Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Moving into God's Purposes

We have been coming into a deeper season in our church life over the past couple years. God is continuing to show us we can't go it alone without Him and each other on a daily basis. He did not save us and then leave us alone to muddle through life any more than He created the world and then let it run itself. No, He is a very personal God who wants to be our continual answer, not just our eventual answer. He gave me a poem that started during Sunday's message concerning our lives in Him.


MOVING INTO GOD'S PURPOSES
by Barb Irwin
c Mon, Feb 20, 2012

Father, You gave me salvation--
Jesus, mine before creation.
Since I've received Your life in me
I can choose to learn to live free.

Because You love me from Your heart,
You draw me, ask me to come apart.
If I obey, I hear You say
You'll help me change my life today.

For on my own I am a mess;
Though saved, I can't live in Your rest.
You want to freely give me life,
Help me change wrong choices and strife.

I need not stay in fear or rage--
You'll help me change my sin-filled ways.
Believing lies that seem so true
Does not reflect my life in You.

As Your truth and love work in me
My life looks more like Your story.
Reflecting more of Your great heart,
More of Your kingdom I impart.

This kingdom full of truth and cheer
Will remove others' shame and fear.
More of Your life spreads to others
Giving You more sons and daughters.

This is Your immediate plan--
You have ransomed the world of man,
Brought us back from self and sin
To Your great heart where life begins.


July 2011 till February 2012

Last time I wrote was about seven months ago. I have continued slowly progressing from the stroke since then. No, I'm still not where I want to be, but I continue getting better. I want to share a little of these past months with you.

In October 2011, friends who love me sent me on vacation. Actually, the wife and I went together. We went to a place I'd never been and might never get to otherwise: Seattle, WA. I have a nephew there who lost his wife a year and three months previously (two years ago this coming July), and I wanted to know how he was doing and see the sights. My friend's daughter-in-law's family also lives there and she wanted to see them. We had a wonderful trip--pictures are on my face book page. I know I'll never forget it, and I'm very thankful. In addition, I realized after the trip how far I'd come since the stroke, and how I still need friends. I couldn't have taken the trip alone, and I couldn't have gone at all much earlier. Plus Brenda and I get along very well together. God's timing is perfect This shows me again that He's never too early or too late.

Also we had another milestone at the end of December 2011. My son Jonathan and his wife Anne had a baby--Logan Christopher Irwin (again, pictures are on my page). This is a biggie for me because they have waited over ten years for this and because I've had a hard time bonding with babies since I lost my last two children years ago. Needless to say, I see him as often as I can!

I have noticed my voice getting stronger more consistently this winter; also. I am involved with our Celebrate Recovery group at church and am starting to train for leadership there. Training takes a year and so I have some time to work it out. On to continued growth as my Lord helps and heals me!