Daily Reprieve - April

[janbear]

I BELONG



“We are not saints.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60


“May God be merciful and bless us.” Psalm 67:1


For what it's worth: Who would love me? I was a drunken mess of defects, self-absorption, and rage. For years my heart was empty and I was alone until I found love in a room full of sober drunks in Alcoholics Anonymous. Looking back, I realize now I felt love in the way those kind folks welcomed me as a part of themselves just as the mess I was. Immediately I knew I was among understanding friends who turned out to be much more, my guides on a long and spectacular spiritual journey. Along the way I was introduced to the merciful and loving Heavenly Father Who blessed me with membership in Alcoholics Anonymous. With my weaknesses and failings, I am deeply grateful to be where “we are not saints”. That is what saved me initially. Had there been "saints" in those meeting rooms, I would have had to leave. As it is, I stayed because I belong.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

THE GIFT OF KINDNESS



“A kindly act once in a while isn't enough. You have to act the Good Samaritan every day, if need be.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 97



The Story of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10: 30-37


For what it's worth: Any kindness in me was insincere, because the only thing I cared about was me and my next drink. I learned kindness from the people in Alcoholics Anonymous. They cared about me and taught me how to help others, the most significant lesson of my sobriety, protecting my recovery and offering me opportunity to express gratitude for the help I received. However, I will never be able to do enough to say thanks for the life saving gift of love I received from people in Alcoholics Anonymous and from my Heavenly Father. Their gift is free. They never ask to be paid back, but I believe they cherish even my smallest act of kindness to another suffering soul. And I remember I would not even be able to do the smallest act without their gift.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

"I AM HERE"



"Time after time, this apparent calamity has been a boon to us, for it opened up a path which led to the discovery of God." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 116



"I am being found by people who were not looking for me. To them I have said, 'I am here!'" Isaiah 65:1


For what it's worth: My miserable alcoholic existence drove me to seek relief, not God, in Alcoholics Anonymous. Inevitably though, the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous led me to God. Since surrendering my will and my life to God, every apparent calamity, even the agony of alcoholism, has proved to be a blessing. At the time, the suffering certainly did not feel like any divine gift; it seemed God was not listing, or even may have betrayed me; but each time, usually when least expected, he would whisper, “I am here”.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

HIS LOVING MERCY



“See to it that your relationship with Him is right...” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 164


“God's mercies begin afresh each day.” Lamentations 3: 23


For what it's worth: For years my thoughts of God were filled with guilt and fear. Alcoholism compounded that sick thinking and it followed me into Alcoholics Anonymous, but people sharing at meetings bombarded me with positive testimonials about the power of God's mercy and love. The impact of that throughout my sober years changed my thoughts of God to a benevolent Heavenly Father Who rescued me from alcoholism's hell and held me up as He grew me up spiritually. Now He blesses me with a loving and undeserved relationship with Himself. He knows of my past insults, and has forgiven me. He knows of my present weaknesses, and when I take them to Him, His loving mercy begins again...immediately.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

DRINKING FROM GOD’S SPRING



“Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 59



“Whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again, for my gift will become a spring in the man himself, welling up into eternal life.” John 4:13


For what it's worth: The bottom of a bottle of booze was not the place to find anything worth while, but that's were I sought to satisfy not only my physical, but my spiritual thirst. I ended up trapped in that bottle with no means of escape until I walked into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Regrettably, being the stubborn, defiant drunk I was, a long period of not drinking but still thirsting, suffering with an empty soul, was necessary to see Alcoholics Anonymous had a proven way to fulfill my deepest desires. Finally and feebly, I began to practice Step Eleven daily. Looking back, I realize that is all that was required, a willingness to begin and a persistence to continue, especially when willingness came hard. I believe God took it from there and gave me the gift of drinking from His Spring. Although it was sips at first, my thirst was satisfied, and as I continue to drink, my soul overflows.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

A DROP OF GRATITUDE



"...The things which came to us when we put ourselves in God's hands were better than anything we could have planned." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 100



"Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me." Psalm 103: 2


For what it's worth: Cursing God, blaming Him instead of alcohol for the misery in my life does not produce gratitude. But that was my attitude the day I came to Alcoholics Anonymous. At first, the happiness and gratitude of the people there angered me. As I sobered up, it gave me hope that I might experience the same. And, indeed, I did. As I practiced the program on a daily basis, I developed an attitude of gratitude. I no longer hated to hear about gratitude at meetings, I loved to listen and talk about it. Instead of isolating I joined and enjoyed the grateful people around me. And, although I paid no attention to her before, nature herself gently shouted that I was alive and well. All of this and much more each sober year. Still, I can barely believe there would ever be even a drop of gratitude in this once no good, thankless drunk. But there it is, sometimes gushing out, thanking God from deep in my soul.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

MY OWN ENEMY



"...We pause when agitated or doubtful and ask for the right thought or action." P. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 87



"Rescue me from my enemies, O God." Psalm 59: 1


For what it's worth: My worst enemy has always been the saboteur within. Alcohol was only one of his weapons, but it was the one that nearly ended the war, except for safety and sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. There I was given tools to defend myself from me and alcohol. And I was introduced to a God who would, if asked, rescue me from the saboteur. And I do ask. Every morning I pray my Heavenly Father will help me run and jump into His Arms as soon as that old enemy attacks. Some days I need to just stay in His Arms.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

LIFE AND LIGHT



“Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps...” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60



“He restores my soul.” Psalm 23:3


For what it's worth: Something was desperately wrong with me. I drank over it for years. But I never knew what it was until I was sober for some time in Alcoholics Anonymous: my soul was dark and empty, starving for spiritual nourishment; alcohol temporarily filled the void and relieved the agony; so, I returned to the bottle over and over, becoming addicted to alcohol. Alcoholics Anonymous offered me a program of recovery from my alcoholism and introduced me to a Higher Power who could nourish my soul. Applying the Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and surrendering my will to God's daily now for a number of years has nourished this old soul. Still there are days I feel spiritually weak. On those days I know the driest spiritual desert is heaven compared the dark emptiness of before. I can never thank God and Alcoholics Anonymous enough for filling this once dark, dead soul with light and life.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

ROUGH GOING BLESSINGS



“It is a design for living that works in rough going.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 15


“You brought me up from the grave, O Lord. You kept me from falling into the pit of death.” Psalm 30: 3


For what it's worth: During my drinking days, the rough going kept going until the agony of it all drove me to seek help in Alcoholics Anonymous. The Program did not protect me from difficult times, but it provided me “a design for living” during those experiences. And I was introduced to the Developer of that design. Now, when life turns mean, the tools do not seem to work, and “this too shall pass” sounds like a crock, I can turn to a Higher Power. And I need not delay, playing around with designs of my own. In all my sober years, when I take the difficult days to my God, he always carries me through. And when we get there, usually there's a blessing.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

ME MEETING ME



“You have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself.” P. Alcoholics Anonymous, page 71



“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32


For what it's worth: All the shades were down so I could not see inside me, but many a drunk launched from what I feared was there. That fear blocked any chance for intimacy and locked me in a lonely, dark place. I would have died there alone and in the darkness without a merciful God rescuing me and giving me over to a bunch of sober, loving drunks in Alcoholics Anonymous. They taught me how to stop being a coward and raise the shades to face myself. I found that I was not nearly as crazy and evil as I believed. And I was not unique. Since facing the truth, God has granted me the gift of knowing I am lovable, loving, and worthwhile. This is an indescribable gift for a once low-down drunk like me. I am deeply grateful to God and Alcoholics Anonymous for introducing me to me and helping me become someone I would want to meet.



God bless you!



Joe W

[janbear]

Haven't been recieving this one for several days but i will soon post one from a previous day. I miss them and thought others might too.

[janbear]

HIS DRUNK



“For we are now on a different basis; the basis of trusting and relying upon God.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 68



“But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.’" Psalm 31:14



For what it's worth: It is miraculous that this once powerless drunk has been through so many trying times without even considering the drink. Indeed, miraculous - the grace of a loving Heavenly Father. He protected me most recently from two life-threatening infectious diseases. One resulted in a lower leg amputation that will require extensive rehabilitation. But just watch; He will have me recovering in no time. It has to be, because He is my God and I am His once worthless drunk, and He has more for me to do … walking.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

THE TREASURE OF MERCY



"...We ask God's forgiveness and inquire what corrective measures should be taken." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 86



"Lord, how great is your mercy; in your justice, give me back my life." Psalm 119: 156


For what it's worth: Alcoholism ripped out everything, including my conscience, and I did things in my past that I believe I will regret for the rest of my life. Shame fueled my drinking for years and destroyed the pleasure of life. With sober time and Step Two of Alcoholics Anonymous, I came to believe God's great mercy would give me back the joy in my life. A drunk, a hypocrite, a sinner like me granted the gift of mercy! And today, when I need - as I too often do, I can go to my Heavenly Father, beg his forgiveness, and work with him to make corrections. Yes, what a treasure is His loving mercy!



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

KEEP TRUDGING



“...We are willing to grow along spiritual lines.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 60



“May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” Psalm 143:10


For what it's worth: Every drinking day was a day of dark spiritual emptiness. I sought fulfillment everywhere and found none until I found Alcoholics Anonymous. My sober days in Alcoholics Anonymous are filled with spiritual light and true fulfillment – usually. There are still dark days when my spirit seems to stumble and fall, not able to get up that day. Those days I need to be willing to rise up, to walk on, trudge if I must, even uphill in the dark if that's what it takes to reach the Light that is always there. And my experience proves to me that I can trust my Heavenly Father to be with me, especially on the darkest days.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

THE REWARDS



"The rewards of sobriety are bountiful and as progressive as the disease they counteract." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 451 (Fourth Edition)



"A faithful man will abound with blessings..." Proverbs 28:20


For what it's worth: Alcohol temporarily eased the despair of believing God would never grant me the blessings of life. Those were reserved for his good children. Even far into recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous I could not trust that the blessings of sobriety and the promises of the Program would come true in my life. Perhaps that is why I work so hard, and, with God's help and sober time, they are coming true. Still, there are difficult days when doubts attack again. Then is the time to focus on the blessings and the beauty of my sober journey and the reward of the final destination.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

REMEMBER ONE SIMPLE THING



"I remember one simple thing: to keep my hand in the hand of God." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 199, Fourth Edition



"You shall remember that you were a slave...and the Lord your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand..." Deuteronomy 5:15



For what it's worth: The chains of my addiction were heavy. I have no doubt that only the mighty hand of God could have freed me from slavery to alcoholism. And I have no doubt that God knew Alcoholics Anonymous was the only place on earth I could stay sober. Now my job is to maintain my freedom, my daily reprieve. I can do that by remembering “one simple thing”. Every morning I try my best to get as close to my Heavenly Father as I can, and I ask Him to help me stay close throughout the day. And, as I too often tend to do, if I wander off somewhere, I beg Him to bring me back close to Him. He always does, often in ways only He could create.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

NEVER FORGET



“All the credit belongs to God.” Alcoholic's Anonymous, page 485 (Fourth Edition)



“Praise the Lord, I tell myself, and never forget the good things He does for me.” Psalm 103: 2



For what it's worth: Looking back I see the loneliness, the fear, the despair I believed would never end. Only alcohol could relieve the pain - until it betrayed me. It was then I walked into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting looking only for relief. But what I found there was an undeserved, free and precious gift: a seed of hope that has grown into a forest full; a Fellowship instead of loneliness; serenity that has healed the constant inner conflict; a proven Program for a sober and joyful life; and a Higher Power who loves me just as I am. I had nothing to do with any of this. All are blessings from my loving and merciful Heavenly Father. I had rejected Him, even cursed him. Despite this He saw fit to rescue me from the hell of alcoholism and put me on that path in Alcoholics Anonymous where rarely do we see anyone fail. He walks with me on that path daily, holding me close, because He knows that I so easily stumble and fall. I pray I never forget to say “thanks”.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

PEACE



"I not only have peace with God, I have the peace of God through an active God consciousness." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 457, Fourth Edition



"May His grace and peace be yours." 1 Thessalonians 1:1


For what it's worth: Inner conflict was constant. I was alone and at war with the world, and yet I was my own worst enemy. I even thought God opposed me. The only relief I knew was alcohol, so I turned to it at every opportunity, and only when my addiction was about to kill me did I seek help in Alcoholics Anonymous. Thank God I did, because it was there that I was finally able to take off my armor and put down my sword. The Steps and the support freely given in Alcoholics Anonymous quieted my inner conflict and ended my war with the world, more importantly, with God. Actually, it was my Heavenly Father who gave me strength to surrender and granted me peace. I try to express my gratitude and stay as close to him as I can every day.



God bless you!



Joe W

[janbear]

POURING FROM A CRACKED VESSEL



“No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84



“I will...transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope.” Hosea 2:15


For what it's worth: When I finally came to Alcoholics Anonymous, I was empty of anything worthwhile. Alcoholism had broken everything in me that could have contained any good and it had spilled out and wasted. I would never have believed that Alcoholics Anonymous could put me back together and I could hold anything of value for anyone else. Yet, the grace of God and the power of the Twelve Steps have performed that miracle, turning even my most painful experiences into blessings for me and for others. I am, indeed, honored that God uses me to pour hope into another suffering soul's life. I cannot help but notice He pours fast. He knows He is pouring from a cracked vessel.



God bless you!



Joe W.