Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Written by Kat Bittner, volunteer and Board member for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

“Love is a great master. It teaches us to be what we never were.”


(Jean-Baptiste Poquelin aka Molière)

I really do appreciate those words. I appreciate them because they exemplify relationship with Jesus. You see, love invokes a sense of action. It calls on us to do things that, albeit good and wonderful, are often out of our nature. Love calls us to do things we may never have done and to be what we may never have been. Personally, I’ve not much patience for folks who are ill-tempered or self-centered. If someone has wounded my family or friends, it can be considerably troublesome for me to be kind. It is nearly impossible for me to forgive the wicked and ungodly who violate children. And I’m not generally eager to abandon my addictive, gluttonous behaviors with food. I do love those carbs and sugar. A lot!

If I am to do anything to be what I’ve never been—to let love be a great master in my life—I have to be like Jesus. Jesus is love, characterized by all the things that love does (1Co 13:4-8). I must be mastered by Him rather than be mastered by my selfish inclinations. And while there can be no perfection in me for whatever I choose, I can certainly aim to do my best and allow Jesus to guide my path.

“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (Pr 16:9, NKJV) 

I have spent most of my life struggling with morbid obesity, an addictive and unhealthy relationship with food, and a latent self-loathing. I was especially good at denying the animus I had with my body. It’s only been in the last several years that I’ve come to realize the former declarations of “I’m happy” or “I’m not insecure” were actually lies that allowed my struggles with food to master my life. I wasn’t happy in my obesity. I wasn’t happy when I binged. And I wasn’t happy or confident in my body despite my proclamations to the contrary. Rather, I was being mastered by my manipulative tendency instead of letting Jesus master me.

Scripture tells us that “the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other so that you are not to do what you want” (Gal 5:17, NIV). Doing what I wanted—consuming food to extremes for my emotional pleasure—was contrary to the Spirit. It was the sin of gluttony, too, and for an extraordinarily long time, I denied that as well. I wasn’t being mastered by Jesus. In truth, I was being mastered by sin. I was among those “… whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ … headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite” (Php 3:18b-19a, NLT). Wow! I was convicted after God lovingly but firmly reiterated in His word that I needed profound change. That change could only come through letting Jesus master my life rather than my god of food.

“God’s truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘All who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil’” (2Ti 2:19b, NLT).

If I were to emulate Jesus, I needed to give up the sin (evil) in my life to be what I never was before. And once I stopped denying that I was being mastered by food, I could begin to be mastered by Jesus. I needed only to give it fully to Him.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9, NKJV).

Owning my addictive behavior and self-manipulation was a first step. Along with support from friends and family, wise counsel, and a good amount of weight loss which resulted in the resolution of all my co-morbidities, I am a different person. I am better because of a change in my thinking. I am better because of renewed focus. But more than those, the thing that has made me better is Jesus!

Jesus is the great Master! He teaches us to be who we never were before. Who will you be that you have never been before with Jesus as your Master?

Written by Amanda Vilela, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Sergipe, Brazil

The gospels narrate facts about the life of Christ, from His birth to His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. The book of Luke gives us particular details about the first events in Christ’s life on earth. He tells us that Mary was the woman God chose as the instrument for the coming of Christ into the world.

Mary decidedly makes herself available to do God’s will. It is important to remember that Mary was an ordinary young woman, subject to the same weaknesses and challenges that life imposes on us, but she understood the greater purpose of human existence: to give glory solely to God, and worship and serve Him only (Lk 4:8). How beautiful is her example of obedience to God; how sweet were her words:

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. (Lk 1:46-50 NIV)

The figure of Mary is frequently inaccurately interpreted by many who do not understand that glory and praise should be given only to God. All of us humans, even though the Lord is merciful with us and trusts us with great missions, are merely instruments in His hands.

We can extract valuable lessons and teachings from Mary’s story. After all, what made Mary special? Why did the Lord choose her for this mission? Mary had the same thing Sarah, Deborah, Ruth, Abigail, Lydia, and many others who were used by God in His work had: a heart surrendered to the Lord and willing to live in accordance with His will—ordinary women who loved God’s commandments.

Reading the Bible, I admire the way that men and women placed God’s will before their own, as is made clear by the way they presented themselves to the Lord: “Here am I” (Isa 6:8), “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sa 3:10), and “I am the Lord’s servant” (Lk 1:38).

Mary understood that obeying God would cause radical change in her life. As a result, she ended up becoming a target of persecution. We see this clearly when Mary and Joseph, guided by an angel of God, flee to Egypt fearing persecution from Herod. Obeying God means living a life of self-denial and trust. We are convinced that God will fulfill our needs as He fulfilled those of Mary and Joseph. Even though she carried the Messiah in an “uncomfortable” way during the end of her pregnancy, they continued traveling, trusting in God’s care. They surrendered their lives in obedience to the Lord, with the certainty that His promises would be fulfilled, “For no word from God will ever fail” (Lk 1:37).

Mary trusted that God would be her defender in the face of possible accusations with respect to her integrity as a woman. Above all, Mary’s good example teaches us to put ourselves in the position of servants. Her example teaches us humility, virtue, loyalty, obedience, and a God-fearing heart.

Mary was a woman chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world, and she was at the foot of the cross. She followed His steps and walked with Jesus in His mission, being an example of faith and obedience—a woman after God’s own heart. May Christ help us to walk with faith and to respond to our call as Mary did. “May your word to me be fulfilled” (Lk 1:38).

Written by Ana Teresa Vivas, volunteer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Canada

At the risk of emphasizing the obvious, I'm going to repeat the title of this blog post: "Men and Women Who Followed in Jesus' Footsteps" and emphasize the highlighted phrase because I want to focus on it.

In the gospels, we can learn the names of the apostles— the twelve closest followers of Jesus. Additionally, we can learn something of their lives and their example as imitators of Him. But there were also other men and women who followed Jesus, if not so closely or from the beginning of His ministry, but still with the same great love and commitment to Him and His work.

We cannot identify them all specifically because there were multitudes who followed Jesus, although many also abandoned Him (Jn 6:66), but we will not talk about these today.

Let's look at this short list:

Luke 19:1-9, Zacchaeus
John 4:46-53, King's Officer
Mark 15:40-41, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the mother of James the younger and Joseph, and Salome
Matthew 12:15, A crowd

Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. (Lk 8:1-3, NLT)

These are people, just like you and me, who believed in Jesus. We don't know in detail about their lives as disciples. We only know of their encounters with Him, and we can see their examples of commitment.

Look at the example of the women mentioned in Luke 8:1-3. It impresses me to think of myself in the place of one of them and imagine walking after Jesus two centuries ago. No way! I have so many questions for them, such as what it was like being a woman and living within their culture. And what about the issue of female grooming? They were very confident about who to follow and why. That alone explains their investment of energy, time, and money in Jesus and His evangelistic campaign.

With these people, we can identify and "chew on” what a follower of Jesus looks like and how I can represent that in the 21st century.

Someone who follows in the footsteps of Jesus is willing to change their values (Zacchaeus), is not afraid of threats (Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward), and risks their position (the king's official).

There are many more examples of men and women following Jesus in the gospels, and from all of them, if we stop for a few minutes, we can learn something if we look closely— if we get into that "movie" of the life of Jesus.

Who is a follower then? From the examples that we can find in the four books that narrate Jesus' life, we can conclude that these are some of the characteristics of His followers: they are willing to change their lives, to invest their monetary gains in the work of Jesus, to invest energy and time, and to sacrifice comforts. These are some of the ways those early disciples showed their commitment and set an example of how to follow the Lord.

What other ways can you identify that they were fully engaged? What other things did they sacrifice? How do you see yourself as a follower of Jesus?

Add your answers to these questions in the comments or make any other observations based on the topic of this blog post.

I encourage you and me to look to Jesus 24/7, 365 days a year, and get from Him the motivation to be His faithful followers.

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

When I read the story of Moses, I imagine the cloud that accompanied the Israelite people during their wandering through the wilderness, clearly displaying the presence of God, showing them His power and care.

On the day the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant law, was set up, the cloud covered it. From evening till morning the cloud above the tabernacle looked like fire. That is how it continued to be; the cloud covered it, and at night it looked like fire. Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelites set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelites encamped. (Num. 9:15-17 NIV)

We notice that the cloud accompanied the people, but above all, it guided and pointed them toward the place where they were to dwell; it was the actual presence of God, visible to them to indicate His constant presence. This is a wonderful fact: the presence of God was with them.

It reminds me of the times when I seek the presence of very close people in my life that help me feel more secure when facing important challenges, but it also invites me to remember that I don't need the physical presence of a cloud because Jesus dwells in my heart and leads my life.

There is another interesting characteristic of the cloud that accompanied Moses: this cloud contained the burning glory of God.

When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Ex. 24:15-18)

We conclude that this cloud had two functions: to guide and provide shade for the people, and also to protect the people from the glory of God that burns like fire. I believe that the presence of God works for us in the same way; far or near we know that His presence accompanies us and protects us. Jesus, in turn, as an intermediary between us and the Father, takes us by the hand and allows us to have a direct connection with the Creator.

Are you looking to God to lead and protect you as you journey through life?

#IronRoseSister #teachthroughrelationships #learnthroughrelationships #lifelonglearner #walkingwiththecloud #gloryofGod #blog #guestwriter

Written by Vivian Arcila, volunteer with Ministerio Hermana Rosa de Hierro in Canada

“So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”(1 Sam. 1:20)

Before I became a Christian, I had two children. Six years after being baptized for the forgiveness of sins, I prayed to the Lord asking Him to give me a third child, if it was His will. In 2006, God responded to my prayers and I had a beautiful, healthy baby boy. However, at that time, I was 38 and when I was three months pregnant, I had facial paralysis and since I was pregnant, they couldn’t give me the treatment because it might affect the baby. The result was that I have still not recovered full mobility of the left side of my face. This saddened me because I liked to be happy and smile. Additionally, the world had recently entered into the digital stage where people were sharing pictures on social media, but my face would likely never look the same. The happiness from my motherhood was eclipsed by this unexpected change in my life. They were difficult months in which I had many mixed emotions: the joy of having a new baby in my arms and yet feeling that I no longer had beauty in my face. I was active in the church, especially in the area of evangelism, but with my new appearance, I didn’t feel sure of myself nor excited to share a conversation with someone.

Those dark months led me to seek the Lord’s presence, to seek Him in prayer, and to read His Word. It was also a season in which I could examine myself in the light of the Bible and repent for areas in my life in which I was not being obedient. My insecurities led me to disconnect from the world, but at the same time, I was getting to know God more. In His Word, we discover that at times, the answers to our prayers are Yes, as He answered Hannah, Samuel’s mother, and me with my pregnancy. But at other times, like He said to Paul, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”(2 Cor. 12:9)

What a beautiful revelation! And so, I prayed again to the Creator and I said, “Lord, if you aren’t going to return the mobility in my face, please give me Your grace so that I can draw closer to others with a new smile in the Spirit that they will notice.” From that moment on, I began to be filled again with the immutable joy of the Lord, that is found in Christ’s sacrifice for our sins and that brings us hope of eternal life, which is not changed by any temporary or permanent situation happening in my life.

It is true that God, as a kind and merciful Father, responds to our requests through dreams or goals in this world, but these answers are not always in line with what we want. There are women who have prayed that they could be mothers, but they have not gotten pregnant; others for a husband, but have never married; others for healing from an illness that has not come about; and others for reconciliation in marriage or family relationships that have not been resolved. Therefore, we may ask ourselves, is His grace sufficient for us? Is the power of God being perfected through our weakness? Am I living joyfully in the Lord or am I frustrated because my personal goals are not being achieved? Is God’s plan for my life and others’ lives more important than my human aspirations?

So, is the source of my joy in motherhood or in marriage? In beauty or in a successful career? Maybe in not having any illness?

It's not that it's a sin to have aspirations in this life. The problem is when we live frustrated for not achieving them and lose the joy of our salvation, or when these earthly goals take the Sovereign Creator’s place in our heart.

According to the world’s standards, we will always lack something in order to feel complete: be taller, a beautiful face, a husband, a child, a grandchild, more or less weight, a university degree, a promotion, my own home or a bigger home, but the Word of God in Colossians 2:9-10 tells us where our fullness comes from: “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.”

What is most important to us? Personal success or to be transformed into the image of Christ?

#IronRoseSister #HIStories #Hannah #motherhood #truejoy #guestwriter

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

In my Christian life, I have gone through different stages. There have been times when I have felt that I was doing things for God, but I didn't really feel close to Him. More than once, I have wondered how I can diagnose and evaluate my spiritual life. Have you ever felt the same way or asked yourself the same question? What method can we use to evaluate our spiritual life and our relationship with God? In this blog article, we will analyze the teachings of the apostle Paul in Galatians 5 and Romans 8 to define what spirituality is and learn how to create our own thermometer to analyze our relationship with God.

When we talk about spirituality, we tend to confuse some aspects. Many times, we qualify as spiritual, someone who practices spiritual disciplines, that is, someone who prays, meditates on the Scriptures, and attends services, among other things. However, while spiritual disciplines lead us to spirituality, they are not the definitive sign that we are truly spiritual. As we read Romans 8 and Galatians 5, we note that the apostle Paul describes a spiritual person as one who is led by the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit (e.g. love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self-control in Gal 5:22-23). In this sense, being spiritual is not so much about a set of activities we perform but about a state: a level of connection with God. At this level of relationship with God, the Holy Spirit greatly influences us, enabling us to have attitudes that reflect Christ's character and abandon carnal attitudes.

Unfortunately, many of us have reversed the formula. We believe that through great willpower we must reach a level of perfection that allows us to be worthy of God. However, the good news is that even though we are unworthy, through Jesus' sacrifice, we have the opportunity to be forgiven and receive the Holy Spirit. In the letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul states that we are adopted as children of God and receive the Spirit by which we can call Him "Daddy." What a powerful and consoling message! This means that if we want to develop the character of Christ, the only way to do so is to seek God with a humbled heart and entrust ourselves to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The formula is that the more we seek Him and humble ourselves before Him, the closer we are to God, and we are transformed and empowered by His Holy Spirit.

We can then say that a heart that is close to God is one that humbles itself before Him and rests in the grace received through Jesus. The result of this is a person who is in a process of sanctification through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live in the image of Christ. With this in mind, our actions are a sign of our nearness or distance from God. If a person is close to God, he will reflect Him through the fruit of the Spirit, but also, a person who is far from Him will reflect Him through the fruit of the flesh. In short, my sinful actions are the symptoms of drifting away from God, and my good deeds are the symptoms of becoming close to Him.

From this, we can create a personal spiritual thermometer that helps us identify in ourselves how close or far we are from God. A thermometer needs a positive measurement scale, so for this part, we will use the fruit of the Holy Spirit as a reference. We also need a negative measurement scale for which we will use the fruit of the flesh. Our diagnostic process (which should be daily) involves evaluating our attitudes, thoughts, and words throughout the day and seeing in which direction they move. Are my actions, thoughts, and words a reflection of the fruit of the Holy Spirit? If the answer is no, this is a symptom that our heart is not close to God. At those times, let’s set aside time to seek His presence, repent, and ask for His guidance and the control of His Holy Spirit. If the answer is yes, let us give glory to God because we know that the good that is in us does not come from our effort, but from the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so we must continue to seek Him daily to continue to be perfected in Him.

Would you be willing to use this spiritual thermometer every day? Do you think it would help you grow in your commitment to God?

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

Be perfect. Be holy. These words ring in my ears over and over… and I hurt, because I know my weak spots. Can you identify? Have you had those feelings?

First Peter 1:15-16 tells us: “…as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (ESV).

The Savior said, “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5:48).

I see these commands as the path our lives should take so we better understand our Heavenly Father's desire for us to follow Him. We sin… none of us are righteous (Ro 3:10), but when we obey Jesus and are baptized for the remission of sins, His righteousness covers us (2Co 5:21; Php 3:9; Gal 3:27; Eph 4:24).

God told Samuel that He looks on the heart (1Sa 16:7).

At Antioch, Paul told those present that David was a man after God’s own heart (Ac 13:22).

When I read this, I think of David as a man who wanted more than anything to do God’s will, despite the battles he sometimes had with Satan… and David, like we do, sometimes lost those battles with Satan.

A verse that is special to me is Psalm 25:7, where David writes: “Remember not the sins of my youth.” All of us understand that as we grow in our relationship with God, we realize we made some poor decisions in our earlier lives that we would not make now simply because of the experience we have in life. We have to learn how to deal with peer pressure, to learn to control desires when something looks good but is wrong, and sometimes by simply learning it is ok, and right, to say “no.”

In Psalm 51 David cries out for God to “create within [him] a clean heart.” The Hebrew word David used for “create” is the same word in Genesis 1:1… something only God can do.

What do you think God looks for in a heart that seeks Him? I think of the following:

1. God wants my heart to love Him. “…Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (Dt 30:6b). ”…Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37b).
2. God wants my heart to put Him first. “You shall have no other gods before me” (Ex 20:3).
3. God wants my heart to serve Him. “…serve him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Dt 11:13b).
4. God wants my heart to keep His Word. “This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and rules. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul” (Dt 26:16).
5. God wants my heart to seek Him. “And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul” (2Ch 15:12). “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13).
6. God wants my heart to follow Him. “…My servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, doing only that which was right in my eyes” (1Ki 14:8b).
7. God wants my heart to praise Him. “I will glorify your name forever” (Ps 86:12b).
8. God wants my heart to trust Him. "For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name” (Ps 33:21). “In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Ps 56:4).
9. God wants my heart to have unwavering faith in Him. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (Jn 11:25, 26).

I believe God said of David: “I have found a man who cares about the things I care about.”

I need to ask: What am I doing in my life to make sure the things important to me are the same things that are important to my Heavenly Father?

Written by Bailey Vesperman, Creative Director with Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Growing up, my world was black and white. To be a “good” daughter, I did my chores without complaining, ate my vegetables, and didn’t fight with my brother. Breaking any of the family rules meant I was behaving badly and would not get rewards like extra playtime or dessert. I also applied this kind of thinking in my church life. Attending Bible class and sitting still through the sermon were “good” behaviors and were rewarded most often with stickers (the most enticing reward of my childhood).

It’s no wonder that for the longest time, my faith revolved around doing the right things and being a good person. I believed if I followed the rules, I would be deemed good enough and would gain the reward of going to Heaven. I’m sure you can imagine how discouraging this mindset was! Every time I sinned, I felt like I was one step further away from my reward.

Time and time again, the Bible both tells and shows us that humans are incapable of achieving salvation on their own. One of my favorite examples of this is Abraham. In Genesis 15, we see Abraham (who is still Abram at this time) preparing to make a covenant with God. The Lord has just promised that He will give him descendants that outnumber the stars in the sky, and a promised land in which they would live.

So the Lord said to him, ‘Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.’ Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. (Ge. 15:9-10)

Then, Abram falls asleep, the Lord speaks to him, and he sees a smoking pot and a flaming torch pass through the carcasses.

In the Israelite culture, making a covenant with someone was much more significant than simply saying “I promise.” Two people entering a covenant with each other would cut the animals apart and take turns walking in the blood between the carcasses. This was a symbolic gesture that meant if one person could not uphold their end of the deal, the other person could perform the same act to them (as in, kill them and walk through their blood). While it’s a very violent and bleak thought, it sends the right message. These types of promises were not made lightly.

Yet when God entered the covenant with Abram, we see something a little different. Abram never walks between the carcasses—rather, a torch and a smoking pot pass through. God passes through twice, taking up both sides of the promise. God knew Abram was incapable of living righteously enough to earn the reward of living in the Promised Land. In Genesis 16, we see Abram doubting God’s promise when he chooses to have a son with Hagar. If left to his own devices, Abram would have never been worthy of the reward God had in store for him. Yet God, in His infinite grace, took the burden of punishment upon himself so Abram and his descendants could be blessed.

This same covenant applies to us today. As humans, we are incapable of earning our salvation by being “good,” but God knows this and has taken on the burden of our sins by sacrificing Christ for us. All that He asks of us is to put our faith in Him. Philippians 3:9b (NLT) says, “I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.” Isn’t that a relieving thought! Because we are sinful by nature, there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Yet God wants to reward us with grace and salvation even though we do not deserve it. And the only cost is placing our faith in Him.

As an adult now, I still strive to live righteously for God, but I can rest in the knowledge that my shortcomings do not mean I will not receive my reward someday. Christ has already paid the price for me, and for that reason, I strive to serve Him faithfully. I pray that we may all find rest in His goodness as we move into this new year!

Written by Rianna Elmshaeuser, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Colorado

One of the most comforting memes I’ve ever seen says, “When God put a calling on your life, he already factored in your stupidity.” When God calls us to something, it can be exciting and terrifying all at once. Feelings of “I want this but I have no idea what I’m doing,” and ”What if I mess it up and souls are lost because I was mistaken about my calling” race through our minds. To put my favorite meme another way, God knows everything about you; good and bad, your level of competence, the family you’re from, the church you attend, your deepest fears and failings, the questionable and sometimes destructive patterns in your life. He looked at all of that and He said, “You. I pick you.”

When God called Isaiah in Isaiah 6, the prophet was distressed because he wasn’t perfect and had sinned. After pointing this out to God, Isaiah was cleansed of his guilt and sins. God called again and Isaiah said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8b NIV). If we have obeyed the gospel and are followers of Christ, we are in the same position as Isaiah. I know people like Isaiah who have something put on their hearts by God and are able to seize the opportunity placed before them without hesitation. God says, “Jump,” and they say, “How high?”

I wish this were the case for me, but it is not. On the spectrum of taking a leap of faith, I fall a lot closer to Moses than I do Isaiah. Let’s look at Moses’ calling by God which started with a miracle and goes on for two chapters. After witnessing the miracle of an ever-burning bush, Moses is told to go to the elders of Israel and convince them, who already believe in God, to go to the king. God tells Moses exactly what he should say and what God will do to convince Pharoah to let the Israelites go. I want to pause and just note that, wouldn’t that be great? Not only would you have a whole crowd of people with you to confront the most powerful king in the world at the time, but God says, “Here is the game plan and how the future will play out.”

Moses argues and argues even after more miracles are performed for him until God gets angry. He is being told to speak again and again and again by Almighty God of whom he has the good sense to be very afraid and he still asks Him to send someone else. But in Exodus 4:14, we see that God already knew that Moses, in addition to being the meekest man that ever lived, had an unmatched and unrivaled fear of public speaking for all of time.

Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, ‘What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you’”. (Ex 4:14)

God wanted Moses to trust Him, but He knew how hard that would be, so He called Moses’ brother out to the wilderness before His conversation with Moses.

It is easy to look at Moses’ story and shake my head in awe at his stubbornness. But then when I look at my own life, I know that I need constant reassurance from God in my calling. God is patient and faithful and always provides it, but when will I push Him too far? Take a look at your own life. Is there something that you feel pushed to do but have found reason after reason after reason not to do it? God has demonstrated and documented His ultimate power for all of us yet somehow we manage to believe that He cannot overcome our individual personality flaws.

I recently started my Master’s program to become a counselor and on the first day of class, the professor asked everyone why they chose Denver Seminary. The stories everyone told were fascinating. There were people from Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and all over the United States. Each person had a unique story. Some were not sure exactly how they wound up at this school. Some had dreamed of coming there. There was one person who had desperately tried to leave the area to get away from home but wound up five minutes from her house.

What I am taking away from the stories shared and from Isaiah and Moses is that when God puts a calling on your life, trust Him. He knows what He’s doing, and He picked you for a reason.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How will you celebrate God’s infinite mercy today?

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

The entire Bible is the story of our relationship with God. In the beginning, He formed a perfect world, then created a man and a woman to multiply, reign over it, and walk with Him in relationship. But they betrayed Him, and they unleashed evil in the world. He had to banish them from the Garden of Eden and the relationship with God was damaged.

Throughout the Old Testament, we see the cycle of betrayal and restoration between God and His people. God gave them specific laws regarding sacrifices to atone for their sins so the relationship could continue. Those sacrifices only covered the sins already committed, not future sins, so they had to regularly go back and offer sacrifices again. Eventually, God’s people quit bothering. They started worshiping other gods and completely lost track of God’s Law. In 2 Chronicles 34:14-21, Hilkiah the priest stumbled across the Book of the Law while bringing out the funds to repair the temple. I can almost picture him in a temple storeroom blowing the dust off an old book on the shelf.

To get a glimpse of how bad things were between God and His people, read Ezekiel 16. God said He was fed up with His “wife” who acted like a prostitute, and He was going to let her lovers destroy her (fulfilled with the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.). But even at the end of that chilling chapter, God says, “Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you” (Ez. 16:60 NIV).

It wasn’t just Israel that was estranged from God. We were all estranged from Him: “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). God sent His Son to re-establish that everlasting covenant and to restore our relationship with Him.

And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.... All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. (2 Cor. 5:15, 18-19a NIV)

I am so grateful to live on this side of the cross and to know the saving grace of Jesus! I can have a restored relationship with God because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. All past and future sins are covered if I remain in Him. But it doesn’t stop there. Let’s read the next few verses.

And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:19b-21)

Paul is talking about himself and his fellow teachers, but we also can share this message of reconciliation with those around us. This is the gospel, the good news! We don’t have to be afraid of God’s wrath any longer if we remain in Christ. In the final chapter of the Bible, we find that we can live with God again in a perfect relationship, unmarred by sin:

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (Rev. 22:3-4)

Our blog theme for this year has been “Teaching and Learning through Relationships.” How can you rejoice and teach others this week about our restored relationship with God through Christ?

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

Have you ever had someone look at you like you were crazy when you talked about God? I have.

My favorite subject is heaven. My greatest joy is encouraging people to look forward to eating twelve crops of fruit from the tree of life (Rev 22:2,14,19), drinking the water of life (Rev 22:1,17), and worshiping God on His sapphire throne surrounded by a rainbow that resembles an emerald (Eze 1:26-28; Rev 4:2-3). I can understand why some people think that sounds crazy!

Apparently, there were people who thought Paul was not right in the head. In 2 Corinthians 5, he is also excited about heaven! He talks about the new eternal body we will get once this earthly body (our “tent”) is destroyed or taken down (v. 1). He says he would rather be away from the body (in other words, dead), and at home with Christ in heaven (v. 8). Paul knew his words sounded like lunacy to some and like logic to others:

If we are "out of our mind," as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2Co 5:13-15 NIV)

He doesn’t care if he appears out of his mind or of sound mind. Christ’s love compels Paul to teach because he is convinced of the good news. If we are fully convinced that Christ died for all of us, we can stop worrying about what people think about our state of mind, and just live for Him.

That’s not easy, is it? We don’t like to look crazy. Even if we share with others what Christ has done, we might focus on the more “logical” aspects, or the inoffensive bits. But even Jesus was accused of being out of His mind (Mk 3:21, Jn 10:20). As His followers, we can expect the same treatment.

Today is a good day to quit being self-conscious and instead, be “out of our minds” for Christ and our future hope.

• Are you willing to appear “out of your mind” for Christ?
• Are you compelled to speak because you are convinced?

Need inspiration? Listen to the song “Crazy People” by Casting Crowns.

Written by Kara Benson, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

[Let us fix] our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:2 NIV)

What does it mean to persevere? It is to maintain a purpose or to continue in a course of action despite difficulty. The key to perseverance is persistence in the face of challenge. We are called to persevere as committed disciples…

• Despite what other people think, say, or do. “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” (Ro 12:2).
• Despite the deceptive draw of sin. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Heb 12:1).
• Despite our past. Consider Acts 9:20-22. Do you think that Paul ever heard negative comments about his former lifestyle of persecuting the Lord’s church? Yet he writes, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Php 3:13b-14).
• Despite thorns in the flesh. Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove his physical struggle.

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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Co 12:9-10)

Let this be our humble attitude regarding our health issues, current struggles, and burdens we bear. We can learn thankfulness for our trials as we allow them to lead us closer to Christ.

Why do we persevere? We persevere to…

• Finish the race. “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (Jas 1:12).
• Reap a harvest. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9).
• Receive the blessings of righteousness, peace, and sharing in God’s holiness. “God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Heb 12:10b-11).
• Strive for maturity and completeness. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jas 1:2-4).
• Encounter the power and goodness of God. “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (Jas 5:11).
• Experience opportunities to help and comfort others. “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 have received from God” (2Co 1:3-4).

How do we persevere?

We set our sights on Jesus. We meditate on the life of Christ, the teachings of Christ, the sufferings of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the promises of Christ, and the glory of Christ. We contemplate what it will be like to finally be home with Jesus, at last, eternally in heaven. We eagerly anticipate the return of our beloved Lord, long for that day, and speed its coming (2Pe 3:12). With our words and with our hearts, we say, “Come, Lord Jesus.”

These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1Pe 1:7-9)

By Wendy Neill, IRSM Advancement Coordinator in Arkansas

As you may know, our theme for this year as a ministry is “Committed to Christ, 24/7 in 2024.” This month, we are focused on being Committed Disciples.

James, the brother of Jesus, was a prominent leader among the New Testament churches. He wrote the book of James to early Christians, and he leads off with a pretty shocking statement: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (Jas 1:2 NIV). Joy is not the emotion I usually feel when I face trials. So why does he say that? Let’s keep reading: “...because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (Jas 1:3-4).

Joy comes from knowing that those trials do the important work of producing perseverance, making us mature and complete, so we don’t lack anything. I can get more excited about that.

But what really ramps up my joy is found further down in verse 12: “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (Jas 1:12). Now I’m with you, James! I can see the process and how I can consider it joy:

Commitment to Christ -> Trials -> Perseverance -> Maturity -> Crown of Life!

In chapter five, James brings up perseverance again: “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (Jas 5:11). Job went through extreme trials that I hope you never have to face. But James is reminding us: look what God did for Job in the end!

Like James, I am a big believer of keeping the end in mind, especially when it comes to Heaven. When we set our eyes, our minds, and our hearts on the “end game,” it makes it easier to keep putting one foot in front of the other in faith. My favorite verses about perseverance are the “overcomer” verses in Revelation, chapters two and three. Take some time to read those two chapters and look for this pattern: “To him who overcomes, I will give_______.” (NOTE: the NKJV uses “who overcomes,” while other versions use “who is victorious.”)

I’ll whet your appetite by giving you the first one: "To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Rev 2:7b NKJV). James told us we will receive the crown of life if we persevere, but we learn from John in Revelation that we will also eat from the tree of life in Paradise! I can definitely feel joy when I keep that end in mind! Keep reading those two chapters and you will find more exciting promises for those who overcome.

We all face trials that test our commitment to Christ. Sometimes we must persevere through “big” trials:

• Trusting God through a medical diagnosis that turns our world upside down.
• Holding His hand through the unexpected death of a loved one.
• Bringing Him our doubts about His plans.

Sometimes we persevere through our everyday, “mundane” trials:

• Stopping those hurtful words from escaping our lips during an argument.
• Turning our eyes away from images that corrupt our minds.
• Extending grace and acceptance to the coworker who is hard to be around.

Big or small, God sees your perseverance and will reward you.

Are there “big” trials you are facing right now? What “mundane” trials do you struggle with? Which of the “end game” promises above would help you persevere in your commitment to God?

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9 NIV).

Written by Marissa Gonzáles, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Guatemala

"Pray continually." (1Th 5:17 NIV)

As we read this verse, many of us may ask ourselves, “How can I accomplish this?”

Although some of us learned to pray from our parents or from someone who guided us in our spiritual lives, others did not have that support or teaching—they learned in the process of their growth in faith.

At some point in our lives, we all ask ourselves, “How should I pray? What will be the best way to do it?” Or we worry, “Why is our prayer not as fluid as others?”

Remember, praying is like conversing with someone very close to you to whom you want to tell everything you are going through or your life plans. In it, we find and achieve a close connection, and who better to do this with than our Heavenly Father—remembering that He is the center of everything and that our relationship with Him strengthens our life, faith, and prayers. When you start in prayer, it does not need to be extensive; start small, from your heart, and over time, it will become easier and more fluid.

Remember Jesus saying, "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Mt 6:6).

Whenever possible, find a place without distractions where you feel comfortable. I know that for moms, grandmothers, or those in charge of a little one, it is not easy to have these spaces. But as soon as you have those little quiet moments, take advantage of them! Give yourself some time for your communication with God, especially if it's at the beginning of the day, and find a place where you feel safe, and where you can connect and know that He hears you. Jesus set the example for us.

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." (Mk 1:35)

I know it may not be easy to get started, but something that helped me was to make a list of thanksgiving where I could write simple things: thanks for light, cold, heat, etc. Your list may initially be small, but you'll gradually add more. Also, consider in that list what you think are "bad" things; for example, you left home late, the tire of your car or motorcycle was punctured, the transportion you were awaiting was delayed, etc. You'll say, “Be thankful for that?!” Yes, there's something good in everything. What seems bad to you will leave you with a lesson learned, or it will free you from something more unpleasant than just the displeasure of the moment.

Remember the fruit of the Holy Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Gal 5:22-25)

And remember, praying isn't just about exposing all the needs or difficulties you're going through; it's not even just asking for what you don't have. Rather, it is the means to find peace as you connect with our Father, being grateful for what He allowed you to experience whether it is considered good or bad.

So, start by expressing thanks for every moment... Thank you, God, for this day, thank you for my family, thank you for the coffee, thank you...

Some may say, "How can you give thanks even for coffee?” Yes, we should also be thankful for little things like that because they give us pleasant and comfortable moments! By doing this, we improve our dialogue with God because it will no longer be just about giving thanks; we will also be mindful of why we say thank you. We will understand every situation in our daily lives, and we will be aware that we can change our attitude towards life and others, and that's where our relationship with God will grow.

With this as a foundation, you will form your prayer. Remember that Jesus left us guidance and an example when He prayed to the Father (Mt 6:7-15). Honoring our Heavenly Father, let us humbly present ourselves, ask Him for forgiveness for those faults we have committed, thank Him, express our love and trust in Him, and express what we feel from the heart— total dependency (24x7).

Be thoughtful about your prayers. Which do you do more: asking or being thankful?

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

“...On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.” (Ps. 63:6 NIV)

Ever since I came to know the love and mercy of a Sovereign God, prayer has been a sublime spiritual activity. In prayer, soul and Divinity are connected, making possible the experience of life and healing. Today, being committed to Christ, every moment leads me to a fuller relationship with Him and, therefore, to follow the model prayer that He left us.

In my childhood, the prayer I learned from the Lord's Prayer became that direct conversation with Him. I didn't know then that this prayer would be the reference pattern for structuring my prayers in a particular way in vigils, by day and by night, where it would fill me with faith and spiritual awareness.

I remember that almost 25 years ago, I entered the hospital to give birth to my first daughter. It was a rainy night and one of the times when I began to pour myself out in prayer. Sorting out my thoughts and feelings, I recognized the grandeur of that moment of waiting, knowing that it was He who was with me.

At that moment, the pattern of prayer I learned as a child flashed through my mind, and in that experience, Almighty God and His purposes led me to cry out for sanctification in His holy name. Driven to do His will in that moment of uncertainty, not knowing what would happen, in that moment I came to ask for forgiveness with all my being and that I would forgive those who had offended me.. In the midst of pain unknown and new to me, I was filled with strength, concentration, and security that led to the success of a new life for the glory of God. This situation filled me with spiritual satisfaction from that moment until today. I have chosen that which allows my heart and soul to reject the sinful nature which counteracts the spiritual by separating me from God, , but instead nourishes me in this race of life.

From then on, every night vigil has comforted me. I know that in the presence of the Eternal and in uninterrupted intimate meditation, my mind, heart, and soul come together to confirm the security of His existence, giving answers in the Lord's perfect timing for every request and thanksgiving.

The nights, despite the day's weariness, are the most significant time in my relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is then that I can give an account of the day, its trials, and its learning, being at rest, knowing that everything is done in His name (is in His control).

Praying is, and always will be, a holy privilege, where unique communication flows with the majesty of the Heavenly Father through Christ Jesus and His teachings, miracles, and human and holy examples that inspire us to follow in His footsteps of salvation and continual reflection.

All of the above points to full harmony and commitment to Christ, which is why in every prayer of the soul, there is so much peace, which is superior to any distraction from the earthly world.

Likewise, in prayer you learn dependence, submission, love, security, and certainty that everything depends on God's will, not yours. Prayer is, and always will be, the continuous path to spiritual blessings at all times—in times of joy, in struggles, in trials, in times of seeking direction and holiness. You sanctify, you bless His divine nature, you focus on His will to which you were called, you ask for physical help in earthly survival, you are led to forgiveness towards your neighbor and yourself, you receive strength to keep you from falling into temptation, and you are freed from evil.

When I can't sleep, I pray. Before I sleep, I pray, and my thoughts are held captive, keeping me aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit in every moment of life.

Do you live and love prayer? When you lie down, are your thoughts united with Christ?

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

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Php. 4:6 ESV)

There is no better story to illustrate this teaching than the very situation that the apostle Paul was going through while writing this letter. He was imprisoned in Rome between about 60 and 62 A.D. However, the Philippian brothers were loyal to him and his teachings, so they constantly sent monetary aid through Epaphroditus. For this reason, Paul constantly prayed that they would maintain unity in Christ Jesus, subduing their pride so that the fruit of joy would spring up in the whole church. Paul was imprisoned, and although he was a very strong man, he did not stop being a human; he did not stop feeling. Think for a moment how distressing it must have been to be among such dangerous people and ruthless soldiers. Still, his refuge was the God of Israel.

Something similar happened to King David. Let’s look at this Psalm: "In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears" (Ps. 18:6). There is no better refuge than Jehovah's heart. David was also being persecuted and felt that his heart was being oppressed. However, we see that he placed his trust in God in supplication because he was sure that he would be heard.

The apostle Paul expressed the same thing. I find it incredible that he tells us not to worry about anything and to remove that worry by asking God for what we need and being grateful for what we have right now, perhaps because to be grateful is to keep our minds occupied with our blessings.

I can imagine Paul on his knees, always crying out for God’s mercy. This deepened his intimate relationship with the Creator. He teaches us that, amidst our problems, approaching confidently the throne of grace through prayer strengthens our intimacy with God.

For the Philippians, it was not only a concern of everyday life; it should be added that at that time, being a Christian was almost synonymous with death. Still, they would have to learn to trust God and use prayer as the vehicle that would lead them to find peace. Commentator William Barclay said, "He who prays with perfect confidence in the love, wisdom, and power of God will find the peace of God.”

My dear reader, I know it's hard to pray and give thanks when we don't have a job, or when we're sick, or when a loved one is sick. Paul's call, however, is to keep our minds in a constant state of gratitude for what God has given us, such as the salvation of our souls and the knowledge of His Eternal Kingdom. He hears us and, like a loving Father, He will heed our requests. One thing I've learned over the past few years is that God is the only merciful being, and His love is kind. Therefore, praying constantly with all our hearts will keep us from being dependent on the volatility of human beings.

Written by Iron Rose Sister Ministries team and Board Members


As President of the Board and self-appointed, glorified cheerleader for IRSM, my prayer request is for unity and wisdom as the team and board work together to God’s glory.
~ Katie Forbess, President of the Board

Thankful for all of the resources provided by God, I pray that we will calm our hearts enough to allow us to step back and look at the many needs in the ministry, the wisdom to discern and set priorities, and the will and strength that trusts in God’s power and strength to do everything possible to tend to them. In Jesus' name,
~ Fernando Butch Sandoval, Board Member

My prayer is that IRSM will be integral to more churches in equipping and encouraging their women members.
~ Mark Vaughn, Board Member

I pray for all our Iron Rose Sisters to find peace amidst the chaos, and to seek the glory of God. May we store up our treasures in heaven.
~ Wendy Neill, Advancement Coordinator

I pray that IRSM continues to be strengthened as a community and that these resources may bless and connect people.
~ Alex Marins, English/Portuguese Translator/Editor

Thank you, Lord, for what you do through this ministry. Continue using it to equip women and show them how much You love and care for them.
~ Débora Rodrigo, English/Spanish Translator/Editor

I pray for direction for the Ministério Irmã Rosa de Ferro so that it will glorify God in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking countries in 2024.
~ Laurie Diles, Board Member

My prayer for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in 2024 is for God to continue to be glorified in all it does, for women to continue to be equipped, encouraged, and empowered through its resources, and for relationships to continue to deepen in Christ.
~ Amanda Nitsch, Director of Operations

My prayer is that God may direct us to the women who hunger and thirst for the gospel—that we can provide them with Bible teaching and study materials to help them in their walk and share with others around them.
~ Judy Larsen, Office Assistant

May God open the doors so that we can present the ministry in person in more places in Brazil, organizing and participating in events.
~ Beliza Kočev, Brazil Coordinator

My prayer is that God will continue to bless the areas where IRSM is already having an impact and open up new places in the world for IRSM to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.
~ Juana Hall, Financial Assistant

I pray that all that we share in social media may, in one way or another, impact the women who follow us. May we encourage them to draw closer to God and each other with the help of the ministry.
~ Francia Oviedo, Creative Assistant

May God continue to use us to equip, encourage, and empower women in their walks with God and each other, especially through the new book that will be released this fall and the new video resources rolling out in Spanish and Portuguese.
~ Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director

We request that you pray with us for those who need the connection and encouragement to find their way to our ministry and that our ministry will bring them closer to the Lord. Similarly, please pray for all of us Iron Rose Sisters, that we will be welcoming and genuine representatives of Jesus when others cross our paths.
~ Hannah Hackworth, Virtual Assistant

May God allow the team and board members to work together to fulfill God’s calling for Iron Rose Sister Ministries by remaining committed to Christ individually, and that all our efforts during the year will encourage, equip, and empower women across the Americas to seek God’s kingdom and remain committed to Christ!
~ Brenda Brizendine, Assistant Director

I pray that all the women who have been blessed by IRSM will use the teaching and resources they have received and share them with others this year. In this way, those who have been blessed may become a blessing to many others.
~ Bill Richardson, Board Member

I pray that 2024 will be a year of banner growth for IRSM! I pray for good health and wellbeing for Michelle and the entire IRSM team and board. Most importantly, I pray that each and every woman who connects with IRSM grows exponentially in their faith or comes to know Jesus through this beautiful ministry.
~ Kat Bittner, Board Member

My prayer is that God will use each of our gifts and talents for this ministry to build and support women's efforts to fully commit to Christ in 2024 through blogs, books, workshops, prayer, and fellowship.
~ Brenda Davis, English Editor

Written by Claudia Perez, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Alabama

God's Word tells us, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God" (Php. 4:6 ESV).

We live in a world where we find ourselves in different situations. Many times, the burdens of this life absorb us, and we fall into anxiety and worry. These burdens and anxieties often lead us away from our primary purpose, which is to glorify our God and fellowship with Him.

Throughout my life, I have had moments of blessings, happiness, and joy. The Lord blessed me with work, life, and health. Sadly and shamefully, I confess that in those moments, I sometimes forgot to cry out to God. I was very busy with my work responsibilities and the affairs of this life to the point of allowing physical and mental exhaustion to get in the way of my communion with God through prayer.

Three years ago, while hospitalized, I went through a rough patch and learned that God was not my 911 emergency number. I must confess that, in those moments, many thoughts invaded my mind. Satan filled me with fear and dread. I decided to start praying and these verses of hope came to mind, verses I had read many times before: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Php. 1:21), "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Php. 4:13).

Due to my circumstances, anxiety was invading my mind. As flesh, we will inevitably go through situations like this. The important thing is that in those moments, we remember the Lord's promises and ask for His will to be done in us. This is the difficult part because truthfully, our spirit wills it, but our fleshly weakness gets in the way.

We are afraid to submit ourselves to God's will. It is here that the struggle of the spirit and the flesh comes into play. But it is here, sisters, that we must use the most powerful weapon we have to overcome our flesh: prayer. It is through prayer that our spirit finds peace and we have full communion with our God. In difficult times, we may think no one listens to us, and our faith often fails. However, it is important to remember God's promise, "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jer. 33:3).

But is it only in those difficult moments that prayer should be an active part of our lives? What does the Bible say about giving thanks? In moments of joy, wellbeing, and peace, we neglect to raise prayers of thanksgiving to God. God wants us to cry out to Him in every situation in our lives.

The best example of prayer in any situation was shown to us by the Master. Our Lord prayed at all times and in every situation. He always entrusted Himself to the Father in prayer, asking for His guidance to do His will and thus glorify Him.

Sisters, when we understand this, we will understand the great privilege we have through prayer. Apart from communicating directly with the Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, we will also glorify Him. It is in prayer that we submit our will fully to His will so that His purpose will be fulfilled in us, and His name glorified through our lives. God always cares for us when we abandon our will and entrust ourselves to Him. Remember what the apostle Peter says, "…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you" (1Pe. 5:7).

Beloved sisters, in this world we will face different situations. It is my desire that in any situation we pray and cry out to the One who desires the best for us. Are you willing to submit your will to the Father's? Are you willing to wait and trust the Lord always, no matter the circumstances?

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

Being an Iron Rose Sister provides great opportunities each week for endless spiritual blessings resulting from the teachings that we read and from meditating on those wonderful words shared by Christian sisters. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3 NASB).

There are many spiritual blessings for which we were chosen from the beginning so that we may be set aside as His adopted children. As indicated in the quoted text from Ephesians 1 onward, we are described as princesses of the heavenly kingdom since we have been saved and are striving to live for the glory of God.

In this year 2023, I have observed in more detail how each sister throughout the world who writes for this blog is a beautiful instrument of the Lord to deliver biblical messages and personal stories, called with great love "Godstories". These show how the Heavenly Father Himself in His infinite purposes uses each life experience to make His power and majesty known.

Together, as the virtuous Michelle, the beautiful Deanna, the unique Ana Teresa, the cheerful Sabrina, elegant Aileen, joyful Kat, fervent Kara, creative Corina, fun Katie, jovial Ann, loving Jocelynn, pretty Alina, always kind Brenda, expressive Francia, fascinating Nilaurys, attractive Claudia, cute Marbella, delicate Elina, brilliant Brenda Davis, faithful Wendy, radiant Liliana, great Lindsay, smiling Beliza, assertive Rianna, enterprising Karyn, dedicated Lisanka, and many others, we have shared each blog with the love of God and the heart of the Lord.

Convinced by the relational discoveries that undoubtedly show a range of experiences and moments of life how we are connected, this connection allows us to teach and learn from each other. For this reason, I feel that we are a great team and every day I get to know and love them much more, creating a bond of fellowship, equality, and continuous growth of faith and hope in the Lord Jesus.

Many are the themes shared by these various writer-sisters that have touched my heart and have led me to reflect on my needs; through their writing they all teach, knowing how to relate as a team in spiritual harmony. Likewise, they have strengthened my belief in the undeniable fact that I will never be alone— that I am always in unity with the Maker of Life and therefore with my fellow sister.

I confess that it has been difficult for me to write to you; it is easier for me to communicate verbally than with a written message. But these sisters have encouraged me with their distinct examples to do it better and better, and I am confident you will understand me because of the different learning styles that have also been described in previous blogs, and that in each facet of life, our talents are acquired and perfected through cognitive stimulation, daily practice, and seeking God’s wisdom.

In short, writing will always be an art. That is why writing is not simply a recording of facts, but also involves knowing how to make oneself understood and felt, and reaching the audience in a meaningful way, I am constantly reminded that the main protagonist without question is and always will be the Holy Spirit, the Guide of each topic presented. That is how I have been able to perceive it at all times in the service of the Almighty.

In addition, I particularly consider that the inter-learning process of these human and spiritual relationships allows each of us to benefit from our combined experiences. This leads us to have the mind of the Lord, and I love that. "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5 NIV)

Therefore, all the manifestations of faith that are projected in each blog entry communicates what exists in each writer’s heart. It is made known at their level of self-knowledge, feelings, thoughts, motor skills, socio-emotional communication, innumerable teaching capacities, and acquisition of continuous learning.

As we think about this theme of relationships that unite us, I would like to bless and encourage each of us who is a part of Iron Rose Sister Ministries not only to consider the written offerings on the theme. Also, to consider the connection that comes from above and that surrounds us to equip ourselves with increasing capabilities to enrich individual and group growth, and to live out the faith, hope and love that characterizes us.

Are you willing? Are you brave and willing to empower every precious Iron Rose Sister to decide to teach and learn in their own relationships? Do you maintain an ongoing relationship with Heavenly Father through prayer so that you can develop communication with each other?

Go ahead— together in unity let's continue to be a great team, precious to God.