August 29

“A FLAME OF FIRE”

"Are we now ready to let God remove from us all the things which we have admitted are objectionable? Can He now take them all -- every one? If we still cling to something we will not let go, we ask God to help us be willing." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 76

"The tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itself." James 3: 6

For what it's worth: My tongue destroyed many precious relationships during my drinking years, and it can do the same in sobriety. My own experiences prove to me “this flame of fire” has horrible power to hurt both me and those I love; but it is tragically weak at healing the wounds. I am deeply grateful for Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6 and 7. I can beg my Heavenly Father for the willingness to be rid of this defect before it sparks a "blazing flame of destruction”. He and I know my tongue has created enough anguish for me and those I have harmed.

God bless you.
Joe W.

August 30

"I AM HERE"

"Time after time, this apparent calamity has been a boon to us, for it opened up a path which led to the discovery of God." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 116

"I am being found by people who were not looking for me. To them I have said, 'I am here!'" Isaiah 65:1

For what it's worth: Years and years ago, God boarded a train to somewhere far, far from me, leaving me alone and desperate. I believe He was fed up with all of my betrayals. And I knew nothing would bring Him back into my life. Alcohol relieved the loneliness and the fear, but not for long. After years of despair, I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. There I was introduced to caring people and Twelve Steps that miraculously returned God into my life. His train was right on time, and I can still hear Him say, “I am here, Joe” as He stepped off the train back into my life. The emptiness in my soul is filled, the aloneness is gone, the rage is quieted, and despair is replaced with hope and fear with faith. I hear Him right now: “I am here”.

God bless you.
Joe W.

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:lipsrsealed: So many great reminders in these readings for me today....

Thank you!!!!!!

August 31

REACH THE UNREACHABLE

"Afterward, we found ourselves accepting many things which then seemed entirely out of reach." Alcoholics Anonymous, page 47

"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it ... grows into a tree where birds can come and find shelter in its branches." Matthew 13: 31-32

For what it's worth: Alcoholism reduced me to waste, so how could I ever be anything of value? And, since God was against me, there would be no miracles. That is what I believed when I started in Alcoholics Anonymous. It was confirmed when I heard the Twelve Steps; I could never do most of them. So, for me, sobriety and anything of value was unreachable. In desperation, I began doing what Alcoholics Anonymous people did to stay sober. That was the key. Gradually, doors opened that had been locked. I started listening to the “God stuff”. I even saw God at work in my life, so I stopped fighting Him. And, low and behold, I started progressing in ways I thought impossible. God, in His loving mercy, and working through Alcoholics Anonymous, planted in this once worthless drunk a small seed of hope that I might be able to reach what I believed unreachable. Someday, I might truly believe I am something of value to God and Alcoholics Anonymous.

God bless you.
Joe W.

The seventh step prayer.
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.

Thank you Joe for that wonderful share from the 29th, I have been sober for over 30 years, and a lot of thing I've said and done during a big chunk of that time was not Pleasant to a lot of people who I was close with especially my wife. but since I've been re-examining and practicing the 6th and 7th step my life has done a complete 360 degree turn, there a saying in NA about staying clean but living dirty applied to me at one time, but not today. I thank God for putting people in my life that help me turn around and be a blessing to others. I have made my amends, and I do a tremendous amount of service on a regular basis.