Iron Rose Sister Ministries

Love is Eternal

Written by Wendy Neill
I remember the “Aha” moment. I wrote it in the margins of my Bible beside 1 Corinthians 13:13. It was September of 1998 and Brother Ira Edwards was teaching Bible class in Delta, Colorado. I was a mother of a one year old, so I was probably struggling to stay awake, but Brother Ira was a wise teacher and I enjoyed hearing what he had to say.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” There are a lot of reasons love might be considered the greatest (and Michelle has provided us with a great list in her recent post). But the reason Brother Ira pointed out that day really spoke to me. He said, “Love is the only one of the three that is eternal. In heaven, there will be no more need for faith and hope.” Wow. Have you ever thought about that? When we get to heaven, we will be face-to-face with God who IS love. We will no longer need faith, because our faith will be replaced by sight. We will no longer need hope, because all of our hopes will be fulfilled. But his love for us will last forever and we will soak it up like a warm bath.

I wrote a blog post here last year about my friend, Effie. This year, Effie went home to the Lord. I miss her, but it is a thrill for me to think that she no longer needs faith and hope, because she is in the presence of Love. And so is Brother Ira. And so I will be someday.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17b-19

In Mark’s account of the Greatest Command, he highlights the depth of love we should have for God.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
What does it mean to love God will heart, soul, mind, and strength?
I interpret that to mean that I should love Him with everything I feel (heart), who I am (soul), what I think (mind), and what I do (strength).
But can I love Him that completely if I don’t give Him my time?
If I add the phrase, “Love the Lord your God with all your time,” I am brought to a whole new level of application for what it means to truly and deeply love God.
This week, as many are making plans for the New Year, and as we have been recently reminded of one of God’s ultimate demonstrations of love by sending His Son to earth—I am going to reflect on what it means to love the Lord my God with all my time. That seems like a greater sacrifice of love than heart, soul, mind, and strength.
How can you love God with all your time this week and into next year?

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” (John 15:9)
Some people are easy to love—my nephew and niece, for example.
Having a forty-pound monkey on my back during portions of the family hike was in no way a burden because of the love we share. His sweet, never-ending kisses and the time we can spend reading stories in Spanish are precious moments I treasure.
My niece is growing and learning to laugh. Her smiles are infectious and every little thing she does is a delight.
God is not burdened when we place things on His shoulders because of His tremendous love for us. He longs to remind us that we are a part of His eternal love story.
And just as we rejoice in the new things my niece discovers, never tiring of her smiles and snuggles, God never wavers in His infinite love for us.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)
Love defines us as God’s disciples.
The more we dwell in His love, the easier it is to extend that love to others.
Not only are you a beloved child of God, but so are His other disciples.
How can you show your Christian sister God’s love for her today? Take a moment to share God’s love story and delight in what God is doing in your lives.

Mustard Seeds
Written by Erica Peck

Let’s talk seeds. Mustard seeds, to be specific. They are the smallest seed a gardener could hold in their hand, and yet that tiny seed can grow into a gigantic tree, reaching about 20 feet tall. It’s a plant that grows quickly, reaching its full size in only a few years. Though it starts as the smallest seed you’ll ever hold in your hand, it will grow to occupy a large space—so you better make sure it’s got some room!

18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches." (Luke 13:18-19)

Jesus was always good about using concrete examples in this world that people could see and touch in order to describe aspects of Himself, or about the kingdom of heaven in His parables. Did you know that mustard trees grow wild throughout much of the Middle East and Africa? And that it can survive on as little as 8 inches of rainfall per year? It’s hardy and strong. When Jesus told the people this parable, He may very well have been walking next to one, pointing up at its branches so everyone could see and truly understand.

In another place in scripture, Jesus tells us, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Have you ever held a mustard seed in your hand? It’s so small, you feel like it may slip from your hand and drop it. And yet Jesus tells us that if we have faith even that small, “nothing will be impossible for us.” His kingdom will grow like a mustard seed—gigantic, growing quickly, and surviving, even the roughest of places. I believe this is true. Do you? In your circles of influence, where can you plant a “mustard seed” today? Will it be in a conversation with your co-worker? In the heart of your sticky-faced toddler? With the woman at the grocery store? Your influence has a farther reach than you think. And I have faith that He will use those seeds to grow His kingdom strong and mighty.

Written by Melanie Curtis, Office assistant for Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, AR.

Do you ever feel lost in this world? Like everything is meaningless, or what you’re doing in life either isn’t enough, or you aren’t where you thought you’d be? Even one of the wisest people ever, King Solomon, felt this way. He had everything he could have ever imagined and more—power, wealth, influence... Yet somehow, in Ecclesiastes 1:2-3, he still complained, “‘Meaningless! Meaningless!’ says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?”

Lately, with all the stress in life, and in the world around us, we may wonder, “Is it even worth it? Will anything I do make a difference anyway?” Jesus did not hold to this philosophy. He said, “‘Everything is possible for one who believes’” (Mark 9:23b), and, speaking of salvation, “‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God’” (Mark 10:27b).

So what are some ways we can fulfill our function in the body of Christ, even in the midst of insecurity, change, and doubt? We should look to the Lord for help in this matter, searching the Word, praying for guidance, and looking at Jesus’ example. Below are some Scriptural examples that can guide and encourage us:
1. Remember to LOVE.
“The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world...Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:4b & 7)

2. Remember WHO your motivation is.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23)

3. Remember even the little things can make a BIG difference.
“‘Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”’” (Matthew 25:34-40)

4. Remember WHOSE you are and what that means.
“‘But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:33-34)

I leave you with this verse, Solomon’s final conclusion regarding our purpose in life:
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

The prayer at the end of Ephesians 3 has always been one of my favorites. The reminder of the depth, length, height, and depth of God’s love... that His power is at work with me... and that He is able to do beyond what I can ask or imagine. Wow!
These familiar verses fill me with hope, but the renewal of strength came when I took a longer minute to reflect on the way faith and love are an integral part of making it all possible. Christ dwells in my heart through faith—and that faith allows me to comprehend the vastness of His love. I can even know His love that surpasses knowledge. Mind blown. Re-read these verses with me from Ephesians 3:14-21. May you, too, be rooted, grounded, and established in that love, filled with faith that powerfully works in and through us.
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love,18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The Bible is a love story, offering hope to a world without purpose or direction.
And this time of year, in the midst of the commercialism that surrounds the holiday, we are given the opportunity to remember and to share that message of love and hope with others.
Hope came in the form of a child, a babe wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12).
Love came down from heaven, became flesh and dwelt among us (1 John 4:8, John 1:14).
Emmanuel, God with us, was born as the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy and promise of hope.
Love from the Father, personified in the Son, reinforced through the Spirit.
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. (2 Thes. 2:16-17)
Take a moment today to share that love and hope with at least two people you know—a reminder to someone who already knows and an invitation to someone who doesn’t.

At times, all one can do is take the right next step, do the next right thing.
We are tired or overwhelmed. Life is crashing in around us and the light at the end of the tunnel is barely a hope.
In those moments, we are truly walking by faith, not by sight.

What can we do when we find ourselves in this kind of situation?
• Remember that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains (Matt. 17:20).
• Remember that God is working in ways that we cannot see.
2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
We don’t know if Elisha could see with his physical eyes that the army of the Lord surrounded them. But we do know that he looked with eyes of faith.
Having trouble seeing with eyes of faith?
• Finally, remember that we can echo the prayer of the father in Mark 9:23-24.
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Take the right next step. And that may be to ask that God help you see with eyes of faith so that you can walk by faith, and not by sight.

In His infinite love, God sent His Son to be born of a virgin. And while we celebrate Christ’s birth in December, it is His resurrection that transforms our hope into a living hope.
For if we are united with Him in His death, we will surely also be untied with Him in the resurrection (Romans 6:4).
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3).
And since we are offered new birth into a living hope, we can live in hope.
What does it look like to live in hope—to have a living hope?
Dead hope weighs us down.
Living hope uplifts.
False hope distorts.
True hope inspires.
Dead hope frustrates.
Living hope encourages.
False hope discourages.
True hope transforms.
Thank you, Father, for true living hope!

Waiting is no fun. But when I wait in expectation, filled with hope, the waiting is not in vain.
Yesterday, as we highlighted God’s big picture plan through the waiting, I was reminded of the various ways we can translate or understand the word “wait.”
In Spanish and in Hebrew, there is a verb that can be translated three ways into English—wait, hope, or expect.
While each of those three words has their own nuances or unique connotations, let’s think about how much greater our hope would be if we wait, hope, and expect in the Lord.
Micah 7:7 gives a good example of all three concepts in the same verse:
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
If we watch in hope, we expect that his promises will be fulfilled. We wait, not knowing the time-frame, but expecting with hope.
What a blessing!
Now, let’s look at two more verses, inserting the three possible translations for new insight.
Those who wait, hope, and expect in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
Be strong and take heart, all you who wait, hope, and expect in the Lord. (Psalm 31:24)

Written by: Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, AR.
Friendship. Fellowship. Togetherness. Caring. Our Creator made us for relationships, and in the past few months, because of COVID-19, most of us have realized how precious our time is with “one another.”

Our times of being together for worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ went to online events. Many of us had to postpone family gatherings and celebrations, and we missed “one another.”

“One another”... ἀλλήλων (ah LAY loan) is two words in English, but it is only one word in Greek. I like that thought.

ἀλλήλων is used 100 times in 94 New Testament passages. Forty-seven give instructions to Christians.

When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment was, He responded, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39.)

Jesus response was from the Shema, a passage every Jewish child learned early in life (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

From the “one-another” passages, we learn how to love our neighbor as ourselves:
Be at peace.
Don’t grumble.
Be of the same mind.
Gently and patiently tolerate.
Be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving.
Seek good.
Confess sins.
Love.
Serve.
Be devoted.
Give preference.
Be in submission.
Speak truth.
Comfort.
Encourage.
Stimulate to love and good deeds.
Pray.
Be hospitable.

We sing “Bind us together LORD...with cords that cannot be broken.” King Solomon wrote, “And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him – a threefold cord is not quickly broken” (Eccl. 4:12).

Jesus told His followers: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

First John 4:20 tells us how important it is to love one another: “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” These are powerful words, just as relevant to our lives today as they were 2000 years ago when John wrote them.

Jesus prayed for unity in John 17:11: “...they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.” This prayer was not just for those disciples with Jesus at that moment; later, in verses 20-21, He prays: “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Wouldn’t it be a wonderful world if we put “one-another” into everyday practice in our lives?

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Israelites were a rebellious nation. They served other gods and followed a path of adulterous unfaithfulness.
In the book of Jeremiah, God speaks to His people through the prophet Jeremiah to remind them that He has not forgotten them. And in chapter 29, Jeremiah pens a letter to the people who had been taken in exile to Babylon. In the midst of this historical context, we see God’s often-quoted promise to give us hope and a future.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
While the time in Babylonian captivity was partially designed as discipline for Israel’s infidelity, it also served as an opportunity to share with other nations more directly about who God was and invite them into relationship with Him, the sovereign Lord.
Remember Daniel and his friends? What a testimony they gave to the Babylonian and Medo-Persian nations. God has plans to give us hope and a future. It just may not look like we would want it to at the time.
Ultimately, God is in control. Whether the things that happen in our lives are a consequence of our actions, a form of disciple, the product of our decisions, or the design of God, the most important thing to remember is that God has a plan—a plan to give us hope and a future.
God’s plan is divine, infinite, supreme, and the ultimate source of hope for a redeemed future.

1 Corinthians 13:13 says that the greatest of these is love.
Buy why is love the greatest? Here are a few answers from Scripture.
Love prompted God to send His Son (John 3:16).
Love is the foundation of our priorities (Matt. 22:34-40).
Love sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 22:40).
Love conquers fear (1 John 4:18).
Love forms an unbreakable bond with God (Romans 8:35-39).
Love covers over a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8).
Love inspires obedience (John 14:15-24, 15:10).
Love works things together for good, reminding us that God is in control (Romans 8:28).
Love takes wise action with others (Romans 12:9-21).
Love makes things worthwhile (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Do you know anything else that can do all that?
Only God, himself. But since God is love (1 John 4:8), that must be part of why love is the greatest.

Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Searcy, AR.

Working with others in a group can be a prickly situation at times, especially if one or two have the tendency to take charge. Recently I was reading through a journal and came upon some memories where I wrote this scripture:

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” (Romans 12:18).

We were a close-knit group of mothers who had worked well together on many events as our children grew up. This meeting was to plan one of the biggest events of their school year experiences. 

The mother who had asked me to chair the meeting said she wanted to say something first, so with my “OK,” she and another mother took over. 

Our events had always been planned by group discussion and sometimes a vote, but these two mothers already had the theme chosen and were telling everyone what we would do. As I looked around the table, I could see it was not setting well with some of the moms... confusion... irritation... and three or four got up and left. One whispered to me it was obvious she was not needed. 

Their ideas were good, but the way they were being presented could lead to friction. When they finished, one said, “Oops, we talked so long, no one else had a chance. Hope y’all like our plan!” I lingered after most left, and one asked if I knew why some left during the meeting. 

Both ladies teared up when they realized that others thought they had “hijacked” the meeting and there was the potential for hard feelings. Their ideas had been very good, and “taking over” had not been their intent...they had just been together one day, and ideas began flowing, and they wanted to share them. 

I told them they could count on me and suggested they call the other mothers and ask for suggestions and what they wanted to do to help. It was a progressive dinner, so there were four houses with different foods and decorations. 

Our dinner was a wonderful success, and the kids loved it. It went smoothly because:

1. The two ladies made phone calls, apologizing for “taking over” in their excitement to share ideas.

2. Both “sides” stepped back and listened to the others.

3. No one made demands.

1 Corinthians 13:4 reminds us love does not insist on its own way. 

Working in a group with others can be challenging, because of personalities involved. Some people just naturally take charge, and others prefer to sit back and do what they are assigned. 

Working together means remembering Philippians 2:3, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” 

When we remember that whatever we do, we should “work heartily, as for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23), it makes keeping our eyes on the ultimate goal easier and provides for a smoother relationship within the group. 

Let us enjoy the fellowship of working together, so Satan gains no foothold (Ephesians 4:27) in our relationships.