This is God based so wanted to warn others in case they'd prefer not to read....
A guy was talking at the meeting the other evening & said his dad never could figure out when he got a bonus, extra hours, etc that either his car would break down, one of the kids would get sick, etc. He never could seem to get ahead because something always happened to take the extra $$. He'd ask God why he always let something happen to take the extra money & why he could never get ahead. Said it took his dad years to realize that God always knew when the car was going to break down, or one of the kids would get sick, etc. That God always made sure that his Dad had the extra $$ to take care of these things & gave him exactly what he needed when the need arose. I just thought this was pretty neat because I've thought the same thing at times & now realize God may not give me extras. But, he takes care of my needs.
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Rheinhold Niebuhr
Yes Tessa,I firmly believe God will give us what we need and not neccessarily what we want.I wouldn;t think there would be any qualms of speaking of God here as we are not a religious program but definitely "God based program"...God is mentioned in 4 of our 12 steps and the beauty of our 2nd step is that the concept of the 'God of your understanding only has to be loving and caring and and greater than yourself!!For some it is a process and not an event that over time will grow.Like it says That a power greater than ourselves" emphasis not on 'WHO OR WHAT POWER IS BUT ON WHAT THIS POWER CAN DO FOR YOUR RECOVERY!!I also believe that by incorporating spiritual beliefs of the steps in our lives it will be evident that we relinquished our will and our lives ovet to the "care" of God" as we understood him (3rd step)so He will give us what we need. fOR ME RIGHT NOW IT DOESN'T SEEm TO BE THAT 46 INCH SAMSUNG 240 mz LCD TV!!!:) :) The blessing of being able to pay my mortgage will more than do,I am truly greatful...!!Thanks for sharing that Tessa!
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
It's only been quite recently that I have viewed things that way - as in turned my thinking around.
I'd get a bit ahead financially and then something would happen that required that amount of money. I used to think Oh! Great.....I get get a bit ahead and LOOK what happens! ...moan...moan...mutter..........grumble......
However I failed to see that also I would be worried about a certain bill and something would happen that helped.
I still get a bit spooked by these things! Amazing happenings!
I truly believe it is my HP but (here we go !) I still do find it almost unbelievable - if that makes any sense!! !
Everytime it happens I say to my HP ...OK HP....I promise I won't doubt you again..ever.................. ...........Um! Well! Not quite got there with that one yet! Oops!
People apologize a lot for talking about God in meetings... I'm not sure why, since in the Big Book it says "We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do."
My current feeling on God is this:
I don't think it matters so much whether I truly believe in "God" or not. I can act as if there may be a God; or I can act as if I may be God. One way of thinking will probably help keep me sober, the other way probably won't. But the choice is completely up to me. I get to choose the way I'm going to think.
I've been a skeptic for many, many years. So it was surprising to me when during a business meeting, someone was saying that "meetings keep people sober" (someone with 7 years sobriety to my 1 year) and I piped up immediately saying, "Meetings don't keep people sober, God does." Couldn't believe it came out of my mouth after I had said it, but I certainly felt no reason to apologize for the statement - even though I still wasn't 100% sure I believed in God.
This is true...even the atheist still needs to come up with a higher power and to come to believe in something... I am glad to not have that issue though. God is A-OK with me...
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I am grateful to not have a problem with God either. And if somebody does have a problem, or cant seem to find their own God, I tell them, " Hey , you can use my God until you find your own if you like ".
Good post Tessa. I have to agree with what's been said here, all around. I would definitely thank the flying squirrel for backing up this thread with our founders thoughts on the matter. I love the big book. I definitely don't have things I want right now, but my needs are taken care of. I do believe God will provide. If I believed any other way right now, for myself, I think I would instantly be going through that restless, iritable, and discontent stage all over again. Thanks Tessa.
This is God based so wanted to warn others in case they'd prefer not to read....
A guy was talking at the meeting the other evening & said his dad never could figure out when he got a bonus, extra hours, etc that either his car would break down, one of the kids would get sick, etc. He never could seem to get ahead because something always happened to take the extra $$. He'd ask God why he always let something happen to take the extra money & why he could never get ahead. Said it took his dad years to realize that God always knew when the car was going to break down, or one of the kids would get sick, etc. That God always made sure that his Dad had the extra $$ to take care of these things & gave him exactly what he needed when the need arose. I just thought this was pretty neat because I've thought the same thing at times & now realize God may not give me extras. But, he takes care of my needs.
I LOVE THAT!!! In fact I am very much enjoying your posts, I haven't seen you around much since I registered, so hope you stick around, I feel like I am a 'kindred spirit' with you, which is a great way to feel about someone I never met yet.
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
I LOVE THAT!!! In fact I am very much enjoying your posts, I haven't seen you around much since I registered, so hope you stick around, I feel like I am a 'kindred spirit' with you, which is a great way to feel about someone I never met yet.
Avril, I've been thinking the same way!! Seems we both work our program a lot in the same way & think similar. I even clicked on your profile to see where your location was thinking we could maybe meet up someday. But, England is a little far away! lol I enjoy your postings as well!!
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Rheinhold Niebuhr
Well, they do say that if you stick around AA long enough, you will hear your own story coming from someone else's mouth!! Anyhow, America's not a million miles away, last year I met a group of Americans at the Malta convention! They did say they might be back again this year.
I would like to visit the USA sometime, but finances at the moment aren't looking very promising, but you never know do you?
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Serenity is Wanting what you have, not having what you want
Always remember non-alcoholic beers are for NON-ALCOHOLICS
I appreciate all who took this in the way it was intended. Although AA relates that it is not god based. I believe that it is. The oxford groups were god based & when Bill co-founded the AA group some of the principles of AA came from the oxford groups.
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God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Rheinhold Niebuhr