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Post by caressa222 on Apr 28, 2018 17:32:37 GMT -5
The butterfly means transformation. Every time I see one, I say thank you. Then I take an inventory of what is, what needs to be changed, or if something has already been changed and i hadn't been aware of it.
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Post by majestyjo on Apr 30, 2018 10:04:02 GMT -5
In God’s Care
Man must cease atributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals. ~~Albert Schweitzer
There’s a tendency to blame people, places, and things for our problems. After all, no one as smart as us could get into so much trouble without outside help.
We have to quit assessing blame and take responsibility for our own actions. Most of the trouble we get into is the result of ignoring the guidance of our Higher Power. Others may be ignoring their own inner guidance, but that’s their concern, not ours.
Because all people are equal in God’s eyes, when we blame others for our problems, we are really hurting ourselves. Looking for someone to blame for a problem only prolongs the solution and puts distance between us and God. Blame is a hindrance to our spiritual progress.
When things seem to be going wrong, I have no one to blame. I will make conscious cantact with God and, there, learn what to do.
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Post by majestyjo on May 3, 2018 0:52:25 GMT -5
In God’s Care
Loving can cost a lot, not loving always costs more. ~~Merle Shain
We are invited to choose and express loving thoughts throughout every day. This often means surrendering our opinions or desires for the moment. It means, quite frequently, honoring another’s needs above our own. In this way it costs us. And yet, giving up the struggle for the winning opinion or relinquishing our desire to control plans brings rewards. We will feel peaceful with surrender. We will know that God has entered our consciousness.
If we never surrender, if we never give in to love, we are kept distant from our true selves and the people we yearn to be close to. Our loneliness in the midst of our friends will bring much more pain than the momentary pinch of surrender – a pinch that in reality promises peace.
I will choose surrender over control, love over self-satisfaction with my friends today.
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Post by majestyjo on May 3, 2018 0:52:47 GMT -5
In God’s Care
It’s not what we don’t know that hurts, it’s what we know that ain’t so. ~~Will Rogers
Much of our spiritual progress is an unlerning process. So many “truths” we thought we could bank on have turned out to be bankrupt. Too many time-honored sentiments that are accepted as noble truths are misleading, false, or exaggerated.
For instance, contrary to what many of us were taught, God’s love isn’t dependent on anything we do or don’t do. Our happiness isn’t found in another person, a possession, or the other places we might look – we need to look inside. We really only gain when we give. Struggle brings defeat; surrender brings victory.
I can unlearn my errors by putting God’s truth to work.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 4:02:46 GMT -5
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 4:15:01 GMT -5
In God’s Care
Who can control his fate? ~~William Shakespeare
We often think we are in control when we’re not. For instance, the place we live, our friends, our co-workers, the amount of money we have, our spare time – how much can we really control these? How many people are in our life as a result of our own control? Were we able to control the outcome of situations we cared about?
Why, then, should we be reluctant to relinquish our questionable control to a Higher Power who knows far better how to handle our life? Questions about our work, how to spend our money, who our friends are, where we go, and what we do – these are not decisions we have to make alone. Even when we think we’re in control, we’re getting guidance from God. Acknowledging God’s presence is the surest way to accept who really is in control of our life.
Today I will exercise the greatest power I have – my decision to ask God for help.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 4:27:52 GMT -5
In God’s Care
The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp. ~~John Berry
In time we’ve come to understand that we are only responsible for ourselves. Many of us have had to rediscover this many times. How often we’ve fooled ourselves into thinking that we know what’s best for others, better even than they know for themselves. Perhaps the most meaningful lesson any of us has learned is that every person’s perspective has value and validity for that person. When we withdrow our opinions as to who people should be, we loosen our grasp and give ourselves the opportunity to know people for who they are. We are then free to truly know ourselves and share what we learn with others.
Holding tightly to the past – the known – can shut us off from God’s invitations to grow. Our openness to the unfamiliar, whether ideas or people or new opportunities, will enrich us imeasurably.
I will loosen my grip today and enjoy people for who they are. I will regard all that is new and unfamiliar as God’s invitations to grow.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 21:09:20 GMT -5
In God’s Care There is nothing the body suffers the soul may not profit by. ~~George Meredith Adversity comes in many forms, and it is sure to come to everyone. This might seem unfair to those of us who are recovering and trying to live our faith. But it helps us to know there is some benefit in everything we experience. God’s help is always available to us, but sometimes it seems we seek God’s help only when we are in physical or emotional pain. When we were in the grips of our addictions, we thought nothing good could come from the suffering. Yet, it is common to hear our friends in the program say how grateful they are for the experience because it brought them to where they are now. God always shows us the way out of adversity and makes it an occasion for growth – if we are willing to listen to God. Adversity that comes my way can be an opportunity to learn.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 16, 2018 21:40:05 GMT -5
In God’s Care
Once you accept the existence of God – however you define Him, however you explain your relationship to Him – then you are caught forever with His presence in the center of all things.~~Moris West Having our Higher Power is an integral part of how we experience all the hours of a day (whether they hold burdens or blessings) heightens our awareness of the fullness of our life. Believing that God exists for us and in us profoundly changes how we see every aspect of our day. The day and our place in the drama that unfolds take on new meaning and purpose.
A number of us didn’t believe in God when we joined a Twelve Step program. Or if we did, many of us believed in a demanding or punishing God who had no relevance to our daily life. What a difference it makes to let a loving God take charge of our thoughts, attitudes, behaviors, and plans for the future. Nothing can stir much fear in us when we remember that God is right here, now, always.
Today God will be the center of all my activities.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 18, 2018 22:56:55 GMT -5
In God’s Care One can survive anything these days except death. ~~Oscar Wilde Perhaps we remember the pain of discovering that a loved one had betrayed our trust. The hurt and shame might have felt unbearable. Maybe we suffered a devastating blow when a dream of ours was lost forever. At the time, our pain may have consumed and immobilized us. But it finally went away and we did survive. We are survivors or we wouldn’t still be on this journey. All of us have lived through some tragic and overwhelming circumstances. At times we may have felt we were being pushed to the edge of sanity. But we didn’t topple over. And we are still on our journey of recovery. We can continue to find purpose in every situation that claims us, with the knowledge that our Higher Power will be there for us. I will be able to handle even the most difficult situation today with God’s help.
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 19, 2018 21:23:40 GMT -5
In God’s Care Our immediate temptation will be to ask for specific solutions to specific problems, and for the ability to help other people as we have already thought they shoud be helped. In that case, we are asking God to do it our way. ~~Bill W. As much as we say we want God’s will to be done, we often find ourselves asking God to do what we think is best. Always, of course, with the best intentions. Who would not want a sick friend to get well, a spouse to earn a raise in pay? And what about our own needs? What’s the harm in a specific request? Surely we all do this. But isn’t it a bit presumptuous of us to decide what is best for ourselves or anyone else? Love and compassion may motivate our prayers, but only God knows what each or us needs to experience and learn. If we insist on seeing things happen our way we’re not trusting God’s plan for us. A loving God will see that our needs are supplied without instructions from us. Instead of asking for what I want, I will pray to be open to God’s will.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 21, 2018 19:33:20 GMT -5
In God’s Care The crucial task of old age is balance. ~~Florida Scott Maxdwell Finding balance is important at any age, not just when we’re old. We need balance in our diet, between work and rest, in our emotional life – any activity is more rewarding, more life enhancing when done in moderation., Most of us developed a belief that if a little of something is good, then a whole lot is better. Had we been able to practice moderation, we would not be sharing this fellowship today. It’s paradoxical that our drive to live on the edge, doing everyting to extreme, has rewarded us with a program for living quite a distance from the edge. Many a friend or sponsor has suggested Easy Does It; Let Go and Let God; One Day at a Time. These slogans are simple and yet profound reminders to find balance and quiet moderation in all our activities. We can only fully know and appreciate this moment if we’re participating in it, not racing to the next thought, hour, or day. Today I can enjoy moderation with the knowledge it will enhance my life.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 23, 2018 0:37:02 GMT -5
In God’s Care
There is a certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse. ~~Washington Irving
It’s important to trust that change can be positive even when it looks otherwise. Change is part of God’s plan for our life. Change holds unexpected opportunities and spiritual lessons even though it may cause fear in us now.
We can look back to our using days for evidence of changes that we may have feared. For example, we may have lost jobs, or relationships may have ended and we struggled with being alone. But with time we’ve come to realize that nurturing relationships don’t end; new people come into our life, and we help each other grow. We can trust that God will provide opportunities in our life that enhance our growth, our recovery, and in particular, our spiritual development.
Change will occur and it is seldom easy. But we can be certain that all change will be beneficial to us in the future.
I’ll rely on the Third Step if I fear change today. God is in charge and all is well.
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 24, 2018 0:25:42 GMT -5
In God’s Care Someone who knew what he was talking about once remarked that pain is the touchstone of all spiritual progress. ~~Bill W. It’s perplexing that we don’t always seem able to live up to our own expectations. When we find ourselves snapping at our loved ones, belittling our friends, insulting strangers, or generally withholding our love, we can’t understand what came over us. It’s painful to realize that, even with the best intentions, we are hurting others. Perhaps, though, this pain we feel is exactly what we need to bring us to our senses. God gave us the help we needed when our addictions had us licked, but not until we were really hurting. The help didn’t come until we hit bottom and surrendered. Our harmful character defects couldn’t be removed until we were ready to admit that our own efforts failed and we need God to show us the way. If I feel mental pain today, I may need to take inventory and humbly ask God to remove my character defects.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 25, 2018 19:35:58 GMT -5
In God’s Care Discipline is the basis of a satisfying life. ~~Katharine Hepburn When trying to reach a goal, we may tire of the constant effort that is required of us, or we may rebel against the structure that’s necessary to keep us focused. We often long for what we remember as a freer, more spontaneous time in the past. It’s helpful to remember that our goals come from our desire for change. We can see each yearning as God’s invitation for us to move in a new direction. And we can be sure that we have God as our helpmate throughout the journey wherever our destination may be. Goals that inspire us to act bring meaning to our life. We make progress in moving toward them, and our feeling of satisfaction and renewed sense of purpose will motivate us to persevere to their completion. The comfort of regular conscious contact with our Higher Power, as we seek always to align our goals with God’s will for us, will carry us to the fulfillment of our goals. I will seek direction and strength from God while moving toward my goals today.
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 25, 2018 22:25:09 GMT -5
In God’s Care Thinking about interior peace destroys interior peace. The patient who constantly feels his pulse is not getting any better. ~~Hubert van Zeller As goal-oriented people, we are often determined to do such things as lose ten pounds, bring our cholesterol down to 180, read three books a month, spend fifteen minutes a day in meditation. We are constantly measuring ourselves by one standard or another – standards that we create for ourselves. We are so intent upon measuring up that we end up putting ourselves down. We all want peace of mind, but when that’s our focus, it eludes us. True peace comes not from trying to have peace, but in trying to find God’s will and doing it. Turning our will and our life over to the care of God is the formula for inner peace. And when we share God’s love with others, we are too pleasantly occupied to wonder if we’re happy – we just are. It’s all right to have goals, but peace comes from letting God run my life.
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 26, 2018 13:54:54 GMT -5
In God’s Care Prayer for many is like a foreign land, when we go there, we go as tourists. ~~Robert McAfee Brown One of the many benefits of our Twelve Step program is to make prayer a familiar experience in our life. If prayer has been difficult for us, we are encouraged when we hear other people talk about what prayer has meant in their lives. Matthew Fox says prayer is nothing more than being joyfully attentive to life, moment by moment. We don’t have to speak certain words or assume a particular posture or demeanor. We simply must be awake to the currents in our life and be grateful. The most wonderful gift of prayer is the friendship we discover with God. This friendship promises security in the midst of any turmoil. We can know this security at any time. It is available in the quiet of our mind when we recall God’s presence and hear, ever so softly, all is well. Making the choice to pray, to let God offer comfort will become easier with each surrender. Today, I will seek God’s comforting presence through prayer, even if my words fail me.
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 27, 2018 8:40:45 GMT -5
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Post by majestyjo on Jun 29, 2018 9:45:35 GMT -5
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Post by caressa222 on Jun 29, 2018 21:19:57 GMT -5
love the verse that says, 'Be still and know that I am God. '
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