Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Gratitude


TODAY, I AM HAPPY.  I HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Why people don't stay clean and sober

Why don’t people stay clean and sober?
1.             Step 1 – We admitted that we were powerless – that our lives had become unmanageable.
a.       Part I – They don’t believe that they are powerless over alcohol / drugs.
                                                               i.      They think that they can still do it safely.
                                                             ii.      They have not surrendered to the evidence before them.
                                                            iii.      They do not believe that their problems are related to their substance abuse.
                                                           iv.      Once they quit, their problems do not go away, so they convince themselves that drugs and alcohol are not the cause.
b.      Part II – They do not believe that their lives are unmanageable.
                                                               i.      They think their problems are not too severe.
                                                             ii.      They think their problems are related to other issues.
                                                            iii.      They blame others for their unmanageability.
HONESTY – SURRENDER - ACCEPTANCE
2.       Step 2 – Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity.
a.       They don’t believe that they are insane.
b.      They don’t believe in any power greater than themselves.
c.       They confuse the “god” or “higher power” with religion and resent religion.
d.      They don’t believe that there is hope.
                                                               i.      They don’t believe that THEY can be restored to sanity.
                                                             ii.      They believe in self-reliance or self-sufficiency holds the power.
                                                            iii.      They don’t believe that the power can restore us to sanity or deserve to be restored to sanity.
                                                           iv.      They don’t believe that their lives are insane; that doing something differently will make any difference.
HOPE
3.       Step 3 – Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand him/her/it
a.       They take back their decision.
b.      They don’t trust or keep faith.
c.       They don’t wait long enough to see the outcome or the good that comes from a situation.
d.      They don’t let go and let God.
e.      They forget that acceptance is the answer to all their problems.
FAITH – TRUST