Thursday, March 1, 2007

today's moment...

March 1...

Today I hope, today I dream dreams.

Sometimes we allow others to discourage us when the goals that we have set for ourselves do not fit into their idea of being realistic. Many times those who love us most will exclaim “grow up and live in the real world!” Our hopes and dreams are the very things that make us who we are, and keep us motivated to become who we are going to become. It is very easy to become discouraged, but history has a long list of those that accomplished amazing feats, only after they had tasted failure through many a trial and error. Why should we allow anyone else but God to decide what we can or cannot do? Without hope, we are hopeless; without dreams, we will die.

Moment by moment, I will use the talents that God gave me to His glory, and I will hope and dream, and work with God to make them a reality.

tlcoriginals...

Wednesday, February 28, 2007

step 12...

"Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs."

i am convinced that there are as many levels of spiritual awakenings, as there are spiritual awakenings...for now, i am walking with my head in the clouds...but my feet are planted firmly on the ground in this reality called life on life's terms...where ever i am...i know that it is where i am suppose to be...i have peace that no one can take...and joy that is eternally mine...no matter what happens...God has me...just for today...

love to all...star.

step 11...

"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God AS WE UNDERSTOOD HIM, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out."

i love this step! this step keeps me close to God...keeps me humble...and in His peace...

love to all...star.

step 10...

"Continued to take personal inventory, and when we were wrong, promply admitted it."

i use this step every day...this keeps me cleaned out...guilt free...and honest about me...and it also reminds me that this is progress not perfection...it does not say "if" i am wrong...it says, "when"...it is a humbling step...and a spiritual tool that i will always need to use...

keeping it real...star.

step 9...

"Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others."

this step is not as scary as i thought it would be...sure there was that one that did not want to hear it...did not believe it...(but has since had an awakening of their own! miracles happen every day on this)...but for the most part, those that i went to were very understanding and gracious...and, two of my family members went to a recovery support group with me! relationships are being mended...one day at a time...there are those that i have not been able to contact...but as long as i am willing, God will put them in my life when the time is right...what is really awesome, is the ninth step promises are coming true in my life...i am experiencing a new hope, and a new freedom...i love sobriety...it just keeps on getting better!

just for today...star.

step 8...

"Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all."



man when i really realized that i really had to do this...i did not want to let me tell you...but this is once again that self honesty thing...rigorous...if anyone out there is scared of this step...let me assure you that once you put this down on paper...and pray for the willingness...the courage will come and God will put those people in your life when it is time...the peace that has come to me since doing this step and the others...AMAZING...family is where i did most of my damage, and i have amazing stories to share on that front...later...

just for today...star.

step 7...

"Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings."

all of my shortcomings and/or defects of character are based in self...i have always wanted what i wanted when i wanted it...yesterday! now i am praying for God's will for me, and the power to carry that out...also, for Him to take away my difficulties so that i can better do His will...whatever God's will is, just for today, for me...this is my prayer...God knows what i need...God knows what is best for me today...i am trusting God...just for today...even if i get confused about what is happening, i know today, that i do not see the big picture...cannot see the infinite wisdom of God...but just for today, i know He is infinite wisdom, and i have turned my will and my life over to that power which is...

love to all...star.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

miracles in the moment...

have been experiencing the miracles of the moment...just putting one foot in front of the other, having faith that God will take care of the outcome if i just continue to do the next right thing...and bam! miracles are happening everywhere...as i am sure they have always been, i am just more in tuned now...it is called sobriety! sometimes my mind is still fuzzy...and i am not sure of what i am doing, but i know that i am not drinking and drugging...and anything is better than that...that is my reality today. but the truth is, i am changing...how i perceive everything today is so different than what it was...every day, i start all over...am loving this one day at a time thing...after all, i can only live right now; am not promised anything more, so why not make the best of it? am getting better at just doing the dirty dishes in life, and leaving the results up to God. my faith is increasing with every moment. i am also making a habit of not worrying when i do not understand what is going on in a particular moment...just for today, i am walking through the moments. feeling what i feel...then letting it go...the so-called good and bad, and indifferent. just for today, i am at peace...

keeping it real...star.

catching up with moments...

February 25...

What lies before us is a tapestry of our own creation. What lies behind us is more of the same. Today is a magical miracle in the making.

The concept of “One day at a time” was born out of sheer desperation for a way to deal with life on life’s terms. However, it was originally suggested by the Son of God. In Matthew chapter six and verse thirty-four, Jesus said: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Man brings much heartache and needless anxiety worrying about those things, which are beyond his control. The most heartbreaking reality is that he loses the precious moments that he is in charge of, and thus the chance to make a difference in the now.

Moment by moment, I will focus my attention on the miracle that is happening right now. I will make this moment in time truly count.

February 26...

You lifted my spirit, and gave it wings so it could freely fly.

When we are feeling elated or depressed, we many times mistakenly give credit to things external. The truth of the matter is, it is our inward mechanisms that trigger such negative or positive emotions. We have been conditioned accordingly. And we perceive a thing to be this or that, when in reality it is how we have learned to view it. Every good gift comes from God. God does not make bad days. It is our attitudes and how we have been programmed to react to certain circumstances that are negative or positive.

Moment by moment, I will choose to look at things in a positive way. I will not allow my spirit to be downtrodden when it can fly instead.

February 27...

When we open our hearts and minds to this moment in time, today becomes a strong foundation on which to build our future.

So many wasted memories and missed opportunities to make those memories precious. We close our minds and hearts when we allow selfishness, hate, envy, and strife to chip away at our inner peace. Today’s moments become missed chances for us. To often we fill our days with needless thoughts. We forget what we are here for and we forget to enjoy and be glad in the day that the Lord has made.

Moment by moment, I will acknowledge the sun. I will take time out to feel its warmth. I will listen to the birds and I will speak with my heart to God’s trees and flowers. I will give a smile to someone without one.

February 28...

Relax and let faith guide you through times of angry storm.

When trouble comes we are presented with the opportunity to express our faith in God. Along with conflict, there comes the chance for spiritual growth. During the course of life, many things happen which we must accept. Some can be tragic. Many times, however, for a simple inconvenience such as a flat tire, we wring our hands and exclaim: “Why me, why now?” Instead of being thankful that we at least have a car, we tend to focus on the negative aspect, and in doing so we make the problem bigger in our minds then it really is.

Moment by moment, I will be thankful that I have a spare tire, and if I do not have one then I will make sure to get one!

tlcoriginals...