Being ourselves

 If you cannot read this message, then please go to http://www.jftna.org/jft

 

September 30

Being ourselves

“Our real value is in being ourselves.” Basic Text, p. 105 ––––=–––– Over and over, we have tried to live up to the expectations of those around us.  We may have been raised believing that we were okay if we earned good grades in school, cleaned our rooms, or dressed a certain way.  Always wanting to belong and be loved, many of us spent a lot of time trying to fit in—yet we never quite seemed to measure up. Now, in recovery, we are accepted as we are.  Our real value to others is in being ourselves.  As we work the steps, we learn to accept ourselves just as we are.  Once this happens, we gain the freedom to become who we want to be. We each have many good qualities we can share with others.  Our experiences, honestly shared, help others find the level of identification they need to begin their recovery.  We discover that we all have special gifts to offer those around us. ––––=–––– Just for today:  My experience in recovery is the greatest gift I can give another addict.  I will share myself honestly with others.

 

Copyright © 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following information is a reminder of your current mailing list subscription:

You are subscribed to the following list:

Just For Today

You may unsubscribe or change your email address here: http://www.jftna.org/jft-subscription.htm

To view our privacy policies, please visit:http://www.jftna.org/jft/privacy.htm

If you have questions about some of the list policies, please visit:http://www.jftna.org/jft/faq.htm

If you're still having trouble, please contact the list owner at: jft@na.org

The following physical address is associated with this mailing list:

NA World Services
PO Box 9999
Van Nuys, CA 91409
USA

(818) 773-9999

The Fourth Step: A fearless and searching moral inventory of ourselves:

Thank God for the past & you can trust Him for the future. Trust is a bridge from past to future built with planks of thanks~Ann Voskamp. #1000gifts   September 25, 2013 From Just for Today The Fourth Step - fearing our feelings Page 279 "We may fear that being in touch with our feelings will trigger an overwhelming chain reaction of pain and panic." Basic Text, p.30   Just for Today: I won't be afraid of my feelings. With the help of my Higher Power, I'll continue in my recovery. A common complaint about the Fourth Step is that it makes us painfully conscious of our defects of character. We may be tempted to falter in our program of recovery. Through surrender and acceptance, we can find the resources we need to keep working the steps. It's not the awareness of our defects that causes the most agony-it's the defects themselves. When we were using, all we felt was the drugs; we could ignore the suffering our defects were causing us. Now that the drugs are gone, we feel that pain. Refusing to acknowledge the source of our anguish doesn't make it go away; denial protects the pain and makes it stronger. The Twelve Steps help us deal with the misery caused by our defects by dealing directly with the defects themselves. If we hurt from the pain of our defects, we can remind ourselves of the nightmare of addiction, a nightmare from which we've now awakened. We can recall the hope for release the Second Step gave us. We can again turn our will and our lives over, through the Third Step, to the care of the God of our understanding. Our Higher Power cares for us by giving us the help we need to work the rest of the Twelve Steps. We don't have to fear our feelings. Just for today, we can continue in our recovery.

Just for Today: I won't be afraid of my feelings. With the help of my Higher Power, I'll continue in my recovery.



A Man of Sorrows

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Isaiah 53:3
Many people have the impression that good Christians are happy, joyful, victorious people. In this fantasy, good Christians are people whose problems seem to vanish when they trust God and pray about it. Unaffected by the pain of life, these relentlessly cheerful people read the Bible, sing praise songs and feel no pain.
Yet Christians are at heart the followers of a man who was named 'man of sorrows.' Jesus was not relentlessly cheerful. He did not practice a mood altering, pain-numbing religion. He grieved. He wept. He was familiar with suffering. Our God is a God who knows suffering. God grieves.
In those times when we shame ourselves for our sorrow, it can be an enormous encouragement to remember that God is personally familiar with grief. If God grieves, we can expect to do the same.
God, you surprise me again!
When I grieve, I think that if I could just cheer up,
you would be pleased.
But, you grieve also.
Man of Sorrows you are acquainted with sorrow.
Thank you for understanding.
Thank you for grieving.
Help me to experience your presence in my time of grief.
Amen.
Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan

My Reflection on Reflection on Faith, Culture, and Reason by The Reverend James F. Kauffmann, Pastor

"Christians “pursued the arts and sciences because they were believers. They had confidence they could know human things because they had seen divine things".(Kauffman, 2013)

"“Christianity cannot send down deep roots, be handed on from one generation to the next, or flourish without language. Reason is unthinkable without language.… In an individual believer, faith can exist without reason. ... Yet, as a community, the Church needs reason to give faith cultural heft... Reason, for its part, needs faith because the natural powers of the human intellect easily lose sight of their goal, which is the fullness of truth, and can become susceptible to various forms of authoritarianism and intolerance… Athens and Jerusalem belong together,” says Wilken. “Christian culture is never solely religious; it embraces what is best in thought, literature, art, and the sciences—a truth St. Paul saw at the very beginning of the Church’s history.”" (Kauffman quoting Wilken)

I love this thought: "Christian culture is never solely religious; it embraces what is best in thought, literature, art and the sciences..."

Recalling this about our Christian, and Western, heritage, must be done in this day, but we are the people to do it. The world has nearly lost the vocabulary of these, because it has lost the ‘why.‘ The good news is, "There lives the dearest freshness deep down things." (Hopkins, “The Grandeur of God”). We have the “why” of things.

Recalling this about our Christian, and Western, heritage, must be done in this day, but we are the people to do it. The world has nearly lost the vocabulary of these, because it has lost the ‘why.‘ The good news is, "There lives the dearest freshness deep down things." (Hopkins, “The Grandeur of God”). We have the “why” of things. As Wilken says, Christians “pursued the arts and sciences because they were believers. They had confidence they could know human things because they had seen divine things.” We have the beauty of 2500 years of the exceptional inherited culture that we call Western.

We should by no means adopt a siege mentality if we meet hostility. Instead we can take on the attitude of Mary (the sister of Martha and Lazarus) who sits at the feet of Jesus to feed on his words, and to embrace the hostile world with love and with a boldness that comes from the Gospel.

Father Kauffman's Reflection (accessed on Sept. 19,2013) can be found at http://www.saintbenedictparish.org/church/from_fathers_study.php 

Wilken's article can be found at  (http://www.firstthings.com/article/2011/01/culture-and-the-light-of-faith)

The Idolatry of Self:Roots of Addiction

 Self effort (which fails often with the complex dynamics of addiction) alone cannot set one free-- in fact, some have called that a form of "self" idolatry ( which is therefore) destined to fail... But coming to believe God can and will relieve the captive of the bondage of self (all addictions are based on this)- this is the breakthrough. Many fail to grasp that flesh cannot be cast out (only the demonic can be cast out in Jesus' name) but flesh ( where most addictions feed and originate) must be brought to the cross of Christ for crucifixion! Then through God's grace only can new, resurrected life be brought forth in the liberated soul! Where Intercessors are needed most is to minister the power of the Cross and in helping and praying the individual come to the cross where the diabolical self can there be brought to death! "I am crucified with Christ, yet I live; but it is no longer I that lives but Christ in me, and the life I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son oh God who loved me and gave Himself for me."

"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21 KJV)"

You cannot cast out flesh... Flesh can only be crucified.  We are told if we confess our sins ( the works of the flesh),  God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we are cleansed by God the demonic will flee because there is nothing left for it to feed upon.

There is so much more that scripture has to say about this!

We Need to be Reminded: We are not God...

Be still, and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

We need to be reminded that we are not God.

This seems pretty basic. You wouldn't think it would be hard to remember. But we get so caught up in proving ourselves by performing, achieving and rescuing that we forget that we are humans with real limits. We fill our time so full of frenzied activity that there is no 'stillness'. And when there is no stillness, it is hard to remember who is God and who is not.

Fortunately, God does not forget who is God and who is not. God invites us to quiet ourselves, to slow ourselves down. God invites us to be still long enough to regain perspective. "Be still", God says, "and know that I am God."

In the stillness we can see again that there is a difference between our frenzy and God's kingdom. It is God's work to provide and protect and rescue. It is not our work. We can do our part. But our part needs to be respectful of our human limits. Our part needs to actively acknowledge our dependence on God. God is God, and we are not.

Help me to slow down, Lord.
Help me to be quiet.
Help me to be still long enough to remember that you are God.
Help me to remember who is creature and who is Creator.
Let this truth free me, Lord, to accept my limits,
Amen.

Copyright Dale and Juanita Ryan

Daily Meditation for Thursday 19th of September 2013 

He sings over us with real joy...

When you are accepted in the Beloved; invited into the dance of life with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; there is no more achievement greater.  Keep in step and keep in tune with the song He is singing, for He sings over you with joy....

Zeph. 3:17 The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silentand make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.

You don’t need anyone’s affection or approval in order to be good enough. When someone rejects or abandons or judges you, it isn’t actually about you. It’s about them and their own insecurities, limitations, and needs, and you don’t have to internalize that. Your worth isn’t contingent upon other people’s acceptance of you — it’s something inherent.

You exist, and therefore, you matter. You’re allowed to voice your thoughts and feelings. You’re allowed to assert your needs and take up space. You’re allowed to hold onto the truth that who you are is exactly enough. And you’re allowed to remove anyone from your life who makes you feel otherwise.

Daniell Koepke  (via elige)

and Megan's perfect preach pie and perfect summer salad; for sand castles and rainbows and sun kissed skin; for these moments of hearing the waves lap the shore as night softly lulls me to seek a comfortable bed. I can't not stop to give you thanks and praise for these and oh, so many more blessings and #1000Gifts. Thank you LORD, thank you.

From Spurgeon:

Morning ...

Philippians 2:15
In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

We use lights to make manifest. A Christian man should so shine in his life, that a person could not live with him a week without knowing the gospel. His conversation should be such that all who are about him should clearly perceive whose he is, and whom he serves; and should see the image of Jesus reflected in his daily actions. Lights are intended for guidance. We are to help those around us who are in the dark. We are to hold forth to them the Word of life. We are to point sinners to the Saviour, and the weary to a divine resting-place. Men sometimes read their Bibles, and fail to understand them; we should be ready, like Philip, to instruct the inquirer in the meaning of God's Word, the way of salvation, and the life of godliness. Lights are also used for warning. On our rocks and shoals a light-house is sure to be erected. Christian men should know that there are many false lights shown everywhere in the world, and therefore the right light is needed. The wreckers of Satan are always abroad, tempting the ungodly to sin under the name of pleasure; they hoist the wrong light, be it ours to put up the true light upon every dangerous rock, to point out every sin, and tell what it leads to, that so we may be clear of the blood of all men, shining as lights in the world. Lights also have a very cheering influence, and so have Christians. A Christian ought to be a comforter, with kind words on his lips, and sympathy in his heart; he should carry sunshine wherever he goes, and diffuse happiness around him.
Gracious Spirit dwell with me; 
I myself would gracious be, 
And with words that help and heal 
Would thy life in mine reveal, 
And with actions bold and meek 
Would for Christ my Saviour speak.

God's Song: Have we lost the ability to know the difference be...

God's Song: Have we lost the ability to know the difference be...: Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet ...

spiritualinspiration:

1. Listen without interrupting.
Proverbs 18:13 – To answer before listening, that is folly and shame.

2. Speak without accusing.
James 1:19 – My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry

3. Give without sparing.
Proverbs 21:26 – All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing.

4. Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 1:9 – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.

5. Answer without arguing.
Proverbs 17:1 – Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife.

6. Share without pretending.
Ephesians 4:15 – Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

7. Enjoy without complaint.
Philippians 2:14 – Do everything without grumbling or arguing

8. Trust without wavering.
Corinthians 13:7 – Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

9. Forgive without punishing.
Colossians 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

10. Promise without forgetting.
Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.



Have we lost the ability to know the difference between "good," and "evil?"

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20 KJV)

Today I realized that many in the church world today do not know the definition of " good," and "evil."

In the hopes of reaching one soul- I will now provide the definitions of both words.

Evil (vl)
adj. e·vil·er, e·vil·est
1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain;
3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens.
4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.
n.
1. The quality of being morally bad or wrong; wickedness.
2. That which causes harm, misfortune, or destruction: a leader's power to do both good and evil.
3. An evil force, power, or personification.
4. Something that is a cause or source of suffering, injury, or destruction

adv. Archaic
In an evil manner.
[Middle English, from Old English yfel; see wap- in Indo-European roots.]
evil·ly adv.
( from:
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.)

I have heard, "evil," described the misuse of power. (Source unknown)

Another source( the Oxford Dictionary) defines evil in this way: defines, evil" as follows:
e·vil
ˈēvəl/
adjective
1.
profoundly immoral and malevolent.
"his evil deeds"
synonyms: wicked, bad, wrong,immoral, sinful, foul, vile,dishonorable, corrupt,iniquitous, depraved,reprobate, villainous,nefarious, vicious, malicious;malevolent, sinister,demonic, devilish, diabolical,fiendish, dark; monstrous,shocking, despicable,atrocious, heinous, odious,contemptible, horrible,execrable; informallowdown,dirty
"an evil deed"

American psychiatrist M. Scott Peck on the other hand, describes evil as militant ignorance.[24] The original Judeo-Christian concept of sin is as a process that leads one to miss the mark and not achieve perfection. Peck argues that while most people are conscious of this at least on some level, those that are evil actively and militantly refuse this consciousness. Peck describes evil as a malignant type of self-righteousness which results in a projection of evil onto selected specific innocent victims (often children or other people in relatively powerless positions). Peck considers those he calls evil to be attempting to escape and hide from their own conscience (through self-deception) and views this as being quite distinct from the apparent absence of conscience evident in sociopaths.

According to Peck, an evil person:[24][25]

Is consistently self-deceiving, with the intent of avoiding guilt and maintaining a self-image of perfection
Deceives others as a consequence of their own self-deception
Projects his or her evils and sins onto very specific targets, scapegoating others while appearing normal with everyone else ("their insensitivity toward him was selective") [26]
Commonly hates with the pretense of love, for the purposes of self-deception as much as deception of others
Abuses political (emotional) power ("the imposition of one's will upon others by overt or covert coercion") [27]
Maintains a high level of respectability and lies incessantly in order to do so
Is consistent in his or her sins. Evil people are defined not so much by the magnitude of their sins, but by their consistency (of destructiveness)
Is unable to think from the viewpoint of their victim
Has a covert intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury
Deceives others as a consequence of their own self-deception
Projects his or her evils and sins onto very specific targets, scapegoating others while appearing normal with everyone else ("their insensitivity toward him was selective") [26]
Commonly hates with the pretense of love, for the purposes of self-deception as much as deception of others
Abuses political (emotional) power ("the imposition of one's will upon others by overt or covert coercion") [27]
Maintains a high level of respectability and lies incessantly in order to do so
Is consistent in his or her sins. Evil people are defined not so much by the magnitude of their sins, but by their consistency (of destructiveness)
Is unable to think from the viewpoint of their victim
Has a covert intolerance to criticism and other forms of narcissistic injury