CRA Christians in Recovery (anonymous)

April 10, 2019 Too busy Page 104

"We must use what we learn or we will lose it, no matter how long we have been clean."

Basic Text, p. 85

After putting some clean time together, some of us have a tendency to forget what our most important priority is. Once a week or less we say, "I've gotta get to a meeting tonight. It's been.. " We've been caught up in other things, important for sure, but no more so than our continued participation in Narcotics Anonymous.

It happens gradually. We get jobs. We reunite with our families. We're raising children, the dog is sick, or we're going to school at night. The house needs to be cleaned. The lawn needs to be mowed. We have to work late. We're tired. There's a good show at the theater tonight. And all of a sudden, we notice that we haven't called our sponsor, been to a meeting, spoken to a newcomer, or even talked to God in quite a while.

What do we do at this point? Well, we either renew our commitment to our recovery, or we continue being too busy to recover until something happens and our lives become unmanageable. Quite a choice! Our best bet is to put more of our energy into maintaining the foundation of recovery on which our lives are built. That foundation makes everything else possible, and it will surely crumble if we get too busy with everything else.

Just for Today: I can't afford to be too busy to recover I will do something today that sustains my recovery.

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I pray daily, on my knees twice a day as well as throughout the day.

God's love is the foundation of my recovery

I finished designing this panel today. It started out as a birthday card for Bob (Friday)

You spilled the beans! I'll be 65 tomorrow. Yippie! I will officially be a senior citizen.

A WORD TO DROP: "BLAME"

To see how erratic emotions victimized us often took a long time. We could perceive them quickly in others, but only slowly in ourselves. First of all, we had to admit that we had many of these defects, even though such disclosures were painful and humiliating. Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word "blame" from our speech and thought.

— TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 47

Sorry Magenta the post never popped up and got buried somehow. I had a wonderful weekend. We celebrated 4 birthdays over the weekend. Bobby's, Abby's, Kristy's and my own. Bobby's was 3/5, Abby's was 4/5, mine was 4/12 and Kristy's was 4/13 We were struck on Saturday by a nasty storm so the cookout was postponed but Carne Asada on Sunday made up for Saturdays speed bump.

Now from 12 steps and dual disorders by Hamilton and Samples. Step 11;

"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power, (Jesus of Nazareth) praying only for knowledge of our Higher Power's will for us and the power to carry that out."

We can't afford to neglect where our help comes from and mistakenly attempt to take the lead. We didn't get this far alone and we can't afford to be foolish enough to userp the Lord's authority. Many get this far but think they have it licked and assume the role of becoming their own god. That is where growth stops. The most likely outcome is stagnation and/or relapse. The 12 steps never finish. We must practice these principals for life. Honesty, open mindedness and faith in the one and only real higher power.

If we see another who has fallen we must not gloat over our success but remember; "There but for the grace of God go I."

According to AARP I've been in the club for 10 years. No matter, 65 is just a number. It's fine with me. I doubt if I'll turn into a pumpkin any time soon.

From AA 4th edition;
"The spiritual life is not a theory. We have to live it." page 83.

" Step 11 suggests prayer and meditation. We shouldn't be shy on this matter of prayer. Better men than we are using it constantly. It works, if we have the proper attitude and work at it." Pgs. 85 & 86, big book.

Work is like a dirty word to many because a) We don't like it and b) because there are two opposing schools of thought. 1] that hates following rules and the other 2] that gives rules more respect than faith. The work we have to learn is how to commune with our Lord. Most of us in the program have spent many years ignoring and/or running from God but that's self will in action. We shouldn't call the Lord "Wonderful Counselor" if we don't accept his counsel. Since we are on a journey to discover his will for our lives we may need to take the cotton out of our ears and stuff it in our own mouths. One of the differences between the prophets of old and us is that they LISTENED!

@Kojikun We are here!

Excellent I will post in the morning as I need some sleep night yall

Hi. My name is Bob and I'm a grateful recovering alcoholic/addict with major depressive disorder and I can joyfully say I'm sober, saved and sane today. This is a Christian thread on a Christian site and I for one declare there is one and only true higher power and his name is Jesus. Accept no substitutes. The parable of the wise and foolish builders teaches the best place to start a building project is on solid ground. Jesus is the rock and our names are on the roll.

It is often said by the uninformed that addictions are all in our heads. How true. They are in our heads because that's where our brains are. It's not imaginary, most likely their is a chemical imbalance that effects our cravings for things detrimental to our health and well beings that only God can satisfy.

This crosses over into most addictive behavior's be it Gambling, drugs, porn or red M & M's something's missing that cannot be filled by man made substitutes. If we can learn how to be honest, pray and accept Good Orderly Direction we can overcome.

That is my opening today. This meeting is open, please share if you can, if not you can hang around. Perhaps you may learn something that will save someone's life... Maybe even yours!

More about dual disorders.
A lot has been learned in the 80 odd years since the original home group of AA started. The medical community has found definite links between addictive, emotional and mental disorders. Each effects the others making it profoundly difficult to treat one without acknowledging the others.

@Magenta and I were studying the 11th step together last night and it's clear that the 12 steps deal less with chemicals than with long overlooked aspects of our lives concerning faith, attitudes and the spiritual progress that the program teaches.

Chemicals are only a symptom of problems caused by the chemicals we may have ingested. In fact they are only symptoms of a spiritual deficit in our lives. Thats how and why seemingly inert addictions like gambling and porn are so addictive. I lesser the chemicals but more the rush, or lack their of that drags us back to the pig pen eventually to wallow in sorrow.

Within our bodies is a natural chemistry lab we have dopamine to reduce pain and serotonin to help us feel happiness and a lack thereof causes predictable results too. For example a royal flush on a poker machine can cause a near orgasmic reaction within our brains as it floods the brain with such chemicals.

When the game or stimulus ends we are left wanting what made us feel good. This is the true root of addiction. Ignoring the spiritual aspects of recovery is like trying to walk with one foot in a bear trap. It only leads us in circles. Abstinence is a good start but it takes God, faith, honesty and that four letter word, WORK, to succeed.

The Cambridge group figured out that public testimony is crucial to recovery. the AA founders like Bill W. Dr. Bob & Dr. Silkworth put into action before we understood addiction much at all but the steps that were developed by them have become almost universal system for recovery work Now we are beginning to understand the medical aspects too. We are better armed but don't rely on self will or education without God. It can be a fatal mistake

The cemeteries are full of us that tried to do it without God. Not some philosopher, guru or convoluted man made higher power. Trust in the real Higher power. His name is Jesus.

The 12 steps are all over public domain and the internet now. I fear being accused of spamming so I hesitate to frequently post them as much as I'd like to (every day) but the work to learn them is each of our own responsibilities to receive Good Orderly Directions. Good morning, god bless this meeting is open.

FYI; the 12 steps are specifically designed to help us establish and maintain a personal relationship with God. Co., 12 steps and dual disorders.
That was left over from yesterday. I just forgot to use post reply. OOps.

Welcome to CRA my name is Bob and I'm a dual diagnosis alcoholic/addict with an emotional and or mental disorder. I'm clean, sober and sane today thanks to Jesus the one and only true higher power. Welcome.

The topic I chose for today is step 12; carry the message to those who still suffer.

It sound absurd the mind of the flesh but we have discovered to keep what we have we must give it away. That means one of the keys to recovery is sharing. This is particularly important when dealing with someone that hasn't surrendered or gotten through step 1 yet. That is people who haven't come to grips with powerlessness yet.

Jesus is waiting to help, now! The people at or before step 1 are still trying to do it themselves usually. They are neglecting the truth is they can't. That's the difference between a bad habit and an addiction. Now throw in an emotional dis order like depression or bi polar, with some denial for seasoning Now that's a killer recipe! Glug, glug, bang their dead.

We can't make them come to grips with step 1 but we can point the way or give the help we can only carry the message. Only God can carry the individuals! This meeting is open. Anyone may share.

Step 1, we are powerless. As I see it and feel it I was outmatched from the very start. Alcohol, Drugs, mood disorders had a target on my back from the very start. Together they are far more cunning, baffling and powerful than I ever was. I was a mistake to take on the a contender that has beaten and killed millions of us, especially without a coach and full protective gear. The full armor of God; "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.". Ephesians 6:13 NIV.

In the clearing stands a boxer, and a fighter by his trade
And he carries the reminder of every glove that laid him down or cut him
'Till he cried out in his anger and his shame
I am leaving, I am leaving...

Give up! Without help it is too much for us. There's a better fighter than us just waiting to help us tag team style. Jesus knows all the enemies tricks and he's been kicking Lucifers' butt about 1986 years. Step aside, give up let The real champ take over.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gifs/comments/2mj4q6 And another one bites the dust!

~The Third Step Prayer~
Let Go, and Let God
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In taking step 3 many of us said to our Maker, as we understood him, the Step 3 Prayer found in the Big Book.
'God, I offer myself to Thee to
build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt.
Relieve me of the bondage of self,
that I may better do Thy will.
Take away my difficulties,
that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help
of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.
May I do Thy will always!'

'Praise God'

Thanks for sharing. Now for a change of pace since only 2 of us have shared today Lesson 1 from Celebrate Recovery by Rick Warren and John Baker Lesson 1; principal 1. Realize we I not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor." Sermon on the mount

Step 1. We admit We are powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.
"I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out" Romans 7:18