Iron Rose Sister Ministries

“Simplify” with Sarah Nieto

Michelle: Meet Sarah Nieto, the newest member of the Iron Rose Sister Ministries Board of Directors!

Sarah: Thank you for the warm welcome! I am beyond humbled that I’ve been added to the IRSM Board!

Michelle: Sarah, tell us a little about yourself and your family.

Sarah: I’ve been happily married to my husband for 17 years and we have a 14-year-old daughter who we currently homeschool. My husband and I both are graduates of Harding University. He has always been in full time ministry, and I’ve always been identified as a “preacher’s wife!” Over the years, I’ve worked full-time, part-time, been a stay-at-home-mom, and been a work-at-home-mom, primarily in the accounting and finance sector. We’ve had our daughter in public school, private school and homeschool. Our family policy is to constantly re-evaluate what’s working and what’s not, and to not be timid in making changes as needed!

Regardless of my employment status or of our daughter’s school enrollment status at any given time, I firmly believe in fulfilling my role as a “keeper at home,” and of promoting education of all kinds in the home. There is so much joy that comes from not shying away from pouring into our families as only a wife and mother can!

Michelle: You have recently shared that you have made it a priority to simplify various aspects of your life. What prompted you to do that? What does “simplify” look like for you? We want to hear your story!

Sarah: There is a huge movement these days, especially among people in my age group, to simplify our lives in an effort to be better stewards of our belongings and our time. We hear about living in tiny houses, adopting the use of compost bins, and using cloth diapers. I believe the idea stems from a backlash against the mindless overconsumption and rampant consumerism that has become so prevalent in our society.

While I’m not a true minimalist, I do subscribe to a purposeful accounting of how our family spends our time and money. Paramount to this lifestyle is setting priorities, then unapologetically sticking to them. Over the past several years, my family and I have done our best to ruthlessly edit our calendar and to donate items sitting around the house that do not add value to our lives (and make it harder to dust around...)!

Michelle: As Iron Rose Sisters, we want to encourage and equip each other to connect to God and one another more deeply. How do you think the concept of “simplify” helps us achieve that goal?

Sarah: Returning to the concept of setting priorities, our number one focus needs to be having a solid relationship with our Lord and Savior. It needs to be making our home a peaceful haven that provides comfort and shelter to our families and friends. If we are married and/or have children, it means making sure we pour into our loved ones in a way that communicates God’s love, acceptance and purpose. It also means that you have time in your schedule and the wherewithal in your mind to serve those in need. In order to accomplish this God-given priority, it is a very real possibility that you’ll need to strip away some extracurricular activities, time spent on social media and TV, and maybe even some work responsibilities.

By releasing the engagements society tells us must be on our family’s calendar, we can effectively uncover not only time in our schedules, but the mental bandwidth necessary to truly experience a relationship with God. Trusting God with our every fiber and leaning on Him for every decision makes this transformation an exciting adventure and a vital learning experience for your whole family!

Michelle: Another friend on her own journey to simplify recently shared that she loves “my brand of simplicity.” What you are doing or what I am doing may not be the exact plan for everyone, but what would you like to share with other women as they look to “simplify”?

Sarah: I agree 100% that each person needs to discover their own “right fit” of simplicity! Personally, I like the “simple” kind of simplicity! In other words, simplifying your life doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.

As an example, here are some things that do not work for me:

• Spending lots of time and energy researching the “right” planner for 2018;
• Spending money to purchase more storage bins to organize our closets and drawers;
• Download an app to track my prayer life and Bible reading;
• Coordinating carpools and quick meal plans to be able to make it to all our family commitments.

Instead, this is what I prefer:

• I identified the qualities I appreciate in a planner, such as both a monthly and weekly calendar, with some motivating reflection prompts. Then, I simply selected a planner that met these needs and put it to work (and looks cute, too)!
• I LOVE keeping our house decluttered! I strive to only keep what truly brings us joy and adds value to our life. Less stuff around the house means less to clean and care for. And that means more time to spend working on our family’s true priorities! When I do need to organize a closet or drawer, I use an empty iPhone box or a basket that we already have at home, rather than bringing in additional bins and storage solutions.
• Technology is so convenient...until it becomes a distraction! When it comes to exercising spiritual disciplines such as reading and studying my Bible, praying and reading devotional thoughts, I’m old-school. I find that if I have my phone in my hand, I’m tempted to get off-track and check social media, or let my mind wander to an unanswered e-mail. I prefer a print Bible that I can underline, and a notebook to jot down prayer requests and praises. I keep these items, along with a pen and whichever Bible study book I’m currently reading in one central location.
• Instead of using my planning skills to coordinate rides and quick dinners, I prefer to use them to cook alongside my daughter, and participate in evening activities as a family. We’ll find a recipe, gather our ingredients, measure and pour, then enjoy the time at home as the house starts to fill with the aroma of a home-cooked meal. We do our best not to schedule activities back to back and to avoid the feeling of being rushed. Obviously, there are days when this is unavoidable, but our routine, daily life beats to a slower drummer these days.

Michelle: Great ideas, Sarah, and thanks for sharing what works for you. Is there a specific Bible verse that has been an encouragement to you as you simplify?

Sarah: At this time in my life, two passages come to mind. One is from the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 6:4-9. It talks about God’s charge to the Israelites to take seriously their responsibility of teaching His ways to their children and the people they come in contact with, through a constant, running narrative.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

The second passage is from the New Testament, in Titus 2:3-5. It speaks to the women in the Church about their role as mentors and mentees. We lose sight of this commandment sometimes, so I like to remind myself of it from time to time.

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

Michelle: Sarah, thanks for your time and for sharing your story! And we invite you, our readers, to respond to Sarah and chat with her through this blog, or through her own blog: www.AccountingMyBlessings.com.

Sarah: Thank you for the opportunity to share! I have much to learn from your readers!

#IronRoseSister #Simplify #mystory

Written by Alina Muraru, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Romania 

We all know that prayer, the highest form of communication, is a privileged dialog between us and God, our Father who created us. What is unity? It is congruency between thoughts, feelings, will, words, and actions. In the past two years when I prayed to our Father, there were many times when I couldn't even utter the words because of the pain I was feeling inside.

I have no doubt that each one of us has faced different struggles—times that were handled easier/harder than others. During those hardships, I learned how important it is to be aware that God is always with me/us. Sometimes, so many times, we tend to forget, but even so, He is still with us, as stated in Matthew 28:20 NASB:

…and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age”;and Deuteronomy 31:8: “And the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed.”

Yes, God is always with us, and when we are praying together in unity as sisters in Christ, we experience God's presence at a deeper level. As Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

We also know from the Bible that we have access to His presence by reading Ephesians 3:12. "... in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him,"and Psalm 133:1, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!"

Unity among His people is so important to God. It pleases Him when He sees His people dwelling together in unity. This is also of great importance when we pray together. It was significant when the apostles of Jesus prayed to God to show them who was the one God desired to replace Judas. We can read about this in the Book of Acts, chapter 1, verse 14. “They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.“

Christian unity is the result of God bringing together people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, and social classes into one family, or body, by faith in Christ.

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it.”(1 Cor. 12:27)

For you are all sons and daughters of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(Gal. 3:26-28)

Prayer not only connects us with our Creator but also to one another. When we pray to God together, we experience the most important, significant, and deepest communication that can exist, and we are certain that God is listening when we ask for things in faith, in wisdom, and in harmony with God's Word. "And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14).

When we are too hurt to be able to utter some words to give content to our plea, the Holy Spirit is always there to act as an intermediary for us in prayer in concordance with God's will. 

"Now, in the same way, the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Rom. 8:26-27)

It is also important that women who pray together,pray with the same mind and for the same purpose, encouraging one another and being content with what they already have.

Written by Sabrina Nino de Campos, Portuguese Team Lead for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Tennessee

It's been a little over 2 years now since I feel like my vision has been blurred by pain and confusion. It may be that, just like me, you've also had an experience that transformed your vision. Maybe something related to your job, maybe to your family, or maybe you are not going through anything like that at the moment, but it happened to you in the past or it will happen in the future. There are changes in life that transform our vision of the world.

When my biggest fear came true and my mom had a medical emergency that left her with severe brain lesions, I felt like I didn't know what to do or what to expect. My eyes turned dark and God became a strange being, Someone I could no longer recognize.

During that period (and constantly since) I held on to the passage about the two people on the road to Emmaus. It says:

That same day two of them were going to a town called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking about everything that had happened. It happened that, while they were talking and arguing, Jesus himself approached and began to walk with them; but they did not recognize him, for their eyes were veiled. (Luke 24:13-16, NIV)

This passage doesn’t tell us exactly why they didn’t recognize Jesus, but I imagine the disappointment and pain they felt at seeing the One in whom they had placed so much hope die on the cross had something to do with this temporary blindness.

Can you think of a time in your life when you have also been blind?

In Luke 24:17-24, the two people explain to Jesus everything that has happened about the Christ and His death, and Jesus answers them in verses 25-27. He explains all the things that had to happen and everything that referred to Him in the Scriptures. He takes them by the hand just like children and helps them reach conclusions that they should already know, but do not know—that they should see, but don't see.

Many times, during stressful situations in which I feel lost, I can hear the voice of Jesus also telling me: “Didn't I have to suffer so that I could enter His glory? And was I not by your side during all your life and since the beginning of time? Have I not walked by your side?”

Doesn't your heart burn too when you listen to His sweet voice? (v. 32)

We have been through many difficult situations in recent years; COVID has affected more than just our health. And many times, it feels like we have come out of a fog in 2020 right into another in 2021. We don't know what to expect and we can't see anything. But I encourage you to think that Jesus speaks to you and walks by your side, just as I know He has walked by my side, and just like He walked by His disciples on that road.

Do you feel your heart burning within you?

Just like He did with the two people on their way to Emmaus, Jesus invites you to reflect on the journey that He’s shared with you. To celebrate, break the bread and bless it (v. 30) in the forthcoming year and in many others to come. May our eyes can be opened so we can see clearly (v. 31), that our vision now and forever is Jesus! Let’s keep our eyes on Him, to Whom all our goals belong.

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

Did you know that our names identify us? Well, yes. On this occasion Timothy, according to the Greek, means one who honors and worships God. How beautiful! He must have been a great, faithful, and dedicated servant of God because it is reflected in the Bible. Son of a compassionate Jewish woman and a Greek father, details of his life appear in the book of Acts in chapter 16, specifying the relationship of efficient mentoring, which led to an evident friendship between Paul and Timothy, along with other beloved disciples.

It is of great value to note that in the Bible we find the two letters written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy. The power of the Holy Spirit is observed in them; in order to get the spiritual strength in the physical weaknesses that we experience as human beings. Therefore, we always need each other to follow the path to eternal life in which our names have been written.

Everything aforementioned teaches us that Paul and Timothy achieved a fraternal alliance, where Timothy was an excellent collaborator, assistant, companion, and disciple of Paul; with holy purposes full of hope, comfort, support and love, especially towards the body of the Lord, "The Church." They achieved leadership, reprimands, and commitment amongst everyone. It is said that together they became father and son experiencing the good and bad and that they developed a genuine friendship in order to know how to endure and teach through the trials and joys of faith in God, evident and common between both.

For this reason, what Proverbs 17:17 tells us came to mind, "A friend loves at all times, and is like a brother in time of trouble." Surely Paul and Timothy learned friendship in the brotherhood of Christ, when, in the opportunities and difficulties along the way, they complemented each other in what they said and did for the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, and accompanied each other to the end.

In my experience, from 2001 to 2018, I lived for the glory of God, a story of real and pure friendship in faith with my sister Ysabel Dávila. A selfless and precious servant woman of the Lord with a valuable and noble mind, believer of a living and authentic God, He delighted in her. I knew my sister back then as Ysa. She and I were born again almost together in the same congregation and with very similar expectations; from there we began the most beautiful path of conviction and learning.

Together we learned from each other to know the great will of the Father in the light of the Word. We saw our husbands, children, and siblings grow in faith and gifts. We shared joys and sorrows. We traveled to women's conventions, we shared our struggles, we called each other on the phone daily, we studied the Word in personal and group discipleships, we cooked together, we visited the sisters, we gave Sunday classes to the children. We celebrated everyone's birthdays and, with great joy, the fifteenth-year birthday parties of her beautiful Marbella and my beautiful Crismarie (today, both graduated for the service of the Father in Christ Jesus, one at Baxter and the other at EQEB—schools of preaching with their families). These things happened, not by chance but on purpose, prayed for in advance for one another, and not only that, being in agreement with God and in our hearts, also many times we distributed church brochures in the squares, parks, hospitals, and around the church building, all as a family and in harmony, remembering Psalm 133:1.
When I got married and God gave me my second child, she was always there in prayer and support; also recognized as the most affectionate sister of all. My children called her aunt and her children did the same. Without a doubt, this is how our genuine friendship arose, in analogy to the probable relationship between Paul and Timothy.

When I look back on this part of my life, I thank the Heavenly Father for Ysa. She departed into the presence of God on February 23, 2018; an event that filled me with a particular emptiness, because I found in her characteristics very similar to mine at that time of my life, as it was for Timothy in Paul.

She not only left tears and infinite teachings in me, but in the whole congregation, for her fervent love in and for God at all times. Even in her last days, she worshiped and served the Lord. This is how I understood the pain that the apostle Paul left among the brothers and especially Timothy, but I know that he was strengthened in God and in the Holy Spirit as I did in that physical loss of my beloved sister Ysa, whose name means “dedicated to God” in Hebrew.

I am sure that we all develop godly friendship in this way, useful and very necessary in the church, to love one another (1 John 4:7).

Within your life in Christ Jesus, beloved sister, are you like Timothy? Have you loved your sisters as Paul loved Timothy? Do you believe that friendship is a gift from God?

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #friendship #mentors #discipleship #mentorship #HolySpirit #JesusasMentor #guestwriter #blog

Written by David A. Goff, father of Michelle J. Goff

I would like to tell you of man of faith who left his home town and parents to start a new life far away from where he was born. In this time of so many refugees being relocated I’m sure he could relate.

This man lived long before there was the Internet, telephones, airplanes or even cars. A time much different from today. Because of the great distance to his new home he was not able to bring very much with him. However, one thing I know he brought was his faith that the I AM already was wherever he would settle down. From that one man has come a legacy of faith that has lasted to this day and beyond.

There are so many things in our lives now that would be unimaginable to him, but what has lasted is the faith we share. A faith that there is one who loves us as a Father, who has adopted us as His sons & daughters and has given us a certain hope that cannot be taken from us. His life is a testimony to me of the importance of faith and the lasting effects it can have.

This man had a large family, and one of his daughters was my grandmother. Another daughter was the grandmother of the man that later became my foster-dad and the Grandpa of our four daughters. Now that I have grandkids, I am glad to see that they are being raised to carry on the heritage of faith.

This heritage of faith is not something that I can take credit for. Neither is of any benefit to me unless I take ownership of my own faith. I am so thankful for the training and mentoring I’ve had from both men and women of faith. My faith has carried me through many difficult and even traumatic times. I have confidence that He who began a good work will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6).

#IronRoseSister #heritage #faith #legacy

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 Débora Rodrigo, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Spain

When I was a teenager, I was struck by those TV shows in which physical appearance professionals doing a complete makeover for common people. The changes ranged from hairstyles, haircuts, wardrobe remodeling, makeup, and many other recommendations that never went beyond their physical appearance. At the end of the TV show, it wasn't easy to recognize the person from the beginning. I often wondered if, after the show ended, the participants would continue assuming that new appearance in their day-to-day or if it would be just a one-time experience. I always doubted it.

When a person decides to become a follower of Christ, another series of changes occurs in him. In this case, it is about not-so-superficial changes, but deeper ones. Changes from within the soul and the inner being, even when many of them can also be seen from the outside. But these are not changes that happen one time and that’s it. It is a process in which new changes will be gradually added and in which, additionally, an effort must be made, often intentional, to maintain them. Holiness is not something that we can suddenly attain or that others can bestow on us. Holiness is something that is built little by little; it is a process that will progress while we are in this world and that will culminate on the day we meet our Lord.

Colossians 3 compares conversion and the process of holiness to a change of clothes. When we started our walk with Jesus, we put our old clothes aside and began our walk with a new outfit. Little by little, we are completing and adding accessories to our clothing. In this case, it is an outfit much more in line with our personality and who we are, and what we have decided for ourselves; not at all like those TV shows made to entertain the masses.

Speaking in spiritual terms, can you see a change in style throughout your life? How would you describe your new outfit? What accessories do you still have to add to it?

Written by Alicia González, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Austin, TX

I was born in a beautiful place. Michoacán is considered the soul of Mexico. Across the entire area, one can appreciate the cultural feel and the richness of the town that preserves its traditions and customs, as well as the architectural beauty, combined with its history, on each street, in each person, through each festival, food, and colorful artisanship.

At the age of 14, I started to realize that those colors were turning gray. It appeared that they were not as vibrant as when I saw them as a child. Sometimes, when I saw the arduous work of the women that lived far from the city, I would ask myself if I could develop wings like a butterfly and escape. The women’s suffering, in places where the belief is that women are only to have children and take care of her husband, I came to think that God was unjust and that He didn’t love everyone equally, even though I knew that God existed.

One morning, I went down to the river, as I always did, and I saw a woman who was eight months pregnant, crying over the physical and psychological abuse from her husband. Her tears fell and were carried away by the river’s current. There, in that precise moment, I felt that my life came to a stop. I told myself: I will not get married. I do not want to continue the pattern of women from my town. Can the chains of generational abuse be broken? I asked myself if any other men and women existed, ones different from the ones that I had always known.

I didn’t know that in that same moment, there was a beautiful woman who, without knowing God, prayed through her motherly anxiety, asking Him to give her son a good wife. Who would’ve thought that I would be that wife, the one who thought she wasn’t going to marry.

Years later, I arrived in Austin, Texas, where I met God. He taught me that we can live a new life. In 2007, I gave my life to God. From that point on, I wanted everyone around me to know that a different way of life than the one many had been taught was possible, because we all have special value to God. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, the suffering will be less heavy because we are no longer alone.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

God allowed me to find a wonderful man in that city. I felt like Ruth when I started working where he worked because he was special, a wise young man, even before knowing the gospel. Without a doubt, God had already chosen him to serve in His work. I remember that I was still studying at church and I had not yet been baptized. Even still, I was sharing with him about the Word of God. He was baptized a year after I was. We dated for three years and our dates were to go out and evangelize with the preacher. Beautiful moments, and here we are, 13 years later, happily married and with a beautiful son who also prays, sings, and loves to help others.

God’s plans and times are perfect. Jesus Christ’s sacrifice helped me understand God’s great love for all those who choose to follow Him. And, of course He can break the generational chains. He can give new life. Yes! There are men and women capable of changing life for an entire generation!

After my life changed, I became part of the church, along with my husband’s family, including my mother-in-law, who now is also part of the family doing the Lord’s work.

How many lives can be changed through one person that comes to Christ? The work you are doing now will have its reward.

Dear sister, keep fighting and keep believing.

This is how God changed my life!! And now my eyes see. “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you” (Job 42:5).

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #resurrection #newlife #guestwriter

My name is Mercedes Torres Sanchez. I am forty-three years old and I am Cuban. You can call me Meche, which is what Michelle affectionately calls me.

Since I was born, God had plans for me. I had a difficult childhood. I come from a non-Christian family and there was a lack of family love. I was in a boarding school. Yet, through it all, I grew up with the LOVE and care of our Father. Even though I didn’t know Him at that stage of my life, He cared for me and He was in control. He always showed evidence, even when I didn’t see it.

I have two wonderful kids: Cristian is 20 and Yordank is 18. I thank God for giving me the amazing opportunity to be a mother. He is always showing how He is in control.

But on June 16, 2016, I was diagnosed with cancer in my left ovary. When they performed the surgery, they realized that it had metastasized and so they performed a full hysterectomy, as well as removed connective tissue near my colon, rectum, and bladder. I received chemo treatments before and after the operation. Thanks to God, I was able to handle all of this.

During one of those very difficult days, a Christian neighbor I didn’t know well approached me. She asked if I wanted her to put me on the prayer list at her church and I said yes. Why would I say no? Even before I reached the point of spiritual growth and maturity where I am now, I always sought God and would even look up to heaven and ask for His help. Today, I know that He is everywhere, omnipresent.

A few days later, the preacher from the church that was praying for me, Osvel, and his wife, Madelin, came to visit me. It is the Church of Christ in Güines, Mayabeque.

Today, I say with great pride that I have been a Christian for a year and four months. My life was restored completely by all-powerful God. I have grown spiritually and in my faith in our Father, King, and Lord. He has blessed me even in the trials I have faced.

I overcame my illness, thanks to God and the strength that He gave me.
I always repeat this verse with lots of faith: I can do all things through Him who STRENGTHENS me (Phil. 4:13).
Thanks to God’s love and mercy, I am healed, out of danger and I am even receiving experimental vaccines against cancer. I give thanks to God for being accepted in this study.

I am very happy to have converted to Christ. By becoming a Christian, God restored my life and saved me. I thank Him for hearing my requests.
Today, I am a new person and my old life was left behind.
And today, I only believe in God and not in any images.
Jehovah has made me who I am and I grateful.
I have learned to lay my burdens at His feet because I cannot handle them alone. Rather, with Him, I can handle anything. In my prayers, I ask and wait for his mercy and restoration in my life (Job 33:36, Ps. 80:3).

I must also mention that I had the blessing of winning a marvelous educational book at a Ladies’ Day in Matanzas, Cuba. The book is entitled “In God’s Right Hand: Whom Shall I Fear?” written by sister Michele Goff.

As the title says, we have nothing to fear. Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:33). The story I most liked in the book was the one with the pearl necklace. It has a powerful teaching.

I encourage you to have a strong faith in the Lord (Rom. 10:9-10).
There are days in which I feel burdened and I begin to pray.
Sisters, God blesses us when, with faith, we ask that He renew our strength to keep moving forward. Thanks be to almighty God for His grace and mercy.
The BEST defensive tool is PRAYER.
Don’t want until you hit rock bottom to believe in and seek God.
Psalm 23:1, 4
Isaiah 41:10

May God bless you always and sustain you in His right hand.
Blessings to each of you,
Sister Meche.

#IronRoseSister #restoration #InGodsRightHand 

Written by Beliza Patricia, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Joao Pessoa, Brazil.

In Brazil we have an expression: “But I’m also a son/daughter of God!”

Usually, people will say this after spending more money than they should, or after reacting badly to a situation. In other words, they will use this expression in an indirect way, when what’s really being said is: “Because I am a child of God, I have certain rights…”

The fact is that not everybody is a son/daughter of God, even though we are all His creation. And indeed, His children receive privileges, but none of it is because of our own merits. So how do I know if I am a child of God or not?

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”(John 1:12-13)

What makes us children of God is the belief in Jesus Christ. It is receiving Him as Lord and Savior of our lives. And the truth is that God was the one who made all of this possible.

While some people will use the expression “I am a son/daughter of God” as a fundamental and inalienable right, the Bible tells us something different.

“among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”(Eph. 2:3)

Sin pushes us away from God. We were deserving of God’s wrath because we disobeyed. We didn’t obey His will. But God’s love is so immeasurable that through Jesus, He saved us! And there’s more! There was nothing we could do to obtain that through our own efforts.

Through Jesus, He redeemed us: He resurrected us and promised us eternal life while we were dead in our transgressions. He justified us: He declared we were righteous even though we didn’t deserve it. He adopted us: He received legally as His children, part of His family. Adoption is a blessing decreed by God.

The adopted ones receive guidance, instruction, protection, correction, and safeguarding from God. And one last gift that is so important: He gives us eternal life.

Try to comprehend how big God’s love is for us: He could give us eternal life through Jesus and still reserve for us the role of being just servants. That would already demonstrate mercy from Him. But He does more than that!

We cannot forget that our adoption into God’s family happens only by His grace, not by our works. But what we receive freely had a high cost for God.

“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”(Gal. 4:4-5)

Redemption is a rescue that means obtaining or freeing, upon the payment of a price. Our adoption was very costly to God. It cost His Son’s life. Yes, Jesus had rights, but He never sinned (1 Pet. 1:22). Through Him all things were created (Col. 1:16). Without Him nothing would have been made (John 1:3). And yet, because He loved us, He emptied Himself and became like us to pay the price for our sins (Phil. 2:6-8). We can never forget that free adoption for us was costly to God.

I said that the adoption (that is undeserved) gives us privileges. Some of the privileges for those adopted by God are:

• Having a Father/son or Father/daughter relationship with God. (1 John 3:1)
• Knowing God takes care of our necessities. (Matt. 6:32)
• Knowing God blesses us (Matt. 7:11)
• Being guided by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14)
• Being disciplined by God (yes, discipline is a privilege!) (Heb. 12:6)

And returning to the famous phrase: “But I am also a son/daughter of God!”, those who claim to be sons and daughters must remember that the adoption as His children comes with a transformation guided by the Holy Spirit. Our actions, our thoughts, desires, words, everything is modified when we become children of God. Our behavior must be like our Heavenly Father’s (Eph. 5:1).

“For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”(Gal. 3:26)

Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado 

“When we denigrate a woman, we are in fact diminishing part of the image of God.”–Christine Caine, Unashamed

My husband has often remarked that, historically, women’s suffering lies in the hearts of men. He believes the lack of regard for women is rooted in men who did not and do not “see” women as God intended. And if men had regarded women as Jesus did in His relationships with them, no woman would have ever felt slighted.

If we know anything from Jesus’ relationships, it is that they were intentional. They had a clear purpose and were focused even from the moment His first relationship was contrived (1 John 4:14, Matt. 1: 21-23). Jesus’ relationship with the twelve apostles, with those He healed and to whom He ministered were all purpose-driven relationships. And that intentionality was also poured into the many women in Jesus’ circle.

The first woman in Jesus’ circle was His mother, Mary. She was a model of godliness, a woman who “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30, NLT), and she was an intimate witness to Jesus’ divine nature and purpose (Luke 1:31-35). Mary was a key player in the first public miracle of Jesus (John 2:1-11). And as the mother of the most Holy, she had what was probably a very daunting task. To care for and raise the Savior of the world, the One by whom she herself would be delivered had to be most intimidating. Yet she was honored and cherished by Jesus, exemplified by His declaration to ensure that she was properly cared for after He died (John 19:26-27).

Also counted among Jesus’ personal circle of women friends were Martha and Mary. Scripture tells us that “Jesus loved Martha and her sister” (John 11:5, NKJV) and that these women passionately served and learned from Jesus (John 12:1-3, 7; Luke 10:38-42). Through these women Jesus taught that fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities should be of utmost importance. Women, too, are called to learn from Jesus, apply the Word of God and be disciples. Additionally, Jesus’ love for them and their brother, Lazarus, was the impetus for raising Lazarus from the dead thereby witnessing God’s glory to a multitude. That was the kind of intentional relationship Jesus had with Mary and Martha. Jesus valued it. He valued them.

And then there’s Mary Magdalene, a woman who is almost always mentioned first among the female disciples and leaders (Mark 16:9; Luke 8:2; Matt. 27:56, 61). After being “healed of evil spirits and deformities… out of whom had come seven demons” (Luke 8:2, NKJV), this Mary dedicated her life to Jesus and was with Him when He died (Luke 8:1-3; John 19:25). Perhaps the most intentional thing to happen to Mary Magdalene was to be the first witness of Jesus’ resurrection (John 20:11-18). Women were not known for being credible witnesses in that age, so it was a purposeful and focused thing to have Mary first testify that Jesus had risen from the tomb.

Jesus also surrounded himself with many other women who played important roles in His ministry (Mark 15:40-41).Luke tells us about several women who helped support Jesus and the apostles “out of their own means” (Luke 8:3, NIV). These included Joanna, who managed Herod’s household, Susanna and many others. They fed Jesus’s ministry, literally and financially. Also mentioned are the “many women” who “had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs” (Matt. 27:55-56). After His ascension, many women were among those who were carrying out the Great Commission in varied roles (Rom. 16:1-15; Acts 1:12-14; Acts 18; Acts 21). Phoebe the deaconess, the daughters of Philip who were prophets and Junia who was imprisoned and “outstanding among the apostles” (Rom. 16:7) were women who labored to expand the Kingdom.

Jesus bestowed a special honor on women. His regard for them, though revolutionary for the times, highlighted the way God intended for women to be valued. God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us….in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them” (Gen. 1:26-27, NLT).

Psalm 46:5 – God is within her…..

Because men and women were made in the image of God, God cannot be fully reflected without a woman. When we minimize women, relationally or otherwise, we minimize the image of our Lord and Savior.

Don’t you see the intention behind human creation? There is a clear, divine purpose for man and woman. We are to be image bearers and a living witness of God. If we wrap our heads around that, we cannot help but acknowledge our worth and value. Jesus and all the women were intentional relationships that embody the essence of God. That just blows my mind!

Written by Laureen Henegar, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem." 
Luke 2:36-38

When I was asked to write a blog about Anna, I wasn’t quite sure how to even start, but as I read the verse over a few times, I began to relate to her in a very personal way. I lost my husband seven years ago. Scripture tells us that Anna had been alone for 77 years. But, as a widow or a widower, are we really alone? No, we are not. Psalm 68:5 tells us just that. God is, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”

I have talked with several people who have lost their spouses and it’s interesting that each one mentions that since the passing of their spouse, they have drawn closer to God. Is it possible that in our sorrow and trials God actually provides us with a blessing? I think so. God helps us understand that life is not over. God ALWAYS has a plan for us. It’s our responsibility to trust Him and wait on His timing.

Anna was the daughter of Phanuel, a godly man whose name meant “Face of God.” She was from the tribe of Asher. She appears to have been raised in a Godly home. Married for only seven years, she spent the rest of her life devoted to God in all she did.

I have learned two things in studying Anna and writing this blog. One, God provides us with the strength, courage and comfort we need to get us through the trials and challenges of this life. The more time I spend in prayer and fasting, the closer I draw to God; but I must also spend time listening to His response to my prayers. Second, not only must I spend time praying, fasting and listening to Him, but I must wait for His time for prayers to be answered and I must trust Him to answer my prayer in His way, not mine.

Anna was a woman devoted to prayer. She knew God was faithful and that the promise of a Savior would be fulfilled. I’m certain that, not only did she spend time in prayer, but she spent time listening, listening to the Holy Spirit’s soft whisper. Many times, when I pray, I find myself ending my prayer and then immediately throwing myself into whatever my plans are for the day. I don’t take time to listen, to listen to the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit, communicating back to me, providing me with words of strength, wisdom, and courage to face the day. I believe Anna not only spent time in prayer and fasting, but she also spent time listening. Listening to His words that drew her closer and closer to God.

Can you imagine how she must have felt when she first saw Jesus and held Him in her arms?! Here was the promised Messiah, the answer to the Scriptures, the Son of God sleeping in her arms! I don’t imagine there are any words to describe the joy she felt and the urgency to tell others that the Messiah had come. She knew the Messiah would come; she knew it would be in God’s time and she knew the minute she saw Him that He had arrived.

She rejoiced in the fact that Israel’s prayer for a Messiah had been answered and she immediately began to share the Good News. Sometimes we get so caught up in our worldly plans that we miss seeing prayers answered. Yes, we see the big ones, such as when a loved one is cured of cancer. But do we notice the small ones, the blessings God gives us each and every day? Do we share how those prayers have been answered and how wonderful our God is? I think Anna noticed all of God’s blessings, saw God all around her and shared God’s love with whomever she met.

My prayer for us is that we become more like Anna: That we spend more time in prayer, fasting and listening to God. That we take time to step away from our busy lives and look around at this beautiful creation. That we recognize, acknowledge, and give thanks for the blessings God showers upon us every day. That through our daily prayer time we draw closer and closer to God. In Scripture, Anna’s life story is but a few short verses, but she is an inspiration. Her story provides us with important lessons that give us an opportunity to have an amazing, lifelong relationship with our Lord and Savior.

Written by Rachel Baker, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

I’m sure this is a familiar scene to most of us:

A tired mom is working her way through the grocery store with her children, trying her best to remember everything that is on her list while managing the chaos around her…

And at least one of her kids is screaming and crying all the way through the store.

For those who have never raised children or spent long periods of time caring for them, it’s easy to think, “Good grief, what is wrong with that woman? If that was my kid, they would not be allowed to act like that. She needs to get control of her kids.”

Have you ever had an attitude like that towards others? Or maybe heard a similar response from someone else?

If you, however, have found yourself in a similar situation, you know the stress and emotions that come along with it. You know what led up to that moment in your day, you know that you were doing your absolute best to get through the experience, and you know the embarrassment you felt as another tiny human acted in a way that was completely beyond your control.

How does that affect your attitude towards this precious mother? Maybe you’re more inclined to offer a smile or a word of encouragement as you pass. You might even offer a high five and say something like, “You’re doing great, Mom. You’ve got this.”

When we can relate to others and truly feel empathy towards them and their situation, our attitudes are completely redefined by our understanding and experiences. We are more gracious, merciful, forgiving, and compassionate towards those who are hurting when we know the struggle they are experiencing in a personal way.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

The scenario above is much easier to relate to for those who have actually experienced that same situation, but that doesn’t mean others cannot also be compassionate when they see this mother struggling through her day. We have all struggled in different ways, and we know the relief that is felt when we receive comfort from others. More importantly, we know the blessing of receiving comfort from a gracious God in all our troubles.

When you see others having a hard day or dealing with a situation that you think should be handled in a different way, how do you respond? Are you willing to offer that word of encouragement or a smile of comfort instead of judging what only your eyes can see?

How can we encourage one another to remain gracious and compassionate towards others in our daily life?

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble."
1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

Written by Corina Díaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina

There are few things we know about Bathsheba beyond her beauty, her marital status, and that she became the mother of Solomon:

“One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful.” (2 Sam. 11:2)

“When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him.” (2 Sam. 11:26)

If you don’t know this story, I encourage you to read the whole thing in 2 Samuel chapters 11 and 12. Yet, I want you to recognize these two points:

• Bathsheba always found grace in the eyes of King David.
• Even though her destiny was not the one she had dreamed of, God crowned her as the mother of King Solomon.

In order to become the mother of Solomon, Bathsheba had to suffer two losses, Uriah and her son. In less than a year’s time, she lost her husband and a son, in the middle of a war. However, she did not have the slightest idea of God’s purpose in her life. At the end of her days, she sat at the right hand of the king.

1 Kings 2:19, “When Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, the king stood up to meet her, bowed down to her and sat down on his throne. He had a throne brought for the king’s mother, and she sat down at his right hand.”

Have you ever been in the most difficult moment in your life and you cannot even imagine what God has planned for you?

I cannot count the number of times that this has played out repeatedly in my life, like a constant cycle. When I see the darkness, God has prepared a brilliant sun under which His grace is reborn!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor. 12:9)

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #unfinished #incompletestory #workinprogress #guestwriter #blog

Written by Débora Rodrigo de Racancoj
My daughter has always been a very healthy little girl. Thankfully, we have had to go to the doctor with her only a few times. She almost never complains of stomachaches, headaches, earaches or any other ache. Even when she was a baby, I rarely heard the characteristic cry of pain as in the first few months of life.
On one occasion, I remember her playing with her hands, smiling and babbling happily as babies do when they are happy. As a mother, I could not resist caressing her face, and then I realized that her temperature was not normal; it was warmer than it should be. Immediately I put the thermometer on her, and she had a fever! How could she not complain and play merrily as if nothing was wrong?

Written by Mackenzie Lancaster
Romans 12:1-2
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”

These verses are kind of heavy. They carry a lot of meaning that can be a little hard to determine when read all at once. But there’s no doubt that Paul is calling his readers to action, starting off the statement with “I urge you.” This is more than just encouraging or suggesting action; this is expressing a need for immediate action.

Next, Paul continues by saying, “in view of God’s mercy,” some versions say “in light of God’s mercy,” this is a continuation of the theme of the first eleven chapters in Romans, where the focus was on the mercy of God in many different aspects. But the rest of what Paul has to say all depends on God’s mercy. The act of us offering ourselves as living sacrifices would not be possible without God’s act of mercy in sending His Son to die for us, making us able to have a relationship with Him, and allowing us to actually be a perfect, living sacrifice.

Written by Carolyn Jo Gower, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. (‭‭Rom. ‭12:12‬ ‭NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

My grandson, Noah, age three, was good at talking. But sometimes we’d have to ask, please repeat. Caroline at five months, was a happy chatterbox! We’d ask her, “How's your day going?” Her answer was jabbering with big smiles! Both expressed love!

Jesus can handle our prayers, even though we may feel lacking. Jesus gets it. When we pray (talk to Jesus), our love for Him shines through. He wants us to be real. He made us, He came to live among us, and now He lives to intercede for us.

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb. 7:25 ESV)

Jesus is praying for us! Prayer gets to the heart of God not that we’re worthy, we aren’t. Jesus is. He talks with the Father about us. He’s been here and knows what it’s like.

There’s no need for flowery words or memorized church prayers. Never just copy someone else’s prayer. You can use it as a prayer starter, but change it to speak from your own heart. Ever heard the expression, “Honesty is the BEST policy”? Truth be told, honesty is the ONLY policy. Talk to Jesus honestly first. He is our Counselor, Prince of Peace, Mighty God.

Being faithful in prayer means, “Keep on praying and don’t give up” (Luke 18:1 NIV).

Prayerfulness, or being faithful in prayer becomes a part of us as we read God’s Word and spend time with Jesus. For example, a few weeks ago, reading about John and his disciples in Matthew 14, I began to see something about prayer from a different angle.

John the baptizer was in prison for preaching repentance as he prepared the way for Jesus. He was doing everything correctly. But things weren’t looking good for John.

John’s disciples were praying for his rescue from Herod. But instead, Herod had him beheaded. His head was delivered on a platter to Herodias. John was murdered in an unspeakable manner. Talk about disappointment and hurt!

John had a huge following. He was a powerful man of God! We can’t begin to imagine the pain, fear, and anger his disciples must have felt!

They could’ve been thinking, “Now what are we to do, our leader is gone! Do we continue as John’s disciples? Is there even a ministry anymore?”

In Matthew 14:12, we read that after burying John’s body (note that John’s head was no longer with his body), his disciples went to Jesus and told him everything that had happened.

The only thing that made sense was to tell Jesus everything. That’s exactly what they did and some of the Gospels record that Jesus took John’s disciples with him, even to His own disciples.

Maybe prayer is not hard for us after all. Being faithful in prayer is going to Jesus first, moment by moment.

The way to move from prayerlessness into prayerfulness is to pray.

We are even commanded to be prayerful, …faithful in prayer (Rom.12:12) and pray continually… (1 Thes. 5:17). When we pray consistently, talking to Jesus becomes as natural as taking another breath.

Scripture tells us often that Jesus spent extended time alone in prayer with His Father.

Because of Christ, the great high priest (Heb. 4:14-16), God invites us to bring our needs to Him. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (‭‭Heb. ‭4:16‬‬‬)‬‬‬‬.‬‬‬

God listens and when we call on Him, we’ll never get a response that ‘notifications are silenced’!

Just as we cherished the time talking with our grandchildren, Christ wants fellowship with all of His children.

Dear Iron Rose Sisters, do you feel comfortable going to Jesus, telling Him everything that has happened?

Written by Tony Brizendine, husband of Brenda and volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

I can remember the excitement I felt as if it were yesterday. Brenda and I were picking out the paint colors, cabinets, carpet, and light fixtures for our new home. This is something we had prayed about for years and our dream was finally coming true. We received a phone call from our realtor while we were celebrating my birthday. He congratulated us on securing the property to build our new home on. I thought for sure this was God’s hand blessing us. We had already sold our previous home and were living in the basement of my parent’s house while waiting on our new home to be constructed. We also were pregnant with our daughter and were hoping the new home would be finished before she was born.

The months that followed seemed to contradict all of our excitement. The building of our home was delayed for several months due to a shortage of workers. By the time there were workers available, I received news that I was being laid off from my job. We ultimately had to pull out of building the house a few weeks before Brenda’s due date. I was crushed. No job, no house and a baby on the way. I asked myself over and over, “Why would a good God allow this to happen to us?” I felt angry and abandoned by God.

A few days after our daughter was born, I received a call from a former boss of mine. He invited me to apply for an open job with his new company. Within a week after his call and interviewing, I was employed again. My parents and younger sister helped us with our newborn daughter while we were living with them, which was a huge blessing for us. Two months later, our realtor called us and had a great home available for us to purchase that suited our needs perfectly. We were able to move into our house the weekend of my birthday, exactly 1 year after we had secured the property for the home we wanted to build.

After having some time to reflect, I realized that I was not putting God first. In that season, I had become selfish and shortsighted. I didn’t see God as my provider. I saw myself and my job as my provider instead of Him. He is the Great “I AM” and as Deuteronomy 6:4 says, “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” God is not interested in just granting the desires of our heart, He wants our whole heart. While we see the surface level things, He can see from a much higher level than we can.

While I was very grateful to God for restoring my employment and helping us through that season, I felt as though our dream was lost. Yet three years later, God provided a home that was not far from where we originally wanted to build, and was constructed at the same time we lost our “dream house”. The selling owners took very good care of the house, which was far beyond our expectations, and left it in pristine condition. It was as if God had these people taking care of it for us while He waited for the right time to deliver it.

God had seen what we needed on the surface level, but He wanted us to learn to see Him first, The One, The Whole. Thanks for letting me share this reminder to keep our eyes fixed on the I AM.

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

God created us as social beings with a need to relate to other people. We mostly enjoy sharing special moments of our lives with others. In the journey of our life, we ​​meet people—and some of them stay with us. We develop friendships, and we support each other in happy moments as well as in difficult times. We call these people friends.

Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (NIV). On this path of relationships, situations can arise in which we are disloyal to that person who has trusted us. Yes, we are talking about betrayal—a pretty strong word, but real. I don’t think that anyone would like to be called traitorous, but the truth is that at some point in our lives we have failed in our relationships, and others have also failed us.

The Bible recounts two quite shocking cases of betrayal that cause us to reflect on our own relationships; they are Judas and Peter, two disciples who had the joy of sharing a close relationship with Jesus. They saw His miracles, walked with Him, ate at the same table, learned from His teachings, and accompanied Him in His ministry. They had a beautiful privilege—to be friends of Jesus. Similarly, we have people who share with us, know us, eat with us, go out with us, and laugh and cry with us. But relationships are always put to the test, and Jesus' relationships with Peter and Judas were no exception.

Let's first talk about Judas. In the gospels, we find few details about Judas, but it is known that he was a follower of Jesus and supported His ministry. It is also known that he had a soft spot for money; so much so that his greed led him to betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas faced a very tempting opportunity that made him fall and lose the trust and friendship that Jesus had with him. Tragically, after falling and thinking about what he had done, he did not know how to handle the situation and ended his own life.

Then there is Peter, about whom we have more details in the Bible. He had an energetic and impulsive personality, and something that stands out about him is that he recognized Jesus as the Son of God, always ready to serve and work alongside Him. Peter was strongly involved in Jesus' ministry, but, like Judas, he underwent a test of faithfulness. Although in many moments he expressed his faith and love for Jesus, in a difficult moment when he had to express his beliefs and show loyalty to his Lord, he did not measure up and betrayed Him.

Likewise, our relationships go through moments of testing, and often we betray some. Perhaps we speak ill of our friends to others, turn our backs on them in difficult times, envy their achievements, and damage our long-standing relationships in many other ways. At other times, we are betrayed by others. But this is not the end of the story. As humans, we will fail, but the final test is how we behave after betraying others, including God, and also how we behave when others betray us.

We have 3 examples from which we can learn. The first two show us the importance of repentance when we are the ones who betray someone. Judas teaches us that we can take the “easy path”; he believed that he would solve everything by ending his life, but it would have been better to repent and genuinely change. We can take the easy road, pulling away from that special person, not talking to them anymore, and if we have failed, showing them an attitude of pride, and withdrawing without fighting for that friendship. Peter on the other hand, after making the big mistake of denying Jesus, had great pain in his heart and repented. After his betrayal, he changed his life, asked for forgiveness, and continued to serve his Lord faithfully until his death. Asking for forgiveness is the difficult path; many times it is hard for us to admit that we have failed and reach out to that person, perhaps out of shame, or perhaps out of pride, but in the end, fixing things with that special person that we have offended can redeem an important relationship in our lives.

And last but not least, we have Jesus, an example to meditate on when we are the objects of betrayal. He was a faithful friend who was always willing to forgive. Despite the failures of Judas and Peter, I am sure that He was willing to receive them again and give them another chance. Peter took advantage of this blessing and further strengthened his ties with Jesus; unfortunately, Judas did not. In Jesus, we have a great example of forgiveness when someone special betrays us. Although it hurts to be betrayed and produces enormous sadness, it is worth forgiving and rescuing those relationships that God has placed in our path.

Let us learn from the example of our Lord Jesus who was willing to forgive betrayal, and from Peter who was willing to admit his mistake and change completely for the good of his relationship with our Lord.

I want to invite you today to value all those special relationships that you have or have had. Is there any relationship that you can recover today through repentance or forgiveness?

Written by Corina Diaz, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Argentina 

It has happened to all of us: we have high expectations about a relationship with something or someone, and then we realize that the reality is completely different than what we expected.

Even Jesus, when realizing that He would be betrayed, kept in His heart the desire to pass that cup. “After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, ‘Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me’”(John 13:21 NIV).

Jesus knew that it was not Judas himself who initiated the betrayal, but He recognized that sinful action stems from an external influence. “Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve”(Luke 22:3). “As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him”(John 13:27a). It is very important to recognize that Satan is actively working to bring about betrayal in our relationships.

Dealing with these situations on a personal level can cause us anguish, and will affect how we deal with the reality of what has happened.

Jesus' outline was simple—only three steps:

1. Accept the situation.
2. Pray to the Father to process the feelings.
3. Keep the heart open to give love.

It seems quite simple—and I assure you that it is not—but I also assure you that lowering expectations and accepting what comes, while cultivating a pure heart will make the path more bearable!