Iron Rose Sister Ministries

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Written by Rachel Baker

I felt very blessed at Thanksgiving this year because my entire family was able to gather and eat together. And like all good southern Americans, the main beverage option at our table was sweet tea. There was a (much smaller) pitcher of unsweet tea for those who provided a doctor's note restricting their sugar consumption (bless their hearts). Because we're hospitable like that here in the South.

There were a lot of people who wanted sweet tea, so the available amount decreased quickly. This is the point at which the hostess begins to stress because making more tea takes time. Sure, she could dip a few tea bags into cold water with sugar and serve that, but it would be a poor imitation of what she wanted to give everyone. Who would benefit from weak tea with grainy sugar? No one is happy with the results, and the hostess is left feeling like she could have done better.

So she took the time – the water boiled, the tea steeped, and the sugar dissolved. And there was much rejoicing.

As we move into this holiday season of giving, may we all remember the lesson of the sweet tea. It is easy to rush around from one event to the next, and there are always plenty of opportunities to give of our energy, money, and time. Are you also being intentional to replenish these resources? Just as no one likes a cup of cold, grainy, weak tea, it benefits no one if you are giving from a place of stress and exhaustion.

Set aside time to rest. Do things that bring you joy. Find a few minutes to be still with God, and let His peace surround you in the midst of a hectic schedule.

The Thanksgiving guests were grateful to have a hostess who took the time to make sweet tea, and the people in your life will be so thankful to receive the sweetest parts of you.

*Written by Rachel Baker for Iron Rose Sister Ministries blog, Dec. 2019

We were just getting started on our all-night drive back to Denver. It had been a great weekend visiting grandpa on the farm. I was in the back seat with Kadesh, my nephew who was almost two years old at the time.

Kadesh Austin is named after Grandpa Dean Austin, and it turns out they have more than a name in common.

As we got on the road, I took out the iPad to do some writing, but Kadesh had a better idea. He wanted to hold my hand as he tried to fall asleep. “Hold my hand, Aunt M.” Who am I to argue? I closed the iPad and took Kadesh's hand.

We looked at the stars, delighted in the full moon, and pointed out the cars driving by. He soon fell asleep and I returned to my writing, glad I had taken a moment to hold his hand and enjoy the mutual love and relationship between us.

I was reminded of a similar moment sitting on the couch with Grandpa that weekend. He had a granddaughter on each side and, while seated there, we grasped each other's hands. We held hands as we prayed before each meal. We grasped hands to help him stand up from the couch. Many special moments were cherished, and the strength of family was renewed by taking hold of each other's hands.

My encouragement to you is to take a moment to hold someone's hand—a child, a grandparent, your spouse, a friend... There are many who would greatly appreciate a loving touch, and you will be blessed by making a moment to take their hand.

God invites us to take a moment and grasp His hand each day. During your prayer time today, imagine yourself holding God’s hand as you talk with Him and listen to Him in prayer. Picture yourself in His right hand.

At this time of year, many gather to celebrate baby Jesus, when God became flesh and dwelled among us. He is Emmanuel, God with us, the ultimate gift of Presence.

#IronRoseSister #gift #presence #Emmanuel #InGodsRightHand

The Great I AM is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gifts He gives are also everlasting, faithful, and true. Today, around the world, many celebrate the gift of His Son, born as a baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger (Luke 2)—a gift that keeps on giving.

The humble circumstances of His birth illustrate the extravagance of the gift.
The King of Kings wore no crown other than the crown of thorns (Mark 15:17).
The Lord of Lords became a servant and submitted to His Father’s will (John 13; Matt. 26:39).
The Lord of Heavenly Hosts was announced with a chorus of angels, yet He asked them to remain silent when He chose to become the perfect sacrifice (Luke 2:13-14; Matt. 26:53).
Emmanuel, God with us, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but rather He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross (Matt. 1:22-23; Phil. 2:5-11).

The humility and vulnerability of God’s love is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His love never fails and never gives up. It never runs out on me (Jesus Culture, One Thing Remains).

The Love that sent Jesus to earth, the Love that sacrificed His one and only Son, the Love that forgives the unforgiveable, the Love whose mercies are new every morning... is a Love that gives generously, unconditionally, undeniably, and extraordinarily.

Take a moment today and thank God for His eternal gifts, the most precious of which was, is, and always will be: His Son.

#IronRoseSister #IalreadyAM #theGreatIAM #love #gift #Emmanuel

“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Luke 12:48b

The financial application of this verse is timely and relevant in light of #Giving2x2Tuesday and the encouragement to share end-of-year support with churches and nonprofit organizations. As a ministry, we are honored and humbled to be able to do what we do because of generous supporters like many of you. Thank you! And if you missed the #Giving2x2Tuesday opportunity, it is not too late to make a donation!

However, I have reflected upon other facets of the application of this verse—the spiritual ones. To extend a blessing to others is a declaration of our appreciation for the blessing we have received. What has been given to me I am called to give to others.

The forgiveness I give to others correlates to the Father’s forgiveness of me (Matt. 6:14-15). The grace with which we have been treated must be passed on to others (Matt. 18).
The compassion the Father has demonstrated by not treating me as my sins deserves inspires me to show compassion to others.

Yet if I neglect to recognize all that I have been given, I will be stingy in sharing it with others.

Who am I to judge who is deserving of blessings or not? Nevertheless, I identify with the older brother’s outrage and fall into the trap of thinking I deserve more (Luke 15:25-32). However, if it were dependent on merit or what we deserved... let’s just say I am so thankful it is not (Ps. 103:10-14)!

We are merely stewards of our blessings (Matt. 25:14-30) and when we share them with others, His light shines brighter (2 Cor. 4:5-7).

Why give?

We serve a God of abundance (2 Cor. 9:8-15). His blessings are limitless (Phil. 4:19). He gives generously to all (James 1:17). And we are blessed to be able to give from what we have been given, thus multiplying the blessings.