CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

I pray the Father of all mercies, give you strength in your handling this life in flesh.
That this life, is just an embryonic sac, for that which comes after this life in flesh.
Psalm 103 (KJV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear/revere him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19 The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.
21 Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.

Amen!

It took me 61 days to complete a 30 day residential treatment program where I discovered I had major depressive disorder, PTSD and attachment disorder combined with alcoholic addiction. The Lord saw me through it all. He's the only one that never left me or forsakened me. That was 11 years ago. May Gods light show you the new way home In Jesus name.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2019 - SURRENDERED TO YOUR WILL
Audio for SURRENDERED TO YOUR WILL
When you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. (Jeremiah 29:12-14a NLT)


Living with God in recovery and following the twelve steps is a spiritual journey that requires spiritual commitment. Surrendering our will to God is not simply a one-time decision, it is an on-going process of continuous surrender. Life practices we’ve known in addiction will be challenged by the word of God. We may think they are unconnected to our recovery because they are not specifically drug or alcohol related. However, they may have directly contributed to the problems that led us into addictive behaviour. As we daily choose to follow God’s principles in all our affairs, our thinking and behaving will change and life will improve.
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)
We need help in understanding how to be in healthy relationship with God and others. Particularly in the early years of recovery when we face conflict between God’s way of life and life as we’ve known it, we will need to abandon our flawed thinking and allow God to teach us new ways. We will need to stand firm against our desires and feelings in any given moment and persevere through to victory over our familiar ways of handling situations as they arise. God is aware of what we are going through and, if we call on Him for help, He will strengthen us to do what is right. God knows the path to real life for us. Our own way is truly harmful and deadly. How many times have we proven that?


Even though it is inconvenient, and perhaps momentarily uncomfortable, today is another opportunity for us to consider surrendering our will and life to the care of God and allowing Him to lead us on a new path.
Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. (Ephesians 4:22-23 NLT)


Prayer: Heavenly Father, Please give me the will and desire to do what pleases You. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

Say thank you, until you mean it. Thank God for everyone and everything sent your way:
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. It turns problems into gifts, failures into success, and the unexpected into perfect timing, and mistakes into important events. It can turn an existence into a real life, and disconnected situations into important and beneficial lessons. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Gratitude makes things right.

Gratitude turns negative energy into positive energy. There is no situation or circumstance so small or large that it is not susceptible to gratitude's power. We can start with who we are and what we have today, apply gratitude, then let it work its magic.

Say thank you until you mean it. If you say it long enough, you will believe it.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2019 - IT'S IN THE BOOK
Audio for IT'S IN THE BOOK
Members of Alcoholics Anonymous are encouraged to regularly read "The Big Book" which gives a helpful foundation for living sober. Some have suggested that the book got its name because of its size and content (over 400 pages long). It is a bestselling book and has had a powerful influence on many who have taken the time to read it and apply its principles in their daily living. Its content is based on the bestselling book of all time – another big book, The Holy Bible.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Matthew 4:4; Psalm 119:9, 11 NIV)

Even more than Bill and Dr. Bob wanted to help individuals recover from the chaos of their alcoholism, God desires for us to have a life of purpose and live well with Him and with others. We do well when we consult God's book, the ultimate Big Book, get to know what is in it, and follow what God says works.
…When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. (1 Thessalonians 2:13, Isaiah 40:8 NIV)

The Big Book of AA shares stories of alcoholics and their recovery as well as teaching principles for us to put into practice in our daily lives. The Bible tells the story of God's creation and His plan for restoration of our relationship with Him after things went wrong. It tells of Jesus coming to earth to show the extravagant love of God for us. It tells of how Jesus, who knew no sin, humbled Himself to die on a cross for our sins so we could be right with God regardless of how long we have stumbled in addiction and brokenness. Let’s take time today to read and learn and put the truth of God’s word into practice.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for the truth contained in The Bible and its application in The Big Book of AA. Help me to read and learn and put Your principles for life into practice in all my affairs today and every day. Amen.
©2019 Partners in Hope

Everyone wants to be loved. But we must make ourselves lovable. We must prepare ourselves to be loved. We do this by becoming ourselves loving, disciplined human beings.

If we seek to be loved – if we expect to be loved – this cannot be accomplished; we will bedependent and grasping, not genuinely loving. But when we nurture ourselves and others without a primary concern of finding reward, then we will have become lovable, and the reward of love that we have not sought, will find us.

Nov

10


SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2019 - PRAISE THE LORD
Audio for PRAISE THE LORD
Reading the following Psalm is a great way to start the day. The people of every nation on earth are encouraged to praise God for His kindness and great love towards them.

Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise him, all you people of the earth. For his unfailing love for us is powerful; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 117:1-2 NLT)

Those of us who have given our will and life over to the care of God know we no longer carry the baggage of our past sin and the accompanying guilt and shame. We have been forgiven and declared blameless by the kindness of God in sending Jesus into the world to set us free from the power of sin. We are no longer guilty. We, who once lived in rebellion against the things of God, are now reconciled to our Heavenly Father who lavishes His love on us. We are His cherished children. If that’s not something to praise God for, what is?
How priceless your faithful love is! People find safety in the shadow of your wings. They eat well because there is more than enough in your house. You let them drink from your river that flows with good things. (Psalm 36:7-8 NIRV)

At times we may feel undeserving of the goodness of God. The truth is, when we believe in the finished work of Jesus to wash away our sins, we receive an eternal inheritance from God that Jesus purchased for us with His life. We don’t deserve it, but God declares the price of sin is “paid in full” by Jesus.
Great blessings belong to those who live pure lives! They follow the Lord’s teachings. Great blessings belong to those who follow his rules! They seek him with all their heart. (Psalm 119:1-2 ERV)

Let’s improve our conscious contact with God and praise Him for the reason we have goodness and mercy following us all the days of our life.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Let me not be silent. I am grateful for all that Jesus has done for me. I ask You to give me the will and desire to live my life in praise and thanksgiving for my inheritance through Jesus. Amen

©2019 Partners in Hope

"And, each day I give thanks to God for finding me. And, I give thanks for the twelve step
program, my sponsor and the 'Big Book'. And, I have learned those that are required to
attend meetings as part of a court sentence, are full of resentment. And, I have learned
that those that have hit bottom due to drugs or alcohol, are more likely to be grateful and
more likely to have a chance of adhering to the principles of the program. And, I have learned
that those that have accepted God in their life, have found a new lease on life here in the now,
and are willing to change...willing to change is not meant to be easy, it is for those that
have had enough!"
~Thought for today~
'Praise God'

Attn; Dogtrack. When I lived in Naked City I smoked about a pack a day but I gambled at a lot of dives with poor ventilation and heavy smoking so I probable inhaled about a pack of 2nd hand smoke after I got off of work at LWC about 7am went to my favorite buffet then drank and gambled till 2 or 3 pm. It was almost like a second job. Those kinds of places most often played Oldies had $2 blackjack tables, 25 cent roulette chips. There was a table minimum usually $2 but you could spread the chips around. not be stupid and bet all of the money on 1 number and or color but just make the easy bets and try to break even but get lots of complementary alcohol and a casual game with very little math involved you could meet strangers and do what I came for drinking alcohol and taking cheap risks. The second hand smoke got into my hair, clothes and eyes. Sometimes I'd go out back to breathe some fresh air. If things at the card tables started off well and I had the next tight or two off, I'd simply get a room there and not go home at all. I lived alone. I thought nobody would miss me. "So what I'm having fun." I thought, "Nobody cares." The truth was I didn't care. I felt worthless inside. Life was work, casinos (where I ate) and sleep with some cable TV in my mini suite. Actually tobacco was one of my least problems.

(I just got home from Church now) As I was testifying/sharing.. By Valentines Day 2007 my depression turned a corner. I had reoccurring bouts of clinical depression. There were times I could barely make it to the gas station/convenience store to eat then return and even sometimes I would pray to die in my sleep. I had a small amount of life insurance that would have gotten canceled if I would have killed myself. So I hung in worked when I could till I couldn't. I needed to make other plans.

I decided to take the last money that I had and return to where it dosn't snow in the winter because I knew I'd be homeless in days and at least I got to choose if I didn't procrastinate. So a one way bus ticket to the end of the L.A. Metrorail line. The streets of Long Beach. I had no fight left in me I surrendered, prayed and followed Good Orderly Directions with complaint.

I started attending group meetings at the V.A. Medical center by day and a bed at the mission by night then a residential treatment center and a Psychiatrist, a psychologist, several counselors and a couple of General practitioners later and I was on my feet again. 3x12step meetings a day for over a year plus church and of course Celebrate Recover. Turned me around better that ever before. And Jesus is my Higher Power. Todays sermon coincidentally came from Psalm 107 but the part that I feed I'm supposed to share with all of you today is>

Psalm 107:4-7 4Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.

That was me. I cried out to the Lord beyond desperate with no self will left and he came to my rescue. Thank You Jesus.
New International Version

Typo, correction in GREEN! PS; that was 2008

Food is my addiction....I have yoyo'ed up and down weight wise and then just gave up. Would be described as morbidly obese...not proud of it. Need prayers and motivation mainly the desire to start and do something or desire to surrender and repent of this habit.

Since we are human beings, we must accept our lack of perfection and admit to a certain addictedness in work, at home and in every other context where we are involved. But that does not mean we need to adjust to it or find peace of mind with it. What is really needed is our willing acknowledgment of the way things are, combined with our passionate desire to make them better. See what is, don’t waste time on recriminations, and do all we can to nurture love. This is the essence of real-world practice.



Prayer comes at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of practice—if practice ever really ends. It is prayer of petition, for our own courage, remembrance and simple presence at work and at home. It is a prayer of intersession, for the people at work and at home, that Grace might flow through them, free them and heal their brokenness. It is intersession as well for the systems and institutions that make up our homes and workplaces, prayer for liberation and love in the environments and atmospheres within which people work and pray and long for something better. It is prayer of praise and adoration and thanksgiving, expressing our gratitude for the Grace we have been given and our ever-deepening need for more. It is also prayer for guidance: How can I respond, right here and now? What is the real invitation of love in this particular situation? Further it is prayer for strength, courage and protection so that we can not only take refuge but also act forthrightly in the shadow of Gods wings.

Since we are human beings, we must accept our lack of perfection and admit to a certain addictedness in work, at home and in every other context where we are involved. But that does not mean we need to adjust to it or find peace of mind with it. What is really needed is our willing acknowledgment of the way things are, combined with our passionate desire to make them better. See what is, don’t waste time on recriminations, and do all we can to nurture love. This is the essence of real-world practice.



Prayer comes at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of practice—if practice ever really ends. It is prayer of petition, for our own courage, remembrance and simple presence at work and at home. It is a prayer of intersession, for the people at work and at home, that Grace might flow through them, free them and heal their brokenness. It is intersession as well for the systems and institutions that make up our homes and workplaces, prayer for liberation and love in the environments and atmospheres within which people work and pray and long for something better. It is prayer of praise and adoration and thanksgiving, expressing our gratitude for the Grace we have been given and our ever-deepening need for more. It is also prayer for guidance: How can I respond, right here and now? What is the real invitation of love in this particular situation? Further it is prayer for strength, courage and protection so that we can not only take refuge but also act forthrightly in the shadow of Gods wings.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2019 - REMEMBER GOD'S HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE
Audio for REMEMBER GOD'S HELP IN TIME OF TROUBLE

November 12, 2019 Our own story Page 330

"When we honestly tell our own story, someone else may identify with us." Basic Text, p. 98

Many of us have heard truly captivating speakers at Narcotics Anonymous conventions. We remember the audience alternating between tears of identification and joyous hilarity. "Someday," we may think, "I'm going to be a main speaker at a convention, too."

Well, for many of us, that day has yet to arrive. Once in awhile we may be asked to speak at a meeting near where we live. We might speak at a small convention workshop. But after all this time, we're still not "hot" convention speakers-and that's okay. We've learned that we, too, have a special message to share, even if it's only at a local meeting with fifteen or twenty addicts in attendance.

Each of us has only our own story to tell; that's it. We can't tell anyone else's story. Every time we get up to speak, many of us find all the clever lines and funny stories seem to disappear from our minds. But we do have something to offer. We carry the message of hope-we can and do recover from our addiction. And that's enough.

Just for Today: I will remember that my honest story is what I share the best. Today, that's enough.