Daily Reprieve - Nov

[janbear]

RESTORING THE WRECK



"Being wrecked in the same vessel, being restored and united under one God, with hearts and minds attuned to the welfare of others, the things which matter so much to some people no longer signify much to them." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 161



"I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives." Jeremiah 17:10



For what it's worth: Alcohol flooded my entire being, drowning everything decent in me. Alcoholics Anonymous and the loving mercy of God are clearing away the mess from the flood and a total restoration is in progress. My motives, values and purpose are slowly changing. Sometime, very slowly; and, sometime, flood damage reappears, usually when I take charge. My job is not to give orders but to “let go and let God”. And I have noticed that progress improves during those times I maintain an attitude of gratitude.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

WALK TALL



"We feel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 75



"I have lifted the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk free with your heads held high." Leviticus 26:13



For what it's worth: Never was my head held high because of the weight of my addiction. No matter how hard I tried, I could not walk tall. Just before that load of shame and guilt buried me, I sought help and finally found Alcoholics Anonymous. Here, ever so slowly over many sober years, the grace of God and the power of the Twelve Steps have made me whole, released me from subjection to addiction, and removed the chains of shame and guilt. Today, "hand in hand with the Spirit of the Universe", I walk tall.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES



"We have found much of heaven and we have been rocketed into a fourth dimension of existence of which we had not even dreamed." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 25




"Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 136:26



For what it's worth: Heaven was not possible. And the hell of my alcoholism seemed never ending. But, God’s loving and generous mercy opened a door in my insane denial that was never there before, and I escaped, walking into an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. There I was granted a daily reprieve that certainly tastes like heaven to me. I thank God every day for this “fourth dimension” of life. And that’s not all. God taught me to trust his unending love, and, now, I believe Heaven is possible, something I never dreamed for this lost soul.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

MY ROCK



"There had been a humble willingness to have Him with me -- and He came." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 12



"He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken." Psalm 62:2



For what it's worth: Alcoholism broke the backbone of my superficial faith, and left no "humble willingness" to be close to God. He was not interested, either. So I thought, even long into recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was suggested that I ask God to teach me to trust His love. Once I did, my experiences have demonstrated my Heavenly Father’s willingness to be close, especially on those occasions when I am His frightened little child, deeply in need of Him, humbly begging His help. He is always there with open arms to assure me that He and I are standing together and will not be shaken.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

WEAK WILL



"We have emphasized willingness as being indispensable." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 76



"For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!" Matthew 26:41



For what it's worth: Alcoholism is a progressive disease, causing increased mental, physical, and spiritual suffering. As my agony accelerated, so did my willingness to change; but, only when the pain was severe enough did I become a willing spirit and seek relief in Alcoholics Anonymous. Many experiences since then indicate other soul sicknesses work like alcoholism. I need to hurt to become willing to heal. But, all too often, that's not enough. “The body is weak” and I need God’s help. But do I accept it? What about the times when He nudges gently in the right direction, but I continue to go my way? What about all the opportunities for growth God presents and I miss due to lack of willingness? I need to beg for His forgiveness and continued patience. And I need to do whatever it takes so I do not have to answer to Him about why I took advantage of His loving mercy!



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

JUST A SMALL SEED OF FAITH



"All men of faith have courage." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 68



"I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." Matthew 17:20



For what it's worth: The superficial faith I had was attached by alcoholism…and lost. I came to Alcoholics Anonymous with no faith and quickly learned to get sober and stay sober I needed something in which I could have faith. Despite my doubts and resistance, I asked God to teach me to trust His love. He taught me through many exacting experiences that would have resulted in relapse, but did not, because of His intervention. With just my small seed of faith, He and I begin building the impossible -- a sober and happy Joe. Today, I may not be moving mountains, but, with God’s help, I can stay sober and do a kind act for someone.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

TRUST GOD



“They trust their God.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 68



"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7& 8



For what it’s worth: A lowly shrub in the desert better describes my faith than does a tree by the water. But, thanks to Alcoholics Anonymous, I’m moving closer to the Water. As my roots grow closer, the Water nourishes me and I can produce fruit, even in the heat. Personal experience proves I can trust my God’s love, and, as I do, I am better prepared to face life’s droughts and spiritual dry spells. There have been many, and I did feel the heat, but at no time was this lowly shrub without Water.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

WILLINGNESS TO BELIEVE



“If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 28



"If you are willing, you can make me clean.” Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Mark 1: 40-41



For what it’s worth: Take out the filth and my soul was empty. I know the torture of a desolate, lost soul. Even alcohol could not give relief. The pain drove me to Alcoholics Anonymous where I found my soul was not empty, it was filled with shame. I did not want to face myself or God, but the Twelve Steps had me do both to stay sober. It turned out I was not worthless and God was not punishing me; He loved me; I was His child. Once I was willing, He started me on a phenomenal journey. He travels with me. During our journey together, he has touched me deeply, cleansed my soul, and filled it with treasures to replace the filth. Today I will enjoy the treasures and be grateful.



God bless you.



Joe W.

[janbear]

CALLED UP FROM HELL



“…He was overwhelmed by a conviction of the Presence of God.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 56



"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32



For what it’s worth: Alcoholism left not even one ounce of gratitude in me. I resented anyone thankful for anything. When I first heard Alcoholics Anonymous people say they were grateful alcoholics, I thought they were phony or crazy. And I said so. That did not stop them. They went right on telling me how thankful they were, and, as I sobered up, I started to believe them. Actually, I was beginning to feel it myself. Gradually my heart filled with gratitude, and I understood. Who wouldn’t be grateful for being called up from hell to their Heavenly Father’s arms?



God bless you.



Joe W

[janbear]

HIS CHILD



“He is the Father, and we are His children.” Alcoholics Anonymous, page 62



“So thank God for his marvelous love, for his mercy to the children he loves; offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what he's done--sing it out!” Psalm 107: 21 & 22



For what it’s worth: Alcohol starved the gratitude and love in me, but nourished hate and despair. I could not consider myself a child of God, but, if I were, I was the one He disliked and punished all the time. So I was not excited about meeting Him in Alcoholics Anonymous, but there He was. I was advised I would need to come close to God, if I wished to stay sober and avoid return to the hell I just left. Fearful and resistance, but seriously needy, I reached out to God only to find His hand reached out to me. I asked for His help to grow close to Him and He gave me the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. I was reluctant and slow to apply the Steps to my daily life, but as I did I came to believe I was my Heavenly Father’s child all along – one He loved dearly. I thank Him daily for His love, and I try to sacrifice my will for His every day. When He provides the opportunity, I share with others about all my Heavenly Father has done for me.



God bless you.



Joe W.