Big Book Awakening

In episode #55, Mer shares growing up in the Church she thought her relationship with God was not the problem. After enough pain, Mer went through the twelve steps program of recovery and realized that she had a problem with God. "I didn't trust God because I didn't have a connection with my dad."

In Episode #54, Mary shares how "The more I fought the more things were not going my way. The more things were crumbling all around me." Acceptance is the action of consenting to receive or undertake something offered. "In any twelve-step program, you get the results with the action." 

In episode #53, Shauna shares how in her alcoholism she was hopeless. The "Spiritual Malady" started really young for her. Growing up she never had one close friend because she couldn't let people see what was happening in her life. 

In episode #52, Matt H. Shares how growing up he felt alone and not good enough. Then he had his first beer and that feeling went away. "I could not live life on life's terms." Drugs and alcohol worked for years until they didn't. I didn't have a connection with a higher power. "I felt so alone. I felt so alone. I couldn't talk to anyone." I was so desperate and had no way of fixing myself. "I tho...

In episode #51, Mike shares how he hit a spiritual bottom after relapsing and thought: "this is not you, Mike." On August 1, 2021, Mike returned and started going through the Twelve Steps program of recovery the "Big Book Awakening" way. In this podcast, he shares a few passages from Chapter 5 - How It Works, and Step Three.

In episode #50, Megan shares how nothing has been more impactful on her spiritual growth than Step 11. On awakening, her first thought is "God direct my life."

In episode #49, Michelle N. shares the miracles that have happened in her life since getting sober, working this program of recovery through Big Book Awakening, by taking statements in the Big Book and turning them into questions.

In episode #48, Luis L. shares how when he got here he was "like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others." Saved by the grace of God, Luis was able to recover from alcoholism. Over time, God would heal his heart and he would learn how to extend grace to others, one day at a time.

In episode #47, Mike H. raises the question: "Is a belief and a faith in God enough for me to recover?" Because when he got here he had a really big problem with God. Mike shares there's one really important detail in whether we want to recover from Alcoholism. "Am I willing to do the work in the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous because God blesses work not words."

 In episode 46, Jose G. AKA "Pastor Jose" reminds us that we need God's "protection and care" because the journey ahead is going to be rough. "Remember that we deal with alcohol—cunning, baffling, powerful! Without help, it is too much for us. But there is One who has all power—that One is God. May you find Him now!" 

In episode #45, Chad shares his personal struggle with powerlessness over alcohol, mental obsession of controlling his drinking, a lot of trial and error (relapses), and the insidious insanity of that first drink. "The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain ti...

In episode #44, Doni travels via plane from Missouri to California to participate in her first "live" Big Book Awakening meeting. Doni shares details of how God has shown up in her adventure to California. "I cease fighting anything or anyone...because God has my back."

In episode #43, Natasha and Rafael share their experience, strength, and hope with the group. "What it was like; What happened; What's like now."

In episode #42, Luis L. shares how when he arrived to the 12 step meetings he had a desperate desire to control his drinking but was powerless. As a result of going through the Big Book Awakening, a shift happened and he developed "the honest desire to let God take us to better things."

"I love life and life loves me." In episode #41, Renzo shares how he relapsed after two years... despite all his "relapse prevention plans". On his way to a meeting, he prays and asks God: "How can I become a drug counselor if I just relapsed? Show me what I need to do. How can I improve my sobriety?"

In episode #40, Kornelia shares how when thoughts of drinking come, there is absolutely nothing besides God that stands between her and the drink. Kornelia says: "Its grace. I received this for nothing."

In Episode #39, Pat B. shares how once he believed alcoholism is an illness then he was able to have a deep and effective spiritual experience.

In episode #38, Jessica shares how growing up the child of two alcoholics, she felt at home in a bar. And home is something I've always searched for. When she had her first drink, she experienced a non-normal reaction.

In episode #37, Jenice shares how: "It was really hard for me at nearly sixteen years without a drink, suicidal most times, because I didn't have a solution. I didn't want a solution because I didn't believe I was an alcoholic."

In episode #36, Luis shares the vision behind the Eastlake BBA Monday Night Meeting and how "there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful."

In episode #35, Nati shares her experience growing up the child of an alcoholic and later if life, accepting an invitation to a 12-step recovering meeting. "It wasn't until my very late adult life that I really started to see the power of God working in my life." 

In episode #34, Michael K. reads a portion from "Winner Takes All" story. "I have already told you about some of the miracles that have happened. However, there’s more. I want to tell you how I feel inside. I am no longer spiritually bankrupt. It’s as if I have a magic source in my life that has provided me with all I need. I just celebrated my twelfth year of sobriety a couple of months ago. When...

In episode #33, Captain Brad shares his favorite line from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous: "We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition."

In episode 32, Janice shares how at her first Overeaters Anonymous (OA) meeting they talked about God and she "could not believe that.". As soon the meeting was done she darted out and a woman touched her arm and said: "Use another word."

In episode 31 - Luis shares how he asked God for a topic to share on. While he was waiting on God to direct his thinking, he came across the Twelve Gifts of Life Recovery and The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery.