tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42642675457635782602024-03-28T08:21:01.453-04:00The road of recovery and current news A blog for daily motivational readings for those in recovery ...and for getting caught up on what's going on around usChristopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.comBlogger30200125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-30835593409105170512024-03-28T04:39:00.003-04:002024-03-28T04:39:31.268-04:00March 28, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mpT9zYa4_Vnue7w9nFfcSiy1V0ObKOcHOY8eN64le1Ti1TaNenRMfvbTmfGrg-aGbjezJsuFxrip3OHJtbjFXnSbtvBYLdQfRfgaPMRTy3OPqSF24Yzz2jjOcAuvLgSP7CBDGVnq-LUfsxPlRcRRAFgpz5JngZQgaXVtH3D6OWRP25TewNDv-CyJpuG0/s844/serenity%20prayer115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mpT9zYa4_Vnue7w9nFfcSiy1V0ObKOcHOY8eN64le1Ti1TaNenRMfvbTmfGrg-aGbjezJsuFxrip3OHJtbjFXnSbtvBYLdQfRfgaPMRTy3OPqSF24Yzz2jjOcAuvLgSP7CBDGVnq-LUfsxPlRcRRAFgpz5JngZQgaXVtH3D6OWRP25TewNDv-CyJpuG0/s320/serenity%20prayer115.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Thursday, March 28, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Anger is a great energizer if you don’t get stuck in it.</span></span></em></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">— <em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Lavonne Stewart</b></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Many of us have to face up to our anger and the negative ways we have handled it. For most men, the real problem is not anger itself, but how we express it. Some of us never express it; others of us get abusive when we express it. Either way calls for more growth. Often, people confuse anger with abuse. They may say,<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"> “I just have to express my feelings, and when I’m angry, I have to let it out.”</em> Other people say, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Anger is so hurtful. I will avoid it at all costs.”</em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Healing requires that we look to see the sources of our anger, how we have expressed it or failed to, and then learn how to say our feelings honestly and with respect. When we see what we are actually angry about, it gives us energy, it motivates us. It’s a life force. There is no rule that we have to show our anger in destructive ways. We can be flat‑out angry at someone we love and still maintain the respect we hold for that person. It is possible to learn to look at a friend and say, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“I feel angry about this, and I’m here to tell you about it because I care about our friendship.”</em></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today,</span><span style="color: #111111;"> </span></span><span style="color: #111111;"><b>I will accept my angry feelings as a source of life energy, and I will find honest, respectful ways to show them.</b></span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></span></em></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-14701737362192464662024-03-28T00:00:00.009-04:002024-03-28T00:00:00.258-04:00March 28, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D1piEmTsG3lsP9B-C4zeeeps6_8WOJI5BaoQHlAn9OhVmZIOVF3rWTz4bdlXdFj_gSRE6ZuIM2k_EzxKPqCJHv6dDr05pGryd8ixBGGPSV9ZMdghyphenhyphen9Yjxv_iZyUf8vL3f9bEA3yLOiszmIkltf4JC0rNjg9NWwyCs7Yck3ZkcbNzT5llPrIevRnh9-sZ/s697/serenity%20prayer114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7D1piEmTsG3lsP9B-C4zeeeps6_8WOJI5BaoQHlAn9OhVmZIOVF3rWTz4bdlXdFj_gSRE6ZuIM2k_EzxKPqCJHv6dDr05pGryd8ixBGGPSV9ZMdghyphenhyphen9Yjxv_iZyUf8vL3f9bEA3yLOiszmIkltf4JC0rNjg9NWwyCs7Yck3ZkcbNzT5llPrIevRnh9-sZ/s320/serenity%20prayer114.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Step by Step</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Thursday, March 28, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today</span></em>,</span><span style="color: #111111;"> I will not romanticize my drinking days as </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">“fun”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> or good if a newcomer to the</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-weight: 700;"> Program</span><span style="color: #111111;"> or even a veteran talk about</span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;"> “the good old days.”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> By embellishing drinking before </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">“things went bad”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> and even constructing a vision that any of it was good, I am probably pining for days when I might have drank </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">“safely”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> without being honest that those days never existed at all. And by longing for non-existent </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">“good old days,”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> I am vulnerable to a slip or relapse and denying the truth that I am now, and forever will be, “</span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">powerless over alcohol.</em><span style="color: #111111;">” More pointedly, if I try to re-do my last drunk into something that is not true, I have basically forgotten my last drunk. And as one of the </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-weight: 700;">Program</span><span style="color: #111111;">‘s old sayings goes, if I can’t remember my last drunk, I haven’t had it. </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today,</span><span style="color: #111111;"> </span></span></em><span style="color: #111111;">I will remember with honesty how it was and that it has been, so far by the grace of God, my last drunk. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Chris M., 2024</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-86958402699385601482024-03-28T00:00:00.007-04:002024-03-28T00:00:00.260-04:00March 28, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4AlmV2h40o0KHj2_ZDvEWo5ZuS8Y65NTHwU98CZ-uboBo2H8Pf5SlYjTDCO9ecttBwmCQwf6S4fYajMzA8Ia_pm7OfcRFzTr4ur8ivyxU6PmNxuAyYadsQdc2WyXnoPWbz-uiJHD9ITqnwvtrUhenxmQeMK3d-LtHg4lRPjh12pDLCp9nJCr7XISMks7/s845/serenity%20prayer113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT4AlmV2h40o0KHj2_ZDvEWo5ZuS8Y65NTHwU98CZ-uboBo2H8Pf5SlYjTDCO9ecttBwmCQwf6S4fYajMzA8Ia_pm7OfcRFzTr4ur8ivyxU6PmNxuAyYadsQdc2WyXnoPWbz-uiJHD9ITqnwvtrUhenxmQeMK3d-LtHg4lRPjh12pDLCp9nJCr7XISMks7/s320/serenity%20prayer113.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twenty-Four Hours a Day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Thursday, March 28, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">AA Thought for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">When you come into an <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">AA </span>meeting, you’re not just coming into a meeting, you’re coming into a new life. I’m always impressed by the change I see in people after they’ve been in <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">AA</span> for a while. I sometimes take an inventory of myself to see whether I have changed and, if so, in what way. Before I met <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">AA</span>, I was very selfish. I wanted my own way in everything. I don’t believe I ever grew up. When things went wrong, I sulked like a spoiled child and often went out and got drunk.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Am I still all get and no give?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Meditation for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">There are two things that we must have if we are going to change our way of life. One is faith, the confidence in things unseen, the fundamental goodness and purpose in the universe. The other is obedience: that is, living according to our faith, living each day as we believe that God wants us to live, with gratitude, humility, honesty, purity, unselfishness and love. Faith and obedience, these two, will give us all the strength we need to overcome sin and temptation and to live a new and more abundant life.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Prayer for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I pray that I may have more faith and obedience. I pray that I may live a more abundant life as a result of these things.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-47441402095566548432024-03-28T00:00:00.005-04:002024-03-28T00:00:00.259-04:00March 28, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb4_HNAsH-F8-lcbeIcrQX2Imf8rWLrT9Z6J646ZKTefnDilaljKIJP1HBUXAMYyBhP2zNCrnKVrsPXz_VJFs2b17WbO74pO-VC696bwpb9psRhJF2hyK4uGvVrcFSxRq3iHprq074E2XnYcWNuXePU12Yl3V7ilmmJXR2ZHYjyM9HI3Al6VUZPEyvlGW/s720/serenity%20prayer112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb4_HNAsH-F8-lcbeIcrQX2Imf8rWLrT9Z6J646ZKTefnDilaljKIJP1HBUXAMYyBhP2zNCrnKVrsPXz_VJFs2b17WbO74pO-VC696bwpb9psRhJF2hyK4uGvVrcFSxRq3iHprq074E2XnYcWNuXePU12Yl3V7ilmmJXR2ZHYjyM9HI3Al6VUZPEyvlGW/s320/serenity%20prayer112.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">A Day at a Time</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Thursday, March 28, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Reflection for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We must think deeply of all those sick persons still to come to <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span>. As they try to make their return to faith and to life, we want them to find everything in <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span> that we have found, yet more, if that be possible. No care, no vigilance, no effort to preserve <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span>‘s constant effectiveness and spiritual strength will ever be too great to hold us in full readiness for the day of their homecoming.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">How well do I respect the Traditions of The Program?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Pray</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">God help me to carry out my part in making the group a lifeline for those who are still suffering from addictions, in maintaining the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Steps</span> and the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Traditions </span>which have made it work for me for those who are still to come. May<span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> The Program</span> be a <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“homecoming”</em> for those of us who share the disease of addiction. May we find common solutions to the common problems which that disease breeds.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Will Remember</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">To do my part.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-19439617871512033612024-03-28T00:00:00.003-04:002024-03-28T00:00:00.259-04:00March 28, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH890WGvq0ffx0c6wgnWJBB7mJOJbr0GyIG0E8773znckcFJ5Y82IFz0GQO4m3W3395-7qneX3SUTf2xSeA0KPeZ3HdJmuKoqe-ocrmejgNrtSAYG2xNsRZjUzufEfbFSPqbUCASEUAywuuEK8vDxrDmr2rG_tF6ApAChjQdlKTKi414FjYigydiinFENR/s829/serenity%20prayer111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="829" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH890WGvq0ffx0c6wgnWJBB7mJOJbr0GyIG0E8773znckcFJ5Y82IFz0GQO4m3W3395-7qneX3SUTf2xSeA0KPeZ3HdJmuKoqe-ocrmejgNrtSAYG2xNsRZjUzufEfbFSPqbUCASEUAywuuEK8vDxrDmr2rG_tF6ApAChjQdlKTKi414FjYigydiinFENR/s320/serenity%20prayer111.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Eye Opener</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Thursday, March 28, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Why is the world? Why are we here? What is our purpose? Why must we live and suffer and die? Without God, there would be no answer. We do not know the great extent of God’s purpose, but we do know that we as individuals, each and every one, must somehow fit into that purpose.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We can only know God as He has revealed Himself to us. We know His principle attribute is goodness. Therefore, His purpose must be good, and we can best serve that purpose by aspiring to the highest standard of goodness that we can conceive.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-72838092483722481952024-03-28T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-28T00:00:00.260-04:00March 28, 2024 – Good morning and let’s get going on a fantastic Thursday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvj3Wu2elv0qeBigXPpq6Ojz4qwHyURU9ovQGpGNvFUKYoQmOVdI2TvtXSQ3eJT2NfL5mbsFC3A8PDp3u0LysacPLRjtoRp9ZXftVUWKPqd_plJf8eMtZgKOaGDhjbgru_hjE4jpXjJwTYqXqihGbOkJ96Jn29Ddw4qv0ivnVMuVH1s5506ETqtP1EvRh/s720/thursday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="540" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvj3Wu2elv0qeBigXPpq6Ojz4qwHyURU9ovQGpGNvFUKYoQmOVdI2TvtXSQ3eJT2NfL5mbsFC3A8PDp3u0LysacPLRjtoRp9ZXftVUWKPqd_plJf8eMtZgKOaGDhjbgru_hjE4jpXjJwTYqXqihGbOkJ96Jn29Ddw4qv0ivnVMuVH1s5506ETqtP1EvRh/w300-h400/thursday1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;">Good morning and let’s kick it in gear and make it a great and productive </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Thursday</span></em><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"> …and not give anything and anyone the control to make it less</span><p></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-79819091009325394912024-03-27T05:40:00.002-04:002024-03-27T05:40:31.032-04:00March 27, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qp6EtBI1ro7AWpSJtIEIoMuhHRRlmsdm4ECe8bQ8S_YTPkLcUpvB8zstSvhfLxJmNb9_PwKQPjJYRb7ZThgaPrnpos2f2r7PEq7cNT9PV4lOCD3Wo8Z8GfPB1H75xK-6haocslnyiO0Kj8HCbEJj-7vxMejw5w5HZjqQ5hhzZebsTnzQ84hHCSloRdzN/s837/serenity%20prayer110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qp6EtBI1ro7AWpSJtIEIoMuhHRRlmsdm4ECe8bQ8S_YTPkLcUpvB8zstSvhfLxJmNb9_PwKQPjJYRb7ZThgaPrnpos2f2r7PEq7cNT9PV4lOCD3Wo8Z8GfPB1H75xK-6haocslnyiO0Kj8HCbEJj-7vxMejw5w5HZjqQ5hhzZebsTnzQ84hHCSloRdzN/s320/serenity%20prayer110.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Wednesday, March 27, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Choices are not irrevocable …They can be remade.</span></em></span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">— <em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Julie Riebe</b></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Knowing that we can make choices about every circumstance in our lives fills us with awe at the breadth of our personal power. For decades, perhaps, we felt we had none. Life was bleak, and we were at its mercy. How thrilled we are to understand, finally, where our power begins!</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We are learning so much from this program. At times we wonder how we survived for so long on so little understanding. Our condition felt hopeless, and because we took no responsibility for changing our circumstances, nothing changed.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #111111;">That’s true no more. Every day we intentionally make choices about what’s happening in our lives. Some choices, like changing a job or confronting a friend, are big. Others, like deciding whether to exercise</span><span style="color: #ff00fe;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">today</em></span></span><span style="color: #111111;"> or tomorrow, are small. Large or small, our choices allow us to decide who we are, and none of our choices are without significance. That’s exciting!</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b style="color: #111111;">I will choose carefully</b><span style="color: #ff00fe;"> <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">today</span><b>.</b></span><span style="color: #111111;"><b> If a change of mind is in my best interest, then I can change my mind.</b></span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></span></em></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-72512532099942805952024-03-27T00:00:00.009-04:002024-03-27T00:00:00.183-04:00March 27, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jhE5I3Hp_PXYn6q0n6IeUZxTMgVfMKQSlgqVY7AXVbH5zyk8aKMBYBnYxPZMiMzRPuENzBJnxB3oDXY3zV8eI-ZeNGtJfNAoS_EqRPPmULpIs2ZokVAr8IJDvrxfk18Un_5lOZ7-fjJEVKSQ-AglM8oupbit9mVVsRDve0KNP7awKfyaUrYPUHCCbeFh/s825/serenity%20prayer109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jhE5I3Hp_PXYn6q0n6IeUZxTMgVfMKQSlgqVY7AXVbH5zyk8aKMBYBnYxPZMiMzRPuENzBJnxB3oDXY3zV8eI-ZeNGtJfNAoS_EqRPPmULpIs2ZokVAr8IJDvrxfk18Un_5lOZ7-fjJEVKSQ-AglM8oupbit9mVVsRDve0KNP7awKfyaUrYPUHCCbeFh/s320/serenity%20prayer109.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Step by Step</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Wednesday, March 27, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today</span></em>,</span><span style="color: #111111;"> if I am afraid, anxious, worried or uncertain about anything, I can draw strength from the mercy and blessing of my Higher Power that guided me through the darkness of active alcoholism to face the challenges before me now. If I believe that drinking was the darkest chapter of my life but that I survived with the mercy of a Higher Power, I can also believe that the same mercy can lead me through a lesser turmoil.</span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-weight: 700;"> Step 2</span><span style="color: #111111;"> of coming to believe in a Higher Power is refuge from any storm I am weathering now, and the </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-weight: 700;">Third Step </span><span style="color: #111111;">of yielding to a greater Power calms any fears or doubts with faith. </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today,</span></em> </span><span style="color: #111111;">I can draw strength and hope from the yesterday when I had my last drink to believe that, with faith and strength in the Power that got me through those days, I can get through anything less — with unconditional faith and by seeking His will over mine. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Chris M., 2024</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-5532246092649986702024-03-27T00:00:00.007-04:002024-03-27T00:00:00.180-04:00March 27, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE1aE48OdMQ8JV4ZuHP67B5Z9ZKt33r-Tgn7AJhMaWoQ3T0QvNHxeG6ToIZ05mcNvj0Y-ts2gnNpBM5-Uhv3fqvRR8ky5C0IBKjTi7tIdEn-CcxMX7ScLpcX7gMa7zcgltspnAn01r5yTg0dZ445RpbDrMMeg0fe4k6Uj0rgUrX7qY57c_vMNu1Uc2aSn/s682/serenity%20prayer108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQE1aE48OdMQ8JV4ZuHP67B5Z9ZKt33r-Tgn7AJhMaWoQ3T0QvNHxeG6ToIZ05mcNvj0Y-ts2gnNpBM5-Uhv3fqvRR8ky5C0IBKjTi7tIdEn-CcxMX7ScLpcX7gMa7zcgltspnAn01r5yTg0dZ445RpbDrMMeg0fe4k6Uj0rgUrX7qY57c_vMNu1Uc2aSn/s320/serenity%20prayer108.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twenty-Four Hours a Day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Wednesday, March 27, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">AA</em> <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Thought for the Day</em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">You get the power to overcome drinking through the fellowship of other alcoholics who have found the way out. You get power by honestly sharing your past experience by a personal witness. You get power by coming to believe in a Higher Power, the Divine Principle in the universe which can help you. You get power by working with other alcoholics. In these four ways, thousands of alcoholics have found all the power they needed to overcome drinking.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Am I ready and willing to accept this power and work for it?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Meditation for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">The power of God’s spirit is the greatest power in the universe. Our conquest of each other, the great kings and conquerors, the conquest of wealth, the leaders of the money society, all amount to very little in the end. But he that conquers himself is greater than he who conquers a city. Material things have no permanence. But God’s spirit is eternal. Everything really worthwhile in the world is the result of the power of God’s spirit.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Prayer for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I pray that I may open myself to the power of God’s spirit. I pray that my relationships with others may be improved by this spirit.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-77076450827044246832024-03-27T00:00:00.005-04:002024-03-27T00:00:00.184-04:00March 27, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1czYFsljyj5lpvdXLE79_1fQo5J2RxsGNq-_6a3K2exkvJK7WlRKMpWsCMrk7E3OphhF5m__1hJmu-6qATqyV4V8uQG5n0LPBYspPDZ_uFMIvxRKzxiOdW9yMOfDARmR6DZ3i5Gmt8vSYLSXQL6a3PB1OGPh5qAR5IqLukWWbjjOVz1sSlsJATB5H4-v/s717/serenity%20prayer107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="563" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1czYFsljyj5lpvdXLE79_1fQo5J2RxsGNq-_6a3K2exkvJK7WlRKMpWsCMrk7E3OphhF5m__1hJmu-6qATqyV4V8uQG5n0LPBYspPDZ_uFMIvxRKzxiOdW9yMOfDARmR6DZ3i5Gmt8vSYLSXQL6a3PB1OGPh5qAR5IqLukWWbjjOVz1sSlsJATB5H4-v/s320/serenity%20prayer107.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">A Day at a Time</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Wednesday, March 27, 2043</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Reflection for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Storing up grievances is not only a waste of time, but a waste of life that could be lived to greater satisfaction. If I keep a ledger of <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“oppressions and indignities,”</em> I’m only restoring them to painful reality.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">“The horror of that moment,” the King said, “I shall never, never forget.”</span></span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">“You will, though,” said the Queen,</span></span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“if you don’t make a memorandum of it.”</em> –</span> </span></p><p class="has-text-align-right" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: right;">— <em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b>Lewis Carroll, “Through the Looking Glass”</b></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Am I keeping a secret storehouse for the wreckage of my past?</em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Pray</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">God keep me from harboring the sludge from the past — grievances, annoyances, grudges, oppressions, wrongs, injustices, put-downs, slights, hurts. They will nag at me and consume my time in rehashing what I <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“might have said”</em> or done until I face each one, name the emotion it produced in me, settle it as best I can — and forget it. May I empty my storehouse of old grievances.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Will Remember</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Don’t rattle old bones.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-46545117255754845592024-03-27T00:00:00.003-04:002024-03-27T00:00:00.181-04:00March 27, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj6WFG0PNhsYmj7sSMkyw3Z6MYL9t9cDojpqlwFsF9frNqIPnE2cxAJ_cg8U4o54ei58_JU-601YDcruzrloEemEuiVwnSgNM5xBmqyeRMLvdvIf4fBFI-lAsx2dKryE9O3pNczGAe64uuRvW7IjiiFA8RaHxfyFey3yOllCbztSNaGx1WpddJVK3CsCL/s750/serenity%20prayer106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxj6WFG0PNhsYmj7sSMkyw3Z6MYL9t9cDojpqlwFsF9frNqIPnE2cxAJ_cg8U4o54ei58_JU-601YDcruzrloEemEuiVwnSgNM5xBmqyeRMLvdvIf4fBFI-lAsx2dKryE9O3pNczGAe64uuRvW7IjiiFA8RaHxfyFey3yOllCbztSNaGx1WpddJVK3CsCL/s320/serenity%20prayer106.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Eye Opener</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Wednesday, March 27, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Many of us can recall being fired from jobs for drinking and at the same time being given a letter of recommendation that spoke in glowing terms about our ability, Of course, the former boss was trying to be kind in avoiding any mention of the drinking problem, but such letters are actually dishonest, and it was equally dishonest when we used them to procure new jobs.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">How much better it would have been if they had tried to do something constructive about the problem rather than lowering us in our own esteem by making us a party to the deceit.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-59377912140648202302024-03-27T00:00:00.001-04:002024-03-27T00:00:00.182-04:00March 27, 2024 – Good morning with a loud whoop for a beautiful Wednesday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q7XOgCEYAi9V2sGVCMUXIyu9tF3_dpMOjpmgLcTwewozhQMJn8yszlay8verMtxgbvqKGrKiM95MyudWROJhoajG_r1iT8UK-vhSwNaQNVEqAtmKGgvZh7PMAsRiUhBkzwAklS4hudg8z9RaPwMlhaOjPzq8W0Wk_UfFEwTqHgpyOnFrjJJJP7M0JczR/s1129/wednesday1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="884" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q7XOgCEYAi9V2sGVCMUXIyu9tF3_dpMOjpmgLcTwewozhQMJn8yszlay8verMtxgbvqKGrKiM95MyudWROJhoajG_r1iT8UK-vhSwNaQNVEqAtmKGgvZh7PMAsRiUhBkzwAklS4hudg8z9RaPwMlhaOjPzq8W0Wk_UfFEwTqHgpyOnFrjJJJP7M0JczR/w314-h400/wednesday1.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;">Good morning to a cute little pussy cat getting goosed by a stuffed shark to get your </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Wednesday</span></em><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"> under way …make it a calm and productive day, and empower nothing and no one to make it less</span><p></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-32961077469271129482024-03-26T03:38:00.001-04:002024-03-26T03:38:19.333-04:00March 26, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Today's Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yrLFMT9AE3jvPcWrFt-hTVffAA9OEEjCMGeUA8yBTz0I7XfOdf_5ObVI61OV7nm-RdtKbshQ9RZa9roQOgzEzZgeP7ZaHIhunsmRVS8UiQxZE2ipYrQuXq155-azzyHhDN-qk7jjP1awpkngWXKV5Eurg-EtBJuYu8FfdYXUO70L2lUnPNib3-QKCeLj/s846/serenity%20prayer5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9yrLFMT9AE3jvPcWrFt-hTVffAA9OEEjCMGeUA8yBTz0I7XfOdf_5ObVI61OV7nm-RdtKbshQ9RZa9roQOgzEzZgeP7ZaHIhunsmRVS8UiQxZE2ipYrQuXq155-azzyHhDN-qk7jjP1awpkngWXKV5Eurg-EtBJuYu8FfdYXUO70L2lUnPNib3-QKCeLj/s320/serenity%20prayer5.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Tuesday, March 26, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today’s Gift from Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is:</span></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Let us work as if success depended upon ourselves alone; but with heartfelt conviction that we are doing nothing and God everything.</span></span></em></p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;">— <em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b>St. Ignatius Loyola</b></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">It’s a spiritual paradox that the more successful we feel in this <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">program</span>, the more convinced we are that it is not our doing. Our success depends on our Higher Power. None of us can say, <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“I did it.” </em>As the quality of our life improves, though — as we grow calmer and more self assured — it is only natural for us to feel we’ve done something right.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We most assuredly have done something right if we are working the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twelve Steps </span>of this <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">program</span>, for it is a stairway to communion with God, a stairway to serenity. The more time we spend on the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Steps</span>, the more time we spend with God. It’s that simple. So it is true that we work for our own success, and it is just as true that it comes from God.</p><p class="has-text-align-center" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; text-align: center;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><b>My success depends on the effort I make in putting myself in the hands of God.</b></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-87375603317001666572024-03-26T00:00:00.010-04:002024-03-26T00:00:00.149-04:00March 26, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt9F4IBv0_FCZjBesFXSbJOKUntIgXSYoE_wbz3cxo5bRZ0Pxu3kfvVeApIqsA43P3ZL2IUIAmihyDs_l0fPClcIXyXIuglMt6-Go_o8L916eDtmEHDSk7ktxlRR3xSwF-3kOboLvb3DoTdIt10b73lrZg0dqBF_u7AiaYItMP8Eqc6P9l2As04eGg1FB/s846/serenity%20prayer104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWt9F4IBv0_FCZjBesFXSbJOKUntIgXSYoE_wbz3cxo5bRZ0Pxu3kfvVeApIqsA43P3ZL2IUIAmihyDs_l0fPClcIXyXIuglMt6-Go_o8L916eDtmEHDSk7ktxlRR3xSwF-3kOboLvb3DoTdIt10b73lrZg0dqBF_u7AiaYItMP8Eqc6P9l2As04eGg1FB/s320/serenity%20prayer104.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Step by Step</span><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Tuesday, March 26, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today</span></em>,</span><span style="color: #111111;"> recognize that much of my life has been expecting other people to meet my demands and expectations and fill my needs and wants. In selfishness and vanity, I rejected those who failed or would not give me what I wanted or needed when I wanted and needed it. In those times of looking to the outside for fulfillment, I had not a clue how to look inside myself and beyond something stronger than other people to attain what since have become different needs and expectations. In recovery, I understand that sobriety is first and foremost above everyone and everything. Once, my expectations of others were so unrealistic and selfish that I became needy to the point of being pathetic. Now I see the consequences, sometimes disastrous, of putting all my expectations on others. Now I am able to look inside myself and to a stronger Power to earn what I need. </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today,</span></em> </span><span style="color: #111111;">I will take what my </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-weight: 700;">Program</span><span style="color: #111111;"> has given me to meet my needs and not weigh anyone with expectations so selfish and heavy that I ignore that they, too, have their own needs. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Chris M., 2024</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-42266272124515052492024-03-26T00:00:00.008-04:002024-03-26T00:00:00.147-04:00March 26, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0KreHYFGzt4-GIT10-4bzzG0WPuz6V2KM447m-7clYxz8kmlIWJp_7FCe9rBWlQsMZx3xZ2kIXHbh-jpVZCfNJYvusvhLIVmqm9Sd9MhAlxJ408YlqmtMaLKb1ujJR9lNyfL2hLqCK_sdn8D7mhpTPM_vINVkuL-E7Li8sRaX9zQYb1w0bj1na6znKx4/s676/serenity%20prayer103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="676" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv0KreHYFGzt4-GIT10-4bzzG0WPuz6V2KM447m-7clYxz8kmlIWJp_7FCe9rBWlQsMZx3xZ2kIXHbh-jpVZCfNJYvusvhLIVmqm9Sd9MhAlxJ408YlqmtMaLKb1ujJR9lNyfL2hLqCK_sdn8D7mhpTPM_vINVkuL-E7Li8sRaX9zQYb1w0bj1na6znKx4/s320/serenity%20prayer103.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twenty-Four Hours a Day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Tuesday, March 26, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">AA Thought for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Strength comes also from working with other alcoholics. When you are trying to help a new prospect with the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">program</span>, you are building up your own strength at the same time. You see the other person in the condition you might be in yourself and it makes your resolve to stay sober stronger than ever. Often, you help yourself more than the other person, but if you do succeed in helping the prospect to get sober, you are stronger from the experience of having helped another person.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Am I receiving strength from working with others?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Meditation for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Faith is the bridge between you and God. It is the bridge which God has ordained. If all were seen and known, there would be no merit in doing right. Therefore, God has ordained that we do not see or know directly. But we can experience the power of His spirit through our faith. It is the bridge between us and Him, which we can take or not, as we will. There could be no morality without free will. We must make the choice ourselves. We must make the venture of belief.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Prayer for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I pray that I may choose and decide to cross the bridge of faith. I pray that by crossing this bridge I may receive the spiritual power I need.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-90646028955024777992024-03-26T00:00:00.006-04:002024-03-26T00:00:00.149-04:00March 26, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf16pjG4ypz_mRoQa16dmND3R7VeCpb_BhJJMJZCENWyoiyvgpJzkdOzsXRkknD30fJjZ_VO_YYuZmrOPEXPIKREKIrnUuXpF2qg70uL_WmYJKeSwXrNwxrbSwQxBI1MYWxPJsTFhViDdbNRnghqGPBNrB-pTUZDb1mIXnHBmpX1aY5WCRRdsUhVCPi2DI/s810/serenity%20prayer102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf16pjG4ypz_mRoQa16dmND3R7VeCpb_BhJJMJZCENWyoiyvgpJzkdOzsXRkknD30fJjZ_VO_YYuZmrOPEXPIKREKIrnUuXpF2qg70uL_WmYJKeSwXrNwxrbSwQxBI1MYWxPJsTFhViDdbNRnghqGPBNrB-pTUZDb1mIXnHBmpX1aY5WCRRdsUhVCPi2DI/s320/serenity%20prayer102.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">A Day at a Time</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Tuesday, March 26, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Reflection for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I know <em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">today </span></em>that getting active means trying to live the suggested <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Steps</span> of <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span> to the best of my ability. It means striving for some degree of honesty, first with myself, then with others. It means activity directed inward, to enable me to see myself and my relationship with my Higher Power more clearly. As I get active, outside and inside myself, so shall I grow in <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Do I let others do all the work at meetings? Do I carry my share?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Pray</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">May I realize that<em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> </span>“letting go and letting God”</em> does not mean that I do not have to put any effort into <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span>. It is up to me to work the <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twelve Steps</span>, to learn what may be an entirely new thing with me — honesty. May I differentiate between activity for activity’s sake — busy-work to keep me from thinking — and the thoughtful activity which helps me to grow.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Will Remember</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">“Letting God”</em><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> </span>means letting Him show us how.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-19860478761430317662024-03-26T00:00:00.004-04:002024-03-26T00:00:00.147-04:00March 26, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: The Eye Opener<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmkBJFAcqdO6Ur4ivpLc4DbtDd4rEyZKdyJJ3to9KYXrOzmh0ESYdk3f2UoUb73w4wydK4DBIwZbX5J_BDo_u0fDou6DUJugGk6YsREMHlfLS6o1YNpSDkRyheWFdvMnPi6kE7br-1yiRjbxCaKjmB5mHuZ_je86y-dqHqNfjzWEwBl2QIFqKEwIWM4Zc/s840/serenity%20prayer101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixmkBJFAcqdO6Ur4ivpLc4DbtDd4rEyZKdyJJ3to9KYXrOzmh0ESYdk3f2UoUb73w4wydK4DBIwZbX5J_BDo_u0fDou6DUJugGk6YsREMHlfLS6o1YNpSDkRyheWFdvMnPi6kE7br-1yiRjbxCaKjmB5mHuZ_je86y-dqHqNfjzWEwBl2QIFqKEwIWM4Zc/s320/serenity%20prayer101.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Eye Opener</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Tuesday, March 26, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We in <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">AA </span>have many religious affiliations, and there are some of us who contend that <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">AA</span> is all the religion they need. Yet this fact remains: the spiritual facts on which <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">AA</span> is based would not have survived the ages but for the tenacity of formal religions.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Without religions, our moral, political and social structure would collapse. There is a lot in all denominations that can be criticized but, without them, life would be chaos.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-67445524427494064302024-03-26T00:00:00.002-04:002024-03-26T00:00:00.148-04:00March 26, 2024 – Good morning and let’s try to make it a great Tuesday<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw60Lop0D_LzkjKRzrLDyXYpgm4XHwrSs_q2akGT4lSR58mAWhyphenhyphen7mvHO9chFNBkXqezf2NSdNYu5adXbxe6DZMGBMbXNNlNuhM7TpCWfXzV70XWNB9Ty52XoyZupP9-QhHD8UWaMTcqr5fsvfEJwuZM8Lk2FLy1GSK8KXM2yqWdV5keXvk-7MXvgU3GVfA/s700/tuesday1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw60Lop0D_LzkjKRzrLDyXYpgm4XHwrSs_q2akGT4lSR58mAWhyphenhyphen7mvHO9chFNBkXqezf2NSdNYu5adXbxe6DZMGBMbXNNlNuhM7TpCWfXzV70XWNB9Ty52XoyZupP9-QhHD8UWaMTcqr5fsvfEJwuZM8Lk2FLy1GSK8KXM2yqWdV5keXvk-7MXvgU3GVfA/w400-h400/tuesday1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #111111;">Good morning and let’s try to make</span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #111111;"> </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;">today</span></em><span style="color: #111111;"> a calm, drama- and trauma-free but productive and worthwhile </span></span><div><span style="color: #ff00fe; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Tuesday</em> </span><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;">…and not be discouraged by people and things that aren’t worth our time</span><p></p></div>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-91641167075143469832024-03-25T00:00:00.010-04:002024-03-25T00:00:00.146-04:00March 25, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGe5nh-u7SWzaWXypPu_P8kGKGd2pFLESFbZ7Ox-Kahp4lmj20QplQgtEu06TnX6k0r6ALQMmP-_B1JO7vV3By9imbxBwnOYBligzp7YMDrB17FQaeML21xQ7YjAd6LmJ_4zImSXn-kxpPMQvuOlYqIbChIK6rUopx_hy0ZqlcUIkh6r1N-QpvaQ0FSHgb/s612/serenity%20prayer99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="612" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGe5nh-u7SWzaWXypPu_P8kGKGd2pFLESFbZ7Ox-Kahp4lmj20QplQgtEu06TnX6k0r6ALQMmP-_B1JO7vV3By9imbxBwnOYBligzp7YMDrB17FQaeML21xQ7YjAd6LmJ_4zImSXn-kxpPMQvuOlYqIbChIK6rUopx_hy0ZqlcUIkh6r1N-QpvaQ0FSHgb/s320/serenity%20prayer99.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Step by Step</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Monday, March 25, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Today</span></em>,</span><span style="color: #111111;"> focus on compulsiveness so as not to react to anyone or anything with the heightened emotions that nurtured the defects of my character. From a behavioral standpoint, we alcoholics drank with compulsion. As such, my alcoholism is both physical and behavioral in nature. To get the discipline to prevent compulsion from gaining an upper hand in all my affairs, I can work </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-weight: 700;">Step Three </span><span style="color: #111111;">as I begin this day by handing over to my Higher Power my will and ask instead for His will. </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today, </span></span></em><span style="color: #111111;">as I set out, I surrender my will — or self-will run riot — to my Higher Power with faith that He will strengthen me to act accordingly and responsibly instead out of the compulsiveness that contributed to my spiritual and psychological defects. And our common journey continues. Step by step. — </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Chris M., 2024</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-32860426022549777702024-03-25T00:00:00.008-04:002024-03-25T00:00:00.145-04:00March 25, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_9HcljaPX1mHCWgBze-b9IiA62APaPWbUj7enVrC6xGvP3jPCgZAqlWb_4xkHoRPpv_AqEbej0RAB6a3Ho8-uZmyO3aIjpwMCSO1rMCPFuYkLVS_KyFPXL0zCIidO1gwXKryA1t4Y8oe5t8OcuNCLYOyyRlaeIglkNKi9zmcAzVE2xzQlbp7dxY-fpuL/s392/serenity%20prayer98.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="392" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2_9HcljaPX1mHCWgBze-b9IiA62APaPWbUj7enVrC6xGvP3jPCgZAqlWb_4xkHoRPpv_AqEbej0RAB6a3Ho8-uZmyO3aIjpwMCSO1rMCPFuYkLVS_KyFPXL0zCIidO1gwXKryA1t4Y8oe5t8OcuNCLYOyyRlaeIglkNKi9zmcAzVE2xzQlbp7dxY-fpuL/s320/serenity%20prayer98.jpg" width="229" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twenty-Four Hours a Day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Monday, March 25, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">AA Thought for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Strength comes from coming to believe in a Higher Power that can help you. You can’t define this Higher Power, but you can see how it helps other alcoholics. You hear them talk about it and you begin to get the idea yourself. You try praying in a quiet time each morning and you begin to feel stronger, as though your prayers were heard. So you gradually come to believe there must be a Power in the world outside yourself, which is stronger than you and to which you can turn for help.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Am I receiving strength from my faith in a Higher Power?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Meditation for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Spiritual development is achieved by daily persistence in living the way you believe God wants you to live. Like the wearing away of a stone by steady drops of water, so will your daily persistence wear away all the difficulties and gain spiritual success for you. Never falter in this daily, steady persistence. Go forward boldly and unafraid. God will help and strengthen you, as long as you are trying to do His will.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Prayer for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I pray that I may persist day by day in gaining spiritual experience. I pray that I may make this a lifetime work.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-5824411386637055642024-03-25T00:00:00.006-04:002024-03-25T00:00:00.144-04:00March 25, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: A Day at a Time<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCx2zt8nsvLdrqzWzwQv7dK_aC1p7QIM8fWRmnClebXXptuC0BrD73THa1pj2tB1sl_6iIBxauFW6jOQhI0ILBeZcQb2FDaQp9yVWvNlBXes-337WagoEovzDLFC_6oCHvfdOeHeSBU5MvGFrMScJgyn0S4l0-5DkaSDiioBUJLtDANByUqillhz8k1dm/s564/serenity%20prayer97.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCx2zt8nsvLdrqzWzwQv7dK_aC1p7QIM8fWRmnClebXXptuC0BrD73THa1pj2tB1sl_6iIBxauFW6jOQhI0ILBeZcQb2FDaQp9yVWvNlBXes-337WagoEovzDLFC_6oCHvfdOeHeSBU5MvGFrMScJgyn0S4l0-5DkaSDiioBUJLtDANByUqillhz8k1dm/s320/serenity%20prayer97.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">A Day at a Time</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Monday, March 25, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Reflection for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">If a chemically-dependent person wants to live successfully in society, he or she must replace the power of chemicals over his/her life with the power of something else — preferably positive, at least neutral, but not negative. That is why we say to the agnostic newcomer: If you can’t believe in God, find a positive power that is as great as the power of your addiction, and give it the power and dependence you gave to your addiction. In <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span>, the agnostic is left free to find his or her Higher Power, and can use the principles of <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span> and the therapy of the meetings to aid in rebuilding his/her life.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Do I go out of my way to work with newcomers?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Pray</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">May the Power of <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span> work its miracles equally for those who believe in a personal God or in a Universal Spirit or in the strength of the group itself, or for those who define their Higher Power in their own terms, religious or not. If newcomers are disturbed by the religiosity of <span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Program</span>, may I welcome them on their own spiritual terms. May I recognize that we are all spiritual beings.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today I Will Remember</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">To each his own spirituality.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-63694646017607738162024-03-25T00:00:00.004-04:002024-03-25T00:00:00.145-04:00March 25, 2024 - Reading sin Recovery: The Eye Opener<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3Yz2lwydr93PBx9auiU1xZ4NvH2-VdbHfpK1l7SS5MT65aKWSC7D8yUpwcbKuiHSwDUJ3e-AXU25qqbyaJ7s00bZujvVx3YqhyphenhyphenmQuR_b47U1_zHgL1bPuLir_sLv_DydmeDDlM1FANWa9iSmsVYM3Uy65xhhPH_4N5MliULG0Yn54_atzdDbBXJ6ndNu/s694/serenity%20prayer96.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="694" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3Yz2lwydr93PBx9auiU1xZ4NvH2-VdbHfpK1l7SS5MT65aKWSC7D8yUpwcbKuiHSwDUJ3e-AXU25qqbyaJ7s00bZujvVx3YqhyphenhyphenmQuR_b47U1_zHgL1bPuLir_sLv_DydmeDDlM1FANWa9iSmsVYM3Uy65xhhPH_4N5MliULG0Yn54_atzdDbBXJ6ndNu/s320/serenity%20prayer96.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">The Eye Opener</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Monday, March 25, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #111111;">No man with certainty can see beyond this instant. Yesterday we had a friend, hale, hearty and bubbling over with energy and ambition. </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #ff00fe; font-weight: 700;">Today</span></em><span style="color: #111111;"> we write a letter of condolence to his widow. No one knows the day or the hour, but this we do know — we are alive right now, people are suffering right now, we can help them right now.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-85947038845022969432024-03-25T00:00:00.002-04:002024-03-25T00:00:00.146-04:00March 25, 2024 – Good morning and let’s get revved for Monday and a new week<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFHj2sW3oSfnIh3vU7HthABtwCA7v1Nydkt69Psj1WmvdozEEpmXxPP4nzUGmsEN7BsEMSvpP_KwFMrw6DXCX9iwBz18CZffJdMYK98kufyzev5eUynVhyphenhyphenl9hY0Nu9U3dJSy_pLQRP8pUU_MJkK5cGYgXX_YF8zxjASLiZmoTPJSERNE5PTYmg7NM5YMz/s800/monday30.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFHj2sW3oSfnIh3vU7HthABtwCA7v1Nydkt69Psj1WmvdozEEpmXxPP4nzUGmsEN7BsEMSvpP_KwFMrw6DXCX9iwBz18CZffJdMYK98kufyzev5eUynVhyphenhyphenl9hY0Nu9U3dJSy_pLQRP8pUU_MJkK5cGYgXX_YF8zxjASLiZmoTPJSERNE5PTYmg7NM5YMz/w400-h400/monday30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #111111;">Good morning with hopes of a fantastic </span></span><div><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Monday</span></em><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; font-weight: 700;"> and productive new week for everyone …and a break from the crap we all probably have in our lives</span><p></p></div>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-47810689766706752362024-03-24T00:00:00.010-04:002024-03-24T00:00:00.152-04:00March 24, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Step by Step<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKerH32_lNnoGYwXhPBU_qzZ-iSLPnah2eG2cuXLcUNWzM7saTiO28Gjn1uNfVnTXBrRP4Aao6j1jMNvCLenfyE9tV1N3bNxaq4LVvcWJ78qzY2p7dl7A5HESnnvzW7IQqjyzXlP0moRKGqYfuK-RUe5eOit2ymEyQnqfla60WKtUaTreEwQN00FXJ_2HF/s805/serenity%20prayer94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKerH32_lNnoGYwXhPBU_qzZ-iSLPnah2eG2cuXLcUNWzM7saTiO28Gjn1uNfVnTXBrRP4Aao6j1jMNvCLenfyE9tV1N3bNxaq4LVvcWJ78qzY2p7dl7A5HESnnvzW7IQqjyzXlP0moRKGqYfuK-RUe5eOit2ymEyQnqfla60WKtUaTreEwQN00FXJ_2HF/s320/serenity%20prayer94.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Step by Step</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Sunday, March 24, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today</span></span></em><span style="color: #111111;">, no looking beyond the current 24 Hours about the length of my sobriety, be it one day, one week, one month, one year, one decade or longer. Alcoholism is chronic and incurable but can be in arrested by abstinence, and all the 24 Hours of clean time we accrue are gone if we buy into the myth that we can get away with </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">“just one.”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> And </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111;">“just one”</em><span style="color: #111111;"> sets in motion total relapse. Even if we have racked up a significant number of 24 Hours, we are no more sober than the alcoholic who woke up this morning with a hangover. Remember the yesterdays when we awoke to the harsh reality that the 24 Hours we had before are gone, and know that our yesterdays are the best predictor of our behavior </span><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">today</span></em> </span><span style="color: #111111;">and tomorrow — and learn from yesterday to avoid repeating its mistakes. Keep the ego in check — the other alcoholic who woke up hung over yesterday but is sober this morning is no less clean than we. </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Today</span><span style="color: #111111;">,</span></span></em><span style="color: #111111;"> when it comes to being and staying sober, take it literally just for </span><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">today</span></span></em><span style="color: #111111;">. And our common journey continues. Step by step. – </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Chris M., 2024</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4264267545763578260.post-22308881650549761912024-03-24T00:00:00.008-04:002024-03-24T00:00:00.151-04:00March 24, 2024 - Readings in Recovery: Twenty-Four Hours a Day<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0NcZtH6ujh903KMOf2Bf7pz7AhHyTO8-DUW8nmoGXzDdIGZJpysW_B-Ga0SySuau5s4Vr7NMwmzSWb-wz4MrZiFm8w2-2yuyLZWDilk91px3X-YPfbLnUBRhcB8dRZuDkbuvmjIywwCqp8s3e4f-g6q5EgOJca1B5TZz_kx27xsqIvhLkCLxu9Ou7atE/s867/serenity%20prayer93.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0NcZtH6ujh903KMOf2Bf7pz7AhHyTO8-DUW8nmoGXzDdIGZJpysW_B-Ga0SySuau5s4Vr7NMwmzSWb-wz4MrZiFm8w2-2yuyLZWDilk91px3X-YPfbLnUBRhcB8dRZuDkbuvmjIywwCqp8s3e4f-g6q5EgOJca1B5TZz_kx27xsqIvhLkCLxu9Ou7atE/s320/serenity%20prayer93.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Twenty-Four Hours a Day</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Sunday, March 24, 2024</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">AA</em> <em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Thought for the Day</em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">Strength comes from honestly telling your own experiences with drinking. In religion, they call it confession. We call it witnessing or sharing. You give a personal witness, you share your past experiences, the troubles you got into, the hospitals, the jails, the break-up of your home, the money wasted, the debts and all the foolish things you did when you were drinking. This personal witness lets out the things you had kept hidden, brings them out into the open, and you find release and strength.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Am I receiving strength from my personal witnessing?</span></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Meditation for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">We cannot fully understand the universe. The simple fact is that we cannot even define space or time. They are both boundless, in spite of all we can do to limit them. We live in a box of space and time which we have manufactured by our own minds and on that depends all our so-called knowledge of the universe. The simple fact is that we can never know all things, nor are we made to know them. Much of our lives must be taken on faith.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Prayer for the Day</span></em></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #111111; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 1.5em;">I pray that my faith may be based on my own experience of the power of God in my life. I pray that I may know this one thing above all else in the universe.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; line-height: 30.345px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;"><span style="color: #ff00fe;">Hazelden Foundation</span></em></span></p>Christopher M Turnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17454720308758097962noreply@blogger.com0