Thoughts For The Day~*~Egomania ^*^*^ June 20, 2007

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Egomania
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"Our egomania digs two disastrous pitfalls.
Either we insist on dominating the people we know,
or we depend upon them far too much.
If we lean too heavily on people,
they will sooner or later fail us,
for they are human, too,
and cannot possibly meet our own incessant demands. . .
We have not once sought to be one in a family,
to be a friend among friends,
to be a worker among workers,
to be a useful member of society."
©1952AAWS, Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 53
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

It is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes
and to make amends for them.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
E G O  =  Easing God Out

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

Progression

From "It Might Have Been Worse":

"I made promises to myself, my family, and friends—and broke them. Short dry spells ended in heavy drinking. I tried to hide my drinking by going places where I was unlikely to see anyone I knew. Hangovers and remorse were always with me.

"The next steps were bottle hiding and excuses for trips in order to drink without restraint. Cunning, baffling, powerful—the gradual creeping up of the frequency and quantity of alcohol and what it does to a person is apparent to everyone but the person involved."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 350

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
RELEASE FROM FEAR

The problem of resolving fear has two aspects. We shall
have to try for all the freedom from fear that is possible
for us to attain. Then we shall need to find both the
courage and grace to deal constructively with whatever
fears remain.

AS BILL SEES IT, p. 61

Most of my decisions were based on fear. Alcohol made life
easier to face, but the time came when alcohol was no
longer an alternative to fear. One of the greatest gifts
in A. A. for me has been the courage to take action, which
I can do with God's help. After five years of sobriety I
had to deal with a heavy dose of fear. God put the people
in my life to help me do that and, through my working the
Twelve Steps, I am becoming the whole person I wish to be
and, for that, I am deeply grateful.

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

"The A.A. preoccupation with sobriety is sometimes misunderstood. To some, this single virtue appears to be the sole dividend of our Fellowship. We are thought to be dried-up drunks who otherwise have changed little, or not at all, for the better. Such a surmise widely misses the truth. We know that permanent sobriety can be attained only by a most revolutionary change in the life and outlook of the individual--by a spiritual awakening that can banish the desire to drink."
<<<>>>
"You are asking yourself, as all of us must: 'Who am I?'...'Where am
I?'...'Whence do I go?' The process of enlightenment is usually slow. But, in
the end, our seeking always brings a finding. These great mysteries are,
after all, enshrined in completely simplicity. The willingness to grow is the
essence of all spiritual development."

1. LETTER, 1966
2. LETTER, 1955
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"We commenced to make many fast friends and a fellowship has grown
up among us of which it is a wonderful thing to feel a part. The joy
of living we really have, even under pressure and difficulty."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 15~



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

You should be ready and willing to carry the A.A. message
when called upon to do so. live for some purpose greater
than yourself. Each day you will have something to work for.
You have received so much from this program that you should
have a vision that gives your life a direction and a
purpose that gives meaning to each new day. Let us not
slide along through life. Let us have a purpose for each
day and let us make that purpose for something greater than
just ourselves. What is my purpose for today?

Meditation for the Day

To see God with eyes of faith is to cause God's power to
manifest itself in the material world. God cannot do His
work because of unbelief. In response to your belief, God
can work a miracle in your personality. All miracles happen
in the realm of personality and all are caused by and based
on belief in God's never - failing power. But God's power
cannot manifest itself in personalities unless those
personalities make His power available by their faith.
We can only see God with the eyes of faith, but this kind
of seeing produces a great change in our way of living.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may see God with the eyes of faith. I pray
that this seeing will produce a change in my personality.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Progress ^*^*^ ^*^*^ June 19, 2007

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Progress
^*^*^
"Day by day, we try to move a little
toward God's perfection.
So we need not be consumed by maudlin guilt
for failure to achieve His likeness and image by Thursday next.
Progress is our aim,
and His perfection is the beacon, light-years away,
that draws us on."
Bill W., Letter, 1966
©1967AAWS, As Bill Sees It, p. 15
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

There is no progress without change.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
G O D  =  Good Orderly Direction

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Todday!^*~*~*~*~*
 

Ready

Step Six: Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

"So Step Six—'Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character'—is A.A.'s way of stating the best possible attitude one can take in order to make a beginning on this lifetime job. This does not mean that we expect all our character defects to be lifted out of us as the drive to drink was. A few of them may be, but with most of them we shall have to be content with patient improvement. The key words 'entirely ready' underline the fact that we want to aim at the very best we know or can learn."

© 1952, AAWS, Inc.; Printed 2005; Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pg. 65

 

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
"A.A.  REGENERATION"

Such is the paradox of A.A. regeneration: strength arising out of complete
defeat and weakness, the loss of one's old life as a condition for finding a
new one.

                                A.A.  COMES OF AGE, p. 46

A thousand beatings by John Barleycorn did not encourage me to admit defeat.  I believed it was my moral obligation to conquer my "enemy-friend."  At my first A.A. meeting I was blessed with a feeling that it was all right to
admit defeat to a disease which had nothing to do with my "moral fiber."  I
knew instinctively that I was in the presence of a great love when I entered
the doors of A.A.  With no effort on my part, I became aware that to love
myself was good and right, as God had intended.  My feelings set me free,
where my thoughts had held me in bondage.  I am grateful.

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

We have seen A.A.'s ask with much earnestness and faith for God's explicit
guidance on matters ranging all the way from a shattering domestic or
financial crisis to a minor personal fault, like tardiness. A man who tries
to run his life rigidly by this kind of prayers, by this self-serving demand
of God for replies, is a particularly disconcerting individual. To any
questioning or criticism of his actions, he instantly proffers his reliance
upon prayer for guidance in all matters great or small.
He may have forgotten the possibility that his own wishful thinking and the
human tendency to rationalize have distorted his so-called guidance. With the best of intentions, he tends to force his will into all sorts of situations
and problems with the comfortable assurance that he is acting under God's
specific direction.

TWELVE AND TWELVE, PP. 103-104
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"We feel that elimination of our drinking is but a beginning. A much
more important demonstration of our principles lies before us in our
respective homes, occupations and affairs."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 19~

 

Humility...

Humility... is a perpetual quietness of heart.  It is to have no trouble.  It
is never to be fretted or vexed, irritable or sore; to wonder at nothing that
is done to me, to feel nothing against.  It is to have a blessed home in
myself where I can go in, shut the door, and kneel to my Higher Power in
secret.  Where I can be at peace, as in a deep sea of calmness, when all
around and about is seeming trouble.

--  Inscription on Dr. Bob's desk . . .

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

We have this choice every day of our lives. We can take the
path that leads to insanity and death. And remember, our
next drunk could be our last one. Or we can take the path
that leads to a reasonably happy and useful life. The choice
is ours each day of our lives. God grant that we take the
right path. Have I made my choice today?

Meditation for the Day

Your real work in life is to grow spiritually. To do this you
must follow the path of diligently seeking good. The hidden
spiritual wonders are revealed to those who diligently seek
this treasure. From one point to the next, you have to follow
the way of obedience to God's will until finally you reach
greater and greater spiritual heights. Work on the material
plane should be secondary to your real life's work. The
material things that you need most are those that help you
to attain the spiritual.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may keep growing spiritually. I pray that I
may make this my real life's work.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Resentment^*^*^ June 18, 2007

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Resentment
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"Resentment is the 'number one' offender.
It destroys more alcoholics than anything else.
From it stem all forms of spiritual disease,
for we have been not only mentally and physically ill,
we have been spiritually sick.
When the spiritual malady is overcome,
we straighten out mentally and physically."
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 64
^*^*^*^*^*

Thought to Consider . . .

We are prisoners of our own resentments.
Forgiveness unlocks the door and sets us free.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
F A I L U R E =
Fearful, Arrogant, Insecure, Lonely, Uncertain, Resentful, Empty.

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

Disease

From ""How It Works":

"Resentment is the number one offender. It destroys more alcoholics than anything else. From it stem all forms of spiritual disease, for we have been not only mentally and physically ill, we have been spiritually sick. When the spiritual malady is overcome, we straighten out mentally and physically."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pg. 64

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
A FELLOWSHIP OF FREEDOM

. . . if only men were granted absolute liberty, and were compelled to obey no one, they would then voluntarily associate themselves in the common interest

AS BILL SEES IT, p. 50

When I no longer live under the dictates of another or of alcohol, I live in a new freedom.  When I release the past and all the excess baggage I have carried for so very long, I come to know freedom.  I have been introduced into a life and a fellowship of freedom.  The Steps are a "recommended" way of finding a new life, there are no commands or dictates in A.A.  I am free to serve from desire rather than decree.  There is the understanding that I will benefit from the growth of other members and I take what I learn and bring it back to the group.  The "common welfare" finds room to grow in the society of personal freedom

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Learning Never Ends

"My experience as an old-timer has to some degree paralleled your own and
that of many others. We all find that the time comes when we are not allowed to manage and conduct the functional affairs of groups, areas, or, in my case, A.A. as a whole. In the end we can only be worth as much as our
spiritual example has justified. To that extent, we become useful
symbols--and that's just about it."
<<<>>>
"I have become a pupil of the A.A. movement rather than the teacher I once
thought I was."

1. LETTER, 1964
2. LETTER, 1949

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"...we tried to shape a sane and sound ideal for our future sex life.
We subjected each relation to this test - was it selfish or not? We
asked God to mold our ideals and help us to live up to them. We
remembered always that our sex powers were God-given and therefore
good, neither to be used lightly or selfishly nor to be despised and
loathed."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, How It Works, pg. 69

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

The A.A. way of living is not an easy one. But its an adventure
in living that is really worthwhile. And it's so much better
than our old drunken way of living that there's no comparison.
Our lives without A.A. would be worth nothing. With A.A., we
have a chance to live reasonably good lives. It's worth the
battle, no matter how tough the going is from day to day.
Isn't it worth the battle?

Meditation for the Day

The spiritual life has two parts. One is the life apart, the
life of prayer and quiet communion with God. You spend this
part of your life apart with God. Every day your mind can be
set in the right direction so that your thoughts will be of
the right kind. The other is the life impart - imparting to
others what you have learned from your own meditative experience.
The victories you have won over yourself through the help of God
can be shared with others. You can help them by imparting to
them some of the victory and security that you have gained in
your life apart.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may grow strong from my times apart with God.
I pray that I may pass on some of this strength to others.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

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Thoughts For The Day~*~Neighbors^*^*^*^*^ June 17, 2007

 ~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Neighbors
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"Near you, alcoholics are dying helplessly
like people on a sinking ship.
If you live in a large place, there are hundreds.
High and low, rich and poor,
these are future fellows of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Among them you will make lifelong friends.
You will be bound to them with new and wonderful ties,
for you will escape disaster together
and you will commence shoulder to shoulder
your common journey.
Then you will know what it means to give of yourself
that others may survive and rediscover life.
You will learn the full meaning of
'Love they neighbor as thyself.' "
©1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 152-3
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Thought to Consider . . .

Let us always love the best in others -
and never fear their worst.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B O G G L E  =  Bad Or Good, God Loves Everyone

*~*~*~*~*^Just For Today!^*~*~*~*~*
 

And Only Today

From "With the aid of A.A., my
      life took another path:"
 
"I am sober only today, and I am responsible only for today.  Should something go wrong with the way I do things, then it is my warning that I am not following the suggested Steps of A.A....When I run into a rut or a problem, it is usually because I am not being honest with myself, and it's time for me to show real humility and admit my character defects."
 
c. 1991, A.A. in Prison: Inmate to Inmate,
   page 48

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
"DEEP DOWN WITHIN US"

We found the Great Reality deep down within us.  In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found . . . search diligently within yourself . . . With this attitude you cannot fail.  The consciousness of your belief is sure to come to you.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 55

It was out of the depths of loneliness, depression and despair that I sought the help of A.A.  As I recovered and began to face the emptiness and ruin of my life, I began to open myself to the possibility of the healing that recovery offers through the A.A. program.  By coming to meetings, staying sober, and taking the Steps, I had the opportunity to listen with increasing attentiveness to the depths of my soul.  Daily I waited, in hope and gratitude, for that sure belief and steadfast love I had longed for in my life.  In this process, I met my God, as I understand Him. 

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
*~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
Accepting God's Gifts

"Though many theologians hold that sudden spiritual experience amount to a special distinction, if not a divine appointment of some sort, I question
this view. Every human being, no matter what his attributes for good or evil,
is a part of the divine spiritual economy. Therefore, each of us has his
place, and I cannot see that God intends to exalt one over another.
"So it is necessary for all of us to accept whatever positive gifts we
receive with a deep humility, always bearing in mind that our negative
attitudes were first necessary as a means of reducing us to such a state that
we would be ready for a gift of the positive ones via the conversion
experience. Your own alcoholism and the immense deflation that finally
resulted are indeed the foundation upon which your spiritual experience
rests."

LETTER, 1964
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"Though there is no way of proving it, we believe that early in our
drinking careers most of us could have stopped drinking. But the
difficulty is that few alcoholics have enough desire to stop while
there is yet time."

Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, More About Alcoholism, pg. 32

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

We in A.A. have the privilege of living two lives in one
lifetime. One life of drunkenness, failure, and defeat. Then,
through A.A., another life of sobriety, peace of mind, and
usefulness. We who have recovered our sobriety are modem
miracles. And were living on borrowed time. Some of us might
have been dead long ago. But we have been given another chance to live. Do I owe a debt of gratitude to A.A. that I can never repay as long as I live?

Meditation for the Day

Thinking about God in love and worship drives away evil. It is
the thought before that the hosts of evil flee. The thought of
a Power greater than yourself is the call for a life-line to
rescue you from temptation. The thought of God banishes
loneliness and dispels gloom. it summons help to conquer your
faults. Think of God as often as possible. Use the thought
prayerfully and purposefully. It win carry your thoughts away
from material things and toward the spiritual things that make
life worthwhile.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may think of God often. I pray that I may rest in
peace at the thought of His love and care.

©Hazelden Foundation PO Box 176 Center City, MN 55012©

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