Psalm 34:17-18
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
2 Corinthians 5:7
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Read more Bible http://www.bookbindery.
My Prayer for the Day
"Heavenly Father-Thank You for bringing me from dependency and bondage to God reliance. Father, I humbly ask that you use me as an instrument of Your to covey this truth, simply yet hard to grasp message of deep dependance on You. Father, we have been conditioned to depend on things of this world-alcohol, money, people, people's perceptions of us-some of us even depend on fear, selfishness and self seeking because we refuse to trust You. We stay stuck in fight or flight, patterns and loops, running on animal instinct instead of in Faith in You. Father, help me to teach that we are not animals, that we are your children that lost their way and became world relient. I humbly ask that you strengthen me and grant me the courage to not just talk, but to take up my bed and walk. Showing what true God reliance leads to-purpose and perfect peace. I know that it is a decision, a daily decision to trust You or to put faith in things of this world or the outcomes my mind creates. Today I choose to Trust You-In Jesus name-Amen"
Today’s action
- Today I will commit myself to the Step 3 decision by getting on my knees in full surrender. I will say outloud-"God I surrender to You and to Your will today"
- Today I will Thank Him for getting me sober and be grateful that I am not hungover
- Today I will ask Him over and over to relieve me of bondage of self, the obsession of the mind, the desire to drink, the desire to worry, the desire to create drama...."God, I humbly ask that remove the obsession to __________"
AA Prayer of the Day
The Third Step Prayer
God, I offer myself to Thee - To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!
Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness
to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!
More AA prayers http://silkworth.net/pages/aa/
Podcast of the Day
Yesterday I posted "What's the Problem" Today is ""What's the Solution"
God put in my path great teaches through this medium that unfortunately are not in the rooms of AA. This man is a great and powerful teacher. His message is worth the listen.
Listen to more AA Podcast http://podbay.fm/show/
12 x 12 on Tradition Eight
“Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever
nonprofessional, but our service centers may employ
special workers.”
"You can't mix the Twelfth Step and money. Line of cleavage between voluntary Twelfth Step work and paid-for services. A.A. could not function without full-time service workers. Professional workers are not professional A.A.'s. Relation of A.A. to industry, education, etc. Twelfth Step work is never paid for, but those who labor in service for us are worthy of their hire."
Hil's blah
Yeah, this was baffling to me. Selfless service wasn't on my mind too much before if you can believe it ;) I wasn't the most giving person....I sure thought I was though! LOL I was only when it benefited me. I guess to a degree selfless service does benifit me but it's diffrent now. It's from God, not from fear, greed or envy so it's pure. So you will know that I am on the wrong path when you see a little donate button at the bottom of this page ;)
Read more 12 X 12 http://www.portlandeyeopener.
Big Book There is a Solution....Continued...
None of us makes a sole vocation of this work, nor do we think its effectiveness would be increased if we did. We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our respective homes, occupations and affairs. All of us spend much of our spare time in the sort of effort which we are going to describe. A few are fortunate enough to be so situated that they can give nearly all their time to the work.
If we keep on the way we are going there is little doubt that much good will result, but the surface of the problem would hardly be scratched. Those of us who live in large cities are overcome by the reflection that close by hundreds are dropping into oblivion every day. Many could recover if they had the opportunity we have enjoyed. How then shall we present that which has been so freely given us?
We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem.
Of necessity there will have to be discussion of matters medical, psychiatric, social, and religious. We are aware that these matters are, from their very nature, controversial. Nothing would please us so much as to write a book which would contain no basis for contention or argument. We shall do our utmost to achieve that ideal. Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people’s shortcomings and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are attitudes which make us more useful to others. Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
If we keep on the way we are going there is little doubt that much good will result, but the surface of the problem would hardly be scratched. Those of us who live in large cities are overcome by the reflection that close by hundreds are dropping into oblivion every day. Many could recover if they had the opportunity we have enjoyed. How then shall we present that which has been so freely given us?
We have concluded to publish an anonymous volume setting forth the problem as we see it. We shall bring to the task our combined experience and knowledge. This should suggest a useful program for anyone concerned with a drinking problem.
Of necessity there will have to be discussion of matters medical, psychiatric, social, and religious. We are aware that these matters are, from their very nature, controversial. Nothing would please us so much as to write a book which would contain no basis for contention or argument. We shall do our utmost to achieve that ideal. Most of us sense that real tolerance of other people’s shortcomings and viewpoints and a respect for their opinions are attitudes which make us more useful to others. Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs.
Hil's blah-
"Our very lives" "depend on the constant thought of others" They do not whitewash stuff guys. They mean what the say and say what the mean. It's not bable..it's truth. The 12th is there for a reason. Morden AA has watered the message down so much that we don't hear things like..."Our lives depend on constant thought of others" we instead hear "it's not your responsibility" "they just aren't ready"...I'm here to tell you-Yes, it is your responsibility and Yes, they are ready. You are obligated to give them the correct message. The book-not slogans. No, we can't keep them sober or make them do the work, but we must must real effort toward making sure that nobody slips through the cracks if we can help it. So many lost in meeting instead of doing the work because we are complacent. We owe it to them to pull them out and show them words like "our life depends" instead of the ultimate blow off "keep coming back"!!-but I won't help you because I am too busy being selfish as a untreated alcoholic who thinks I'm a guru!! See ya!"
Read more Big Book http://www.portlandeyeopener.
As Bill See’s it
Healing Talk
When we consult an A.A. friend, we should not be reluctant
to remind him of our need for full privacy. Intimate
communication is normally so free and easy among us that
an A.A. adviser may sometimes forget when we expect him
to remain silent. The protective sanctity of this most healing
of human relations ought never be violated.
Such privileged communications have priceless advantages.
We find in them the perfect opportunity to be as honest as
we know how to be. We do not have to think of the possibility
of damage to other people, nor need we fear ridicule or
condemnation. Here,too, we have the best possible chance
of spotting self-deception.
GRAPEVINE, AUGUST 1961
2 Corinthians 5:4-10
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit.Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.