dailyrecoveryreadings : Messages : 1-30 of 2095

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 16, 2005

Daily Reflections

        THROUGHOUT EACH DAY

          This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.
          ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

          During my early years in A.A. I saw Step Ten as a suggestion that I periodically look at
          my behavior and reactions. If there was something wrong, I should admit it; if an apology
          was necessary, I should give one. After a few years of sobriety I felt I should undertake
          a self-examination more frequently. Not until several more years of sobriety had elapsed
          did I realize the full meaning of Step Ten, and the word "continued."   "Continued" does
          not mean occasionally, or frequently. It means throughout each day.

          ***********************************************************

        Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          How seriously do I take my obligations to A.A.? Have I taken all the
          good I can get out of it and then let my obligations slide? Or do I constantly feel a
          deep debt of gratitude and a deep sense of loyalty to the whole A.A. movement? Am I
          not only grateful but also proud to be a part of such a wonderful fellowship, which is
          doing such marvelous work among alcoholics? Am I glad to be a part of the great
          work that A.A. is doing and do I feel a deep obligation to carry on that work at
          every opportunity? Do I feel that I owe A.A. my loyalty and devotion?

          Meditation For The Day

          If your heart is right, your world will be right. The beginning of all
          reform must be in yourself. It's not what happens to you, it's how you take it. However
          restricted your circumstances, however little you may be able to remedy financial
          affairs, you can always turn to your inward self and, seeing something not in order
          there, seek to right it. And as all reform is from within outward, you will always find
          that the outward is improved as the inward is improved. As you improve yourself,
          your outward circumstances will change for the better. The power released from within
          yourself will change your outward life.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that the hidden power within me may be released. I pray that I may not imprison
          the spirit that is within me.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Keystone of the Arch, p. 87

             Faced with alcoholic destruction, we became open-minded on spiritual
             matters. In this respect alcohol was a great persuader. It finally beat
             us into a state of reasonableness.

                                  << << <<      >> >> >>

             We had to quit playing God. It didn't work. We decided that
             hereafter, in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He
             would be the Principal; we, His agents.

             Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the
             new triumphal arch through which we passed to freedom.

             Alcoholics Anonymous
             1. p. 48
             2. p. 62

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Women Suffer Too

Despite great opportunities, alcohol nearly ended her life. Early member, she spread the word among women in our pioneering period.

I'd waked up in strange rooms before, fully dressed on a bed or a couch; I'd waked up in my own room, in or on my own bed, not knowing what hour or day it was, afraid to ask . . . but this was different. This time I seemed to be already awake, sitting upright in a big easy chair, in the middle of an animated conversation with a perfectly strange young woman, who didn't appear to think it strange. She was chatting on, pleasantly and comfortably.

p. 200

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

Under the lash of alcoholism, we are driven to A.A., and there we discover the fatal nature of our situation. Then, and only then, do we become as open-minded to conviction and as willing to listen as the dying can be. We stand ready to do anything which will lift the merciless obsession from us.

p. 24

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          Listen in the silence. Listen and you shall hear God speak.
          --Frater Achad

          Life is for living, love is for sharing. Don't let the good things pass you by!
          --Sue

          The hardest thing to learn in life is which bridge to cross and which to burn.
          --David Russell

          What I am is God's gift to me. What I make of myself is my gift to Him.
          --unknown

          G I F T = God Is Forever There.
          --unknown

          "The secret of happiness is to count your blessings while others are adding up their
          troubles."
          --Unknown

          Happiness is intrinsic, it's an internal thing. When you build it into yourself, no external
          circumstances can take it away. That kind of happiness is a twenty-four-hour thing.
          --Leo F. Buscaglia

          The highest reward for a man's toil is not what he gets for it but what he becomes by it.
          --John Ruskin

          ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          CULTURE

                                                     "The great law of culture: let
                                                      each become all that he was
                                                      created capable of being."
                                                           -- Thomas Carlyle

          We are capable of great things. This history of man, although surrounded by wars
          and unspeakable acts of violence, is also the history of art, music, poetry and romance.
          Each person is capable of great and noble acts --- but do we want to do them? We can be
          honest, loving and caring people only if we choose to be that. The power of freedom and
          choice is the determining factor in all our lives. Each culture has imaginative and creative
          features, but it is the people that make them happen. Nothing will happen unless people
          decide to make it happen.

          So it is with the culture of recovery. The people who make up the recovering
          community in all the addictions are the people who make a decision and acted upon it.
          Talk is cheap and cruel unless it is followed by an event. Decisions must be made real.
          We all have the capacity to be honest and kind.

          May I not only be grateful for my culture but may I live to add something to it.

          ***********************************************************

          The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love O Lord endures forever.
          Psalm 138 : 8

          "Lead me in your truth, and teach me."
          Psalm 25:5

          "Keep sowing the seed, for you never know which will grow, perhaps it all will."
          Ecclesiastes 11:6

          "He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of His mercy. He
          washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.
          Titus 3:5

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Daily Inspiration

Many of life's hassles are mere tests of our strength. Lord, help me remember that patience can often diffuse a situation quicker than a snap response.

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If everyone thought alike, no one would have to do much thinking. Lord, bless me with the strength of my convictions and the ability to disagree when necessary without being disagreeable.

Ask and you shall receive,
Seek and ye shall find,
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7

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#29

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Sat Oct 15, 2005 3:23 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/15

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 15, 2005

Daily Reflections

        MY CHECKLIST, NOT YOURS

          Gossip barbed with our anger, a polite form of murder by character assassination, has its
          satisfactions for us, too. Here we are not trying to help those we criticize; we are trying to
          proclaim our own righteousness.
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 67

          Sometimes I don't realize that I gossiped about someone until the end of the day, when I
          take an inventory of the day's activities, and then, my gossiping appears like a blemish in
          my beautiful day. How could I have said something like that? Gossip shows its ugly head
          during a coffee break or lunch with business associates, or I may gossip during the
          evening, when I'm tired from the day's activities, and feel justified in bolstering my ego at
          the expense of someone else. Character defects like gossip sneak into my life when I am
          not making a constant effort to work the Twelve Steps of recovery. I need to remind
          myself that my uniqueness is the blessing of my being, and that applies equally to
          everyone who crosses my path in life's journey. Today the only inventory I need to take
          is my own. I'll leave judgment of others to the Final Judge--Divine Providence.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Am I deeply grateful to A.A. for what it has done for me in regaining my sobriety and
          opening up an entirely new life for me? A.A. has made it possible for me to take on other
          interests, in business and in various other associations with people. It has made a full life
          possible for me. It would perhaps be wrong if all my activities were limited to A.A. work.
          It has made a well rounded life possible for me in work, in play and in hobbies of various
          kinds. But will I desert A.A. because of this? Will I accept a diploma and become a
          graduate of A.A.? Do I realize I could have nothing worth while without A.A.?

          Meditation For The Day

          There is only one way to get full satisfaction from life and that is to live the way you
          believe God wants you to live. Live with God in that secret place of the spirit and you will
          have a feeling of being on the right road. You will have a deep sense of satisfaction. The
          world will have meaning and you will have a place in the world, work to do that counts in
          the eternal order of things. Many things will work for you and with you, as long as you
          feel you are on God's side.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may have a sense of the eternal value of the work I do. I pray that I may not
          only work for now, but also for eternity.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Will Power And Choice, p. 88

             "We A.A.'s know the futility of trying to break the drinking
             obsession by will power alone. However, we do know that it takes
             great willingness to adopt A.A.'s Twelve Steps as a way of life that
             can restore us to sanity.

             "No matter how grievous the alcohol obsession, we happily find that
             other vital choices can still be made. For example, we can choose to
             admit that we are personally powerless over alcohol; that
             dependence upon a 'Higher Power' is a necessity, even if this be
             simply dependence upon an A.A. group. Then we can choose to try
             for a life of honesty and humility, of selfless service to our fellows
             and to 'God as we understand Him.'

             "As we continue to make these choices and so move toward these
             high aspirations, our sanity returns and the compulsion to drink
             vanishes,"

             Letter, 1966

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Women Suffer Too

Despite great opportunities, alcohol nearly ended her life. Early member, she spread the word among women in our pioneering period.

WHAT WAS I saying . . . From far away, as if in a delirium, I had heard my own voice—calling someone "Dorothy," talking of shops, of jobs . . . the words came clearer . . . this sound of my own voice frightened me as it got closer . . . and suddenly, there I was, talking of I knew not what, to someone I'd never seen before this very moment. Abruptly I stopped speaking. Where was I?

p. 200

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

Why all this insistence that every A.A. must hit bottom first? The answer is that few people will sincerely try to practice the A.A. program unless they have hit bottom. For practicing A.A.'s remaining eleven Steps means the adoption of attitudes and actions that almost no alcoholic who is still drinking can dream of taking. Who wishes to be rigorously honest and tolerant? Who wants to confess his faults to another and make restitution for harm done? Who cares anything about a Higher Power, let alone meditation and prayer? Who wants to sacrifice time and energy in trying to carry A.A.'s message to the next sufferer? No, the average alcoholic, self-centered in the extreme, doesn't care for this prospect--unless he has to do these things in order to stay alive himself.

p. 24

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          Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.
          --Carl Jung

          "Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and
          imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and
          growing."
          --Jim Rohn

          I may not be where I want to be, but Thank God I am not where I used to be.
          --unknown

          I am at peace today knowing that God is doing for me what I cannot do for myself.
          --Ruth Fishel

          God, let my hard times be healing times.
          --Melody Beattie

          Hatred toward any human being cannot exist in the same heart as love to God.
          --Dean William Inge

          Prayer is the one thing that can make a change in your life. If you will go direct to God in
          simple, affirmative prayer, you can heal your body, bring peace and harmony into your
          life, and make well-being a reality.
          --Emmet Fox

          Don't quit before the miracle happens.
          --unknown

          ***********************************************************

          Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          MAJORITY

                                                      "One man with courage is a
                                                             majority."
                                                          -- Thomas Jefferson

          Alcoholism made me afraid of my shadow. I became so petrified with fear that I could
          not enjoy my life. And I felt that I could do nothing. My disease told me I was helpless. I
          existed in an atmosphere of doom and gloom.

          Then I experienced a "moment" of sanity when I saw that I was the problem in my
          life. My pain was being caused by my actions and attitudes. I took courage,
          confronted the disease in my life and decided to take small steps towards recovery. I
          have built my confidence on that "moment" of courage I took years ago. I am not an
          island unto myself. I am not alone. God is with me in my life.

          Teach me to have the courage to be what You have created. May I accept my
          miracle.

          ***********************************************************

          God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
          Psalm 46:1

          Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that
          He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
          Hebrews 11:6

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Daily Inspiration

Our words are powerful tools and can influence even when we are not aware. Lord, help me to speak with kindness and sensitivity and to be a positive source of encouragement and support to others.

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We learn to trust in God through our trials and problems. Lord, let me use the suffering in my life as an opportunity to strenthen my faith.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#28

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Oct 14, 2005 1:27 pm
Subject: Weekly Readings - 10/14

bluidkiti

Offline

Weekly Spiritual Readings
October 14, 2005

*This page is updated every Friday.

***********************************************************

Let us not forget..........Never cease to pray.

No situation is too difficult if God is with you. Lord, we are a perfect team. You provide the tools and I'll provide the labor.

"God sent each person into the world with a special message to deliver, a special song to sing and a
special act of love to bestow. No one else can speak my message or sing my song or offer my love.... these are entrusted to me." --Author Unknown

"Everything is laid out for you. Your path is straight ahead of you. Sometimes it's invisible but it's there. You may not know where it's going, but still you have to follow that path. It's the path to the Creator. That's the only path there is."

When we love each other, God lives in us, And His love within us grows ever stronger.

My life has taken many falls and tumbles along the way, but I am learning Lord

Our source of happiness and joy is within our hearts, and to get it, we must give it away.

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A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully, and before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud that would soon blossom and also the thorns. And he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?" Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and before it was ready to bloom, it died.
So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth grow amid the thorns of our
faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects. We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.
Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns and find the rose within others. This is the characteristic of love, to look at a person, and knowing his faults, recognize the nobility in his soul, and help him realize that he can overcome his faults. If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns. Then will he blossom, blooming forth thirty, sixty, a hundred-fold as it is given to him.
Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them their roses and not their thorns. Only then can we achieve the love we should feel for each other; only then can we bloom in our own garden. --Author Unknown

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To Complain or Not to Complain
Do everything without complaining or arguing. Philippians 2:14
“Ain’t it Awful.” Those were the words printed across the top of the chart my daughter Sheryle brought home from Sunday school when she was 10. That day, her Bible teacher emphasized not complaining.
Sheryle attached the chart to the front of the fridge. Vertically, the grid had each family member’s name, and horizontally, the days of the week. She said she would monitor the family. If anyone complained, she’d say “Ain’t it awful” and place a mark by the name of the offender.
I smiled, thinking how much the children needed this lesson. Later Sunday afternoon, I dropped a bowl of cookie dough. Guess who whined? Me.
My daughter, the self-appointed president of the complaint department, said, “Ain’t it awful,” and I received the first black mark on the chart.
Aggravations may arrive in bunches. They often cluster into a single hour, clamoring for attention. Glitches in paper work, a hangnail, or a flat tire. All can seem monstrous.
When frustrations mount, it’s tempting to tattle to someone and gripe about the latest mishaps. Resist complaining because grumbling is contagious. The story of 12 scouts who explored the land of Canaan is in Numbers chapter 14: when the twelve men returned to their families, ten complained about giant warriors in the land. They in turn “made the whole community grumble“(vs. 36).
Griping focuses on what is wrong, instead of on what is going right, the blessings from God. Charles Hodge says, “The really happy man is one who enjoys the scenery when on a detour.” This past week my can opener disappeared. I literally opened cans with a stout knife and metal meat mallet. Do not try this at home. The good about that situation: I had food. I had tools, and I didn’t even nick a finger.
In that same week while driving in heavy traffic, a fire ant assaulted my sandaled toes. I endured his stinging complaint for nearly a mile before it was safe enough to eliminate the problem. A blessing to focus on: one less fire ant in the world. Sorry, fire ant lovers.
So many times in preaching, teaching and writing, problems are identified, but solutions are not offered. The apostle Paul offered remedies to tetchy problems. When he wrote his letter to the Philippians he was in a Roman prison. Early in his correspondence he said, “Do everything without complaining or arguing.” Paul was under guard, confined, restricted, incarcerated, but again and again, at least eight times, he encouraged the Philippians to rejoice.
Near the end of Paul’s letter, he gives the antidote to complaining: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (4:8). He also gave credit to God for enabling him to say, “I have learned to be content in all circumstances” (4:11).
I taped another “Ain’t it awful” chart on my refrigerator — a reminder to think about the good in life, even if detour signs go up this week. --Author Unknown

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Old Is Wonderful
Let us take note,
that it is the old apple trees that are decked with the loveliest blossoms,
that it is the ancient redwoods that rise to majestic heights,
that it is the old violins that produce the richest tones,
that it is the oldest wine that tastes the sweetest,
that it is the ancient coins, old stamps and antique furniture that many eagerly seek,
that it is when the day is old and far spent
that it displays the beauteous colours of sunset,
that it is when the year is old and has run its course
that mother nature transforms the world into a fairyland of snow,
that old friends are the dearest and that it is the old people who have been loved by God for a long, long time.
Thank God for the blessings of old age, it's faith, it's love, it's hope, it's patience, it's wisdom, it's experience, it's maturity.
When all is said and done, Old Is Wonderful !
...Sr. M. Gemma Brunke

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"Be Still"
Be still, and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 NKJV
Anxious soul, God is saying to you today, "Be still, and know that I am God." And there's a reason He's saying it. Your activity, when born out of anxiety, actually prevents Him from showing Himself strong on your behalf. That doesn't mean you're to be passive or lazy; it just means you're to do whatever He leads you to do without running ahead of Him in the energy of the flesh! It also means you're to submit to Him first, then slow down and wait! In other words, make sure you have a sense of peace to go along with the ideas you believe He's given you. Ask Him to reveal to you His will in the matter, then "be still" and acknowledge that He's God, He's in charge, He knows what He's doing! Learn to trust Him without always demanding to know what He's going to do, when He's going to ! do it, and how He's going to carry it out. Jesus said, "I am the vine, and you are the branches" ( John 15:5 NIV).
Until you really embrace those words you'll keep trying to do things that only God can do - like blessing yourself, promoting your own ministry, solving your own problems and answering your own prayers. Or worse, you'll try to cover up for Him because you think He's not doing it fast enough, or in the way it should be done. Give it up! Try less and trust more! Jesus said, "I am the vine, and you are the branches." All you have to do is stay connected! --Author Unknown

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One. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
Two. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.
Three. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
Four. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
Five. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.
Six. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.
Seven. Believe in love at first sight.
Eight. Never laugh at anyone's dream.
People who don't have dreams don't have much.
Nine. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's
the only way to live life completely.
Ten. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.
Eleven. Don't judge people by their relatives.
Twelve. Talk slowly but think quickly.
Thirteen. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"
Fourteen. Remember that great love and great achievements
involve great risks.
Fifteen. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.
Sixteen. When you lose, don't lose the lesson
SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.
EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.
TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone with God everyday.
Author Unknown

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"Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62: 8, NIV)
We sang the hymn "Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" a few weeks ago. The words of this song always touch my heart. Lately, I have not been feeling well and just hearing the words renewed my spirit. It reminded me that I need to put my trust in Jesus, not in myself, or in medications, or in doctors. Even though God may use those things in my life - my trust needs to be in Him first.
I did a little research and learned that the writer of this hymn, Louisa Stead (1850-1917), wrote the words to this piece after watching her husband die while trying to save a drowning boy. She was left to raise her four year old alone (her daughter also saw the drowning).
Later in life, Louisa moved to South Africa, remarried and led a missionary life. I was astounded to learn the circumstances this song was written from. I can't imagine writing such beautiful words after such a terrible event. Louisa has truly inspired me in my own life - to truly learn to trust in Jesus no matter what the circumstances, whether good or bad. God deserves our praise for everything, all the time. Enjoy the words of "Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" and be renewed.
Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at his word,
Just to rest upon His promise,
Just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
I'm so glad I learned to trust thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that thou art with me.
Wilt be with me to the end.
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er.
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O' for grace to trust Him more!
- Louisa Stead

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Lord, You Are
To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? (NIV) Isaiah 40:18
Lord, You are
...a faithful God who does no wrong ...a forgiving God
...a fortress of salvation ...a glorious crown
...jealous and avenging God ...a Master in heaven
...a refuge for His people ...a refuge for the needy in his distress
...a refuge for the oppressed ...a refuge for the poor
...a sanctuary ...a shade from the heat
...a shelter from the storm ...a source of strength
You are always right and good ...no sin is beyond Your forgiveness
You and only You are salvation ...You are the King
You alone are to be worshiped ...You are my Lord and my God
You are my security ...You are a safe place when I am in trouble
You are the safest place I know ...You are like a cool breeze in the midst of heat
Only in You do I find strength ...You are strong in my weakness
O Lord, You are all that I am not. You are the strength that I do not have. You are the love that I need. O Lord how can I ever tell You how much I love You? How can words express the deep feelings of gratitude I have for You. Only in You will I ever find enthusiasm for life, for sharing Your Word, and for serving others. Keep showing me more of Yourself! --Marji "Mike" Kruger

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Bible Questions & Answers
What animal did Jesus ride into Jerusalem? A young donkey Matthew 21:5
What animal bit Paul on the hand? Viper Acts 28:3
What animal rebuked Balaam when he encountered the Angel of the Lord? Donkey Numbers 22:28
What animal did Aaron carve from gold for the people of Israel to worship? Calf Exodus 32:4
What creatures did God send to afflict the Israelites in the desert? Snakes Numbers 21:6
What animal did God provide for Abraham to sacrifice in place of Isaac? Ram Genesis 22:13
--Provided by Thomas W Henderson

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When at last morning breaks
the silent boundaries of blackness
there is yet a deeper silence in the
gray space between the dark and light.
There, I linger for the moment clinging
to the moment knowing this is the time
GOD reaches out to touch and bless me,
making promises to forever care for me.
And I am comforted and secure.
--Friday's Child 2004

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“His Love”
For years I walked alone, not knowing where I was bound
I wanted a friend to talk to, one that would stay around
I met many along the way, but they had plans of their own
Everyone it seemed had someone, but I was always alone
Then I heard a soft voice saying, “May I walk along with you?
There beside me stood a stranger, that I felt somehow I knew
We walked in a beautiful garden, where we knelt and prayed
As I walked with him I felt the love, that he so freely gave
He told of a place called heaven, a city of purest gold
His stories are all recorded, they’re the greatest ever told
He said he had to leave me, but only for a little while
For the sins of all men, my friend was cruelly, put on trial
On the cross that innocent man died, for sins he never committed
He paid the price he gave his life, for mankind to be acquitted
From that cross came the greatest gift, this world has ever been given
God gave his only son to die, that through him our sins could be forgiven
--Patty Ann Beck

***********************************************************

"He calms the storm, So that its waves are still." Psalm 107:29

"So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to understand what the Lord wants you to do." Ephesians 5:15-17

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. Romans 5:1-5

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while,
"He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Hebrews 10:32-39

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done. Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8, 11-12

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. Psalm 42:1

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121

The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. 1 Samuel 10:6-7

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Psalm 119:114-116

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

*******************************************************

Has God Forsaken Me?
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?” (Psalm 22:1, NIV).
Sometimes I feel like this Psalmist, but never forget what the Lord has done for me, and continue to praise HIM for it, even tho I don't feel His presence,
I still know He is there. And I virtually kneel at the Cross.
Psalm 22 is one of those psalms sometimes called Passion Psalms. Jesus Christ used the opening cry on the cross and the amazing choice of words of verses 6-8 and 13-18 have made the psalm especially important to Christians. There is within the psalm a extraordinary combination of praise and complaint. The psalmist found himself in a difficult situation that made him think that God had forsaken him (verses 1-2). Because of his situation and the fact that God did not act for him at that very point in time made people to mock him (verses 6-8, 12-18). However, in the midst of this protest of seemingly neglect, he could still praise God for who He is and what He has done, and is still doing (verses 3-5, 22-31). It is noteworthy that there is no reference to sin as the cause of the trouble, no plea of innocence, no claim of righteousness, and no vengeance. The psalmist just cried to God for help (verses 19-21).
Jesus Christ also found Himself in similar situation, and He also acted like the psalmist: He cried out to God (see Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; Luke 23:46). It was evident, however, that God did not forsake Jesus Christ, as He did not forsake the psalmist as well. God allowed the situations to bring out something in the lives of the psalmist and Jesus Christ. We may not know what God brought out in the life of the psalmist through the difficult situation, but we know that the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ brought about our eternal salvation (Romans 5:6, 8; Hebrews 2:14-15; 5:9; 10:5-10). No wonder, the psalmist could praise God even when he did not know the outcome of his predicament.
What situation are you passing through? Have you prayed and God has not answered your prayers? Does it seem as if God has forsaken you? Are people around you making jest of you because of your predicament? Well, God has not forsaken you! Read this: “But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.’ ‘Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me. Your sons hasten back, and those who laid you waste depart from you. Lift up your eyes and look around; all your sons gather and come to you. As surely as I live,’ declares the LORD, ‘you will wear them all as ornaments; you will put them on, like a bride. ‘Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste, now you will be too small for your people, and those who devoured you will be far away. ‘The children born during your bereavement will yet say in your hearing,
“This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.” Then you will say in your heart, “Who bore me these? I was bereaved and barren; I was exiled and rejected. Who brought these up? I was left all alone, but these-- where have they come from?” (Isaiah 49:14-21, NIV). Author Unknown

*******************************************************

LORD, help me today to keep my thoughts and meditations fixed on you, regardless of circumstances or challenging situations I may face. I know that as I do so, I will have greater peace in my heart, peace that goes beyond logical understanding and transcends the circumstances around me. You are indeed the Rock of my life, immovable, unchanging, and absolutely faithful and trustworthy. Thank you for being such an anchor in a world that offers so little that is dependable. In Jesus' name. Amen.

*******************************************************

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name." Selah Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot—come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations—let not the rebellious rise up against him. Selah Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you - vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. Selah Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! Psalm 66

*******************************************************

Change Me
Change me God,
Please change me.
Though I cringe
Kick
Resist and resent
Pay no attention to me whatever.
When I run to hide
Drag me out of my safe little shelter.
Change me totally
Whatever it takes
However long You must work at the job.
Change me - and save me
From spiritual self-destruction.
Anonymous

--

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#27

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Oct 14, 2005 9:23 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/14

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 14, 2005

Daily Reflections

        A PROGRAM FOR LIVING

          When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. . . . On awakening let us think
          about the twenty-four hours ahead. . . Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking,
          especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.
          ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 86

          I lacked serenity. With more to do than seemed possible, I fell further behind, no matter
          how hard I tried. Worries about things not done yesterday and fear of tomorrow's
          deadlines denied me the calm I needed to be effective each day. Before taking Steps Ten
          and Eleven, I tried to focus on God's will, not my problems, and to trust that He would
          manage my day. It worked! Slowly, but it worked!

          ***********************************************************

        Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          How big a part of my life is A.A.? Is it just one of my activities and a small one at that?
          Do I only go to A.A. meetings now and then and sometimes never go at all? Do I think of
          A.A. only occasionally? Am I reticent about mentioning A.A. to people who might need
          help? Or does A.A. fill a large part of my life? Is it the foundation of my whole life?
          Where would I be without A.A.? Does everything I have and I do depend on my A.A.
          foundation? Is A.A. the foundation on which I build my life?

          Meditation For The Day

          Lay upon God your failures and mistakes and shortcomings. Do not dwell upon your
          failures, upon the fact that in the past you have been nearer a beast than an angel. You
          have a mediator between you and God--your growing faith--which can lift you up from the
          mire and point you toward the heavens. You can still be reconciled with the spirit of God.
          You can still regain your harmony with the Divine Principle of the universe.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may not let the beast in me hold me back from my spiritual destiny. I pray
          that I may rise and walk upright.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Review The Day, p. 89

             When we retire at night, we constructively review our day. Were we
             resentful, selfish, dishonest, or afraid? Do we owe an apology? Have
             we kept something to ourselves which should be discussed with another
             person at once? Were we kind and loving toward all? What could we
             have done better? Were we thinking of ourselves most of the time? Or
             were we thinking of what we could do for others, of what we could
             pack into the stream of life?

             We must be careful not to drift into worry, remorse, or morbid
             reflection, for that would diminish our usefulness to ourselves and to
             others. After we making our review, we ask God's forgiveness and
             inquire what corrective measures should be taken.

             Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 86

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

I know the Fellowship of A.A. doesn't offer any guarantees, but I also know that in the future I do not have to drink. I want to keep this life of peace, and tranquility that I have found. Today, I have found again the home I left and the woman I married when she was still so young. We have two more children, and they think their dad is an important man. I have all these wonderful things--people who mean more to me than anything in the world. I shall keep all that, and I won't have to drink, if I remember one simple thing: to keep my hand in the hand of God.

p. 199

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

It was obviously necessary to raise the bottom the rest of us had hit to the point where it would hit them. By going back in our own drinking histories, we could show that years before we realized it we were out of control, that our drinking even then was no mere habit, that it was indeed the beginning of a fatal progression. To the doubters we could say, "Perhaps you're not an alcoholic after all. Why don't you try some more controlled drinking, bearing in mind meanwhile what we have told you about alcoholism?" This attitude brought immediate and practical results. It was then discovered that when one alcoholic had planted in the mind of another the true nature of his malady, that person could never be the same again. Following every spree, he would say to himself, "Maybe those A.A.'s were right..." After a few such experiences, often years before the onset of extreme difficulties, he would return to us convinced. He had hit bottom as truly as any of us. John Barleycorn himself had become our best advocate.

pp. 23-24

**********************************************************

          I shall leap! No matter what is ahead, God is there to catch me.
          --Shelley

          One of the most valuable things we can do to heal one another is listen to each other's
          stories.
          --Rebecca Falls

          Life is the first gift, love is the second, and understanding is the third.
          --Marge Piercy

          You get more than you give when you give more than you get.
          --Cited in More of...The Best of BITS & PIECES

          Much wisdom can be crowded into but four words:
          In God we trust. This too shall pass. Live and let live. Still waters run deep. Bad news
          travels fast. Love laughs at locksmiths. Nothing succeeds like success. Charity begins
          at home. Politics make strange bedfellows. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Man
          proposes, God disposes. Let sleeping dogs lie.
          --Cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES

         ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          INDIVIDUALITY

                                                    "I am one individual on a small
                                                    planet in a little solar system in
                                                        one of the galaxies."
                                                          -- Roberto Assagioli

          Spirituality develops a humility that is realistic. Realism teaches me that I am one among
          many. That does not mean that I am less than anybody else, but it certainly doesn't mean
          that I am above others.

          Arrogance, fantasy and selfishness are characteristics of addiction that stop the
          development of true individuality. To pretend to be something we are not, or have a
          grandiose illusion about our own importance, misses the truth, misses our truth and
          misses our individuality.

          Humility is treating people with the respect we would want, giving people the freedom
          we require in our life. Humility is perceiving our God-given talent and individuality.

          I pray that I will remember that I am a "part of", rather than the sum total of this
          universe.

          ***********************************************************

          "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in
          him shall not perish but have eternal life."
          John 3:16

          My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them
          eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
          John 10:27-28

          "The LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish, But He casts away the desire of the
          wicked."
          Proverbs 10:3

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

It is very humbling to realize that often what burdens us the most would be very missed if it were taken away. Lord, I will take the time to appreciate my life.

*********************************

You will be as happy as you make up your mind to be. Lord, You are my joy and my strength. Let Your light shine in me.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#26

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:33 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/13

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 13, 2005

Daily Reflections

        UNREMITTING INVENTORIES

          Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment,
          and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove
          them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make
          amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely
          turn our thoughts to someone we can help.
          ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

          The immediate admission of wrong thoughts or actions is a
          tough task for most human beings, but for recovering alcoholics
          like me it is difficult because of my propensity toward ego,
          fear and pride. The freedom the A.A. program offers me becomes
          more abundant when, through unremitting inventories of myself,
          I admit, acknowledge and accept responsibility for my wrong-doing.
          It is possible then for me to grow into a deeper and better
          understanding of humility. My willingness to admit when the
          fault is mine facilitates the progression of my growth and helps
          me to become more understanding and helpful to others.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          A.A. work is one hundred percent voluntary. It depends on each
          and every one of our members to volunteer to do his or her share.
          Newcomers can sit on the sidelines until they have got over their
          nervousness and confusion. They have a right to be helped by all,
          until they can stand on their own feet. But the time inevitably
          comes when they have to speak up and volunteer to do their share
          in meetings and in twelfth step work. Until that time comes, they
          are not a vital part of A.A. They are only in the process of being
          assimilated. Has my time come to volunteer?

          Meditation For The Day

          God's kingdom on earth is growing slowly, like a seed in the
          ground. In the growth of his kingdom there is always progress
          among the few who are out ahead of the crowd. Keep striving for
          something better and there can be no stagnation in your life.
          Eternal life, abundant life is yours for the seeking. Do not
          mis-spend time over past failures. Count the lessons earned
          from failures as rungs upon the ladder of progress. Press onward
          toward the goal.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may be willing to grow. I pray that I may keep
          stepping up on the rungs of the ladder of life.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         To Watch Loneliness Vanish, p. 90

             Almost without exception, alcoholics are tortured by loneliness. Even
             before our drinking got bad and people began to cut us off, nearly all
             of us suffered the feeling that we didn't quite belong. Either we were
             shy, and dared not draw near others, or we were noisy good fellows
             constantly craving attention and companionship, but rarely getting it.
             There was always that mysterious barrier we could neither surmount
             nor understand.

             That's one reason we loved alcohol too well. But even Bacchus
             betrayed us, we were finally struck down and left in terrified
             isolation.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             Life takes on new meaning in A.A. To watch people recover, to see
             them help others, to watch loneliness vanish, to see a fellowship grow
             up about you, to have a host of friends--this is an experience not to be
             missed.

             1. 12 & 12, p. 57
             2. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 89

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

I never forgot a passage I first read in the copy of the Big Book that Bobbie sent me: "Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give freely of what you find and join us." It is very simple--though not always easy. But it can be done.

p. 199

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

It is a tremendous satisfaction to record that in the following years this changed. Alcoholics who still had their health, their families, their jobs, and even two cars in the garage, began to recognize their alcoholism. As this trend grew, they were joined by young people who were scarcely more than potential alcoholics. They were spared that last ten or fifteen years of literal hell the rest of us had gone through. Since Step One requires an admission that our lives have become unmanageable, how could people such as these take this Step?

p. 23

**********************************************************

          "Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next.
          Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer."
          --Denis Waitley

          I pray to see the path God lights for me as I am at times blinded by my own lack of
          consciousness or lack of faith.
          --Shelley

          Spend 2 minutes a day reassuring yourself that you are made of loving
          thoughts. Spend the rest of the day acting on those thoughts.
          --unknown

          "Those who walk with God always get to their destination."
          --Unknown

          "No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else."
          --Charles Dickens

          ***************************************************************

         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          PREJUDICE

                                                      "I am the inferior of any man
                                                    whose rights I trample underfoot."
                                                           -- Horace Greeley

          Now I can see my feelings of inferiority in the assumed arrogance of my past
          behavior. Now I see that behind the pride was the need to prove myself. The
          manipulation was a cover for my insecurity.

          At some point years ago I accepted the idea that I was not good enough and needed
          to pretend to be something different. The use of alcohol was part of this disease
          process. Money, friends, fast cars and debts were all drawn into the delusion.

          Today I am learning to accept me. I am not a millionaire, I will probably never be a
          millionaire and so I do not need to adopt the lifestyle of a millionaire! I work in an
          office. I drive a Ford. But today I am happy. Today I can pay my bills. Today I have
          friends who are involved in my life. Today I do not have to put people down to
          feel important. Today I have discovered that the people I treated with disdain are
          just like me.

          I pray that I may receive healing and forgiveness from those I considered inferior.

          ***********************************************************

          Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
          Mark 9:23

          "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more."
          Psalm 121:8

          "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
          James 4:8a

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Spend a little time each day taking care of your own physical and emotional needs and the rest of your day will be more effective. Lord, help me to enrich and care for myself so that I am not depleted of energy and health and have something within that I can use to enrich others.

*********************************

Jesus is the greatest giver of happiness that anyone has ever known. Take Him into your heart. Lord, Your presence in my life brings me great joy.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#25

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Wed Oct 12, 2005 7:10 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/12

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 12, 2005

Daily Reflections

        CURBING RASHNESS

          When we speak or act hastily or rashly, the ability to be fair-minded and tolerant
          evaporates on the spot.
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 91

          Being fair-minded and tolerant is a goal toward which I must work
          daily. I ask God, as I understand Him, to help me to be loving and tolerant to my loved
          ones, and to those with whom I am in close contact. I ask for guidance to curb my speech
          when I am agitated, and I take a moment to reflect on the emotional upheaval my words
          may cause, not only to someone else, but also to myself. Prayer, meditation and
          inventories are the key to sound thinking and positive action for me.

          ***********************************************************

          Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Am I still on a "free ride" in A.A.? Am I all get and no give? Do I go to meetings and
          always sit in the back row and let others do all the work? Do I think it's enough just
          because I'm sober and can rest on my laurels? If so, I haven't gone very far in the
          program, nor am I getting nearly enough of what it has to offer. I will be a weak member
          until I get in there and help carry the load. I must eventually get off the bench and get
          into the game. I'm not just a spectator; I'm supposed to be one of the team. Do I go in
          there and carry the ball?

          Meditation For The Day

          Try to be thankful for whatever vision you have. Try to perform, in the little things,
          faithful service to God and others. Do your small part every day in a spirit of service to
          God. Be a doer of God's word, not a hearer only. In your daily life try to keep faith with
          God. Every day brings a new opportunity to be of some use. Even when you are tempted
          to rest or let things go or to evade the issue, make it a habit to meet the issue squarely as
          a challenge and not to hold back.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may perform each task faithfully. I pray that I may meet each issue of life
          squarely and not hold back.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Courage and Prudence, p. 91

             When fear persisted, we knew it for what it was, and we became able
             to handle it. We began to see each adversity as a God-given
             opportunity to develop the kind of courage which is born of humility,
             rather than of bravado.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             Prudence is a workable middle ground, a channel of clear sailing
             between the obstacles of fear on the one side and of recklessness on
             the other. Prudence in practice creates a definite climate, the only
             climate in which harmony, effectiveness, and consistent spiritual
             progress can be achieved.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             "Prudence is rational concern without worry."

             1. Grapevine, January 1962
             2. Twelve Concepts, p. 62
             3. Talk, 1966

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

One of the most fundamental things I have learned is to pass on our message to other alcoholics. That means I must think more about others than about myself. The most important thing is to practice these principles in all my affairs. In my opinion, that is what Alcoholics Anonymous is all about.

p. 199

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

In A.A.'s pioneering time, none but the most desperate cases could swallow and digest this unpalatable truth. Even these "last-gaspers" often had difficulty in realizing how hopeless they actually were. But a few did, and when these laid hold of A.A. principles with all the fervor with which the drowning seize life preservers, they almost invariably got well. That is why the first edition of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous," published when our membership was small, dealt with low-bottom cases only. Many less desperate alcoholics tried A.A., but did not succeed because they could not make the admission of hopelessness.

pp. 22-23

**********************************************************

          Be still and listen to the stillness within.
          You must look into people, as well as at them.
          --Lord Chesterfield

          There is one thing worse than waiting on God... it's wishing you had.
          --unknown

          God is never in a hurry.
          --unknown

          "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies."
          --Mother Teresa

          "When you see the value of continued growth, the circumstances around you become
          stepping stones."
          --Clyde M. Narrimore

          The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance between your
          knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.
          --unknown

         ***********************************************************

          Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          DISCOVERY

                                              "I invent nothing. I rediscover."
                                                    -- Auguste Rodin

          I believe that spirituality is given to every human being and we need only discover it in
          our lives to experience its power. The history of my life has been more of a "cycle" than
          a straight line leading into the distance. I am constantly returning to past events,
          reminiscences and experiences that were part of my yesterdays but converge into my
          present. I am rediscovering my yesterdays in my todays; the fruits of my tomorrows are
          planted within today.

          So it seems that my journey is not simply forward. It also involves a rediscovery of
          yesterday in today. My life is a mystery that exists within God.

          O Lord, with You eternity is ever present and occasionally I get a glimpse of it.

          ***********************************************************

          "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge."
          Psalm 91:4

          "Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called
          the children of God."
          1 John 3:1

          Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness,
          knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control,
          perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness,
          brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
          2 Peter 1:5-7

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Good is always coming to you. No matter what is happening in your life, you can bless it with prayer and be peaceful. Lord, You give me the courage to face any situation confidently and victoriously.

*********************************

When we have to justify our actions, it may be that our actions are not just. Lord, Your will is goodness. May I always have the strength and courage to choose Your way so that I can simplify my life and enjoy the peace of Your presence.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#24

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:36 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/11

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 11, 2005

Daily Reflections

        SELF--RESTRAINT

          Our first objective will be the development of self-restraint.
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 91

          My drive to work provides me with an opportunity for self-examination.
          One day while making this trip, I began to review my progress in
          sobriety, and was not happy with what I saw. I hoped that, as the
          work day progressed, I would forget these troublesome thoughts,
          but as one disappointment after another kept coming, my discontent
          only increased, and the pressures within me kept mounting. I
          retreated to an isolated table in the lounge, and asked myself
          how I could make the most of the rest of the day. In the past,
          when things went wrong, I instinctively wanted to fight back.
          But during the short time I had been trying to live the A.A.
          program I had learned to step back and take a look at myself.
          I recognized that, although I was not the person I wanted to be,
          I had learned to not react in my old ways. Those old patterns of
          behavior only brought sorrow and hurt, to me and to others. I
          returned to my work station, determined to make the day a
          productive one, thanking God for the chance to make progress
          that day.

          ***********************************************************

          Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          How good a sponsor am I? When I bring new members to a meeting,
          do I feel that my responsibility has ended? Or do I make it my
          job to stay with them until they have either become good members
          of A.A. or have found another sponsor? If they don't show up for
          a meeting, do I say to myself: "Well they've had it put up to
          them, so if they don't want it, there's nothing more I can do? "
          Or do I look them up and find out whether there is a reason for
          their absences or that they don't want A.A.? Do I go out of my
          way to find out if there is anything more I can do to help? Am I a good sponsor?

          Meditation For The Day

          "First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer
          your gift to God." First I must get right with other people and
          then I can get right with God. If I hold a resentment against
          someone, which I find it very difficult to overcome, I should
          try to put something else constructive into my mind. I should
          pray for the one against whom I hold the resentment. I should
          put that person in God's hands and let God show him or her the
          way to live. "If a man say: 'I love God' and hateth his brother,
          he is a liar, for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath
          seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?"

          Prayer For The Day
          I pray that I may see something good in every person, even one I
          dislike, and that I may let God develop the good in that person.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Walking Toward Serenity, p. 92

             "When I was tired and couldn't concentrate, I used to fall back on an
             affirmation toward life that took the form of simple walking and deep
             breathing. I sometimes told myself that I couldn't do even this--that I
             was too weak. But I learned that this was the point at which I could
             not give in without becoming still more depressed.

             "So I would set myself at a small stint. I would determine to walk a
             quarter of a mile. And I would concentrate by counting my
             breathing--say, six steps to each slow inhalation and four to each
             exhalation. Having done the quarter-mile, I found that I could go on,
             maybe a half-mile more. Then another half-mile, and maybe another.

             "This was encouraging. The false sense of physical weakness would
             leave me (this feeling being so characteristic of depressions). The
             walking and especially the breathing were powerful affirmations
             toward life and living and away from failure and death. The counting
             represented a minimum discipline in concentration, to get some rest
             from the wear and tear of fear and guilt."

             Letter, 1960

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

At the end of my first year of sobriety, my wife agreed to leave her job after I found some work. I thought that would be easy. All I had to do was go see an employer and I'd be able to support my family in a normal fashion. However, I looked for work for many months. We didn't have much money, and I was spending the little we had going from one place to the other, answering ads and meeting people. I was getting more and more discouraged. One day, a member said, "Dave, why don't you apply at the aircraft factory? I know a fellow there who could help you." So that was where I got my first job. There really is a Higher Power looking after us.

pp. 198-199

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

When first challenged to admit defeat, most of us revolted. We had approached A.A. expecting to be taught self-confidence. Then we had been told that so far as alcohol is concerned, self-confidence was no good whatever; in fact, it was a total liability. Our sponsors declared that we were the victims of a mental obsession so subtly powerful that no amount of human willpower could break it. There was, they said, no such thing as the personal conquest of this compulsion by the unaided will. Relentlessly deepening our dilemma, our sponsors pointed out our increasing sensitivity to alcohol--an allergy, they called it. The tyrant alcohol wielded a double-edged sword over us: first we were smitten by an insane urge that condemned us to go on drinking, and then by an allergy of the body that insured we would ultimately destroy ourselves in the process. Few indeed were those who, so assailed, had ever won through in single-handed combat. It was a statistical fact that alcoholics almost never recovered on their own resources. And this had been true, apparently, ever since man had first crushed grapes.

p. 22

**********************************************************

          A clear conscience is a good pillow.
           --American Proverb

          "It's not whether you get knocked down; it's whether you get back up." --Vince Lombardi

          There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range
          risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
          --John F. Kennedy

          The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as
          love of God begins in listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is
          learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but
          lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother when we learn to
          listen to him.
          --Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together

"Often we seek to grow or change ourselves by adjusting the external aspects of our lives. ... We all too often forget that permanent or real change only comes when the center of our being, our inner drives and motivations, undergoes transformation."

          --Errol Strider

          ***********************************************************

          Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          ART

                                              "Art is not a thing; it is a way."
                                                   -- Elbert Hubbard

          In the spiritual twelve-step program it talks about "...a God as you understand Him."
          This is a liberating concept that teaches us to risk and think "big". God is not only found
          in churches, temples and rituals --- God can be found in the myriad of art forms. God is
          always to be found in the creative. Because art is always concerned with life and truth,
          God is always involved.

          Today I am able to look for God in His or Her World.

          In my recovery from the disease of addiction I need to discover the wonder and splendor
          of life that got damaged in my drinking days. Art can help me to feel again. It helps me to
          think and be concerned again. Art teaches me to be involved in life.

          Thank You for the artist --- another aspect of priesthood.

          ***********************************************************

          I will praise you O lord with all my heart.
          Psalm 138 : 1

          "Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their
          trust in Him."
          Proverbs 30:5

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Think good and wise thoughts over and over again until you make them your own. Lord, You have given me a strong foundation and the strength to stand firm for what I believe.

*********************************

No one can live for himself alone for then he will have no purpose in life. To give of self is one of life's greatest joys and blesses us with a full and rich life. Lord, help me to be selfless and loving to those around me.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#23

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Sun Oct 9, 2005 11:01 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/10

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 10, 2005

Daily Reflections

        FIXING ME, NOT YOU

          If somebody hurts us and we are sore, we are in the wrong also.
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 90

          What a freedom I felt when this passage was pointed out to me!
          Suddenly I saw that I could do something about my anger, I could
          fix me, instead of trying to fix them. I believe that there are
          no exceptions to the axiom. When I am angry, my anger is always
          self-centered. I must keep reminding myself that I am human, that
          I am doing the best I can, even when that best is sometimes poor.
          So I ask God to remove my anger and truly set me free.

          ***********************************************************

        Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          When new members come into my A.A. group, do I make a special
          effort to make them feel at home? Do I put myself out to listen
          to them, even if their ideas of A.A. are vague? Do I make it a
          habit to talk to all new members myself, or do I often leave
          that to someone else? I may not be able to help them, but, then,
          again it may be something that I might say that would put them
          on the right track. When I see any members sitting alone, do I
          put myself out to be nice to them, or do I stay among my own
          special group of friends and leave them out in the cold? Are all
          new A.A.s my responsibility?

          Meditation For The Day

          You are God's servant. Serve Him cheerfully and readily.
          Nobody likes a servant who avoids extra work, who complains
          about being called from one task to do any less enjoyable. A
          master would feel that he was being ill served by such a servant.
          But is that not how you so often serve God? View your day's work
          in this light. Try to do your day's work in this light. Try to do
          your day's work the way you believe God wants you to do it, never
          shirking any responsibility and often going out of your way to be
          of service.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may be a good servant.
          I pray that I may be willing to go out of my way to be of service.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Atmosphere Of Grace, p. 93

          Those of us who have come to make regular use of prayer would no more do without it
          than we would refuse air, food, or sunshine. And for the same reason. When we refuse
          air, light, or food, the body suffers. And when we turn away from meditation and prayer,
          we likewise deprive our minds, our emotions, and our intuitions of vitally needed support.

          As the body can fail its purpose for lack of nourishment, so can the soul. We all need the
          light of God's reality, the nourishment of His strength, and the atmosphere of His grace.
          To an amazing extent the facts of A.A. life confirm this ageless truth.

          12 & 12, pp. 97-98

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

The first two French Canadians to learn about A.A. did so in the basement of my home. All French-speaking meetings in existence today were born out of those early meetings.

p. 198

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."

We know that little good can come to any alcoholic who joins A.A. unless he has first accepted his devastating weakness and all its consequences. Until he so humbles himself, his sobriety--if any--will be precarious. Of real happiness he will find none at all. Proved beyond doubt by an immense experience, this is one of the facts of A.A. life. The principle that we shall find no enduring strength until we first admit complete defeat is the main taproot from which our whole Society has sprung and flowered.

pp. 21-22

**********************************************************

          Do not be wise in words - be wise in deeds.
          --Jewish Proverb

          Thought is the blossom; language the bud; action the fruit behind it.
          --Ralph Waldo Emerson

          "Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden. Time, effort, and
          imagination must be summoned constantly to keep any relationship flourishing and
          growing."
          --Jim Rohn

          "If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide
          upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children one of
          the greatest of all blessings."
          --Brian Tracy

          "Wanting what I don't have keeps me from having what I do have."

          ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          TOLERANCE

                                            "Art, if it is to be reckoned with
                                            as one of the great values of life,
                                            must teach men . . . tolerance."
                                                 -- Somerset Maugham

          There is something about art that is accepting, tolerant and reconcilable with
          "difference". I have observed that artists --- those who paint, write, dance, sculpture,
          design --- are also people who are accepting and tolerant because they need the
          "different" in order to create and progress. Things cannot stay the same and art is the
          recorder of man's journey towards the truth; but mankind needs friction, argument,
          confrontation, rejection --- yes, "difference" in order to grow and develop.

          People say that artists are crazy, and I suppose this is true. But we need crazy people to
          take the world where it needs to go. In the crazy, the seed of genius is often buried.

          Lord, before I reject the artist or the "crazy", let me seriously consider the message.

          ***********************************************************

          Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.
          Psalm 136 : 1

          "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
          freedom."
          2 Corinthians 3:17

          " I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
          Phillipians 4:13

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Most often a gentle approach is the best resolution to a conflict. Lord, I have been given today to improve myself and make life better for others. Help me walk in the way that You lead me.

*********************************

Never let the abundance of gifts from God cause you to forget the Giver. Lord, may I start and end each day with a thank you to You for all of my blessings including those which I take for granted.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#22

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Sat Oct 8, 2005 11:18 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/9

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 9, 2005

Daily Reflections

        A SPIRITUAL AXIOM

          It is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause, there is
          something wrong with us.
          12 & 12, p. 90

          I never truly understood the Tenth Step's spiritual axiom until I had the following
          experience. I was sitting in my bedroom, reading into the wee hours, when suddenly I
          heard my dogs barking in the back yard. My neighbors frown on this kind of disturbance
          so, with mixed feelings of anger and shame, as well as fear of my neighbor's disapproval,
          I immediately called in my dogs. Several weeks later the exact situation repeated itself
          but this time, because I was feeling more at peace with myself, I was able to accept the
          situation--dogs will bark--and I calmly called in the dogs. Both incidents taught me that
          when a person experiences nearly identical events and reacts two different ways, then it
          is not the event that is of prime importance, but the person's spiritual condition. Feelings
          come from inside, not from outward circumstances. When my spiritual condition is
          positive, I react positively.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Am I willing to be bored sometimes at meetings? Am I willing to listen to much repetition
          of A.A. principles? Am I willing to hear the same thing over and over again? Am I willing
          to listen to a long blow by blow personal story, because it might help some new member?
          Am I willing to sit quietly and listen to long-winded members go into every detail of their
          past? Am I willing to take it, because it is doing them good to get it off their chest? My
          feelings are not too important. The good of A.A. comes first, even if it is not always
          comfortable for me. Have I learned to take it?

          Meditation For The Day

          God would draw us all closer to Him in the bonds of the spirit. He would have all people
          drawn closer to each other in the bonds of the spirit. God, the great Spirit of the universe,
          of which each of our own spirits is a small part, must want unity between Himself and all
          His children. "Unity of the spirit in the bonds of peace." Each experience of our life, of
          joy, of sorrow, of danger, of safety, of difficulty, of success, of hardship, of ease, each
          should be accepted as part of our common lot, in the bonds of the spirit.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may welcome the bonds of true fellowship. I pray that I may be brought
          closer to unity with God and other people.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         ". . .In All Our Affairs, p. 94

             "The chief purpose of A.A. is sobriety. We all realize that without
             sobriety we have nothing.

             "However, it is possible to expand this simple aim into a great deal of
             nonsense, so far as the individual member is concerned. Sometimes
             we hear him say, in effect, "Sobriety is my sole responsibility. After
             all, I'm a pretty fine chap, except for my drinking. Give me sobriety,
             and I've got it made!'

             "As long as our friend clings to this comfortable alibi, he will make so
             little progress with his real life problems and responsibilities that he
             stands in a fair way to get drunk again. This is why A.A.'s Twelfth
             Steps urges that 'we practice these principles in all our affairs.' We
             are not living just to be sober; we are living to learn, to serve, and to
             love.

             Letter, 1966

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

For the first year, all the meetings were held in my home. There were people all over the house. The wives of members used to come with their husbands, though we didn't allow them in our closed meetings. They used to sit on the bed or in the kitchen, where they would make coffee and snacks. I believe they were wondering what would happen to us. Yet they were as happy as we were.

p. 198

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."
But upon entering A.A. we soon take quite another view of this absolute humiliation. We perceive that only through utter defeat are we able to take our first steps toward liberation and strength. Our admissions of personal powerlessness finally turn out to be firm bedrock upon which happy and purposeful lives may be built.
p. 21

**********************************************************

          "If you could choose one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of
          humor."
          --Jennifer Jones

          It's not the load that breaks you down; it's the way you carry it.
          --Lena Horne

          "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it!"
          --From As We See It

          "Criticizing anothers garden does not keep the weeds out of yours."
          --Unknown

"Do you live in tomorrow when you must face today? At times, I forget to live in the moment, but what do I miss? The setting sun, the sound of birds' singing and, most importantly, I miss meeting myself. I am constantly changing, and if I don't spend time with myself in the here and now, I will never get to appreciate who I truly am because I am too busy focusing on who I want to be."

          --Gary Barnes

          ***********************************************************

         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          HUMILITY

                                              "I believe the first test of a
                                             really great man is humility."
                                                     -- John Ruskin

          An understanding of humility that makes sense to me is that of the man who is aware of
          his limitations but still reaches for the stars.

          For years I thought that humility was groveling in the dirt. Keeping quiet and acting
          obsequious. Being a religious doormat for others to walk upon.

          Nothing could be further from the truth! Humility is about speaking your mind, fighting
          for your ideas and opinions, creating through effort, sweat and debate. The humble man's
          ego is based on reality --- not fed on illusion. When he is wrong, he can admit it and is
          open to the ideas of others.

          Humility is based upon a realistic self-love.

          O God, let me humbly rejoice in Your gift of creativity.

          ***********************************************************

          He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom, and broke away their chains.
          Psalm 107:14

          Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
          Romans 5:1

          The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
          Psalm 78:7

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

When something bothers or upsets you, you can either complain about it or make peace with it. Lord, help me promptly deal with the distractions of my day and move on to the things that truly make my day a pleasure.

*********************************

God sends us His message, but we must be willing to receive it and then live it. Lord, when I yield to You, I become free and full of the richness of life.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#21

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Oct 7, 2005 10:54 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/8

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 8, 2005

Daily Reflections

        DAILY INVENTORY

          . . . . and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
          ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 59

          I was beginning to approach my new life of sobriety with
          unaccustomed enthusiasm. New friends were cropping up
          and some of my battered friendships had begun to be
          repaired. Life was exciting, and I even began to enjoy my
          work, becoming so bold as to issue a report on the lack
          of proper care for some of our clients. One day a co-worker
          informed me that my boss was really sore because a complaint,
          submitted over his head, had caused him much discomfort at
          the hands of his superiors. I knew that my report had created
          the problem, and began to feel responsible for my boss's
          difficulty. In discussing the affair, my co-worker tried to
          reassure me that an apology was not necessary, but I soon
          became convinced that I had to do something, regardless of how
          it might turn out. When I approached my boss and owned up to
          my hand in his difficulties, he was surprised. But unexpected
          things came out of our encounter, and my boss and I were able
          to agree to interact more directly and effectively in the future.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          There is such a thing as being too loyal to any one group.
          Do I feel put out when another group starts and some members
          of my group leave it and branch out into new territory? Or do
          I send them out with my blessing? Do I visit that new offshoot
          group and help it along? Or do I sulk in my own tent? A.A.
          grows by the starting of new groups all the time. I must
          realize that it's a good thing for a large group to split up
          into smaller ones, even it if means that the large group
          --my own group--becomes smaller. Am I always ready to help
          new groups?

          Meditation For The Day

          Pray--and keep praying until it brings peace and serenity and
          a feeling of communion with One who is near and ready to help.
          The thought of God is balm for our hates and fears. In praying
          to God, we find healing for hurt feelings and resentments. In
          thinking of God, doubts and fears leave us. Instead of those
          doubts and fears, there will flow into our hearts such faith
          and love as is beyond the power of material things to give, and
          such peace as the world can neither give nor take away. And with
          God, we can have the tolerance to live and let live.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may have true tolerance and understanding.
          I pray that I may keep striving for these difficult things.

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        As Bill Sees It

         Spiritual Kindergarten, p. 95

             "We are only operating a spiritual kindergarten in which people are
             enabled to get over drinking and find the grace to go on living to
             better effect. Each man's theology has to be his own quest, his own
             affair."

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             When the Big Book was being planned, some members thought that it
             ought to be Christian in the doctrinal sense. Others had no objection
             to the use of the word "God", but wanted to avoid doctrinal issues.
             Spirituality, yes. Religion, no. Still others wanted a psychological
             book, to lure the alcoholic in. Once in, he could take God or leave
             Him alone as he wished.

             To the rest of us this was shocking, but happily we listened. Our
             group conscience was at work to construct the most acceptable and
             effective book possible.

             Every voice was playing its appointed part. Our atheists and
             agnostics widened our gateway so that all who suffer might pass
             through, regardless of their belief or lack of belief.

             1. Letter, 1954
             2. A.A. Comes Of Age, pp. 162, 163, 167

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

The Fellowship started to grow, most particularly following the publicity we got in the Gazette in the spring of 1945. I will never forget the day that Mary came to see me--she was the first woman to join our Fellowship here. She was very shy and reserved, very low-key. She had heard of the Fellowship through the Gazette.

p. 198

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."
No other kind of bankruptcy is like this one. Alcohol, now become the rapacious creditor, bleeds us of all self-sufficiency and all will to resist its demands. Once this stark fact is accepted, our bankruptcy as going human concerns is complete.
p. 21

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          I will exercise patience, as God would, with all others.
          --Shelley

          "Youth is like spring, an over praised season more remarkable for biting winds than
          genial breezes.
          Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits."
          --Samuel Butler

          AA is my anchor in a sea of confusion.

          AA brought me home when I had lost my way.

          Newcomer or long-timer, we are all the same in our need for each other.

          Think it over, not drink over it.

          "The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
          --Marcel Proust

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         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          UNDERSTANDING

                                             "Intelligence is proved not by
                                                ease of learning but by
                                            understanding what we learn."
                                                   -- Joseph Whitney

          For years I learned things without understanding what the words, or the meaning behind
          the words, really meant. An example was alcoholism. Then a man said, "My name is Bill,
          and I am an alcoholic and a recovering human being!" Then it struck me; recovery from a
          drug --- alcohol --- was not simply about putting down the glass but about changing and
          developing a positive lifestyle as a human being.

          The same is true with spirituality. It is not about being religious, going to church or
          accepting dogma. It is about finding God in my life, discovering God in the decisions and
          actions I take and seeing Him in the world around me. Today I understand spirituality to
          be the link that unites all peoples and is centered on what is true and real.

          May I continue to search for the meaning within the word and the harmony of
          communication.

          ***********************************************************

          Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress.
          Psalm 107:13

          "By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me, a prayer
          to the God of my life."
          Psalm 42:8

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Daily Inspiration

Waste no time on situations that aren't worth your precious time. Lord, may I recognize pettiness for what it is and move on so that my imagination doesn't take over and give pettiness more value than it deserves.

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From every right choice comes eternal benefits. Just as every wrong choice has eternal consequences. Lord, may our relationship grow deeper every day.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
Havagrt24! bluidkiti=^-^=
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#20

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Oct 7, 2005 12:25 pm
Subject: Weekly Readings - 10/7

bluidkiti

Offline

Weekly Spiritual Readings
October 7, 2005

*This page is updated every Friday.

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God gives more than we ask or imagine.

Aim right. Aim high, and raise your goal. With God plan big. With God plan bold." --Fred Jarvis

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. --Epictetus

God can use you to your full potential.

You are a Child of God and a co-heir with His Son!

If we believe in Him, our praise comes naturally from the depths of our souls!

I have no fear. My trust is in my Lord.

The Jesus that was in my yesterday, that provided for me.....
The Jesus that is in my Today, providing for me.....
Is the same Jesus that will be in my tomorrow and will provide for me!
Thank You, Jesus

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Memorable Marital Advice
Long, long ago, when I was a young, young married man, I called a friend to get some informal marital counseling. My friend was Del Fehsenfeld, the founder of Life Actions Ministries in Buchanan, Michigan. I was on staff at a church nearby. As always he immediately made time for me. We met for breakfast.
Del was in intense man with a choleric temperament. After talking for a while he looked me directly in the eye and said, “Can I ask you a question? Do you love Lois?”
“O, Yes,” I said. “I do.”
Without breaking stride he said, “Do you tell her regularly that you love her?”
“Yes, I do,” I said, confidently. I felt a little smug because I know it is hard for some men to express their love. I have never had that problem.
“Good,” Del said and then, eyes on mine, he asked, “If I were to ask her today, “Do you feel loved right now? What would she say?”
After a while I said, “I don’t know.”
Del said, “It’s not just your job to love her or even to tell her regularly that you love her. It is your job to make her feel loved every day.
It’s been about twenty years and Del has long since gone to be with the Lord, but he took time one morning to give me advice that I have never forgotten. I am still working to make my wife feel loved every day. I make a study of each person in my family to discover their love language, the spiritual gifts, how God made them, and what makes them feel loved. One of the things that makes life interesting is to try different things all the time to help those you love feel loved.
It is tragic for people in this world to feel unloved, but millions do. I consider it my personal responsibility to see to it that none of them are in my family. --Ken Pierpont

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Slaves to Our Stuff
Jerry and I were best friends in high school, and then we didn't see each other for several years. But we were able to get together again when we found out that he and his wife had moved to an apartment in New York City. He was training to become a 747 pilot for a major airline. Karen and I went in to have dinner at their apartment, and we realized that Jerry and Gail were making the big bucks. They had an exclusive apartment, expensive furniture and a brand new Cadillac. Jerry took us down to the high-security garage to show the Caddy to us with a lot of pride. A couple months later, they drove out to our little apartment in a New Jersey suburb. We didn't live in a fancy neighborhood, but you know, it wasn't a bad neighborhood. Jerry had to park his Cadillac where we parked our un-Cadillac - on the street. We prepared a nice dinner, but Jerry couldn't enjoy it. He couldn't enjoy the conversation we tried to have after dinner. The whole time he was really nervous. Every five!
minutes or so he would leave the conversation, go over to the window, and check on his Cadillac! I assured him it would be OK, but no, no. He spent the whole night worrying about losing his expensive car. At first, I though Jerry owned a Cadillac. It turned out that a Cadillac owned Jerry!
Our word for today from the Word of God comes from 1 Timothy 6:17-18. "Command those who are rich in this present world" - which, by the standards of most of the people in the world, would include almost everyone listening right now - "tell them not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age."
God uses a revealing word here to describe all of our earth-stuff, "uncertain." Hello, Jerry. I can't help but think that Jerry's anxiety about losing his treasure that night was a glimpse of what happens to all of us as we get more earth- stuff. Once we get it, we have to put a lot of energy into not losing it, which leads to an interesting phenomenon: you being owned by your stuff instead of your stuff being owned by you. I know, for example, of a number of couples who had intended to answer the Lord's call to go into His work after they got on their feet financially. Unfortunately, in the process, they established a lifestyle and they made commitments that could not be sustained on a ministry income. They still aren't in the Lord's work today. Their stuff ended up owning them.
Could it be that you have gotten some possession or some position that now consumes the heart of your energies in order to keep it? Could it be that the business you own actually owns you? Or your money? Or your house owns you? Or your investments? Somehow, without intending it or realizing it, you have become a slave to your stuff. And you have to keep running to the window to make sure it's still there, which makes it hard to really enjoy life.
God doesn't say it's necessarily wrong to have earth stuff. It's wrong for it to have you. His prescription for freedom is first, don't trust in earth-stuff, that's what we read in 1 Timothy. Don't base your identity on it. Realize it's just a gift from God and that God has the right to give it or take it away. He'll always provide for you. And don't pursue earth-stuff. Jesus said your Father knows what you need and He'll provide for you. You pursue His Kingdom, not yours. And don't hold onto your earth-stuff. Give it away.
When you know your earth-stuff is only a gift and when you sign it all over to God and when you see it as resources God gave you to make a difference with, you can relax and stop running to the window. In God's words, you have traded "uncertain" for treasure that's "a firm foundation." Your security is Jesus, not earth-stuff! --2005, Ron Hutchcraft

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More Than We Ask
To him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! -Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
THE long, hot days of summer and the lack of rain left the soil dry and dusty. Under the cloudless sky, the crops, stressed for lack of moisture, were wilted and limp in the fields. Prospects for a good harvest were slim.
Then it happened. A floating cloud obscured the sun, then thickened and darkened. At first, a few drops of rain brought a refreshing smell to the summer air. Then the few drops became a shower, and the shower became a steady rain that continued for hours, soaking the soil and giving life to the crops.
As we stood looking over the field, the farmer looked skyward and prayed, "Thank you, Lord. I asked for a refreshing shower, and you sent a clod-soaking rain."
In a particular situation, we may not get what we want when we pray. But when we look at our lives from a long-term perspective, we usually receive more than we ask. God, in whom we trust, "is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." --Howard Coop

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BIBLE MEDITATION: “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:12
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: Some of the greatest spiritual defeats you will ever have will follow some of your highest spiritual victories. Jonah, Moses, and Elijah – all these men learned this. Why does this happen? Because we are tired and feel we can just coast a while. We think, Didn’t God bless and give us a great victory? But, we forget that the devil is clever. He knows just when to pull the rug out from under us. Let me give you a little advice: Although the residual effects of yesterday’s blessings will bless you, you cannot coast on yesterday’s blessings. God has made you that you cannot live by experiences; you have to live by Jesus Christ one day at a time.
ACTION POINT: Has God blessed you with an extraordinary victory? What are you doing today to live a life worthy of that blessing and in allegiance to the One who has blessed you? --Love Worth Finding's daily devotional

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BIBLE MEDITATION: “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Corinthians 4:16
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: So many people think that they cannot do much for the Lord as they enter the twilight years. God doesn’t change just because your health may take a turn, or you feel weaker. The faith that is inside of you has not weakened, unless you stop feeding it with works of faith. The things that God calls us to do in life do not hinge upon our physical stamina or financial strength. Do you know where one of the great strengths of a church lies? In its seniors who have walked with God for years. With their reservoir of wisdom and fortress of faith, they get hold of God and though their bodies are wearing a bit, they are as strong as they ever were because God is their strength. Douglas MacArthur once said, “You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubts, as young as your self with confidence, as old as your fears, as young as your hope, as old as your despair.” God gives unfading strength for His undiminishing promises.
ACTION POINT: Are you retired? How are you using all your free time for the Lord? Here are some things to ask God to help you do for His glory: volunteer at a homeless shelter, go on mission trips, sing in the choir, write letters to prisoners and orphans, teach a Bible Study, and spend time in intercessory prayer for the great needs of your community and the world!
--Love Worth Finding's daily devotional

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BIBLE MEDITATION: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He giveth His beloved sleep.” Psalm 127:2
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: In the book of Jonah, we learn that Jonah reached a place of physical despondency (see Jonah 4:3 and 8). He wanted God to kill him. Have you ever reached a place of despair and thought that everything and everyone was against you and you didn’t know what to do? Maybe you just needed to lie down and get some sleep. Now, that may not sound like the most spiritual thing to do, but we cannot abuse our bodies without suffering the consequences. And being a child of God does not make you immune to physical exhaustion. Have you ever heard of burn out? Where do you think we got that phrase? There is enough time in the day to gracefully do everything God wants us to do.
ACTION POINT: Do you feel you are on the edge of burn out? Perhaps you are already there. Before you turn to toast, ask God for His wisdom to set some boundaries in your life, to learn to say no, to delegate some of your responsibilities, to ask for a day off from work, to ask for a hug, or to perhaps turn to a counselor for help --Love Worth Finding's daily devotional

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A False Assumption
If you are truly humble, you will always be ready to seek (and accept!) help from others. The present genteel, self-loving brand of piety assumes, “I don’t need anybody; I can set things right with God myself.” But as long as you quietly try to work out your own salvation, you won’t get anywhere. Only when you recognize your need for others and reach out and open up to them will things move forward. --J. C. Blumhardt

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STIRRING THE PAINT
I stood in the bare white room and sighed. Paint cans, trays, rollers and brushes were stacked in the middle of the floor. Every breath I took reminded me that I'd been here for a number of days, but there was still work to be done. These walls were still white. By the time we were finished painting the downstairs floors of two houses, I was tired, but I was getting pretty good at painting. I was even enjoying it a bit. It was satisfying, watching the paint flow onto the walls, turning them to a warm comforting color.
I grabbed a new pail, gave it a bit of a shake and opened it up. I knew as soon as I passed the roller over the wall that something was wrong. I looked at the label on the pail. It was the same color. I looked at the paint inside. It looked the same as what I'd been using earlier in the day. But I looked at the wall and frowned. I dipped a brush into the paint and immediately realized the problem. It needed to be stirred. It took quite a while, and my arm was starting to object, before the consistency was right and I could use that paint, but once it had been stirred enough, the rest of the work was almost effortless.
Like paint, our faith in God needs to be stirred. We need to see God's hand at work in our lives and the lives of others. It's the answered prayers, the obvious God incidents, and the manifestations of His glory in the world around us, which thicken our faith into something that will sustain us, something that can be used.
Some of the stirring can only be accomplished by God Himself. Faith is a gift. Only He can open our eyes to its reality. But we can put ourselves in places where we will see the hand of God at work. Go to the third world. Help in a soup kitchen. Visit the dying and those in prison. Work with those who are disabled. Witness to those around you. Go to church. Take the risks that will reveal Him. God is always at work in places where He is most needed.
When faith is thin, our spiritual life fades and God can't accomplish much through us. But when it's been stirred, life thickens with purpose and meaning. It is then that faith becomes a beautiful and useful tool in God's hands. When our faith has been stirred, the work we do for Him seems almost effortless because we recognize that it is He who works through us. We see the difference only He can make, "for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13). --"The Spur"

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Bible Questions & Answers
How old was Noah when the flood began? 600 Genesis 7:6
For how long did the flood waters continue to increase? 40 days Genesis 7:17
What kind of leaf was in the dove's mouth when it returned to the ark? Olive Genesis 8:11
How many times did Noah send the dove from the Ark? 3 Genesis 8:8-12
--Provided by Thomas W Henderson

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This Too Shall Pass
If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be-
If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone else seems to doubt me-
If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with the morning
And that this will pass away, too-
Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all of the chains
That are binding me tight in the darkness
And trying to fill me with fear-
For there is no night without dawning
And I know that my morning is near.
Helen Steiner Rice

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AT EVENING
When sunset turns the lake to gold, beneath the sky's warm blue,
My eyes can almost look on God, so near His presence steals;
I feel a sudden tender thrill - the same a dreamer feels,
Who wakes from some vague reverie to see his dream come true.
I find God's smile in every tree, I know His kind eyes shine
Where clouds are parted in the West; the misty, scented air
Is like a voice that calls to me and lifts my soul in prayer-
And-almost-as the twilight grows, I feel His hand in mine!
--Margaret E. Sangster, Jr.

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So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God. For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. Romans 7:4-6

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 1 John 3:1-3

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:16-20

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope. Psalm 130:5

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20

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GOD'S EMBROIDERY
When I was little, my mother used to sew a great deal. I would sit at her knee and look up from the floor and ask what she was doing. She informed me that she was embroidering. As from the underside I watched her work within the boundaries of the little hoop that she held in her hand, I complained to her that it sure looked messy from where I sat. She'd smile at me, look down and gently say, "Son, you go about your playing and when I am finished with my embroidering, I will put you on my knee and let you see it from my side." I would wonder why she was using some dark threads along with the bright ones and why they seemed so jumbled from my view.
A few minutes would pass and then I would hear Mother's voice say, "Son come sit on my knee." This I did only to be surprised and thrilled to see a beautiful flower or sunset. I could not believe it, because from underneath it looked so messy. Then mother would say to me. "My son, from underneath it did look messy and jumbled, but you did not realize that there was a plan on the top. It was a design. I was only following it. Now look at it from my side and you will see what I was doing."
Many times through the years, I have looked up to heaven and said, "Father what are You doing?" He has answered, "I am
embroidering your life." I say, "But it looks like such a mess to me. It seems so jumbled. The threads seem so dark. Why can't they
all be bright?" Then God seems to tell me, "My child, you go about your business of doing My business, and one day I will bring you to Heaven and put you on my knee and you will see the plan from My side." --Author Unknown

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A CUP OF COLD WATER IS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER
On a hot summer morning, I sat down to twist my hair. It was early morning and as I looked out of the window I noticed a school bus in the turning lane on the highway which was unusual at that intersection. Busy, several hours later I looked and the bus hadn't moved. I thought that odd but kept on twisting.
I had been training myself to hear Gods voice when I heard in my spirit, "a cold drink of water." I kept on twisting my hair. That "God prompting" began to work me on the inside. I kept on twisting my hair. Finally, I felt the prompt again only a little stronger, and this time I said "okay," 'cause it sure was hot out there and whoever was on that bus had to be thirsty. Another voice said "they probably have a cooler on board, girl."
I went into the kitchen to prepare the cold drink of water, and I was amazed at how the spirit of God told me how to prepare the water, more ice than water, cover the top of the cup with foil. I was excited, to say the least, to know that I heard and finally moved to do what he said.
As I walked across the highway, many thoughts ran through my mind, one being what will the driver think? I approached the bus carefully; after all it was in an unusual place. I called "hey driver!!" I said to the driver, "I was watching from my window and noticed you have been parked here for a long time and it is hot out here." I went on to tell her that Jesus told me to bring her a cold drink of water. The lady seemed to be so relieved, as it tuned out the bus was broken down and she had made the necessary calls for towing and repair. The driver had been informed not to leave the bus; she could lose her job if she did. The driver told me that she had been thinking about how she could get to the store two blocks up to get a soda--she said as sure as she left the bus the tow
truck would come and her bus and job would be gone, so she stayed, prayed and asked God for a cold drink of water.
At that moment I was overwhelmed with the awesomeness of God, how He loves us so and what He will do for us because of that love. My mind was just filled with the goodness of God. I wanted to cry but instead I asked the driver if she knew Jesus as Lord and savior of her life. I told her that Jesus loved her so much that He wanted her to know that He hears and answers prayer--even the
quick and desperate ones. The driver told me she knew Jesus as her personal savior--she was just trying to get her life together. I told her that my being there with that water was Jesus showing her how much He loved her just like she was, where she was, and all she had to do was trust Him. "We can't do anything without Jesus anyway," I said. "Our part is to do what He tells us to do."
As she drank her water, I gave her my name, showed her where I lived and told her if she wanted more water all she had to do was stick the cup out of the window--I would be watching and would bring her more cold water. I went home, started twisting my hair and watching for the cup to fill it with more cold water. --www.servantevangelism.com

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ALL KINDS OF GATES
"Lift up the gates so the King of glory can come in" (Psalm 24:7)
Gates. We live in a world of gates. Gates to keep people out. Gates to keep people in. Gates to enter the driveway, gates into and out of parking lots. Gates to keep animals in, gates to keep them away.
And then there are gates to our hearts. We allow people and God into some of the rooms of our heart - but not all of them. There are secrets we don't want anyone to know, there are hurts we don't expose to anyone.
There is a verse in Psalm 24 that says in essence, "Lift up the gates, so the King of Glory can come in. The Lord strong and mighty...the Lord Almighty."
When you stop and think about it, we are fools when we don't completely lift the gates of our heart to God. The Lord Almighty wants to invade our whole life so He can be our Savior, friend and protector.
Several years ago, I heard a testimony given by a middle-aged gentleman. In his life, many people would have called him a beach bum. One day while in a restaurant, he picked up a booklet and read through a gospel presentation. When he read a prayer to invite Jesus into his life, he decided he would go kneel on the beach and open the door of his heart as wide as he could. He wanted as much of the King of Glory as he could get. He was never the same again.
Have you ever opened the door of your life WIDE open to Jesus Christ? Today, right now, is the best time to open your heart's door as wide as you can and ask Him in. Allow Him to invade every room and corner of your life.
~Lord, I open wide the door of every room in my heart. Please come in and invade every space with Your glory and Your might. Please let Your glory shine though me so others will see You in me. Amen. --Katherine Kehler

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Thank you, merciful Lord, for the abundance of blessings that you give day after day. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Further Instructions
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:2-6

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How to Ask Jesus into Your Life
Choosing to submit your life to God is the most significant decision you can ever make.
This choice involves more than simple intellectual agreement that Jesus is God and that He died on the cross to pay the penalty for your sins.
It requires that you commit the rest of your life to God, to do what He asks of you and to live in accordance with His principles. This decision is not something to be taken lightly. It requires sacrifice and a total reorientation of your life around God rather than yourself. As Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." Luke 9:23.
If you feel you are ready to make this commitment, you can do so right now by telling God you are sorry for your past mistakes, putting your trust in Him and asking Him to make you into the person He created you to be. This step involves faith. You probably still have a number of unanswered questions at this point, but you must be willing to make the decision based on what you know right now and trust God to fill in the details later.
The precise words you use to commit yourself to God are not important. He knows the intentions of your heart. Your prayer can be as simple as "Help!" or it can focus on an issue that is specific to your situation. If you are unsure of what to pray, use the following sample prayer to get started: 'Jesus, I want to know You. I want You to come into my life. I'm sorry for the things I've done that have broken my relationship with God. Thank You for dying on the cross so that this relationship could be made right. I believe You are the only One who can do this. Only You can give me the power to change and become the person You created me to be. Thank You for forgiving my past mistakes and for giving me eternal life with God. I give my life to You. Please do with it as You wish. Amen.'
By praying the above prayer or one similar to it, you have just taken a giant step toward making God the center of your life. But these are just the words. What follows is a lifelong journey of change and growth as you get to know God better through Bible reading, prayer and interaction with others. --http://www.retirementwithapurpose.com/lawknowingjesus.html

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#19

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Oct 7, 2005 12:02 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/7

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 7, 2005

Daily Reflections

        DAILY MONITORING

          Continued to take personal inventory. . . . .
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88

          The spiritual axiom referred to in the Tenth Step--
          "every time we are disturbed, no matter what the cause,
          there is something wrong with us"--also tells me that
          there are no exceptions to it. No matter how unreasonable
          others may seem, I am responsible for not reacting
          negatively. Regardless of what is happening around me I
          will always have the prerogative, and the responsibility,
          of choosing what happens within me. I am the creator of
          my own reality. When I take my daily inventory, I know
          that I must stop judging others. If I judge others, I
          am probably judging myself. Whoever is upsetting me most
          is my best teacher. I have much to learn from him or her,
          and in my heart, I should thank that person.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Do I put too much reliance on any one member of the group?
          That is, do I make a tin god out of some one person? Do I
          set that person on a pedestal? If I do, I am building my
          house on sand. A.A. members have "clay feet." They are all
          only one drink away from a drunk, no matter how long they
          have been in A.A. This has been proved to be true more than
          once. It's not fair to any member to be singled out as a
          leader in A A. and to always quote that member on the A.A.
          program. If that person should fail, where would I be?

          Meditation For The Day

          You must always remember that you are weak but that God is
          strong. God knows all about your weakness. He hears every
          cry for mercy, every sign of weakness, every plea for help,
          every sorrow over failure, every weakness felt and expressed.
          We only fail when we trust too much to our own strength. Do
          not feel bad about your weakness. When you are weak, that is
          when God is strong to help you. Trust God enough, and your
          weakness will not matter. God is always strong to save.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may learn to lean on God's strength.
          I pray that I may know that my weakness is God's opportunity.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         When Defects Are Less Than Deadly, p. 96

             Practically everybody wishes to be rid of his most glaring and
             destructive handicaps. No one wants to be so proud that he is
             scorned as a braggart, nor so greedy that he is labeled a thief. No
             one wants to be angry enough to murder, lustful enough to rape,
             gluttonous enough to ruin his health. No one wants to be agonized by
             chronic envy or paralyzed by sloth.

             Of course, most human beings don't suffer these defects at these
             rock-bottom levels, and we who have escaped such extremes are apt
             to congratulate ourselves. Yet can we? After all, hasn't it been
             self-interest that has enabled most of us to escape? Not much
             spiritual effort is involved in avoiding excesses which will bring us
             punishment anyway. But when we face up to the less violent aspects
             of these very same defects, where do we stand then?

             12 & 12, p. 66

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

One day I got a letter from a man in Halifax who wrote, "One of my friends, a drunk, works in Montreal, but he is currently in Chicago, where he went on a major binge. When he returns to Montreal, I'd like you to talk to him.
I met this man at his home. His wife was cooking dinner, their young daughter at her side. The man was wearing a velvet jacket and sitting comfortably in his parlor. I hadn't met many people from high society. I immediately thought, "What's going on here? This man isn't an alcoholic!" Jack was a down-to-earth person. He was used to discussions about psychiatry, and the concept of a Higher Power didn't appeal to him very much. But from our meeting, A.A. was born here in Quebec.

pp. 197-198

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Step One - "We admitted we were powerless over alcohol--that our lives had become unmanageable."
Who cares to admit complete defeat? Practically no one, of course. Every natural instinct cries out against the idea of personal powerlessness. It is truly awful to admit that, glass in hand, we have warped our minds into such an obsession for destructive drinking that only an act of Providence can remove it from us.
p. 21

**********************************************************

          With God everyday,
          I make my way.
          I hold on to God’s hand
          As I journey through this land.
          --Tammy

          What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within
          us.
          --Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

          Do not let a desire for wealth cause you to become so consumed by your
          work that you prevent happiness for yourself and your family. Happiness is foremost. A
          look filled with understanding, and accepting smile, a loving word, a meal shared in
          warmth and awareness are the things which create happiness in the present moment. By
          nourishing awareness in the present moment, you can avoid causing suffering to yourself
          and those around you.
          --Thich Nhat Hanh

          "No matter how much you talk to your plant, if you don't water it, it's going to die."
          --Mike Perry

          Thoughts and beliefs are nothing without action"
          --James A. Ray

          ***********************************************************

         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          POWER

                                                 "The first and great
                                            commandment is 'Don't let them
                                                    scare you.'"
                                                     -- Elmer Davis

          In my sobriety I still need to deal with fear. A fear of people, a fear of not being good
          enough, a fear of saying the wrong thing, a fear of not looking "good enough" --- fear still
          haunts me in sobriety.

          However, my recovery also tells me that I am a child of God. I am a beautiful and
          powerful human being because God not only made me, but has shared something of His
          precious divinity with me. I am good enough. In Him I can afford to risk. Love must begin
          with the recognition of self.

          Today I must remember that people are not "out to get me". I need not make myself the
          victim. People are much the same inside, and we all need each other to survive.

          Thank You for the power to live with my fear.

          ***********************************************************

          Let them give thanks for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for
          men, for He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
          Psalm 107:8-9

          "Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you."
          Psalm 55:22

          We love Him, because He first loved us.
          1 John 4:19

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Prayer is the best preparation for the day. Lord, although I don't know all that I will need for today, give me clarity and wisdom and remove from my path that which I am yet not strong enough to bear.

*********************************

Be joyful in whatever you do today because you have been blessed, are being blessed and have many more blessings waiting for you. Lord, I am so grateful for Your love.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#18

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Thu Oct 6, 2005 7:54 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/6

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 6, 2005

Daily Reflections

        FACING OURSELVES

          . . . . and Fear says, "You dare not look!"
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 49

          How often I avoided a task in my drinking days,
          just because it appeared so large! Is it any wonder
          even if I have been sober for some time, that I will
          act that same way when faced with what appears to be
          a monumental job, such as a searching and fearless
          moral inventory of myself? What I discover after I
          have arrived at the other side--when my inventory is
          completed--is that the illusion was greater than the
          reality. The fear of facing myself kept me at a
          standstill and, until I became willing to put pencil
          to paper, I was arresting my growth based on an
          intangible.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Is it my desire to be a big shot in A.A.? Do I always
          want to be up front in the limelight? Do I feel that
          nobody else can do as good a job as I can? Or am I
          willing to take a seat in the back row once in a while
          and let somebody else carry the ball? Part of the
          effectiveness of any A.A. group is the development of
          new members to carry on, to take over, from the older
          members. Am I reluctant to give up authority? Do I try
          to carry the load for the whole group? If so, I am not
          being fair to the newer members. Do I realize that no
          one person is essential? Do I know that A.A. could
          carry on without me, if it had to?

          Meditation For The Day

          The Unseen God can help to make us truly grateful and
          humble. Since we cannot see God, we must believe in Him
          without seeing. What we can see clearly is the change in
          a human being, when he sincerely asks God for the strength
          to change. We should cling to faith in God and in His power
          to change our faith in God and in His power to change our
          ways. Our faith in all Unseen God will be rewarded by a
          useful and serviceable life. God will not fail to show us
          the way we should live. When in real gratitude and true
          humility we turn to Him..

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may believe that God can change me.
          I pray that I may be always willing to be changed
          for the better.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Self-Respect Through Sacrifice, p. 97

             At the beginning we sacrificed alcohol. We had to, or it would have
             killed us. But we couldn't get rid of alcohol unless we made other
             sacrifices. We had to toss the self-justification, self-pity, and anger
             right out the window. We had to quit the crazy contest for personal
             prestige and big bank balances. We had to take personal
             responsibility for our sorry state and quit blaming others for it.

             Were these sacrifices? Yes, they were. To gain enough humility and
             self-respect to stay alive at all, we had to give up what had really
             been our dearest possessions--our ambitions and our illegitimate
             pride.

             A.A. Comes Of Age, p. 287

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

I was all alone in Quebec at the time. The Toronto Group had been in operation since the previous fall, and there was a member in Windsor who attended meetings across the river in Detroit. That was A.A. in its entirety in this country.

p. 197

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

As A.A. now enters maturity, it has begun to reach into forty foreign lands.* In the view of its friends, this is but the beginning of its unique and valuable service.
It is hoped that this volume will afford all who read it a close-up view of the principles and forces which have made Alcoholics Anonymous what it is.

(A.A.'s General Service Office may be reached by writing:
Alcoholics Anonymous, P.O. Box 459,
Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, U.S.A.)

*In 1998, A.A. is established in 150 countries.

p. 18

**********************************************************

        I have held many things in my hands and have lost them all, but whatever I placed in God's hands I still possess.
         --GGDNER

          Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...
          but how much love we put in that action.
          --Mother Teresa

          Live your life and forget your age.
          --Norman Vincent Peale

          In a world that is constantly changing, there is no one subject or set of
          subjects that will serve you for the foreseeable future, let alone for the
          rest of your life. The most important skill to acquire now is learning how to learn.
          --John Naisbitt

           "In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us."

--Flora Edwards

          ***********************************************************

         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          FORGIVENESS

                                            "Forgiveness is the key to action
                                                   and freedom."
                                                   -- Hannah Arendt

          Early in sobriety I found it easy to forgive others but hard to forgive myself. This kept me
          sick and negative, even in recovery, because I was unable to practice self-love. I still
          blamed me and felt responsible for being alcoholic. I had not surrendered to the reality of
          alcoholism as a disease.

          Then a moment of sanity was granted me whereby I understood that I was not responsible
          for being alcoholic, but that I am responsible for my recovery. And my recovery involves
          a love and respect of self. This knowledge brought a tremendous joy and freedom that led
          to action within the recovering community. Only by loving me will I be able to
          love you, and in both these ways I show my love of God.

          May I always hold on to the spiritual power of forgiveness.

          ***********************************************************

          "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you."
          1 Peter 5:7

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word. Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.

Psalm 119:105-112

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Be grateful for the simple things that you can do such as being able to see, to walk, to have health and to be able to face life with peace of mind. Lord, on a daily basis I will count my many unnamed blessings.

*********************************

Give to God your problems and concerns and pray. Lord, I surrender my stubborn will to You and trust in Your answers to my prayers.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#17

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Tue Oct 4, 2005 10:22 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/5

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 5, 2005

Daily Reflections

        YESTERDAY'S BAGGAGE

          For the wise have always known that no one can make much of his life until self-searching
          becomes a regular habit, until he is able to admit and accept what he finds, and until he
          patiently and persistently tries to correct what is wrong.
          12 & 12, p. 88

          I have more than enough to handle today, without dragging along yesterday's baggage
          too. I must balance today's books, if I am to have a chance tomorrow. So I ask myself if
          I have erred and how I can avoid repeating that particular behavior. Did I hurt anyone,
          did I help anyone, and why? Some of today is bound to spill over into tomorrow, but most
          of it need not if I make an honest daily inventory.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Do I have any hard feelings about other group members or for any
          other A.A. group? Am I critical of the way a group member thinks or acts? Do I feel that
          another group is operating in the wrong way and do I broadcast it? Or do I realize that all
          A.A. members, no matter what their limitations, have something to offer, some good,
          however little, that they can do for A.A. in spite of their handicaps? Do I believe that
          there is a place for all kinds of groups in A.A., provided they are following A.A. traditions,
          and that they can be effective even if I do not agree with their procedure? Am I tolerant
          of people and groups?

          Meditation For The Day

          "The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this
          time forth and even forever more." All your movements, your goings and comings can be
          guided by the Unseen Spirit. Every visit to help another, every unselfish effort to assist,
          can be blessed by that Unseen Spirit. There can be a blessing on all you do, on every
          interview with one who is suffering. Every meeting of a need may not be a chance
          meeting, but it may have been planned by the Unseen Spirit. Led by the Spirit of the
          Lord, you can be tolerant, sympathetic, and understanding of others and so accomplish
          much.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may be led by the spirit of God. I pray that the Lord will
          preserve my goings and my comings.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Anger--Personal and Group Enemy, p. 98

             "As the book 'Alcoholics Anonymous' puts it, 'Resentment is the
             Number One offender.' It is a primary cause of relapses into
             drinking. How well we of A.A. know that for us 'To drink is
             eventually to go mad or die.'

             "Much the same penalty overhangs every A.A. group. Given enough
             anger, both unity and purpose are lost. Given still more 'righteous'
             indignation, the group can disintegrate; it can actually die. This is
             why we avoid controversy. This is why we prescribe no punishments
             for any misbehavior, no matter how grievous. Indeed, no alcoholic
             can be deprived of his membership for any reason whatever.

             "Punishment never heals. Only love can heal."

             Letter, 1966

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

As I look back on it now, I did everything wrong, but at least I was thinking of somebody else instead of myself. I had begun to get a little bit of something I am very full of now, and that is gratitude. I was becoming increasingly grateful to the people in New York and to the God they referred to but whom I found difficult to reach. (Yet I realized I had to seek the Higher Power I was told about.)

p. 197

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

Everywhere there arose threatening questions of membership, money, personal relations, public relations, management of groups, clubs, and scores of other perplexities. It was out of this vast welter of explosive experience that A.A.'s Twelve Traditions took form and were first published in 1946 and later confirmed at A.A.'s First International Convention, held at Cleveland in 1950. The Tradition section of this volume portrays in some detail the experience which finally produced the Twelve Traditions and so gave A.A. its present form, substance, and unity.

p. 18

**********************************************************

        Give and forget. Receive and remember.

          When you give of yourself, you receive more than you give.
          --Antoine De Saint-Exupery

          Money is not required to buy one necessity of the soul.
          --Henry David Thoreau

          Prosperity depends more on wanting what you have than having what you want.
          --Geoffry F. Abert

          "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It
          turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a
          feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past,
          brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."
          --Melody Beattie

          "The more you recognize and express gratitude for the things you have, the more things
          you will have to express gratitude for."
          --Zig Ziglar

          When a person habitually thinks optimistically and hopefully, they activate life around
          them positively and thereby attract positive results. Positive Thinking sets in motion
          positive and creative forces and success flows toward you!
          --Norman Vincent Peale

          ***********************************************************

         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          PRIDE

                                            "The books I haven't written are
                                              better than the books other
                                                   people have."
                                                  -- Cyril V. Connolly

          Today I still have to grapple with pride, vanity and conceit. Today, thanks to God and my
          spiritual program, I am not so preoccupied with self, but the old tapes can still be heard:
          "Thank God I am not as stupid as her." "I am blessed in not being like those people." "I
          suppose everybody in the room is looking at me."

          Pride is still a big obstacle because it keeps me isolated from people. It emphasizes the
          difference between me and the world, rather than the commonality. Pride keeps me a
          prisoner of my ego and develops that cruel and sadistic streak in my nature that I know
          exists. Pride stops me being grateful because it keeps me too focused on what I am doing
          and I miss the beauty and splendor of my life. Pride keeps my nose pushed against
          the picture so I cannot see the portrait!

          I can only change this "proudful" attitude by talking about it. The way for me to grow is
          to "dump it" . . . today.

          May I find me in the people I meet and share with.

          ***********************************************************

          "I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you
          throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your
          offspring after you."
          Genesis 17:7

          Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
          Philippians 4:4-5

          I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me          strength.
          Philippians 4:12-13

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

God will give you today, no more than you can handle today. It is when you choose to add yesterday's and tomorrow's troubles to it that it becomes too much to carry. Lord, help me remember that it is only right now that I can find all that I am looking for.

*********************************

We are not here to live a life of worry, guilt, or fear. Lord, may I reacquaint myself with the true meaning of living in the Lord.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#16

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Tue Oct 4, 2005 1:44 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/4

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 4, 2005

Daily Reflections

        A NECESSARY PRUNING

          . . . . we know that the pains of drinking had to come
          before sobriety, and emotional turmoil before serenity.
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 94

          I love spending time in my garden feeding and pruning my
          beautiful flowers. One day, as I was busily snipping away,
          a neighbor stopped by. She commented, "Oh! Your plants are
          so beautiful, it seems such a shame to cut them back." I
          replied, "I know how you feel, but the excess must be
          removed so they can grow stronger and healthier." Later I
          thought that perhaps my plants feel pain, but God and I
          know it's part of the plan and I've seen the results. I
          was quickly reminded of my precious A.A. program and how
          we all grow through pain. I ask God to prune me when it's
          time, so I can grow.

          ***********************************************************

         Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          Am I critical of other members of A.A. or of new prospects?
          Do I ever say about other members: "I don't think they're
          sincere, I think they're bluffing, or I think they're taking
          a few drinks on the quiet?" Do I realize that my doubtful
          and skeptical attitude is hurting those members, if only in
          my attitude toward them, which they cannot help sensing? Do
          I say about new prospects: "They'll never make the program,"
          or do I say: "They'll only last a few months?" If I take
          this attitude, I am unconsciously hurting those
          prospects' chances. Is my attitude always constructive and
          never destructive?

          Meditation For The Day

          To be attracted toward God and a better life, you must be
          spirit-guided. There is wonderful illumination of thought
          given to those who are spirit-guided. To those who are
          material-guided, there is nothing in God or a finer life to
          appeal to them or to attract them. But to those who are
          spirit-guided there is strength and peace and calm to be
          found in communion with an Unseen Lord. To those who believe
          in this God they cannot see but whose power they can feel,
          life has a meaning and purpose. They are children of the
          Unseen Lord, and all human beings are their brothers and
          sisters.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may be spirit-guided.
          I pray that I may feel God's presence and power in my life.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         The "Slipper" Needs Understanding, p. 99

             "Slips can often be charged to rebellion; some of us are more rebellious
             than others. Slips may be due to the illusion that one can be 'cured' of
             alcoholism. Slips can also be charged to carelessness and
             complacency. Many of us fail to ride out these periods sober. Things
             go fine for two or three years--then the member is seen no more. Some
             of us suffer extreme guilt because of vices or practices that we can't or
             won't let go of. Too little self-forgiveness and too little prayer--well,
             this combination adds up to slips.

             "Then some of us are far more alcohol-damaged than others. Still
             others encounter a series of calamities and cannot seem to find the
             spiritual resources to meet them. There are those of us who are
             physically ill. Others are subject to more or less continuous exhaustion,
             anxiety, and depression. These conditions often play a part in
             slips--sometimes they are utterly controlling."

             Talk, 1960

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

In my new enthusiasm, and having found an answer to my problem, I told Dorie, my wife, "You can quit your job now; I will take care of you. From now on, you will take the place you deserve in this family." However, she knew better. She said, "No, Dave, I will keep my job for a year while you go save the drunks." That is exactly what I set out to do."

pp. 196-197

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

This starting expansion brought with it very severe growing pains. Proof that alcoholics could recover had been made. But it was by no means sure that such great numbers of yet erratic people could live and work together with harmony and good effect.

pp. 17-18

**********************************************************

        Yesterday is history, tomorrow, but a mystery...
          Today is a gift, that's why we call it the present.

          Like an ability or a muscle, hearing your inner wisdom is strengthened by doing it.
          --Robbie Gass

          "If the eyes are looked upon as the windows to the soul...
          then a smile must be the doorway the heart."
          --unknown

          "Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf."
          --American Indian Proverb

          When someone intentionally hurts me, I know, they are also hurting themselves, probably
          more. Let go, and love them anyway.
          --Shelley

          ***********************************************************

         Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          LIFE

                                             "I am not afraid of tomorrow,
                                            for I have seen yesterday and I
                                                    love today."
                                                 -- William Allen White

          Today I have confidence in my life and I am experiencing consistency in my behavior and
          attitude. In recovery, things follow a natural progression and life is more like a series of
          curves than sharp peaks. As an addict, my life was forever going up and down, ecstasy
          followed by gloom; the "best ever" followed by depression; always black and white --- no
          grays.

          Today I have some balance and consistency. Things are connected and grow in the
          process of change. Sudden happenings and quick changes scare me because they are
          symptomatic of yesterday's disease and are not consistent with the spiritual life I seek.
          Today I have the peace of knowing that tomorrow will be something like today --- and I
          am happy.

          Thank You for the spiritual gift of consistency.

          ***********************************************************

          Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever.
          Psalm 106:1

          Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
          Psalm 5:1-3

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

When you lose your temper, you lose. Lord, help me to be patient with those around me, but most of all, help me be patient with myself.

*********************************

We only have so much time and so much energy in a day. To use it grumbling leaves less time for enjoyment and accomplishment. Lord, may I focus on looking for Your blessings in every part of my life.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#15

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Mon Oct 3, 2005 6:17 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/3

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 3, 2005

Daily Reflections

        SERENITY AFTER THE STORM

          Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that
          pain was the touchstone of all spiritual progress. How heartily
          we A.A.'s can agree with him. . . .
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p p. 93-94

          When on the roller coaster of emotional turmoil, I remember that
          growth is often painful. My evolution in the A.A. program has
          taught me that I must experience the inner change, however painful,
          that eventually guides me from selfishness to selflessness. If I
          am to have serenity, I must STEP my way past emotional turmoil and
          its subsequent hangover, and be grateful for continuing spiritual
          progress.

          ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          How do I talk with new prospects? Am I always trying to dominate
          the conversation? Do I lay down the law and tell prospects what
          they will have to do? Do I judge them privately and feel that they
          have small chance of making the program? Do I belittle them to
          myself? Or am I willing to bare my soul so as to get them talking
          about themselves? And, then, am I willing to be a good listener,
          not interrupting, but hearing them out to the end? Do I feel deeply
          that they are my brothers or my sisters? Will I do all I can to help
          them along the path to sobriety?

          Meditation For The Day

          "The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of
          righteousness shall be quietness and assurance forever." Only
          when the soul attains this calm, can there be true spiritual work
          done, and mind and soul and body be strong to conquer and bear all
          things. Peace is the result of righteousness. There is no peace in
          wrong doing, but if we live the way God wants us to live, quietness
          and assurance follow. Assurance is that calmness born of a deep
          certainty of God's strength available to us and in His power to love
          and guard us from all harm and wrong doing.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may attain a state of true calmness.
          I pray that I may live in quietness and peace.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         The Forgotten Mountain, p. 100

             When I was a child, I acquired some of the traits that had a lot to do
             with my insatiable craving for alcohol. I was brought up in a little
             town in Vermont, under the shadow of Mount Aeolus. An early
             recollection is that of looking up at this vast and mysterious
             mountain, wondering what it meant and whether I could ever climb
             that high. But I was presently distracted by my aunt who, as a
             fourth-birthday present, made me a plate of fudge. For the next
             thirty-five years I pursued the fudge of life and quite forgot about the
             mountain.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             When self-indulgence is less than ruinous, we have a milder word for
             it. We call it "taking our comfort."

             1. A.A. Comes Of Age, pp. 52-53
             2. 12 & 12, p. 67

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

I was very surprised when I got a copy of the Big Book in the mail the following day. And each day after that, for nearly a year, I got a letter or a note, something from Bobbie or from Bill or one of the other members of the central office in New York. In October 1944, Bobbie wrote: "You sound very sincere and from now on we will be counting on you to perpetuate the Fellowship of A.A. where you are. You will find enclosed some queries from alcoholics. We think you are now ready to take on this responsibility." She had enclosed some four hundred letters that I answered in the course of the following weeks. Soon, I began to get answers back.

p. 196

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

With the publication of the book "Alcoholics Anonymous" in 1939, the pioneering period ended and a prodigious chain reaction set in as the recovered alcoholics carried their message to still others. In the next years alcoholics flocked to A.A. by tens of thousands, largely as the result of excellent and continuous publicity freely given by magazines and newspapers throughout the world. Clergymen and doctors alike rallied to the new movement, giving it unstinted support and endorsement.

p. 17

**********************************************************

        One of the most time-consuming things is to have an enemy.
          --E. B. White

          Love your enemies. It will drive them nuts.
          --Eleanor Doan

          "A keen sense of humor helps us to overlook the unbecoming,
          understand the unconventional, tolerate the unpleasant,
          overcome the unexpected, and outlast the unbearable."
          --Billy Graham

          "We're still not where we're going, but we're not where we were."
          --Natasha Jasefowitz

          "Behavioral researcher Shad Helmstetter, in his book "Choice," says, 'When we meet someone who seems to have a good attitude about everything, that really isn't the case. The person simply has made a lot of independent choices to have a
          good attitude about many individual things." Remember, a positive outlook is a choice - and the decision is yours."
          --Neil Eskelin

          ***********************************************************

       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          FREEDOM

                                                "Freedom is not enough. "
                                                  -- Lyndon B. Johnson

          The gift of freedom requires the acknowledgment of the benefactor, God. To experience
          freedom without realizing its source is to miss the point; freedom requires responsibility.

          When I was drinking, I demanded freedom without responsibility and I suffered. I created
          in freedom my own horror stories. I hurt others because I did not respect in them what I
          demanded for myself and slowly, ever so slowly, freedom slipped away.

          Today I believe that my spiritual program reinforces my responsibility for my life. God
          has created me with free will and I need to respect this gift in others. If I do not respect
          others, I will never receive it. Dignity is a two way street.

          Thank You for the freedom to experience myself in my treatment of my neighbor.

          ***********************************************************

          Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always.
          Psalm 105:4

          Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of
          joy, carrying sheaves with him.
          Psalm 126:5-6

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Be like a star and make your best even better. Lord, source of my joy, if I am shining I will brighten the day for both myself and those around me.

*********************************

Example is the best way to teach. Lord, may I teach Your goodness by the way I live my life.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#14

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 8:50 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/2

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 2, 2005

Daily Reflections

        THE ACID TEST

          As we work the first nine Steps, we prepare ourselves for
          the adventure of a new life. But when we approach Step Ten
          we commence to put our A.A. way of living to practical use,
          day by day, in fair weather or foul. Then comes the acid
          test: can we stay sober, keep in emotional balance, and
          live to good purpose under all conditions?
          TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 88

          I know the Promises are being fulfilled in my life, but I
          want to maintain and develop them by the daily application
          of Step Ten. I have learned through this Step that if I am
          disturbed, there is something wrong with me. The other
          person may be wrong too, but I can only deal with my feelings.
          When I am hurt or upset, I have to continually look for the
          cause in me, and then I have to admit and correct my mistakes.
          It isn't easy, but as long as I know I am progressing
          spiritually, I know that I can mark my effort up as a job well
          done. I have found that pain is a friend; it lets me know there
          is something wrong with my emotions, just as a physical pain
          lets me know there is something wrong with my body. When I take
          the appropriate action through the Twelve Steps, the pain
          gradually goes away.

          ***********************************************************

          Twenty-Four Hours A Day

          A.A. Thought For The Day

          What makes an effective talk at an A.A. meeting? It is not a
          fine speech with fine choices of words and an impressive
          delivery. Often a few simple words direct from the heart are
          more effective than the most polished speech. There is always
          a temptation to speak beyond your experience, in order to
          make a good impression. This is never effective. What does not
          come from the heart does not reach the heart. What comes from
          personal experience and a sincere desire to help the other
          person, reaches the heart. Do I speak for effect or with a deep
          desire to help?

          Meditation For The Day

          "Thy will be done" must be your oft-repeated prayer. And in
          the willing of God's will there should be gladness. You should
          delight to do that will because when you do, all your life goes
          right and everything tends to work out for you in the long run.
          When you are honestly trying to do God's will and humbly
          accepting the results, nothing can seriously hurt you. He who
          accepts the will of God in his life may not inherit the earth,
          but he will inherit real peace of mind.

          Prayer For The Day

          I pray that I may have a yielded will.
          I pray that my will be attuned to the will of God.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         "The Spiritual Angle", p. 101

             How often do we sit in A.A. meetings and hear the speaker declare,
             "But I haven't yet got the spiritual angle." Prior to this statement, he
             has described a miracle of transformation which has occurred in
             him--not only his release from alcohol, but a complete change in his
             whole attitude toward life and the living of it.

             It is apparent to everyone else present that he has received a great gift,
             and that this gift is all out of proportion to anything that may be
             expected from simple A.A. participation. So we in the audience smile
             and say to ourselves, "Well, that guy is just reeling with the spiritual
             angle--except that he doesn't seem to know it yet!"

             Grapevine, July 1962

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

I decided to get in touch with them. I had much difficulty in reaching A.A. in New York, as A.A. wasn't as well-known then. I finally spoke to a woman, Bobbie, who said words I hope I never forget: "I am an alcoholic. We have recovered. If you want, we'll help you." She told me about herself and added that many other drunks had used this method to stop drinking. What impressed me most in this conversation was the fact that these people, five hundred miles away, cared enough to try to help me. Here I was, feeling so sorry for myself, convinced that no one cared whether I was dead or alive.

p. 196

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

Nevertheless, the infant Society determined to set down its experience in a book which finally reached the public in April 1939. At this time the recoveries numbered about one hundred. The book was called "Alcoholics Anonymous," and from it the Fellowship took its name. In it alcoholism was described from the alcoholic's point of view, the spiritual ideas of the Society were codified for the first time in the Twelve Steps, and the application of these Steps to the alcoholic's dilemma was made clear. The remainder of the book was devoted to thirty stories or case histories in which the alcoholics described their drinking experiences and recoveries. This established identification with alcoholic readers and proved to them that the virtually impossible had now become possible. The book "Alcoholics Anonymous" became the basic text of the Fellowship, and it still is. This present volume proposes to broaden and deepen the understanding of the Twelve Steps as first was written in the earlier work.

p. 17

**********************************************************

        Friends in your life are like pillars on your porch. Sometimes they hold
          you up and sometimes they lean on you. Sometimes it's just enough to
          know they're standing by.
          --Elizabeth Foley

          "Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes
          misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate."
          --Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

          "In the hope of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet."
          --Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)

          When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in
          the life of another.
          --Helen Keller

          "God, I do believe in Your power and Your wisdom. Your glory is far
          greater than I could ever envision, and I am thankful to be within the circle of your
          ever-renewing life."
          --©2000 by Unity School of Christianity

          ***********************************************************

          Father Leo's Daily Meditation

          REALITY

                                            "The books that the world calls
                                            immoral are the books that show
                                              the world its own shame."
                                                    -- Oscar Wilde

          In my addiction I avoided things that I did not like, did not want to consider. I hid from life
          and condemned things I did not wish to understand. My ego created a hypocritical purity
          that enabled me to judge, condemn and abuse the thoughts and ideas of those I
          considered inferior to myself.

          Today I try to live and let live. I do this not to avoid conflict or criticism but because I
          have found, through experience, how my ideas and attitudes have changed during my
          years of recovery. People who I would have condemned to Hell have now become my
          friends and mentors. Concepts and lifestyles that were once abhorrent to me are now
          appreciated and inspiring. What was once dismissed as immoral is today, for me, a part of
          life.

          God of Truth and Reality, help me to accept the difference that is in others.

          ***********************************************************

          May my meditation be pleasing to Him as I rejoice in the Lord.
          Psalm 104:34

          "Lord, I believe."
          John 9:38

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

God never promised to make your troubles go away, but He did promise to give you the strength and power to overcome them. Lord, when I am weak, strengthen me, when I forget, remind me and when the day is done, accept my thanksgiving because without You I am nothing.

*********************************

Not one day passes without receiving wonderful blessings from our loving and generous God. Lord, may I forget the irritations that distract me from Your happiness.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#13

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Sat Oct 1, 2005 8:17 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 10/1

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

October 1, 2005

Daily Reflections

LEST WE BECOME COMPLACENT

It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 85

When I am in pain it is easy to stay close to the friends I have found in the programs. Relief from that pain is provided in the solutions contained in A.A.'s Twelve Steps. But when I am feeling good and things are going well, I can become complacent. To put it simply, I become lazy and turn into the problem instead of the solution. I need to get into action, to take stock: where am I and where am I going? A daily inventory will tell me what I must change to regain spiritual balance. Admitting what I find within myself, to God and to another human being, keeps me honest and humble.

***********************************************************

Twenty-Four Hours A Day

A.A. Thought For The Day

A.A. will lose some of its effectiveness if I do not do my share. Where am I failing? Are there some things I do not feel like doing? Am I held back by self-consciousness or fear? Self-consciousness is a form of pride. It is a fear that something may happen to you. What happens to you is not very important. The impression you make on others does not depend so much on the kind of job you do as on your sincerity and honesty of purpose. Am I holding back because I am afraid of not making a good impression?

Meditation For The Day

Look to God for the true power that will make you effective. See no other wholly dependable supply of strength. That is the secret of a truly effective life. And you, in your turn, will be used to help many others find effectiveness. Whatever spiritual help you need, whatever spiritual help you desire for others, look to God. Seek that God's will be done in your life and seek that your will conforms to His. Failures come from depending too much on your own strength.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may feel that nothing good is too much for me if I look to God for help. I pray that I may be effective through His guidance.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Healing Talk, p. 102

             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

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

<>I wondered how this misery would end. I was full of fear. I was afraid to tell others what I felt lest they think I was insane. I was terribly lonely, full of self-pity, and terrified. Most of all, I was in a deep depression.
Then I recalled a book given to me by my sister Jean about drunks as desperate as I was who had found a way to stop drinking. According to this book, these drunks had found a way to live like other human beings; to get up in the morning, go to work, and return home in the evening. This book was about Alcoholics Anonymous.

pp. 195-196

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

After three years of trial and error in selecting the most workable tenets upon which the Society could be based, and after a large amount of failure in getting alcoholics to recover, three successful groups emerged--the first at Akron, the second at New York, and the third at Cleveland. Even then it was hard to find twoscore of sure recoveries in all three groups.

pp. 16-17

**********************************************************

        "How things look on the outside of us depends on how things are on the inside of us."
        --Parks Cousins

        I shall continue to believe. In hope there is faith, miracles do happen, in God I trust.
        --Shelley

        Time is my most precious resource, I choose to use it wisely and to cherish each moment, sober.
        --Bob

        I have a choice, I do not have to accept unacceptable behavior.
        --Shelley

Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.

        --Ralph Waldo Emerson

        Some people make the future; most wait for the future to make them.
        --Cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES

There is a choice you have to make, In everything you do. And you must always keep in mind, The choice you make, makes you.

          --Unknown

        You can preach a better sermon with your life than you can with your lips.
        --Unknown

         ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        LAUGHTER

                                                  "We are all here for a spell, get
                                                   all the good laughs you can."
                                                           -- Will Rogers

When I first heard recovering alcoholics laughing, I thought I was in the wrong place. I was angry that they treated the disease so lightly. Then slowly I began to see that laughter is part of joy --- a deep joy that comes from personal healing. Laughter is spiritual because it is a positive response to life. It is the noise of optimism.

And there is so much in life to laugh about --- not only the funny things we did, but also the "humor" that abounds in living. How funny is our self-righteousness! How amusing we are in courtship. How ridiculous we appear when we pretend to be serious and "in charge".

          Laughter is the conversation of angels.

          Let me see the miracle of humor in the gift of life --- and let me be prepared to share it.

        ***********************************************************

        Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
        Philippians 4:6

        "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."
        Proverbs 10:12

        Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.
        James 2:17

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

The condition of your heart is reflected in your face. Lord, help me to remove all harsh feelings from within my soul so that I will radiate love and kindness and others can feel safe in seeking me out.

*********************************

A sense of humor brings you joy and brings joy to those around you. Lord, may I always be able to share a smile and never take life so serious as to block out the light from Your love.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#12

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Sep 30, 2005 2:54 pm
Subject: Weekly Readings - 9/30

bluidkiti

Offline

Weekly Spiritual Readings
September 30, 2005

*This page is updated every Friday.

***********************************************************

God judges us by what we do--not by what others say.

We cannot love God unless we love each other. --Dorothy Day

God is immutable. He never changes, and his word, which he prizes more than his name, never changes.

God says give your burdens to him. If you are burdened, if you are weary, go to God and he will give you rest from your burdens. His peace he will give you, that peace passes all understanding.

Faith is believing what God says is true even though you can't verify it yourself at the time.

God is with you always, even until the ends of the earth.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

***********************************************************

Faith & Works
There was an old man who operated a rowboat for ferrying passengers between an island and the mainland. One day a passenger noticed that he had painted on one oar the word Works, and on the other oar the word Faith. Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man replied, I will show you, dropping one oar, rowing only with the oar named Works. Of course, the boat just went around in circles. Then he switched oars, picking up Faith and dropping Works. And the little rowboat went around in circles again this time in the opposite direction. After this demonstration, the old man picked up both oars Faith and Works, and rowing with both oars together swiftly coursed over the water. He looked at the passenger and said, You see, that is the way it is in life as well as in rowing a boat. You got to keep both oars in the water, otherwise, you'll just go in circles. -Author Unknown

***********************************************************

"The Skilled Blows of God"
Many years ago, there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world's history. It was presented to the king of England to blaze in his crown or state. The king sent it to Amsterdam to be cut. It was put into the hands of an expert
lapidary. And what do you suppose he did with it? He took the gem of priceless value, and cut a notch in it. Then he struck a hard
blow with his instrument and--lo!--the superb jewel lay in his hand cleft in two. Did he do this out of recklessness, wastefulness, and criminal carelessness? Indeed not! For days and weeks that blow had been studied and planned. Drawings and models had been made of the gem. Its quality, its defects, its lines of cleavage had all been studied with minutest care. The man to whom it was committed was one of the most skillful lapidaries in the world.
Was that blow a mistake? No! It was the climax of the lapidary's skill. When he struck that blow, he did the one thing which would
bring that gem to its most perfect shapeliness, radiance, and jeweled splendor. That blow which seemed to ruin the superb precious stone was, in fact, its perfect redemption. From those two halves were wrought two magnificent gems which the skilled eye of the lapidary saw hidden in the rough, uncut stone as it came from the mine.
Sometimes, God lets a stinging blow fall upon your life. The nerves wince. The soul cries out in agony. The blow seems to you an appalling mistake. But it is not, for you are the most priceless jewel in the world to God. And He is the most skilled lapidary in the universe.
Let us beware of questioning the methods and approaches of almighty God. We lie in His hands, and He knows just how to deal
with us. --James S. Hewett

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Just When You Thought Everything was OK
You have just come through a very difficult time, and you have learned to lean on the Lord, trusting in Him. And you have the victory! The time of the test is over! There is such a wonderful sense of relief, both physically and spiritually, that you just want to sit down and say a great big “Phewwww!” and a relaxing “Ahhhhhhh!”
It’s just at that very moment – just when you think everything is over, and you feel that you are the strongest – that you are potentially at your weakest and most vulnerable time.
When we have come through the battle, it is at that moment that we tend to let down our guard, allowing opportunity for the victory that has been already won to slip from our grasp. We feel that we are strong – and that actually becomes our problem! Zechariah 4:6 reminds us that it is not by our might or our power, but it is by the Spirit of the Lord that we will have our victory!
Every one of us is susceptible to this phenomenon. We win the battle, and then our natural man begins to rise up, and the victory starts to fade away.
The prophet Elijah faced this same thing. He had just come through a battle on Mt. Carmel facing the false prophets of Baal. And then, on the heels of this victory, Jezebel sends word that she will have Elijah killed.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah gives us a demonstration of exactly what the flesh does after the battle – and what the Spirit of the Lord would have him to do! We can learn from Elijah’s experiences, and apply them to our life, so that we may be able to walk in victory!
--Author Unknown

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My Struggles are About Him
What about your struggles? Is there any chance, any possibility, that you have been selected to struggle for God’s glory? Have “been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, but also to suffer for His sake” (Philippians 1:29)?
Here is a clue. Do your prayers seem to be unanswered? What you request and what you receive aren’t matching up? Don’t think God is not listening. Indeed he is. He may have higher plans.
Here is another. Are people strengthened by your struggles? A friend of mine can answer yes. His cancer was consuming more than his body; it was eating away at his faith. Unanswered petitions perplexed him. Well-meaning Christians confused him. “If you have faith,” they said, “you will be healed.”
No healing came. Just more chemo, nausea, and questions. He assumed the fault was a small faith. I suggested another answer. “It’s not about you,” I told him. “Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face of suffering cranks up the volume of God’s song.”
Oh, that you could have seen the relief on his face. To know that he hadn’t failed God and God hadn’t failed him - this made all the difference. Seeing his sickness in the scope of God’s sovereign plan gave his condition a sense of dignity. He accepted his cancer as an assignment from heaven: a missionary to the cancer ward.
A week later I saw him again. “I reflected God,” he said, smiling through a thin face, “to the nurse, the doctors, my friends. Who knows who needed to see God, but I did my best to make him seen.”
Bingo. His cancer paraded the power of Jesus down the Main Street of his world.
God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.
Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God.
Through your problems and mine, may God be seen. --from “It’s Not About Me” 2004, Max Lucado

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A Native American name Joe and his friend Bob were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, Joe said, "I hear a cricket."
His friend Bob said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"
"No, I'm sure of it," Joe said, "I heard a cricket."
"That's crazy," said his friend.
Joe listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket. His friend was utterly amazed.
"That's incredible," said his friend. "You must have superhuman ears!"
"No," said Joe. "My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for."
"But that can't be!" said the friend. "I could never hear a cricket in this noise."
"Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk.
And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.
"See what I mean?" asked the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you."
What's important to you? What do you listen for? Some people say that there is no God, and that He never speaks to us anymore. But perhaps they can't see or hear Him because they aren't listening for Him. They are living for themselves, not for God. If you are in tune with God, you will be able to notice Him at work in your life and in the world. And you'll be able to hear Him when He speaks. --Author Unknown

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Simple and Pure
The thing that has me so upset is that I care about you so much--this is the passion of God burning inside me! I promised your hand in marriage to Christ, presented you as a pure virgin to her husband. And now I'm afraid that exactly as the Snake seduced Eve with his smooth patter, you are being lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ. It seems that if someone shows up preaching quite another Jesus than we preached--different spirit, different message--you put up with him quite nicely. (2 Corinthians 11:2-4, The Message)
Have you been lured away from the simple purity of your love for Christ? The New American Standard Version words it “the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.” Can you remember those days when your relationship with Christ was simple and pure? Or, has something or someone pulled you away from Him? Are you in the midst of the battle for your mind?
There is a way to return to the simple purity of your love for Christ. But, it is not necessarily the type of thing we want to hear. It involves a dramatic shift in our thinking. It begins inside our heads and deep in our hearts, then it will flow out of us. We often try to make it happen from the outside in. We change the externals, and hope it will last. Usually it does not.
If we are to return to a relationship with Christ that is simple and pure, we must clear away the things that complicate our thinking, the things that clutter our mind.
So, what kinds of things must be cleared out? Let me suggest three.
First, we must clear away other commitments. We must remember that we made a choice to follow Jesus. First and foremost we must continuously reflect on that promise, on that commitment, on that death to self. He is to be our model. He is to be our example. Not the fads and trends of the day. Not the popular people in our community. Not the stars in the limelight. Jesus is our model.
Second, we must clear away many of the myths of our day. Stuff will not satisfy us. Things will not fulfill us. Bigger does not necessarily mean better. More does not guarantee peace and contentment. In fact, the opposite is often true. Jesus never owned a home, never traveled far, and enjoyed widespread popularity for only a short time while on this earth. His devotion to the Father was simple and pure.
Third, we must clear away anything that will prevent us from being continually transformed into His likeness. The Amplified Bible translates the last part of Philippians 3:10, “ . . . and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death.” It is not a one-time transformation. Daily we must die. Continually we must allow His thinking to be our thinking, His plans to be our plans, His joys to be our joys, and His compassion to be our compassion.
Having a simple and pure devotion to Christ is not the style of the world. It is however, the style of the one who has chosen to follow Him.
What is it that is keeping you from the simple purity of your love for Christ? Is it worth it?
What is it that God is asking you to clear out of your mind so that you can enjoy the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ? Will you do it --Tom

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Pain is not wasted in the Kingdom of God!
Psalms 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
The definitive lesson of both Jesus and Job is that suffering is not necessarily a sign of punishment. It may be and often is a sign of special favor. Jesus did not promise to deliver us from pain and death. He promised to deliver us through it to eternal life. He who was himself most highly favored of God was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. If we are suffering innocently too then let us take the trials we are bearing to him who knows what it is like to suffer such pain. He will be able to turn our ashes into something wonderful in his time and in his way. Nothing, not even pain, is wasted in the Kingdom of God. If you are suffering, truly offer that suffering up to God. You many never have an opportunity like this again. --Author Unknown

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Don't Say You're Finished Before God Does
Discouragement is another diabolical key that opens the door for the thief to steal our goods. Perhaps you have awakened to a new day but felt just as bad as you did yesterday. In a moment of weary resignation and discouragement, you opened your mouth and released the fear that was in your heart: "He's finished with me here. I give up."
I feel the anointing of God to tell you right now, you will not fail, and I have witnesses to prove it: Samson and Moses. Pick up where you left off! Restart your worship - reclaim your destiny! (God's Eye View, p. 127)
Psalm 34:18-19, where the psalmist assures us God is near the brokenhearted, and saves those with a contrite or crushed spirit.
The comments seem to come automatically with every new challenge human beings decide to accept: "I can't do it. I look stupid -I know I do. This will never work. I wish I had never agreed to start this thing . . . It's your fault."
Think of your first fumbling attempts to ride a bicycle, to glide on ice skates, to type without looking at the keyboard, or to play basketball or hit a baseball for the first time. Our ineptness seems staggering and overshadowing at times, but God sees the big picture. He knows that all we need is a God's-eye view of the situation. Are you fumbling, falling, stumbling, or missing the mark somewhere in your life at the moment? Are you ready to quit an assignment God gave you to do? Don't. Worship Him instead.
God said, "Don't say you're finished with something before I am finished with it. Now go back to the same place where you just witnessed a miracle if you want another one." 1 Don't be surprised if God tells you to go right back to the last place you had a divine encounter . . . The moral of the story is this: don't say you are finished before God does. (p. 128)
Never, ever forget that you are not in this thing alone. God is with you every step of the way, whether you "feel" Him or not. I am a determined God Chaser and I love to feel the joy of His presence, but I learned long ago that He never leaves or forsakes me. That means you cannot fail in Him, no matter how many times you fall, fail, falter, or fumble things. The key is to put Him first in everything all the time.
Prayer Lord, how many times have I tried to quit something over the last five years? I've lost count, but I can tell You how many times You have "quit" on me - zero, never, not at all. As long as You stay with me, I will keep on dreaming, believing, climbing, overcoming, and getting up again. Even my failures and fumbles bring me gain - just another occasion to find comfort and joy unspeakable in Your everlasting arms. I love You, Lord. --Author Unknown

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Bible Questions & Answers
What kind of wood did Noah use to build the ark? gopher Genesis 6:14
How long was Noah's ark? 300 cubit Genesis 6:15
How many people entered into the ark? 8 Genesis 7:13
How many pairs of each "clean" animal did Noah take on the ark? 7. Clean animals were those used for eating and sacrifice.
Genesis 7:2-3
--Provided by Thomas W Henderson

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Hold your loved ones close today,
Whisper in their ear,
Tell them that you love them
And you'll always hold them dear.
For tomorrow is promised no one,
Young and old alike,
And today may be your last chance
To hold your loved ones tight.
Author Unknown

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Our Savior Walked On Water
Our Savior walked on water
Like it was solid ground.
He proved what faith could help us do
He knew He would not drown.
He healed the blind and crippled
He taught us about love.
He promised we can live forever
With Him in heaven above.
For this they crucified Him.
And nailed Him to a cross.
He shed His blood and suffered
So our souls would not be lost.
He said "Father forgive them
For they know not what they do."
Even after all they'd done to Him
His love came shining through.
Then He was placed into a grave
Where they thought he would stay.
But this was not the will of God
So He arose again one day.
Jesus is still alive today
In heaven with His Father.
And I'm proud to say I believe
Our Savior walked on water.
--Author Unknown

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WE CELEBRATE
We celebrate life since we are richly blessed with its' many gifts.
We celebrate love because God's love has touched the very core of our souls.
We celebrate beauty surrounding this place we call Earth.
We celebrate forgiveness which again makes us whole.
We celebrate sharing the wealth of our being.
We celebrate caring for others far and near.
We celebrate being the persons we are and can become.
We celebrate laughter in the music we hear.
We celebrate doing everything we possibly can.
We celebrate giving the love that we feel.
We celebrate growing each and every day.
We celebrate in praise of God, our ideal.
We celebrate smiles. We celebrate tears.
We celebrate sunshine, and rainbows, and rain.
We celebrate the gladness and joy in our lives.
And yes, we celebrate the hurting and pain.
We celebrate thanking the Lord as our Father and Brother.
We celebrate following His examples of love.
We celebrate creation and eternal new life.
We celebrate the friendship He sends from above.
We celebrate receiving the very breath of our lives.
We celebrate all we have ever received from the Lord.
We celebrate all that exists in the world.
We celebrate celebration of God, be adored.
--Jeanne Maack

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"As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7

Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge. Proverbs 23:12

My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off. Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path. Proverbs 23:15-19

Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Proverbs 23:31-32

Godlessness in the Last Days
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.
Paul's Charge to Timothy
You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:1-17

The Supremacy of Christ
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1:15-23

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 10:39

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. John 1:1-9

"He floods the darkness with light; he brings light to the deepest gloom.” Job 12:22

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BIBLE MEDITATION: “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” Luke 14:27
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: The cross not only saves us, but it continues to sanctify us. Have you read where Jesus said, “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Mark 8:34b)? Many people think that this means that our “cross” is a sickness, an unsaved spouse, or a cruel boss. However, a cross is not something that is forced upon you over which you have no choice. A cross is something you willingly take up. Jesus willingly laid down His life. He calls us to do the same. Your cross is when you willingly die to yourself. You do this by saying no to sin and self, and yes to Christ.
ACTION POINT: Offer this prayer commitment to God today: Father, forgive me for putting myself first and You second. Forgive me for not taking up my cross to follow after You. Give me Your grace to die to myself – to die to those things in my life which do not bring You glory and draw me closer to You. --Love Worth Finding's daily devotional

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WHY I BELIEVE THE BIBLE
"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and . . . gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." -- Isaiah 55:10-11
So what do you tell people when they ask, "You don't really believe all that stuff in the Bible, do you?" Of all the arguments you can use to defend your conviction, here's one no one can deny. "I believe the Bible because it accomplishes God's purpose in my life."
Like God says in Isaiah 55:11, "[My Word] shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
Have you ever felt totally convicted as you sat under the teaching of God's Word? Has the Spirit of God ever used His Word like a knife, pointing out your specific thoughts and motives? I could tell you about times God's Word has worked me over. On the flip side, has the Bible ever delivered a peace that transcends understanding? Has it strengthened you as it has me?
I wish you could see what I see from the front of my church every weekend as I teach God's Word. I look across the faces of people gripped by God's eternal truth. Tears stream down their cheeks. Some can hardly look up because they're under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Hear this -- God's Word is always effective in doing the job that He intended it to do.
I am convinced beyond any doubt that the Bible is divinely inspired in its totality, inerrant in doctrine, infallible in authority, immeasurable in influence, personal in application, regenerative in power, diverse in its unity, and infinitely trustworthy. This reality not only compels me to celebrate it, but to obey it. Why? Because I've experienced it.
Starting today, make a greater personal investment in God's Word. You've got the time -- just set your priorities. Make it the passion of your life to discover what it means to delight in the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:77).
And the next time someone asks you, "do you believe the Bible?" proclaim your confidence in God and the book He has written by answering, "I am glad you asked. . . ." --By Dr. James MacDonald

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The Lords Prayer
Our Father, who are in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name, Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day, our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever. Amen.

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I will exalt you, O LORD, for you lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me. O LORD my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; you spared me from going down into the pit. Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. When I felt secure, I said, "I will never be shaken." O LORD, when you favored me, you made my mountain stand firm; but when you hid your face, I was dismayed. To you, O LORD, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy: "What gain is there in my destruction, in my going down into the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me; O LORD, be my help." You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever. Psalm 30

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May the Lord open up the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that you will not have room enough to receive it all. May the Lord bless you exceedingly and abundantly, above all you could ever hope for. May the Lord bless you that you know that you are blessed, but more importantly be a blessing to others!

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#11

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Sep 30, 2005 12:08 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/30

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 30, 2005

Daily Reflections

        THE CIRCLE AND THE TRIANGLE

        The circle stands for the whole world of A.A., and the triangle
        stands for A.A.'s Three Legacies of Recovery, Unity, and Service.
        Within our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our
        fatal obsession.
        A.A. COMES OF AGE, p. 139

        Early in my A.A. life, I became employed in its services and
        I found the explanation of our society's logo to be very
        appropriate. First, a circle of love and service with a
        well-balanced triangle inside, the base of which represents
        our Recovery through the Twelve Steps. Then the other two sides,
        representing Unity and Service, respectively. The three sides of
        the triangle are equal. As I grew in A.A. I soon identified
        myself with this symbol. I am the circle, and the sides of the
        triangle represent three aspects of my personality: physical,
        emotional sanity, spirituality, the latter forming the symbol's
        base. Taken together, all three aspects of my personality
        translate into a sober and happy life.

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       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        There are no leaders in A.A., except as they volunteer to
        accept responsibility. The work of carrying on A.A.--leading
        group meetings, serving on committees, speaking before other
        groups, doing twelfth-step work, spreading A.A. among the
        alcoholics of the community--all these things are done on a
        volunteer basis. If I don't volunteer to do something concrete
        for A.A., the movement is that much less effective. I must do
        my fair share to carry the load. A.A. depends on all its
        members to keep it alive and to keep it growing. Am I doing my
        share for A.A.?

        Meditation For The Day

        When you look to God for strength to face responsibility and
        are quiet before Him, His healing touch causes the Divine
        Quiet to flow into your very being. When in weakness you cry
        to God, His touch brings healing, the renewal of your courage,
        and the power to meet every situation and be victorious. When
        you faint by the way or are distracted by feelings of inferiority,
        then rely on the touch of God's spirit to support you on your way.
        Then arise and go forth with confidence.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may lay myself open today to the healing touch of God.
        I pray that I may not falter or faint by the wayside, but renew
        my courage through prayer.

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        As Bill Sees It

         Principle Before Expediency, p. 103

             Most of us thought good character was desirable. Obviously, good
             character was something one needed to get on with the business of
             being self-satisfied. With a proper display of honesty and morality,
             we'd stand a better chance of getting what we really wanted. But
             whenever we had to choose between character and comfort,
             character-building was lost in the dust of our chase after what we
             thought was happiness.

             Seldom did we look at character-building as something desirable in
             itself. We never thought of making honesty, tolerance, and true love of
             man and God the daily basis of living.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             How to translate a right mental conviction into a right emotional result,
             and so into easy, happy and good living, is the problem of life itself.

             1. 12 & 12, pp. 71-72
             2. Grapevine, January 1958

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Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

On Easter weekend 1944, I found myself in a jail cell in Montreal. By now, I was drinking to escape the horrible thoughts I had whenever I was sober enough to become aware of my situation. I was drinking to avoid seeing what I had become. The job I'd had for twenty years and the new car were long gone. I had undergone three stays in the hospital. God knows I didn't want to drink, yet to my great despair, I always returned to the infernal merry-go-round.

p. 195

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Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

The basic principles of A.A., as they are known today, were borrowed mainly from the fields of religion and medicine, though some ideas upon which success finally depended were the result of noting the behavior and needs of the Fellowship itself.

p. 16

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        Practicing the program, I learned to trust God, not just believe in Him.
        --Ron C.

        Let your ears hear what your mouth says.
        --Jewish Proverb

        The difference between the right word and the almost right word is
        the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
        --Mark Twain

        "Seek first to understand, then to be understood."
        --Stephen Covey

        "Truly, it is in darkness that one finds the light, so when we are in sorrow, then this light is nearest to all of us."
        --Meister Eckhart

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       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        PATIENCE

                                              "Prayer of the modern
                                          American: 'Dear God, I pray for
                                            patience. And I want it right
                                                    now!'"
                                                  -- Oren Arnold

        How I appreciate those times when I experience the gift of patience in
        my life, not as often as I would like. That is an interesting point: I am
        impatient about having patience!

        Seriously, patience is when I recognize the need to "back off" -- allow
        God into the driver's seat, resting in the knowledge that things happen
        in God's time. This does not mean that I am not involved, but it allows
        for God's comprehensive plan for His world. I can experience patience
        usually when I get in touch with gratitude. Once I stop giving energy
        to the "I wants", the joy of serenity breathes through my life and I
        can rest. Sometimes I need to "stop" and say a loud and resonant
        "thank you".

        Lord, let me breathe these words into my life: "Thy will be done."

        ***********************************************************

        “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and
        rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for
        yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy,
        and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
        Matthew 6:19-20

        "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of
        doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the
        Day approaching."
        Hebrews 10:25

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

It is the optimist that opens new doors and takes advantage of even the smallest of life's opportunities. Lord, may my spirit shine and my eyes be open so that I may discover all that life offers.

*********************************

Two distinct qualities mark a person who lives in the light of God. That person is giving and forgiving. Lord, create in me the desire to set You above all else.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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#10

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:21 am
Subject: Daily Readings

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Reflections

        EXACTLY ALIKE

        Frequent contact with newcomers and with each other is
        the bright spot of our lives.
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89

        A man came to the meeting drunk, interrupted the speakers,
        stood up and took his shirt off, staggered loudly back and
        forth for coffee, demanded to talk, and eventually called
        the group's secretary an unquotable name and walked out. I
        was glad he was there--once again I saw what I still could
        be. I don't have to be drunk to want to be the exception
        and the center of attention. I have often felt abused and
        responded abusively when I was simply being treated as a
        garden variety human being. The more the man tried to insist
        he was different, the more I realized that he and I were
        exactly alike.

        ***********************************************************

        Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Having got this far, shall we pause and ask ourselves
        some searching questions? We need to check up on ourselves
        periodically. Just how good an A.A. am I? Am I attending
        meetings regularly? Am I doing my share to carry the load?
        When there is something to be done, do I volunteer? Do I
        speak at meetings when asked, no matter how nervous I am?
        Do I accept each opportunity to do twelfth-step work as a
        challenge? Do I give freely of my time and money? Am I
        trying to spread A.A. wherever I go? Is my daily life a
        demonstration of A.A. principles? Am I a good A.A.?

        Meditation For The Day

        How do I get strength to be effective and to accept
        responsibility? By asking the Higher Power for the strength
        I need each day. It has been proved in countless lives that
        for every day I live the necessary power shall be given me.
        I must face each challenge that comes to me during the day,
        sure that God will give me the strength to face it. For every
        task that is given me, there is also given me all the power
        necessary for the performance of that task. I do not need to
        hold back.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may accept every task as a challenge.
        I know I cannot wholly fail if God is with me.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Our New Employer, p. 104

             We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we
             needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well.

             Established on such a footing, we became less and less interested in
             ourselves, our little plans and designs. More and more we became
             interested in seeing what we could contribute to life.

             As we felt new power flow in, as we enjoyed peace of mind, as we
             discovered we could face life successfully, as we became conscious of
             His presence, we began to lose our fear of today, tomorrow, or the
             hereafter. We were reborn.

             Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 63

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

My family and employers were concerned about my drinking, but I had become rather arrogant. I bought a 1931 Ford with an inheritance from my grandmother, and my wife and I made a trip to Cape Cod. On the way back, we stopped at my uncle's place in New Hampshire. This uncle had taken me under his wing at the time of my mother's death, and he worried about me. Now he said to me, "Dave, if you stop drinking for a full year, I will give you the Ford roadster I just bought." I loved that car, so I immediately promised I wouldn't drink for a whole year. And I meant it. Yet I was drinking again before we reached the Canadian border. I was powerless over alcohol. I was learning that I could do nothing to fight it off, even while I was denying the fact.

p. 195

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

Alcoholics Anonymous began in 1935 at Akron, Ohio, as the outcome of a meeting between a well-known surgeon and a New York broker. Both were severe cases of alcoholism and were destined to become co-founders of the A.A. Fellowship.

p. 16

**********************************************************

        Happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have.
        --Hyman Judah Schactel

        "If you judge people, you have no time to love them."
        --Mother Theresa

        "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in
        your years."
        --Abraham Lincoln

        "Being rich isn't about money. Being rich is a state of mind. Some of
        us, no matter how much money we have, will never be free enough to
        take time to stop and eat the heart of the watermelon. And some of us
        will be rich without ever being more than a paycheck ahead of the
        game."
        --Harvey B. Mackay

       "If your eyes are blinded with your worries, you cannot see the beauty of the sunset."
       --Krishnamurti

      "Sometimes you have to get to rock bottom in order to see the right way back up."
      --Kate Bell

        ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        BLACKOUTS

                                            "It is human nature to think
                                            wisely and act foolishly."
                                                 -- Anatole France

        I experienced blackouts in my drinking. Often I would wake up and not
        know where I had been, what I had said or what I had done. I would
        awake to peer through windows searching for my car. I would
        telephone to find out what time I had left the party and if anything had
        happened. Often as I bathed I would discover bruises or bleeding from
        an unremembered incident.

        There were other times I knew what I had done, knew what I had said,
        remembered how I behaved -- and yet still I went back for more. I
        drank alcoholically for years because my pride would not allow me to
        be alcoholic. I created the wisest excuses for staying sick!

        Today my sobriety requires a wisdom that is based on reality.

        Lord of action, teach me to place my feet alongside my best thinking.

        ***********************************************************

        "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
        cross daily, and follow me."
        Luke 9:23

        A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.
        Proverbs 16:1

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Change yourself and those around you will change too. Lord, help me to be my best so that I can bring out the best in others.

*********************************

Love one another as God loves You. Lord, may I treat others in such a manner so as to bring praise and glory to Your holy name.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:15 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/28

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 28, 2005

Daily Reflections

        LOVE WITHOUT STRINGS

        Practical experience shows that nothing will so much
        insure immunity from drinking as intensive work with
        other alcoholics.
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 89

        Sponsorship held two surprises for me. First, that
        my sponsees cared about me. What I had thought was
        gratitude was more like love. They wanted me to be
        happy, to grow and remain sober. Knowing how they felt
        kept me from drinking more than once. Second, I
        discovered that I was able to love someone else
        responsibly, with respectful and genuine concern for
        that person's growth. Before that time, I had thought
        that my ability to care sincerely about another's
        well-being had atrophied from lack of use. To learn
        that I can love, without greed or anxiety, has been
        one of the deepest gifts the program has given. Gratitude
        for that gift has kept me sober many times.

        ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        For the past two months we have been studying passages
        and steps from the Big Book. Now why not read the book
        itself again? It is essential that the A.A. program become
        part of us. We must have its essentials at our finger tips.
        We cannot study the big book too much or too often. The
        more we read it and study it, the better equipped we are
        to think A.A., act A.A., and live A.A. We cannot know too
        much about the program. The chances are that we will never
        know enough. But we can make as much of it our own as
        possible. How much of the Big Book have I thoroughly mastered?

        Meditation For The Day

        We need to accept the difficulties and disciplines of life
        so as to fully share the common life of other people. Many
        things that we must accept in life are not to be taken so
        much as being necessary for us personally, as to be experienced
        in order that we may share in the sufferings and problems of
        humanity. We need sympathy and understanding. We must share
        many of the experiences of life, in order to understand and
        sympathize with others. Unless we have been through the same
        experiences, we cannot understand other people or their makeup
        well enough to be able to help them.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may accept everything that comes my way as part
        of life. I pray that I may make use of it in helping my fellow men.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Move Ahead, p. 105

             To spend too much time on any one alcoholic is to deny some other an
             opportunity to live and be happy. One of our Fellowship failed entirely
             with his first half-dozen prospects. He often says that if he had
             continued to work on them, he might have deprived many others, who
             have since recovered, of their chance.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             "Our chief responsibility to the newcomer is an adequate presentation
             of the program. If he does nothing or argues, we do nothing but
             maintain our own sobriety. If he starts to move ahead, even a little,
             with an open mind, we then break our necks to help in every way we
             can."

             1. Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 96
             2. Letter, 1942

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

You might think I'd tell myself, "If alcohol causes so much harm, I will stop drinking." But I found countless reasons to prove to myself that alcohol had nothing to do with my misfortunes. I told myself it was because of fate, because everyone was against me, because things weren't going well. I sometimes thought that God did not exist. I thought, "if this loving God exists, as they say, He would not treat me this way. God would not act like this." I felt sorry for myself a lot in those days.

pp. 194-195

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

There is, too, a rising interest in the Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. Students of human relations are beginning to wonder how and why A.A. functions as a society. Why is it, they ask, that in A.A. no member can be set in personal authority over another, that nothing like a central government can anywhere be seen? How can a set of traditional principles, having no legal force at all, hold the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous in unity and effectiveness? The second section of this volume, though designed for A.A.'s membership, will give such inquirers an inside view of A.A. never before possible.

p. 16

**********************************************************

        The gift we can offer others is so simple a thing as hope.
        --Daniel Berrigan

        Until you value yourself, you won't value your time.
        Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.
        --M. Scott Peck

        "This above all; to thine own self be true."
        --William Shakespeare

        The most important things in life aren't things.

        H = Help others develop their potential. The possibilities and
            rewards are endless.
        E = Enlist people to help you. Having a support system improves
            your ability to get the results you want.
        A = Action keeps you moving forward. Do a little bit every day
            and eventually you'll get to your goal.
        R = Reach deep inside to find your strength. It's there if you
            are willing to be courageous.
        T = Trust the process. Rome wasn't built in a day. It takes time
            to reap the benefits.
        --Carol Gegner

        Let there be more joy and laughter in your living.
        --Eileen Caddy

        ***********************************************************

       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        MISTAKES

                                          "Good people are good because
                                          they've come to wisdom through
                                                   failure."
                                                 -- William Saroyan

        Today I am able to learn from my mistakes because I can see that they
        really were mistakes! I was trying to play the game of life without a
        full deck. My big mistake in life was trying to drink alcohol like a
        non-alcoholic. I couldn't do it.

        Drugs do not think; they react. They always work, and for me they
        worked against me. Most of my failures in life stemmed from a
        fundamental misconception -- alcoholics cannot drink like
        non-alcoholics! This I now accept. And in a strange way that is difficult
        to explain, I am a stronger person for having lived through my
        alcoholism. God has become more real, the world is more
        comprehensible, my life is more understandable because of the pain.

        If a part of "goodness" is knowing that you are not perfect, then on a
        daily basis I am becoming a good person.

        God, who has created a world in which there is pain and failure, help
        me to accept both as vehicles to wisdom.

        ***********************************************************

        “Come to me all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will
        give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am
        gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The
        teaching I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is
        light.”
        Matthew 11:28-30

        And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him
        must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
        Hebrews 11:6

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Allowing yourself to be less than perfect allows you to accomplish great things in small ways. Lord, may I remove the pressure I overwhelming place on myself and do what I can when I can.

*********************************

You will be what you believe that you are and you will become what you believe you can become. Lord, increase my humility so that I may always be mindful that the good within comes from You.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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Reply | Forward | Messages in this Topic (6)

From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Tue Sep 27, 2005 3:33 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/27

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 27, 2005

Daily Reflections

        WITHOUT RESERVATION

        When brimming with gratitude, one's heartbeat must surely
        result in outgoing love, . . . .
        AS BILL SEES IT, p.37

        While practicing service to others, if my successes give
        rise to grandiosity, I must reflect on what brought me to
        this point. What has been given joyfully, with love, must
        be passed on without reservation and without expectation.
        For as I grow, I find that no matter how much I give with
        love, I receive much more in spirit.

        ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Continuing the consideration of the term "spiritual experience":
        "What often takes place in a few months could seldom have been
        accomplished by years of self-discipline. With few exceptions,
        our members find that they have tapped an unsuspected inner
        resource which they presently identify with their own conception
        of a Power greater than themselves. Most of us think this
        awareness of a Power greater than ourselves the essence of
        spiritual experience. Some of us call it God-consciousness.
        In any case, willingness, honesty, and open-mindedness are
        the essentials of recovery." Have I tapped that inner resource
        which can change my life?

        Meditation For The Day

        God's power in your life increases as your ability to understand
        His grace increases. The power of God's grace is only limited by
        the understanding and will of each individual. God's miracle-working
        power is only limited in each individual soul by the lack of
        spiritual vision of the soul. God respects free will, the right
        of each person to accept or reject His miracle-working power.
        Only the sincere desire of the soul gives Him the opportunity
        to bestow it.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may not limit God's power by my lack of vision.
        I pray that I may keep my mind open today to His influence.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         "Perfect" Humility, p. 106

             For myself, I try to seek out the truest definition of humility that I
             can. This will not be the perfect definition, because I shall always be
             imperfect.

             At this writing, I would choose one like this: "Absolutely humility
             would consist of a state of complete freedom from myself, freedom
             from all the claims that my defects of character now lay so heavily
             upon me. Perfect humility would be a full willingness, in all times and
             places, to find and to do the will of God."

             When I meditate upon such a vision, I need not be dismayed because I
             shall never attain it, nor need I swell with presumption that one of
             these days its virtues shall all be mine.

             I only need to dwell on the vision itself, letting it grow and ever more
             fill my heart. This done, I can compare it with my last-taken personal
             inventory. Then I get a sane and healthy idea of where I stand on the
             highway to humility. I see that my journey toward God has scarce
             begun.

             As I thus get down to my right size and stature, my self-concern and
             importance become amusing.

             Grapevine, June 1961

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

In 1934, a series of mishaps occurred because of any drinking. I had to come back from Western Canada because the bank I worked for lost confidence in me. An elevator accident cost me all of the toes on one foot and a skull fracture. I was in the hospital for months. My excessive drinking also caused a brain hemorrhage, which completely paralyzed one side of my body. I probably did my First Step the day I came by ambulance to Western Hospital. A night-shift nurse asked me, "Mr. B., why do you drink so much? You have a wonderful wife, a bright little boy. You have no reason to drink like that. Why do you?" Being honest for the first time, I said, "I don't know, Nurse. I really don't know." That was many years before I learned about the Fellowship.

p. 194

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

Many people, nonalcoholics, report that as a result of the practice of A.A.'s Twelve Steps, they have been able to meet other difficulties of life. They think that the Twelve Steps can mean more than sobriety for problem drinkers. They see in them a way to happy and effective living for many, alcoholic or not.

pp. 15-16

**********************************************************

        Come, let us give a little time to folly... and even in a melancholy
        day let us find time for an hour of pleasure.
        --Saint Bonaventura

        "Good habits are as addictive as bad habits, and a lot more rewarding."
        --Harvey Mackay

        It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is
        invisible to the eye.
        --Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

        Real success requires respect for and faithfulness to the highest
        human values - honesty, integrity, self-discipline, dignity, compassion,
        humility, courage, personal responsibility, courtesy, and human service.
        --Michael DeBakey, M.D.

        Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.
        --George Weinberg

        Each day, and the living of it, has to be a conscious creation in which
        discipline and order are relieved with some play and pure foolishness.
        --May Sarton

        ***********************************************************

       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        ACHIEVEMENT

                                            "Do not mistake activity for
                                                 achievement."
                                                -- Mabel Newcomber

        Often I am running in circles and not getting anywhere. I spend
        forever "doing" things and yet I know I am not achieving anything. I
        am going nowhere in my life!

        "Be still and know that I am God." I need to stop. I need to listen to
        the pain that is within. I need to relax in my gratitude. I need to rest in
        myself. Tomorrow has not yet come -- today I take time for me.

        Lord, I hear Your still small voice. Today I rest in me and discover
        Thee.

        ***********************************************************

        "We ought to obey God rather than men."
        Acts 5:29

        He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools
        shall be destroyed.
        Proverbs, 13:20

        "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he
        considered me faithful, appointing me to his service."
        I Timothy 1:12

        "To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and
        happiness, but to the sinner he gives the task of gathering and storing
        up wealth to hand it over to the one who pleases God. This too is
        meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
        Ecclesiastes 2:26

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Get rid of the excuses for not doing those things that make you happy. Lord, Your peace within me calms my spirit and opens my heart to recognize the joy of this day.

*********************************

There is always a reason why people act as they do. Lord, help me to be more patient and understanding.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Mon Sep 26, 2005 12:11 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/26

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 26, 2005

Daily Reflections

        OUR CHILDREN

        The alcoholic may find it hard to re-establish friendly
        relations with his children. . . . In time they will see
        that he is a new man and in their own way they will let
        him know it. . . . From that point on, progress will be
        rapid. Marvelous results often follow such a reunion.
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 134

        While on the road to recovery I received a gift that
        could not be purchased. It was a card from my son in
        college, saying, "Dad, you can't imagine how glad I
        am that everything is okay. Happy Birthday, I love you."
        My son had told me that he loved me before. It had been
        during the previous Christmas holidays, when he had said
        to me, while crying, "Dad, I love you! Can't you see what
        you're doing to yourself?" I couldn't. Choked with emotion,
        I had cried, but this time, when I received my son's card,
        my tears were tears of joy, not desperation.

        ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Continuing the consideration of the term "spiritual experience":
        "The acquiring of an immediate and overwhelming God-consciousness,
        resulting in a dramatic transformation, though frequent, is by
        no means the rule. Most of our spiritual experiences are of the
        educational variety, and they develop slowly over a period of
        time. Quite often friends of newcomers are aware of the
        difference long before they are themselves. They finally
        realize that they have undergone a profound alteration in
        their reaction to life and that such a change could hardly have
        been brought about by themselves alone." Is my outlook on
        life changing for the better?

        Meditation For The Day

        Look at the world as your Father's house. Think of all people
        you meet as guests in you Father's house, to be treated with
        love and consideration. Look at yourself as a servant in your
        father's house, as a servant of all. Think of no work as beneath
        you. Be ever ready to do all you can for others who need your
        help. There is gladness in God's service. There is much
        satisfaction in serving the highest that you know. Express your
        love for God in service to all who are living with you in your
        Father's house.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may serve others out of gratitude to God.
        I pray that my work may be a small repayment for His grace
        so freely given me.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Two Kinds Of Pride, p. 107

             The prideful righteousness of "good people" may often be just as
             destructive as the glaring sins of those who are supposedly not so
             good.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             We loved to shout the damaging fact that millions of the "good men
             of religion" were still killing one another off in the name of God.
             This all meant, of course, that we had substituted negative for
             positive thinking.

             After we came to A.A., we had to recognize that this trait had been
             an ego-feeding proposition. In belaboring the sins of some religious
             people, we could feel superior to all of them. Moreover, we could
             avoid looking at some of our own shortcomings.

             Self-righteousness, the very thing that we had contemptuously
             condemned in others, was our own besetting evil. This phony form of
             respectability was our undoing, so far as faith was concerned. But
             finally, driven to A.A., we learned better.

             1. Grapevine, August 1961
             2. 12 & 12, p. 30

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

<>I became an active alcoholic from that first day, when alcohol produced a very special effect in me. I was transformed. Alcohol suddenly made me into what I had always wanted to be.
Alcohol became my everyday companion. At first, I considered it a friend; later, it became a heavy load I couldn't get rid of. It turned out to be much more powerful than I was, even if, for many years, I could stay sober for short periods. I kept telling myself that one way or another I would get rid of alcohol. I was convinced I would find a way to stop drinking. I didn't want to acknowledge that alcohol had become so important in my life. Indeed, alcohol was giving me something I didn't want to lose.

pp. 193-194

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

Though the essays which follow were written mainly for members, it is thought by many of A.A.'s friends that these pieces might arouse interest and find application outside A.A. itself.

p. 15

**********************************************************

        "Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for
        to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they
        satisfy you."
        --Wayne Dyer

        Every second of every moment is a new beginning.
        I can start my day over any time I choose.
        I can also begin my life anew at any time.
        This very moment can be a new beginning!

        "Nothing we learn in this world is ever wasted."
        --Eleanor Roosevelt

        "Our worth is determined by the good deeds we do, rather than
        by the fine emotions we feel."
        --Elias L, Magoon

        "It is only possible to live happily-ever-after on a day-to-day basis."
        --Margaret Bonano

        "Each day provides its own gifts."
        --Martial

        "The best way to secure future happiness is to be as happy as
        is rightfully possible today."
        --Charles W. Eliot

        Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, start all over again.
        --Dorothy Fields

        ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        PAIN

                                            "You can't hold a man down
                                          without staying down with him."
                                              -- Booker T. Washington

        I know who was holding me down in my life. I was. I know who was
        bringing pain and sadness in my life. I was. I know who was making me
        the victim of addiction. I was. I would beat myself up and then
        complain about the bruises!

        I did this because I could not "see". I had not accepted or understood
        the implications of my alcoholism. Today I am beginning to take care
        of myself because I have accepted my disease. I do not choose today
        to be the enemy in my life -- I have surrendered to live. I do not want
        to hurt anymore. I do not want to hide in guilt and fear anymore. I do
        not choose to be my victim today.

        God, I thank You for the freedom to determine my life and my
        victories.

        ***********************************************************

        “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will
        reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit
        will reap eternal life.”
        Galatians 6:8

       Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining    toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
   Philippians 3:13-14

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

An ordinary day can become profound by realizing your importance to others and acting on it. Lord, may I be dependable to those who depend on me without complaints or resentments.

*********************************

Learn to be peaceful in all situations and trust that through all stages of our lives, God has a plan. Lord, may I have the wisdom to be able to turn my stumbling blocks into building blocks.

Ask and you shall receive,
Seek and ye shall find,
Knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Matthew 7:7

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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Sun Sep 25, 2005 12:57 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/25

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 25, 2005

Daily Reflections

        FIRST THINGS FIRST

        Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth:
        Job or no job -- wife or no wife -- we simply do not stop
        drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people
        ahead of dependence on God.
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 98

        Before coming to A.A., I always had excuses for taking a
        drink: "She said . . . , " "He said . . . ," "I got fired
        yesterday," "I got a great job today." No area of my life
        could be good if I drank again. In sobriety my life gets
        better each day. I must always remember not to drink, to
        trust God, and to stay active in A.A. Am I putting anything
        before my sobriety, God, and A.A. today?

        ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Let us consider the term "spiritual experience" as given
        in Appendix II of the Big Book: "A spiritual experience
        is something that brings about a personality change. By
        surrendering our lives to God as we understand Him, we
        are changed. The nature of this change is evident in
        recovered alcoholics. This personality change is not
        necessarily in the nature of a sudden and spectacular
        upheaval. We do no need to acquire an immediate and
        overwhelming God-consciousness followed at once by a vast
        change in feeling and outlook. In most cases, the change
        is gradual." Do I see a gradual and continuing change in
        myself?

        Meditation For The Day

        "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I
        will give you rest." For rest from the care of life, you
        can turn to God each day in prayer and communion. Real
        relaxation and serenity comes from a deep sense of the
        fundamental goodness of the universe. God's everlasting
        arms are underneath all and will support you. Commune with
        God, not so much for petitions to be granted as for the
        rest that comes from relying on His will and His purposes
        for your life. Be sure of God's strength available to you,
        be conscious of His support, and wait quietly until that
        true rest from God fills your being.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may be conscious of God's support today.
        I pray that I may rest safe and sure therein.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Learn in Quiet, p. 108

             In 1941, a news clipping was called to our attention by a New York
             member. In an obituary notice from a local paper, there appeared
             these words: "God grant us the serenity to accept the things we
             cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the
             wisdom to know the difference."

             Never had we seen so much A.A. in so few words. With amazing
             speed the Serenity Prayer came into general use.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             In meditation, debate has no place. We rest quietly with the thoughts
             or prayers of spiritually centered people who understand, so that we
             may experience and learn. This is the state of being that so often
             discovers and deepens a conscious contact with God.

             1. A.A. Comes Of Age, p. 196
             2. 12 & 12, pp. 101-100

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

In June 1924, I was sixteen years old and had just graduated from high school in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Some of my friends suggested that we go for beer. I had never had beer or any form of alcohol. I don't know why, since we always had alcohol at home (I should add that no one in my family was ever considered an alcoholic). Well, I was afraid my friends wouldn't like me if I didn't do as they did. I knew firsthand that mysterious state of people who appear to be sure of themselves but are actually eaten alive with fear inside. I had a rather strong inferiority complex. I believe I lacked what my father used to call "character." So on that nice summer day in an old inn in Sherbrooke, I didn't find the courage to say no.

p. 193

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

A.A.'s Twelve Traditions apply to the life of the Fellowship itself. They outline the means by which A.A. maintains its unity and relates itself to the world about it, the way it lives and grows.

p. 15

**********************************************************

        One should not give up, neglect, or forget for a moment his inner life,
        but he must learn to work in it, with it, and out of it, so that the unity
        of his soul may break out in all his activities.
        --Meister Eckhart

        All people, have goodness in their hearts and greatness in their souls.
        --Shelley

        The more I let go of my own suffering and self-pity, I can see those around me with the eyes of love and compassion. I am
        becoming more aware of other people's pain and unhappiness today and I will reach out to them in loving ways that
        heal me while helping them to heal.
        --Ruth Fishel

        Today I am living in the moment, instead of living for a moment.

        "Don't go through life, GROW through life."
        --Eric Butterworth

        If you hang out in a barber shop long enough, you are going to get a haircut.

        ***********************************************************

       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        PRAYER

                                           "Prayer is not asking. It is a
                                              language of the soul."
                                                -- Mohandas Gandhi

        At school I was told that prayer is "talking to God". Then I discovered
        that prayer is more than this -- prayer is a relationship with God. It is
        a two-way system -- I talk to God but I must also listen to Him. Like
        any relationship that is going to work and grow, it needs time. I must
        spend time developing my relationship with God. I must create an
        awareness of his presence in my life because I believe He is always
        there for me.

        But more than this, prayer is a yearning for truth within the center of
        my being. In prayer I get in touch with that part of me that will be
        forever restless until it finds rest, eternal rest, in Him.

        O God, prayer is my journey into You.

        ***********************************************************

        How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony.
        Psalm 133:1

        "Lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called ...
        bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the
        unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
        Ephesians 4:1-3

        "Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is
        good; love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one
        another in showing honor. Never flag in zeal, be aglow with the
        Spirit, serve the Lord."
        Romans 12:9-11

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Every decision we make is not critical nor is every mistake fatal. Lord, help me keep things in perspective and avoid the panic such thinking creates.

*********************************

God's blessings enable us to go far beyond our natural abilities. Lord, You have created me and then unceasingly bless me with the strength to soar high.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Sep 23, 2005 11:00 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/24

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 24, 2005

Daily Reflections

        VIGILANCE

        We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again:
        "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." Commencing
        to drink after a period of sobriety, we are in a short
        time as bad as ever. If we are planning to stop drinking,
        there must be no reservation of any kind, nor any lurking
        notion that someday we will be immune to alcohol.
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 33

        Today I am an alcoholic. Tomorrow will be no different.
        My alcoholism lives within me now and forever. I must
        never forget what I am. Alcohol will surely kill me if
        I fail to recognize and acknowledge my disease on a daily
        basis. I am not playing a game in which a loss is a
        temporary setback. I am dealing with my disease, for which
        there is no cure, only daily acceptance and vigilance.

        ***********************************************************

        Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Let us continue with Step Twelve. We must practice these
        principles in all our affairs. This part of the twelfth
        step must not be overlooked. It is the carrying on of the
        whole program. We do not just practice these principles in
        regard to our drinking problem. We practice them in ALL our
        affairs. We do not give one compartment of our lives to God
        and keep the other compartments to ourselves. We give our
        whole lives to God and we try to do His will in every respect.
        "Herein lies our growth, herein lies all the promise of the
        future, and ever-widening horizon." Do I carry the A.A.
        principles with me wherever I go?

        Meditation For The Day

        "Lord, to whom shall we go but to Thee? Thou hast the words
        of eternal life." The words of eternal life are the words
        from God controlling your true being, controlling the real
        spiritual you. They are the words from God which are heard
        by you in your heart and mind when these are wide open to
        His spirit. These are the words of eternal life which express
        the true way you are to live. They say to you in the stillness
        of your heart and mind and soul: "Do this and live."

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may follow the dictates of my conscience.
        I pray that I may follow the inner urging of my soul.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Freedom Through Acceptance, p. 109

             We admitted we couldn't lick alcohol with our own remaining
             resources, and so we accepted the further fact that dependence upon a
             Higher Power (if only our A.A. group) could do this hitherto impossible
             job. The moment we were able to accept these facts fully, our release
             from the alcohol compulsion had begun.

             For most of us, this pair of acceptances had required a lot of exertion
             to achieve. Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to
             be cast aside. This had not been done with sheer will power; it came
             instead as the result of developing the willingness to accept these new
             facts of living.

             We neither ran nor fought. But accept we did. And then we begun to
             be free.

             Grapevine, March 1962

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Gratitude In Action

The story of Dave B., one of the founders of A.A. in Canada in 1944.

I believe it would be good to tell the story of my life. Doing so will give me the opportunity to remember that I must be grateful to God and to those members of Alcoholics Anonymous who knew A.A. before me. Telling my story reminds me that I could go back to where I was if I forget the wonderful things that have been given to me or forget that God is the guide who keeps me on this path.

p. 193

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

A.A.'s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable sufferers to become happily and usefully whole.

p. 15

**********************************************************

        "Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host."
        --Maya Angelou

        "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in
        other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people
        interested in you."
        --Dale Carnegie

        "Life is too short to spend your precious time trying to convince
        a person who wants to live in gloom and doom otherwise. Give
        lifting that person your best shot, but don't hang around long
        enough for his or her bad attitude to pull you down. Instead, surround
        yourself with optimistic people."
        --Zig Ziglar

        "He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; he who does not
        remains a fool forever."
        --Chinese Proverb

        "It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a
        life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your
        enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they
        require."
        --Jim Rohn

        ***********************************************************

        Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        GOD

                                            "God is not a cosmic bellboy."
                                              -- Harry Emerson Fosdick

        My understanding of God is within the context of freedom. God is
        involved in His world but He allows it an autonomy. We are not
        puppets on a string. When things begin to go wrong, God does not
        interfere and make changes (usually) without our cooperation. God
        reveals the extent of His love by allowing us a creative responsibility
        in our lives.

        For years I did not understand this. I thought that if I prayed enough,
        He would answer all my prayers and come to my rescue. When He
        didn't, I grew confused, angry and resentful. What was I doing wrong?
        Where was God in my life? He didn't love me. Why wasn't God my
        cosmic co-dependent?

        Today I love his detachment. Today I grow in my freedom. Today I
        cooperate with His miracle.

        Lord, thank You for allowing me the freedom to fail.

        ***********************************************************

        "The spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives
        me life."
        Job 33:4

       But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of
       Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the
       surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I
       have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
       and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes
       from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the
       righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
       Philippians 3:7-9

************************************************************

Daily Inspiration

Each of us has important gifts to share and things to do. Lord, may I be valuable to those that need my value and do what I can to make a joyful difference.

*********************************

You cannot ask too much if you use your blessings ceaselessly. Lord, help me to reflect on and live in Your spirit.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:43 pm
Subject: Weekly Readings - 9/23

bluidkiti

Offline

Weekly Spiritual Readings
September 23, 2005

*This page is updated every Friday.

***********************************************************

Knowing that we are fulfilling God's purpose is the only thing that really gives rest to the restless human heart. --Charles Colson

If we do what we can, God will do what we cannot.

Though we may feel left out, God retrieves us and draws us close.

God still sits on the throne. Each and everyone one of us are going through tough times right now but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith.

“Going to a quiet, secluded place can remove us from the cares and pressures of life and open our hearts and minds to divine prompting's. A quiet place can be in nature or in an empty room. Jesus told his followers to pray in their closets, meaning that they should pray in private and from the innermost part of their hearts.” --The Ripple Effect, p. 105

God guides us, despite our uncertainties and our vagueness, even through our
failings and mistakes. . . . He leads us step by step, from event to event. Only afterwards do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it, the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us. --Paul Tournier

Let us walk softly on the Earth with all living beings great and small remembering as we go, that one God, kind and wise created all.

Give me a sense of humor, Lord, Give me the grace to smile, to get some humor out of life, and pass it on to other folks.

***********************************************************

Working With God
A farmer purchases an old, run-down, abandoned farm with plans to turn it into a thriving enterprise. The fields are grown over with weeds, the farmhouse is falling apart, and the fences are collapsing all around. During his first day of work, the town preacher stops by to bless the man's work, saying, "May you and God work together to make this the farm of your dreams!" A few months later, the preacher stops by again to call on the farmer. Lo and behold, it's like a completely different place -- the farm house is completely rebuilt and in excellent condition, there are plenty of cattle and other livestock happily munching on feed in well-fenced pens, and the fields are filled with crops planted in neat rows. "Amazing!" the preacher says. "Look what God and you have accomplished together!" "Yes, Reverend," says the farmer, "but remember what the farm was like when God was working it alone!" --Author Unknown

***********************************************************

The Buzzard, The Bat, The Bee, and The Flea
If you put a buzzard in a pen six feet square and open at the top, the bird (in spite of his ability to fly) will be an absolute prisoner. When a buzzard begins a flight from the ground, he always starts with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small cage with no top.
The ordinary bat cannot take off from a level place. If a bat is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it knows to do is shuffle about helplessly until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
A bumblebee, if dropped into an empty drinking glass, will be there until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. It will seek a way where none exists, until it is completely exhausted and dies.
A common flea can be put into a box or glass with a lid on it. It jumps up over and over again trying to escape only to keep bouncing back down off the lid. Pretty soon, it will stop trying to escape. Then, you can take the lid off the flea’s container and it will stay there until it dies, not realizing it could now jump out.
In many ways, there are a number of people that feel like the buzzard, the bat, the bee and the flea. They are struggling about through life, feeling trapped with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that the answer is right there “above” them.
God is our answer. He is the one that can show us the way out. Like the need of the buzzard or bat, God can teach us ways to do things that we have never done before.
I encourage you to reach out to God for the answer of any challenge you may be facing today. --Author Unknown

***********************************************************

BIBLE MEDITATION: “Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.” Proverbs 10:12
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT: There are people in every fellowship who take joy in finding something bad about somebody else. When they hear something ugly, they take great delight in exposing it. Love does not rejoice in iniquity. Love wishes that it never happened. Love tries to cover it up. That doesn’t mean we condone sin, we just cover it. Let me illustrate. Noah had three sons, Ham, Shem, and Japheth. Ham came and saw his father’s nakedness and was quick to tell others. Shem and Japheth covered their father to help him cover his shame – not to condone what he had done, but to cover it. Wouldn’t the world be a lot better place if we had that spirit?
ACTION POINT: Write down the names of 1) someone who has hurt you recently, 2) someone who appears to have a better life than you, 3) someone who has done something wrong, but no one else knows about it. Now, lift that person up in prayer for God to forgive him or her. Ask God to give you an opportunity to show this person His love. --Love Worth Finding's daily devotional

***********************************************************

The Flow of Life
If we think and say "I am no good, nobody loves me," that is what comes back to us in experience. Whatever deep intentions we have in our subconscious mind, we will receive exactly what we are thinking and speaking. Now imagine saying what we truly want with creative loving intentions and creative loving words. The more we repeat consciously a positive thought to our subconscious mind through affirmations, the more we mean business. We begin to water down resistance from our past, as we begin to believe what we are saying. For example ...
"I love and approve of myself exactly as I am."
"I am a vessel for divine ideas."
"I am divinely protected and guided."
"I am at one with the Flow of Life."
How to do it? Sit quietly, go inside, slow your thoughts down and say ...
"I am open for divine ideas to flow through me"
and ask ...
"What is it I need to learn?"
"What is it that I could do?"
"What do I have to give?"
Then reflect upon what comes up for you. --Roger King

***********************************************************

I had heard of people experiencing this before, but this week was a first for me. And I was a little more than perplexed by it.
I handed the cashier my credit card to pay for the package that I was mailing to my daughter. He looked at my card, and handed it back to me, asking me to sign the back of my card. I informed him that I never sign my cards, that I prefer to have my I.D. verified by showing my photo driver’s license. He said that it is their policy that they can only accept cards with a signature on them. When I asked why they needed a signature, the answer, of course, was so that they could compare the signature on the card with the one on the receipt.
While I appreciate the fact that they want to help prevent fraud, when I pointed out what I thought was obvious – that if I signed the card in his presence, and then signed the receipt in his presence, chances were pretty good that the two signatures would match – he didn’t seem to understand. In fact, I mentioned that if someone had indeed stolen my card, and went through the process he was asking, then he would accept the payment – hence allowing fraud, rather than preventing it! The clerk then simply dismissed our entire conversation, and said to me, “You’re just an argumentative type of person.”
As I drove away from the post office, the thought occurred to me that this very same attitude is often present in our own lives, and in the activities of many churches! How often do we require things, and engage in “ministries and activities” that perhaps used to make sense, but no longer have any valid meaning or purpose? And, because we have always done things that way, we think that we must continue to do them.
Even worse, how many things do we faithfully do, even in the name of the Lord, that are detrimental to accomplishing our goal of reaching people for Christ?
Let’s stop doing things reflexively, and begin to measure our life in light of eternity. Let’s be good stewards with all of the resources that God has given us, and become purposeful in advancing the Kingdom of God! --Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

***********************************************************

A Single Banana
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. -Psalm 34:17-18
I have been single for many years. Since my children left the nest, I have experienced bouts of loneliness and depression. Simple tasks like grocery shopping for a family of one can overwhelm me with despair.
One Saturday afternoon at the grocery store, I sorted through the banana bin and found just the right bunch. As I pulled off one banana that I didn't want and put it back in the pile, I felt a deep, unexpected sadness. I know what it's like to feel isolated, left out, and disconnected.
That day as I retrieved the single banana, I remembered how God retrieves us. God understands our deepest needs; and in our loneliest times, God draws us close in fellowship and love. We can rest assured that we are God's precious children, held gently in God's care. --Jennifer Jeancake
Thank you, God of comfort, for your constant presence in our lives. Fill us with your love, your hope, and your promise. Amen.

***********************************************************

When he saw the wind...he was afraid. - Matthew 14:30
Water-walking
The truth about water-walking is: the fear never goes away! If you want to grow, you must go into new territory, and each time you do you'll experience fear. Give up trying to make fear go away! Fear and growth go together; it's a package deal. The decision to grow means choosing between risk and comfort. Each time you get out of the boat you become a little more able to get out the next time. It's not that the fear goes away, you just get used to living with it. You realize that it doesn't have the power to destroy you. On the other hand, every time you choose to stay in the boat rather than heed the call of Christ to "Come," the voice inside you gets a little quieter, until finally you don't hear it at all.
Did Peter fail? No. Besides Jesus, he's the only man who ever walked on water. Failure isn't an event, it's just an opinion. It's not what happens to us, but how we think about it. Only Peter knew the joy of being empowered by God to do what couldn't humanly be done. Walking on water changes you forever. And only Peter knew the grace of being lifted by Jesus in a moment of desperate need. He understood in a way the others couldn't that when you take baby steps of faith, the Lord will never let you drown. He had an experience with Christ the others didn't have. So, failure isn't sinking in the waves, it's never getting out of the boat!
--Rhema Broadcasting Group

***********************************************************

WHAT ARE YOU FEEDING YOUR SPIRIT?
"...Crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation." (1 Peter 2:2)
She said she felt flat. It felt like she was running on empty. She knew Jesus but she still felt like something was missing in her life. It was like a hunger deep within. I asked her what she had been feeding her spirit. "What do you mean?" she asked.
Just as our body needs food so does our spirit. We rarely think about the diet our spirit is getting. Taking a close look at what you have been feeding your spirit will likely reveal why that deep hunger exists at times. Where has your focus been? Ask yourself a few questions...
Am I allowing my spirit to spiral down with thinking filled with worry?
- Has busyness crowded out my quiet time to think about the choices I am making? We change with the influences around us.
- Is my entertainment feeding me things that actually rob my spirit?
- Am I surrounding myself with people that encourage me or pull me down?
- What desires am I focusing on?
- Who am I becoming?
God tells us in His Word what will fill the craving in your soul like nothing else can. Listen to what it says in (1 Peter 2:2) "
...Crave pure spiritual milk so that by it you may grow up in your salvation."
The craving deep in your soul is a craving for God's Word. It is a call to pay attention to the Bible. That may sound trite and could be easily brushed off. We have heard it all before.
But check it out. Is your soul hungry? Does it feel like something is missing? Take one week and pay close attention to God's Word. Read it, think about it, write out a verse or two that stands out to you. Make an appointment to spend time with God just as you would make any other appointment. Let worship music dust off your soul. Pray, read and listen. Let God's Word penetrate your heart. It will feed your soul and fill you in ways you have forgotten. Don't settle for less.
~Father God, My soul feels hungry. I confess that what I have been feeding my soul has simply been junk food. I long for Your filling. Show me treasures in Your Word as I make time for You this week. Fill me up, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, and help me not to settle for less. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. --Gail Rodgers

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Bible Questions & Answers
How many children did Hannah have? 5 1 Samuel 2:21
What did Hannah bring to Samuel every year? A coat 1 Samuel 2:19
What did Eli tell Samuel to say to God, when God called him? Speak, for thy servant heareth 1 Samuel 3:9,10
When God spoke to Samuel for the first time, what did He tell him? That Eli's sons would die 1 Samuel 3:11-14
What did Samuel eventually become? A prophet 1 Samuel 3:20
--Provided by Thomas W Henderson

***********************************************************

Start Over
When you've trusted God and walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day,
But your steps now take you another way -- Start over.
When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best and there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why -- Start over.
When you've told your friends what you plan to do,
When you've trusted them and they didn't come through,
And now you're all alone and it's up to you -- Start over.
When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone,
When you've done your best but it's turned out wrong,
And now your grandchildren have come along -- Start over.
When you've prayed to God so you'll know His will,
When you've prayed and prayed and you don't know still,
When you want to stop cause you've had your fill -- Start over.
When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it -- Start over.
When the year has been long and successes few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gives a January just for you -- Start over.
Starting over means "victories won";
Starting over means "a race well run."
Starting over means "God's will done"--
So don't just sit there,....
--Woodrow Kroll

***********************************************************

Feeling Joyful
Meditation by Orin and DaBen
I allow myself to feel good right now.
I feel my soul all around me,
sending me its joy.
I open to receive my soul's joy.
Joy is flowing into me.
Joy is streaming into my cells and atoms.
As joy flows into me I expand.
I feel free.
Joy flows out from me,
touching everyone around me.
My thoughts are positive.
I feel happy.
I think of my life.
I imagine what would be different
in the next few hours
if I expressed my soul's joy.
I now do it.
When I encounter someone
who is less joyful,
I draw in the quality of joy,
I fill myself with joy,
then radiate joy to the other.
I now ask my soul and higher self,
to send me a clear vision
of the next steps of my path.
I ask for greater clarity
about my higher purpose.
I ask myself each hour,
"What am I doing next that
is part of my higher purpose?"
I create my higher purpose
from moment to moment.
As I do, I feel joy,
for joy comes from living in the flow
and creating my higher purpose.
I let go of power struggles.
Whenever I encounter power struggles
or people who are negative,
I connect with my soul
and draw in its joy.
I stay centered in my own energy
and feel my soul's joy
radiating through me.
I expand my potential for joy,
I live in a rhythm of joy.
I radiate joy to others.
I am becoming more joyful
everyday.
As I wake up tomorrow
I connect with my soul's joy
and let it radiate through me
and out to others.
I am a source of joy to others.
My joy lifts others and
makes their burdens easier to carry.
I bring light to everyone around me
through my expression of soul joy.

*******************************************************

WAITING FOR HIM
When prayers aren't answered,
quickly or right away,
just ask the Lord, to reveal to you,
the reason for His delay.
If the answer for that request
just seems to take too long,
Just lift up your hands
and praise Him,
with a glorious new song.
Just wait on the Lord,
and try to be still,
'Cause your request may not be
in God's will,
If that is the case,
just praise him again,
He won't steer you wrong
'cause he's your friend.
Maybe you'll learn patience,
a little trust too.
Or maybe your motives
you'll need to review.
Ask him for an answer,
the way he sees fit.
But don't lose hope
and don't you quit.
The answer can be revealed
in a miraculous way
So, be prepared to listen
to what he has to say!
The answer will bring Him
honor and glory,
and then you'll be able to tell
your story.
Minister to those
who did lose hope,
who were looking for answers
on how to cope!
Author Unknown

*******************************************************

When the tide comes rolling in, and the mighty oceans roar,
It can go on land so far, that is all, it goes no more.
When the storm clouds gather round us and the great big raindrops fall,
Just so much will fall to earth as it heeds the Master's call.
When the load becomes so heavy that the body cries in pain,
Remember that this too will end like the ocean and the rain.
So adorn thyself with gladness, remember God is really there,
He takes time to feed the sparrow, and He always answers prayer.
~Unknown~

*******************************************************

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

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. 2 Timothy 2:22-26

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1

*******************************************************

Sabotaged Faith
MEMORY VERSE: "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them" (Psalms 126:2).
The devil imposes treacherous action to hinder and defeat the work of Christ in our lives; the devil is in the business of sabotaging our faith in Christ (John 10:10). We might think satan would sabotage our faith by setting up evil roadblocks or bombarding us with irresistible temptations. But, he does not have to resort to such aggressive measures to incapacitate our faith. All he has to do is sit back and watch us cool off, and sabotage our own faith.
Even though the devil is linked to our lukewarmness, the truth is, when we lose our Spiritual drive, vigor and vitality for the LORD, it is usually because we have chosen to sabotage our own faith. How do we sabotage our faith? We pick and choose what aspect of Christianity we want to embrace and embrace only the easy and the comfortable. We pick and choose which Scriptures we will live by, ignoring the ones that demand a radical change. We are willing to go with Christ as long as we can maintain our own comfortable lifestyles. Through our own unwillingness to go deeper with Christ, our zeal cools off and we become lukewarm.
To soothe our conscience, we befriend other Christians who are lukewarm too. The conviction of being lukewarm is less bothersome the more we are around other lukewarm Christians. And to top it off, lukewarm Christians have no trouble finding a lukewarm church with a lukewarm pastor which makes it all the more easier to cool off, instead of being on fire for Jesus.
Before long, our faith is weakened, powerless, defenseless and ineffective, sabotaged by our own unwillingness to go where Christ calls us to go.
Undoubtedly, it is the Holy Spirit of God that enflames our hearts with Holy fire, fire that burns away any signs of being lukewarm. This is why, as Christ followers, we are given the Holy Spirit of God, that we might always have an unprecedented enthusiasm for the purposes of God and a heart that is on fire in pure devotion to God Almighty!
This is what distinguishes a true, authentic disciple of Christ from false converts and lukewarm Christians…the Holy fire of God.
The weeping prophet Jeremiah said, "His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot" (Jeremiah 20:9). The devil loves to sit back in his recliner and watch Christians grow cold in obedience toward Christ, lukewarm, and more like the world than like Christ. True disciples must cast off the evil of cold religiosity. The Word of God tells us, "Do not put out the Spirit's fire" (1 Thessalonians 5:19). The fire of the Holy Spirit is the fire that enables us to be enthusiastic about the Kingdom of God and to live for Jesus with wholeheartedness and passion.
Every church and every follower of Christ needs an outpouring of the fire of God, the Holy Spirit to fall afresh, to ignite God's people to be ablaze with the raw presence and power of God Almighty! The early church was filled with Heavenly power when the flame of the Holy Spirit came and rested upon them, enabling them to go forth to fulfill the mission of Christ's Church.
When Christians are filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit, the devil cannot recline. When Christians are filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit hell is put in chaos. Demons flee like cockroaches exposed by the light. The devil trembles when he sees our hearts blazing with the fire of Godly passion and obedience. The only reason there are powerless churches and weak Christians without a purpose or mission is because they have grown lukewarm, insisting that to be radical, on fire, ablaze for Christ is unbecoming. What is unbecoming to Christ is lukewarm Christians, those who have sabotaged their own faith by forfeiting the power of the Holy Spirit and have become inactive, secret disciples by night. "These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth" (Revelation 3:14-16). Do you really think Christ will harshly judge the man or woman of God who was overzealous for Him? Do you really think Christ will scold the follower who was viewed by the world as a Bible fanatic? Do you for one moment think that Christ will honor and reward your reserve, your "tactful" silent witness? "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33). Today, be bold and valiant for Christ. Combat the fire of hell with the fire of God! Do not put out the Spirit's fire. Dear Heavenly Father, set our hearts on fire with Godly passion. May we never be guilty of sabotaging our own faith in You. In Jesus' Mighty Name, AMEN! --Pastor David L. Burns

*******************************************************

God, Creator and Sustainer of all that is and was and ever will be. I praise you for your grace and mercy. I praise you for your holiness and might. I praise you for your plan of redemption in Jesus Christ. I praise you because you are God, and worthy of all praise. In the name of Jesus Christ my Lord, I long to praise you forever and ever. Amen.

*******************************************************

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Wisdom From the Spirit
We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2

<>*******************************************************

Lord, it is one thing to talk about worshiping You in times of ease and low stress. It is another to actually worship You when the weight of loss, the fear of death, or the terror of sickness and plague knock at the door of our lives. Even so, I will worship You with all my heart, all my soul, all my strength, and all my mind. Lift me on the wings of worship so that I might see things from Your eternal perspective and rejoice.

A Prayer For Healing
O God, You know how I feel today, my secret fears and pains. I pray for healing in whatever way you know will help me. I trust in Your power. You proclaimed God's reign by curing the sick; comforting and strengthening those who were sad, and giving new freedom to all who accepted you. Guide those who help in your healing work: doctors, nurses, Chaplin's, and all who extend care. We pray in Your Spirit, in the name of Your Blessed Son, Jesus Christ. Amen

--

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Fri Sep 23, 2005 12:39 am
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/23

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 23, 2005

Daily Reflections

        "I WAS AN EXCEPTION"

        He [Bill W.] said to me, gently and simply, "Do you
        think that you are one of us?"
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 413

        During my drinking life I was convinced I was an exception.
        I thought I was beyond petty requirements and had the right
        to be excused. I never realized that the dark counterbalance
        of my attitude was the constant feeling that I did not
        "belong." At first, in A.A., I identified with others only
        as an alcoholic. What a wonderful awakening for me it has
        been to realize that, if human beings were doing the best
        they could, then so was I! All of the pains, confusions and
        joys they feel are not exceptional, but part of my life,
        just as much as anybody's.

        ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Step Twelve is, "Having had a spiritual awakening as
        the result of these steps, we tried to carry this
        message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles
        in all our affairs." Note that the basis of our
        effectiveness in carrying the message to others is the
        reality of our own spiritual awakening. If we have not
        changed, we cannot be used to change others. To keep
        this program, we must pass it on to others. We cannot
        keep it for ourselves. We may lose it unless we give it
        away. It cannot flow into us and stop; it must continue
        to flow into us as it flows out to others.

        Meditation For The Day

        "Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you."
        When you are faced with a problem beyond your strength,
        you must turn to God by an act of faith. It is that turning
        to God in each trying situation that you must cultivate.
        The turning may be one of glad thankfulness for God's grace
        in you life. Or your appeal to God may be a prayerful
        claiming of His strength to face a situation and finding
        that you have it when the time comes. Not only the power to
        face trials, but also the comfort and joy of God's nearness
        and companionship are yours for the asking.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that I may try to draw near to God each day in prayer.
        I pray that I may feel His nearness and His strength in my life.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Trouble: Constructive or Destructive?, p. 110

        "There was a time when we ignored trouble, hoping it would go
        away. Or, in fear and in depression, we ran from it, but found it was
        still with us. Often, full of unreason, bitterness, and blame, we fought
        back. These mistaken attitudes, powered by alcohol, guaranteed our
        destruction, unless they were altered.

        "Then came A.A. Here we learned that trouble was really a fact of
        life for everybody--a fact that had to be understood and dealt with.
        Surprisingly, we found that our troubles could, under God's grace, be
        converted into unimagined blessings.

        "Indeed, that was the essence of A.A. itself: trouble accepted,
        trouble squarely faced with calm courage, trouble lessened and often
        transcended. This was the A.A. story, and we became a part of it.
        Such demonstrations became our stock in trade for the next
        sufferer."

        Letter, 1966

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Alcoholic Anonymous Number Three

Pioneer member of Akron's Group No. 1, the first A.A. group in the world. He kept the faith; therefore, he and countless others found a new life.

Of course, as time went on, and I began to get my health back and began to be so I didn't have to hide from people all the time, it's just been wonderful. I still go to meetings, because I like to go. I meet the people that I like to talk to. Another reason that I go is that I'm still grateful for the good years that I've had. I'm so grateful for both the program and the people in it that I still want to go, and then probably the most wonderful thing that I learned from the program—I've seen this in the 'A.A. Grapevine' a lot of times, and I've had people say it to me personally, and I've heard people get up in meetings and make the same statement: The statement is, "I came into A.A. solely for the purpose of sobriety, but it has been through A.A. that I have found God."
I feel that is about the most wonderful thing that a person can do.

p. 192

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword

This book deals with the "Twelve Steps" and the "Twelve Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous. It presents an explicit view of principles by which A.A. members recover and by which their Society functions.

p. 15

**********************************************************

        Worrying doesn't empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of
        its strength.
        --Soberbyker

        "He who would have fruit must climb the tree."
        --Thomas Fuller

        "Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend."
        --Theophrastus

    "The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well."
    --Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

    "If one could only learn to appreciate the little things...
    A song that takes you away, for there are those who cannot hear.
    The beauty of a sunset, for there are those who cannot see.
    The warmth and safety of your home, for there are those who are homeless.
    Time spent with good friends for there are those who are lonely.
    A walk along the beach for there are those who cannot walk.
    The little things are what life is all about.
    Search your soul and learn to appreciate."
    --Shadi Souferian

        ***********************************************************

       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        LOVE

                                          "Take away love and our earth
                                                  is a tomb."
                                                 -- Robert Browning

        Spirituality is essentially love. It is the love that suffers and grows in
        the acceptance of my compulsive and obsessive behavior. It is the love
        that requires a knowledge of "self" in order to give understanding and
        respect to others. Spirituality is that loving vulnerability that creates
        healing in recovery. It provides meaning to life and relationships.

        The world is a creative place, and we will only find happiness when we
        begin to create. God has created us to take and make -- give and
        receive. With the suffering, loneliness, struggle and acceptance comes
        a love that is real and alive.

        Teach me to live in life and not merely exist.

        ***********************************************************

        Let us go to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool.
        Psalm 132:7

        "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
        goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things
        there is no law."
        Galatians 5:22-23

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Daily Inspiration

Your happiness is happening right now unless you chose not to see it. Lord, I trust in Your presence and therefore I am always able to see You work in my life.

*********************************

Use your imagination to picture great possibilities. Lord, I will keep my thoughts positive and let my faith in You nurture and help them become my reality.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:22 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/22

bluidkiti

Offline

Daily Recovery Readings

Cyber Recovery Fellowship
AA Thought For The Day
Today's Thought
NA Just For Today
Daily Reflections For Beginners
24 Hours A Day For Teens

God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.

September 22, 2005

Daily Reflections

        A "LIMITLESS LODE"

        Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last
        ounce of food, our pick struck gold. Joy at our
        release from a lifetime of frustration knew no bounds.
        Father feels he has struck something better than gold.
        For a time he may try to hug the new treasure to himself.
        He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a
        limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines
        it for the rest of his life and insists on giving away
        the entire product.
        ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 128-29

        When I talk with a newcomer to A.A., my past looks me
        straight in the face. I see the pain in those hopeful
        eyes, I extend my hand, and then the miracle happens: I
        become healed. My problems vanish as I reach out to his
        trembling soul.

        ***********************************************************

       Twenty-Four Hours A Day

        A.A. Thought For The Day

        Step Eight is, "Made a list of all persons we had harmed
        and became willing to make amends to them all." Step Nine
        is, "Made direct amends to such people wherever possible,
        except when to do so would injure them or others." Making
        restitution for the wrongs we have done is often very
        difficult. It hurts our pride. But the rewards are great.
        When we go to a person and say we are sorry, the reaction
        we get is almost invariably good. It takes courage to make
        the plunge, but the results more than justify it. A load is
        off your chest and often an enemy has been turned into
        a friend. Have I done my best to make all the restitution
        possible?

        Meditation For The Day

        There should be joy in living the spiritual life. A faith
        without joy is not entirely genuine. If you are not happier
        as a result of your faith, there is probably something wrong
        with it. Faith in God should bring you a deep feeling of
        happiness and security, no matter what happens on the surface
        of your life. Each new day is another opportunity to serve God
        and improve your relationships with other people. This should
        bring joy. Life should be abundant and outreaching. It should
        be glowing and outgoing, in ever widening circles.

        Prayer For The Day

        I pray that my horizons may grow ever wider.
        I pray that I may keep reaching out for more service
        and companionship.

        ***********************************************************

        As Bill Sees It

         Surveying the Past, p. 111

             We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past
             life as it affected other people. In many instances we shall find that,
             though the harm done others has not been great, we have
             nevertheless done ourselves considerable emotional injury.

             Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of
             consciousness, very deep, sometimes quite forgotten. Therefore, we
             should try hard to recall and review those past events which
             originally induced these conflicts and which continue to give our
             emotions violent twists, thus discoloring our personalities and altering
             our lives for the worse.

                                 << << <<      >> >> >>

             "We reacted more strongly to frustrations than normal people. By
             reliving these episodes and discussing them in strict confidence with
             somebody else, we can reduce their size and therefore potency in the
             unconsciousness."

             1. 12 & 12, pp. 79-80
             2. Letter, 1957

***********************************************************

Alcoholics Anonymous - Fourth Edition

Alcoholic Anonymous Number Three

Pioneer member of Akron's Group No. 1, the first A.A. group in the world. He kept the faith; therefore, he and countless others found a new life.

I thought, "I think I have the answer." Bill was very, very grateful that he had been released from this terrible thing and he had given God the credit for having done it, and he's so grateful about it he wants to tell other people about it. That sentence, "The Lord has been so wonderful to me, curing me of this terrible disease, that I just want to keep telling people about it," has been a sort of a golden text for the A.A. program and for me.

p. 191

***********************************************************

Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions

Foreword
Alcoholics Anonymous is a worldwide fellowship of more than one hundred thousand* alcoholic men and women who are banded together to solve their common problems and to help fellow sufferers in recovery from that age-old, baffling malady, alcoholism.

*In 1998, it is estimated that nearly two million have recovered through A.A.
p. 15

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        Without memory, there is no healing. Without forgiveness, there is no
        future."

        "A quiet hour is worth more to you than anything you can do in it."
        --Sara One Jewess

        "If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else"
        --Chinese Proverb

        A good exercise for the heart is to bend down and help another up.

        He who divides and shares is left with the best share.
        --Mexican Proverb

        "Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming
        away better and happier."
        --Mother Theresa

        If your eyes are blinded with your worries, you cannot see the beauty
        of the sunset.
        --Krishnamurti

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       Father Leo's Daily Meditation

        HEAVEN

                                          "If you're not allowed to laugh
                                           in heaven, I don't want to go
                                                    there."
                                                  -- Martin Luther

        When I was a practicing alcoholic, I imagined heaven to be a dull
        formal place, rather like a never-ending cathedral. Beautiful, but
        serious. My pain and guilt were so great that I rarely laughed, and
        when I did it was usually inappropriate and violent: I laughed at
        others!

        Today heaven is associated with recovery. It is a place of joy,
        acceptance and forgiveness. A place where people can be themselves
        and where variety abounds. Christians play with people from other
        religions -- and the atheists make the music! The laughter of "peace"
        abounds. I am "at one" with my Father and all my brothers and sisters.
        I am home!

        God of Love, when I hear the sound of laughter here on earth, I think
        what joy awaits me in heaven.

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        "Happy are the people to whom such blessing fall; happy are the
        people whose God is the Lord."
        Psalm 144:15

        "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up
        his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save
        his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake shall find it."
        Matthew 16:24-25

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Daily Inspiration

Envision the joy of victory when you are faced with troubles and you will clearly see what direction you must take. Lord, with You my storm will pass and I will grow stronger as I grow closer to You.

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Abundance is God's to give, so shut out all limited thoughts. Lord, my faith in You and my faith in the talents and abilities You have given me makes me able to achieve my goals.

-- May God Bless You and Keep You!
Havagrt24! bluidkiti=^-^=
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From: Bluidkiti <bluidkiti@...>
Date: Tue Sep 20, 2005 10:53 pm
Subject: Daily Readings - 9/21

bluidkiti

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