Steps to Recovery & The Promises . . .

Show me Thy Glory ~ In the Struggle . . . 

The old ways of seeing, believing, and reasoning will not help us alleviate our current situation. Our survival is at stake. We need a new paradigm. We need a spontaneous Re~Mission . . . Who of us ~ will choose ~ to step out of our cocoon, Trust ~ Follow the signal of Love and Re~Birth ourselves into ~ the new Kingdom ~ thereby ~ empowering Grace?

The Twelve Steps ~ ( Bill W ) 
The Promises ~ (Anonymous)

The Healing Power of Love ~
1. Admit we are powerless over our separation from God, Ourself and Others ~ and that at this moment right now ~ our life is unmanageable.


Matt 5:3 ~ "Blessed are the poor ( ... when you're at the end of your rope ) ~ for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." 

Roman's 7:17-20 ~ "But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time."


Our Promise ~

1.     I know new sense of belonging and the feelings 

        of emptiness and loneliness will disappear.

The Healing Power of Faith ~
2. Come to believe that a power greater than ourself can restore us ~


Matt 5:4 ~ "Blessed are those who mourn ( ... when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you ), for they will be comforted."

Rom 5:6 – “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ arrives right on time to make this happen.” and Philippians 2:13 - "That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.”


Our Promise ~

2.     I am no longer controlled by my fears.  

         I overcome my fears and act with courage, 

         integrity and dignity.

The Healing Power of Surrender ~
3. Make a decision ( ~ just become willing ) to turn our will and our life over to the care of God, as we understand Him. 


Matt 5:5 ~ "Blessed are the meek ( ... when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less ), for they will inherit the earth. ~ That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

Roman's 12:1-2 - "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."


Our Promise ~

3.     I comprehend the word serenity and I know a new 

         freedom.

The Healing Power of Forgiveness ~
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.


Matt 5:6 ~ "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. ~ You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat."


Matt 6:14-15 ~  "In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can't get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God's part."


Our Promise ~

4.     I release myself from worry, guilt and regret about 

         my past and present.  I am aware enough not to 

         repeat it.

The Healing Power of Confession ~
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves & another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.


Matt 5:7 ~ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy ~ You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for."


James 5:16 ~ "Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with."


Our Promise ~

5.     I know a new love and acceptance of myself and 

        others.  I feel genuinely lovable, loving and loved.

The Healing Power of Acceptance ~
6. Were entirely ready for God to remove all these defects of character.


Matt 5:8 ~ "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ~ You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."


Heb 12: 1-3 ~ "Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!"


*Think back to Step 1 . . .


Our Promise ~

6.     I learn to see myself as equal to others.  My new and

         renewed relationships are all with equal partners.

The Healing Power of Release ~
7. Humbly asked God to Remove our shortcomings.


Matt 5:8 ~ "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. ~ You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."


James 4: 7-10 ~ "So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet."


*Think back to Step 2 . . .


Our Promise ~

7.    I am capable of developing and maintaining healthy

        and loving relationships.   The need to control and 

        manipulate others will disappear as I learn to trust 

        others who are trustworthy.

The Healing Power of Purpose ~
8.  Made a list of all the persons we had harmed and became "willing" to make amends to all.


Matt 5:9 ~ "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family."


Matt 5 : 23-24 ~ "This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God."


*Think back to Step 3 . . .


Our Promise ~ 

8.     I learn that it is possible for me to mend ~ to become 

         more loving , intimate and supportive.  I have the

         choice of communicating with my family in a way

         which is safe for me and respectful of them

The Healing Power of Service ~
9.  Made direct amends to such people whenever possible; except when to do so would injure them or others.


Matt 5:9 ~ "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.


Mark 11:24-25 ~ " And when you assume the posture of prayer, remember that it's not all asking. If you have anything against someone, forgive—only then will your heavenly Father be inclined to also wipe your slate clean of sins."


*Think back to Step 4 . . .


Our Promise ~
9.     I acknowledge I am a unique and precious creation.


The Healing Power of of Listening ~ 
10.  Continued to take inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.


Matt 5:10 ~ "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven ~ You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom."


Gal 6:1-5 ~ "Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.  Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don't be impressed with yourself. Don't compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life."


*Think back to Step 5 . . .


Our Promise ~

10.   I no longer need to rely solely on others to provide 

         my sense of worth.

The Healing Power of Adversity ~
11.  Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, as we understand Him/Her, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.


Matt 5:11-12 ~ "Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble."

Matt 6:9-14 ~

"This, then, is how you should pray: 

   Our Father in heaven, 

   hallowed be your name, 

 your kingdom come, 

   your will be done 

      on earth as it is in heaven. 

 Give us today our daily bread. 

 Forgive us our debts, 

      as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

 And lead us not into temptation, 

   but deliver us from the evil one. 

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

^{But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."}


Serenity Prayer
"God,
Grant me the grace 
(and mercy)
To let others have their addictions, upsets and imperfections
Without my trying to fix them, change them.
Or to solve their problems.
Give me the Courage
To say No when I need to
and the wisdom to reach out for help when I need it.
Bring awareness to me when I am in denial.
Heal my need to please others or control them
Help me to accept with Serenity my imperfections.
Open my vision so that I know that I am Precious,
And make me aware that my Expression is valuable,
(important and worthwhile)
Amen
Rev. Anne Gilles, M.S.

Our Promise ~

11.    I trust the guidance I receive from my Higher Power

         and come to believe in my own capabilities.

The Healing Power of Authentic Identity ~

12.  Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principals in all our affairs.


I John 4:4 ~ "My dear children, you come from God and belong to God."

Matt 5:13-16 ~ "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.  Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

Matt 18:1-3 ~ "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."


Our Promise ~

12.   I gradually experience experience, strength and

         spiritual growth in my daily life.

... Grace and Mercy Triumph over Judgment! ...

"Prayer is not pulling God to our will, but the aligning of our will to the will of God." May we all pray like never before in the midst of crisis or blessings and begin to prepare the table for His miracles to appear in our lives and the lives of others, in Jesus name.