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The first Iron Rose Sister Ministries book written was called Human AND Holy; yet is easy to forget to allow myself to be human. A mentor reminded me of this truth and encouraged me to show my human side and allow others in, to help, to support, and to encourage.

Many look to me as their mentor. What the Holy Spirit inspires me to write on the pages of the Bible study books or leads me to say during the classes I teach can give people the impression that I am some sort of super-Christian. Allow me to remind you that I am not. Far from it.

I make mistakes. I get impatient. I speak without thinking. I care too much about what others think of me. I try to solve things myself instead of taking them to God or asking others to help.

And yet, I know I am not alone.
• There are those who lovingly help point out my faults so that they can be pruned for more effective growth (Eph. 4:15; John 15:2).
• There are those who stand beside me with their shields of faith next to mine as we are attacked by the flaming arrows of spiritual warfare (Eph. 6:10-18).
• There are those who hold up my arms when I am weak in order that God can win the battle (Ex. 17:10-11).
• And therefore, I will boast in my weakness, for when I am weak, He is strong (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Mentors are not perfect. Mentors are those that show and affirm their human side while striving to model a Christ-like spirit and live by the Spirit, focusing on the I AM (1 Cor. 11:1; Rom. 8:5, 11; Heb. 12:2).

Editing the chapters of the upcoming book, I already AM, has been a timely reminder to focus on the I AM, to renew my belief in YHWH, and to share my testimony of belief with you. Thanks for your prayers!

One final illustration shared by the same mentor during our conversation: When we feel like we are in a boat that is sinking and taking on water, we grab a bucket and start shoveling out water, trying desperately to stay afloat. However, we forget that Jesus is right there in the boat with us.

The I AM is not surprised by anything happening in your life. He is there—He always was, is, and is to come. Call on Him and rejoice in knowing we are not alone. Thank Him for the mentors in your life that remind you of that truth and share those truths with others as we mentor together.

#IronRoseSister #mentor #teaching2teach 

• mentor

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

This verse in 2 Timothy was conceptually quoted by my paternal uncle in the following letter that he sent with a donation at the end of last year.

Your dad’s and my Grandmother Goff’s father, Joshua Florea, founded Tent Chapel Church of Christ just across the Missouri line in Southern Iowa in the late 1800s. Services were held in a tent until a church structure could be built, thus the name. It was the church in which my entire family attended. The members were mostly blood-related in some way and it formed much of our early family’s social fabric.

Grandma Goff lived just across the road from us and was an enormously important influence in forming my set of values and my education, both of which I continue to be extremely thankful for. On my 80^th birthday, I told my family that the only celebration that I wanted was to establish a tiny scholarship fund at Grant City High School in the name of Maude A. Goff.

At this Thanksgiving, several generations later, it seems fitting to express our gratitude for your strong vision and leadership in your missionary work with Iron Rose Sister Ministries with this donation. You are changing people’s lives for the better! As did your Great-Grandmother Goff and her father.

God bless and God Speed,

Uncle Bob

As we answer God’s call to equip women to connect to God and one another more deeply, we recognize that we may never know the long-term impact of the difference we are making in each woman’s life. My Great-Grandmother Goff may not have ever dreamed about what her children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren might do in the kingdom. Yet, she did what she could do to touch even one life, trusting that God can use one woman’s impact to transform families, communities, churches, and the world.

Intentional mentoring is integral to the equipping process. Everyone seeks examples to follow—the younger sibling who imitates the older, the student who quotes her teacher, the disciple who follows His Master (1 Peter 2:21).

This month, we are celebrating the mentors in our lives, especially the spiritual mothers who have made a tremendous impact in our lives and modeled the Christian walk.

Celebrate the spiritual mothers and mentors in your life by:

• Sharing their name and story.
• Inviting them to attend the Destination Retreat with you in November.
• Letting them know how much they mean to you and the impact they have made in your lives.
• Passing it on to the next generation.

#IronRoseSister #mentor #teach2teach #spiritualmom