The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 680 times in 2013. If it were a cable car, it would take about 11 trips to carry that many people.
Thought:
Asking God for what you need continually is a good habit to develop. Persistence in prayer with realistic hope and expectation demonstrates to God our trust in His direction for our lives. As we close a year off and open a New One it is time to define how we want 2014 to look.
Discovering God’s loving character encourages us to trust Him and do our part to follow His will for our lives.
Scripture:
“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?” Matthew 7:7-11
Prayer:
Lord help us today to be direct with You! To be honest with You. And to trust Your leading in our lives. Thank You for 2013 and your active involvement in our recoveries.
Help us as we move into this New Year with You to remain faithful.
As the year 2013 draws to an end I am reminded. as I am at most new years of my Scottish heritage.
Above the door in my house hangs the plaque on the left. Which includes the Boyle family crest and motto ‘Dominus Providebit’, which translated says ‘The Lord will provide,’
This year I want to add to it the tartan on the right, in obedience to the scripture in Exodus 20 that says “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
The Morrison Hunting Ancient tartan in honor of my Papa (Grand father) Archie Morrison. Who no matter how many times I messed up was always there to support and encourage me.
The Boyle Family Crest in honor of my Dad (Edward Boyle) whom I lost contact with when he and Mum divorced when i was young but was reunited with when he came to Australia dying of cancer. For all the years of separation one thing I was always confident. My Dad loved me…
The Boyle Family Motto in honor of my heavenly Father who provided and opportunity to overcome my addictions and compulsions and continues to provide in my life opportunities for me and mine to love and serve Him.
And, lastly but in no way least my Mum. who has been my rock all through my life. I have memories of New years eve’s; dressed and waiting for ‘The Bells’ with a glass of Ginger Wine and Shortbread and the Celebration that began as the Bagpipes played ‘Auld lang Syne’ and led to a period of catching up with family and friends, who you may not have seen all year. Yet, you knew from a young age ‘New Year’ is important. A time to reminisce about underachieved goals and plan to do better in the opportunities of the year ahead.
I love my Scottish heritage! and I love my Family!
This year as the New Year rings in it is my prayer we will all take time to remember where we came from and use it to live better, wherever we are.
Thought for the day
None of us can come into recovery and expect to stay the same. Recovery changes us! And, when we take the 12 steps seriously as a new way of living it changes us for the better. It introduces us to the reality that on our own we are not enough and require Higher Power intervention to live different.
When we acknowledge and accept that fact and place our faith and trust in God He then guides us on the path He has designed for each of us to follow. And when we decide to follow He guarantees us that no matter how good, bad or indifferent life becomes He will stay with us and make sure whatever happens will be for our good,
Bible verses for the day
Don’t be so surprised when I tell you that you have to be ‘born from above’—out of this world, so to speak, raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we’re going. It is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.
John 3:7
Romans 6:9
John 3:15
Prayer for the day
Today , help me to acknowledge you God and to follow wherever You lead me. Trusting that You have my best interests at heart.
“Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
When I completed the Salvation Army’s Bridge Program I went to work for Salvation Army Family Stores, and commenced work in the recycled clothing industry. A new Christian, I remember this verse had a big effect on my recovery. I remember the impact of Christ on my life as I came to the realization that “The Salvation Army recycled clothes in order to raise funds to recycle lives.”
All of us in recovery have a story! Of how God raised us from despair and desperation, set s on a new road (His road) Stories of hurt and harm that He turned into stories of hope and happiness.
We are fortunate in recovery, more fortunate than most that in recovery groups all over the world we get opportunity to share what God has done and is doing in our lives on a daily basis.
If you get the opportunity this week to share your experience, strength and hope, take it! I know sometimes it hurts but the good news is – GOD NEVER WASTES A HURT! You came through it because He wants you to share it,
The same God that gives us the ability to work gives us the ability to rest. Today at Melbourne Project 614 the staff met for lunch together. To pause, reflect on the achievements of 2013 and to encourage each other to prepare for 2014.
After the lunch was finished some of us were sitting together, wondering what to do next, when someone said “I feel a bit guilty as I don’t have any client appointments this afternoon.”
In the Bible God tells us we need to take time to rest, to reflect on what has happened and to recharge for what is ahead. And, we do not have to feel guilty about that.
This Christmas many of us will stop for a time of rest and relaxation. My prayer is that God will refresh us as bring s back READY to embrace the opportunities He has in-store for us each.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19, 20
When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate what we think is much more important than what others think.
In the verses above James suggest reversal of the process. Pay attention to what you say to God and to others, and monitor how much you talk.
When you talk to God, and to others do they get ample time to share their views, ideas and have them valued?
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God…. The Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. John 1:1, 14
Jesus is the Son of God. Everything He said and did is tied to who He is. He was fully human and fully God. He came to earth with the purpose of going to the cross for our sins and opening the way to salvation for us all. All through His ministry here on earth He remained our eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, and the One true source of lasting recovery.
If we fail to believe this basic truth, we will never have enough faith to trust Him or complete the twelve steps of recovery.
The Bible teaches us the importance of building or faith and confidence in Jesus as our Higher Power in order that we can truly
‘come to believe that He, (a power greater than ourselves) is the son of God and One True source of changed life.
This Christmas if you haven’t already why not take some time to study Step Two and renounce your tendency to do the wrong thing and receive the help Jesus offers to those who believe in Him.
