Step 2 at the Olive Branch tonite

Wow I've not shared anything since Oct 12-life must be untroubled!! Ha ha!

I think of the question "what was it like at the moment there was a profound change or acceptance or decision that resulted in my being able to say that Step 2 has been done?"

Today every step no matter how many times I've seen it means "Scott pray about your condition using 2-way prayer and share share share the results. Know the journey is never-ending and KEEP ON! To withhold sharing anytime could cost a life. We never know when some seemingly insignificant detail couild be that strand of hope that makes the difference in someone's life.

So Scott listen to your own medicine and blog those thoughts!!

Wanna learn about two-way prayer?
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

STEP 10

STEP 10 SAYS ONE BIG THING-IF I CONTINUE TO WORK MY PROGRAM EVERYDAY AND DO MY BEST TO CORRECT MY WRONGS AS THEY HAPPEN; THERE IS HOPE!

EVER REMEMBERING THAT "PRAY MY WAY THROUGH THE DAY" CREATES ACCEPTANCE OF RESULTS!

LIFE IS "IN THIS MOMENT" ONLY, YESTERDAY AND THE NEXT MOMENT DO NOT EXIST AND IF I TRY TO SPEND TIME IN EITHER OF THEM, I AM DEAD TO THE REALITY WHICH IS ALWAYS NOW-NOW!

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!


1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.

2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7- Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.

8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.

11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

LEARN TWO-WAY PRAYER-YES YOU CAN GET ANSWERS FROM GOD!

JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca


SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/sharingburden

www.SharingTheBurden.ca

TRADITIONS

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

Just did a walk through multi-coloured leave world-wow-wish I could do justice with words!

We have recently attempted to develop a set of traditions based upon existing traditional values used in AA, Al-Anon and many other successful 12 step programs. These were put together by some of our 715 Club Members, however, I feel for the most part they apply to our Sharing The Burden 12 Step Program as well.

For those of you who know the value of Traditions in Spiritual/Emotional growth offered through 12 step group therapy, these will seem very familiar. For the others I will only say that today, the traditions play as great a part in my growth as do the 12 Steps, particularly where relational issues come into play.

Your comments are very important to us as 12 step is a "we" program. As a matter of fact without your input, no matter can really be put-to-bed so to speak.

Please feel free to email me or bring the traditions up next time we see you at a meeting.

God bless!
Regards,
Scott Duncan/SD Associates
www.SharingTheBurden.ca


TRUST TWO-WAY PRAYER (WRITE LISTEN AND WRITE AND LISTEN AND ASK WHAT DOES THIS MEAN-BE PATIENT AND KNOW THOUSANDS HAVE PROVEN THIS METHOD AND IT WORKS)

INFO:JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

step 10 reminds me to keep on going!

Whenever the going gets rough, step 10 reminds me that if I work my program for life; the day will be acceptable! If I do not, and something goes wrong,I am reminded that I tried it on my own: maybe the results would have been different (acceptable anyway), if the Lord had been included?

What is this program for life:
1-Pray "Lord show me the way today..........Your will etc."
2-Work my program: read some daily meditations always including scripture; discuss life (depth/Spiritual/feelings etc) as much as possible for a short time daily-especially on off-meeting days-look for and reach out to someone who suffers and share pain (their pain, mine or both)-try to remember to live in the moment, yoked to God, doing my part as best I can, ONE STEP AT A TIME.
3-Speak truth, not taking situations personally, experiencing life without expectation or assumption.
4-Having prayed the day away, with action; to be thankful to God and lay down in peace.

Learn two-way prayer techniques to KNOW you are really connecting Spiritually. Thousands attest to this reality-IT WORKS!!!!
julia@sharingtheburden.ca
scott@sharingtheburden.ca
twitter sharingburden
www.sharingtheburden.ca

Step 10-continue in hope

Continuing to experience God in the 12 step rooms. I heard many years ago that the magic was in the rooms; seems God chooses so often to demonstrate this. I think we who have been gifted with the 12 steps, owe it to God to SHARE OUR BURDENS that others may find the magic too. We cannot wait till they find the rooms; we must go out and ATTRACT them with the evidence of what God has done for us through the 12 steps. If 3 or more (family friends associates) are needing help for every sick person out there, we will lose countless who will NEVER have known that there was HOPE!!

Two-Way prayer (pray write listen pray write listen, EXPERIENCE God). Two or more gather, 1 pray+write-the others listen. Take your concerns to God-pray away the day and know ACCEPTANCE!!

Making a list+working on it! STEPS 8+9

Perspective changes for me as I simply list all names I can think of and present them to God, one at a time. If I experience emotion or sensitivity of any kind, there is likely a siuation that requires ammending. No emotion and the name is struck off the list.

Preparing and thinking out the approach for each ammend and looking hard at the feelings involved (feelings around what looked like the problem), I am often times led to something entirely different and that something needs attention NOW!

So once again , by following the steps and staying close to God's Word (Life Recovery Bible in my case); my direction is changed in an instance and a block has been removed.

For me this means I am listening and hearing God as He leads me, even before I am ready to ask for help-what an amazing God!!

"Oh Lord, help us to hear You in the innermost parts of ourselves as You lead us through the challenges of life. Help us to note every nuance as You speak to us-our minds and hearts open to receive! Lead us as we cannot do it alone-Amen!"

STEP 7-New shortcomings

Do I really believe...?

A commentary from the "Life Recovery Bible based on 1 John 4: 13-15"

It says that the Saviour of the world leads us to confession of sin and commitment to live for God. We do this as we take responsibility for our life and deal with past failures and broken relationships.

"Help us oh God, to accept full responsibility for our life full of shortcomings and to hand it over to You here and now. We ask You to take from us, our sense that anyone else on this planet is responsible in any way for where we are. We are surely on the path You have designed for each of us; we want to now, move forward from here, unhindered by blame-Amen!"

Meeting tonite 730pm@STEPS-Discussion steps 1-3 and benefits of our program

MEETING PLACE 10454 YONGE ST., RICHMOND HILL. NEW OR POTENTIAL MEMBERS WILL ESPECIALLY BENEFIT AS WE TESTIFY IN OUR SHARING HOW 12 STEP HAS ENHANCED SO MANY ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES!



1-We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.

2-Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3-Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

STEP 8 Making Restitution

Last night at TOB we shared, based on Exodus 22:10-15 in the Life Recovery Bible. Some points from the commentaries on same:
"Accountability for Actions that violate others is an important part of God's program fpr a healthy society."
"God sees irresponsible behaviour as bad action that can be corrected."
"We should be able to expect that our personal boundaries and property will be respected by others and that appropriate restitution be made when they are violated."

STEP 8 Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

One way to make a list and this step says only to make a list and become willing! LIST EVERY NAME YOU CAN THINK OF. TAKE EACH NAME and PRESENT IT TO GOD E.G. "I BRING JON DOE BEFORE YOU LORD." Now sit quietly for a moment and if you feel discomfort of any kind, leave this name on the list. If you feel peace, strike it off the list. At the end of this exercise, what you are left with is a list that requires attention of some sort. I have found that if a name brings on emotion then there is likely some sort of unfinished business that needs amending. Further prayer in step 9 will do ther rest later.

REMEMBER, TWO WAY PRAYER WAS USED BY THE FIRST 12 STEPPERS WHO ACHIEVED A 75% RECOVERY RATE. UNHEARD OF ANYWHERE SINCE. (PRAY AND WRITE AND ASK QUESTIONS AND PRAY AND WRITE.....).
WANT HELP WITH THIS?
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

HUMILITY@The Olive Branch tonite STEP7

STEP7-We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings!
Are the removal of our problems within God's will?
Can each problem (situation/defect/addiction/compulsion etc) stand the test? Is our desire to get rid of it HONEST UNSELFISH PURE and LOVING. If so the problem-solution may well be within God's will. If the opposite (DISHONEST SELFISH SELF-SEEKING or FEAR-BASED) is true the solution is within our will rather than God's. We may be waiting a while for solutions or removal of the problem!

Humbly asking may mean "Am I really ready Lord or do I need more time with this or that...?"

We will discuss this step tonite by referring to helpful scripture and commentary! We will then share or listen as we are lead!

LEARN ABOUT TWO-WAY PRAYER with proven results:
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca 
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden

STEPs 2+3 tonite@STEPS

Anyone feeling STEP 2 or STEP 3 needs some attention, we will be discussing tonite 730pm at STEPS 10454 Yonge St R. Hill
2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.


3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.

test

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test

test

we took STEP 6....

SEEMS THIS POST MAY NOT HAVE GOT DELIVERED LAST NIGHT. SORRY IF RECEIVED TWICE!

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

We took STEP 6 today
A small group gathered for our Tuesday 12 step meeting and we decided to take the step 6, rather than talk about it.We shared scripture on step 6 from The Life Recovery Bible, talked at length about the grieving involved in "letting go" of both defects and the pain we experience when doing so (emotional and often physical as well).Next we asked the question as taught in the big book of AA. "Are you now ready to have God remove from you all the things you have admitted are objectionable?" We answered "yes" and according to the original 12 steppers, we had taken step 6. See www.backtobasics.org for info on taking the steps in this manner.Note when taking step 6 (SEE STEP 6 BELOW) we will likely have to ask God to help us be willing to let go where we tend to cling to things. We may also find (I do anyway) that as we pray about individual problems, it is sometimes revealed to us that something greater is the real issue. Two way prayer (lots of writing and asking for clarification) is when many of us get our greatest results here!NEED HELP WITH TWO-WAY PRAYER?
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.cahttp://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.5- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.6- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.7- Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.Various

Claims of Promise from 12 Steppers1-We will find ourselves worthy of love and able to love others. We will not lose ourselves.2-Courage and fellowship will replace fear.3-Our lives will yield hope to share with others.4-We will come to know the vastness of our emotions without being in slavery to them.5-Learning to forgive, we will no longer be bound by our secrets to live in shame.6-Serenity and peace will have meaning for us.7-We will allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with spiritual ease, balance and grace.8-Attitude and outlook will be renewed.9-Intuition will guide us to handle situations that were impossible in the past.10-We will not regret the past recognizing its value for other sufferers.11-Selfish interests will fall away as we gain interest in others.12-Faith and gratitude will replace fear as we realize that a Greater Power is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

We took STEP 6 today

A small group gathered for our Tuesday 12 step meeting and we decided to take the step 6, rather than talk about it.

We shared scripture on step 6 from The Life Recovery Bible, talked at length about the grieving involved in "letting go" of both defects and the pain we experience when doing so (emotional and often physical as well).

Next we asked the question as taught in the big book of AA. "Are you now ready to have God remove from you all the things you have admitted are objectionable?" We answered "yes" and according to the original 12 steppers, we had taken step 6. See www.backtobasics.org for info on taking the steps in this manner.

Note when taking step 6 (SEE STEP 6 BELOW) we will likely have to ask God to help us be willing to let go where we tend to cling to things. We may also find (I do anyway) that as we pray about individual problems, it is sometimes revealed to us that something greater is the real issue. Two way prayer (lots of writing and asking for clarification) is when many of us get our greatest results here!

NEED HELP WITH TWO-WAY PRAYER?
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!
1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5- Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6- Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7- Humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.
8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.









Various Claims of Promise from 12 Steppers

1-We will find ourselves worthy of love and able to love others. We will not lose ourselves.

2-Courage and fellowship will replace fear.

3-Our lives will yield hope to share with others.

4-We will come to know the vastness of our emotions without being in slavery to them.

5-Learning to forgive, we will no longer be bound by our secrets to live in shame.

6-Serenity and peace will have meaning for us.

7-We will allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with spiritual ease, balance and grace.

8-Attitude and outlook will be renewed.

9-Intuition will guide us to handle situations that were impossible in the past.

10-We will not regret the past recognizing its value for other sufferers.

11-Selfish interests will fall away as we gain interest in others.

12-Faith and gratitude will replace fear as we realize that a Greater Power is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

STEP 6 WILLINGNESS God's or mine

STEP 6-Were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character!

-Is my willingness in line with God's plan for me?
-Have I prayed about a defect using 2-way prayer and found that something else was really the problem? How did I proceed then?
-
"Lord show me what I really need to focus on as I try to become ready for change. Please make clear your will for me that I may move on with clear conscience and focus-Amen!"

12 STEP MEETING TONITE AT STEPS (40454 YONGE ST-R. HILL)
ALL WELCOME-NO QUALIFICATION-ANY AGE FROM TEEN+UPWARD

NEED HELP WITH 2-WAY PRAYER OR PERSONAL ATTENTION TO GET MOVING
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

unchanging God, STEP 3 everyday

All God's truth is unchanging, eternal!

Beyond humanity, God does not change His mind, does not lie. God is changeless forever. He just is!. I need go no further. Check out Numbers 23: 18-24

Childhood experiences left me in a position of non-trust. Too many disappointments!

Even filled with The Holy Spirit, I accept feelings of shame fear and incompetence. Today and hereby I challenge these and any other sinful thoughts that doubt the power,strength and endurance of a man (myself) walking with, carrying inside and being lead by God's own Holy Spirit (Who indwells all of Christs believers-I believe anyway)! I will walk tall today in remembrance of my past doubts!

"Oh Lord help me to remember that You now have my will and my life; once again I turn all of me over to You. This is my decision, Oh God!"

`

STEP 1 Mtg Tonite@STEPS RECOVERY in R. HIll@730

Come help us launch Sharing The Burden at STEPS Recovery tonite! First 12 step meeting in this location

Lord please send the one who needs our message tonite-Amen!


WE MEET AT:
1- THE OLIVE BRANCH COMMUNITY CHURCH 8PM TUESDAY EVENINGS 175 ANDERSON AVE., MARKHAM, ON WWW.TOB.CA
2-STEPS SOCIETY FOR PERMANENT RECOVERY 10454 YONGE ST, RICMOND HILL 730PM MONDAY NITE (STARTS JUNE 7, 2010) WWW.STEPSRECOVERY.COM
INFO CONTACT JULIA 647 297 1793 JULIA@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA
SCOTT 647 222 0515 SCOTT@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA

Looking at Step 6

STEP 6: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.



"Oh Lord, to the best of our ability we have identified our shortcomings and hereby ask You to remove them from us! Thank You for the knowledge that whatever we are left with, is surely what we must have for now, to complete our purpose in life. Give us peace and understanding around this mystery of Your plan for each of our lives-Amen!"



How much do I really need to understand of God's ways, in order to be functional and within the realm of right vs wrong? Scripture teaches that we innately know right from wrong and that if we are in doubt to MAKE NO MOVE. On the other hand we are told that we must step out in faith. My solution for now would be to test the thought as the original 12 steppers and their predecessors of the Oxford Group did by asking simply-"is this plan, idea, thought, or, whatever, HONEST UNSELFISH PURE and LOVING?" If the answer is yes to all then I am within the realm of God's will. If I cannot answer positively, my will has come in to take over and I may be in trouble if I proceed without help (prayer and/or consultation is required before I move on)! Time for two way prayer (write your prayer+every experience as you pray+listen. Ask what every little piece means in relation to your prayer! God speaks if we keep going, maybe not as we do, but answers do come!)

Step 5-Praying Together

Praying together that is God listening while we pray-one for the other (I pray for you, you tell me your experiences and I write them down and ask God what they mean and we listen some more and you tell me of anything-sound, itch, vision, pain, thought, everything and I ask again and again what they mean and I write and write and things happen......!).

We are told by the original 12 steppers that if we are honest, unselfish, loving and pure with our motives, that God will speak to us and we will heal and grow as we find purpose. They changed their lives with two-way prayer and hundreds of thousands before us are proof that if we follow the simple steps we will succeed!!

"Lord help us Lord as we confess or share our burdens with you and our trusted friends! Help us to see what is honest, pure, unselfish and loving as we seek answers to our problems-Amen!"

JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburdenwww.SharingTheBurden.ca

Sharing the Burden holds 12 Step meetings at two locations. We believe that the 12 steps taken from scripture, demonstrate a better way of life for all people of all walks of life. Many of us have found solutions that lead to serenity in our lives. We hope you will come and find out whether our program is for you. There is no qualification for membership and we are self supporting through our own voluntary contributions. Simply put, if you think you could feel better about life, maybe you will benefit by taking the twelve steps with us.
WE MEET AT:
1- THE OLIVE BRANCH COMMUNITY CHURCH 8PM TUESDAY EVENINGS 175 ANDERSON AVE., MARKHAM, ON WWW.TOB.CA
2-STEPS SOCIETY FOR PERMANENT RECOVERY 10454 YONGE ST, RICHMOND HILL 730PM MONDAY NITE (STARTS JUNE 7, 2010) WWW.STEPSRECOVERY.COM
INFO CONTACT JULIA 647 297 1793 JULIA@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA
SCOTT 647 222 0515 SCOTT@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA

Do we really know?

We are all born with a built-in alarm that alerts us when we do wrong?? When someone wrongs us, do we accept and are we sure this person really knows/believes he/she is doing wrong. Do we unintentionally sin? No more excuses either way as we must accept responsibility for our wrongs. If someone says "your words or behaviour cause me pain or discomfort; then the next words, questions, unsolicited comments, gestures almost any reaction other than silent waiting or simple departing, are really intentional hurts (we have been told and quiet we must be, or decide to inflict more pain). Romans 2:16 "And this is the message I proclaim-that the day is coming when God, through Jesus Christ, will judge every one's secret life!" He knows our motives-ARE THEY unselfish loving pure and honest? If not they are surely related to our will and not God's!!

DISCOVERY AND CONFESSION PER STEP 5 FREES US!!

Sharing The Burden holds 12 Step Spiritual Recovery meetings (Bible based) at two locations. We believe that the 12 steps taken from scripture, demonstrate a better way of life for all people of all walks of life. Many of us have found solutions that lead to serenity in our lives. We hope you will come and find out whether our program is for you. There is no qualification for membership and we are self supporting through our own voluntary contributions. Simply put, if you think you could feel better about life, maybe you will benefit by taking the twelve steps with us.
WE MEET AT:
1- THE OLIVE BRANCH COMMUNITY CHURCH 8PM TUESDAY EVENINGS 175 ANDERSON AVE., MARKHAM, ON WWW.TOB.CA
2- STEPS SOCIETY FOR PERMANENT RECOVERY 10454 YONGE ST.,
RICHMOND HILL 7.30PM MONDAY NITE (STARTS JUNE 7, 2010)
WWW.STEPSRECOVERY.COM
FOR INFO:
JULIA@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA 647-297-1793
SCOTT@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA 647-222-0515

NEW 12 STEP SHARING THE BURDEN MTG

Great news folks.

We are opening a second Sharing The Burden 12 Step Meeting!

Julia and I met today with the leadership of Steps Society for Permanent Recovery www.stepsrecovery.com . We were welcomed with open arms and asked if we would like to hold a regular meeting in their premises. We will be listed with the various other 12 step programs going on under the same roof (AA CA NA Naranon....to name a few), wherever they advertise. This is sure exciting for us!

Hope you can join us for our first meeting June 7, 2010 @ 730PM @ 10454 Yonge St., Richmond Hill

"Lord we pray that those who may benefit and come closer to You, will find our meetings
-Amen!"

NEED INFO ON THIS, TWO WAY PRAYER OR WHATEVER, GET IN TOUCH!
JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 5-Shame/Blame

The story of the woman caught in adultery John 8: 3-11
Those pointing the finger are all "guilty".

I think the Lord was reminding us here that we are full of problems and need only concentrate on our own and to judge only when we are pure (which is never). Shame may be what has us pointing fingers rather than dealing with our own stuff. We are reminded to focus on ourselves while God does the judging and sets others on their individual paths of recovery or not. Ours is but to expose our 12 step philosophy of life and move on.

In step 5 we talk to ourselves first then to our loving God and then very importantly to a non-judgemental, non-teaching, non-advice giving, gentle person who loves us unconditionally (there must be comfort in the relationship in order to avoid shame which destroys recovery and often causes relapse).

REAL FREEDOM RESIDES IN THIS SHARING, OUR SECRETS KEEP US SICK

"Oh Lord let us share our weaknesses as You strengthen us through them. May our life's experiences, shared, be of value to others-Amen!"


JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Sharing The Burden now has a 12 step meeting 8PM Tuesdays at the Olive Branch Community Church in Markham

Catching up Taking Step 2

Step 2-Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

"Do I now believe or am I even willing to believe, that there is a power greater than myself?"

Answering "yes" to this question constitutes the taking of Step 2-CONGRATULATIONS!

"Lord give us a strong sense of your presence as we struggle to know and understand You-Amen!"

Write the prayers, the experiences, the queries regarding the meaning of it all and experience the power of two-way prayer like the first 12 steppers did. Pray and write till you see the light!!

NEED HELP?

JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca or SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 5-Sharing The Burden safely

Praying to God for help is the way to start the process toward a life in line with God's standards. His standards are in the bible.

The back to basics program (used by many today to recover from their problems the way the first twelve steppers did) tells us to test our thoughts by asking, IS IT HONEST, PURE, UNSELFISH AND LOVING? If we can answer yes to to these the chances are great that the thought, idea or plan is in line with God's standards as taught in the bible

I like the wisdom of "if in doubt, don't". Next ask the questions mentioned above and pray for guidance!

"Lord help us to measure our thoughts and findings by testing them and discussing (sharing) them with our chosen person. Help us to be totally honest and complete in our sharing of this fifth step and guide us to that person who is close-mouthed, trustworthy and supportive, that person who will never discuss our inventory with anyone else-Amen!"

Use the two-way prayer format 1- write and pray 2-listen and write all experiences and 3-ask for meaning and 4-write some more and ask and listen and ask and listen......... Share the prayer experience by praying, writing and asking God on behalf of a partner while he/she listens and tells of all experiences. This simple praywer process has worked for thousands who have gone before us, thousands who have recovered from their problems and addictions!

JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

STEP 5-Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

Step 5

The Serenity 12 Step Program spoke to me today in a sharing based on James 5:16. Sharing on Step 5

"Admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs."

This scripture tells me to confess (or share) my wrongdoings with someone and to pray for each other so that we may be healed. Remembering to pray for each other is of prime importance here, seemingly necessary for repair and advancement to the next step. This verse goes on to say that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective!

"Oh Lord, give us the courage to share our deepest hurts, to listen with our hearts to the pain of our fellow man and to pray immediately for healing-Amen!

Let's write our prayers and record our experiences, as we use the original two way prayer format of the oringinal 12 steppers to defeat our enemies!

When shared and prayed over, the burden is lightened and the taste of freedom can be experienced. We are no longer alone in this problem as a team of at least three (God yourself and sharing partner) is now opposing it!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/sharingburden
http://www.sharingtheburden.ca/

12 Step Meeting Tomorrow

FOLLOWING IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL WE SENT TO MANY 12 STEP FRIENDS. FEEL FREE TO COPY OR FORWARD TO ANYONE!

Hi Folks

I wanted to let you know that we have started a 12 step program within Sharing The Burden where everyone is welcome without qualification.

Some of us feel that all should have access to the 12 steps whether aware of a problem with oneself or with a loved one and whether or not one wishes to divulge a certain aspect of her/his life.

Our program uses the Life Recovery Bible (NLT) as the basis for recovery (this does not mean that someone must be Christian or even spiritual, but all need to be aware that we do use the bible and scripture in our meetings). Commentary and direction for following the 12 steps is very clear in this version and we are excited about sharing it!

Please feel free to check us out or recommend us to anyone you feel the 12 steps might help!

WE MEET TUESDAY EVENINGS AT 8PM AT 175 ANDERSON AVE., MARKHAM, ON L6E 1A4 PHONE 905.471.7700
CALL OR EMAIL EITHER OF US ANYTIME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR NEED DIRECTIONS:
JULIA@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA 647 297 1793
SCOTT@SHARINGTHEBURDEN.CA 647 222 0515
SEE WEBSITE AND BLOG FOR MORE INFO:
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 5-Expressing awareness

Step 5-We admitted to God, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs

We find after doing an exhaustive inventory of ourselves in step 4, that we have become aware of some specific types of wrongs that we must share to move on in our recovery (from whatever):
-Any addictions/compulsions
-Problems in and with our families of origin that may have led to our dependent or codependent
hungers
-Acknowledgement of our family of origin's multi-generational wrongs. We need to understand and be compassionate here!
-We need to be aware of the wrongs we have experienced in all major relationships in our lives.
-We need to acknowledge any damage to others and the specific ways in which we have wronged them.

The shame attached to these things is huge. We must therefore be very careful as to who we will share such with. A totally trusted individual who will listen without returning suggestions or solutions, someone who will guard your anonymity and keep sacred your sharing, no matter what (this is how I must feel when I share these thoughts and feelings with another human being). Many people choose to share with clergy or some other professional person (counsellor, therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, doctor etc). Others prefer associates within their 12 step program (many 12 steppers talk to their personal sponsors who are guiding them through the 12 steps).

We try to remember always that honesty is a great key to healing and that sharing lessens the pain instantly.

"Lord please bring to our awareness everything that is holding us back, let us see clearly our part and be with us as we share these things with a trusted person-amen!"

TWO WAY PRAYER FOR ANSWERS (WRITE, LISTEN, WRITE, LISTEN AND QUESTION ALL EXPERIENCES-GOD WILL DO THE REST)!

Sharing The Burden had its first official 12 step meeting last evening at The Olive Branch Community Church in Markham. We had 9 people and all seemed very pleased with the format.

We want to make it known that this is now an ongoing meeting "All Welcome"

Please join us anytime or every time on Tuesday evenings at 8PM. The Olive branch is at 175 Anderson Ave Markham, a hop away from the Mount Joy Go Train Station. Please contact us anytime if you want details!

JULIA@SharingTheBurden.ca

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
http://www.sharingtheburden.ca/

We introduced the program by having a Step 1 meeting (1-We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies...............etc). All attendees seemed comfortable and I believe felt the Spiritual depth of our Program. w

We use the Life Recovery Bible (NLT) as the basis for our program. The suggested scripture and commentary provoked thought and deep sharing. Our special thanks to all attendees (you know who you are and that you will remain anonymous at all times-this principle of anonymity is an extremely important aspect and allows for safe heartfelt sharing that remains in our meeting rooms)!

Hope you can visit with us and hear about the wonder of two-way prayer as practised by the original 12 steppers. We who use it have no hesitation to say "Try it and see, it WORKS!"

Step 4-Ponder The Path of Life

Many of our ways and reasons for doing things have been unstable. Now we ponder and observe with great interest our every way. Really look at each move, each thought, each process, slow down the WAY every little thing is done. Do each thing only for the sake of doing it (not to get it over with). Experience life and take inventory as we do. What a difference such an attitude makes for me. Just typing these words has me enjoying a slow index finger way of plodding my way through this blog entry. A chore becomes a pleasure!

I must remember to see, seek, love and nurture Scott. He is God's creation with a perfect plan installed already; the better I know and and then take care of him, the closer I come to understand his Creator.

I love this entry from the commentator of Step 4 in the Serenity Program "We will courageously seek out and identify our weaknesses, knowing that God is with us to impart His wisdom and His unconditional love as we advance through the healing process"

"Please God remind us never to give up on us. You made us perfectly for our life and every happening is a piece of great importance. May we come to know our purpose and how to achieve it with Your help-Amen!"

Learn to connect to God in two-way prayer:
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 4-I accept responsibility for all of me!

No more finger pointing (blame)
No more you made me....!
No more its not my fault!
No more if this or that then...!

So difficult to interact and then accept that the feelings I feel, have nothing to do with the person I am interacting with. Then WHY? I think because its all part of the grand plan and the person I am interacting with is the trigger God's using at the moment, to grow, teach and heal me for the next part of the journey.

I must have boundaries that tell me when I am being abusive or when I am being abused! These are predetermined responses to situations, people and behaviours. They help me to know when "yes" is right and when "no" is right. Beyond these all discomfort is to be dealt with in recovery one day at a time.

"Oh Lord help, as we look deep within, fearless only because you are here with us. Let us see us that our awareness might free us-amen!"

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!
1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power.
4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5- Admitted to this Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6- Were entirely ready to have this Power remove all these defects of character.
7- Humbly asked the Power to remove our shortcomings.
8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with this Power, praying only for knowledge of His/Her will for us and the power to carry that out.
12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
(Many 12 step programs use the word God where we have written Power)



Various Claims of Promise from 12 Steppers

1-We will find ourselves worthy of love and able to love others. We will not lose ourselves.

2-Courage and fellowship will replace fear.

3-Our lives will yield hope to share with others.

4-We will come to know the vastness of our emotions without being in slavery to them.

5-Learning to forgive, we will no longer be bound by our secrets to live in shame.

6-Serenity and peace will have meaning for us.

7-We will allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with spiritual ease, balance and grace.

8-Attitude and outlook will be renewed.

9-Intuition will guide us to handle situations that were impossible in the past.

10-We will not regret the past recognizing its value for other sufferers.

11-Selfish interests will fall away as we gain interest in others.

12-Faith and gratitude will replace fear as we realize that a Greater Power is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

PRAY TWO WAY PRAYER-PRAY, LISTEN, WRITE, WRITE, WRITE
SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Special Needs

How do I see, what is my experience, how is it different from that of others?

Questions like this tell me how utterly important sticking to my own inventory really is. "Dear God how I need you when I think of how difficult communication really is and how unproductive our theories and systems really are when applied to other than the author of them. How hurting a statement of innocence can be to another with different perspective and therefore a completely different view of it. May we be careful in the choosing of our words and statements!"

I find as I look deeper into myself (take inventory) I must pay special attention to those I am interacting with. This work sometimes causes emotional strain and any contact will take a piece of it away with them when in contact with me

God takes inventory too. How do I look? Will these thoughts help me to THINK before acting. From here on, it is comforting, just to know of the extra effort I plan to put into my behaviour. I know it will always affect everyone around me.

My lesson as I take stock of me this year is clearly-"pay great attention Scot, to the special needs of all your contacts as you interact with them. Do a thorough inventory that you may know who it is you bring to the meeting and ever remember the vast difference in perspective of every unique soul. Do not judge but simply respect and accept all, in the knowledge that God has a perfect plan for each and everyone of us and each of us simply plays his/her part perfectly. There are no mistakes in God's plan!

PRAY PRAY PRAY AWAY THE DAY OR ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL NEVER KNOW HOW DIFFERENT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN WITH SPIRITUAL HELP!

Step 4 puts focus on me..

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

"Lord guide us to see the wonder of ourselves as well as the areas of concern. May we bring but one good point for every concern, so that our inventory may reflect the true nature of Your creation in us. You create perfectly, with a perfect path for each. May we keep this truth ever present as we embark to take a fearless moral inventory of ourselves."

Praying, pondering, writing and not for too long at a sitting I would suggest! Find an experienced 12 stepper who knows about two-way prayer to get quick Spiritual assistance!


What I like about me will be written on the left and what I don't like about me on the right. Simple and I will list only one on the left and then one on the right. For now I am writing thoughts only, no pressure to deeply evaluate any point. If I must share, there are sponsors, other 12 steppers I trust, or professionals to contact for help. The key to this simple method is ONE POINT AT A TIME and my concern is my sense of things, not anyone else's. For now what others think of me is none of my business. Let me see me clearly the good, bad and the ugly but one thing at a time with discussion where needed.

Step 4 is entirely about me and the focus keeps my attention in the moment. With the knowledge that I cannot really see anyone or anything clearly unless I am seeing clearly; I am now taking the time to seriously have a look at me with a step 4 inventory. How well I do it is insignificant, whereas DOING IT is invaluable. I cannot hope to be different if I don't know me. What would I be dealing with if I did not know me???

So let's get a step 4 done! NOW is the time!

Practicing awareness in step 4...

When I can remember to simply BE with any situation, there seems to be a magic solution to the situation. I mean for example when making an inventory of feelings, concerned feelings that is; if I take the time to be aware of me as I bring a situation into my consciousness, the situation, no matter how complex, or uncomfortable, takes on a much lighter significance. My awareness of the item and how it fits into my life, is heightened and even fascinating. Simply observing my own every movement and way as I look at me from the outside, is really interesting. How do I talk, walk, listen, think and move? What is my total experience of anything really like? As I ponder this or that feeling, what is my experience of me, what is my body doing right now (clenched teeth, sweaty hands, rigid, loose). As I become aware of how I experience; the feeling or situation in question loses some of its power over me and in cases loses its significance completely. Herein lies the bonus of awareness in my step 4 work. Items in my inventory may be clarified and require much less work down the road.

"Help me to see me Lord and to know the significance of each flaw or attribute as I practise AWARENESS in taking my inventory. Please show me how the re-experience of a feeling can take away the significance of the original feeling in my present day situation! May my perspective be in line with Yours today Lord-Amen".

Use two way prayer to receive Spiritual answers TODAY!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
http://www.sharingtheburden.ca/

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!
1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power.
4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5- Admitted to this Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6- Were entirely ready to have this Power remove all these defects of character.
7- Humbly asked the Power to remove our shortcomings.
8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with this Power, praying only for knowledge of His/Her will for us and the power to carry that out.
12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
(Many 12 step programs use the word God where we have written Power)






Various Claims of Promise from 12 Steppers

1-We will find ourselves worthy of love and able to love others. We will not lose ourselves.

2-Courage and fellowship will replace fear.

3-Our lives will yield hope to share with others.

4-We will come to know the vastness of our emotions without being in slavery to them.

5-Learning to forgive, we will no longer be bound by our secrets to live in shame.

6-Serenity and peace will have meaning for us.

7-We will allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with spiritual ease, balance and grace.

8-Attitude and outlook will be renewed.

9-Intuition will guide us to handle situations that were impossible in the past.

10-We will not regret the past recognizing its value for other sufferers.

11-Selfish interests will fall away as we gain interest in others.

12-Faith and gratitude will replace fear as we realize that a Greater Power is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

Step4-How does God help? Two way prayer!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Use two way prayer to take your inventory. Pray+listen+write, pray+listen+write. Back track, ask questions and listen. "Lord what did you mean when I saw/heard/experienced this or that? How do these things relate to my prayer question?" Get to know God and how God speaks uniquely to you!


God is there to help with the uncovering as with the peeling of an onion. Every layer removed leaves us with less survival skills. We find now that previously accepted positive characteristics are turning out to be flaws for a healthier self who needs them no longer to survive this scary world.





I think back in my life and see how things like tenacity+single mindedness kept me safe in youth and later proved valuable in a world controlled by lust, lifestyle and materialism. The truth was that until I could see these things for what they really represented (stay busy, do do do, compete, be number one, look better, be stronger etc etc etc) that is temporal relief in an unending process of dissatisfaction and a permanent sense that "enough cannot exist so keep going harder". In that game who would ever have time to be aware of one's inner self and who would want to?





Strive harder and harder to change things on the outside in order to feel better on the inside. IMPOSSIBLE! "Oh Lord take my hand and show the real me to me, one thing at a time and give me the strength to deal with a changed sense of what is good+right vs what is destructive and damaging to myself+others. Amen!"

Step 4-UNCOVERING

Step 4 involves uncovering the things we have been hiding, even from ourselves....It is only by uncovering the hidden parts of ourselves that we will be able to change the outer person, including our addictive/compulsive behaviours. These are words from the commentator in the Life Recovery Bible regarding Step 4.

I like the analogy of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden after committing the first sin (eating the forbidden fruit). They immediately noticed their vulnerability as shame set in to start the emotional destruction we learn so much about as we recover from our illnesses. It always interested me how there was simple bliss until we (Adam+Eve in this case) decided to do something we knew was not right. Shortly afterward comes the shame and usually the blaming as well. Adam and Eve knew now that they must COVER up and so humanity has spent the rest of our time trying to uncover and correct the damage that we do to ourselves by burying our flaws and blunders.

So I guess the point of it all (Step 4 that is), is getting at what is wrong on the inside so we can survive reasonably happily on the outside. We start this process by "taking an inventory of ourselves.

"Lord, please remind us of Your ever present nature as we search and uncover the many areas of our life that require attention and action. Help us to a gentle awareness that will clearly point out the direction we must take to move ahead, come closer to and serve You to our utmost-Amen"

Use two-way prayer to determine direction. Write listen write listen!. Have a fellow 12 stepper do the writing and praying while you listen and express. Guaranteed wonderful results. Hundreds of thousands of those who have gone before us tell us so!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 3-Patience+2-way prayer unbeatable

3-Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power

A key to success with Step 3 is "PATIENCE" We can say "here I am Lord, my will and all the other stuff I don't like is all Yours and I hereby turn it over to You." Now if we expect (I don't think expectations safe at best of times) that our sense of unburdening should be instant and that we should feel completely free of our problems immediately, we will be in trouble. Why, because the step tells us to make the decision to let the stuff go, it does not say God's plan agrees that we are to be free of all problems right away. I believe that the freedom from this or that has to do with our readiness and that is likely different for various situations or problems. However, for me, that sense of Sharing The Burden with God dramatically lifts the weight and makes it bearable. I can handle all things when they are shared with God and His strength ensures the outcome. Nothing is too much for God no matter what it feels like to me! The decision therefore to turn things over to God (the greater Power in our life) is the deciding factor in the outcome of every scenario.. We cannot lose the battle when yoked to God!

Try two-way prayer-pray,listen, write. Work with another 12 stepper and derive even more prayer power! Contact us to learn more about it!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca
How do we know 12 sreps work? Because millions have gone before us and testify to it!!

Step 3-How do I understand God?

Turning it all over, life and will, is quite a stretch.
How well do I know this God and how do I approach Him?

I had to see God as alive, the architect of all, knower of all and all powerful. This God had to be flawless for me to accept that He could take over my everything and leave me without worry. I made a decision that my God could be this awesome person and over time I have come to feel really good about turning things over as they come to me. The unburdening grows as my relationship grows and diminishes when I do not do my part to keep it current, active and alive. I MUST PRAY, listen, write, pray, listen and share my hurts as soon as they happen. Praying and sharing with program people (12 step followers) as stuff happens, allows me to stay in the NOW and let go of the latest problem(s).

"Here I am Lord, relieve me of this problem so I can be of value to Your kingdom! Show me Your will today and encourage me to follow-Amen!"

Step 3-yoking to God

I like the scripture referred to in the 12 step Recovery Bible (NLT) regarding step 3 i.e. Matthew 11:27-30 especially verses 29+30 where Jesus says "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light."

When I imagine this relationship being so strong as to be yoked neck and neck with the Lord as I go through life, my sense of fear or depression is almost instantly eliminated. Of course, I am not able to stay permanently in this place, however, while I am here, growth and healing are able to take steps in the right direction.

When the God of biblical scripture says "I am humble and gentle..." I want to be so much more humble and gentle in my own life. Humility and gentleness become priorities in my thinking process, therefore, I will be better for anyone who comes in contact with me!

"Thank You Lord that Your nearness and indwelling spirit are able to give us all the necessary strength to meet the needs of the day! Help us to remember and accept that we can be forever yoked to Your leading-Amen!"

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 3-Redemption of the past

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

SEE TWELVE STEPS AND PROMISES BELOW COMMENTARY

Each one of us comes to God with a past. In turning our life over to him, we give him our entire self, including our past losses and shame. We hand over to him every moment of digrace, every tear we have ever cried, every word we wish we could take back, all the broken promises, the loneliness, all the dreams that died , the dashed hopes, the broken relationships, our successes and failures-all of our yesterdays and the scars we have left in our life. Isaiah 54:4-6 says "...for the Lord God has called you back from your grief" This commentary comes from the Life Recovery Bible (NLT) isbn 1-4143-0138-3

"Oh God help us to truly turn over every little piece of our life, to withhold nothing and to know exactly what we are letting go of. Take it all Lord and may we be refreshed as we move ahead so much lighter-Amen!"

Prayer made the 12 steps work! Pray in hunger for help and guidance and we believe you will be rewarded both here and hereafter! No concern of results but merely in the hope that so many have succeeded this way in the past (millions have gone before us). Be child like and open; there is nothing to lose and everything to gain!!

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!
1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power.
4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5- Admitted to this Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6- Were entirely ready to have this Power remove all these defects of character.
7- Humbly asked the Power to remove our shortcomings.
8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with this Power, praying only for knowledge of His/Her will for us and the power to carry that out.
12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
(Many 12 step programs use the word God where we have written Power)


Various Claims of Promise from 12 Steppers

1-We will find ourselves worthy of love and able to love others. We will not lose ourselves.

2-Courage and fellowship will replace fear.

3-Our lives will yield hope to share with others.

4-We will come to know the vastness of our emotions without being in slavery to them.

5-Learning to forgive, we will no longer be bound by our secrets to live in shame.

6-Serenity and peace will have meaning for us.

7-We will allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with spiritual ease, balance and grace.

8-Attitude and outlook will be renewed.

9-Intuition will guide us to handle situations that were impossible in the past.

10-We will not regret the past recognizing its value for other sufferers.

11-Selfish interests will fall away as we gain interest in others.

12-Faith and gratitude will replace fear as we realize that a Greater Power is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.

step 3-accepting Ps 23 for me

If I can accept that the 23rd Psalm http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+23&version=NIVcould be mine just as David did, there would be much added to my existence. The psalmist says that, as one of the Lord's sheep, I will have peace and be uplifted, that I need not fear, that I will be fed and have a home forever with Him:

-green pastures
-still waters
-fear no evil
-prepare a table
-goodness and mercy
-dwell in the house of the Lord forever

"Oh Lord, help us to turn ourselves over to You that we may partake in such as David did in the 23rd Psalm, Amen!"

How would I be needy?
So to make such a decision was not difficult for me!

Step 3-Saved by grace...

STEP THREE-Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power (God).

"But for the grace of God...."

So many of us believe that our recovery has everything to do with our decision to begin recovery.

Do you ever wonder whether God gave us the power to make the right decision as well as the power to do our part to make it happen? If dependency and co-dependency are diseases without cure (most 12 steppers believe this), how then do we come up with the strength and courage to go on without these crutches? No, if addiction is an incurable disease (AMA claims this to be so), then Power greater than man must be behind it. I like to think that God in His wisdom has chosen the exact times and circumstances for our coming for help, finding the 12 steps and building a Spiritual relationship to keep us in sobriety whether that be emotional or physical sobriety.

Scripture as related to in the Serenity 12 step Program regarding Step 3, says "we surrender this false god of human perfection and we embrace the merciful grace of God.....we accept the creation he has made us to be..." It would seem that to boast or take credit for our recovery may be false! On the other hand, we can work very hard at our recovery programs and feel very good about doing our part. In my case, as long as I give all the credit to God for results, I have a reasonably happy life and do not feel a need TO DO anything specifically to achieve godliness or spirituality. Obedience to the teachings of scripture (Scott's personal thoughts), does keep me deciding for the better life by generally choosing the cleaner more honest way about things. However, being imperfect has me falling often and needing the support of God and my fellow program workers to keep me Godly rather than worldly focused!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
http://www.sharingtheburden.ca/

Step 3 Confidence from seeing results in others...

"WE can confidently ask Him for help because He has proven Himself to be a deliverer of those who love Him who are under enemy attack." This was a comment presented in The Life Recovery Bible (NLT) on Step 3. We have seen so many success stories in our 12 step rooms and we can accept this as TRUTH! This person goes on to say "...who blesses us and gives our life meaning as we fulfill our vows to live for Him daily."

In my life, as much as I am constantly connecting to God, to that degree am I confident in His looking after the desires of my heart. Somehow it seems that the greater and more consistent my effort to walk, talk and follow God, the greater and more successful are the results of my prayers. Maybe staying closely tuned creates the sensible more realistic prayer. Either way I am far more satisfied with my Spiritual life and relationship to God when I am praying and listening consistently for the answers (using http://www.backtobasics.org/ two-way prayer with another believer has proven to be the best way for me).

In this Step 3, turning it over is tremendously powerful in that, in the past, we would have taken our sick feelings and allowed them to trigger dependencies or co-dependencies which would temporarily relieve us, as we gave control over to substance, habit or another human who we were trying to control. NOW we turn the feelings over to God Who has the power to lessen or remove them as He sees fit. This turning over of our life daily can be so UNBURDENING!! Share that burden with your God and be free of its power to control you!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 3 WE made a decision...

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca
http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power.





I like to think of 12 steps as something I do without ever being alone. The decision in step 3, to turn everything over to God is huge and the fact that I can do it as part of "WE" makes a difference. It reminds me that so many have gone before me and I can believe the Spiritual answers will come if I d0 my part.





There is also something attractive and undurdening about turning things over to something greater than man who dissappoints us so often.





We can choose to set our heart in the direction of life by choosing to love God and begin to follow His program (our gift of the 12 steps)

Step 3-Decided to believe

Step 3: We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His well for us and the power to carry that out.

Well, we realized in step one that we had a problem and that it was not getting us anywhere to blame our problem on some relationship. In the second step we accepted that something greater than ourselves could help us and now we are DECIDING in the form of a prayer to turn everything over to this Power. What does that feel like? I would suggest that it feels uniquely different for each and everyone of us and that no matter how it feels, the important thing is to do it, as best we can and as soon as we can. The load has been killing us, so unloading, to any degree, in any manner, is positive!

"Teach us oh Lord to simply talk to You and tell You that we are turning it all over to You. Teach us to understand that our burdens are so much lighter when we share them with You."

This is the 3rd step prayer that AA members use daily: Third Step Prayer
"God, I offer myself to Thee — to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!"

Prayer has come to be the only thing in my life that consistently offers satisfactory outcome to any situation. If I am in the moment and in prayer it is OK and it is OK with my world! If I go it alone, I am never sure what could have been with God's help! Uncertainties I need no more!

Tw0 way prayer with a partner is the absolute best way for me to get immediate direction. Praying and writing with two people receiving and discussing results seems almost unshakable for those who will try it!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.cahttp://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
www.SharingTheBurden.ca

Step 2-Choosing to believe!

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.ca

http://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden

http://www.sharingtheburden.ca/

"Our dependencies brought us to a position of powerlessness!" Words from the commentator on Step 2 in the Serenity program remind me that at some point a choice has to be made to accept OR believe that something higher must be sought and this Power could possibly be contacted in the hope of relief!

At this point, seems often that people want a "feeling of belief" without which they choose to stay STUCK. I will always remember a trusted friend (professional) telling me that feelings did not determine belief but rather, a decision of belief was required no matter how I felt and that possibly (although not definitely) the wanted feelings would follow. I learned that my feelings were not caused by events or others. They were the results of how I processed information. Basically my programming which considers automatically, everything that has been part of my existence from my beginning (happenings, events and my entire life's history to the moment), goes into each process and that the resultant feelings are therefore my responsibility and not to be blamed on a person place thing or event. Feelings still hurt as much today but I am so much slower to blame and much quicker to ask for forgiveness or apologize when my emotions beat me to the punch (in other words when I react without thinking).

DECISIONS TO LOVE, BELIEVE AND FORGIVE REQUIRE EFFORT BUT NOT NECESSARILY A CERTAIN KIND OF FEELING!!

Step 2 unforced realization

So often the temptation to influence the sick/addicted/hurting/codependent person is overwhelming. We see what has worked in so many and want to "give it" to this person (save him/her from more pain). Again and again we see the results-an interrupted fall that serves one purpose, namely that for a moment in time we felt successful in our saving grace. Now the fall to the next level is probably a little deeper and more painful. So we learn that the reaching out must come solely from the hurting person and must be directed to a power greater than mankind. Our 12 steps are a Spiritual answer to recovery and Spiritual cannot be humanly directed. The prodigal son Luke 15:11-24( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+15%3A11-24&version=NIV ) clarifies this for me as the wayward son accepts responsibility for his lot in life and reaches out not only for survival but for forgiveness which he knows is undeserved (humility).

Let the bottom be defined ASAP by focusing on our ability to the build in ourselves the strong Spiritual coming along side that WILL be necessary when our loved one sees clearly his/her grave situation. Step two is that realization that this Power exists and may be able to help; I must try to connect!

Use two-way prayer (with a friend) to quickly arrive at direction! Pray and write and ask questions. If we can help, connect with us:

SCOTT@SharingTheBurden.cahttp://sharingtheburden.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/sharingburden
http://www.sharingtheburden.ca/

12 Steps to Spiritual Recovery!
1- We admitted we were powerless over others and our dependencies-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2- Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3- Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of that Power.
4- Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5- Admitted to this Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6- Were entirely ready to have this Power remove all these defects of character.
7- Humbly asked the Power to remove our shortcomings.
8- Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
9- Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10- Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11- Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with this Power, praying only for knowledge of His/Her will for us and the power to carry that out.
12- Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
(Many 12 step programs use the word God where we have written Power)






Various Claims of Promise from 12 Steppers

1-We will find ourselves worthy of love and able to love others. We will not lose ourselves.

2-Courage and fellowship will replace fear.

3-Our lives will yield hope to share with others.

4-We will come to know the vastness of our emotions without being in slavery to them.

5-Learning to forgive, we will no longer be bound by our secrets to live in shame.

6-Serenity and peace will have meaning for us.

7-We will allow our lives and the lives of those we love to flow day by day with spiritual ease, balance and grace.

8-Attitude and outlook will be renewed.

9-Intuition will guide us to handle situations that were impossible in the past.

10-We will not regret the past recognizing its value for other sufferers.

11-Selfish interests will fall away as we gain interest in others.

12-Faith and gratitude will replace fear as we realize that a Greater Power is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.