You cannot plough a field by
turning it over in your mind.
Author Unknown
That is how recovery has been for me Action Action and some more Action.

God Bless...

Lionel

The Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body.
You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons.
You are enrolled in an informal school called Life. Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons.
Growth is a process of trial and error. Experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process, as the experiment that ultimately "works".
4. A lesson is repeated until learned.
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. You can then go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end.
There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better than "here".
When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here".
7. Others are merely mirrors of you.
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you either love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you.
You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie inside you.
The answers to Life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.
10. You will forget all this.

Good morning to all it's Sat morning here 6.14 am 26-3-2011 and i am grateful to be blessed with another day . This is one prayer that has helped me on many occasions during my recovery .

One of the first occasions I remember using it was after i had started an argument with my wife because i new what she would say and she said why don't you go down the pud and have a drink at least when you were drinking I could talk to you.(This was early in my recovery)

So of I went thinking i will show them but while walking to the pub I was trying to say the serenity prayer but it went like this grant me the f***ing serenity to except those c***s it was always my way.

But just as I got to the pub I said God, Grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.

And i was able to walk past the pub and to the local shop were I brought a coke instead and went and sat on a bench seat until i calmed down .

God done for me what i could never do gave me the strength to walk past that pub. but you get nothing for nothing what i had to do was go home and apologize to my wife .but that was better than what may had happened if i picked up a drink.

God Bless...

Lionel


The Prayer For Serenity

God, Grant me the Serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
and Wisdom to know the difference.

Many folks do not understand the meanings of the Serenity Prayer, and of consequence are left in a limbo of constant confusion as they continue to battle the conditions of life. Let us examine this marvellous Prayer of Supplication to the Higher Power, which speaks to all human beings from deep down within.......

God.... A name and concept of this Higher Power, which most folks erroneously conceive to be outside themselves, separate from and alien to themselves, a "Santa Claus" god which is supposed to fulfil their dreams, their wishes and wants, to "make" the conditions of Life comply with their desire and their idea of "religious correctness"... Sorry about that, it just doesn't happen that way.... The Big Book of AA, on Page 55, establishes the conditions and locale of our relationship and understanding which we are to acquire of "Our" Higher Power.....
"We finally saw that faith in some kind of God was a part of our make-up, just as much as the feeling we have for a friend. [[ But of a much greater friend, for in fact it is our own self, Our Own True Self, that portion of localized divinity that He has given to each of His Children. ]] Sometimes we had to search fearlessly, but He was there. He was as much a fact as we were. We found the Great Reality deep down within us. In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found. It was so with us." ..... We are never separate from God. Separation from God is only an illusion that we have created.

Grant...to assure (in its original meaning) a knowingness of the orderliness of God's eternity, a prized condition that we earn through our efforts of learning to apply the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous to our lives, not an "undeserved gift" as we hear so many times around the tables of AA.

Me... the I Am, of self, the True Self, that portion of self which knows that it is, in all instances.

Serenity... Again a word that is misunderstood, that most folks take to mean a quiet, unruffled, calm, undisturbed, tranquil condition in the circumstances of life about us. In truth what it really means is Presence of Mind in the Here and Now, viewing the Reality of whatever conditions and circumstances that may be occurring ... Not fighting Reality with illusions of how things should or should not be.

To Accept... to acknowledge the Truth of Reality, to take what is offered or given, to receive willingly... As we are given Life, one moment, one condition, one circumstance, one happening at a time...God's Life for God's Kids has to be a happening. It can't be any other way.

the things I cannot change....Reality, period...Reality cannot be changed. It simply is. And no amount of mind bending illusion creating will change it. The Truth is the Truth and it needs no defense. The only thing we humans can do with Reality is change our point of view, our perspective. Reality itself will remain unchanged
.
Courage... The ability to make the Responsible Decisions Necessary and take Action to DO the things we already know need to be done in the face of unknown outcomes and consequences.. Our Life is determined by the decisions and actions that we take and the thoughts that we hold, by no other forces. We must in all cases live with the consequences of our decisions or our lack of decision. Life cannot be lived any other way.

to change the things I can...The only thing that we can change is our perspective as we view Reality, learning to make better Responsible Decisions, living our way to better thinking each moment.

And Wisdom to Know the Difference... Wisdom, an acquired trait through the experience of life, a recognition and remembrance of the things which do or do not coincide with Reality, which do or do not work, of the things which are true, which are honest, for that is the meaning of Truth, Rigorously Honest.
It has been said that a Wise Man's education toward understanding his own universe and reality (and to some extent yours) will embrace as much folly as he can afford. It is only to the degree that he can afford it, that he will be able to laugh at himself. If he embraces more folly than he can afford, he will cry.
The wise man knows that success in life is achieved by simply putting a whole lot of mistakes together in a way that works.

Wonderful!

ty

Good morning to all.


The Big Book says

Lack of power, that was our dilemma. We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves. Obviously. But where and how were we to find this Power?
Well, I was taught that if you were talking to God, You were praying and if you were listening, you were meditating.
Therefore, the problem becomes, how do we talk to God? Well, the Big Book gives us some thoughts and direct prayers for just this reason.
Prayers of the Big Book:
The Third step prayer:
Many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: 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! pg. 63

The Seventh step prayer:
When ready, we say something like this: My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character, which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen. (Pg76)

I try to use these prayers whenever possible. In the morning when I wake, or when I am out walking. Especially the Seventh step prayer it grounds me when my mind starts to wonder if I use it as a mantra it brings me back into the now so I can enjoy the beauty that surrounds me. There is so much to see its not like before when everything was looked at through blinkers and was just grey.
Color in your day.

Have a sober day keep well, keep safe
God Bless
Lionel

Good Morning to all what a great day to be sober . Thank you all for being here.
God Bless
Lionel

AA = Altered Attitudes
FEAR = False Expectations Appearing Real FEAR = Face Everything and Recover!
NUTS = Not Using The Steps

Unity Prayer
I put my hand in yours and together we can do what we could never do alone.
No longer is there a sense of hopelessness.
No longer must we depend upon our own unsteady willpower.
We are all together now, reaching out for power and strength greater than ours.
And as we join together, We find love and understanding beyond our wildest dreams.
-- Anonymous

12 Signs of a Spiritual Awakening
( Source Unknown )
1. An increased tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.

2. Frequent attacks of smiling.

3. Feelings of being connected with others and nature.

4. Frequent overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

5. A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experience.

6. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.

7. A loss of ability to worry.

8. A loss of interest in conflict.

9. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.

10. A loss of interest in judging others.

11. A loss of interest in judging self.

12. Gaining the ability to love without expecting anything in return.

Hi to all.
Meditation is a big part of my sobriety yet when I first came in to recovery I couldnt sit still for half a minute and like everything for me it took time but I am happy I kept trying a little each day.
God Bless
Lionel

Meditation On The Word Guidance
Author unknown

When I meditated on the word 'Guidance',
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of the word.
I remembered that God's will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the music, and
everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes and lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the music.
One gives gentle clues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or
by pressing lightly in one direction or another.
It's as if two become one body, moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender, willingness, and
attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance
and skill from the other.
My eyes drew back to the word 'GUIDANCE'.
When I saw 'G', I thought of God,
followed by 'u' and 'i' and 'dance':
GOD, YOU AND I DANCE.
This statement is what guidance means to me.
As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my life.
Once again, I became willing
to let go and let GOD LEAD.

*Like*
(a lot)

Keeping fit.

God Bless...

Lionel


AA Fitness

When an new comer asked if AA had a fitness program, his Sponsor replied,

"Oh, our members don't need one. They are routinely jumping to conclusions,
flying off the handle, beating around the bush, running down the group, going around in circles, dragging their feet, dodging responsibility, passing the buck, climbing the ladder, wading through paperwork, pulling strings, throwing their weight around, stretching the truth, bending the steps, stabbing others in their backs and pushing their luck!"

Has anyone in the room used this fitness program .If so did it work for you.

God Bless...

Lionel

Alcohol's Disastrous Promise
I have some promises I'll make to you
If you will do what I want you to do.
The more that you consume of me
The more will your losses be.
Here are the promises to you I make
And I promise the promises never to break.

I promise to take your money, your home
And all you can get in the way of a loan.
I'll take your character, your reputation too
Your good name, I'll take from you.
Your friends I'll take from you one day
Your family from you I'll turn away.

I'll take your car, I'll take your wealth
I'll take your job, I'll take your health.
I'll cause you to stay out in the rain.
I'll take your credit, I'll take your bail
I'll cause you to sleep in a dirty jail.

I'll cause you regret, remorse and pain
I'll cause your name to go down in shame.
I'll bring you misery, I'll bring you woe
I'll bring you trouble more than you know.
I'll take your clothes and pawn them too
The necessities of Life, I'll take from you.

I'll take from you the days, I'll take from you the years
I'll double the flow of your bitter tears.
I'll take your heart, give you one of stone
I'll cause you to walk through life alone.
I'll take away your desires to live aright
Your light of day, I'll turn to night.

I'll cause you to dishonor your mother and dad
I'll take away all the pleasure you could have had.
I'll turn your love for your friends to hate
Your desire to repent will come too late.
Your road to despair for you I'll pave
I'll cause you to fill a premature grave.

I'll put you in an institution for the insane
Your normal thinking will go down the drain.
I'll cause you to murder your very best friend
I'll trouble your mind to the very end.
I'll bring you contention, I'll bring you strife
I'll finish with you by taking your life........

Author Unknown

Here is a simple one but very powerful... The Slaves Prayer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2m88EW18Q0

Thanks
I have this little prayer and it is powerful.

God Bless...

Lionel

Hi to all what a beautiful day to be Sober.
i posted this earlier It's a prayer i use often and has been a great aide in my recovery underneath is an older version of the prayer i probably like even better.

God Bless...

Lionel


Seventh Step Prayer
My Creator,
I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad.
I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows.
Grant me strength, as I go out from here to do your bidding.
Amen
Page 76-A-A Big Book


Early Version of the Seventh Step Prayer
Dear God,
I am coming to You on my knees in all humility to humbly ask You to forgive all my past wrongs and to remove all my defects of character. I want to start a new life today, and I ask You to help me do so and to keep helping if I keep asking.
In Step Three, I turned my will and my life over to Your care. Thank You for taking complete control of my life, and thank You for this opportunity to wipe my slate clean and start my life anew. In Steps Four, Five and Six I have completed my moral inventory and admitted to myself and another person the exact nature of my wrongs. I now admit these wrongs to You, God.
I am entirely ready to ask and pray now that You please remove from me every single defect of character. Specifically, I ask You to remove the following shortcomings listed in my Fourth Step moral inventory:
(Read aloud here those defects from your list.)
Thank You, God, for this opportunity for a new beginning in my life and a chance to be a part of the solutions in life instead of the problems. Please grant me wisdom, knowledge and strength as I go out from here to do Your work and live the Victorious Life You designed for me.
Thank You, God, for the steps which will make Your plan for my life clear to me. Thank You and praise Your name.
Amen.

Hi to all Sunday morning here just came of daylight saving so an extra hours sleep really needed it .lol

Here is a prayer I carry everywhere with me.

God bless...

Lionel

Five finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the priminister, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

What a lovely thread! Lionel, it speaks to everyone, regardless of belief system or HP. You have such a beautiful view of life and sobriety.

Thanks!

augusta

Thank you.
i have got so much from this prayer .

God Bless...

Lionel

Prayer Of Mary Stewart

Keep us, O God, from pettiness; let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.Let us be done with faultfinding and leave off self-seeking.May we put away all pretences and meet each other, face to face, without self-pity and without prejudice.May we never be hasty in judgment and always generous?Let us take time for all things; make us to grow calm, serene, gentle. Teach us to put in action our better impulses-straightforward and unafraid.Grant that we may realize it is the little things of life that create difficulties; that in the big things of life we are as one.Oh, Lord, let us not forget to be kind.Amen.