*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 7, 2018* *Consequences*But even in this type of beginning we are obliged to admit that our justification for a spree was insanely insufficient in the light of what always happened. We now see that when we began to drink deliberately, instead of casually, there was little serious or effective thought during the period of premeditation of what the terrific consequences might be.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 37 Thought to PonderWhen I choose the behavior, I choose t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 6, 2018* *Excuses*Therefore, the main problem of the alcoholic centers in his mind, rather than in his body. If you ask him why he started on that last bender, the chances are he will offer you any one of a hundred alibis. Sometimes these excuses have a certain plausibility, but none of them really makes sense in the light of the havoc an alcoholic’s drinking bout creates.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 23 Thought to PonderInsanity is doing the same thing over and ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 5, 2018* *Entire Abstinence*All these, and many others, have one symptom in common: they cannot start drinking without developing the phenomenon of craving. This phenomenon, as we have suggested, may be the manifestation of an allergy which differentiates these people, and sets them apart as a distinct entity. It has never been, by any treatment with which we are familiar, permanently eradicated. The only relief we have to suggest is entire abstinence.- Alcohol ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 4, 2018* *Our Traditions*We alcoholics see that we must work together and hang together, else most of us will finally die alone. The "12 Traditions" of Alcoholics Anonymous are, we A.A.’s believe, the best answers that our experience has yet given to those ever-urgent questions, "How can A.A. best function?" and, "How can A.A. best stay whole and so survive?"- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 561 Thought to PonderThe Steps help me live wi ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 3, 2018* *Revolutionized*The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences* which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God’s universe. The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 25 (*Fully explained—Appendix II.) Thought to Pond ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) September 2, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Willing and Honest*If what we have learned and felt and seen means anything at all, it means that all of us, whatever our race, creed, or color are the children of a living Creator with whom we may form a relationship upon simple and understandable terms as soon as we are willing and honest enough to try. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 28 Thought to PonderHonesty is the absence of the intent to deceive. AA-related 'Alconym'*H O ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *September 1, 2018* *Reliance*The notion that we would still live our own lives, God helping a little now and then, began to evaporate. Many of us who had thought ourselves religious  awoke to the limitations of this attitude.  Refusing to place God first, we had  deprived ourselves of His help. But now the words “Of myself I am nothing,  the Father doeth the works” began to carry bright promise and meaning.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 75 T ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 31, 2018* *Spiritual Things*Besides a seeming inability to accept much on faith, we often found ourselves handicapped by obstinacy, sensitiveness, and unreasoning prejudice. Many of us have been so touchy that even casual reference to spiritual things made us bristle with antagonism. This sort of thinking had to be abandoned. Though some of us resisted, we found no great difficulty in casting aside such feelings.- Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 47 - 48 Thought to Ponde ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 30, 2018* *Turmoil*The alcoholic is like a tornado roaring his way through the lives of others. Hearts are broken. Sweet relationships are dead. Affections have been uprooted. Selfish and inconsiderate habits have kept the home in turmoil. We feel a man is unthinking when he says that sobriety is enough.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164 Thought to PonderSobriety without action is fantasy.  AA-related 'Alconym'*N U T S*  =  *N*ot *U*sing *T*he *S*teps. ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 29, 2018* *Answers*We realize we know only a little. God will constantly disclose more to you and to us. Ask Him in your morning meditation what you can do each day for the man who is still sick. The answers will come, if your own house is in order.- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 164 Thought to PonderThe Three "P's" -- Pause, Pray, Proceed.  AA-related 'Alconym'*P R A Y E R*  =  *P*raying *R*egularly *A*llows *Y*our *E*veryday *R*ecovery. Thank ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 28, 2018* *Third Step Prayer*"God, I offer myself to Thee—to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life. May I do Thy will always!"- Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 63 Thought to PonderSimply asking for help seems to be a help in itself.  AA-related 'Alconym ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 27, 2018* *Self-Searching*As we have seen, self-searching is the means by which we bring new vision, action, and grace to bear upon the dark and negative side of our natures. It is a step in the development of that kind of humility that makes it possible for us to receive God's help. Yet it is only a step. We will want to go further.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 98 Thought to PonderFrom darkness comes light.  AA-related 'Alconym'*G O D*  =&nbs ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) August 26, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Open-Minded*Faced with alcoholic destruction, we soon became as open minded on spiritual matters as we had tried to be on other questions. In this respect alcohol was a great persuader. It finally beat us into a state of reasonableness. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 48 Thought to PonderI want the gift of an untroubled mind. AA-related 'Alconym'*H O W*  =  *H*onest, *O*pen-minded, *W*illing.   A Member Shares:Bernie ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 25, 2018* *Disturbances*Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely. These emotional “dry benders” often led straight to the bottle. Other kinds of disturbances—jealousy, envy, self-pity, or hurt pride—did the same thing. A spot-check inventory taken in the midst of such disturbances can be of very great help in quieting stormy emotions.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 90 Thought to PonderAm I doing ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *August 24, 2018* *Our Instincts*Even then the best of us will discover to our dismay that there is always a sticking point, a point at which we say, "No, I can't give this up yet." And we shall often tread on even more dangerous ground when we cry, "This I will never give up!" Such is the power of our instincts to overreach themselves. No matter how far we have progressed, desires will always be found which oppose the grace of God.- Twelve Steps and T ...Continue Reading