(week 151) 20 November 2014 12 step Big Book all addictions workshop

12 x 12 Step 3 Page 40 first paragraph: ‘Then it is explained…’ until the end of the step:

‘Thy will, not mine, be done.’

Please send donations to support the website to:

Stephanie Whiting

P O Box 531

North Pembroke MA 02358

Stephanie has two groups both on the same number: 712 432 8816 pin no. 32450#

They also have the same callback number 641 715-3900 – but different pin numbers:

(1) Tuesday 8am EST Dr. Bob and the Good Old Timers pin no. 298913#

(2) Thursday 8am EST 12 Step Study (All Addictions) Big Book Workshop pin no. 95666#

Open Study Buddy Groups 712 432 0800 pin no. 587213#

Thursdays EST 9.30am Sundays EST 11-12am

Step 3.

A really good working definition of Step three is making a decision to align our will with God’s will.

If without Quiet Time you don’t know God are you going you align yourself with God? Of course not. Instead you will go back to aligning yourself with yourself.

******Stephanie will do a workshop next week, Thanksgiving. It will be her Thanksgiving gift to us-

a 1 hour REVIEW from 8a-9a EST of Steps 1, 2, and 3.

Don’t be concerned if you can’t make it next week; Stephanie understands completely. You can listen to the callback.

The following week, we’ll wrap up Tradition 3, God Willing. Then there will be some preliminary information Stephanie will give us right before starting Step Four, in approximately 3 weeks.

So keep collecting your writing supplies for Step Four- in a (suggestion:) designated nice, quiet writing area with a strong lamp. And make sure you know the 3rd Step prayer, or your version of the 3rd Step prayer ( you can rewrite it any way you want), because it’s very, very important to invite your HP to come in to your recovery. You need power! (We didn’t have power before we came to live the sober life; we admitted we were powerless in Step One.)

And, with Stephanie as sponsor, nobody does any Step 4 writing without first saying their Third Step prayer. And, if one has to interrupt their writing, one should say the 3rd Step prayer again before resuming- since the sacred bond established between ourselves and our HP has been disrupted.

12stepstudyworkshop.com has all the handouts and accumulated knowledge of Stephanie’s studies of the Big Book.

This week: Find the handout on the 12 steps and their principles.

[Each principle has a step. thus Step one surrender, Step two hope, etc.]

Soul work

Look up: sustained

Q1. Human will is of huge value in sobriety. Write on this.

Aligning yourself to God is an act of human will. So ask God: ‘Can you show me what is the next right action’ – and God will. .

To not be a lone wolf, an individual needs:

a. a Higher Power

b. an action plan given by God and then accountability around the action plan.

c. a support group.

Q2. Without accountability, an action plan is self-abuse. Write on this.

Q3. If you are a lone wolf you’re still active even if you are sober in your program.

Write about this.

‘All by himself and in the light of his own circumstances, he needs to develop the quality of willingness. When he acquires willingness, he is the only one who can make the decision to exert himself.’

Q4. What do you understand by this?

Q5. It is when we try to make our will conform with God’s that we begin to use it rightly. (The key to sobriety). Write on this.

Q6. Feelings are not facts and no longer run Stephanie’s life. How about you?

Courage to change the things I can.

Q7. What does Courage mean to you?

Q8) What does wisdom mean to you? [To Stephanie it means she’s brought the situation in question to God and she has the solution and Action Plan. Then, of course, she has to align her will with God’s will – even if she doesn’t always feel like doing the answer she gets from God. And then, of course, she has to DO the (next) wise thing (action).]

Q9. Step 4

a) If you haven’t yet memorized the Third Step prayer or your version of it, that is your major soul work for the next two weeks.

b) In preparation for writing Step 4, find a good lamp and a comfortable chair. There needs to be a de-cluttered space – this writing is sacred work.

Ends

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