Good vs Evil: Make a choice

I know that some of you who read my posts do not believe in God or Jesus, but I do. I have witnessed proof of his existence. He has shown himself to me in ways that I would only recognize, and if you were to open up to what is then you could see it too. There must be an idea lingering in the back of your back of your mind though. I mean, there are countless items of evidence that are beyond scientific explanation. Some people believe in evil but not good. Why is that? Well, there happens to be more proof of demons than Angels and I'll tell you why. Where do demons come from? Hell right? So if you lived in a fiery lake wouldn't you want to merge to the top and get out? Duh, of course you would. And Angels, where are they from? Heaven. Heaven is a place with no pain, fear, death, violence, or any difficulties; it is made of Joy and Love. Who wants to leave such an amazing place?

Yes, many question why God doesn't rid the world of evil, but the point of this life is prove that we can have faith and maintain humility. Life is trials and tribulations. All those children who die are blessed because they will never be tested like an adult. Children are innocent and are granted entry into Heaven automatically. This may seem ridiculous to a parent who lost a child, but isn't it a thought that could make the loss less painful; knowing they are living joyously with our Heavenly Father?

This is an image of Jesus rewarding the good deeds of Christians
at the Bema Seat of Judgement

For those who do not believe I ask you this:
"Would you rather believe in Jesus and he not be real and sleep eternally or believe in Jesus and find out he was real and live eternally in Heaven?"

I have total belief in Jesus, he saved us all. If you don't believe in him you should start, just in case He is real... (He is).

Acts 2:38 New International Version

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Non-Addict Approaching an Addict with Love and Concern: The Do's and the Don'ts

I am on a mission to help as many people as I can. I was in my daily AA meeting and one person really stuck out to me. She was attending the meeting to gain knowledge of alcoholism because she has a sister who is suffering from it and seems to be unreachable. Just like the addict, the sister was left with that famous question that leads each person to AA, "What is there left to do?"

After the meeting, I approached her and offered my advice. As we spoke she revealed how her sister wouldn't listen to her. I shook my head in understanding. I exclaimed that the addict will not listen to any type of preaching or direction. In order to reach her she would have to speak of ideas that she heard as simply that, ideas. If she told her sister that she thought that would be good for her, she would most likely reject the idea. Addicts are self-centered and suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder.

If you are trying to reach a loved one who is suffering from addiction, the best advice I can give you is not to tell them what to do, what they should do, what they have, what they will lose, etc.; they probably already know it. It is best to speak with the concern of their use being left out. You can speak about situations that may make them think about their own situation, but do not direct it at them. The have to want to get clean and sober; the pushier you are the further they will go. I know, I've been there and done that. We addicts are rebellious SOB's.

Leave out the concerned part of the conversation. Try to identify with their disease. Whatever problem you may have can be translated to their own problem. For example: OMG, my kids have been so bad today; I feel like crying. I get so fired up that I want to spank their butts so bad, but I know that if I am fired up I am likely to do something I regret and could hurt my kids; I don't want to do that.

This problem could be told to the addict by a non-addict and they could relate to the situation and emotion along with response. Addicts way of relating to above: OMG, everything seems so irritating to me; I just want to cry. I get so frustrated sometimes that I just want to have a drink, but I know I will probably end up drinking too much, changing the way I act. I could end up hurting the ones I love and I don't want to do that.

These thoughts seem to go on in the minds of an addict. It's like a constant battle of the wits inside the mind of an addict.

The topic of the addicts problem is a touchy subject and the addiction is likely to fight back. You have to learn how to maneuver around the addiction; there must be no evidence of attack to the addiction for it to allow the subject to listen. It is like a defense system; you have to know the right code or it blares with loud alerts.

Finding Your Higher Power

We need to believe in something greater than ourselves; it's human nature. Now my higher power is God. Whatever or whoever you choose as your higher power is up to you. As an addict, I can get lost in life. When I feel like a problem is a bit much to handle, I ask God to give the patience and wisdom to continue. When I do what God wants me to I feel a great feeling of fulfillment within.

Spirituality isn't about getting to church every Sunday. It is nice to go to church but if you aren't actually paying attention and understanding what is being taught then it is irrelevant. Being spiritual is about doing your everyday routine and taking a moment to look around feel God in your presence. It's like when you go outside in the spring and you hear the birds chirping while the sun and wind caress your face; you have serenity.

It takes time and meditation to be able to feel that peace and serenity. I have that now that I am clean and sober. I go to the beach and admire the beauty of the emerald ocean that lie beneath the heavenly clouds and the calming blue sky. I stop to take it all in and I am so grateful that my higher power has allowed me to regain life; for the first time I am actually living. I enjoy the nature around me (except cockroaches). Just like in the AA promises, my whole outlook on life has changed. AA has been fulfilling those 12 promises since 1935. If you do not receive what is promised to you it is because you strayed from the ways of sober life. 

When you doubt your recovery remember that God could, and would restore you to sanity if He were sought.

1. If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through.
2. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
3. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
4. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
5. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others.
6. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
7. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
8. Self-seeking will slip away.
9. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
10. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
11. We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
12. 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.

The Promises of AA

THE A.A. PROMISES

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. That feeling of uselessness and selfpity 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.

This is such a short way to explain what it is like to recover through Alcoholics Anonymous.

Thank you, Bill W. and Dr. Bob,

for creating such an amazing, life-saving, non-judgemental, program for us who want it. It works. It heals. It brings life to those who have lost it to drugs and alcohol.

Mental and Physical Triggers

This week I found myself drifting off into the fun memories of my addiction. I start to think about the silly drunken fun I had; in the first couple hours of drinking. When I realized I was thinking about how it felt good and fun I immediately through awful memories into mind as a reminder of what happens after the fun ends. There is something in drugs and alcohol that feels good; why else would we keep using?
I ask myself how on earth could I even fantasize about using after all the pain and suffering drugs and alcohol had brought upon my family and I. I guess that's the addiction trying to wedge itself back into my life, but that ain't happening. I've come way too far, and I love the life I have sober.
Any time you find yourself glorifying drinking or drugging, immediately think of the worst situation that happened because of your use. There is no positive outcome that could come from drinking and/or drugging.

Another trigger that may be plaguing your life can be "people, places, and/or things." I was in line at Tom Thumb one day and noticed the Bic lighters; one had a jar on it and the other had a pickle. I started to daydream about what my dealer would say if he saw me with a pickle on my lighter. It seems like almost everything I come into contact with has some kind of reminder hidden in it. I used for such a long time that everywhere, everybody, and everything is involved in my use in one form or the other.
My advice is to keep in mind why you are clean and sober; something bad has happened to each and every addict who is sober/clean today. If you have to control your use then you have a problem. Not only do the bad times remind me of why I don't want to use, but the good things that I have now that I am clean and sober. I love my family. I love my husband. I love my kids. All of them deserve to have "me" not the addict that buries "me" deeper and deeper with each use. My children are safe and have a happy home. No drink or drug is worth the risk that comes with it. Drugs and alcohol change "you." BeaUtiful.
Stay clean and sober; your life depends on it.

Are you living or simply existing?

Here is a question to think about: Are you living or simply existing? What is the difference, you may be thinking.
Exist: in existence or operation at the time under consideration; current.

The term "living" is a metaphor describing what you are doing with your life. I believe living is making a difference in the world. If we simply exist then we are just "there," helping is when we go outside of our existence to enter into another's existence. The two separate beings that exist coincide with one another to change the outcome of one's life. Taking action is more than existing. There is more to life than selfish acts. We become spiritually empty when indulging in selfishness. When we have the power to change someone's life and we act on it, our spirit comes alive and fills us with indescribable feeling; like a cool breeze hitting your face while standing under the warm sun.
I will not simply exist in this world, I will take action and make a difference. Not only will the person I help feel better, but so will I. I know when I do something good, Jesus is smiling down at me with joy. You all may not believe in Jesus, but you probably believe in some form of higher power.

Dinosaurs existed, humans should do more than exist; we are not dinosaurs, we have spirits and morality. Be the change. Be the light in the dark. Share a smile. Give compliments. Reach out. Don't judge. Love one another, after all we are all in this world together. Shine bright!
Don't be a dinosaur, they became extinct. :)