90 Days Sobor and No Gambling

Okay, So 90 Days!  Seems like a lifetime..........then I find out tonight that this program I've been going to which is great, which has taught me to read the Bible everyday and to Pray and has changed my life, is actually a 12 month plan.  Meetings are pretty structured, but I haven't really been instructed as to the whole overview of the program.  But bottom line is that there is a 12 month structure.  So I really want to focus and commit to the remaining 9 months.

So,  here are my goals for the next 9 months:

• 3 Days a Week Go To Gym and Work Out
• Cut down on chewing tobacco
• 7:15 am wake up on all days (yeah, but I go to bed late, am a night guy)
• 15 minute (minimum bible read) and pray in morning
• 1 hour bible read and pray at night
• 2 meetings for addiction per week (I am babysitting for 1 week so will be excused)
• 1 Church minimum per week
• 1 Serving Activity per week, Usually help clean church on Saturday for an hour
• 9 months no dating women (what? I didn't sign up to be a monk!  but okay will do)
• Create something positive! 
• Write daily journal.  Feeling wierd about posting online, wrong motives. started this to get a harley and God gave me a motorcycle today.  So going to switch to handwritten book. 

So, Will not be posting here any more, but as it is out there felt fitting to conclude it.  I made it 90 Days with No Alcohol, No Weed and No Gambling.  All thanks to walking into a church and turning to Jesus who blessed me with getting into the right group for me.  I believe in Jesus and his foregiveness and love.  Turning away from my old ways (or at least trying to turn) has helped me focus some of my selfish attention off of myself.  I have been blessed with new friends, new ideas, feelings of peace, a new motorcycle used but new to me, sobriety and hope for the future.

Peace be with you.

80 Days Sobor and no bets. Jesus is the Good News!

On my arm I have written, No doubt in my mind and All things are possible with God.  I am trying to program my brain to get past the doubts that come up about God, Jesus the Bible and replace them with trust.  I also want to remember how powerful and loving God is.  All we have to do is pray and ask.  One of the disciples walked on water. At least one of the disciples raised the dead after Jesus was gone. 

God is an awsome power.  Jesus is our friend.  Jesus is in God, We are in Jesus.  I really think I see the Bible telling us that when we really believe, when we really have faith that we can and should share that power to do some great things.  I don't have Bible passages right now because I just wanted to sit down and type as I haven't been disciplined with it lately.  But wanted to post and praise God for keeping me on the path for 80 days. 

Also starting to focus on a new big project that may or may not be God's will, but I hear a need and have an idea.  I know I can't get to heaven by works, but I want to show repentance and turn from my sinful ways and do something good.  I want to do God's will.  I want to please God because he takes such good care of me.  Thank you Jesus.

71 days No Booze, No Drugs, No Gambling........4 days no chewwwwww

Thank you Jesus for giving me the hard time at night when I'm alone and can fall down, pray and beg for the help I need.  I hate nicotine.  I crave it so bad.  I want it.  I miss it.  I love sitting around at night with a big dip in reading.  It is so stupid.  It causes cancer.  It creates isolation.  It is a bad example for children.  Why do I miss it so much that my bones ache, my eyes water, my skin tingles and my brain is melting away without it.

But God is real.  A couple weeks ago I was talking to a buddy about miracles and thinking about how if we really believe and see this stuff in the bible that we should be seeing more of it here, now.  Since then I have seen it at my church.  I've seen guys praying over one another laying their hands on each other.  I've seen the whole church gathered together for a night of prayer and song.  Those are miracles.  That is the christians doing what the bible tells us to.  Good stuff.  Thank you Jesus.

What is it when I give up an addiction? Colossians 3

Stopping negative behavior is first most obvious action.  True Goal is to change who I am.

Addiction is fun,  covers feelings about not being good enough.  Gives you courage, let's you hide and pretend to be someone else.

This is a long piece of the Bible, but it really does work on me.  Because I am trying to turn from Sin towards being a better human being.  I am not just trying to stop the behavior, I am trying to correct the core. 

Colossians 3: 3-11  New Living Translation

For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. 

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you.  Have nothing to do with sexual sin, impurity, lust and shameful desires.  Don't be greedy for the good things of this life, for that is idolatry.  God's terrible anger will come upon those who do such things. 

You used to do them when your life was still part of this world.  But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander and dirty language.  Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old evil nature and all its wicked deeds. 

In its place you have clothed yourselves with a brand-new nature that is continually being renewed as you learn more and more about Christ who created this new nature within you.

In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barrbaric, uncivilized, slave or free.  Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.


70 Days No Alcohol, No Drugs, No Gambling.......
Day 3 No Nicotine..............

OH NO what was I thinking?    It really does suck to have to quit an addiction.  I've been through this before.  I know these feelings.  I know these thoughts.  Flipping through my notebook and came up on Day 5 of alcohol and have two columnes: 

1) Alcohol
Weed, Mushrooms, Acid
Gambling,
Taxes,
Chew

2) Sobor & Ass
Compulsive
Defiant,
Angry
Self Destructive

Notes at bottom of page:

Drunk & Fun, High & Loving, Halucinating and Creative, VS Sobor and Self-Destructive

Those were my thoughts today too!  Why quit chewing?  What if it makes me worse?  I'm not doing anything to anyone else with my chew. But I am, sit along chewing and playing poker or video games or read.  Very isolating.

TURN from the OLD.  TURN to the NEW! 

Matthew: Living by the Word of Jesus

61 Days NO Alcohol, NO Drugs and NO Gambling!  Thank you Jesus!

Want to design my new life based on biblical teaching of Jesus Christ who is our Lord. 

These are all from Matthew:

11:48  Come to me, all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  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.

4:10  Worship the Lord your God; serve only him.

4:17  Turn from your sins and turn to God because the Kindom of God is near.

7:24  Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

10:32  If anyone acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will openly acknowledge that person before my father in heaven.

18:20  For where two of three gather together because they are mine.  I am there among them.

21:22  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

26:41  Keep alert and Pray.  Otherwise temptation will overpower you.  For though the spirit is winning enough the body is weak.

Luke 12:31 Put God First

Luke 12:31

He will give you all you need from day to day if you make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. - NLT

I really want to live for Jesus and get into his path not try to fit his way into my life.  There is so much to gain.  Nothing to loose. 

The preacher tonight was talking about Saul in 1 Samuel 13 and 14 and how Saul wasn't patient waiting for God to show him what to do.  Saul was thinking about himself and what he wanted.

I really want to do what God has planned for me now.  I don't know what it is.  So I'm going to have to search.  I don't want to be a burden to anyone, so I want to work hard and do my share and more.  I am going to have to get some help to figure it out. 

God really does take care of me every day and I am greatful!  I need to be patient, but I need to go forward asking for some help and some guideance. 

Something else the preacher said tonight struck hard.  He said that we need to be involved in our church.  Because the church is the body.  We shouldn't be doing this here and that there.  Which is funny because I was seriously online looking at another church schedule tonight because I want some positive strong people in my life.  I'm not sure how to handle my friend who is struggling with his job and looking for a new way to make money.  I tried hiring my kid and that didn't work.  Do I show him what to do and make a competitor?  Do I make him and partner?  Do I take the idea to church and let them run it?  I don't know what to do.  I need some guideance.  I want to get on God's path.

I am thankful that I'm wondering about these questions now instead of: should I drink, get high or  gamble?

I feel like I'm starting to head the right direction.  I want to make sure I am going the right way.


50 Days No Alcohol, No Weed and No Gambling

48 Days Not Drunk, Not Stoned and Not Gambling

Made it to the meeting tonight!  Always feel inspired because of the focus on God.