July - August 2004    

Group Leaders:
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REMEMBER TO
KEEP ALL OUR GROUPS IN YOUR PRAYERS!

The Book “The Father Heart of God” by Floyd McClung is now available at the AC office
“ So many deep emotional wounds are caused by earthly fathers who don’t know how to love...or who just aren’t there. However, as you come to know your Father God for who He really is– the heavenly Father for whom no problem is too great or too insignificant– You will experience the healing power of His love. From the Scriptures and from his real life experiences on three continents, Floyd McClung freshly illustrates the lavish affection that flows out of God’s heart. He gently shows you new ways to respond to your Father’s love.” Excerpt from Book

In Loving Memory of Mary Ann Horan

Mary Ann was a beautiful graceful lady. She and her husband Ken have been active in AC Ministries for over 20 years. Time and time again Ken and Mary Ann have come into the AC office and volunteered their help. I can remember Mary Ann coming into the office often times either right before or after her chemo treatments. She had a smile on her face and such a positive outlook on life. Mary Ann was a true fighter. I remember her being such an encouragement to me personally. She was a retired school teacher and I like to write and time and time again Mary Ann would use her skills to encourage me. Mary Ann and Ken also ran a 12 step support group at their Church Evangel Christian. They did this for over 12 years.

Mary Ann and Ken are both pillars in AC and also in their Church, Where they both served as Deacons for over 10 years. During the last 5 of those years Ken and Mary Ann were Head Deacons over 40 other people. They are both highly respected among their fellow church members as well as their AC family.

They have both given so very much to the AC Ministry! Ken has served on the Board of Elders and Board of Directors for AC for over 20 years. On many occasions Ken and Mary Ann would have the Directors and families over for dinner. Even toward her last months in this world, she continued to reach out and serve the Lord in this Ministry!

Mary Ann, was a gentle woman of few words, she would say what she meant and meant what she said. She was truly a woman of virtue and integrity.

Mary Ann has been fighting her battle with Cancer since 1998. On Thursday August 12, 2004 Mary Ann went home to be with our Lord.

I am told even during her last days of life that Mary Ann was still praising the Lord! That even in the midst of her dying she remained faithful and positive in the Lord. Mary Ann will be missed by many! Please keep Ken in your prayers !

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2
Your sister in Christ, Laurie

Step One and the Serenity Prayer

God Grant (give) me the serenity (knowledge, ability, peace) to accept the things I cannot change (do anything about), the courage (faith,strength,guts) to change the things I can. And the wisdom (knowledge and/or discernment) to know the difference. How many times have we said this prayer like this? Usually, we say it out of habit, protocol or at the time (or circumstances) we really believe and mean it. But, have you ever really given any serious thought to what we are doing, saying, or asking at the time? Romans 8:6 “The mind of a sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace.” (Serenity) Romans 8:9 “You however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but the Spirit of God that lives in you.” Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, mind and strength. And lean not on your own understanding” A confused mind is not capable of understanding Man’s laws or God’s laws. The more confused the mind is, the more open it is too outside influences or to faulty reasoning. This makes God’s will harder, or impossible to know.
Step 1—Is admitting we have a serious problem with our thinking. ( It surfaces as addiction, co-dependency or dysfunctional behavior). In many of the 12 –step meetings it is not uncommon to hear or see in print the words “The God of my understanding”. There are two problems with this concept. The first is for a small percent of us, this maybe the only clear sense of something being wrong. It seems faulty for the most part as addicts and family members as we admit our understanding of God is damaged at best. The second problem is we are good at the art of enabling, manipulation, etc. By knowing (understanding) someone, we’ve learned what to do or not to do in order to get what we really (ultimately) want. So by having a “God of my understanding” we are in trouble from the very beginning. By completely surrendering to God’s will, allowing Him to do what we are unable to do ourselves, we have just made what maybe is the first sane decision in a very long time. At this point ask yourself these questions:

         1 . Where am I in my life and what do I want out of it?
         2.  I realize I can’t do it alone and that I need God’s help. Am I willing to give God control?

You have just begun your first step to recovery and as a child of God. Remember, even our behaviors, relationships and our “so called knowledge” came a little at a time; so does our healing and our relationship with God and serenity. One day at a time! Living “ One Day at a time” Enjoying one moment at a time.. Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace. Taking as He did this sinful world as it is. Not as I would have it, and trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His will. In doing so I maybe reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him in the next!

REMEMBER- YOU ARE NOT ALONE ANY LONGER
Your sister in Christ, Marie—Tuesday- Fraser, MI -Group

ST.CLAIR SHORES CELEBRATES 23 YEARS 

Just wanted to praise the Lord for his continued faithfulness. We have been meeting on Thursday nights at St. Clair Shores Assembly of God annex building for over 23 years. This has been my home group for the last 16 years. The Lord blesses us every week. We have a solid core group of 7 people and usually have one or two others each meeting. It is a blessing to grow with and be able to depend on your group members, as well as being there for any visitors or new people. Our musicians are faithful as well and set the mood for the meeting each Thursday night. Come out and visit, you’ll be glad you did! Sincerely, Renee , Thursday- SCS -Group

A Cry From Above
By Larry Logan

My passion is to help hurting people. I do this everyday form the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. There are hurting situations that are hurting all of us because we allow things to go on that we know are wrong. This started with Adam allowing Eve to eat off the tree. God told both Adam and Eve not to eat off the tree. Not only did Adam not stop Eve, he allowed her to persuade him to do what God told him not to do! Moses and his anger, Moses continued to get angry even after God talked to him about it. I could go on and on showing you situation after situation where God has told his people what to do and we don’t do it. I was reading a story in Walking in Victory that inspired me to write this story. If you have a problem in your life and you don’t know it’s in your life it’s easy to talk about things that don’t matter. It’s hard to face and talk about your problems. For a long time I couldn’t talk about my problems and the things that hurt me. I’m starting to take a chance and talk about these things. I’m learning it is better to face the hurt than to sweep it under the rug. I’m learning what the word transparent means. First you must be open and face your hurt. In the book of Matthew God says:
“On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against thee.” When you stand up and face your pain, Confess Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart, Hell shall not prevail against you. Each of us must learn to deal with our disappointments and our pain and remember what God says. God tells us that he loves us and teaches us to walk in the spirit and through the fruit of the spirit. Love, Joy, Kindness, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control. So let us hear the cry from above to walk in God’s word!