Wings
of Eagles
Recovery
 |
Addiction
Enslaves
Us…
|
|
But
with Jesus
Recovery
is just
12
steps away
|

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If
you desire sobriety, the Christian 12 Step
Recovery Program will lead you to an
understanding of the healing power the
Lord offers through the steps. This
faith-based program allows Jesus to
restore us to a normal life. The groups
support the growing process of daily
seeking God's will for a Christian life
instead of controlling our own life.
The
Christian 12 Step Recovery group focus on
working the steps with a sponsor and
studying the Word of God through the Holy
Spirit. The Lord begins to do for us what
we cannot do for ourselves. This process
brings God’s healing to our wounded
souls.
The
Christian Recovery Group provides the
spiritual love and support necessary to
those that are seeking sobriety, and the
reinforcement to those that have already
achieved sobriety.
“Two
are better than one, because they have a
good reward for their labor. For if they
fall, one will lift up his companion. But
woe to him who is alone when he falls, for
he has no one to help him up.” -- Ecclesiastes
4:9-10
TESTIMONIES:
*****
Short Liners -- Changes Every Monday ...
I'm 35 and have my own family and still
carry "his" problem with me. Don't pretend
things are okay to your kids. My mom did
and still does, she's the queen of denial
and I have a lot of anger towards her for
not talking to me. -- CHRIS
For me, Humbly, means "teachable." If I
remain open and willing while asking Him
to remove my shortcomings (defects of
character), Step 7 takes on new meaning.
"Teach" me how to remove those character
defects which block me from the Sunshine
of the Spirit. -- ROXIE
I've been attending Al-Anon for about 6
weeks now. What a difference! He may not
have changed one bit, but I have so much
inner peace that I'm almost overflowing
sometimes. Don't get me wrong there are
the hard days (more often than not), but
at least I know I'm doing what I need to
do for me. -- MARY JANE
I don't understand AA at all, but it
certainly has helped me with the miracle
that is sobriety. Somehow, I was able to
go from having a compulsion to drink every
night until I passed out, to somehow who
was determined to stay sober, one day at a
time. -- STAN
Step 6 was pivotal for me. It marked the
point where I began to look at what I
needed to do to reconcile with myself and
be the me that I could live with -- that
could enjoy life without drugs and alcohol
-- that could be comfortable in my own
skin -- that could have the "courage of my
convictions." It was the first glimpse I
had of being a person I could respect and
like. -- BETTE
*****
End Short Liners -- Last Change March 8,
2010 ...
Hello, I bless you with Jeremiah 29:11, and I would like to say that it
is very important for the body of believers to be of 'one accord' and
therefore, the Scripture that you gave, in
Ecclesiastes is very
appropriate.
Brother, I was raised in a home where alcohol was consumed in a great
quantity. After 25 years of putting up with my father's abusive
behavior, my mother sought counseling from her parish priest. The
priest could only recommend that the entire family 'shun' my father. As
I had already sought help through Adult Children of Alcoholics and then
became a counselor myself, I did not go along with this approach.
Instead, my entire family shunned me! I said to my mother, 'Mom, if any
of us had a serious, life-threatening disease, what is the first thing
you would do?" "Send you to a doctor of course!" "But wouldn't you pray
for us?" "Pray! What good would that do?"
My mother and father were not re-generate
'Christians' although they
often went to 'church'. My father totally rejected the Bible and even
told me when I had become a Christian that I was not welcome under his
roof. (I was 17). The Lord provided and even though I had to give up the
university education that my father's company would have paid for as an
employee benefit, I chose the Lord. Halleluiah! 10 years later, the Lord
Himself would pay for my tuition, I won scholarships. I was even able to
travel to Spain, where I studied architecture. 10 years later, I became
a high school teacher. 9 years ago, my father died, suddenly, still a
scoffer. My family had still rejected me and would not allow me to speak
at his funeral. (I did anyway.)
This year, at Easter, I sent my mother a Bible with a cover painted by
Thomas Kincaide. (truly lovely). As I was away on a mission trip and did
not arrive back home until after Mother's day, I was a bit afraid to
contact my mom. To my surprise, when I was in touch by phone, she said,
"Tricia, thank you so much for the lovely book of
inspirational
sayings!" "Mom, that is no ordinary book! Would it surprise you to hear
that it is the Bible?" "Well, I heard that they call it the Good Book!
No wonder! I can't put it down!"
I am praying for my family still. I would ask that you pray for me as I
travel back (2 days driving) to my home town, searching for believers. I
have been working with believers who are persecuted, and the Lord has
shown me a secret to His kingdom: 2 Cor. 7:11, and 2 Cor 10:6. By
publicly speaking to believers and non-believers, I lift up the Name of
Jesus, and in doing so, I am 'taking revenge' on our enemies who have
persecuted our brothers and sisters in Cambodia,
Vietnam, Belaurs,
Russia, Nepal, Pakistan, China, and many 'Islamic' nations.
Your message of recovery is met with my prayers and I truly ask that you
would pray for me as my entire family has been afflicted by addiction.
Love, Tricia
Dear
marijuana, alcohol, and cocaine,
You have been there when I needed
you but today I write to you to say you
are no longer needed or wanted.
I can remember when I first laid
eyes, hands, nose and mouth on you; your
taste was bitter sweet.
Marijuana the age of 13 you were
introduced to me through John H and Wyatt
A through a piece of rolled up foil in the
shape of a ghetto pipe.
I took a hit of that very strange
smelling smoke and the love affair
started.
You made me feel like I had drifted
away into another place or state of mind.
I was thinking to my self that if
everybody knew of you all their pains and
worries would just disappear.
The time that
we spent together was short but we stayed
in touch and the next thing I knew we were
together for every occasion be it social
or at home alone.
When I was alone with you I always
felt bad for being with you for some
reason.
I guess that is why the bible says
that misery looks for companionship to do
its evil.
Well you slowly got introduced to
my liquid friend alcohol.
She was a great mix with you and
she got me there real fast.
When you were not around I always
had her in my hand.
I drank her and drank her until I
had to have her everyday.
Jumping ahead a little now age 15.
I started to
put you both first in my life before
friends and family.
I moved to San Antonio and lived in
my truck though times would get tuff you
remained there with me.
I met some other friends who knew
you as well but they had many new hoes in
their lives.
I then met up
with acid now she was a little weird but I
found a place for her little flat square
self right under my tongue.
We had a short-lived relationship
like three months but is was every
weekend.
I had some fun
with the little silaciven mushroom she was
better because it was natural what a joke
of rationalization.
I’m now 17 and I have managed to
get a girl pregnant and we got married for
the child’s sake bad move we never loved
each other not even a little.
So we moved away down to the
valley.
It was there that I tried to leave
you my long time friends, but was
unsuccessful.
I push my wife away and made room
for you again.
I started
college in Harlingen at the age of 18.
The first semester was great all
A’s but things started to hit bottom I
was now starting to missing my now two
children one I only knew for 5 days.
So I pick right back up where we
left off.
I met some other people who were in
love with you as well.
You were so easy to come by there
it was great.
Well after many nights of going to
Mexico and drinking and partying I met
John and he had a fast paced friend that
would help you drink all night (cocaine.)
Wow was she what I had been looking
for all along.
Now there was never a night that I
didn’t have a little of her in my life.
It grew to the point of $13,000 in
three months.
I gave you my everything and began
to look no more you were mine.
I OD’d on
you and my heart stopped beating in my
chest and looking down at my slowly
disappearing feet it began to grow black.
The blackness was slowly creeping
up my body and at the point of it reaching
my neck I gasped with everything that I
could muster up some breath and I cried
out GOD I know that you have a plan for my
life please spare my life and I will
promise to serve you from here on out.
The blackness lifted and my heart
began to beat ever so fast.
I was spared from the death grip
you had on my life cocaine.
I got on the phone and called my
parents and told them the truth about all
the lies and my addiction to drugs and
alcohol.
I asked them if I could come and
live with them and I will never forget
what my mom said I will have to call you
back son.
I held the phone out and thought
how could you, as if I had some reason to
think that my opinion was important.
So we hung up the phones and about
45 minutes later I get a call back and its
my father (I will never forget the empty
feeling that I felt) when he said no son
we cannot allow you to come live with us,
we cannot trust you.
You have stolen from us, lied to
us, cheated us and most of all hurt us,
but what I can do is give you a number to
call to get help.
That number
was the very thing that I needed to have.
Victory Outreach in San Antonio.
It was there that I was delivered
from the everyday desire for you cocaine.
I lived there for about 3 months
and left to live with my parents in Bryan,
TX.
I fell out of accountability with
those true friends that I had and slowly
began to fall out of prayer and reading my
Bible.
I started to cuss a little and
before long I was looking for you again.
It would all start with some little
pain or thought I would have about a
person and then I would get made at that
person and want to respond with you and
alcohol in retaliation.
Thinking that I was doing it to
hurt them but it was just to have a reason
to come back to you cocaine.
I started going to church and was
doing pretty good when I met my new wife
Karen H.
We dated for a while and things got
tuff in my life and I ran to you cocaine
once more for comfort.
In that time Karen and I managed to
work things out but I never told her about
you.
We got married and began to work as
house parents at Still Creek Boys Ranch
but even there I had not faced my anger
issues and a boy by the name of Lonnie age
14 called me out to fight him.
I had had it with this kid so I
took my shirt off and got in his face and
yelling at the top of my lungs told him to
hit me but as soon as he did I was going
to lay him out on the floor right there.
My wife was in the room with me and
she got scared because she had never seen
this side of me.
I got on the
phone with his probation officer and told
her to have him pick up after explaining
the whole thing to her.
Well the state got involved and the
ranch was faced with having to let us go.
No house no money, no food, no
nothing.
So we moved to San Antonio and
lived with my sister for a while.
Karen started working with my
sister and I started looking for a job.
In the course of looking for a job
I met Josh B and we started working with
Excel.
He was a Christian so he said, but
we would have a few beers here and there.
We would go out on the lake and
wake board my boat and drink on the lake.
I was at the point where I thought
that I could handle alcohol.
Well one night after we had had a
few drinks (which my wife never approved
of) I called her on my way home and she
got real mad that I had been drinking so I
got mad and yelled a little bit and the
search was on for you cocaine.
I went over to
my old friends house the one I knew at the
age of 15 and he still lived there in the
same place.
Well he knew a friend that knew a
friend and we were together again.
It went on several more times after
that when times would get tuff I would
call on you.
This happened for the last time and
I called my wife and told her about you
and lying about my hidden sin.
This is the last time that we will
ever be together.
I cut off and sever all my ties
with you and your friends’ alcohol and
marijuana.
You are never invited into my life
again.
REALITY
All three of
you took something from me.
1.
Marijuana… you began to sever my relationships with God,
friends and family.
You made me run from my problems
and not face them.
2.
Drinking… all you did is numb my emotions for a brief time
and you gave me a headache afterwards.
3.
Cocaine…you were the worst to me you always I mean every
moment wanted me to be with you.
The responsibilities that I had to
my wife, children, parents, school and
friends, I push away from to be with you.
You taught me to hurt those that I
needed the most by lying to them and to
myself, cheating, stealing, manipulating,
taking them for granted and think that
they would always be around.
Well guess what you were very wrong
in your ways.
I lost everything, all respect that
I had from everybody that knew me, my
home, my car, my family’s love, and my
children.
I now stand before you and say GET
THE HELL OUT OF MY LIFE DEVIL, YOU HAVE NO
PLACE THERE.
I surrender to
you LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and say
have you way in my thoughts and though
patterns, actions and every aspect of my
life.
Come into my life Holy Spirit and
guide me into all truth once again.
GOD you rule in my life your will
be done not my own.
Good-bye devil
and Hello FATHER
Signed,
Ryan S
-----
Hi
Everyone:-)
My
name is Bonnie and I am an addict. I
was checking out this group via sponsor
suggestion. I love to meet people in
recovery from all over. It makes me
feel such a part of something bigger than
myself, and some days I am pretty big, lol.
Other
than at work or family, everyone I know
today is in recovery. I never
realized that giving up that old life was
going to bring me the riches I enjoy
today. I lead a very busy life, but
recovery is always my first priority, I
know if I am not caring for myself, then
life will once again be not worth living.
I have found freedom, peace, acceptance,
humility, a HP, and self-love through the
process of working the 12 steps. I
LOVE the steps, I love this new way of
life. I know that it is through
understanding AND application that they
work. I am always seeking a better
understanding.
I
look forward to getting to know you and
sharing our experiences, strengths, and
hopes. I am so grateful to all of
you for being here when I could no longer
live with or without the use of drugs, you
have brought me out of total hopelessness
into a life filled with hope beyond my
wildest expectations. Somehow no
matter what life presents to me, knowing
that staying clean just for today is my
biggest priority, nothing seems too big
for us to get through together.
So here's a question for you that I am
seeking a better understanding on: I
know how to share experience, I know how
to share hope, but how do I share
strength? How do I ask for
strength?
Nice
to meet you I'll be back:-)Bonnie
-----
The
leaders of our country involved with the
official services today have almost
universally chosen to not share anything
original, but are rather reading quotes
from other leaders, at other times.
While I certainly don't put myself in
their category, I feel a need to try to
communicate my feelings on this day to my
brothers and sisters in recovery. In many
ways I feel it is a mistake to think of
ourselves (addicts) as fundamentally
different from the rest of the world.
I think we are really more alike than
different.
We
just found a solution for the challenges
of living that ultimately turned out to be
a much bigger problem than anything we may
have been seeking relief from. It is
that "solution" that unites us
in a common purpose. But, having said
that, I wanted to express what I am
feeling about what today means to me as an
addict. The disease of addiction has been
affecting the human race for as long as we
have recorded history. The baffling
heartbreak of the disease has
traditionally led families, doctors and
governments to treat the addict as a
morally deficient criminal, and punishment
rather than treatment has been our
history. Nothing and I believe it is
safe to underscore that word – nothing,
worked with any consistency or in broad
application for those so afflicted. And
then, in the story that most of us know so
well, a miraculous series of events
conspired to create a solution. One
sad, sick drunk had an experience, and
then met another drunk who helped him
understand that experience as it applied
to his disease – and most importantly
for us, how to put it to work in the lives
of others. Could that have happened in any
other time, or in any other place than in
America?
While
we certainly cannot know that, we do know
it did not happen before or anywhere else.
I have always considered myself to be
patriotic, and I love my country. I
just never really knew how fiercely I felt
that until September 11, 2001.
Considering what individual freedom means
to my recovery, and believing as I do that
one could not exist without the other, my
feeling of love for my country has really
grown over the last year. While I hurt
today with all my fellow Americans, I
wanted to communicate what joy and hope I
feel as well. Freedom, the
foundation of what we often call the
American spirit, has special meaning to me
as an addict. Personal freedom and
prosperity gave me the time and means to
use, and I nearly lost both of those
things forever as a result. Freedom
from active addiction is all I was
promised, but I have been given so many
kinds of freedom that I am humbled in my
attempt to either name or express
gratitude for them all. Finally, I want to
thank the Program, all of you, and
especially my Higher Power for the most
profound freedom of all; freedom from
fear. I know in my heart that whatever
happens to me, to my country, to those I
love and cherish, I will be given whatever
I need to survive it. I went to a
noon meeting last September 11th, and I
will again today.
I
need to be with my "family", it
is where I go when I need to feel
connected to the universe and God's loving
presence. I add my prayers to all the
other ones being said today for our
country, our leaders and those of our
neighbors grieving very personal losses
today. I will also say a special
prayer for all the addicts I hold so dear
in my heart, and you are one of those.
Thank you for my recovery, my freedom and
ultimately, my life.
Suzanne
B. New Beginnings, Tyler TX.
-----
I was
in active addiction for over 20 years, hit many bottoms and hurt some very precious people. My last bottom involved my children declaring
that they had had enough, and unlike all the bottoms that preceding
this one, this time I took notice - really took notice of the hurt I
was inflicting upon them.
No longer could I say that I wasn't
hurting anyone. I was hurting myself.
I was hurting others and I
didn't want to continue in the cycle of pain.
Sick and tired of being
sick and tired, desperate for a new way of life...
Peace, love and light
Cheri
-----
I
love this topic. Today, for this
addict, making a commitment and
keeping it--no matter what, is one of the
most important things to
me. Today my word means something.
In another time and space, you
could be sure of one thing, and one thing
only-- If I told you I
would be at home using-- then I would be
at home using and if I told
you anything else-- rest assured, I'd be
at home using. Today, I am
quite different. I am dependable.
That's new again for me, and it
feels great. I feel a sense of
purpose and I give selflessly to
others as just as others did ( and still
is do) for me, because after
all, that's what it is all about, and I
can't keep what I have unless
I give it away!!
Ann
-----
"I know that I am at my bottom but.....
How do I stop using and being used?"
I have been coming to the rooms since December 2001. Although I
relapsed a little while ago the affect of being in the rooms has been
life altering and spiritually profound for me. My relapse represented
for me a deep & true acceptance of my addict nature (I thought I
could drink successfully; after 72 hours I was completely
unmanageable and confirmed I belonged in the rooms). Since my relapse
I have been able to truly accept recovery into my life and begin to
use the tools that the program offers rather than just go through the
motions. I hit bottom back in December and I just did what the
program said to do. This worked for a while and things changed in me.
I did not notice them but being surrounded by recovering addicts, and
by being loved & accepted things began to change inside (little by
slowly). Changes began to come into my awareness when things that
used to be okay for me no longer were acceptable. Although these
transitions are painful they also bring joy because I can celebrate
that I am growing. What a sense of accomplishment.
How did I stop using and being used? Well that is just a miracle.
Miracles are hard to explain, there illogical. I did not consciously
know how to do either thing. My HP definitely has carried me this far
& brought the most amazing ppl into my life to assist me in this
process. Just having the intention and the profound willingness to
stop using. With that I was able to take suggestions and believe in
someone in NA who believed in me. Then next thing you know I am
believing in myself. Then I wake up one day and realize that I am no
longer praying into a black abyss and I am actually having an
intimate relationship with my HP. Talking to it and letting it guide
me.
It is slow and sometimes the changes that are happening seem
undetectable. I guess each of us has our own time. Different things
need to happen to bring us to this point where we can accept the
possibility of a better way to live. It does not happen overnight
(that's for sure) and there are days when I wondered why I was doing
this at all but IT GETS SO MUCH BETTER. Just sticking it out that day
even though it sucks, helps to build me up. It gives me that sense of
accomplishment & the little inkling more of self esteem that I need
to keep me going through another day.
I hope this made sense. Thanks for letting me share.
LOVE- Alex
-----
When
I worked step three I was introduced to a
spiritual principal that I had already
practiced to some extent since I was
clean. Shortly after I came to the rooms;
I made a commitment to recovery. I
reflected this commitment by showing up to
meetings everyday, regardless of how I
felt. I made a commitment to my home
group; that regardless of what was
happening that I would be there, every
meeting. I made a commitment to my
sponsor; to call him religiously everyday.
These were the first times that I was able
to participate in my own life in a long
time. It was the first things that I made
a commitment to, and actually followed up
with. It felt good for people to know that
I was going to be there to make coffee, to
know that my phone call was coming, etc. I
felt good to have a group of people that
believed in me, and it helped me to
believe in myself. Then I began to make
commitments to service; H & I, area
service, host committees, etc. These
things not only gave me the chance to give
back what was so freely given, but it also
put me in the middle of the program, and
got me hooked up with an excellent network
of people. As I began to develop a
relationship with a loving God; I began to
figure out exactly what it was that I
believe in. There came a time when I could
no longer just acknowledge that I had a
God, no longer just ask him to keep me
clean, but develop a relationship with
him. In the third step I made the
commitment to strive to serve my God, and
incorporate his will into my life, on a
daily basis. Today I have many
commitments; job, H&I, convention,
sponsor, sponsee, son, sister, school,
etc, and I am able to continue to learn
from every single one of them, because I
am willing to commit to my relationship
with them. I have found that slowly over a
period of time; through making enough
coffee, showing up to meetings, etc, I
have been able to live life at the human
status that I sought for so long, but to
actually be a responsible productive
member of society. I hope that this sight
stays around, despite that recent struggle
with support; it has become a daily asset
for my recovery.
lov to all - Aaron
-----
How
do I know I hit Bottom? I can 'feel' it in
the very soul of my being! Drugs in any
form are not acceptable today. I 'know'
this in my head. It was ONLY when I truly
accepted it in my heart that I started to
recover. There is a little part Waayy down
inside that knows today; "I am an
Addict". I have not used drugs or
Alcohol in over 15 years. BUT, I have hit
other bottoms. Money. Sex. Food. Emotions!
Oh, yes those emotions that works so well
to keep people away from me and allow me
to act out in unhealthy ways. I love the
rush of ==>Fear<== and the chemicals
that get released into my brain. Anger;
grrrrrrr - feel the rushhhh of the blood
pumping madness in your veins? Rage. Pity
/\O/\ oh pity me.... I am an addict. Yes,
I have hit many 'Bottoms' only after I was
willing to look at them and take
responsibility for them and my behaviors.
How did this happen? Step 1, 2, and 3.
Then taking the actions in steps 4 &
5. (God, what a rush that was) following
it up with more action steps 6 & 7 and
then the dreaded steps 8 & 9. Followed
daily with steps 10, 11, & 12 then
going back around to step 1 everyday. How
do I know I hit Bottom? Because God told
me, I believe it, and I 'know' it.
Travel the Journey in Faith and Trust the
Process.
Willy
- the recovering addict from West-Central
Missouri, USA
-----
The
Word of God says, “Let the redeemed of
the Lord say so.”
And
that
Satan was overcome by the blood of the
Lamb and by the word
of
their testimony. That’s why I’m here today.
I don’t want this to be
about
me. I
want the words of my testimony to glorify
God and Jesus,
His
son, who sacrificed his own life to save
mine.
Because of depression, most
of my life I have found one way or
another
to escape.
I would take long naps, or pour
myself into work, or find
other ways to get away.
Instead of dealing with whatever it
was that I
wanted to escape from, I
just ran away.
A couple of years ago, I was
really struggling with
migraine headaches.
The traditional migraine
medications either didn’t
work, or I couldn’t take them for one
reason
or another.
Pretty soon, my doctors just
started throwing narcotic pain
medication at the problem
– and I soon discovered something I
thought
was wonderful.
I could escape not only the
physical pain, but also the
emotional pain.
Basically, I felt like I was taking
a nap while I was
awake.
I
justified my use because:
1.
They were prescribed by
a doctor and legal.
2.
I was too smart and knew too much
about drug addiction for it
to
happen to me.
I wasn’t a drug addict.
I just took a lot of pain
pills.
3.
Because my depression could become
so debilitating, they
helped me function like the super-woman I
believed I had to be.
Perfect mother,
wife, friend, etc.
All
those tedious house-wife chores, became
easy to do
over-and-over-and-over
again without a thought of how bored I
was.
Pretty soon it became
apparent that I had a problem with
pain-killers.
I was addicted.
I had turned away from God and
turned to pills instead.
Satan had me right where he
wanted me – useless for the kingdom
of
God.
But I was not about to admit my
problem. Then everyone would
see me as weak, and not the
super-woman I wanted to appear to be.
Pretty
soon, it all caught up to me, and
everything I was trying to hide
was
revealed.
Basically I got caught.
It took several times at
treatment
and
people confronting me before I realized I
was beat and had to
surrender.
God humbled me and had me on my
knees, crying out for
His
mercy, grace and HELP!
Today,
I stand before you, and I have been clean
for almost 120 days,
knowing
that God is doing for me what I never
could have done for
myself.
I have been to hell and back and
have no plans to go back!
I
have been through the secular drug
treatment and psychiatrists,
psychologists,
therapists, etc. but they were not the
answer.
JESUS
keeps me clean and sober.
He is the answer.
I
have been learning to live life on
life’s terms, one day at a time
and
working
through some of the emotional problems I
have.
I am finding
a
new serenity and peace I never thought was
possible – way beyond
what
I could have ever found with any drug.
My
prayer today, is for those listening
today, who may have doubts
about
the power of Jesus to heal, deliver, save
or redeem that you
would
hear from the words of my testimony that my
God - my Jesus
IS
REAL!
God
Bless,
Amy H.
__________
Who is an
Alcoholic?
Am I an
Alcoholic?
To get the
right answer the prospective member must
start this course of instruction with-
1.
A willingness to learn. We must not
have the attitude that “you’ve
got to show me.”
2.
An open mind. Forget any and all
ideas or notions we already have.
Set our opinions aside.
3.
Complete honesty. It is
possible-not at all probable-that we may
fool somebody else. But we MUST be honest with
ourselves, and it is a good time to start
being honest with others.
SUGGESTED
TEST QUESTIONS
1. Do you require a
drink the next morning?
2. Do you prefer to
drink alone?
3. Do you lose time from
work due to drinking?
4. Is your drinking
harming your family in any way?
5. Do you crave a drink
at a definite time daily?
6. Do you get the inner
shakes unless you continue drinking?
7. Has drinking made you
irritable?
8. Does drinking make
you careless of your family’s welfare?
9. Have you harmed your
husband or wife since drinking?
10. Has drinking changed your
personality?
11. Does drinking cause you
bodily complaints?
12. Does drinking make you
restless?
13. Does drinking cause you to
have difficulty in sleeping?
14. Has drinking made you more
impulsive?
15. Have you less self-control
since drinking?
16. Has your initiative
decreased since drinking?
17. Has your ambition decreased
since drinking?
18. Do you lack perseverance in
pursuing a goal since drinking?
19.
Do you drink to obtain social ease?
(In the shy, timid, & self-conscious)
20. Do you drink for
self-encouragement? (In persons w/feelings
of inferiority.)
21. Do you drink to relieve
marked feeling of inadequacy?
22. Has your sexual potency
suffered since drinking?
23. Do you show marked dislikes
and hatreds since drinking?
24. Has your jealousy, in
general, increased since drinking?
25. Do you show marked
moodiness as a result of drinking?
26. Has your efficiency
decreased since drinking?
27. Has your drinking made you
more sensitive?
28. Are you harder to get along
with since drinking?
29. Do you turn to an inferior
environment since drinking?
30. Is drinking endangering
your health?
31. Is drinking affecting your
peace of mind?
32. Is drinking making your
home life unhappy?
33. Is drinking jeopardizing
your business?
34. Is drinking clouding your
reputation?
35. Is drinking disturbing the
harmony of your life?
If you have answered YES to any one of the Test
Questions, there is a definite warning
that you may be alcoholic. If you have
answered YES to any two of the Test
Questions the chances are that you are an
alcoholic. If you answered YES to three or
more of the Test Questions you are
definitely AN ALCOHOLIC.
NOTE: The Test Questions are not A.A. Questions but
are the guide used by Johns Hopkins
University Hospital in deciding whether a
patient is alcoholic or not. In addition
to the Test Questions we in A.A. would ask
even more questions. Here are a few-
36.
Have you ever had a complete loss
of memory while, or after drinking?
37.
Have you ever felt, when or after
drinking, an inability to concentrate?
38.
Have your ever felt “remorse”
after drinking?
39.
Has a physician ever treated you
for drinking?
40.
Have you ever been hospitalized for
drinking?
Many other
questions could be asked but the
foregoing are sufficient for the purpose
of this instruction.
Are
you codependent? Codependency Screening
Not everyone
living with an alcoholic is codependent;
and not every
codependent
has ever had an active alcoholic in their
life. Codependence
begins when
you allow relationships to take too much
control of your life
especially
relationships with others who are very
self-centered. In order to decide whether
you have become codependent, you must look
at your own behavior, your own beliefs,
and your own feelings.
The following test will help you decide whether
you may have become too other-centered-the
hallmark of codependence-to the detriment
of your own physical, mental, emotional,
and spiritual health.
Without a relationship I do not know who I am. Yes
No
Other people make my life worth living.
Yes No
I am good at appreciating what is best in other
people.
Yes No
People are attracted to me because of how helpful I
can be.
Yes No
I take on the characteristics of people around me.
Yes No
The center of my world is in other people.
Yes No
I like helping other people, even when my own needs
are not being met at the moment.
Yes No
When other people are uncomfortable, I feel their
discomfort.
Yes No
I am concerned about other people when they lose
competitions.
Yes No
I overlook other people’s shortcomings and see
their strengths.
Yes No
I expect myself to treat others well.
Yes No
I feel shame and fear when criticized.
Yes No
I am often compelled by life’s demands, with few
real choices.
Yes No
I let people take advantage of me. Yes No
I often anticipate catastrophe. Yes No
I feel empty when I can not make people happy
Yes No
I keep from admitting how bad my life gets
sometimes in order to keep things better
under control
Yes No
“People who answer “Yes” to three or more of
these questions are often decreasing the
quality of their lives because of
codependency. Since you answered “Yes”
to 11 questions, we encourage you to
explore the characteristics and meaning of
codependence further.
6) The Twelve Steps as adapted for Wings of Eagles
STEP
ONE --Is about recognizing our
brokenness.
We admitted we were powerless over the effects of
our separation
from GOD - that our lives had
become unmanageable.
I
know nothing good lives in me, that is, in
my sinful nature. For I have the desire to
do what is good, but I cannot carry it
out.—Romans 7:18
STEP TWO --Is about the birth of faith in
us.
We come to
believe that GOD,
through Jesus Christ, can restore us to sanity.
For it is GOD who works in you to will and to act according to his good
purpose.—Philippians
2:13.
STEP THREE --Involves a decision to let GOD
be in charge of our lives.
We make a
decision to turn our will and our lives
over to the care of GOD through Jesus
Christ.
Therefore,
I urge you, brothers, in view of GOD’s
mercy, to offer your bodies as living
sacrifices, holy and pleasing to GOD
- which is your spiritual worship.—Romans
12:1
STEP
FOUR ---Involves Self-Examination.
Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of
ourselves.
Let
us examine our ways and test them, and let
us return to the Lord.—Lamentations
3:40
STEP FIVE
--Is the discipline of Confession.
We admit to GOD,
to ourselves, and to another person the
exact nature of our wrongs.
Therefore Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so
that you may be healed.
James 5:16a
STEP
SIX --Is an inner transformation
sometimes called repentance.
We are entirely ready to have GOD remove all these
defects of character.
Humble
yourselves before the Lord, and He
will lift you up.—James
4:10
STEP
SEVEN --Involves the transformation or
purification of our character.
We humbly ask GOD
to remove our shortcomings.
If we confess our sins, He
is faithful and just and will forgive us
our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness.—I John 1:9
STEP
EIGHT --Involves examining our relationships and preparing ourselves to make
amends.
We make a list of all persons who have hurt us and
choose to forgive them. We also make a
list of all persons we have harmed and
become willing to make amends to them all.
Do
to others as you would have them do to
you.—Luke 6:31
STEP
NINE
--Is the discipline of making
amends.
We make direct amends to people wherever possible,
except when doing so will injure them or
others.
Therefore,
if you are offering your gift at the altar
and there remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your gift
there in front of the altar. First go and
be reconciled to your brother; then come
and offer your gift.—Matthew 5:23-24
STEP
TEN --
Is about maintaining progress in
recovery.
We continue to take personal inventory, and when we
are wrong, promptly admit it.
So
if you think you are standing firm, be
careful that you do not fall.—I Corinthians 10:12
STEP
ELEVEN --
Involves the spiritual
disciplines of prayer and meditation.
We seek to know Christ
more intimately through prayer and
meditation, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly.—Colossians 3:16a
STEP
TWELVE --
Is about ministry
Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of
these steps, we try to carry the message
of Christ’s
grace and restoration power to others and
to practice these principles in every
aspect of our lives.
Brothers, if someone is
caught in a sin, you who are spiritual
should restore him gently. But watch
yourself, or you also may be tempted.—Galatians
6:1
Wings of Eagles© … Disciples Prayer
Today … Just for Today … we pray in agreement
ABBA
FATHER ... we claim YOU to be Our Father
We know that YOUR kingdom is in heaven
We knock on YOUR door and
ask for YOU to guide us
and give us strength
We know that YOU are Holy and that NO addiction is
over YOU
We surrender to YOUR will as we declare in the
third step
We ask for YOUR forgiveness and
for YOU to show us
where we are not forgiving others
We know that WE can NOT find deliverance
if we do
not forgive others
We believe that YOU will deliver us from our sin
and provide peace
We thank YOU for YOUR Love ...
Who is our
FATHER …
*** Amazing grace ***
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a Wretch like me,
I once was Lost, but now am found,
Was Blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come.
‘Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And
grace will lead me home.
The Ten Promises of Spiritual Recovery
"If
we are painstaking about this phase of our
development, we will be amazed before we
are half way through."
·
We are going
to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
·
We will not
regret the past nor wish to shut the door
on it.
·
We will
comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace.
·
No matter
how far down the scale we have gone, we
will see how our experience can benefit
others.
·
The feeling
of uselessness and self-pity will
disappear.
·
We will lose
interest in selfish things and gain
interest in our fellows.
·
Self-seeking
will slip away. Our whole attitude and
outlook upon life will change.
·
Fear of
people and of economic insecurity will
leave us.
·
We will
intuitively know how to handle situations
which used to baffle us.
·
We will
suddenly realize that GOD
is doing for us what we could not do for
ourselves.
Are
these extravagant promises? We think NOT.
They are being fulfilled among
us-sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.
They will always materialize if we work
for them.
*
Excerpt from
the Big Blue Book of Alcoholic Anonymous
(page 83/84).
The Twelve Rewards
-
Hope
instead of desperation.
-
Faith
instead of despair.
-
Courage
instead of fear.
-
Peace
of mind instead of confusion.
-
Self-respect
instead of self-contempt.
-
Self-confidence
instead of helplessness.
-
The
respect of others instead of their
pity and contempt.
-
A
clean conscience instead of a sense of
guilt.
-
Real
friendships instead of loneliness.
-
A
clean pattern of life instead of a
purposeless existence.
-
The
love and understanding of our families
instead of their doubts and fears.
-
The
freedom of a happy life instead of the
bondage of an alcoholic obsession.