*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 5, 2019* *Prayer, Meditation, Belonging* 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.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Eleven) p. 105 Thought to Ponder We will suffer a great poverty until we know that God lives in us and we can see Him there. AA-related 'Alconym' *Y A N A*  =&nb ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 4, 2019* *Fellowship* We are people who normally would not mix. But there exists among us a fellowship, a friendliness, and an understanding which is indescribably wonderful. We are like the passengers of a great liner the moment after rescue from shipwreck when camaraderie, joyousness and democracy pervade the vessel from steerage to Captain’s table. Unlike the feelings of the ship’s passengers, however, our joy in escape from disaster does not subside as we go ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 3, 2019* *Dependence On God* He clamors for this or that, claiming he cannot master alcohol until his material needs are cared for. Nonsense. Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job—wife or no wife—we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 98 Thought to Ponder We never apologize to anyone for depending upon ou ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 2, 2019* *One Key* There is only one key, and it is called willingness. Once unlocked by willingness, the door opens almost of itself, and looking through it, we shall see a pathway beside which is an inscription. It reads: "This is the way to a faith that works."  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Three) p. 34 Thought to Ponder Faith makes the impossible possible. AA-related 'Alconym' *F A I T H*  =  Facing All, Intuitively T ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 1, 2019* *Step Seven* When ready, we say something like this: "My Creator, I am now willing that you should have all of me, good and bad. I pray that you now remove from me every single defect of character which stands in the way of my usefulness to you and my fellows. Grant me strength, as I go out from here, to do your bidding. Amen." We have then completed Step Seven.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 76 Thought to Ponder If I want God ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) June 30, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *True Kinship* But we soon discovered that while we weren't alone any more in a social sense, we still suffered many of the old pangs of anxious apartness. Until we had talked with complete candor of our conflicts, and had listened to someone else do the same thing, we still didn't belong. Step Five was the answer. It was the beginning of true kinship with man and God.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Five) p. 57& ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 29, 2019* *All Inclusive* As soon as we admitted the possible existence of a Creative Intelligence, a Spirit of the Universe underlying the totality of things, we began to be possessed of a new sense of power and direction, provided we took other simple steps. We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him. To us, the Realm of Spirit is broad, roomy, all inclusive; never exclusive or forbidding to those who earnestly seek. It is open, we b ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 28, 2019* *Joy of Living* The joy of living is the theme of A.A.’s Twelfth Step, and action is its key word. Here we turn outward toward our fellow alcoholics who are still in distress. Here we experience the kind of giving that asks no rewards. Here we begin to practice all Twelve Steps of the program in our daily lives so that we and those about us may find emotional sobriety.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Twelve) p. 106 Thought to Ponder A ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 27, 2019* *Faith Applied* Let him see that you are not there to instruct him in religion. Admit that he probably knows more about it than you do, but call to his attention the fact that however deep his faith and knowledge, he could not have applied it or he would not drink. Perhaps your story will help him see where he has failed to practice the very precepts he knows so well.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Working With Others) p. 93 Thought to Ponder If faith ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 26, 2019* *Laughter* So we think cheerfulness and laughter make for usefulness. 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, (The Family Afterward) p. 132 Thought to Ponder Laughter is medicine for the sober spirit. AA-related 'Alconym' *H J F*  =  Happy, Joyous, ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 25, 2019* *Amends* Nevertheless, with a person we dislike, we take the bit in our teeth. It is harder to go to an enemy than to a friend, but we find it much more beneficial to us. We go to him in a helpful and forgiving spirit, confessing our former ill feeling and expressing our regret. Under no condition do we criticize such a person or argue.   - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action) p. 77 Thought to Ponder Don't mess up an amend with an excuse. AA-relat ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 24, 2019* *Humility* Another great dividend we may expect from confiding our defects to another human being is humility—a word often misunderstood. To those who have made progress in A.A., it amounts to a clear recognition of what and who we really are, followed by a sincere attempt to become what we could be.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step Five) p. 58 Thought to Ponder Learning is the very essence of humility; the two walk hand in hand. AA-r ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day (courtesy AA-Alive.net) June 23, 2019 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Resentments* We turned back to the list, for it held the key to the future. We were prepared to look at it from an entirely different angle. We began to see that the world and its people really dominated us. In that state, the wrong-doing of others, fancied or real, had power to actually kill. How could we escape? We saw that these resentments must be mastered, but how?  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (How It Works) p. 66  Th ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 22, 2019* *A Double Life* More than most people, the alcoholic leads a double life. He is very much the actor. To the outer world he presents his stage character. This is the one he likes his fellows to see. He wants to enjoy a certain reputation, but knows in his heart he doesn't deserve it.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, (Into Action,) p. 73 Thought to Ponder Character is what I am; reputation is what people think I am. AA-related 'Alconym' *F E A R*  =&n ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day* (courtesy AA-Alive.net) *June 21, 2019* *Self-Confidence* When first challenged to admit defeat, most of us revolted. We had approached A.A. expecting to be taught self-confidence. Then we had been told that so far as alcohol is concerned, self-confidence was no good whatever; in fact, it was a total liability.  - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, (Step One,) p. 22 Thought to Ponder Avoidance is not the key; surrender opens the door. AA-related 'Alconym' *W O W*  =  Willing ...Continue Reading