Distance lends enchantment to the view.
THOMAS CAMPBELL
Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? And the King will tell them, I assure you, that when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it for me!
MATTHEW 25:37-40 NLT
About nine months ago my AA sponsor got a hold of this scripture and asked me to read it and study it out. He also gave me a VCR tape by Kenneth Copeland that talked about prison ministry, and asked that I watch it. My sponsor then asked me to consider taking AA meeting into the prisons. He said that he would go with me. I was somewhat reluctant at first, but came to the conclusion that it was what Jesus said we should do, and also the fact that I do not want to return to drinking. I knew that this would help ensure against taking that first drink. It was quite an ordeal to get to the point where we could enter through the gates. For years I had done all I could to stay out of the joint, I lied, I got lawyers, and I spent thousands of dollars to stay out of prison. Now I found myself doing what I could to get in. This felt strange indeed. I had to submit an application, get shots and spend a day at the state capital taking classes on being a Visitor In Corrections. When the day came to take meetings to the prison I was very anxious. I knew that it was only but for the grace of God that I was not in the penitentiary myself. I give God praise for a fellow AA member who encouraged us to do this, and who had been going in the prisons for years. He took my sponsor and I under his wings and showed us how to do it. Today I can truly say that taking meeting into to prison has been the most rewarding of any of my service work that I have done. Why, I ask myself? Possibly the answer can be found in scripture. When we do something for the least of those in society, we are doing it to Jesus. Service work doesnt get any better than that. I like what the Life Recovery Bible has to say about this scripture, share this with me.
Ultimately we will all be accountable to God on judgment day. We will be responsible not only for our own recovery but also for how we have helped others. The last step in recovery is to tell others about our recovery and encourage them in the recovery process. Since Jesus identifies himself with those who suffer, we should follow his example and be especially alert to the needs of others.
Life Recovery Bible page 1154
By taking meetings into the prison system I have received more than I have given. I always go willing to share my experience, strength and hope, never planning to take away from there more than I have given. It just works out that way; its a spiritual thing. Freely I have received, freely I must give. What comes back to me comes in the form of serenity, sobriety, and life more abundantly. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
When we measure ourself by the expectations of others or by our own need to be perfect, we may fall so short that we may not even try to succeed. All God ask of us is that we try to do something with our abilities and resources. When we allow ourself the option of just making modest progress, we will find the courage to progress in recovery. Even the least improvement is better than not trying at or being doomed to complete failure by our perfectionism.
Life Recovery Bible page 1153
Thanks for letting me share today. Here recently I have shared much about recovery, I do this to keep myself strong in this area of my life. When I think about it, many people are in recovery of some kind. Some are recovering from physical problems and abuse, some from problems that stem from broken relationships, some from emotional problems, some from mental problems, some from spiritual problems, and some from problems that arise out of substance abuse. Life is a process of recovery. God has the answers for any and all types of recovery .JRE
THOMAS CAMPBELL
Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you? And the King will tell them, I assure you, that when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it for me!
MATTHEW 25:37-40 NLT
About nine months ago my AA sponsor got a hold of this scripture and asked me to read it and study it out. He also gave me a VCR tape by Kenneth Copeland that talked about prison ministry, and asked that I watch it. My sponsor then asked me to consider taking AA meeting into the prisons. He said that he would go with me. I was somewhat reluctant at first, but came to the conclusion that it was what Jesus said we should do, and also the fact that I do not want to return to drinking. I knew that this would help ensure against taking that first drink. It was quite an ordeal to get to the point where we could enter through the gates. For years I had done all I could to stay out of the joint, I lied, I got lawyers, and I spent thousands of dollars to stay out of prison. Now I found myself doing what I could to get in. This felt strange indeed. I had to submit an application, get shots and spend a day at the state capital taking classes on being a Visitor In Corrections. When the day came to take meetings to the prison I was very anxious. I knew that it was only but for the grace of God that I was not in the penitentiary myself. I give God praise for a fellow AA member who encouraged us to do this, and who had been going in the prisons for years. He took my sponsor and I under his wings and showed us how to do it. Today I can truly say that taking meeting into to prison has been the most rewarding of any of my service work that I have done. Why, I ask myself? Possibly the answer can be found in scripture. When we do something for the least of those in society, we are doing it to Jesus. Service work doesnt get any better than that. I like what the Life Recovery Bible has to say about this scripture, share this with me.
Ultimately we will all be accountable to God on judgment day. We will be responsible not only for our own recovery but also for how we have helped others. The last step in recovery is to tell others about our recovery and encourage them in the recovery process. Since Jesus identifies himself with those who suffer, we should follow his example and be especially alert to the needs of others.
Life Recovery Bible page 1154
By taking meetings into the prison system I have received more than I have given. I always go willing to share my experience, strength and hope, never planning to take away from there more than I have given. It just works out that way; its a spiritual thing. Freely I have received, freely I must give. What comes back to me comes in the form of serenity, sobriety, and life more abundantly. God is doing for me what I could not do for myself .JRE
When we measure ourself by the expectations of others or by our own need to be perfect, we may fall so short that we may not even try to succeed. All God ask of us is that we try to do something with our abilities and resources. When we allow ourself the option of just making modest progress, we will find the courage to progress in recovery. Even the least improvement is better than not trying at or being doomed to complete failure by our perfectionism.
Life Recovery Bible page 1153
Thanks for letting me share today. Here recently I have shared much about recovery, I do this to keep myself strong in this area of my life. When I think about it, many people are in recovery of some kind. Some are recovering from physical problems and abuse, some from problems that stem from broken relationships, some from emotional problems, some from mental problems, some from spiritual problems, and some from problems that arise out of substance abuse. Life is a process of recovery. God has the answers for any and all types of recovery .JRE
