NA Recovery Mafia of Sevier County

05/13/2026

Today's meditation is a good one. I was reading up on some material and there is a great link to do a spiritual gift assessment. Check it out when you have time to see what spiritual gifts you have:
Https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/spiritual-gifts-inventory/en
If you decide to take the assessment please comment and let us know what spiritual gifts you have.

Just for Today
May 12, 2026
Living with spiritual experiences
Page 138

"For meditation to be of value, the results must show in our daily lives."

Basic Text, p. 47

In working our program, we are given many indirect indications of a Higher Power's presence in our lives: the clean feeling that comes to so many of us in taking our Fifth Step; the sense that we are finally on the right track when we make amends; the satisfaction we get from helping another addict. Meditation, however, occasionally brings us extraordinary indications of God's presence in our lives. These experiences do not mean we have become perfect or that we are "cured." They are tastes given us of the source of our recovery itself, reminding us of the true nature of the thing we are pursuing in Narcotics Anonymous and encouraging us to continue walking our spiritual path.

Such experiences demonstrate, in no uncertain terms, that we have tapped a Power far greater than our own. But how do we incorporate that extraordinary Power into our ordinary lives? Our NA friends, our sponsor, and others in our communities may be more seasoned in spiritual matters than we are. If we ask, they can help us fit our spiritual experiences into the natural pattern of recovery and spiritual growth.

Just for Today: I will seek whatever answers I may need to understand my spiritual experiences and incorporate them into my daily life.

An agency of The United Methodist Church, Discipleship Ministries helps local church, district, and conference leaders fulfill the shared dream of making…

05/10/2026

A Spiritual Principle a Day
May 09, 2026
Love and Step Twelve
Page 134

"When we are practicing Step Twelve to the best of our ability, love becomes central to all that we do--there is no more powerful antidote to the despair and self-destruction of addiction."

Living Clean, Chapter 7, "Love"

Love in Narcotics Anonymous is the Twelfth Step in action. We felt the power of love when we entered our first meeting and were welcomed, no matter what we looked like, where we came from, how we smelled, or who we came with. We found open arms and true acceptance--perhaps for the first time in our lives. The hugs, genuine care and concern, and offers of support extended to us provide a powerful model of love in action.

In the beginning, allowing ourselves to receive this love takes some effort. Eventually, we get to give it away. That sounds simple, but it's not always easy. Through service, we learn to love even those members we don't really like. Sometimes we're surprised by what can happen when we focus on the primary purpose and choose principled actions.

One H&I subcommittee member recalled serving on a panel with his least-favorite person in the rooms. "We set our differences aside and focused on our primary purpose," the member shared. "We're never going to be best friends, but I could see his heart was in the right place. We both loved NA and wanted to help the addict who still suffers."

As NA members, we understand that sharing the message is an act of love. We share and we care to sustain our own recovery and to help the sick and suffering addict. It's what saves us all from the desperate and self-destructive lives we've known. After being in NA for some time, we also appreciate the love extended to those who've been here for a while, who need love just as surely as they did on their first day clean. While love alone may not help us overcome all our problems, it sure does provide a great springboard toward the solution.

——— ——— ——— ——— ———

I will put love into action by carrying the NA message today.

05/08/2026

Don't forget to bring your mom's to dinner later this evening. We are ready to meet some of the fantastic women in the community who support the youths. And if your mom, sister, aunt, etc. cannot make it then please still stop by and get a plate and mingle.

It doesn't cost anything to attend and have a meal. Donations are welcome and will go back into the next event.

05/01/2026

Come join us for the first Recovery Mafia NA (Spanish) this evening at 424 W Heynecker in Dequeen. Meeting begins at 6 pm with Paulo Sanchez co-chairing.

04/10/2026

April 09, 2026
Surrendering to Tradition Three
Page 103

"Finding the patience and tolerance to accept those members we can't seem to stop judging is an exercise in surrender, acceptance, and humility."

Guiding Principles, Tradition Three, "For Members"

Addicts tend to feel judged. Likely that's because we can be pretty harsh in our opinions of others. While gossiping and talking down to others may have been currency in our old lives, these defects can reemerge for us in recovery if we're not vigilant. They can poison our outlook on life, spoil relationships, and drive members from the rooms. Tradition Three clarifies the one and only requirement for membership: a desire to stop using.

When it comes to the brand-spanking-new member, we seem to get that. Empathy for the newcomer often comes easy, since we've all been in that position. For many of us, it gets harder to set aside judgments of the so-called "chronic relapser." Then, we remember that guy. He'd been in and out repeatedly over the years when suddenly something clicked. He stopped using and stayed stopped. Or we recall that other longtime member whose cleantime never amounted to much. When her mom spoke at her memorial service, she thanked NA for giving her daughter the best days of her life. We may wish that everyone would stick and stay, but that's not a requirement for membership.

Judgments and expectations of people with significant cleantime can leave them feeling isolated, too. NA is a program for living. We all need a place where we can share our lives' struggles, losses, and failings to survive them clean. Thankfully, we become less concerned about what others think of us with time. "Other members put me on a pedestal, but it's my responsibility to get the heck down," one oldtimer shared.

When we are truly walking in surrender, we will muster a bit more patience for and tolerance of our fellow members, no matter their cleantime. We surrender to Tradition Three and let go of any additional requirements for membership our disease may have invented.

——— ——— ——— ——— ———

I will suspend judgment and surrender to the Third Tradition by welcoming anyone who's new--for the first or hundredth time--and by thanking an oldtimer for continuing to show up and be real.

03/25/2026

Just for Today
March 25, 2026
I can't, but we can
Page 87

"From the isolation of our addiction, we find a fellowship of people with a common bond... Our faith, strength, and hope come from people sharing their recovery..."

Basic Text, p. 98

Admit no weakness, conceal all shortcomings, deny every failure, go it alone--that was the creed many of us followed. We denied that we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable, despite all evidence to the contrary. Many of us would not surrender without the assurance there was something worth surrendering to. Many of us took our First Step only when we had evidence that addicts could recover in Narcotics Anonymous.

In NA, we find others who've been in the same predicament, with the same needs, who've found tools that work for them. These addicts are willing to share those tools with us and give us the emotional support we need as we learn to use them. Recovering addicts know how important the help of others can be because they've been given that help themselves. When we become a part of Narcotics Anonymous, we join a society of addicts like ourselves, a group of people who know that we help one another recover.

Just for Today: I will join in the bond of recovery. I will find the experience, strength, and hope I need in the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous.

03/20/2026

Shout out to Stacy Wall for chasing her recovery! Six months of countless hours, she has completed Step 12 of the program. She continues to chase her recovery and is working with Recovery Mafia on some upcoming service projects for the community. I look forward to seeing her soar to new heights as she continues to chase her recovery and am excited for her as she begins to inspire others in their recovery endeavors. I am beyond proud of you Stacy and am truly blessed to be a part of your journey.

02/27/2026

Love this!

02/21/2026

Faith in a Higher Power is strong! Love the energy.