Thoughts For The Day~*~Meditation ^*^*^*^*^ April 22, 2012

 

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 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Meditation

"Perhaps one of the greatest rewards
of meditation and prayer
is the sense of belonging that comes to us.
We no longer live in a completely hostile world.
We are no longer lost and frightened and purposeless.
We know that God lovingly watches over us.
We know that when we turn to Him,
all will be well with us,
here and hereafter."

Bill W., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 105
As Bill Sees It, p. 117

Thought to Consider . . .

Prayer is asking a question;
meditation is listening to the answer.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G R A C E
Gently Releasing All Conscious Expectations

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Resentment

Step Four: Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

"But in A.A. we slowly learned that something had to be done about our vengeful resentments, self-pity, and unwarranted pride. We had to see that every time we played the big shot, we turned people against us. We had to see that when we harbored grudges and planned revenge for such defeats, we were really beating ourselves with the club of anger we had intended to use on others. We learned that if we were seriously disturbed, our first need was to quiet that disturbance, regardless of who or what we thought caused it."

1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 47

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
NEW SOIL .  .  .  NEW ROOTS

        Moments of perception can build into a lifetime of spiritual serenity, as I have excellent reason to know.  Roots of reality, supplanting the neurotic underbrush, will hold fast despite the high winds of the forces which would destroy us, or which we would use to destroy ourselves.

AS BILL SEES IT, p.  173

I came to A.A.  green -- a seedling quivering with exposed taproots.  It was for survival but it was a beginning.  I stretched, developed, twisted, but with the help of others, my spirit eventually burst up from the roots.  I was free.  I acted, withered, went inside, prayed, acted again, understood anew, as one moment of perception struck.  Up from my roots, spirit-arms lengthened into strong, green shoots: high-springing servants stepping skyward.

Here on earth God unconditionally continues the legacy of higher love.  My A.A.  life put me "on a different footing .  .  .  [my] roots grasped a new soil" (Alcoholics Anonymous, p.  12).

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Complete Security?

Upon entering A.A., the spectacle of years of waste threw us into panic. financial importance was no longer our principal aim; we now clamored for material security.
Even when we were re-established in our business, terrible fears often continued to haunt us. This made us misers and penny-pinchers all over again. Complete financial security we must have--or else.
We forgot that most alcoholics in A.A. have an earning power considerably above average; we forgot the immense good will of our brother A.A.'s who were only too eager to help us to better jobs when we deserved them; we forgot the actual or potential financial insecurity of every human being in the world. And, worst of all, we forgot God. In money matters we had faith only in ourselves, and not too much of that.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 120-121

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't
we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help
others."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

People believe in A.A. when they see it work. An actual demonstration is what convinces them. What they read in books, what they hear people say doesn't always convince them. But when they see a real honest-to-goodness change take place in a person, a change from a drunkard to a sober, useful citizen, that's something they can believe because they can see it. There's really only one thing that proves to me that A.A. works. Have I seen the change in people who come into A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

Divine control and unquestioning obedience to God are the only conditions necessary for a spiritual life. Divine control means absolute faith and trust in God, a belief that God is the Divine Principle in the universe and that He is the intelligence and the Love that controls the universe. Unquestioning obedience to God means living each day the way you believe God wants you to live, constantly seeking the guidance of God in every situation and being willing to do the right thing at all times.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may always be under Divine Control and always practice unquestioning obedience to God. I pray that I may be always ready to serve Him.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Prayer ^*^*^*^*^ April 21, 2012

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 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Prayer

"Common sense would thus become uncommon sense.
I was to sit quietly when in doubt,
asking only for direction and strength
to meet my problems as He would have me.
Never was I to pray for myself,
except as my requests bore on my
usefulness to others.
Then only might I expect to receive.
But that would be in great measure."

Bill W., Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 13

Thought to Consider . . .

I listen for direction now.


*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*

H O P E = Hang On, Pray Everyday

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Assistance

From "To Employers":

"This is not to say that all alcoholics are honest and upright when not drinking. Of course that isn't so, and such people often may impose on you. Seeing your attempt to understand and help, some men will try to take advantage of your kindness. If you are sure your man does not want to stop, he may as well be discharged, the sooner the better. You are not doing him a favor by keeping him on. Firing such an individual may prove a blessing to him. It may be just the jolt he needs."

2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 141
*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
CULTIVATING FAITH

"I don't think we can do anything very well in this world unless we practice it.  And I don't believe we do A.A.  too well unless we practice it.  .  .  .  We should practice .  .  .  acquiring the spirit of service.  We should attempt to acquire some faith, which isn't easily done, especially for the person who has always been very materialistic, following the standards of society today.  But I think faith can be acquired; it can be acquired slowly; it has to be cultivated.  That was not easy for me, and I assume that it is difficult for everyone else.  .  .  .  "

DR.  BOB AND THE GOOD OLDTIMERS, pp.  307-08

Fear is often the force that prevents me from acquiring and cultivating the power of faith.  Fear blocks my appreciation of beauty, tolerance, forgiveness, service, and serenity.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Surveying the Past

We should make an accurate and really exhaustive survey of our past life as it has affected other people. In many instances we shall find that, though the harm done others has not been great, we have nevertheless done ourselves considerable emotional injury.
Then, too, damaging emotional conflicts persist below the level of consciousness, very deep, sometimes quite forgotten. Therefore, we should try hard to recall and review those past events which originally induced these conflicts and which continue to give our emotions violent twists, thus discoloring our personalities and altering our lives for the worse.
<<>>>
"We reacted more strongly to frustrations than normal people. By relieving these episodes and discussing them in strict confidence with somebody else, we can reduce their size and therefore their potency in the unconscious."

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 79-80
2. LETTER, 1957
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"When we became alcoholics, crushed by a self-imposed crisis we could
not postpone or evade, we had to fearlessly face the proposition that
either God is everything or else He is nothing. God either is or He
isn't."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 53~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

After wave been in A.A. for a while, we find out that if we're going to stay sober, we have to be humble people. The men and women in A.A. who have achieved sobriety are all humble people. When I stop to think that but for the grace of God I might be drunk Tight now, I can't help feeling humble. Gratitude to God for His grace makes me humble. When I think of the kind of person I was not so long ago, when I think of the person I left behind me, I have nothing to be proud of. Am I grateful and humble?

Meditation for the Day

I must arise from the death of sin and selfishness and put on a new life of integrity. All the old sins and temptations must be laid in the grave and a new existence rise from the ashes. Yesterday is gone. All my sins are forgiven if I am honestly trying to do God's will today. Today is here, the time of resurrection and renewal. I must start now, today, to build a new life of complete faith and trust in God and a determination to do His will in all things.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may share in making the world a better place to live in. I pray that I may do what I can to bring goodness a little nearer to the earth.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Faith ^*^*^*^*^ April 20, 2012

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~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Faith

"In this book you read again and again
that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves.
We hope you are convinced now that God
can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him.
If you have already made a decision,
and an inventory of your grosser handicaps,
you have made a good beginning.
That being so, you have swallowed and digested
some big chunks of truth about yourself."

Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 70-1

Thought to Consider . . .

Faith isn't belief without proof;
it's trust without reservation.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I T H = Finding Answers In The Heart

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Balance

From "Self-Pity":

When we catch self-pity starting, we also can take action against it with instant bookkeeping. For every entry of misery on the debit side, we find a blessing we can mark on the credit side. What health we have, what illnesses we don't have, the sunny weather, a good meal a-coming, limbs intact, kindnesses shown and received, a sober 24 hours, a good hour's work, a good book to read, and many other items can be totaled up to outbalance the debit entries that cause self-pity.

1998 AAWS, Inc.; Living Sober, p. 58

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
SELF-EXAMINATION

.  .  .  we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P.  86

When said sincerely, this prayer teaches me to be truly unselfish and humble, for even in doing good deeds I often used to seek approval and glory for myself.  By examining my motives in all that I do, I can be of service to God and others, helping them do what they want to do.  When I put God in charge of my thinking, much needless worry is eliminated and I believe He guides me throughout the day.  When I eliminate thoughts of self-pity, dishonesty and self-centeredness as soon as they enter my mind, I find peace with God, my neighbor and myself.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
"God grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the
        courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
<< << <<>> >> >>
        We treasure our "Serenity Prayer" because it brings a new light to us that can dissipate our oldtime and nearly fatal habit of fooling
        ourselves.  In the radiance of this prayer we see that defeat, rightly accepted, need be no disaster.
We now know that we do not have to run away,
        nor ought we again try to overcome adversity by still another
        bulldozing drive that can only push up obstacles before us faster than they can be taken down.

Grapevine, March 1962/

~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Outsiders are sometimes shocked when we burst into merriment over a seemingly tragic experience out of the past. But why shouldn't we laugh? We have recovered, and have been given the power to help others."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, The Family Afterward, pg. 132~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

The satisfaction you get out of living a sober life is, made up of a lot of little things, but they add up to a satisfactory and happy life. You take out of life what you put into it. So I'd say to people coming into A.A.: "Don't worry about what life will be like without liquor. just hang in there and a lot of good things will happen to you. And you'll have that feeling of quiet satisfaction and peace and serenity and gratitude for the grace of God." Is my life becoming really worth living?

Meditation for the Day

There are two paths, one up and one down. We have been given free will to choose either path. We are captains of our souls to this extent only. We can choose the good or the bad. Once we have chosen the wrong path, we go down and down, eventually to death. But if we choose the right path, we go up and UP, until we come to the resurrection day. On the wrong path, we have no power for good because we do not choose to ask for it. But on the right path, we are on the side of good and we have all the power of God's spirit behind us.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be in the stream of goodness. I pray that I may be on the right side, on the side of all good in the universe.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Obsession^*^*^*^*^ April 19, 2012

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~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Obsession

"The alcoholic has obsessions
to an exaggerated degree.
Over a period of time he has built up self-pity,
resentments toward anyone or anything
that interferes with his drinking.
Dishonest thinking, prejudice, ego,
antagonism toward anyone and everyone
who dares to cross him,
vanity and a critical attitude are character defects
that gradually creep in and become a part of his life.
Living with fear and tension inevitably results
in wanting to ease that tension,
which alcohol seems to do temporarily.
It took me some time to realize
that the Twelve Steps of AA were designed
to help correct these defects of character
and so help remove the obsession to drink."
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 380-1

Thought to Consider . . .

"Within our wonderful new world,
we have found freedom from our fatal obsession."

Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 139

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*

BS
Before Sobriety

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*

Organizing

From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"By the spring of 1938 a definite program of action took shape. It was agreed that we needed a tax-free charitable trust or foundation. Wealthy contributors could then deduct gifts from their tax returns. "The first move was to choose a name for the new outfit. After long discussion we decided to call it the Alcoholic Foundation. This seemed like a resounding title, one that could create an impression of large importance. Still swayed by big ideas, we thought our trusteeship ought to be chartered to do just about anything within the field of alcohol or alcoholism except lobby for Prohibition. We intended an arrangement by which we could research, educate, and do a lot of other things. Attention to our membership would be only one of many functions.

"It was thought that the Board of Trustees should consist of alcoholics and nonalcoholics. The latter were always to be in the majority by a margin of one. This would assure our membership and other contributors that nonalcoholics would be holding the purse strings."

2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pgs. 151-52

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
BROTHERS IN OUR DEFECTS

        We recovered alcoholics are not so much brothers in virtue as we are brothers in our defects, and in our common strivings to overcome them.

AS BILL SEES IT, p.  167

The identification that one alcoholic has with another is mysterious, spiritual -- almost incomprehensible.  But it is there.  I "feel" it.  Today I feel that I can help people and that they can help me.

It is a new and exciting feeling for me to care for someone; to care what they are feeling, hoping for, praying for; to know their sadness, joy, horror, sorrow, grief; to want to share those feelings so that someone can have relief I never knew how to do this -- or how to try.  I never even cared.  The Fellowship of A.A., and God, are teaching me how to care about others.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Freedom through Acceptance

We admitted we couldn't lick alcohol with our own remaining resources, and so we accepted the further fact that dependence upon a Higher Power (if only our A.A. group) could do this hitherto impossible job. The moment we were able to accept these facts fully, our release from the alcohol compulsion had begun.
For most of us, this pair of acceptances had required a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured a lot of exertion to achieve. Our whole treasured philosophy of self-sufficiency had to be cast aside. This had not been done with sheer will power; it came instead as the result of developing the willingness to accept these new facts of living.
We neither ran nor fought. But accept we did. And then we began to be free.

GRAPEVINE, MARCH 1962
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths
may be, those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions.
People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, We Agnostics, pg. 49

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Since I've been putting sobriety into my life, I've been taking out a lot of good things. I can describe it best as a kind of quiet satisfaction. I feel good. I feel right with the world, on the right side of the fence. As long as I put sobriety into my life, almost everything I take out is good. The satisfaction you get out of living a sober life is made up of a lot of little things. You have the ambition to do things you didn't feel like doing when you were drinking. Am I getting satisfaction out of living a sober life?

Meditation for the Day

It is a glorious way - the upward way. There are wonderful discoveries in the realm of the spirit. There are tender intimacies in the quiet times of communion with God. There is an amazing, almost incomprehensible understanding of the other person. On the upward way, you can have all the strength you need from that Higher Power. You cannot make too many demands on Him for strength. He gives you all the power you need, as long as you are moving along the upward way.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may see the beautiful horizons ahead on the upward way. I pray that I may keep going forward to the more abundant life.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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