Daily Reprieve - Aug

[janbear]

THE YEARNING



“But He has come to all who have honestly sought Him.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 57



“He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from
beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:11



For what it's worth: Even on the darkest days of my drinking there was an unidentified yearning deep in my being. My despair was in the belief I would never satisfy this longing. And I would not if I kept drinking. That is why my sobriety is such a wonderful gift, especially in Alcoholics Anonymous. Here are the tools I needed to identify what I sought and begin my search. I am on an exciting, wondrous journey filled with deep, treacherous waters and peaceful streams. And I need not understand the depths; merely accept they are a place with purpose along the way. Most meaningful is the One I seek took my hand at my first step on this journey, walks with me along the streams, and carries me through the deep waters.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

BLESSINGS ALWAYS FLOW



“We usually conclude the period of meditation with a prayer that we be shown all through the day what our next step is to be…” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 87


“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” Proverbs 1:5



For what it's worth: Who needed guidance? I was the wise fool, drinking and thinking I knew it all; yet, I was lost in a dark, dense daze of drunkenness and despair. Desperate and fearful, I walked into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. I have not been lost since. Yes, confused, even doubtful at times, but when I am wise enough to be quiet and listen, guidance always comes. God often just whispers what my next step is to be, so, I will not notice if I am thrashing around doing life my way. When I hear my Heavenly Father, and move according to His direction, blessings always flow for me or others, usually both.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[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]

SEVENTH STEP PRAYER



“…We have put our finger on the weak items in our personal inventory.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 72


“The spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:41



For what it's worth: My weaknesses could not be acknowledged. Alcoholism and pride would not allow it. I nearly drown in alcohol with the weight of my defects pulling me under. Sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous saved me from dying a drunken hypocrite. And the Twelve Steps opened my eyes to the truth about myself, and even empowered me to show others the real me. That drop of humility unlocked previously bolted doors and allowed God to rush in to begin building a new man. Today, I need not hide my weaknesses; instead, I talk about them with my God; and, if it might help, I share them with others. My Heavenly Father has given me a spirit of willingness to be rid of all of these defects, so I say the Seventh Step prayer daily.

“My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen." Alcoholics Anonymous, P. 76



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE



“In all times of emotional disturbance or indecision, we can pause, ask for quiet, and in the stillness simply say: "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.” 12&12 p.41


“God has made everything beautiful for its own time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11


For what it's worth: My drinking choked all the beauty out of my miserable, alcoholic existence. It was not until my first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting that I found something beautiful in my life. It was hope. I kept coming back for more. And today my cup overflows with the beauty of sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous. But, along the way there have been some downright ugly days when I could not see anything beautiful. Only hope and prayer saved me. And it is only in looking back I see on those days God was painting a beautiful picture, and somehow He was using the colors of my suffering.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

THE GIFTS CONTINUE



“...We can truly thank God for the blessings we have received …” 12&12 p.95


“You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!” Psalm 92:4



For what it's worth: Alcoholism reduced me to waste. I would have died as nothing more than a pile of trash - except for God's mercy. He knew I needed emergency treatment and admitted me to Alcoholics Anonymous for intensive care. It was there my soul stopped bleeding and I found hope of healing. It was there I came to a conscious contact with my Heavenly Father and found friends for life. It was there I was given Twelve Steps to a new me and a new life. It was there I began receiving blessings I had thought impossible for me. The gifts continue and my gratitude grows daily.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

GIVE IT OR LOSE IT



“Moreover, he finds he cannot keep this priceless gift unless he gives it away.” 12&12 p.130


“Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have.” 2 Corinthians 8:12


For what it's worth: There was nothing left. Alcoholism ripped out everything of value, so I came to Alcoholics Anonymous empty. Sobriety and every blessing thereafter is a treasured gift. My alcoholic selfishness would like to hoard these riches, but the people of Alcoholics Anonymous taught me I need to give them away or lose them. They also showed me many ways to give, and the Prayer of St. Francis offers even more. During this day God will open many doors to giving, and I must be alert and ready with open hands and heart.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

DOING FOR OTHERS



“Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 164



"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” Matthew 25:40



For what it's worth: My self-centered disease dictated what I did for others; nothing. My only interest was to manipulate them to get what I wanted, or to resent them to have motive to drink. That kind of stinking thinking was my pattern for years, so change comes slow, but sure, if I do not take that first drink today and live the Twelve Steps of Alcoholic Anonymous. I use the spot-check and daily inventory of Step Ten, and, on those days I see no progress, I go to my Heavenly Father for guidance. Now-a-days, when I ask Him what I can do for others, He reminds me I am doing it for Him, and then He shows me the Prayer of St. Francis.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

THE HEIGHTS AND THE DEPTHS



"They had visioned the Great Reality -- their loving and All Powerful Creator." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 161



"I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity." Deuteronomy 30:15



For what it's worth: Alcohol distorted my vision of the Great Reality. I saw all from Him as detrimental. Changing that view required years of sober days back to back in Alcoholics Anonymous, seeing all of the miracles there and hearing their stories about the blessings God had given them. Perhaps it would happen to me. I started living the way they were living and believing as they believed. And, ever so slowly, frightened and skeptical, I was able to go to God and beg Him to teach me to trust His love. Soon I had a new belief about the Great Reality. I see now that "life and prosperity, and death and adversity" are all part of reality, and I trust my “loving and All Powerful Creator” to care for me in the midst of it all, on the heights and in the depths.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

SAVING MERCY



"They have a new attitude, and they have been saved from a living death." Alcoholics Anonymous, Page 150



"He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy." Titus 3:5



For what it's worth: Alcoholism's attack inflicted deep wounds that I feared would never heal. Feelings of anxiety, an attitude of doom, and a life of despair I believed would never end. I certainly never expected Alcoholics Anonymous to be of any help. Afterall, what did a bunch of drunks have that I needed? Everything, as it turned out. Most importantly, they introduced me to a loving God. And, once I was hurting and humbled enough, I begged His mercy. That was all He needed to begin my healing process. In His loving mercy, and on His schedule, my Heavenly Father has replaced despair with hope; unknown fears with faith and trust; and the days of impending death with days of full life. I thank God for His mercy. Had healing depended upon the good things I did, there would have been none.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

RIGHT SIZE



“By temperament, nearly every one of us had been an irrepressible promoter…” 12&12 p.181



“So be content with who you are, and don't put on airs. God's strong hand is on you; he'll promote you at the right time.” 1 Peter 5:6-7



For what it's worth: Self-promotion was a full time job. Although I spit at myself in the mirror, I had to smile in public. It took years of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous to rise above hypocrisy and self-hate. Each day of those years I surrendered to a Higher Power, and asked God to build with me as He willed. With God as the Builder, I became right size; my smile became real; and I can even wink at myself in the mirror.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[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]

MARCHING ON



“Many, we are sure, will rise to their feet and march on.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 153



“He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” Psalm 40:2



For what it's worth: Often drunkenness disabled me so I could not stand on my feet. The only place I was marching on to was hell’s fire. Some years ago God rescued me; lifted me up and placed me on that solid, proven path where “rarely have we seen a person fail”. Now, God and I are marching on along that path together. May I add that, being a recent amputee, instead of regular print, I see flashing neon signs in the Bible and our Big Book when I read about rising to my feet and being steadied as I walk along that path?



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

WHAT DO YOU WANT?



“We are sure God wants us to be happy, joyous, and free.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 133



“What do you want?” John 1:38



For what it's worth: Once all of my dreams drowned I had no idea about what I wanted out of life, so I settled for just being drunk most of the time. I was blessed that sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous taught me what God wants for me, namely “to be happy, joyous, and free”. But is that what I want? If so, why is it still so easy for “bondage of self” to stand in His way? This happens so often that I must question what I want … truly want. And my daily inventory checks that my actions will achieve that goal. All too often they are headed in another direction. Fortunately, when I become confused and doubtful about these matters, I can talk them over with my Heavenly Father. He always welcomes our little discussions, and He often just tells me to keep it simple.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

THE GOOD AND THE BAD



“When ready, we say something like this: ‘My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.’” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 76


“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.” Matthew 7:18



For what it's worth: Readiness to surrender came only after I saw slavery to self as the major cause of my suffering. Even then, I was hesitant. I did not believe God wanted another bad tree in His garden. After all, based on some of the stories I had heard at Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, He had enough pruning to do. However, I was wrong again. I found that my Heavenly Father loves for me to give Him all of me, the good and the bad, perhaps especially on those days when the bad outweighs the good. Amazingly, on those days, I have known Him to use me somehow to reach another suffering soul.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

SPIRITUAL FULFILLMENT



“He will also report that out of every season of grief or suffering, when the hand of God seemed heavy or even unjust, new lessons for living were learned, new resources of courage were uncovered, and that finally, inescapably, the conviction came that God does ‘move in a mysterious way His wonders to perform’.” 12&12 p.105



“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9



For what it's worth: Spiritual emptiness rendered me full of fear that fueled my drinking and followed me into Alcoholics Anonymous. A good sponsor and the Twelve Steps saved me, leading me to a Higher Power and starting me on an unbelievable spiritual journey. The fear dissipated as I came to trust Alcoholics Anonymous and God. I began to learn to love and be loved, to get and to give it away to keep it, and to surrender to win. I found that an AA meeting is a place in God’s paradise, full of love and support. I learned from my own experience that God never wastes even one drop of my suffering, but somehow uses it to help me or someone else, usually both. And I now believe with every fiber of my being that my Heavenly Father is with me wherever I go.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

READY FOR SOME HEAT



“Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have been, and are.” 12&12 p. 42



“It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.” Ezekiel 24:12



For what it's worth: Denial was not only a part of my alcoholism, it was deeply implanted in the other areas of my character. I would never have recognized this reality had God not granted be sobriety in Alcoholics Anonymous where the Twelve Steps opened the windows of my soul and I could see myself clearly. Some of what I saw had to be corrected immediately or I would have relapsed. But I resisted or even denied other defects until they caused enough pain to demand attention and removal. Still, some are like old cooking pot deposits that refuse to be removed no matter how hard you scrub. Only intense heat can melt them away. These are the defects of my character that I must carry to my Heavenly Father in my daily Seventh Step prayer, begging for the willingness and the strength needed to be rid of any dirt and grime that may remain in my soul. I need to persevere in prayer and be ready for some heat.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

EXPECT A MIRACLE



“That is the miracle of it.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85



“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” Daniel 9:3



For what it's worth: Life was miserable and I was a slave to alcoholism; so much for my best efforts……..alone. I no longer work alone, and the results are miraculously different. What happened? The misery of my alcohol addiction drove me to Alcoholics Anonymous, where I found the Twelve Steps and a Higher Power. Many sober years were required, but those Steps and God’s grace created me a new man. The power of that fact and my experiences during that time prove to me that, when I turn to God and confidently ask His help, I am no longer working alone, and I need to expect a miracle. It may not look like one and it may be a little one, but it will be a miracle.



God bless you!



Joe W.

[janbear]

IN HIS CARE



“I placed myself unreservedly under His care and direction.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 13



“Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.” Psalm 55:22



For what it's worth: Avoiding Him, rejecting Him, cursing Him did not keep Him away. The “Hound of Heaven” sought my soul and finally hunted me down near the gates of hell. In His loving mercy, God rescued me, and, in His infinite wisdom, He knew Alcoholics Anonymous was the only place under the sun where I would drop my stubborn defenses and open my hardened heart, so He guided me there to the care and acceptance of a wise and tricky bunch of drunks. They accomplished something that otherwise would never have occurred. They taught me how to stay sober and live according to spiritual principles that produced a peaceful life. Perhaps, more importantly, they started me on a wondrous journey with the God who saved me. I take His hand and He and I walk together into each new day's burdens or joys. Nothing - absolutely nothing - happens that we cannot handle together.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[bluidkiti]

PLANS FOR MY LIFE



"…Our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 25

"The Lord will work out his plans for my life -- for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever." Psalm 138: 8

For what it's worth: For years I wandered through life in a drunken haze with no plan other than to drink for oblivion to escape the sad reality of what my life had become. In futile attempts to change, I would make notes on a tablet about altering my life. Of course, I was drinking. I could not read it the next morning. Change did occur, though, I got worse. Despair drove me to seek help. Professionals and Church failed. In desperation I finally attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, expecting failure, and finding hope and strength. I was too sick to realize it back then, but today I know that was when my Creator entered into my heart and life. Since then untold miracles have happened. My Heavenly Father is working out "His plans for my life." He works better when I get out of the way. It is like the mechanic’s work shop sign reads: "Labor $50.00 an hour. If you watch $100. If you help $500."



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

“A FLAME OF FIRE”


"Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable? Can He now take them all -- every one? If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 76


"The tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself." James 3: 6


For what it's worth: My tongue destroyed many precious relationships during my drinking years, and it can do the same in sobriety. My own experiences prove to me “this flame of fire” has horrible power to hurt both me and those I love; but it is tragically weak at healing the wounds. I am deeply grateful for Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6 and 7. I can beg my Heavenly Father for the willingness to be rid of this defect before it sparks a "blazing flame of destruction”. He and I know my tongue has created enough anguish for me and those I have harmed.


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: Years and years ago, God boarded a train to somewhere far, far from me, leaving me alone and desperate. I believe He was fed up with all of my betrayals. And I knew nothing would bring Him back into my life. Alcohol relieved the loneliness and the fear, but not for long. After years of despair, I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. There I was introduced to caring people and Twelve Steps that miraculously returned God into my life. His train was right on time, and I can still hear Him say, “I am here, Joe” as He stepped off the train back into my life. The emptiness in my soul is filled, the aloneness is gone, the rage is quieted, and despair is replaced with hope and fear with faith. I hear Him right now: “I am here”.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

REACH THE UNREACHABLE



"Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 47


"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it ... grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches." Matthew 13: 31-32


For what it's worth: Alcoholism reduced me to waste, so how could I ever be anything of value? And, since God was against me, there would be no miracles. That is what I believed when I started in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was confirmed when I heard the Twelve Steps; I could never do most of them. So, for me, sobriety and anything of value was unreachable. In desperation, I began doing what Alcoholics Anonymous people did to stay sober. That was the key. Gradually, doors opened that had been locked. I started listening to the “God stuff”. I even saw God at work in my life, so I stopped fighting Him. And, low and behold, I started progressing in ways I thought impossible. God, in His loving mercy, and working through Alcoholics Anonymous, planted in this once worthless drunk a small seed of hope that I might be able to reach what I believed unreachable. Someday, I might truly believe I am something of value to God and Alcoholics Anonymous.



God bless you.



Joe W.