Tuesday, January 30, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The better friends you are, the straighter you can talk, but while you are only on nodding terms, be slow to scold.”
(Francis Xavier)
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
(Romans 12:18 The Amplified Bible)
In 1960 I was a freshman in high school. My family had just moved to Kansas City and I was a new guy in a high school that was attended by many who had gone through elementary school together. I had been shuffled around for the six months prior to the move to KC because of my parents were getting a divorce. We lived in San Antonio Texas before the divorce and I was not real excited about the move to Missouri. I can recall that I had a chip on my shoulder because life was not going just how I wanted it to go. Well, it didn’t take long for someone to come along and knock it off. Eddy Patterson gave me the honor of being the first person to challenge the chip I had on my shoulder. We had the first class of the day together and some words were exchanged, threats were made, and we agreed to meet after school and fight. As I look back I remember the feeling I had all day long as I dreaded the end of school. When school was over we met down on the corner to get it on. The truth was that neither one of us wanted to fight, but because of foolish pride we could not back down. We met and as I recall more words were exchanged but we did not throw any punches. It was just a big show of egos. I can still remember the dreadful feeling I had that evening knowing that the first thing the next morning I would have to face Eddy again. We huffed and puffed for the next couple of days blowing smoke without fire. And then it happened, we found a common ground to stand on. It was a girl that I knew that Eddy liked. As soon as we found the common ground the ice melted and we and we started living at peace with each other. Eddy and I remained good friends all though high school. We went through the turbulent years of the last sixties seeing each other often. The last time I saw Eddy was sometime in the late 1970’s. He was strung out so bad on heroine that I had to help him cross Main Street to keep from getting run over. He died a few years later. But for the grace of God, there go I. Just as Eddy and I found a common ground, today I look for a common ground with others and find it in Jesus Christ. The dread of not living at peace with someone else just floats away as Jesus Christ becomes the mediator of my life. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
“Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84)
Common ground
Thought for the day: “The better friends you are, the straighter you can talk, but while you are only on nodding terms, be slow to scold.”
(Francis Xavier)
“If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
(Romans 12:18 The Amplified Bible)
In 1960 I was a freshman in high school. My family had just moved to Kansas City and I was a new guy in a high school that was attended by many who had gone through elementary school together. I had been shuffled around for the six months prior to the move to KC because of my parents were getting a divorce. We lived in San Antonio Texas before the divorce and I was not real excited about the move to Missouri. I can recall that I had a chip on my shoulder because life was not going just how I wanted it to go. Well, it didn’t take long for someone to come along and knock it off. Eddy Patterson gave me the honor of being the first person to challenge the chip I had on my shoulder. We had the first class of the day together and some words were exchanged, threats were made, and we agreed to meet after school and fight. As I look back I remember the feeling I had all day long as I dreaded the end of school. When school was over we met down on the corner to get it on. The truth was that neither one of us wanted to fight, but because of foolish pride we could not back down. We met and as I recall more words were exchanged but we did not throw any punches. It was just a big show of egos. I can still remember the dreadful feeling I had that evening knowing that the first thing the next morning I would have to face Eddy again. We huffed and puffed for the next couple of days blowing smoke without fire. And then it happened, we found a common ground to stand on. It was a girl that I knew that Eddy liked. As soon as we found the common ground the ice melted and we and we started living at peace with each other. Eddy and I remained good friends all though high school. We went through the turbulent years of the last sixties seeing each other often. The last time I saw Eddy was sometime in the late 1970’s. He was strung out so bad on heroine that I had to help him cross Main Street to keep from getting run over. He died a few years later. But for the grace of God, there go I. Just as Eddy and I found a common ground, today I look for a common ground with others and find it in Jesus Christ. The dread of not living at peace with someone else just floats away as Jesus Christ becomes the mediator of my life. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………..JRE
“Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 84)
Thursday, January 25, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “The worshiping heart does not create its Object. It finds Him here when it wakes from its mortal slumber in the morning of its regeneration.”
A.W Tozer
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” That is exactly what God has done with some of the most ugly parts of my life. When I speak of the ugly parts of my life I am referring to the times when I lived only for myself, thinking only of myself, being dishonest with those who cared about me, and hurting people by using them for my own good. You wouldn’t think that such ugliness could be considered beautiful but it can. The old ugly heart that once dominated my life can only be seen as being beautiful when it is used as a tool in helping someone whose life is centered in self-centeredness. And only then may it be seen as beautiful when it is seen in the Light of a heart that has been changed by a Loving God full of mercy and forgiveness. There is one factor in the recovering heart that must be considered for beauty to be established, and that is maintenance. I have found that the changes in my heart won’t stay changed without daily maintenance. I don’t know why, but in my life there always seems to be a pull towards slacking up on things like daily reading of God’s Word and prayer. If I resist the pull it will go away, but if I submit to the pull, it will easily cause me to drift from a time of worship and devotion. Today I notice in my life that the beauty found in some of the ugliest time of my past are not so beautiful if my present life does not reflect a loving God working daily in my recovery. Today may I remember to kindle the fire and fan the flames of forgiveness that God has sparked in my life. May I remember that to have my life seen as beautiful I must live today honestly knowing that the eyes of a loving God are upon me. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
“I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
“What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85)
Daily Reprieve
Thought for the day: “The worshiping heart does not create its Object. It finds Him here when it wakes from its mortal slumber in the morning of its regeneration.”
A.W Tozer
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” That is exactly what God has done with some of the most ugly parts of my life. When I speak of the ugly parts of my life I am referring to the times when I lived only for myself, thinking only of myself, being dishonest with those who cared about me, and hurting people by using them for my own good. You wouldn’t think that such ugliness could be considered beautiful but it can. The old ugly heart that once dominated my life can only be seen as being beautiful when it is used as a tool in helping someone whose life is centered in self-centeredness. And only then may it be seen as beautiful when it is seen in the Light of a heart that has been changed by a Loving God full of mercy and forgiveness. There is one factor in the recovering heart that must be considered for beauty to be established, and that is maintenance. I have found that the changes in my heart won’t stay changed without daily maintenance. I don’t know why, but in my life there always seems to be a pull towards slacking up on things like daily reading of God’s Word and prayer. If I resist the pull it will go away, but if I submit to the pull, it will easily cause me to drift from a time of worship and devotion. Today I notice in my life that the beauty found in some of the ugliest time of my past are not so beautiful if my present life does not reflect a loving God working daily in my recovery. Today may I remember to kindle the fire and fan the flames of forgiveness that God has sparked in my life. May I remember that to have my life seen as beautiful I must live today honestly knowing that the eyes of a loving God are upon me. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………..JRE
“I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
“What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities.” (Alcoholics Anonymous, page 85)
Monday, January 22, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day:
Without the Way, There is no going;
Without the Truth, There is no knowing;
Without the Life, There is no living.
THOMAS A. KEMPIS
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
“Without the Way there is no going.” That statement by Thomas Kempis sticks in my spiritual gizzard this morning. Some of you might not know what a gizzard is, so bare with me while I try to explain. Gizzards are internal parts of chickens that we often roll in batter and fry up. Many times they are eaten along with chicken livers. Livers are easy to eat, but the gizzards are tougher and chewy. Chickens do not have teeth and the gizzards are the place where their food is ground up so it may be digested. The gizzard does not work without help. Chickens have two stomachs, the first we called a craw. Many times you will see chickens and other birds pecking around in the dirt and gravel, what they are doing is picking and eating small rocks. These small rocks along with muscular contractions of the gizzard grind the seeds and grains that the birds eat. I remember when I was young and my granny would clean chickens for the noon meal or evening supper, that as she cleaned the gizzard we would look in the craw to see what the chicken had been pecking. I recall seeing rocks, gravel and even nails. Now that I have cleared up what a gizzard is, I would like to say that my spiritual gizzard is the place where the Word of God abides as it is digested and applied to my life. Instead of rocks and nails I have taken my life’s experiences, words of wisdom and knowledge from those who have traveled this way before, and the discernment given by the Holy Spirit to digest God’s Word for my daily nourishment. “Without the Way there is no going.” The reason this gets stuck in my spiritual gizzard is because we are all traveling through time and space, and we are all going. But without the Way, we are going but going nowhere. The Way is our direction. We stay safe while we travel and out of the ditches. We try not to get over loaded and realize that u-turns take us nowhere. We need to know the Way to arrive at our destination. When I know the Way, God does for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive.” (Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA)
Spiritual gizzard
Thought for the day:
Without the Way, There is no going;
Without the Truth, There is no knowing;
Without the Life, There is no living.
THOMAS A. KEMPIS
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 NIV)
“Without the Way there is no going.” That statement by Thomas Kempis sticks in my spiritual gizzard this morning. Some of you might not know what a gizzard is, so bare with me while I try to explain. Gizzards are internal parts of chickens that we often roll in batter and fry up. Many times they are eaten along with chicken livers. Livers are easy to eat, but the gizzards are tougher and chewy. Chickens do not have teeth and the gizzards are the place where their food is ground up so it may be digested. The gizzard does not work without help. Chickens have two stomachs, the first we called a craw. Many times you will see chickens and other birds pecking around in the dirt and gravel, what they are doing is picking and eating small rocks. These small rocks along with muscular contractions of the gizzard grind the seeds and grains that the birds eat. I remember when I was young and my granny would clean chickens for the noon meal or evening supper, that as she cleaned the gizzard we would look in the craw to see what the chicken had been pecking. I recall seeing rocks, gravel and even nails. Now that I have cleared up what a gizzard is, I would like to say that my spiritual gizzard is the place where the Word of God abides as it is digested and applied to my life. Instead of rocks and nails I have taken my life’s experiences, words of wisdom and knowledge from those who have traveled this way before, and the discernment given by the Holy Spirit to digest God’s Word for my daily nourishment. “Without the Way there is no going.” The reason this gets stuck in my spiritual gizzard is because we are all traveling through time and space, and we are all going. But without the Way, we are going but going nowhere. The Way is our direction. We stay safe while we travel and out of the ditches. We try not to get over loaded and realize that u-turns take us nowhere. We need to know the Way to arrive at our destination. When I know the Way, God does for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“My stability came out of trying to give, not out of demanding that I receive.” (Bill Wilson, co-founder of AA)
Monday, January 15, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “A perfect faith would lift us absolutely above fear.”
(George Macdonald)
“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)
We all experience situations in life that we call coincidences. My friend Buster says about these situations, “Is that odd? Or is that God?” I have come to believe that many times when coincidences’ occur, that a loving God is working in my life to bring about His will for me. The latest coincidence in my life was yesterday morning and this morning. Yesterday morning as I sat in church my pastor delivered a message on faith and the trying of our faith by trials. This morning as I sit down to study the Word of God, I find myself with the same message at hand. I am learning that when certain Scripture verses show up more than once in a given time, to give some extra attention to their meaning and how they may apply to my life. Today I realize that my faith is constantly being tried by trials. The fire of the refiners fire is constantly burning in my life. At times my trials are no more than keeping up with everyday life. Things such as paying bills, keeping appointments, staying sober, and being honest and polite. And then there are times in my life when the heat of the refiners fire is much hotter as my faith is tested with the loss of loved ones, the loss of friends, our country being a war, and the many natural disasters that have occurred in the past few years. I find myself presenting the same question to God, why? It is only after I maintain my faith by daily prayer and the reading of God’s Word that I am able to see how good can come from any hard situation. I am not saying that good comes because of the hard situation, but that good comes from the situation. This morning the first person I talked to was my AA sponsor. We have been having ice storms here in southern Missouri and he called to see how I was holding up. During our conversation we talked about how the wild birds were busy at the feeders because of this cold spell we are having. I mentioned that how in fair weather the blue jays and the starlings will fight away the other birds at the feeders, but you let a cold hard situation occur and they all seem to get along. The trying of their faith brings about a love and understanding that works above the cold. I saw similar situations during the first few months after the terrorist attacked the World Trade Center. As our faith was tried, we all pulled together with love and understanding. Today I come to the realization that the trying of my faith will work for good in my life and for the good of those I meet. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“The refiner would heat the gold in the fire in order to separate the worthless and impure dross from the precious and beautiful gold. The dross would be skimmed off until the refiner could see his image in the liquid gold. God uses the fiery trials and tribulations in our life to purify and beautify our faith so that one day he will see clearly his image in us. This truth offers great comfort to those of us who struggle to make sense of a past marked by suffering. We can be confident that God will separate something priceless from the dross of our experiences.” (The Life Recovery Bible, page 1522)
The Refiners fire
Thought for the day: “A perfect faith would lift us absolutely above fear.”
(George Macdonald)
“So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.” (1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT)
We all experience situations in life that we call coincidences. My friend Buster says about these situations, “Is that odd? Or is that God?” I have come to believe that many times when coincidences’ occur, that a loving God is working in my life to bring about His will for me. The latest coincidence in my life was yesterday morning and this morning. Yesterday morning as I sat in church my pastor delivered a message on faith and the trying of our faith by trials. This morning as I sit down to study the Word of God, I find myself with the same message at hand. I am learning that when certain Scripture verses show up more than once in a given time, to give some extra attention to their meaning and how they may apply to my life. Today I realize that my faith is constantly being tried by trials. The fire of the refiners fire is constantly burning in my life. At times my trials are no more than keeping up with everyday life. Things such as paying bills, keeping appointments, staying sober, and being honest and polite. And then there are times in my life when the heat of the refiners fire is much hotter as my faith is tested with the loss of loved ones, the loss of friends, our country being a war, and the many natural disasters that have occurred in the past few years. I find myself presenting the same question to God, why? It is only after I maintain my faith by daily prayer and the reading of God’s Word that I am able to see how good can come from any hard situation. I am not saying that good comes because of the hard situation, but that good comes from the situation. This morning the first person I talked to was my AA sponsor. We have been having ice storms here in southern Missouri and he called to see how I was holding up. During our conversation we talked about how the wild birds were busy at the feeders because of this cold spell we are having. I mentioned that how in fair weather the blue jays and the starlings will fight away the other birds at the feeders, but you let a cold hard situation occur and they all seem to get along. The trying of their faith brings about a love and understanding that works above the cold. I saw similar situations during the first few months after the terrorist attacked the World Trade Center. As our faith was tried, we all pulled together with love and understanding. Today I come to the realization that the trying of my faith will work for good in my life and for the good of those I meet. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
“The refiner would heat the gold in the fire in order to separate the worthless and impure dross from the precious and beautiful gold. The dross would be skimmed off until the refiner could see his image in the liquid gold. God uses the fiery trials and tribulations in our life to purify and beautify our faith so that one day he will see clearly his image in us. This truth offers great comfort to those of us who struggle to make sense of a past marked by suffering. We can be confident that God will separate something priceless from the dross of our experiences.” (The Life Recovery Bible, page 1522)
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities.” (R. M. M’Cheyne)
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, through they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT)
Today at 11:30 am I am going to drive to my favorite restaurant and have lunch with my AA sponsor. That statement might not sound unusual to anybody else but to me it is evidence of a miracle in my life. It has been over thirteen years since I have driven a car legally. In the last fifteen years I had a license only once for about thirty days in 1993, and then I got another DWI. I received my seventh DWI in 1996 and at that time they took my driving privileges ten years. I am not complaining. I got off easy with a felony, thirty days in jail and a ten-year revocation. I am not proud of my criminal record, but I do stand in awe at how God has allowed me to take the most horrible experiences in my life and use them to help others. It seems so strange to openly talk about times in my life that most people hide and never discuss with anyone. There is no shame anymore. God has forgiven me of my past sin, and washed it clean to be remembered never again. Where there is no sin, there is no shame. It was only after the shame was removed that God allowed me to openly use my past sin to help others avoid the spiritual potholes and speed traps of life. Today I have a loving God in my life whom I call the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I attend a church that welcomes me unconditionally, and I attend several AA meeting each week and carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous into the state prison close to my home. Last Monday evening as I sat in a meeting at the prison, I mentioned how that the next day I was going to the state capitol to be reinstated for my driver’s license after ten years of being revoked. One hundred and five inmates gave me a standing ovation. It was moving. To be recognized by ones peers is a high honor, and they truly are my peers. Many of them will be getting out of prison in the next twelve months to face some of the same challenges that I have had over the past ten years. My prayer is that I can somehow be an inspiration to some of them. I know that I am inspired by their devotion to the meeting and their encouragement to me. My sponsor Wayne tells a little parable, share this with me: “God looked down from heaven as saw a bunch of drunks. He couldn’t find anyone to fix them, so He decided to let them fix each other.” That kind of sums up my ministry, and yours too if you happen to be one of us. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Recovery is a time of correction, a time of facing problems and character flaws and changing incorrect beliefs. There may be seasons when we do have to pay for our past. God will use these times to redirect our life toward something better. His correction isn’t arbitrary or abusive, but it is still painful. Knowing that God’s discipline demonstrates his love for us can be comforting in the midst of our pain. It helps to remember that his love will allow only that which is for our ultimate good.” (Life Recovery Bible, page 1505)
On the road again
Thought for the day: “Live near to God, and so all things will appear to you little in comparison with eternal realities.” (R. M. M’Cheyne)
“So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs. Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, through they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.” (Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT)
Today at 11:30 am I am going to drive to my favorite restaurant and have lunch with my AA sponsor. That statement might not sound unusual to anybody else but to me it is evidence of a miracle in my life. It has been over thirteen years since I have driven a car legally. In the last fifteen years I had a license only once for about thirty days in 1993, and then I got another DWI. I received my seventh DWI in 1996 and at that time they took my driving privileges ten years. I am not complaining. I got off easy with a felony, thirty days in jail and a ten-year revocation. I am not proud of my criminal record, but I do stand in awe at how God has allowed me to take the most horrible experiences in my life and use them to help others. It seems so strange to openly talk about times in my life that most people hide and never discuss with anyone. There is no shame anymore. God has forgiven me of my past sin, and washed it clean to be remembered never again. Where there is no sin, there is no shame. It was only after the shame was removed that God allowed me to openly use my past sin to help others avoid the spiritual potholes and speed traps of life. Today I have a loving God in my life whom I call the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I attend a church that welcomes me unconditionally, and I attend several AA meeting each week and carry the message of Alcoholics Anonymous into the state prison close to my home. Last Monday evening as I sat in a meeting at the prison, I mentioned how that the next day I was going to the state capitol to be reinstated for my driver’s license after ten years of being revoked. One hundred and five inmates gave me a standing ovation. It was moving. To be recognized by ones peers is a high honor, and they truly are my peers. Many of them will be getting out of prison in the next twelve months to face some of the same challenges that I have had over the past ten years. My prayer is that I can somehow be an inspiration to some of them. I know that I am inspired by their devotion to the meeting and their encouragement to me. My sponsor Wayne tells a little parable, share this with me: “God looked down from heaven as saw a bunch of drunks. He couldn’t find anyone to fix them, so He decided to let them fix each other.” That kind of sums up my ministry, and yours too if you happen to be one of us. Thanks for letting me share, God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………..JRE
“Recovery is a time of correction, a time of facing problems and character flaws and changing incorrect beliefs. There may be seasons when we do have to pay for our past. God will use these times to redirect our life toward something better. His correction isn’t arbitrary or abusive, but it is still painful. Knowing that God’s discipline demonstrates his love for us can be comforting in the midst of our pain. It helps to remember that his love will allow only that which is for our ultimate good.” (Life Recovery Bible, page 1505)
Monday, January 08, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “God loves us not because we are loveable but because He is love, not because He needs to receive but because He delights to give.” (C.S. Lewis)
“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)
As I study in the Book of Hebrews this day, I realize that I have two types of faith working in my life. First is the initial faith that brought me to God, and second there is the sustaining faith in my life that keeps me headed toward God. Twenty-four years ago there was a point in my life where it was like flipping a switch. Up to the point of flipping the switch I had my doubts about the existence of God, and I thought if there was a God, I doubted that God would even care about mankind. At that time I could not see much interaction between God and people. Of course I was living a life away from God and was associating with people who did like wise. It’s real easy to not see God when you’re not looking for God. And then because of my alcoholism I reached a point of total emptiness. Oh there were things going on in my life, I had associations and activities to keep me busy, but inside of me there was this aching empty hole. I was thirty-seven years old and in my mind I was thinking, is this all there is to life? I remember as I was sitting in jail that February day in 1983 how I received my first bible. As I started to read I found it difficult to believe the words on the page. It was at this point that out of the empty, aching, hole within my spirit, out of desperation I flipped the switch of faith. Nothing was working in my life, maybe faith would. That empty place within me immediately had something in it. I did not understand it completely, but I felt different. I felt something I can only describe as being complete. It’s kind of like if I had been a split personality and had been living all my life with only one of my personalities. And then the other side of my personality came to live with me, and the two complemented each other, the natural man and the spiritual man working together. As long as I reside in my earth suit I will have a natural side to deal with. As long as abide with God through faith I will have the spiritual man to deal with. After the initial faith that brought me to a loving God, it is the sustaining faith that maintains my relationship with God. By daily exercising and applying the faith I have, my faith grows. Today that emptiness I once felt is but a memory of bleak times in my life. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
AA Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
The Bible tells us that the key is in the nature of the higher Power we look to. We are told that “anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT) If we see God as one who is reaching out to help us, we will be more eager to look for him. If our faith has not matured to that point yet, we can ask for help. One man came to Jesus asking him to help his young son who was afflicted by a demon. He said to Jesus, “Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly replied, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” (Mark 9:22-24 NLT) We can start by asking God to help us have more faith. Then we can ask him for the courage to hope for a better future. (The Life Recovery Bible, page 1501)
Flipping a switch
Thought for the day: “God loves us not because we are loveable but because He is love, not because He needs to receive but because He delights to give.” (C.S. Lewis)
“What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)
As I study in the Book of Hebrews this day, I realize that I have two types of faith working in my life. First is the initial faith that brought me to God, and second there is the sustaining faith in my life that keeps me headed toward God. Twenty-four years ago there was a point in my life where it was like flipping a switch. Up to the point of flipping the switch I had my doubts about the existence of God, and I thought if there was a God, I doubted that God would even care about mankind. At that time I could not see much interaction between God and people. Of course I was living a life away from God and was associating with people who did like wise. It’s real easy to not see God when you’re not looking for God. And then because of my alcoholism I reached a point of total emptiness. Oh there were things going on in my life, I had associations and activities to keep me busy, but inside of me there was this aching empty hole. I was thirty-seven years old and in my mind I was thinking, is this all there is to life? I remember as I was sitting in jail that February day in 1983 how I received my first bible. As I started to read I found it difficult to believe the words on the page. It was at this point that out of the empty, aching, hole within my spirit, out of desperation I flipped the switch of faith. Nothing was working in my life, maybe faith would. That empty place within me immediately had something in it. I did not understand it completely, but I felt different. I felt something I can only describe as being complete. It’s kind of like if I had been a split personality and had been living all my life with only one of my personalities. And then the other side of my personality came to live with me, and the two complemented each other, the natural man and the spiritual man working together. As long as I reside in my earth suit I will have a natural side to deal with. As long as abide with God through faith I will have the spiritual man to deal with. After the initial faith that brought me to a loving God, it is the sustaining faith that maintains my relationship with God. By daily exercising and applying the faith I have, my faith grows. Today that emptiness I once felt is but a memory of bleak times in my life. Today God is doing for me what I could not do for myself…………….JRE
AA Step Two: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
The Bible tells us that the key is in the nature of the higher Power we look to. We are told that “anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6 NLT) If we see God as one who is reaching out to help us, we will be more eager to look for him. If our faith has not matured to that point yet, we can ask for help. One man came to Jesus asking him to help his young son who was afflicted by a demon. He said to Jesus, “Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.’ ‘What do you mean, “If I can”?’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’ The father instantly replied, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!” (Mark 9:22-24 NLT) We can start by asking God to help us have more faith. Then we can ask him for the courage to hope for a better future. (The Life Recovery Bible, page 1501)
Friday, January 05, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “We are never called on to parade our doubts or to express the hidden ecstasies of our life with God. The secret of the worker’s life is that he keeps in tune with God all the time.” (Oswald Chambers)
“So even though Jesus was God’s son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”
(Hebrews 5:8 NLT)
Many times growing spiritually is a process of working through some part or time of our life when we experience pain. It could be physical pain, mental pain, emotional pain, or the spiritual pain of not being in tune with God. As my AA sponsor say’s, “When the pain exceeds the pleasure we change.” Change might not always be considered growth. Many times as we desire to move away from pain to a path of lesser resistance, we learn as we take steps that are not painful. That is growth. I have found in my life that even though I grow spiritually in an area, it doesn’t mean that the growing lesson sticks. I have had to take at times, the same lessons over. Sometimes over and over until I learn. Today as I read the passage of scripture from the Book of Hebrews I am reassured knowing that even Jesus learned from the things He suffered. Jesus no doubt made the right decisions at the right times, where as in my life many times when I experienced pain I made the wrong decisions. Thirty some years ago I remember experiencing the pain of breakups in relationships. Not being fully aware of the consequences of alcohol, I would drink away the pain of a broken heart. That is one example of making wrong decisions as a result of experiencing pain. I then had to learn the lesson about the results of drinking, which I did not learn quickly. As a result I had legal problems because of the drinking and more lessons to learn. Eventually my life snowballed to the point of no escape. I could not hide in the bottle, I could not hide from the authorities, and I could not hide from people. I was faced with the reality of my own existence. Eight years ago I daily started searching the Scriptures for answers to my dilemma. As I read them over and over they still speak to me, often just as they did the first time. Today I needed to hear exactly what I read, is that odd or is that God? It is God working daily in my life. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Jesus………….had to go through a painful growing and learning process that culminated in his death on the cross. His success in that process lends us great hope as we pursue recovery. He is the one who goes before us and has prepared the way, and he is with us in every step we take.” (Life Recovery Bible, page 1494)
Spirituality 101
Thought for the day: “We are never called on to parade our doubts or to express the hidden ecstasies of our life with God. The secret of the worker’s life is that he keeps in tune with God all the time.” (Oswald Chambers)
“So even though Jesus was God’s son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.”
(Hebrews 5:8 NLT)
Many times growing spiritually is a process of working through some part or time of our life when we experience pain. It could be physical pain, mental pain, emotional pain, or the spiritual pain of not being in tune with God. As my AA sponsor say’s, “When the pain exceeds the pleasure we change.” Change might not always be considered growth. Many times as we desire to move away from pain to a path of lesser resistance, we learn as we take steps that are not painful. That is growth. I have found in my life that even though I grow spiritually in an area, it doesn’t mean that the growing lesson sticks. I have had to take at times, the same lessons over. Sometimes over and over until I learn. Today as I read the passage of scripture from the Book of Hebrews I am reassured knowing that even Jesus learned from the things He suffered. Jesus no doubt made the right decisions at the right times, where as in my life many times when I experienced pain I made the wrong decisions. Thirty some years ago I remember experiencing the pain of breakups in relationships. Not being fully aware of the consequences of alcohol, I would drink away the pain of a broken heart. That is one example of making wrong decisions as a result of experiencing pain. I then had to learn the lesson about the results of drinking, which I did not learn quickly. As a result I had legal problems because of the drinking and more lessons to learn. Eventually my life snowballed to the point of no escape. I could not hide in the bottle, I could not hide from the authorities, and I could not hide from people. I was faced with the reality of my own existence. Eight years ago I daily started searching the Scriptures for answers to my dilemma. As I read them over and over they still speak to me, often just as they did the first time. Today I needed to hear exactly what I read, is that odd or is that God? It is God working daily in my life. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself………………..JRE
“Jesus………….had to go through a painful growing and learning process that culminated in his death on the cross. His success in that process lends us great hope as we pursue recovery. He is the one who goes before us and has prepared the way, and he is with us in every step we take.” (Life Recovery Bible, page 1494)
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
“(God) ain’t something you can look at apart from anything else, including yourself.”
(Alice Walker from The Color Purple)
When I was a child, I spake like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(1 Corinthians 13:11-12 KJV)
I am being forced to grow up. The decision to grow up has been one of my own; it was not forced on me by anyone else. Growing up for me can be summed up in one short sentence, “Taking responsibility for my own life.” For years I tried to blame the mess my life was in on everything else. I used economic insecurity as a reason to steal. Because I had a lack of knowledge and education I became a braggart, boaster and liar. When I found that I had trouble in relationships I blamed it on the fact that I came from a family of divorced parents. When I knew that I had problems with alcohol and drugs, I blamed it on the fact that my mom and dad were alcoholic. When I started having legal problems related to my drug and alcohol use, I claimed that the system was against me. Anytime I found myself swimming against the current of life I blamed the current. I think in some issues in the world we should swim against the current, but when it comes to right and wrong the current flows only one way. Today one of the greatest changes in my life caused by my recovery and on going sobriety, has been taking responsibility for my own actions. My insecurities and character defects still show up when life does not go my way, but I am learning to recognize them and deal with them accordingly. Like the apostle Paul said, “For now we see through a glass darkly.” To me this means that we don’t have all the answers at the present time. We can see a little of what life is about and where we are headed spiritually, but we don’t have a clear picture. So we grow up, take responsibility, do the best we can, and grow and learn daily as more is revealed. The Greek word that was translated darkly is ainigma. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say about its usage in this scripture verse.
“The Greek word ainigma, a dark saying, riddle. It is the same as our English word enigma. Life is like a riddle. The future state, although somewhat clear from the many revelations about it, is still like a dream. It is hard to realize how wonderful it will be, due to our present lack of experience.”
Today when I put away childish things and take responsibility for my own life, even though I don’t understand everything, I can live at peace with God by trusting His Word. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 40)
Enigma
“(God) ain’t something you can look at apart from anything else, including yourself.”
(Alice Walker from The Color Purple)
When I was a child, I spake like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(1 Corinthians 13:11-12 KJV)
I am being forced to grow up. The decision to grow up has been one of my own; it was not forced on me by anyone else. Growing up for me can be summed up in one short sentence, “Taking responsibility for my own life.” For years I tried to blame the mess my life was in on everything else. I used economic insecurity as a reason to steal. Because I had a lack of knowledge and education I became a braggart, boaster and liar. When I found that I had trouble in relationships I blamed it on the fact that I came from a family of divorced parents. When I knew that I had problems with alcohol and drugs, I blamed it on the fact that my mom and dad were alcoholic. When I started having legal problems related to my drug and alcohol use, I claimed that the system was against me. Anytime I found myself swimming against the current of life I blamed the current. I think in some issues in the world we should swim against the current, but when it comes to right and wrong the current flows only one way. Today one of the greatest changes in my life caused by my recovery and on going sobriety, has been taking responsibility for my own actions. My insecurities and character defects still show up when life does not go my way, but I am learning to recognize them and deal with them accordingly. Like the apostle Paul said, “For now we see through a glass darkly.” To me this means that we don’t have all the answers at the present time. We can see a little of what life is about and where we are headed spiritually, but we don’t have a clear picture. So we grow up, take responsibility, do the best we can, and grow and learn daily as more is revealed. The Greek word that was translated darkly is ainigma. Share with me what the Dake Bible has to say about its usage in this scripture verse.
“The Greek word ainigma, a dark saying, riddle. It is the same as our English word enigma. Life is like a riddle. The future state, although somewhat clear from the many revelations about it, is still like a dream. It is hard to realize how wonderful it will be, due to our present lack of experience.”
Today when I put away childish things and take responsibility for my own life, even though I don’t understand everything, I can live at peace with God by trusting His Word. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself……………….JRE
“It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. To all of us this was a most wonderful revelation. Our whole trouble had been the misuse of willpower. We tried to bombard our problems with it instead of attempting to bring it into agreement with God’s intention for us.” (Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 40)
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Our broken life is the black backdrop against which the bright jewels of God’s mercy and gracious salvation are displayed.” (Life Recovery Bible)
“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.
“But then God our savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:3-5 NLT)
The idea today of slavery is far from our thoughts. We don’t see it, we don’t hear about it, we don’t think about it. The subject of slavery is ancient history and what we know of it comes from our textbooks and educational studies. But the truth is that many of us can be held captive and become slaves to all sorts of things. I remember times when I held jobs that I hated. I dreaded going to work every day, and I remember getting sick to my stomach when I first woke up because of the stress I was under. The problem was that I was tied to the job and could not afford to leave, and working everyday I did not have time to look for another job. I was a slave! Many of us possibly have dragged on for years in life styles and living conditions that we did not enjoy, but we all will come to turning points in our lives where because of situations and circumstances we become headed in new directions. As I look back over the times of my life when I considered myself a slave, I realize that the main chain that held me in slavery was my attitude. Twenty years ago I had a Sunday school named Mr. Frisk. I remember him explaining how important attitude is. He said that mornings when we have to go to work, when the alarm clock goes off, we find ourselves groaning in the spirit at the task that lies ahead of us. But take the same time of day on a Saturday morning, when we don’t have to go to work, we will rise before the alarm even goes off, and be all cheerfully and full of happiness. What’s the difference? The difference is our attitude. In my own life I can remember the dread of facing work and how I would smoke a joint to ease the stress of the day. Little did I know that what was going on was that I was becoming a slave to something else with consciences far greater. Over the years the joint before work, and the booze after work, became the normal day for me. What happened was that I was a slave to the job so that I could afford to be a slave to the drugs and alcohol. It was double bondage. “But then God my savior showed me his kindness and love. He saved me, not because of the good things I did, but because of his mercy.” As I paraphrase the words of the apostle Paul I find three simple words “But then God,” to be the turning point in my life. Today I know that situations and circumstances will change, but as long as my attitude maintains a conscious contact with God, God will set me free and do for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“As we share our message, let us never forget the following truths: We were once a slave, just as others are today. Our heart was filled with the confusion and painful emotions that others still feel. We were saved because of the love and kindness of God, not because we were good enough. We must also remember that we can stay free because God is with us, upholding us every step of the way.” (The Life Recovery Bible, page 1483)
But then God
Thought for the day: “Our broken life is the black backdrop against which the bright jewels of God’s mercy and gracious salvation are displayed.” (Life Recovery Bible)
“Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled by others and became slaves to many wicked desires and evil pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy. We hated others, and they hated us.
“But then God our savior showed us his kindness and love. He saved us, not because of the good things we did, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins and gave us a new life through the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:3-5 NLT)
The idea today of slavery is far from our thoughts. We don’t see it, we don’t hear about it, we don’t think about it. The subject of slavery is ancient history and what we know of it comes from our textbooks and educational studies. But the truth is that many of us can be held captive and become slaves to all sorts of things. I remember times when I held jobs that I hated. I dreaded going to work every day, and I remember getting sick to my stomach when I first woke up because of the stress I was under. The problem was that I was tied to the job and could not afford to leave, and working everyday I did not have time to look for another job. I was a slave! Many of us possibly have dragged on for years in life styles and living conditions that we did not enjoy, but we all will come to turning points in our lives where because of situations and circumstances we become headed in new directions. As I look back over the times of my life when I considered myself a slave, I realize that the main chain that held me in slavery was my attitude. Twenty years ago I had a Sunday school named Mr. Frisk. I remember him explaining how important attitude is. He said that mornings when we have to go to work, when the alarm clock goes off, we find ourselves groaning in the spirit at the task that lies ahead of us. But take the same time of day on a Saturday morning, when we don’t have to go to work, we will rise before the alarm even goes off, and be all cheerfully and full of happiness. What’s the difference? The difference is our attitude. In my own life I can remember the dread of facing work and how I would smoke a joint to ease the stress of the day. Little did I know that what was going on was that I was becoming a slave to something else with consciences far greater. Over the years the joint before work, and the booze after work, became the normal day for me. What happened was that I was a slave to the job so that I could afford to be a slave to the drugs and alcohol. It was double bondage. “But then God my savior showed me his kindness and love. He saved me, not because of the good things I did, but because of his mercy.” As I paraphrase the words of the apostle Paul I find three simple words “But then God,” to be the turning point in my life. Today I know that situations and circumstances will change, but as long as my attitude maintains a conscious contact with God, God will set me free and do for me what I could not do for myself………………….JRE
“As we share our message, let us never forget the following truths: We were once a slave, just as others are today. Our heart was filled with the confusion and painful emotions that others still feel. We were saved because of the love and kindness of God, not because we were good enough. We must also remember that we can stay free because God is with us, upholding us every step of the way.” (The Life Recovery Bible, page 1483)
Monday, January 01, 2007
jralphengland@yahoo.com
Thought for the day: “Time wasted getting even can never be used in getting ahead.”
(Author unknown)
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13 NLT)
Here it is 2007, and I never thought it would seem so much like 2006, or even 2000, or even 1995, or how about 1965? I remember in 1965 when it was just one year after my high school graduation how the year 2000 seemed so far away that I could not even fathom how life would be. I think we all thought about flying cars, people living in outer space, being transported through time and space from one time to another, and all sorts of fantasies existing that we might have picked up from comic books and the movies. I never thought that 2007 would be so common. When the year 2000 rolled around many thought that everything would crash, but as the clock struck midnight everything just kept on ticking as usual. I recall many Christians thinking that the return of Jesus would be around the year two thousand. And then a few years later I heard some say that our calendars were off and Jesus would return around 2003 or 2004. I don’t know where some people get their information, but my Bible tells me that no man knows the time, but that we should watch. The apostle Paul told his friend and fellow worker Titus that it was the grace of God that teaches us to look for the “blessed hope and glorious appearing.” Grace is the spiritual substance that makes it possible to endure day after day maintaining hope. God loved me when I had no hope, and was not loveable. Then God gave me gifts that I could not earn or even deserved. This is part of the picture I have of God’s grace abounding toward me, and each morning as my feet hit the floor that grace continues to flow my way. I can’t stop the flow of God’s grace and love. Even if I should turn my back to God and walk away, God’s grace still follows me. Everything in the natural world if you walk away from it, it becomes farther away. I have found it impossible to run away from God’s grace and love. I can ignore it, but I can’t make it go away. I am so grateful that when I became tired of running away, and in a broken state I stood still, God’s grace flowed upon me. God did for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
“The proper response to God’s grace is right conduct. The Bible never considers guilt and fear appropriate motivations for righteousness. We obey God because he loves us and desires to help us succeed. Seeing God as gracious, and compassionate instead of harsh, condemning, and punitive is critical for our spiritual growth. We don’t need to fear God because of our sins. He still loves us and will help us rebuild our life when we admit our failures to him. This can give us hope as we work through recovery.”
THE LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1482
Grace from heaven in 07
Thought for the day: “Time wasted getting even can never be used in getting ahead.”
(Author unknown)
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (Titus 2:11-13 NLT)
Here it is 2007, and I never thought it would seem so much like 2006, or even 2000, or even 1995, or how about 1965? I remember in 1965 when it was just one year after my high school graduation how the year 2000 seemed so far away that I could not even fathom how life would be. I think we all thought about flying cars, people living in outer space, being transported through time and space from one time to another, and all sorts of fantasies existing that we might have picked up from comic books and the movies. I never thought that 2007 would be so common. When the year 2000 rolled around many thought that everything would crash, but as the clock struck midnight everything just kept on ticking as usual. I recall many Christians thinking that the return of Jesus would be around the year two thousand. And then a few years later I heard some say that our calendars were off and Jesus would return around 2003 or 2004. I don’t know where some people get their information, but my Bible tells me that no man knows the time, but that we should watch. The apostle Paul told his friend and fellow worker Titus that it was the grace of God that teaches us to look for the “blessed hope and glorious appearing.” Grace is the spiritual substance that makes it possible to endure day after day maintaining hope. God loved me when I had no hope, and was not loveable. Then God gave me gifts that I could not earn or even deserved. This is part of the picture I have of God’s grace abounding toward me, and each morning as my feet hit the floor that grace continues to flow my way. I can’t stop the flow of God’s grace and love. Even if I should turn my back to God and walk away, God’s grace still follows me. Everything in the natural world if you walk away from it, it becomes farther away. I have found it impossible to run away from God’s grace and love. I can ignore it, but I can’t make it go away. I am so grateful that when I became tired of running away, and in a broken state I stood still, God’s grace flowed upon me. God did for me what I could not do for myself……….JRE
“The proper response to God’s grace is right conduct. The Bible never considers guilt and fear appropriate motivations for righteousness. We obey God because he loves us and desires to help us succeed. Seeing God as gracious, and compassionate instead of harsh, condemning, and punitive is critical for our spiritual growth. We don’t need to fear God because of our sins. He still loves us and will help us rebuild our life when we admit our failures to him. This can give us hope as we work through recovery.”
THE LIFE RECOVERY BIBLE, page 1482
