Saturday, July 12, 2014

Thoughts For The Day~*~Triumph ^*^*^ July 13, 2014


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

^*^*^*^*^

(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (
AA)/   )
(_   /
AA
\ _)
  /
AA\

^*^*^*^*^

Triumph
^*^*^
"I
t is only at the moment when a member ceases to drink
that he asserts the right to
describe himself as an alcoholic. . .
What an unthinking world may look upon as defeat,
alcoholics in AA know as a triumph of the spirit,
a triumph of humility over false pride and self-centeredness.  How few human beings ever have the courage
to stand up before their neighbors and, in humility,
describing themselves truthfully, to say:
'This is what I really am.' "
 
1985AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, p. 278

^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to C
onsider . . .

Veni, vidi, velcro ... I came, I saw, I stuck around.



*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A A  =  Adventurers Anonymous


*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 
Inexplicable
From "Why? I Don't Know":

"I don't attempt to explain with reason and logic why these things happen. When they happen, I just accept them. I feel perhaps that God, as I understand Him, found it necessary for me to suffer the pain and anguish of an addicted alcoholic and to go through the slow and, for me, difficult program of recovery in A.A. in order to be prepared and willing to do His will. I am grateful and thankful that God has given this to me. Perhaps it is because I take the Third Step every morning. My hopes and prayers are that each day I will be able to maintain this conscious contact with God.  Kingsport, Tennessee, USA"

1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pg. 70

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
HUMILITY IS A GIFT

As long as we placed self-reliance first, a genuine reliance upon a Higher Power was out of the question. That basic ingredient of all humility, a desire to seek and do God's will, was missing.               

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 72


When I first came to A.A., I wanted to find some of the elusive quality called humility.  I didn't realize I was looking for humility because I thought it would help me get what I wanted, and that I would do anything for others if I thought God would somehow reward me for it.  I try to remember now that the people I meet in the course of my day are as close to God as I am ever going to get while on this earth. I need to pray for knowledge of God's will today, and see how my experiences with hope and pain can help other people; if I can do that, I don't need to search for humility, it has found me.
Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*
~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
The Obsession and the Answer

The idea that somehow, someday, he will control and enjoy his drinking is the great obsession of every abnormal drinker. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of insanity or death.
<<<>>>
Alcoholism, not cancer, was my illness, but what was the difference? Was not Alcoholism took longer to do its killing, but the result was the same. So, I decided, if there was a great Physician who could cure the alcoholic sickness, I had better seek Him at once.

1. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 30
2. A.A. COMES OF AGE, P. 61

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and
fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We
discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 84

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

Before alcoholics come into A.A., they are "flying blind." But A.A. gives
them a directed beam in the A.A. program. As long as they keep on this beam, the signal of sobriety keeps coming through. If they have a slip, the signal is broken. if they swing off course into drunkenness, the signal stops. Unless they regain the A.A. directed beam, they are in danger of crashing against the mountain peak of despair. Am I on the beam?

Meditation for the Day


Be expectant. Constantly expect better things. Believe that what God has in store for you is better than anything you ever had before. The way to grow old happily is to expect better things right up to the end of your life and even beyond that. A good life is a growing, expanding life, with ever widening horizons, an ever greater circle of friends and acquaintances, and an ever greater opportunity for usefulness.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may await with complete faith for the next good thing in store for me. I pray that I may always keep an expectant attitude toward life.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012


Friday, July 11, 2014

Thoughts For The Day~*~Belief ^*^*^ July 12, 2014


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

^*^*^*^*^
(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (
AA)/   )
(_   /
AA
\ _)
  /
AA\

^*^*^*^*^

Belief
^*^*^
"D
espite contrary indications,
I had little doubt that a mighty purpose and rhythm
underlay all.
How could there be so much of precise and immutable law,
and no intelligence?
I simply had to believe in a
Spirit of the Universe,
who knew neither time nor limitation."
- Bill W.
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 10

^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to C
onsider . . .

F
aith is not belief without proof;
it's trust without reservation.



*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A B C  =  Acceptance, Belief, Change

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Spirituality
From "The Three Legacies of Alcoholics Anonymous":

"The liberals were the largest contingent and they had no objection to the use of the word "God" throughout the [Big] book, but they were dead set against any other theological proposition. They would have nothing to do with doctrinal issues. Spirituality, yes. But religion, no, positively no. Most of our members, they pointed out, believed in some sort of deity. But when it came to theology we could not possibly agree among ourselves, so how could we write a book that contained any such matter? There was no such thing as group opinion in these areas and there never could be. Alcoholics who had tried the missions were forever complaining about this very thing. The alcoholic's unreasoning rebellion against the specifically religious approach had severely handicapped the missions. The liberals said they did not intend to be critical; they only wanted us to remember the hard facts. Those contentions could not be denied. It was true that we could not agree on a religious basis for our fellowship and that the straight religious approach had worked in relatively few cases."

2001 AAWS, Inc.; Alcoholics Anonymous Comes of Age, pg. 162-63

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~^*~*~*~*~*
GIVING UP CENTER STAGE

For without some degree of humility, no alcoholic can stay sober at all. . .Without it, they cannot live to much useful purpose, or, in adversity, be able to summon the faith that can meet any emergency.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 70


Why do I balk at the word "humility"?  I am not humbling myself toward other people, but toward God, as I understand Him.  Humility means "to show submissive respect," and by being humble I realize I am not the center of the universe. When I was drinking, I was consumed by pride and self-centeredness. I felt the entire world revolved around me, that I was master of my destiny. Humility enables me to depend more on God to help me overcome obstacles, to help me with my own imperfections, so that I may grow spiritually. I must solve more difficult problems to increase my proficiency and, as I encounter life's stumbling blocks, I must learn to overcome them through God's help. Daily communion with God demonstrates my humility and provides me with the realization that an entity more powerful than I is willing to help me if I cease trying to play God myself.


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

The Spiritual Alibi

Our first attempts at inventories are apt to prove very unrealistic. I used to be a champ at unrealistic self-appraisal. On certain occasion, I wanted to look at the part of my life which seemed good. Then I would greatly exaggerate whatever virtues I supposed I had attained. Next I would congratulate myself on the grand job I was doing in A.A.
Naturally this generated a terrible hankering for still more
accomplishments, and still more approval.
I was falling straight back into the pattern of my drinking days.
Here were the same old goals power, fame, and applause.
Besides, I had the best alibi known as the spiritual
objective made this utter nonsense seem perfectly right.


GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"We represent no particular faith or denomination. We are dealing only
with general principles common to most denominations."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, Page 93~

*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought For The Day

Today is ours. Let us live today as we believe God wants us to live.
Each day will have a new pattern which we cannot foresee.   But we
can  open each day with a quiet period in which we say a little prayer,
asking God to help us through the day.  Personal contact with God, as
we understand Him, will from day to day bring us nearer to an
understanding of His will for us.   At the close of the day, we offer Him
thanks for another day of sobriety.   A full, constructive day has been
lived and we are grateful.  Am I asking God each day for strength and
thanking Him each night?

Meditation For The Day


If you believe that God's grace has saved you, then you must believe that He is meaning to save you yet more and keep you in the way that you should go. Even human rescuers would not save you from drowning 
only to place you in other deep and dangerous waters.
Rather, they would place you on dry land, there to restore you.
God, who is your rescuer, would certainly do this and even more.
God will complete the task He sets out to do.   He will not
throw you overboard, if you are depending on Him.

Prayer For The Day

I pray that I may trust God to keep me in the way.  
I pray that I may rely on Him not to let me go


Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012


Thursday, July 10, 2014

Thoughts For The Day~*~Anger ^*^*^ July 11, 2014


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

(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (
AA)/   )
(_   /
AA
\ _)
  /
AA\

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Anger
^*^*^
"I
t is a spiritual axiom that every time we are disturbed,
no matter what the cause, there is something wrong with us. 
If somebody hurts us and we are sore,
we are in the wrong also. 
But are there no exceptions to this rule? 
What about 'justifiable' anger? 
If somebody cheats us, aren't we entitled to be mad? 
Can't we be properly angry with self-righteous folk? 
For us in AA these are dangerous exceptions. 
We have found that justifiable anger
ought to be left to those better qualified to handle it."
1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 90
 
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to C
onsider . . .

Anger is the hot wind that extinguishes the light of reason.



*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
A N G E R  =  Any No Good Energy Rising


*~*~*~*~*^Just For Todayy!^*~*~*~*~*
Gifts
From: "The Opening to the Spiritual World"

"This is the crux of the program and the crux of living: acceptance and action.

"The gift of understanding has allowed the simple messages from my parents, my teachers, and my church to take on new meaning and soundness. With the gift of serenity, I am ready and willing to accept what God permits to happen to me; with the gift of courage, to take action to change the things I can for the good of myself and others. The gift of wisdom has been given to me so that in personal relationships I may act intelligently and with love or, as it has also been expressed, with competence and compassion."

1973, AAWS, Inc., Came to Believe, page 4

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A TURNING POINT

A great turning point in our lives came when we sought for humility as something we really wanted, rather than as something we must have.       
                                
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 75


Either the A.A. way of life becomes one of joy or I return to the darkness and despair of alcoholism. Joy comes to me when my attitude concerning God and humility turns to one of desire rather than of burden. The darkness in my life changes to radiant light when I arrive at the realization that being truthful and honest in dealing with my inventory results in my life being filled with serenity, freedom, and joy. Trust in my Higher Power deepens, and the flush of gratitude spreads through my being. I am convinced that being humble is being truthful and honest in dealing with myself and God. It is then that humility is something I "really want," rather than being "something I must have."

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

Carrying the Message

The wonderful energy the Twelfth Step releases, by which it carries our
message to the next suffering alcoholic and finally translates the Twelve Steps into action upon all our affairs, is the payoff, the magnificent reality of A.A.
<<<>>>
Never talk down to an alcoholic from any moral or spiritual hilltop; simply lay out the kit of spiritual tools for his inspection. Show him how they worked with you. Offer him friendship and fellowship.

1. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 109
2. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, P. 95

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

"Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum
helpfulness to others, so never hesitate to go anywhere if you can
be helpful. You should not hesitate to visit the most sordid spot on
earth on such an errand. Keep on the firing line of life with these
motives and God will keep you unharmed."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 102~


*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*~*
A.A. Thought For The Day

   
   We in Alcoholics Anonymous do not try to chart the path for the
       human soul or try to lay out a blueprint of the working of faith, as
one might plan a charity drive.  We do tell the newcomer that we have
       renewed our faith in a Higher Power.  In the telling, our faith is
       further renewed.  We believe that faith is always close at hand,
       waiting for those who will listen to the heartbeat of the spirit.  We
       believe there is a force for good in the universe and that if we link
up with this force, we are carried onward to a new life.  Am I in this
stream of goodness?

       
Meditation for the Day

       God will protect you from the forces of evil, if you will rely on Him.
       You can face all things through the power of God which strengthens  you.  Once God has set on you His stamp and seal of ownership, all His strength will serve and protect you.  Remember that you are a child of  the Father.  Realize that the Father's help is always ready and available to all His children, so that they can face anything.  God will do all that is necessary for your spiritual well-being, if you will
let Him live His way.

     
 Prayer for the Day

       I pray that I may rely on God as I go through this day. I pray that I may feel deeply secure, no matter what happens to me.

Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012


Wednesday, July 09, 2014

Thoughts For The Day~*~Inventory ^*^*^ July 10, 2014


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

(\    ~~  /)
(   \ (
AA)/   )
(_   /
AA
\ _)
  /
AA\

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Inventory
^*^*^
"A
few months after I made my original trip to Akron
I was feeling pretty cocky,
and I didn't think my wife was treating me with proper respect, now that I
was an outstanding citizen.  
So I set out to get drunk deliberately,
just to teach her what she was missing.  
A week later, I had to get an old friend from Akron
to spend two days sobering me up.  
That was my lesson,
that one could not take the moral inventory
and then file it away;
that the alcoholic has to continue to take inventory every day
if he expects to get well and stay well."
  
1976, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 293-4

^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to C
onsider . . .

In order to recover we have to uncover.



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


*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
Practice It
from: "His Spiritual Quest"

"As Dr. Bob himself said, 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"

1980, AAWS, Inc., Dr. Bob and the Good Oldtimers, page 307-308

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
TOWARD PEACE AND SERENITY

. . .when we have taken a square look at some of these defects, have discussed them with another, and have become willing to have them removed, our thinking about humility commences to have a wider meaning.          

TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, p. 74


When situations arise which destroy my serenity, pain often motivates me to ask God for clarity in seeing my part in the situation. Admitting my powerlessness, I humbly pray for acceptance. I try to see how my character defects contributed to the situation. Could I have been more patient?  Was I intolerant?  Did I insist on having my own way?  Was I afraid?  As my defects are revealed, I put self-reliance aside and humbly ask God to remove my shortcomings. The situation may not change, but as I practice exercising humility, I enjoy the peace and serenity which are the natural benefits of placing my reliance in a power greater than myself.

Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.
*
~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
The Beginning of Humility

"There are few absolutes inherent in the Twelve Steps. Most Steps are open to interpretation, based on the experience and outlook of the individual. "Consequently, the individual is free to start the /steps at whatever point he can, or will. God, as we understand Him, may be defined as a Power greater or the Higher Power. For thousands of members, the A.A. group itself has been a Higher Power in the beginning. This acknowledgment is easy to make if a newcomer knows that most of the members are sober and he isn't.
"His admission is the beginning of humility at least the newcomer is willing to disclaim that he himself is God. That's all the start he needs. If, following this achievement, he will relax and practice as many of the Steps as he can, he is sure too grow spiritually."

LETTER, 1966
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"If we were to live, we had to be free of anger. The grouch and the
brainstorm were not for us. They may be the dubious luxury of normal
men, but for alcoholics these things are poison."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 66~

*~*~*~*~*^Twenty Four Hours A Day^*~*~*

A.A. Thought For The Day

      
We in Alcoholics Anonymous do not enter into theological discussions, but in carrying our message we attempt to explain the simple "how" of the spiritual life. How faith in a Higher Power can help you to overcome loneliness, fear, and anxiety. How it can help you get along with other people. How it can make it possible for you to rise above pain, sorrow, and despondency. How it can help you to overcome your desires for the things that destroy. Have I reached a simple, effective faith?

      
Meditation for the Day

     
 Expect miracles of change in people's lives. Do not be held back by
      unbelief. People can be changed and they are often ready and waiting to be changed. Never believe that human nature cannot be changed.  We see changed people everyday. Do you have the faith to make those changes possible? Modern miracles happen every day in the lives of people. All miracles are in the realm of personalities. Human nature can be changed and is always being changed. But we must  have enough faith so that we can be channels for God's strength into the lives of others.

     
 Prayer for the Day

      I pray that I may have the faith to expect miracles. I pray that I may  be used by God to help change the lives of others.


Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012