Category Archives: God

God

By the Grace of God

1 Comment

In my sobriety it is always important that I remember “There but for the grace of God, go I” especially when I think of where I came from as an active alcoholic and where I am now in sobriety.

Now, I am writing this post with some observations I have made recently regarding all the recovered alcoholics who are sharing their strength and hope on various social media. God bless them for their efforts. May they reach those suffering souls, just like I am trying to do, who need to hear their message.

In the wake of the death of the actor, Matthew Perry, it was interesting for me to find out he was an advocate for recovery from addiction. I had not known much about him until a lot of his interviews regarding recovery have come to light since he passed away. I had just happened to be on social media and I clicked a interview that he gave and that is how I came to about him and his efforts help suffering alcoholics and drug addicts. After I viewed the first interview I researched him to find many interviews that he had done regarding his struggles with addiction and recovery.

Since then I have been exposed to many many persons creating videos on social media advocating recovery from addiction. I praise these individuals for their efforts to help others with the same disease.

I know there are tons of recovery videos out there but I just wanted to point out one observation. In the 25 or so that I have viewed in the past week they have all shared valuable strength , hope and information that I have recieved from AA, treatment centers, books, etc. However, I didn’t find one that discussed the spiritual aspect . One video that I viewed mention that alcoholism is a disease of the mind, body and spirit but none of them expanded on the spiritual aspect.

I have thought about this and instead of wondering why I am going to make some posts and videos that stress the importance of the spiritual aspect of recovery. In my efforts to reach out to suffering alcoholics I have been fortunate to have made this website available, made my own videos on youtube and have written a book. I have not recieved much feedback on my efforts but have vowed to continue my efforts to reach out to others. I have to just remind myself that it is not about me but it is about the suffering addict that may run across a message that brings hope to their life. As they saying goes ” if it helps at least one person it is worth it.” I pray to God that it reaches many more.

So why post this. i just want to remind myself that without God my sobriety would not be possible. I want to remind myself to never shy away from the mentioning the spiritual aspect of recovery, with conviction, when speaking about my alcoholism. i will continue to post more on my spirituality in recovery.

Thanks for reading this post and if you have any feedback on this post or any others I greatly welcome that. If you know of a suffering alcoholic or one in early recovery that may be reached in some way please share this website or create your own so that the message of hope remains out there. May God bless you and your work.

God, New Ways Of Thinking, Protecting Your Sobriety, Staying Focused, Staying Sober Today

Religion

1 Comment

I have mentioned in past posts that I am willing to go to any lengths to stay sober. I revealed that I have used AA, seen both psychologist and psychiatrist, medication, read books, written a book, set up this website, posted some Youtube videos on my journey of recovery, daily meditation and prayer and most importantly have developed a relationship with God and feel that I can reach out to him for guidance and direction anytime.

Today I would like to discuss another avenue that I am using to stay sober. I have included religion as part of my life. Now I know this is a delicate subject. I am 55 years old and with the exception of over the past year I was very closed minded about the subject. I basically shunned the idea of it have any possibility of improving my life. I didnt like the idea of people congregating and in my perception of so many claiming that their denomiation was right over all others.

Now, I have not been church going my whole life but have recently found that religion is bringing me closer to God. I have attended a handful of church services with my wife. I found that for the most part that if I listen very close to the subject being presented that I have been able to relate some part of it to my life. Not always, but more times than not. Much of the sermons were full of things I could not comprehend. Partly because I have not ever studied religion or made an attempt to do so.

These days I am being open to the concept. I have made a compromise in terms of how I worship. Not being comfortable around groups of people I have been tuning into religion being discussed on Sunday morning television. I have found two ministers whom I have been able follow and listen to their message from God. As the bible is being interpreted by them I am usually able to receive some sort of positive message that pertains to my life and this has been a very enlighting process that I am experiencing. Now I don’t understand the bible but I am trying to by listening to the ministries and with the help of my wonderful wife who helps interpret passages for me.

Now I am not saying that religion may be for you. If your like me I had such a limited experience with church and the gospel of the bible that I remained closed minded for all my life. All I am saying is that it is really having a impact on my beliefs and my way of living. For those of you reading this post it is up to you to decide if this is an avenue that you want to explore. Once again I opened my mind to the concept of religion because I want to be as strong as possible in my quest to remain sober everyday.

God bless you and lets pray for the still suffering alcoholic and that they may find a way to recovery.

Thanks for reading this post and as always I welcome any comments.

God

On The Fence

1 Comment

Some time ago before I got and stayed sober, I was sitting in on a session at rehab discussing the first step of Alcoholics Anonymous. The gentleman, who I grew fondly of and respect very much, was discussing the “Sunlight of the Spirit” and how important it was to be a part of that realm, if you will. The conversation, in summary, was that if an active alcoholic wants to stop drinking he must allow God in his life. Now I suppose one could argue that a person could drink and still have God in their life. There are probably arguments for both sides. At the time I was on the “other side of the fence, away from having God in my life

The purpose of this reflection, more importantly, is to show in some detail, my state of mind before sobriety. I recall raising my hand to be allowed to comment on the subject of “Sunlight of the Spirit”. This action was not like me at all. I usually hid in the back of the room in silence, with no opinion one way or the other, as I had lived my entire life. Something that day had me in the middle of the room, with over approximately 100 other patients in attendance.

I now believe it to be divine intervention. When called upon by the counselor, who incidentally volunteered at the rehab and was a world acclaimed speaker on the topic of Alcoholism, I indicated I was “on the fence” in terms of drinking and wanting to stop drinking. I mentioned that I believed in God but that I was not sure he was the path to me getting and staying sober. After making my comment, the counselor, in a very direct and matter of factly tone, indicated that it would be best to get on the side of the Spirit, less die an alcoholic death. I did not immediately accept this direction, but the seed was plated for the second time in my life.

You see I had been at a previous rehab some two years prior where a volunteer speaker stated, “I had better find god or else,” referring to acquiring sobriety. I recall thinking to myself , who does this person think they are making such a statement. The gentleman, 80 plus years old and a recovered alcoholic, sporting dark died black hair, kindly asked at the end of the discussion to for us to comment on the topic. I recall commenting, “stop preaching”, on the comment card. The following week this gentleman was the guest speaker again. He started the meeting by saying that in over 40 years of speaking he had never received such a comment. I remembered he apologized for his comments about inflicting the belief that God was the most important avenue towards acquiring sobriety. I could tell he was deeply hurt that someone would think that of him. I ducked my head, and with a cocky smile, as a fellow rehabber stared back at me. You see, most everyone there, over 50 patients, knew I had made the comment as I had spent the week spreading my opinion stating, “who does this man think he his imposing God on me”. Well today, I still regret that comment and the effect it had on him. He was just trying to help, and I made a fool of myself. He may no longer be around, but I wish I could apologize to him. I know it was God who is responsible for me getting sober and staying sober. I do believe God had me in those meetings with both the gentlemen speakers so that the seed was planted to believe and trust him, referring to believing in God.

So, I guess the main point I am making is that there are many persons who have gone before me in sobriety who know that God is responsible for the miracle of getting one sober. I believe he just does it when you are ready. For me that meant heavy drinking and destruction for two more years. I am eternally grateful to have God in my life today and would like to express the highest amount of gratitude toward those men who impacted my life, even though t I did not know it or would accept it at that time I was an active alcoholic.

I hope that the statement “You had better find God or else” plants the seed that only with God can you get and stay sober. This is my strong conviction today and I am eternally grateful that God put those men in my life, even though I had no respect for them at the time. Thank you, God. May you be blessed with the gift of sobriety as well.

God

“But for the Grace of God, there I go”

1 Comment

“But for the Grace of God, there I go”.  I recently encountered a  situation where I reminded myself of this passage. It was  on Thanksgiving day, celebrated here in the U.S.,  that I encountered what appeared to be an intoxicated man. I was in a convenient store buying my customary Diet Pepsi cola when a man lined up, at the cashier’s station, to my left side. He was a thin man dressed in soiled clothing with his head hanging low while he awaited his turn to pay.  He was purchasing  three beers at about 8 am.  After paying I returned to my truck and he shortly followed. He was driving a vehicle that did not appear to be in good order as it sit with the wheels over line of the marked parking place. As I stared over at him I remembered the passage above and how I must always remember it. It has been a number of years now but I remember vividly the times when I was purchasing  and consuming alcohol early in the morning  to quiet my nerves in order just to function. My head was always hung low and my vehicle was always on the brink of not working. I am grateful that God was with me at those times of great despair and destruction in my life. I must always remember that passage and realize that I am just one drink away from being that person I encountered that morning. I don’t know that mans story but if he is a suffering soul as was I,  may he allow  God to carry him to sobriety, if he so chooses. I will always try to remember that “But for the Grace of God, there I go”.  and that it applies to any situation or person I encounter from the desolate person to the well dressed ones suffering from the disease of Alcoholism.  God I pray for your help in getting those who wish for a better life and sobriety as well as the persons not ready or willing to accept your hand to somehow desire to change. I am grateful that you were there for me in my time of desperation even though I didn’t know it.  God bless all those suffering souls out there and my wish for them is to find sobriety and peace.

Thank you for allowing me to share my experience and feel free to comment and post your thoughts.

 

God

Precious Time

Leave a comment

Last week I was reminded how precious life is and how I should continue to strive for living day-to-day instead of dwelling on the past or being preoccupied with the future. I was involved in a single car accident last week that I was very lucky to walk away from unharmed along with the other passengers in the vehicle. Hydro -planening off the highway in a heavy downpour found us leaving the roadway into a ditch and through a secondary guard rail  there for protection against going down and embankment toward the river. By the grace off God it stopped the vehicle feet away from going down  the slope  and undoubtedly causing great harm to us. The reason I mention this is because I was dealing with a lot of anxiety  for a couple of days after about what might have been. In a way the whole incident has been a blessing in terms of reminding me to live in the present and make the best of what comes my way. In doing so the anxiety of  is being lifted as I pass that accident site, which is on my daily drive home. I can know that this is all because of God and how grateful I should be and what a blessing each day of sobriety brings. My goal now is to reach out to my family, who live across country, on a daily basis in some fashion if only to say hello and let them know I am always thinking of them. In addition I need to practice saying ” I love you ” more often to all those whom i am blessed to share my life with these sober days. I believe in doing so I can continue to share precious memories if even by only telephone…..May God protect you and allow you to live day by day in sobriety so that you may be able to create precious memories as I am trying to do.

God

God’s Gift To You

Leave a comment

I believe God gave me the gift of sobriety to protect, love and cherish. It has protected me against taking a drink over the last 12 years. I know I can reach out to God in any hour of temptation , grasp that gift tightly, and ask that the thought of drinking be removed at once. It works for me. Therefore if I was to take a drink I would be throwing my gift back into God’s face, in a manner of speaking, which I have no right to do .I pray that you may reach out and accept that wonderful gift that I know God is extending. I know it available and is proof by the many  alcoholics who have received it and hold onto it with their life. What a blessing.

God

Daily Prayer

Leave a comment

My daily routine involves waking up and praying. I pray for the health, happiness, safety and security of my family and friends. I am very careful not to pray for myself with the exception of health and longevity so that I may be of use to my family, friends and the suffering alcoholic. I do not pray for material things. In doing so I feel my spiritual foundation is sound.  Today I pray that communion with God becomes part of your life. It is a feeling that is indescribable. God Bless you always!

God

God in my Life

Leave a comment

It was a few months into my sobriety, back in 2004, that my faith in God began to return. For many years prior, in active drinking, I had lost faith. I believed God was punishing me for my way of living and the only time I reached out to him was when I begged him to let me die, which was everyday.  I am grateful that he must of had other plans for me.

My faith today is very strong. He is always there for me during the day when I need to commune with him. I believe that he is listening and loves me. For those of you struggling with active addiction , I say he loves you too and the gift of sobriety will be granted to you if you extend your hand out to him. I you are one in sobriety who finds your self struggling, just reach out for God’s hand and know you have been chosen to live a better way than  you did in  active drinking. I know its tough but just believe and you are going to be given the greatest gift of your life. God bless you!