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Welcome to Bill's Place.
A collection of Friends In Recovery.
Featuring a weekly Step Study from various 12 Step Recovery literature.
With the occasional inspirational message or message pertaining to a broad spectrum of varied spiritual practices.
An open forum for discussion of the aforementioned Step Study and inspirational/spiritual practice messages.
"Dance like there's no one watching and love like you've never been hurt."
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BillsPlace/

New Day

Thank You, God, for today.

This is the beginning of a new day. I can waste it or use it for good.

What I do today is important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.

When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever-leaving in its place something I have traded for it.

I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for today.

Bill's place member lindakay1948 writes:

This morning as I was praying and meditating, talking to God simply all of you came into my mind and as I sat here this email came through and I felt like it was something I needed to share with all of you. It touched me. My heart is easily touched these days I cry over silly things but this little story true or not is full of simple truths about how we should live, how we should be.

You know in the Bible I use to direct my meditations there are verses about the Risen Christ and how Mary came and saw that the Stone had been removed, I think how we sometimes cling to our own stones that lay accross our hearts like the stone rolled across the Tomb of Jesus its a Miracle when it is finally removed. In a word most of mine have been so maybe thats why these days as I grow older so much touches me grabs my heart and brings tears to my eyes.

When I am troubled by whatever maybe standing between me and True Peace of mind whether it be money issues or emotional issues I also recall the same passages in the Bible "And Mary asked the Soldier standing near "Where have they Taken my Lord" she was beside herself ,panicking and running amuck and oh how I identify with that running amuck stuff and how often I do that before all the Facts are in about the situations that arrive at my doorstep, you know the ones they demand our attention immediately or they threaten us with becoming major obstacles to our peace and happiness,THE ROCK of Fear approaches us once again, but again I read "and Mary heard a voice and the voice asked, "Mary or Woman," depending on which Bible you use "why do you weep? Because they have taken Him away" and here Christ answers her Himself "I am Here." So I try to remember Christ responce "I am Here" throughout my day. From my Bible to my Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous I remember as well on page 236 that the old old timers who began this walk for us all, were never faint of Heart about the mentioning of God or Christ as they approached new people who they did personal house calls on as in the story about the European Drinker in this chapter, page 236 about the 4th paragraph as this man talks about the visitor who brought the then new concept to Him to ponder on say in this paragraph and I quote "He went on talking and told me that he had found the plan has a basis of LOVE and the practice of Christs injunction, "Love thye neighbor as thyself." Taking that as a foundation, he reasoned that if a man followed that rule he could not be selfish."... end of quote...

So this morning during my prayers for family and friends I turned over everything that I know thus far to Christ and My Heavenly Father to handle and I also thought maybe I needed to share with those whom have touched my heart either through Service or Family or my dearest friends ever how I made my process out of darkness each day for the last almost 30 years now of being clean and sober and my eyes are welling up with tears, 30 years no booze, no drugs and fewer regrets. What eventually brought me to my knees and kept me there is simply I am a recovering addict alcoholic I will never be anything more or less and yes I can honestly say I hear HIM say each day "Woman I am Here" May you all be blessed in some small way today, I say small way only because its the small things in life that matter and go unnoticed by everyone so I hope you notice those small things today. I send you Love, Smiles and my Hope for wellness in each of your Lives.

Hugs,
Linda Kay

RED MARBLES

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprizing a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

"Hello Barry, how are you today?"

"H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good."

"They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?"

"Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time."

"Good. Anything I can help you with?"

"No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas."

"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.

"No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with."

"Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?"

"All I got's my prize marble here."

"Is that right? Let me see it" said Miller.

"Here 'tis. She's a dandy."

"I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.

"Not zackley but almost."

"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble." Mr. Miller told the boy.

"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado, but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts..all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.

Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim "traded" them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt."

"We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral : We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~
A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself.
An unexpected phone call from an old friend.
Green lights on your way to work.
The fastest line at the grocery store.
A good sing-along song on the radio.
Your keys found right where you left them.

Thought for the Day

"The tremendous fact for every one of us is that we have discovered a common solution. We who have found this solution to our problem, who are properly armed with the facts about ourselves, can generally win the entire confidence of another addict. We who are making the approach to new prospects have had the same difficulty they have had. We obviously know what we are talking about. Our whole deportment shouts at new prospects that we are people with a real answer." Am I a person with the real answer to the addiction problems of others?

Meditation for the Day

For straying from the right way there is no cure except to keep so close to the thought of God that nothing, no other interest, can seriously come between you and God. Sure of that, you can stay on God's side. Knowing the way, nothing can prevent your staying in the way and nothing can cause you to seriously stray from it. God has promised peace if you stay close to Him, but not leisure. You still have to carry on in the world. He has promised heart-rest and comfort, but not pleasure in the ordinary sense. Peace and comfort bring real inward happiness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may keep my feet on the way. I pray that I may stay on God's side.

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The Message Is Hope, The Promise Is Freedom

Just for today, you never have to use again.

Alive and Free

Never Alone Never Again
(neveralone_neveragain)

"Dance like there's no one watching and love like you've never been hurt."

Jimmy K.

The message is hope. The promise is freedom. Just For Today, you never have to use again.

---
Tell yourself:
JUST FOR TODAY my thoughts will be on my recovery, living and enjoying life without the use of drugs.
JUST FOR TODAY I will have faith in someone in N.A. who believes in me and wants to help me in my recovery.
JUST FOR TODAY I will have a program. I will try to follow it to the best of my ability.
JUST FOR TODAY through N.A. I will try to get a better perspective on my life.
JUST FOR TODAY I will be unafraid, my thoughts will be on my new associations, people who are not using and who have found a new way of life. So long as I follow that way, I have nothing to fear.

Peace.
Bill

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Agents of God Montage

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To trust, have faith, is to know that whatever happens will be good.

Trust and Believe

Canookie Girl