Making Amends

Step 9

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

Matthew 5:23-24

Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

The thing I love about those who practice the principals of the Twelve steps, is that they are "doing" something about all the mess they have created or been a part of. They are actually taking the steps to right wrongs...to deal with bitterness, jealousy and unforgiveness. Why? Because someone coming out of addiction understands that they can no longer operate in the ways they have in the past.

It truly is a new ballgame, which demands a new focus, fresh vision and new direction. The hardest part is that such a new life demands that the individual step up and actually take responsibility for their actions. In the past, it was all about running away and using. Such behavior stemmed from the idea who they are as a person has been defined by what they have done in their behavior. The destruction...the lies..the mess, all piled up as some sort of evidence against their person. Such a view creates guilt and shame. These two are the nuclear fuel that keep a person in an addictive cycle. 

So to work the steps takes an incredible amount of bravery. The kind of bravery that one gets from their relationship with Jesus. To me, living a life of recovery is truly living your faith out everyday. If someone is working the steps, then they are putting legs to their faith. Faith isn't a mental and moral concept to someone in recovery. Faith is the fuel that moves them forward one step at a time. 

Isn't it weird that the Matthew 5 passage is the only time I can remember reading where God says it's o.k. to leave a church service? I think that shows the importance of setting things right. That we should not be bringing our emotional/mental baggage into our meeting, but that we should be about the business of reconciliation to those we have harmed. Step # 9 also has great wisdom..it says we are to carry out this reconciliation except when to do so wold injure the person we have harmed or others who may be innocent and not even connected to our amends.

The motto we use for Vineyard ReCovery is "Following In His Steps". By letting Jesus be the guide in our lives...we simply follow the disciplines of the Twelve Steps. Along the way, if we are truly working them, we will find that one of two things will happen.

We will either have a spiritual experience...

Or we will have a spiritual awakening....
Both will propel us into a new dimension of living that we never have known before.

Today...
Find God...
Sounds crazy, but literally (if you are desperate) cry out to Him. "Oh God! I need to know that you are real"....If that sounds to crazy, then call someone who you know has a successful track record of working the steps...
Whatever you do, do not slide back into your old thoughts and old ways....

Jesus is waiting there for you....

Vineyard ReCovery Church is dedicated to providing a safe place where you can join with others who are desiring to break free from the old life.

We meet every Saturday evening at 7 p.m.

Downtown Gadsden / Broad Street between forth and fifth streets.

We do stamp court cards if you need one.

God on you...

mb