CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

Good morning everybody, Calibob here. It's 7:30 am Pacific time. The sun is hiding behind the smoke but the Son is with us always, everywhere, all of the time. He will never leave us or forsake us. Even when we want to quit. He never pushes us aside or leaves us behind and he never quits on us who believe in Him.

Now from our partners in the pacific northwest comes the inspiration for the day:



WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2020 - SHARING THE BLESSING BY PRAYING FOR OTHERS

God tells us to pray for one another, so what does that look like? Are we supposed to tell God what to do? How do we even know what others really need? We don’t know, but God does. We don’t know what the best plans are for a person, but God has already prepared a way forward for those we love and are praying for. Our task in prayer is to ask God for His love and wisdom and pray for open doors for Him to work in the lives of our family, friends, and even our enemies.

That is why we always pray for you. We ask our God to help you live the good way he wanted when he chose you. The goodness you have makes you want to do good. And the faith you have makes you work. We pray that with his power God will help you do these things more and more. (2 Thessalonians 1:11 ERV

God has a good purpose for every day of our lives that is particularly suited to our personality and situation in life. God wants us to know His goodness and be blessed by His goodness so much that we will see it spill over into the lives of others. The more goodness we have the more good we will do. This is why we pray.

We all want to be wise and have spiritual understanding and live in a way that honours God and produces good. We also want to endure patiently when troubles come. These are things that grow in us as we pray.
The Bible is filled with prayers of blessing we can use to pray for others. We can insert the person’s name in the prayer or just hold them in our thoughts as we pray these words over them. God is faithful to His word, so when we use His own words to bless others, we can be sure that they will experience something of great benefit.


Prayer: We pray that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need; that this will help you live in a way that brings honor to the Lord and pleases him in every way; that your life will produce good works of every kind and that you will grow in your knowledge of God; that God will strengthen you with his own great power, so that you will be patient and not give up when troubles come. Then you will be happy and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have what he has promised to give all his holy people, who live in the light. (Colossians 1:9-12 ERV)
(©2020 Partners in Hope)

Have a blessed day everybody. I know I will.

When the ambulance crew arrived they asked if I wanted to sign a DNR (do not resuscitate form). I was conscious, not even bleeding so I responded, "Are you crazy? I ain't done yet! This ain't gonna kill me. Just take me to the hospital and give me something. It hurts!"

My knee was dislocated and the fibula was split from the knee down, The head of my humorous (it wasn't funny) snapped off in the clavicle and I had some broken ribs.

I had faith and I was mad but not scared. Anybody that says I lost my clean time because I wanted and accepted a shot of morphine can go straight to the beach and pound sand up their nose. (I think I should copy/paste this to CRA).

We seldom know we are being tested until we pass. Thank you for your encouragement and support.

From the AA central office:
The A.A. Member —
Medications and Other Drugs
Introduction

Because this subject involves important medical decisions, a group of physicians who are members of A.A. and two physicians who are friends of A.A. were asked to review this pamphlet.

Some A.A. members must take prescribed medication for serious medical problems. However, it is generally accepted that the misuse of prescription medication and other drugs can threaten the achievement and maintenance of sobriety. It may be possible to minimize the threat of relapse if the following suggestions are heeded:

• No A.A. member should “play doctor”; all medical advice and treatment should come from a qualified physician.

• Active participation in the A.A. program of recovery is a major safeguard against alcoholic relapse.

• Be completely honest with your doctor and yourself about the way you take your medicine. Let your doctor know if you skip doses or take more medicine than prescribed.

• Explain to your doctor that you no longer drink alcohol and you are trying a new way of life in recovery.

• Let your doctor know at once if you have a desire to take more medicine or if you have side effects that make you feel worse.

• Be sensitive to warnings about changes in your behavior when you start a new medication or when your dose is changed.

• If you feel that your doctor does not understand your problems, consider making an appointment with a physician who has experience in the treatment of alcoholism.

• Give your doctor copies of this pamphlet.

Some alcoholics require medication.

We recognize that alcoholics are not immune to other diseases. Some of us have had to cope with depressions that can be suicidal; schizophrenia that sometimes requires hospitalization; bipolar disorder, and other mental and biological illnesses. Also among us are diabetics, epileptics, members with heart trouble, cancer, allergies, hypertension, and many other serious physical conditions.

Because of the difficulties that many alcoholics have with drugs, some members have taken the position that no one in A.A. should take any medication. While this position has undoubtedly prevented relapses for some, it has meant disaster for others.

A.A. members and many of their physicians have described situations in which depressed patients have been told by A.A.s to throw away the pills, only to have depression return with all its difficulties, sometimes resulting in suicide. We have heard, too, from members with other conditions, including schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder, epilepsy and others requiring medication, that well-meaning A.A. friends discourage them from taking any prescribed medication. Unfortunately, by following a layperson’s advice, the sufferers find that their conditions can return with all their previous intensity. On top of that, they feel guilty because they are convinced that “A.A. is against pills.”

It becomes clear that just as it is wrong to enable or support any alcoholic to become re-addicted to any drug, it’s equally wrong to deprive any alcoholic (or addict) medication, which can alleviate or control other disabling physical and/or emotional problems....

Any questions?

"Early to bed, early to rise." Aw, forget all of that. I've got a court date so I got up early but before I start getting ready I thought I'd pull up todays meditation/devotional for us. See Ya!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2020 - OPINIONS
Audio for OPINIONS
So many people think they know so much and over time most of us in some of these areas are proved wrong. How wise of the founders of AA to take the position that AA would have no opinion on outside issues so the AA name would not be drawn into public controversy. God’s word also encourages us to think twice about sharing our opinions.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. (Proverb 18:2 NIV)

It’s not wrong to have an opinion. We all need to think and wonder about things and form our thoughts around God’s truth, but we all need to remember that we are on a journey in our minds as well as in every other area of our life. We are being transformed and that means that some of the opinions we hold today may not be those we hold at a later date.


Don’t live the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you and you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2 NIRV)


The core of our thinking should be solidly based on God’s word but in many areas of life it takes time for clarity to come in how we are to respond to certain groups or issues. Where God’s word is clear we need to be clear and change our minds if we have previously held other opinions. At the same time, we need to respect others wherever they are at on their journey and who might differ from us at this point.



Let us stop judging one another. Instead, decide not to put anything in the way of a brother or sister. Don’t put anything in their way that would make them trip and fall. (Romans 14:13 NIRV)


Prayer: Heavenly Father, I welcome You to show me Your will today. Help me to test what is right in Your eyes and make any necessary changes to my thinking. Give me grace to live with respect for others who differ with me in their ideas and opinions. Amen


©2020 Partners in Hope

Good morning, afternoon or evening, whichever the case may be.
Here is my morning dose of serenity. I hope that it helps you too.


FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2020 - LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES
Audio for LEARNING FROM OUR MISTAKES
We all make mistakes and it’s what we do after the mistake that is the measure of who we are as a person.

If you refuse to learn from your mistakes, you will be poor, and no one will respect you. If you listen when you are criticized, you will be honored. (Proverbs 13:18 ERV)

It is no surprise to God that we make mistakes. His plan is not for us to sit in a corner because we fear making a mistake. God desires that we limit our mistakes by seeking to know and do His will in all our affairs and when we do stumble, admitting the mistake and learning from it. God even promises us honor when we take this route.


The Bible is full of stories of people who made mistakes. God’s people have never been perfect people. The stories of their mistakes are included in God’s record of human history, not to shame the individuals but rather that we could learn from their mistakes and avoid making the same ones.

The things that happened to those people are examples. They were written to be warnings for us. We live in the time that all those past histories were pointing to. (1 Corinthians 10:11 ERV)

Someone outlined a simple plan for dealing with mistakes that had these 5 points: Own it. Apologize. Accept the consequences. Learn from it. Let it go.

Don’t quit your job simply because the boss is angry with you. If you remain calm and helpful, you can correct even great mistakes. (Ecclesiastes 10:4 ERV)
God made a way for us to deal with our mistakes. Jesus died that we might be forgiven our sins and His blood cleanses us from our past wrongdoing.

But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done. (1 John 1:9 ERV)



Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to work hard and to make as few mistakes as possible by seeking Your will in all I do. When I do get it wrong, give me the courage to deal with it quickly and let it go. Amen

©2020 Partners in Hope

Here's our daily meditation/devotional from our Partners in hope:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2020 - HIDING BEHIND A MASK
Audio for HIDING BEHIND A MASK
Tonight many children put on costumes and go door-to-door “trick-or-treating.” Some of them wear masks to complete their costume. Many adults also dress in costumes at their workplace and later in the evening may attend parties where a mask is used to disguise who they really are. Everyone wants to have a good time as they pretend to be someone they are not for a few hours.
Truth is, many of us don’t just don masks at Hallowe’en. Sometimes we have worn masks for so long that we forget who we really are. A mask, of course, covers the truth of who we truly are with a lie. When we live behind a mask, we are denying our true self and rejecting the person God created us to be.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. (Psalm 139:13-14 NLT)

God created us in love with a purpose for our lives. God invites us to let our unique personality complement each of our relationships, and all we undertake to do. This is what life with God in recovery is all about, becoming the person God created us to be and following the plan He has for our lives. When we dare to take off the mask and let our true self be known, we often experience freedom from the burden our false persona burdened us with.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. (Psalm 139:13-14 NLT)

God created us in love with a purpose for our lives. God invites us to let our unique personality complement each of our relationships, and all we undertake to do. This is what life with God in recovery is all about, becoming the person God created us to be and following the plan He has for our lives. When we dare to take off the mask and let our true self be known, we often experience freedom from the burden our false persona burdened us with.

The question for each of us is, do we want to tell the truth, remove the mask, and find out who we truly are, or do we want to continue telling lies and hiding behind the mask of a false persona?

What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself. (Ephesians 4:25 MSG)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, from this day forward I commit to letting go of everything that hinders me from becoming the person You created me to be. Help me to tell the truth in every circumstance and leave the outcome with You. Amen

©2020 Partners in Hope

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from every sin. 1st John 1:7 NIV.

8 If we say that we do not have sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Thank you, Lord, that your forgiveness is always available to me when I admit my defects of character to you all humility.

Humility is a reoccurring theme in a 12 step program, and the central idea of step 7. We recognize now more than ever before, that a major portion of our lives has been devoted to fulfilling our self-centered desires. We must set aside these prideful, selfish behavior patterns , come to terms our inadequacies and realize that confession with humility brings the Lords forgiveness and frees our spirit.

Step 7 requires giving over our will to God we so that we may receive serenity in order to achieve happiness.

As we begin and guard against temptation to see our defects being removed and our lives becoming less complicated, we must proceed with caution and guard against the temptation to be prideful. Sudden changes in our behavior can and do happen, but we cannot anticipate or direct them. God initiates change when we are ready, and we cannot claim that we removed our own defects character defects. Forgiveness comes from GOD!

When we learn to ask humbly for God's help in our lives, change becomes God's responsibility, and we cannot claim or accept the credit.

Hey @Bingo where'd ya go?

Wow! That's good .

well put, Bingo!

Good morning, Happy November. Just think only 3 more days till the election is over. I just wish the political quarreling could end that soon. Thank God we have a daily reprieve. Speaking of which here it comes from our PARTNERS IN HOPE B.C.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2020 - WHAT KIND OF GOD DO WE COME TO?
Audio for WHAT KIND OF GOD DO WE COME TO?
The writer of today’ Psalm is putting his trust in a faithful and righteous God and asks Him to listen to his cry for help. He acknowledges that God is a moral judge and asks for mercy, declaring that no one is innocent of sin before Him. When we came to God for help, did we know that He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love? Many of us did not know these things about God but what we did know was that we were powerless over our dependency and our lives had become unmanageable. In our despair we called out to God and asked Him to help us.

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. (Psalm 143:1-6 NLT)

Like the writer, we were also facing an enemy who had knocked us to the ground and forced us to live in the darkness of our chaotic life. Each day was the same as the one before and all our energy was consumed by meeting the demands of our dependency. We were paralyzed by fear and losing all hope of ever having a purposeful life.



When we cried out to God, we were unsure if He heard us. However, God is faithful to His Word and is continually searching the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are turned toward Him. God did answer our prayer, had mercy on us, and invited us to give our will and life over to His care. Now through prayer and meditation on the Scriptures, we are understanding more about this amazing God who knew us before we were even formed in our mother’s womb.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ponder Your great works and think about all that You have done and continue to do for me. I am thankful that You are a forgiving God who is slow to anger and rich in love for me and all who call on Your name. Amen

(2020 Partners in Hope)

Prayer: God, I am willing to learn the art of patience. If I am feeling powerless because I want something to happen and I am not in control of the timing., help me to trust you and learn to wait.

The people who are most successful at living and loving are those who can learn to wait successfully. Not many people enjoy waiting or learning patience. Yet waiting can be a powerful tool that will accomplish much good,

We cannot always have what we want when we want it. For different reasons, what we want to do, have, be or accomplish is not available to us now. But there are things we could not door have today, no matter what, that we can have in the future. Today, we make ourselves crazy trying to accomplish what will come naturally and ease later.

We can trust that all is on schedule. Waiting time is not wasting time. Something is being worked out -- in us, someone else, in the universe.

We don't have to put our life on hold while we wait. We can trust that we do have a life to live while we are waiting -- then go about living it.

Deal with your frustration and impatience, but learn how to wait. The old saying goes, "You can't always get what you want." isn't entirely true. Often in life we can get what we want -- the desires of our heart -- if we can learn to wait.

Melody Beattie

Better late than never. Sorry but I was indisposed due to medical issues. I'll make it up in the morning. Later gators!

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020 - DON'T GIVE UP - HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE END
Audio for DON’T GIVE UP - HARD WORK PAYS OFF IN THE END

Growing and being renewed day by day is part of our physical, emotional, and spiritual life. God has provided all sorts of help for us in the Bible, including principles we can learn that will strengthen us to move forward and not give up hope.



Do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. (2 Peter 1:5-8 ERV)

The old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is a principle that correctly applies to us in our recovery. We are healed one wound at a time. We learn one lesson at a time and while we wish we could run miles ahead in a day we only achieve an inch at a time. When it comes to the above list of ways we are meant to grow, there is a lifetime of lessons to be learned. God encourages us to add to what we practiced yesterday and invites us to focus on the part of the journey we are learning about today. We should not give up if we haven’t practiced everything we have learned, and we should not slow down and be lazy because we’ve already learnt some things.




It’s encouraging that God tells us to, ”Do all you can…” God knows u
The old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is a principle that correctly applies to us in our recovery. We are healed one wound at a time. We learn one lesson at a time and while we wish we could run miles ahead in a day we only achieve an inch at a time. When it comes to the above list of ways we are meant to grow, there is a lifetime of lessons to be learned. God encourages us to add to what we practiced yesterday and invites us to focus on the part of the journey we are learning about today. We should not give up if we haven’t practiced everything we have learned, and we should not slow down and be lazy because we’ve already learnt some things.




It’s encouraging that God tells us to, ”Do all you can…” God knows u
The old saying, “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is a principle that correctly applies to us in our recovery. We are healed one wound at a time. We learn one lesson at a time and while we wish we could run miles ahead in a day we only achieve an inch at a time. When it comes to the above list of ways we are meant to grow, there is a lifetime of lessons to be learned. God encourages us to add to what we practiced yesterday and invites us to focus on the part of the journey we are learning about today. We should not give up if we haven’t practiced everything we have learned, and we should not slow down and be lazy because we’ve already learnt some things.




It’s encouraging that God tells us to, ”Do all you can…” God knows u
s and knows what we are capable of doing in a day. His expectations are not unrealistic. We may feel stretched, but God will never expect more of us than what we can handle. God will always be near to us and will strengthen us as we grow in our love for Him and for others.
We must keep wanting what God wants even while we struggle to learn and grow in God’s ways. God knows how to get us to the finish line.

God began a good work in you. And I am sure that he will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6 NIRV)

Prayer: Loving God, Thank You for being near to me and for guiding me on the path to new life. Amen

(co; Partners in Hope BC.) Goodnight.

Oops! Sorry about that, I neglected to check it after I used post. My bad.
Well moving right along here's todays message from our Partners in Hope:

Step 5 continued;

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020 - TAKING THE LID OFF THE PAST
Audio for TAKING THE LID OFF THE PAST
Step-5 of the 12-Step program requires that we admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. We are asked to uncover those things we have done and those humiliating things done to us that we pushed down and behaved as if they had never happened. To bare our souls and admit what took place in our lives makes us feel extremely vulnerable.

We may be able to hide our wrongs from others, but God sees everything. He even knows the thoughts that caused us to sin.
The good news is, when we give our will and life over to God’s care, He forgives our sins and gives us a new nature and a desire to do what is right.

Admitting our wrongs helps us deal with those things that caused harm. It gets them into the light of God’s presence and gives us the opportunity to grieve both over the harm we caused, and the harm caused to us. Telling another person makes the events more real to us so that we can begin the healing process.

Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. (Psalm 103:2-4 NLT)

Exposure of sin means it has no more power over us. We are free to enjoy a new life of joy and peace. The favor of God is upon us and through prayer and meditation we can improve our conscious contact with God and pray for knowledge of His will for our lives and the power to carry it out.

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3 NIV)



Prayer: Gracious God, Thank You for Jesus who gives me freedom from sin and heals my wounds. I claim that through Him I have been made whole in body, mind, and spirit. Amen

©2020 Partners in Hope

More information on this and other related topics @ http://www.partnersinhope.ca/life-with-god-in-recovery-resources/

Well folks the results are in; My lab work came up clean and everything was in balance except my cholesterol is too high. Even my glucose after breakfast with partially sweetened oatmeal, juice and a banana that morning was only 87. The not so good news is that I have cataracts, glaucoma and optic nerve damage. The doctor dosn't know what to do.

At times like this I'm glad to say I can take advice from knowing and sincerely the serenity many times. To a former hot rodder and motorcyclist the thought of going blind might have been enough to send my over the edge. I've learned enough from the "Anonymous" rooms and my Bible to set fear and dread aside and just let God be God.

As for the cataracts, forme the operations were a snap. Be very careful with meds for glaucoma, Do the drops faithfully. In a year you will find your pressure much better, even normal, but do not take this for granted. My prayer is that they are in error on your diagnoses, but the advice above is solid should the diagnosis be correct.
It seems to me you are a trooper. No matter what, the Father is teaching you. He is doing so with me. Praise Yah, amen.

"In the past two decades, I have learned there are few words more meaningful and powerful
than the Serenity Prayer. And, applying the thought in my life has been instrumental in maintaining
a relatively orderly life, compared to before. And, with the chaotic events being witnessed, I am
grateful of God in my life, and the Serenity Prayer as part of my daily 'awareness'. Thank God.
Also, I have learned the importance of striving to focus each day on my 'spiritual awareness', that of
which is more important than getting 'caught up' in all the diverse social media mayhem, here, there
and across the massive internet community. And, it appears ego and self-centered selfishness presides
over the obvious need of spiritual discipline, as of the 'attributes' of God's inspiration being replaced
by 'worldly influence'. And, perhaps a 'great awakening' is on the horizon."
My thoughts from this side of the glass.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 - LEARNING HOW TO GIVE UP HARD LABOUR
Audio for LEARNING HOW TO GIVE UP HARD LABOUR
Today is Labour Day and tomorrow many students, and some of us, return to places of education for a new season of learning and maturing. Coming out of addiction is like coming out of hard labour in the school of “hard knocks.” Trouble found us, and then we added to it by our own doings.
Thank God for these new days of work and learning that can be challenging, but do not need to be overwhelming. Jesus used a farming picture to help people understand what this means.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV)
In the same way that an ox just doesn’t graze in the fields, we do not enter recovery to do nothing. Oxen have many tasks to perform: plowing, hauling, tramping seed to thresh it, turning a wheel to grind grain or send water along irrigation lines. The food supply of many relies upon the good work of oxen.

God created us for good works and He knew that just like the oxen we need to learn about various things we are not familiar with. When plowing, two oxen are fitted with a heavy wooden yoke on their necks and then a plough is attached to the yoke. A mature ox, familiar with the job, is paired with an immature one so together they pull a heavy load. The mature ox does most of the pulling while keeping the immature ox in line. In this way the job gets done efficiently with the immature ox learning from the mature one.
Jesus takes the heavy burden of sin from us and guides us into a wonderful life of purpose and meaning. We need to be united with Jesus so that when He moves, we move. When He stops, we stop. Jesus promises that if we stay close to Him, we will know a gentle and humble way that, even though it’s work, it will be restful rather than overwhelming. This is life as God intended.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, Forgive me for the times I have made life more difficult by trying to do things my way. Thank You for this new season of learning and work. Help me to move at Your pace and follow Your directions in every task I undertake to do. Amen

©2021 Partners in Hope