Let us recognize our loved ones once more

When I first heard this song, it made me wish I could write lyrics so beautiful.

"Lately I don't recognize you
The fire in your eyes is fading into embers
So while you're out there in the darkness
I'm praying you'll remember

You were made to shine
You were made for life
Even if you've lost your way
Turn and you will hear love say
You were made for more..."

I pray that many of you will take the words in deep, as addictions can change who people are and how they respond and relate to their families. Jesus came to bring us out of the darkness into His glorious light. I'm praying the Lord will give me more on these lyrics but for now It's Thursday and a great day for recovery in the state of Florida. Go to a meeting, spread some love and hope and work your program! Make a gratitude list and truly think about what you are writing down and what you have to be grateful for, we ask for grace today as we pray for those in recovery and their families:

The Complete Serenity Prayer

• God, give us grace to accept with serenity
  the things that cannot be changed,
  courage to change the things
  which should be changed,
  and the wisdom to distinguish
  the one from the other.
  Living one day at a time,
  Enjoying one moment at a time,
  Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
  Taking, as Jesus did,
  This sinful world as it is,
  Not as I would have it,
  Trusting that You will make all things right,
  If I surrender to Your will,
  So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
  And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
  Amen.

-- Reinhold Niebuhr 

JADE, The Serenity Prayer and The Ways of the Lord Towards Us

JADE

I learned a lesson on this acronym from my al-anon sponsor who is also a good friend and a writing mentor. When faced with people who are acting or talking in an unreasonable way to us we think JADE: We don't justify, argue, defend or explain we just exit.

J ustify

A rgue

D efend

E xplain/exit

 

     That may mean hanging up the phone if we are being vented upon, it may mean taking some time for yourself and our program, it may mean praying and seeking a blessing for that person who is going through their own pain and hurt. JADE is a new concept to me, but a good one.

 

I got some magnets with slogans or sayings on them at the gratitude dinner Saturday.

 

"I'm never going to have it all figured out---and that is just fine."

"I am not afraid of storms, for I am leaning how to sail my ship."

"Perfection is a long way off, but improvement can be made to happen everyday."

"It takes what it takes."

And the cutest one yet, "Don't mess with chicks in recovery."

  

 I'm adding a devo that I wrote but hasn't been published yet:

The Ways of the Lord Towards Us

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100:5

Today as I think about those who are grieving, those who are sick and in need of a Healer, those who want to give up, those who are afraid their children will die of an overdose on the streets, and those who are afraid their loved one will just decide to end it all, I pray.

I pray because that is really all I can do. I yield to Him, although sometimes I want to try to fix someone; sometimes I may even want to shake someone. But  I yield to the Lord, because letting go and letting God is the only reasonable thing that I can do. It keeps me sane in an insane world.

His ways are good even when we can't see for the darkness. His ways are good even when they aren’t our ways. His ways are good through the valley of the shadow of death. His ways are good when we are lonely because He will come to us. His ways are good when we are struggling because He can calm the struggle. His ways are good when our children have abandoned or forsaken us (and Him) and gone astray because He is the mighty shepherd who searches for the lost one. His ways are good in pain as He is the healer. His ways are good when the road is long and the journey seems too hard to travel for He travels with us.

His ways are good we will believe for this year. We can’t create, change or cure but His ways are good and He can. Think on your blessings, as that is the only way to overcome the darkness of this world. He is the light and His ways are good! The goodness of the Lord lives forever.

Prayer: The Serenity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen.--Reinhold Niebuhr

What to do for yourself:  Focus on your blessings as you take long, deep, cleansing breaths. When stressed throughout the day remember to breathe deeply.

Thought: Sometimes we just need to say a prayer to get our minds in a better place. Focus on the Lord’s goodness in your life even as addiction has flavored it. The Lord is good even when _____________ because_________. 

You don’t know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box

My friend on Facebook, Sharron Knight Cosby wrote a beautiful post called, The Alabaster Box. (http://efamilyrecovery.com/?p=160)

The oil in our alabaster box is costly to us and to the Lord. It was no small sacrifice for Him to leave the beauty and majesty of heaven for us. The only thing He asks from us is praise and worship, even in the hard and sometimes dry times. Oh, can we praise Him in the pain of Life? Can we say as He said in the garden, not My will by Yours, Lord? Can we have renewed hope as our alabaster box is broken and shattered that the oil of love and forgiveness might be poured out upon those who hurt us? He sees each tear, He knows each heartache, He is our only comforter and Healer. Love him people, with pure love. Adore His Holy Spirit and let us walk towards His plan. We have to yield when we don't understand His ways that it will all work out in the end and there is enough love to go around, when it is His love. Lord, we release whatever we are holding on to that is not Your will for us; asking that You will make us reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

This is one of my favorite lines from the song, and it is true that no one knows exactly what is in our hearts but the Lord. We all have her stories and they all are legitimate, The truth is the Lord is the only one who can truly validate and help heal what we feel inside, the things we are going through.

 “You weren’t there the night He found me. You did not feel what I felt when he wrapped his love all around me, and you don’t know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdrBB0yb-Mo

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
(Although known most widely in its abbreviated form above,
the entire prayer reads as follows...)
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen. Reinhold Niebuhr