Steps to Christ Recovery Edition Blog

Chapter 13- Rejoicing in the Lord (Charlie)

2/2/2020

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

The 12 Step Program has been referred to as a “program of attraction rather than promotion.” God is called us to be his ambassadors, his representatives to those we come in contact with. Our lives are to exemplify the joys and peace God has given us. This is what attracts broken people to seek what we have. Many people have disillusioned thoughts about God. We have the privilege of sharing God’s character of love, mercy, and long-suffering. Each of us has our own story of brokenness. We need not dwell on the past. We are new creatures in Christ and we should think about the good things in our lives. Thinking bad thoughts only makes us miserable. It’s really important that we watch our words and only speak things that will give others hope and encouragement. We all have our problems but instead of gossiping to others we have the privilege of taking them to Someone Who can do something about it, that One is God. We can either help those that are suffering or we could cause them to lose hope and turn from Christ. We can experience the peace the faith in Christ gives us with others. Jesus is our example. He came to help people. As we dwell on Christ wonderful gift to us that spirit will be seen by others. Anxiety and worry keep us from seeing the things we can be thankful for. God ask us to cast her cares upon Him. We are co-laborers with God, He has promised to do his part but He wants us to do all we can to bring about the best results. There is a song called “Trust and Obey.” The lyrics say, “Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.” Every step in our lives can bring us closer in our relationship with Jesus. Let us remember and keep fresh in our minds the mercies God has shown us. As we think on these blessings we gain strength to go through our trials and disappointments. As we go through our life’s journey, we can desire to have every sin taken away by the blood of Christ. A person redeemed by Jesus has been made clean from all sin and serving God is a natural expression of our joy in the Lord.

-Charlie

Chapter 12- What to Do with Doubt (Charlie)

1/26/2020

Step 11 We seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
God allows us to doubt, if that’s what we want. He also gives us enough information to believe. To experience strength and hope of the 12 Step Program we can listen to the testimonies of others. As we hear about what God is doing in their lives, we can see better what God is doing for us. Usually the cause of unbelief is because we desire our addiction more than we desire our freedom that God wants to give us. If we relapse we might think that the 12 step program just doesn’t work. However if we do lose our hope our faith can return. Then we’re able to encourage others who have experienced relapse. We try to see how God has led our lives. As we think on God’s protection and mercy, we realize He will guide us the rest of the way. Education or lack thereof is not a hindrance. We search the Scriptures humbly asking God for truth that will increase our faith. Let us thank God that He is greater than we are. We may not understand everything but there is only one way we can understand anything. God’s Spirit will guide and teach us what we need to know at this time. We are to be humble and ready to learn. We accomplish this by fixing our thoughts on God as we study His Word. We also need to choose to follow His leading. My experience has caused me to trust that God keeps his promises. We receive these promises in faith and then we can see God acting on our behalf. As we continue to grow in our relationship with Christ we can be thankful that God has given us not only faith but a new start in our life.

-Charlie

Chapter 11- The Privilege of Prayer (Charlie)

1/18/2020

Step 11 “We seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand Him, praying only for the knowledge of His will for us in the power to carry that out.”

The Privilege of Prayer Chapter helps us to understand the importance of prayer and meditation. Our minds may be drawn to Him. If we expect God to answer our prayers we have to feel our need of help from Him. We work this step by staying connected to God through prayer and meditation. By being connected to God, He is able to make it possible for us to carry out His will. The strength to live in God’s will depends on our recognizing our weakness and infirmities.
God speaks to us through nature, the Bible, and the influence of his Holy Spirit. As our minds are drawn to Him, we realize we have a need to share with Him or sorrows and our choice that take place in our daily lives. Even Jesus knew He must have God’s help to carry on His work. Since Jesus prayed to the Father, how much more do we as broken people need to follow His example?
For some reason, we are slow to pray. Our hearts have to be open to the influence of the Holy Spirit to
receive God’s blessings. When we don’t pray we’re being careless. It is easy to be influenced to take the wrong path when we are without the Divine presence. Our hearts have to be open to receive the blessings of God. God is faithful concerning his promises. Even if our prayers are being answered the way we would like we need to realize God only wants to bring us good. When we focus on our doubts and fears they grow stronger.
Though we may feel helpless, sincere prayer draws us close to God. If we don’t believe we can receive. We can’t allow anything to keep us from pray. We can’t allow anything to keep us from prayer. We need to stay where we can have the influence of His Spirit.
Families should pray together. We can remain healthy without prayer. We can pray anytime and anyplace. When we lift our hearts to God we closer minds to evil thoughts. As our prayer life grows our hearts will be open to receive the blessings God has for us. As we share our joys and sorrows with Him in prayer we realize that nothing in our lives is to sinful for God to repair. God heals broken heart and bandages our wounds. There is peace in trusting all our worries, sorrows and joys to Jesus.

-Charlie

Chapter 10- A Knowledge of God (Charlie)

1/11/2020

The 11th step of the 12 is: We seek through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understand him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Through prayer and meditation we can better understand God is. Studying the Bible causes us to see how He works with people. As we read the Bible we learn to listen to His voice. If we really want to know God, we study his word. When we spend time in God’s Word and meditation on the life of Jesus, we will know Him as our Friend. Our Friend cares for everything He has created and provides each what they need. God notices every broken heart and every happy smile. Knowing that God cares, we don’t have to worry about our problems. He knows how to solve our problems and he is strong to handle all our worries.
God speaks to us in the way He directs our lives. God speaks to us through His word as we see how He deals with the lives of others. We can accept what others tell us about God. We have to find out for ourselves. The Holy Spirit is the only true Teacher of divine truth.
- Charlie

Chapter 9- The Work and the Life (Charlie)

1/5/2020

The 10th step of the 12 steps is: Continue to take personal inventory and when we find something wrong promptly admit it.

This step is important because it bears witness to how our lives have changed. I would like to suggest that as we complete this step, we actually write good things and bad things. Writing good and bad will keep us from being overwhelmed with our bad choices. We all make good choices and bad choices.
We make amends when it won’t hurt anybody but we can always encourage others by what God is doing in our life. Every one of us should strive to maintain our relationship with God. We can’t wait until we feel it’s important. We can’t excuse ourselves because we think somebody else will do it. People will see our faith and lives as we help them. We may not even realize that we are helping people to draw close to God.
I used ask God to bring people to me that I could help. With experience I learned that I needed to ask God to show me when he brought someone to me. As we work for others we are preparing for things to come.

- Charlie

Chapter 8- Growing in Christ (Charlie)

1/1/2020

The ninth step of the 12 steps is: Wherever possible, make direct amends to each person we have wronged, except when to do so would injure them or others.
The work of reconciliation and restoration begins with us. There is no time limit on this step. We can make amends with folks that God puts on our hearts. We may have forgotten some names that God will bring them to us when the time is right.
As we turn to Christ, the Holy Spirit touches our hearts and we become like Him in character. Our growth and grace, our happiness and our usefulness depend on being one with Christ.
We become Christ by faith and we grow in Him by faith. How this happens is we give our hearts and plans to Him each day. Being His causes us not to think of our feelings are looking to ourselves for strength. Thinking of self actually does the opposite, it turns us away from Christ.
We may be afraid to take the stepped of trusting God. In faith, we can accept the promises that God has given us in His Word. Christ is willing and able to cause us to love Him and live in Him.

- Charlie

Chapters 11-12 (Dena)

1/1/2020

As yours days, so shall your strength be. (Deut 33:25)
The trials will not be greater than the strength God will give us. So let us take up our work where we find, believing we will be strong enough to meet whatever comes.
This verse is part of recovery and rejoicing in our trials. “Say what?!”

Since 2014 trials have been on the same journey in my life. I can't even begin to explain all of where God has blessed and brought me though.
Just when the road was not bumpy anymore he started me on the rough road again. I DO NOT LIKE CHANGE!!!!
Now again I am in a battle with self, our greatest battle ever. I loved my friends and small town. I didn’t want to be there at first, but didn’t want to leave it at the end. I still miss it every day, like a friend.

But it is not about us. This reminded me of a story that goes like this... I was gathering the flowers and enjoying their sweet smell. Then this women who had been walking by my side, called me to look at the ugly thorns that were in her way. There she was sadly crying. She was not walking in the path or following the guide, but she was walking among the thorns. “Oh,” she cried, “what a pity that this beautiful garden is spoiled with thorns.” Then the guide said, “Let the thorns alone, for they will only wound you. Gather the roses, the lilies, and the pinks.” (End)

We should think of the good times in our lives. Have we had precious hours when our hearts were filled with joy as the Spirit of God spoke to us?
When we look back over our lives, do we see many pleasant times.?

Looking and reading theses steps brings to the point, thorns will only make us sad. If we gather the thorns and give them to others, we are turning from God’s goodness.

It is very important to listen to our higher power.( Mine is God)
Truly seek His word and will for your life.
Satan tries to get us to use our minds in the wrong way,. When some people study the Bible, they feel they must be able to explain everything it says.
The power of pride is strong, so my friend always ask the Holy Spirit to always be present as you read His word. The Lord Jesus will lend you understanding where it should go.

The experience, strength, and hope of others in 12 Step Recovery and our own experience all contribute to our confidence that God who began a good work in us, will carry it on unto it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns (Phil 1:6).

I have no idea what the New Year will bring, for my plans are not His plans. So Rejoice in the Lord Always and again I say Rejoice.

Blessing and Hope in Jesus in the New Year

Dena

Chapter 6- Faith and Acceptance (Dena)

11/10/2019

This Step is about turning ourselves completely to Him.
It talks about Come to me… and I will give you rest. Matt 11:28

His gift of rest, peace, and serenity comes as we acknowledge our readiness to have Him remove our character defects.

We have to be on top of this every day, every moment.
When I get up, in the morning and say my prayers, it does not stop there.
The struggle I face is that I say my prayers for God to walk and talk with me that day. But so many times I fail to completely give my thoughts, moods, direction, for that day to Him.

So many times I forget to refortify my thoughts in His word.

I get off my knees and except all to be well. No so!!!

I forget to shoot up those prayers all day long, and trust He is with me to help when that person makes me crazy.
Our character defects come when we do not put our will in God's hands.
God patiently waits for us to call on Him each moment of the day.
Should we feel it is too much to give all to Christ? We must ask ourselves the question, What has Christ given for me? The Son of God gave all – life and love and suffering-to save us. Amen

- Dena

Chapter 7- The Test of Discipleship (Charlie)

11/3/2019

For me this was one of the most difficult steps. Making a a list of all people I had harmed, and be willing to make amends to them all.
It was very humbling to face up to my past. I didn’t see it as a chance to restore broken relationships but having to face the one my behavior had injured. I didn’t know if they would forgive me or tell me I was jerk and to never bother them again. It was scary. I decided with the help of God I could face the music. Most folks readily forgave. Some just couldn’t. I understood. This caused be to be more careful. I needed spiritual guidance on who I could talk to without hurting them more. Thus this step helped my relationship with God to become more full because I sought Him and relied on Him for discernment. Soon, through the grace of God, I recognized when in my current situation I had injured someone. I immediately or as soon as possible fessed up my wrong behavior and asked forgiveness. With it still fresh in my mind and theirs it was resolved and neither one of us had to carry that burden. It became a chance to do a personal inventory to resolve the problem. It became freedom. I found the sooner I addressed the issue and made things right I could have the peace I so desperately sought after. Courage my friends rely on God and He will not let you down.

-Charlie

Chapter 4- Confession (Dena)

10/15/2019

This to me is a very important step. It brings us to the point of really understanding our
disappointments about ourselves and what we consider sin and not sin.
Making that decision to turn our will and life over to the care of God is one
that I struggle with each day. Sometimes I am willing and other days it is not there.
This chapter makes it evident that before confession of sinful (addictive behavior) there
needs to be a recognition of the specific addictions and character defects that are causing
us problems and separation from God.
This step to me is a ongoing one, it takes time and a lot of prayer. God has always
been faithful to bring me around that mountain multiple times when I don't get it on the first time around.
First we need to admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature
of our wrongs.
You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins, confess them and give them
up; then God will show mercy to you. Proverbs 28:13
Praying for myself has been hard to learn. We get use to praying for many other
things and people. We need to not only intercede for others, but intercede for ourselves as well.
Our eternal wellbeing depends on it. Read the in 1 Samuel 12:19 where it talks about
confession to God. Its good to read also Gen 3:12,13..
Our confessed sins free us to move forward with God and our fellow man. Pray that as
time is short we all come to the Lord and turn it over to Him
-Dena

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