Thoughts For The Day~*~Awakening ^*^*^*^*^September 23 , 2012

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

"Is sobriety all that we are to expect of a spiritual awakening?
Again, the voice of AA speaks up.
No, sobriety is only a bare beginning,
it is only the first gift of the first awakening.
If more gifts are to be received, our awakening has to go on.
And if it does go on, we find that bit by bit
we can discard the old life
-- the one that did not work --
for a new life that can and does work
under any conditions whatever.
Regardless of worldly success or failure,
regardless of pain or joy,
regardless of sickness or health or even of death itself,
a new life of endless possibilities can be lived
if we are willing to continue our awakening."
Bill W., December 1957
c. 1988AAWS, The Language of the Heart,  p. 234
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Thought to Consider . . .

The task ahead of us is never as great
as the Power behind us.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G I F T =  God Is Forever There

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Anvils of Experience

Tradition One: Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon AA Unity

So at the outset, how best to live and work together as groups became the prime question. In the world about us we saw personalities destroying whole peoples. The struggle for wealth, power, and prestige was tearing humanity apart as never before. If strong people were stalemated in the search for peace and harmony, what was to become of our erratic band of alcoholics? As we had once struggled and prayed for individual recovery, just so earnestly did we commence to quest for the principles through which AA itself might survive. On anvils of experience, the structure of our Society was hammered out. 

1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pages 130-131

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
"I WAS AN EXCEPTION"

He [Bill W.] said to me, gently and simply, "Do you think that you
are one of us?"
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 413

During my drinking life I was convinced I was an exception. I
thought I was beyond petty requirements and had the right to be
excused. I never realized that the dark counterbalance of my
attitude was the constant feeling that I did not "belong." At
first, in A.A., I identified with others only as an alcoholic.
What a wonderful awakening for me it has been to realize that,
if human beings were doing the best they could, then so was I!
All of the pains, confusions and joys they feel are not
exceptional, but part of my life, just as much as anybody's.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.

*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Give Thanks

Though I still find it difficult to accept today's pain and anxiety with any great degree of serenity - as those more advanced in the spiritual life seem able to do - I can give thanks for present pain nevertheless.
I find the willingness to do this by contemplating the lessons learned from past suffering - lessons which have led to the blessings I now enjoy. I can remember how the agonies of alcoholism, the pain of rebellion and thwarted pride, have often led me to God's grace, and so to a new freedom.

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

"'There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which
is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in
everlasting ignorance‚that principle is contempt prior to
investigation.'"

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Appendice II, Spiritual
Experience, pg. 568~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Step Twelve is, "Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of
these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to
practice these principles in all our affairs." Note that the basis
of our effectiveness in carrying the message to others is the reality
of our own spiritual awakening. If we have not changed, we cannot be
used to change others. To keep this program, we must pass it on to
others. We cannot hoard it for ourselves. We may lose it unless we
give it away. It cannot flow into us and stop; it must continue to
flow into us as it flows out to others. Am I always ready to give
away what I have learned in A.A.?

Meditation for the Day

"Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you." When you are
faced with a problem beyond your strength, you must turn to God by
an act of faith. It is that turning to God in each trying situation
that you must cultivate. The turning may be one of glad thankfulness
for God's grace in your life. Or your appeal to God may be a prayerful
claiming of His strength to face a situation and finding that you have
it when the time comes. Not only the power to face trials, but also
the comfort and joy of God's nearness and companionship are yours for
the asking.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may try to draw near to God each day in prayer. I pray
that I may feel His nearness and His strength in my life.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Faith ^*^*^*^*^ September 22, 2012

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

"While drinking, we were certain that our intelligence,
backed by will power, could rightly control our inner lives
and guarantee us success in the world around us.
This brave philosophy, wherein each man played God,
sounded good in the speaking,
but it still had to meet the acid test:
How well did it actually work?
one good look in the mirror was answer enough."
c. 1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It,  p. 225
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Thought to Consider . . .

Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
and the evidence of things not seen

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

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

 

Another Difficulty

From: "To Wives" 

Still another difficulty is that you may become jealous of the attention he bestows on other people, especially alcoholics. You have been starving for his companionship, yet he spends long hours helping other men and their families. You feel he should now be yours. The fact is that he should work with other people to maintain his own sobriety. Sometimes he will be so interested that he becomes really neglectful. Your house is filled with strangers. You may not like some of them. He gets stirred up about their troubles, but not at all about yours. It will do little good if you point that out and urge more attention for yourself. We find it a real mistake to dampen his enthusiasm for alcoholic work. You should join in his efforts as much as you possibly can. We suggest that you direct some of your thought to the wives of his new alcoholic friends. They need the counsel and love of a woman who has gone through what you have. 

2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, page 119

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A "LIMITLESS LODE"

Like a gaunt prospector, belt drawn in over the last ounce of food,
our pick struck gold. Joy at our release from a lifetime of
frustration knew no bounds. Father feels he has struck something
better than gold. For a time he may try to hug the new treasure to
himself. He may not see at once that he has barely scratched a
limitless lode which will pay dividends only if he mines it for
the rest of his life and insists on giving away the entire product.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, pp. 128-29

When I talk with a newcomer to A.A., my past looks me straight in
the face. I see the pain in those hopeful eyes, I extend my hand,
and then the miracle happens: I become healed. My problems vanish
as I reach out to his trembling soul.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Neither Dependence nor Self-Sufficiency

When we insisted, like infants, that people protect and take care of us or that the world owed us a living, then the result was unfortunate. The people we most loved often pushed us aside or perhaps deserted us entirely. Our disillusionment was hard to bear.
We failed to see that, though adult in years, we were still behaving childishly, trying to turn everybody - friends, wives, husbands, even the world itself - into protective parents. We refused to learn that overdependence upon people is unsuccessful because all people are fallible, and even the best of them will sometimes let us down, especially when our demands for attention become unreasonable.

<<<>>>

We are now on a different basis: the basis of trusting and relying upon God. We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves. Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us do, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, p. 115 - 2. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 68
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Let no alcoholic say he cannot recover unless he has his family
back. This just isn't so. In some cases the wife will never come
back for one reason or another. Remind the prospect that his
recovery is not dependent upon people. It is dependent upon his
relationship with God. We have seen men get well whose families have
not returned at all. We have seen others slip when the family came
back too soon."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 99~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Step Eight is, "Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and
became willing to make amends to them all." Step Nine is, "Made
direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do
so would injure them or others." Making restitution for the wrongs
we have done is often very difficult. It hurts our pride. But the
rewards are great. When we go to a person and say we are sorry,
the reaction we get is almost invariably good. it takes courage
to make the plunge, but the results more than justify it. A load
is off your chest and often art enemy has been turned into a friend.
Have I done my best to make all the restitution possible?

Meditation for the Day

There should be joy in living the spiritual life. A faith without
joy is not entirely genuine. If you are not happier as a result of
your faith, there is probably something wrong with it. Faith in God
should bring you a deep feeling of happiness and security, no matter
what happens on the surface of your life. Each new day is another
opportunity to serve God and improve your relationships with other
people. This should bring joy. Life should be abundant and
outreaching. It should be glowing and outgoing, in ever-widening
circles.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that my horizons may grow ever wide. I pray that I may keep
reaching out for more service and companionship.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Promises ^*^September 21, 2012

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~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Promises
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"We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone,
we will see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things
and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle
situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us
what we could not do for ourselves."
c. 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp 83-84
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Thought to Consider . . .

The Promises are a result; not a right.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P R O G R A M =  People Relying On God Relay A Message.

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

From "A.A. Is a Philosophy":

"A religion, properly, is of divine origin; governs the person in his relationship with his Higher Power; and promises its rewards and punishments after death. A philosophy is of human origin; governs the person in his relationship with his fellowman; and promises its rewards and punishments during life. A.A., I submit, is a philosophy. If we alcoholics follow the philosophy of A.A., we can regain an understanding of our several religions.  Maryland, USA"

1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30^th printing 2004, pg. 5

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
THE LAST PROMISE
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

The last Promise in the Big Book came true for me on the very first day of sobriety. God kept me sober that day, and on every other day I allowed Him to operate in my life. He gives me the strength, courage and guidance to meet my responsibilities in life so that I am then able to reach out and help others stay sober and grow. He manifests within me, making me a channel of His word, thought and deed. He works with my inner self, while I produce in the outer world, for He will not do for me what I can do for myself. I must be willing to do His work, so that He can function through me successfully.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
The Step That Keeps Us Growing

Sometimes, when friends tell us how well we are doing, we know better inside. We know we aren't doing well enough. We still can't handle life, as life is. There must be a serious flaw somewhere in our spiritual practice and development.
What, then, is it?
The chances are better than even that we shall locate our trouble in our misunderstanding or neglect of A.A.'s Step Eleven - prayer, meditation, and the guidance of God.
The other Steps can keep most of us sober and somehow functioning. But Step Eleven can keep us growing, if we try hard and work at it continually.

GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1958
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"The greatest enemies of us alcoholics are resentment, jealousy,
envy, frustration, and fear."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, To Employers, pg. 145~


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

Let us continue with Steps Four, Five, Six, Seven, and Ten. In taking a personal inventory of ourselves, we have to face facts as they really are. We have to stop running away. We must face reality. We must see ourselves as we really are. We must admit our faults openly and try to correct them. We must try to see where we have been dishonest, impure, selfish, and unloving. We do not do this once and forget it. We do it every day of our lives, as long as we live. We are never done with checking up on ourselves. Am I taking a daily inventory of myself?

Meditation for the Day

In improving our personal lives, we have Unseen help. We were not made so that we could see God. That would be too easy for us and there would be no merit in obeying Him. It takes an act of faith, a venture of belief, to realize the Unseen Power. Yet we have much evidence of God's existence in the strength that many people have received from the act of faith, the venture of belief. We are in a box of space and time and we can see neither our souls nor God. God and the human spirit are both outside the limitations of space and time. Yet our Unseen help is effective here and now. That has been proved in thousands of changed lives.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may make the great venture of belief. I pray that my vision may not be blocked by intellectual pride.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Balance^*^*^*^*^ September 20, 2012

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

"Most of us must admit that we have loved but a few;
that we have been indifferent to the many
so long as none of them gave us trouble;
and as for the remainder -- well, we have really
disliked or hated them.
Although these attitudes are common enough,
we AA's find we need something much better
in order to keep our balance.
We can't stand it if we hate deeply.
The idea that we can be possessively loving of a few,
and can continue to fear or hate anybody,
has to be abandoned, if only a little at a time."
c. 1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 92-3
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Thought to Consider . . .

Bigotry disfigures the heart.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I T H =  Facing All In Trusting Him

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Publicity

From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"In September, 1939, the Liberty [magazine] piece hit the newsstands. It was a bit lurid, and we thought the title, 'Alcoholics and God,' would scare off plenty of prospects. Maybe it did, but several hundred alcoholics and their families were not scared. Liberty magazine received 800 urgent pleas for help, which were promptly turned over to [office manager] Ruth and me [Bill W.]. She wrote fine personal letters to every one of them, enclosing a leaflet which described the A.A. book. The response was wonderful [sic] Several hundred books sold at once at full retail price of $3.50. Even more importantly, we struck up a correspondence with alcoholics, their friends, and their families all over the country. Ruth could at last draw a few dollars a week for herself. And all those moving appeals for assistance had made us forget our own troubles. Looking after all those new people by mail and relating [sic] them in some cases to each other and in others to the groups in Akron, New York, and Cleveland became our chief occupation until early 1940. Shortly after the Liberty article came out, Cleveland's Plain Dealer ran its great series of pieces, as already described. This brought in new book orders and new problems by scores. Alcoholics Anonymous was on the march, out of its infancy into adolescence."

2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 178

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
H.P. AS GUIDE

See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others. This is the Great Fact for us.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 164

Having a right relationship with God seemed to be an impossible order.  My chaotic past had left me filled with guilt and remorse and I wondered how this "God business" could work.  A.A. told me that I must turn my will and my life over to the care of God, as I understand Him.  With nowhere else to turn, I went down on my knees and cried, "God, I can't do this. Please help me!"  It was when I admitted my powerlessness that a glimmer of light began to touch my soul, and then a willingness emerged to let God control my life.  With Him as my guide, great events began to happen, and I found the beginning of sobriety.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Fear and Faith

The achievement of freedom from fear is a lifetime undertaking, one that can never be wholly completed.
When under heavy attack, acute illness, or in other conditions of serious insecurity, we shall all react to this emotion - well or badly, as the case may be. Only the self-deceived will claim perfect freedom from fear.

<<<>>>

We finally saw that faith in some kind of God was a part of our make-up. Sometimes we had to search persistently, but He was there. He was as much a fact as we were. We found the Great Reality deep down within us.

1. GRAPEVINE, JANUARY 1962 - 2. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 55
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"Yes, there is a substitute and it is vastly more than that. It is a
fellowship in Alcoholics Anonymous. There you will find release from
care, boredom and worry. Your imagination will be fired. Life will
mean something at last. The most satisfactory years of your
existence lie ahead."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 152~~
*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought for the Day

Step Four is, "Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of
ourselves." Step Five is, "Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to
another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." Step Six is,
"Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of
character." Step Seven is, "Humbly asked Him to remove our
shortcomings." Step Ten is, "Continued to take personal inventory
and when we were wrong promptly admitted it." In taking a personal
inventory, we have to be absolutely honest with ourselves and with
other people. Have I taken an honest inventory of myself?

Meditation for the Day

God is good. You can often tell whether or not a thing is of God.
If it is of God, it must be good. Honesty, purity, unselfishness,
and love are all good, unselfish helpfulness is good, and these
things all lead to the abundant life. Leave in God's hands the
present and the future, knowing only that He is good. The hand that
veils the future is the hand of God. He can bring order out of
chaos, good out of evil, and peace out of turmoil. We can believe
that everything really good comes from God and that He shares His
goodness with us.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may reach out for the good. I pray that I may try
to choose the best in life.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012

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