THINKING OF OTHERS
Our very lives, as ex-problem drinkers, depend upon our constant thought of others and how we may help meet their needs. – ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 20.
“By working the steps, we come to accept a Higher Power’s will … We lose our fear of the unknown. We are set free.” Pg. 362.
Basic Text, p. 16. Life is a series of changes, both large and small. Although we may know and accept this fact intellectually, chances are that our initial emotional reaction to change is fear. For some reason, we assume that each and every change is going to hurt, causing us to be miserable.
Do Not Fear Change!
If we look back on the changes that have happened in our lives, we’ll find that most of them have been for the best. We were probably very frightened at the prospect of life without drugs, yet it is the best thing that’s ever happened to us. Perhaps we’ve lost a job that we thought we’d die without, but later on we found greater challenge and personal fulfillment in a new career. As we venture forth in our recovery, we’re likely to experience more changes. We will outgrow old situations and become ready for new ones.
With all sorts of changes taking place, it is only natural to grab hold of something, anything familiar and try to hold on. Solace can be found in a Power greater than ourselves. The more we allow changes to happen at the direction of our Higher Power, the more we’ll trust that those changes are for the best. Faith will replace fear, and we’ll know in our hearts that all will be well.
Serenity Prayer
Just for Today: When I am afraid of a change in my life, I will take comfort from knowing that God’s will for me is good.
– (c) 2016. NA World Services.
Turn, Turn, Turn.
Pete Seeger. Book of Ecclesiastes.
The Byrds (1960’s).
To everything, turn, turn, turn.
There is a season, turn, turn, turn.
And a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born, a time to die.
A time to plant, a time to reap.
A time to kill, a time to heal.
A time to laugh, a time to weep.
Page 360.
“I started to imitate some of the things the winners were doing. I got caught up in NA. I felt good …”
Basic Text, p. 153.
We often hear it said in meetings that we should “stick with the winners.” Who are the winners in Narcotics Anonymous? Winners are easily identified. They work an active program of recovery, living in the solution and staying out of the problem. Winners are always ready to reach their hands out to the newcomer. They have sponsors and work with those sponsors. Winners stay clean, just for today.
Winners are recovering addicts who keep a positive frame of mind. They may be going through troubled times, but they still attend meetings and share openly about it. Winners know in their hearts that, with the help of a Higher Power, nothing will come along that is too much to handle.
Winners strive for unity in their service efforts. Winners practice putting “principles before personalities.” Winners remember the principle of anonymity, doing the principled action no matter who is involved. Winners keep a sense of humor. Winners have the ability to laugh at themselves. And when winners laugh, they laugh with you, not at you.
Who are the winners in Narcotics Anonymous? Any one of us can be considered a winner. All of us exhibit some of the traits of the winner; sometimes we come very close to the ideal, sometimes we don’t. If we are clean today and working our program to the best of our ability, we are winners!
Just for Today: I will strive to fulfill my ideals. I will be a winner.
– (c) 2016 NA World Services.
Winner!
Fulfilling our roles in life as winners does not come easy. Life is often a challenge from the moment we open our eyes to greet the new day. It is the bond with and trust in our Higher Power that carries us through the most challenging moments in our day to day lives.
Walking Away a Winner
Kathy Mattea
Many times love is on the table the stakes are high.
What I thought this was love so I laid it all on the line.
You nearly took everything I had,
Never knew I could hurt so bad,
But I least I left with every peace of this heart of mine.
I’m walking away a winner.
I’m walking away from a losing game.
With my pride intact and my vision back I can say,
I know where I’m going and I know I’ll be alright.
I’m walking away a winner, Walking back into my life.
True ambition is not what we thought it was. True ambition is the deep desire to live usefully and walk humbly under the grace of God. – TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, pp. 124-25.
The time is now on everything
Took my heart away from money, I ain’t interested in fame
And I pray that never change
Ambition is priceless, it’s something that’s in your veins
And I put that on my name.
Community Thanksgiving Church Service
Come Join the Community and local congregations’ pastors in Gathering for a Christian church service 4:00 pm Sunday November 20 Celebrating Thankfulness to God for Our Blessings at the following location: St Marks Lutheran Church, 115 West Meigs St Valley, NE.
All are Welcome!
Thanksgiving
You may expect hymns consistent with the Thanksgiving Christian liturgical season, the Community Choir, Holy Motion Liturgical Dancers, 100 Voices, a Brass Band, Pastor Cathy Hanus bringing us a relevant Children’s Sermon on demonstrating thankfulness consistent with Scripture and Pastor Michael Hanus delivering a timely relevant Family Homily on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.
All are Welcome to visit pastors in Fellowship after the church service.
This promises to be an excellent opportunity for Family Celebration!
Peace and Joy! Pastors Michael and Cathy Hanus. Spirit of Peace.
INVITATION:
FREE GOT HEALTH & FITNESS COMMUNITY EVENT
Everyone is Welcome! Come as You Are!
Sponsored by Spirit of Peace, Valley, NE
Fitness Health Wellness
Kylie Arment and Dr Ricky Bussey Participating
Schedule: 11:30 Preparation 11:45 Nutrition Presentation and Free Lunch 1:00 Fitness Presentation – 1:30 Family Activity FUN! & Fellowship.
– Friday, November 11, 2016 from 11:30 am to 2 pm or so.
Where: Valley View Community Center
400 West Meigs Street, Valley, NE 68064
Price: Activities Free! (sweet!) Thank you!
Questions?: Please contact Pastors Michael or Cathy Hanus
Interested in VOLUNTEERING?
Spirit.Peace@outlook.com 402-541-7019
RSVP assists Planning Purposes!
“We are achieving freedom from the wreckage of our past.” N.A. Basic Text p. 45.
When we start the Ninth Step, we have reached an exciting stage in our recovery. The damage done in our lives is what led many of us to seek help in the first place. Now we have a chance to clean up that wreckage, amend our past, and reclaim our lives.
Reclaim Life!
We have spent a long time and much effort preparing for this step. When we came to NA, facing the debris of our past was probably the last thing we wanted to do. We started doing it privately with a personal inventory. Then we opened our past up to the scrutiny of a select, trusted few: ourselves, our Higher Power, and one other person. We took a look at our shortcomings, the source of much of the chaos in our lives, and asked that all those defects of character be removed. Finally we listed the amends needed to set our wrongs right, all of them.
Now we have the opportunity to make amends, to acquire freedom from the wreckage of our past. Everything we have done so far in NA has led us here. At this point in the process of our recovery, the Ninth Step is exactly what we want to do. With the Twelve Steps and the help of a Higher Power, we are clearing away the rubble that for so long has stood in the way of our progress; we are gaining the freedom to live.
Spirit supports the Community! Let’s visit the Valley Fire Department, greet the public servants that help us remain safe in our community, and throw some money in the boot to help keep them funded!
WE CRY OUT
A generation seeking Him!
SYATP.com
Power in Prayer!
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah. Psalm 24:3–6.
In the U.S., school-sponsored prayers in public schools have been found unconstitutional, but prayers organized by students themselves are allowed and protected by the right to free speech.
