DAY 1 - IRON: WHO AND WHAT WE ARE

“As Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17 NASB)

I always knew that I wanted to serve my country, even as a little boy. Through my imagination and with a stick from the woods, I was able to envision being a warrior that could defeat any enemy that I faced. I guess you could say that I loved the image of a soldier, for after all, he was tough, strong, and courageous. He was the ideal image of “Iron.” Iron changed warfare as we know it. When iron production began, a new age was born and history was changed. Iron was able to be crafted into the greatest weapons of its day, and in the hands of the right soldier, it could be used in battle to bring victory.

As a follower of Jesus, you and I are the iron that the writer of this proverb speaks of. We are directed to be a people of strength who will defy the odds and press forward in the toughest moments of life. Ultimately, we are to be warriors that are unashamed of our mission, confident in our God, and ready to move at the commander’s call. This is what is required of you “IronMaker”...are you up for the challenge?

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  Exercise today, yes, I said exercise (gym, running, walking, anything that requires you to do something to challenge your body); and while you are exercising, meditate on

Proverb 27:17.  (Don’t whine, it’s good for you.)

Prayer:  Lord, we ask you to sharpen us and to use us to sharpen others. I surrender to your call and will follow your ways.

John Branning

Lead Pastor, Central United Methodist Church

Chaplain (MAJ) 185^th Theater Aviation Brigade

DAY 2 - SHARPENING THE IRON

“Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way.” (Isa. 35:3 NIV)

Being a first-time father of a newborn, I was scared to death. At that time, I had no idea of what I was doing. As my daughter slowly grew, she began trying so hard to stand up on her own. I feared she would hurt herself, so every time she fell down, I quickly scooped her up. After several weeks of her standing and falling, I had to realize that this was a process she must take on her own. At first her little knees were very shaky, and it was hard for her to keep balanced. In the beginning, she would hold on to my hands in order to steady herself. Over time though, she was becoming more confident and then she was walking! Just like any parent would be, I was cheering her on. I was so proud of her!

I can imagine that is how God looks at us. He is so proud when we are able to stand firm in our faith. In the beginning, we are weak and wobbly, but our Father is there holding us with His hand. Every time we fall, God is there to pick us up. Soon, we gain enough strength where we are able to walk in the light of His presence. Discipleship takes time; it takes perseverance and determination. It also takes us cheering each other on to go on to greater and greater faith.

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  Today, encourage someone to keep walking in the faith.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help me to grow stronger in my walk with you and bring me into contact with someone who needs encouraging today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.  

Dennis Gossett

DAY 3 - THE POWER OF CHOICE

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate….” (Genesis 3:6)

The power of choice is evident in our culture. We have been told or have told our children, "You can be and do whatever it is you put your mind to." I remember my daddy telling me this when I was a small girl! Right there, at such a young age, my dad was initially saying I have power…the power of choice in my life. Wow! What a huge responsibility it is to have the power of choice. The choices that we have made in the past affect our present lives. The choices we are presently making will affect our future. Every action and every decision we make comes down to the freedom of choice that God gave humanity.

In the very beginning, the freedom of choice was not an option. We were in perfect connection with our Creator. Our created purpose was as God had created it to be. The presence of evil is presented in the form of a serpent. At the moment of temptation, humanity had been given the gift and free will of "choice." Just like my father gave me the “power of choice” to be who I wanted to be, so did the Father to all humanity. From the moment God created humanity, relationship was the core connection between God and man. Could it really be that the power of choice in our everyday lives has everything to do with our relationship with our Heavenly Father? As IronMakers, our power of choice ultimately affects [positively or negatively] our relationship with God. Let us keep the great commandment in mind today – “Love God, Love Others” (Matt. 22:27-39).

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  On a sheet of paper or index card write down Matt. 22:37-39. Place it on your mirror, on your desk, or take a picture and save it as your main screen on your phone. Use the power of choice to LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS TODAY! Tell your family you love them!

Prayer:  Father, who created me for perfect connection with you, thank you for giving me the freedom and the power of choice. Thank you for not abandoning me in my imperfect choices. Help me to know you are always with me in my choices. Thank you, Father.

Kristina Crabtree

DAY 4 - SPIRITUAL CONFIDENCE

“Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.” (Hebrews 11:1)

There is truth in the old saying that the only things that are certain are death and taxes. Eternal life is not a certainty. Eternal death awaits anyone who is not clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. That assurance comes not through knowledge, but through faith in Jesus Christ:  Faith in His gift of salvation and perfecting love, and Faith in his willingness to be present at the time of trial to stand for us and clothe us in His righteousness.

Our confidence in eternal life is not the confidence of one who knows, but that of one who has been given the gift of faith. The only assurance we have of the things to come is faith

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  Find some small area in your life today that you can entrust to God’s care through faith in His presence.

Prayer:  Great God, thank you for the gift of faith. Forgive us when we fail to trust our lives to you. Give us resolve and courage, and yes, faith, that we might trust you more. Amen.

Bob Peden

DAY 5 - UNDERSTANDING THE MISSION

I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am, send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

We are all here for a reason. Never doubt that there is a mission only you can fill. Even on days when there seems no end in sight, and the light at the end of the tunnel is but a dim flicker, we are called to press on to fulfill our mission in life. Our hearts are the foundation of everything that makes us who we are, and the clearest signal we will ever have as to our calling. It is through being open to God and His call that we can fulfill our mission. Often our mission is clear, concise, and easily identifiable. Other missions require us to step outside of our norm or comfort zone, and yet others seem to fall at our feet, presenting themselves in unexpected ways or places. As long as we have breath in our bodies, we are called by God to fulfill His mission...to love others, feed the hungry, and to minister to those in need. We are, in other words, called into mission to “be Jesus to others.” That mission is different for each of us, but as children of God, it is our call to respond, "Here I am Lord, send me."

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  Identify and fulfill your “mission for today” in answering God's call into His service.

Prayer:  Lord, open my heart to what you would have me to do, and to do it willingly and selflessly. May I always respond to your call saying, "Here I am, send me."

Sabrina Williams

DAY 6 - CONSTANTLY LEARNING

“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding.” (Hebrews 6:1 NLT)

Halfway through seminary, I finally admitted my grievance of my previous ministry and stage in life. I missed my family, friends, the church where I served as Youth Director, and Mississippi. Feeling very called to where I was at seminary, I desired to return to the way things were. Seminary stretched my mind as an athlete would stretch muscles for competition. If the athlete stops stretching the muscle, it becomes tight which prevents proper blood flow. Exercising and competing becomes difficult when muscles go un-stretched. While stretching, one may discover new muscles waiting to grow. This is how I felt halfway through seminary, but with my mind – constantly stretching, yet, discovering new ‘muscles’ waiting to grow. At some point, I had to choose to move on to a more ‘mature understanding’ of my faith in Jesus Christ.

At some point, we must move forward in maturing as a follower of Jesus. You know, going beyond the “basics.” This is difficult, because it involves much of our mind – making a commitment to grow, asking others to hold you accountable, and reading and studying scripture. Stretching the physical body is good for now, but constantly learning more and more of our faith is even better, because we are moving towards eternal life with God.

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge:  Ask this question and give yourself time for an answer: In what area[s] of spiritual disciplines would I like to grow?

Prayer:  Lord Jesus of Nazareth, High Priest of Heaven, with your help, I commit myself to seeking a more mature understanding through the strengthening of my mind and because of the very faith I have in you, this day. Amen.

Jonathan Crabtree

DAY 7 - THE IRONMAKER AS A TEACHER

“For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.”

(I Thessalonians 4:2 NLT)

Throughout the life of Jesus, he was constantly teaching others. He taught his followers how to pray, how to love, and what it meant to be a follower of the way. All of the Apostles understood that what they had learned from Jesus must be passed on to the next group of followers, so that the message of Jesus would touch every life. You have been given the task of teaching as a follower of Jesus. There are those that watch every step you make, and they try to imitate the person that you are. That is why we must embrace the power and responsibility of teaching and mentoring a new generation of spiritual leaders. God did not call you to be an “IronMaker” for nothing but instead to live out your call by teaching others the way of Jesus as others have taught you.

IronMaker’s Daily Challenge: Contact someone today that has impacted your faith in Jesus by (phone, email, text, or face to face) and tell them they are a “difference maker.”

Prayer:  Lord, I stand before you as one who has been taught to follow you. I ask that you now make me a teacher of others, so that they may follow you as I do.

John Branning

Lead Pastor, Central United Methodist Church

Chaplain (MAJ) 185^th Theater Aviation Brigade