timothy, one of the most impactful missionary preachers in the early church. Here are the only two passages that mention these women:

I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. (2 Tim. 1:5)

Now Paul also came to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brothers and sisters who were in Lystra and Iconium. (Acts 16:1)

If only we knew more about the specifics of how they raised Timothy. Did they give him time out when he misbehaved? Did he have a curfew? Did they make him go to church when he didn’t want to? We can be sure that, like us, they were not perfect as grandmother and mother. But we know that despite their imperfections they were successful in raising someone who chose to devote his life to Christ and His church, as we read in 1 Corinthians 4:17.

So, what can we learn from these women? We learn that the relationship between us and our children and grandchildren is incredibly impactful—even essential—to their spiritual upbringing. We also learn that even if our spouse is not a believer, we can still have a relationship that results in blessing these young souls. Acts 16:1-2 tells us that while his father was a Greek unbeliever, Timothy’s mother was still successful in teaching him about Christ.

It is universally agreed that the relationship between a mother and child is important. But there are also multiple verses and examples in the Bible that show us the importance of grandparents and the positive and negative results of this relationship. Whether we live near, or even with, our children or grandchildren, or clear across the country or the world, we are still called to maintain a relationship that will strengthen their relationship with the Lord. Author Mickey Elliott says, “It is the grandparent's responsibility to encourage, love, bring peace and unity. Never speak negatively about either parent to the grandchildren, but always encourage love, forgiveness, unselfishness, and understanding.”

How can we build and maintain these influential relationships?

• By example -living out our faith in words and actions.

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household.(1 Tim. 5:4 ESV)

Our children and grandchildren observe how we treat and serve others, how we react to life’s events, and whether or not we are striving to be like Jesus.

• By teaching -sharing God’s Word from day one at every little opportunity.

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures. (2 Tim. 3:14-15 NIV)

Take advantage of “teachable moments,” sharing Biblical truths in everyday situations. This can be as simple as replacing, “What a beautiful day,” with “What a beautiful day God made for us,” as you look out the window together.

• By praying -unceasingly taking them before the throne of grace.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.(Phil. 4:6-7)

Pray with and for them—their health, their choice of friends, their future spouses, and protection from the tempter.

An unknown writer has said, “Having [kids and] grandkids is a blessing. Helping to shape their lives is an honor,”andScripture supports this statement.I particularly like the Contemporary English Version’s rendition of Psalm 127:4-5, “Having a lot of children to take care of you in your old age is like a warrior with a lot of arrows. The more you have, the better off you will be.” And Proverbs 17:6 (NLT) tells us that “grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged.”

May we all be mindful of the spiritual legacy we will leave our children and grandchildren.

Written by Johanna Zabala, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Ecuador 

Based on my life experience, I often think about the fact that each child is a product of the relationships, education, and environment that were influenced by the adults with whom they grew up.

Beloved sisters, each of us has gone through the childhood phase when we were able to grow and move forward. I consider those first years of life to be of great importance in developing the various interpersonal relationships we find and develop later in each subsequent cycle of life. These relationships become the foundation for the young person or adult that we are today.

When I look back on the age of childhood, many memories come to mind. However, there are other events that I cannot remember, likely because those moments were not significant in my early life. No doubt, my learning process as a child was different from yours; but for each of us, learning will continue as we acquire additional information and attitudes that we can put into practice as time goes by.

I learned everything from my environment: walking, talking, and responding to my surroundings, fundamentally influenced by my maternal grandmother who demonstrated a wide variety of teaching patterns.

As a result of growing up in a dysfunctional family, I experienced significant consequences for not knowing how to control my natural fears. Fear was one of the first emotions that caused me a lot of insecurity, emotional blockage, and mistrust in communications within my environment. This is what I continue to struggle with: letting the Holy Spirit heal my fears so they don't become obstacles to doing what I need to do or passing them on to the ones I love.

But despite my challenging childhood, the negative impact of absentee parents, an inflexible upbringing, and a lack of attention to my need for communication, I grew up. Today, through understanding, forgiving, and breaking away from past situations of great uncertainty which have threatened to wreak havoc on my present relationship with Christ, I can strengthen my conviction, having been rescued from the destructive influence of my earthly parents. This aligns with what I have read and reflected on in 1 Peter 1:18. To become a person approved by the Heavenly Father, I have decided to live my new life in Christ, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV), “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

Every day, comforted by the quotation above and in my relationship with the Lord Jesus, I feel the need to continue to learn to be free from what damages the soul, mind, heart, and faith in God. We must not forget that we are free and that there will always be freedom in Jesus Christ, as stated in the letter to the Galatians, chapter 5 verse 1, which reminds us again that "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

When we are aware that in the old life before knowing Christ, there were moments of destruction of what was good and pure, which came from God, we can strengthen ourselves and experience the freedom to be and act according to God's heart, which is a great blessing.

To be free is to not repeat the sin that separates us from the presence of God. It is knowing how to choose between good and evil and being called to freedom to serve one another out of love. Being free, we are separated from evil, not allowing the slavery of sin or guilt to lead us to do the opposite of the will of our sovereign God.

To be free is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, whom we receive in our new birth in the waters of baptism (Acts 2:38). He frees us from fear and assures us that God is with us until the end of the world and that He redeems us for eternal salvation.

There are many blessings from God's freedom in the Christian life; it is a privilege of the immense love of our Creator, who knows us and always covers us with eternal love (see Jeremiah 31:3).

To conclude, I encourage you to remember what was admirable from your childhood and to always cultivate innocence, humility, forgiveness, and a smile, so you can become like children in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, fulfilling what is mentioned in Matthew 19:14.

Written by Katie Forbess, Board President 

There is something extremely special about when women get together to focus on learning and celebrating Christ that allows for intergenerational diversity in a natural way. One of the most beautiful things about an Iron Rose Sister Ministries event is the multigenerational representation. This aspect of the events is also international.

A recent bilingual event was hosted by the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston, Texas, where I grew up going to church and only a block from where I grew up going to high school. I was unable to attend that event in-person, but loved hearing the God stories about the intergenerational and international diversity, as pictured (photo cred: @findyournitsch). Everyone celebrated with everyone else and learned from each other.

Relationships throughout the Bible show mentorships and intergenerational learning. David and Saul started as David soothed Saul by playing his harp and observing his role as king. It then moved into a dangerous game of hide and seek. David taught King Saul, as well as others, when he faced the giant and convinced his best friend that his father was going to try to kill David. Along the way, David learned the importance of keeping God’s Spirit and prayed after his own sin that it not be removed as it was from Saul. Nathan led David though that terrible time of repentance and restoration. David learned and taught through relationships.

Jesus brought multitudes together that were diverse in ages, like when the small boy brought his five loaves and two fishes from amongst 5,000 men. When the children approached Him at other times, the disciples were not as accepting, but Christ used it as a teaching moment to emphasize the importance of the younger generation. Jesus also honored the widow who had lost her son. From the old to the young, Jesus taught through all ages of relationship. 

The early church needed a reminder to take care of the older generation. They elected seven men to help make sure this would happen evenly across both the Hebraic and Hellenistic Jews (Acts 6). James continues this emphasis in his book, including the multigenerational admonition to take care of widows and orphans (1:27). I don’t think that was solely for the widows’ and orphans’ benefit. Everyone learned as those two groups were being served.

I can testify to the blessing of learning from those we think that we have been called to serve or teach—most recently from a new neighbor. I can truly say every time I have been close to her I have learned more about her love for the Lord, her faithfulness and gracefulness, her honesty and transparency. We have a lot in common even though she is older than I am by at least 20 years. We both love dogs and bugs and our families and laughing. 

I remember my first conversation with her was mainly about our dogs. The second one was about house robes and how we like to wear our husbands’ but for some reason the sleeves were so wide that water from the sink always ran down them. The third time, I learned she was a member of the Church of Christ and met one of her best friends who had come to visit from California. 

About two weeks prior, she had lost her husband and her dog during the same week, but I didn't know that she had lost her dog before I went. I went over with a plan to talk to her because I wasn’t able to go to the funeral. I took a puppy I have been taking care of for “puppy therapy.”

I learned that she misses her husband and her dog terribly. She loved on the puppy and asked about my family. She was so happy that a neighbor was going with her to church on Sunday after listening to the preacher at the funeral, and I told her that her husband, who was an evangelist, received the best gift at his funeral! He was smiling in heaven! As we spoke, she taught me by sharing her stories of grief highlighted by the faithfulness of God. 

At church gatherings, throughout the Bible, and with a neighbor, we can see the impact of teaching and learning through intergenerational relationships. Who can you reach out to today? Someone younger? Someone older? Share your stories with us!

Written by Liliana Henríquez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colombia 

There is a well-known saying, "Time is money." I believe this means that all the years of life granted by God are very valuable, both for ourselves and for others. Time is not necessarily synonymous with wisdom, but it does equate to experience.

Wisdom is God's gift, and when we are lacking it, we can ask for it and He guarantees that He will give it to us abundantly (James 1:5). Experience brings with it the knowledge and skills we acquire over time. Both are important, necessary, and valuable during our time on earth.

In our daily lives, we come across many challenges and situations that other people have already experienced such as divorce, marriage, raising children, traveling, changes in our work life, and others. And thanks to what we call intergenerational relationships— friendships among people of different ages—we can find better and faster solutions to our problems, always remembering that "wisdom is found in those who take advice" (Prov. 13:10b NIV).

Ruth and Naomi's relationship is an excellent example of a wonderful intergenerational relationship.

Ruth was in the same situation as Naomi—they were both widows. However, Naomi had a plan: return to her homeland, Bethlehem. This was a new place for Ruth, but she agreed to be led by her older and wiser mother-in-law.

Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side, a man of standing from the clan of Elimelek, whose name was Boaz. And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.” Naomi said to her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” (Ruth 2:1-2)

Ruth was a hard-working woman who listened to the advice of her mother-in-law, Naomi, and sought her constant guidance, and the good relationship that she had with Naomi was admirable, so much so that it was publicly recognized.

Boaz replied, “I’ve been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband—how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. (Ruth 2:11)

Naomi's wisdom and experience guided Ruth to directly seek out a man to redeem her. Following this advice shortened the time to improve her situation and lessened the possibility of making mistakes. Those same benefits can be obtained by all of us today if we develop relationships with older and wiser women.

There are many teachers of good things (Titus 2:3), willing to guide younger ones to avoid stumbling blocks. But to experience this benefit, we need to open ourselves to opportunities for cultivating intergenerational relationships that will allow us to grow personally and spiritually. The benefit is mutual: older women bring wisdom and experience to the younger ones, and younger ones help the older ones actively fulfill their God-given calling to teach others.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). Through developing intergenerational relationships, let us be women who build their house, their mind, and their heart on the rock and not on the sand.

Written by Wendy Neill, Advancement Coordinator for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas 

A 1984 Fabergé shampoo commercial had Heather Locklear say, “I told two friends, and they told two friends, and so on, and so on.” This company understood the power of multiplying relationships. They sought to leverage those relationships to tap into the cheapest and most efficient type of advertising, word-of-mouth advertising, to spread their message.

At Iron Rose Sister Ministries we often refer to, and pray for, “partners in the gospel” (Phil. 1:5). When we find a partner in the gospel, we too leverage this power of multiplying relationships to spread our message: the good news of Jesus Christ.

The book of Acts tells the story of many partners in the gospel. Let’s follow and learn from a few of these relationships.

Barnabas and Paul –Your partner in the gospel can serve as “iron sharpening iron” (Prov. 27:17), helping you grow in your faith. After Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9), the disciples didn’t know whether to trust him. Barnabas was the one willing to take Paul as his partner in the gospel. He trusted him, helped him mature in his new faith, and presented him to the apostles (Acts 9:27). Later in Acts 11, Barnabas needed help with the growing number of believers in Antioch.

Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. (Acts 11:25-26 NIV)

In Acts 13, the Holy Spirit Himself called Barnabas and Paul to go on Paul’s first missionary journey. Untold numbers of people heard the good news of Christ because of this relationship.

Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla – Your partner in the gospel may start out as a friend with whom you have something in common. On Paul’s second missionary journey, he went to Corinth (Acts 18) and met a Jew named Aquila and his wife Priscilla. They quickly became friends because they were all tentmakers. He even stayed with them and worked on tents. Soon, this couple became Paul’s partners in the gospel and travelled with him to Ephesus.

Aquila, Priscilla, and Apollos – Partners in the gospel can also be mentoring relationships. While Paul continued his missionary journey, Aquila and Priscilla remained in Ephesus. A Jew named Apollos came to town. He had great enthusiasm as he taught about Jesus but didn’t quite have the whole story. “When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26). Notice that Aquila and Priscilla were also partners in the gospel as a married couple and worked together to mentor Apollos. The next verse shows us the power of that multiplying relationship: “When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed” (Acts 18:27).

We have followed the multiplying impact of Barnabas to Paul to Aquila & Priscilla to Apollos. The Holy Spirit used these relationships and many others to spread the good news of Jesus Christ like wildfire. I encourage you to scan Acts 13-28 for other partners in the gospel that Paul found on his missionary journeys. It is a long list of people! Then look at Romans 16 to see how many partners he listed living in Rome, including Aquila and Priscilla, “my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them” (Rom. 16:3-4). We don’t know the story of how they risked their lives, but those are loyal partners in the gospel!

Who are your partners in the gospel?Is there someone with a shared interest you could spend more time with? Is there someone who needs mentoring? Is there someone you could ask to mentor you in how to share your faith? It doesn’t matter if you are single like Paul or married like Aquila and Priscilla. You can ask God to send you more partners in the gospel, so the world may know the saving grace of Jesus.

Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries 

On the 4^th of July (Independence Day), we sat outside at Grandpa and Grandma’s farm, watching the fireworks in the distance and delighting in our annual tradition of root beer floats. Those grandparents are no longer with us, but my nephew and niece have been warned by their mom that they will hear that story every time we enjoy Independence Day fireworks with family, sipping root beer.

On the maternal side of the family, Granddaddy loves to tell jokes. He collected them for years as a speech professor and occasional preacher. As kids, whenever we heard a good joke, we would call him up and retell it. These days, he regales us with his favorites, telling them as if for the first time. When he asks, “Have you heard that one?”, one sister has learned to cleverly respond, “Not today!” The first time he caught on to her joke, he winked, laughed, and said, “Oh, you’re definitely part of this family with that sense of humor!”

Whether time-honored traditions or long-standing jokes, we celebrate the connections they bring. From both sides of my family, another connection is their legacies of faith. I know this because of the stories passed down.

The Iowa grandparents led a quiet life as farmers. The Florida two were teachers in a big city, rampant with worldly influence. Both couples were challenged to live out their faith in their respective contexts. And since we grandkids lived at least an 18-hour car ride from the nearest, we relied more heavily on our parents to pass down the generational stories of faith.

Prayer was a vital lifeline for all four grandparents. Dean and Evelyn prayed that their crops would produce a harvest ample enough to sell and provide for their own needs. They prayed over whether they should take my dad and aunt in as teenagers (as foster parents). They prayed that God would provide preachers for their one-room church building, built by previous generations.

George and Barbara prayed that God would use them to plant seeds of truth and faith in their students. They prayed that God would lead them in starting a nonprofit called Christian Homes for Children in South Florida and use them to bless children who were not able to receive loving care in other places. George even wrote a book, Prayer Power, contributing the proceeds from book sales to that foster care ministry. Even earlier this year, Grandmommy wanted to pray with whichever family member visited her hospital room.

Their “God stories,” as I have endearingly termed them, remind me of God’s faithfulness throughout all generations and have inspired me in how I live out my own faith.

My mom, a gifted storyteller, has created an expectation that we share the God stories. We cannot keep them to ourselves! She never passes up an opportunity to demonstrate how she saw God working, and it doesn’t matter whether the other person is a believer. Her story becomes an intentional invitation to allow Him to author their story.

The beautiful thing is that the more we tell God stories and recognize His hand at work, the more we see Him and invite Him to be the living, active, all-powerful God that He is in our lives.

In a recent conversation, already needing to get back to work, I asked a couple of friends to give me five more minutes to share the full backstory of connections, because only then would the bigger God story of it all be revealed. Neither hesitated in granting my request, anticipating how they would be blessed by hearing it all come together as only God could orchestrate.

The following five minutes cannot be summarized in an 800-word blog post. I would need a map to illustrate what parts of the world I was referring to (five countries on three continents). Hand motions were required to draw connections, from the family where the story began through the interweaving of other families’ lives. We fast-forwarded and rewound our timeline as we navigated the intricacies of the tapestry God was creating. And yes, I showed pictures.

Iron Rose Sister Ministries and hundreds, maybe thousands, of women are reaping the blessing of those interconnected, generational God stories being passed down… and I’m only referring to that morning’s snippets of those families’ entwined God stories (Wyatt, Holland, Goff, Fincher, White, Yarbrough, Brizendine, and Batres).

The best part is that the eternal impact and blessing of the story is not yet fully written. The oldest generation has gone before us, leaving their legacy. It is our responsibility to carry on and pass down their stories of faith.

We may doubt our impact while on this earth. Yet when we share God stories that narrate another person’s faith, we affirm the ripple effect of one life on the legacy of God’s faithfulness.

I cannot wait to hear the God stories to come! Hopefully in heaven, God will gloriously reveal the millions of backstories, faithfully passed down. Oh, to sing those stories with the angels and the thousand generations (Deut. 7:9)!

What God story can you pass down or be a part of today?

Written by Ann Thiede, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas 

“Insecure” describes me from my childhood through my teenage years, wanting to fit in, becoming a people-pleaser which led to conflicts within and ungodly choices. I craved relationships—people with whom I could be close and share my heart. Unfortunately, many of my contemporaries during my high school and college days followed the crowd. But, praise God, a few helped me walk toward Christ.

Matthew, in his gospel, recorded these last words of Jesus:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, 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. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

I’m forever grateful for God’s beautiful orchestration through four peers, drawing me to Him and teaching me what it looks like to follow Him. These are some discipleship steps I’ve learned.

The first step involves getting to know Jesus as you read the Gospels with a hungry, teachable heart, and the willingness to let go of preconceived ideas. In searching for what you believe, you will find Who you believe. I encourage you to read through John’s gospel first, taking note of all of the titles Jesus gives Himself. For example, in John 6:35 He says, “I am the bread of life,” and then “…sothe one who feeds on Me will live because of Me” (6:57b). Ask yourself: What would it look like to feed on Christ?

The writer of Hebrews says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb.

Remember my issue of people-pleasing, wanting approval? Jesus wants us to please Him above all others. His desire is to draw us toward His likeness, giving us the courage to talk as He talked, live and love as He lived and loved, and to reach out and share the Good News even as He did.“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). It is the heart of Christ that we who are disciples make disciples by sharing His Good News, studying the Word with those who don’t know Him, planting seeds of faith or watering what others have planted, and watching God bring the increase of souls into the Kingdom.

Discipleship means adhering to God’s Word first and foremost. Spirit-inspired words throughout the Bible embody truth. Luke records these insightful thoughts: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts

Following Christ as His disciple also means walking together in this life with other disciples; encouraging one another, praying with one another, and sharing joy and grief together. Surrendering to Him as Lord and Savior means becoming a part of His Body, the church. Jesus intends for disciples to function together in harmony. I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 12: 12-31 and Romans 12:4-8, both beautiful passages about the church and what your part may be, according to the gifts God has given you. Many disciples over the years have enriched my life, encouraging me to be more like Jesus. These relationships go deep as we share life including our spiritual struggles and victories. The Holy Spirit has taught me the value of Paul’s admonition when he says, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). If you desire qualities you see in another person that are Christlike, start asking God!

As you’ve read, in what area of being a disciple of Jesus do you desire growth?

• Getting to know Jesus better through the Gospels
• Developing a consistent prayer life
• Allowing Him to make changes in your life
• Making disciples by sharing Christ with others
• Letting the Word be your guide for truth above all
• Deepening relationships with other disciples

Go to Jesus and share with a fellow disciple. And remember, Jesus has promised to be with you, always.