*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 27, 2018* *Step Five*"Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs." Somehow, being alone with God doesn't seem as embarrassing as facing up to another person. Until we actually sit down and talk aloud about what we have so long hidden, our willingness to clean house is still largely theoretical. When we are honest with another person, it confirms that we have been honest with ourselves and with God. - Twelv ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 26, 2018* *Making Amends*Rarely do we fail to make satisfactory progress. Our former enemies sometimes praise what we are doing and wish us well. Occasionally, they will offer assistance. It should not matter, however, if someone does throw us out of his office. We have made our demonstration, done our part. It’s water over the dam. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 78 Thought to PonderIt is the highest form of self-respect to admit mistakes and to make amends for the ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 25, 2018* *Faith and Courage*The verdict of the ages is that faith means courage. All men of faith have courage. They trust their God. We never apologize for God. Instead we let Him demonstrate, through us, what He can do. We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be. At once, we commence to outgrow fear. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 68 Thought to PonderCourage is faith that has said its prayers. AA-related 'Alconym'*F A I T ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 24, 2018* *Nothing and Nowhere?*We read wordy books and indulge in windy arguments, thinking we believe this universe  needs no God to explain it. Were our contentions true, it would follow that life originated  out of nothing, means nothing, and proceeds nowhere.  Instead of regarding ourselves as  intelligent agents, spearheads of God’s ever advancing Creation, we agnostics and atheists  chose to believe that our human intelligence was the ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 23, 2018* *Humility and Hope*The whole emphasis of Step Seven is on humility. It is really saying to us that we now ought to be willing to try humility in seeking the removal of our other shortcomings just as we did when we admitted that we were powerless over alcohol, and came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. If that degree of humility could enable us to find the grace by which such a deadly obsession could be banished, the ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 22, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Direction*On awakening let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We consider our plans for the day. Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity,dishonest or self-seeking motives. Under these conditions we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for after all God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 21, 2018* *Sanity*“Sanity” is defined as “soundness of mind.” Yet no alcoholic, soberly analyzing his destructive behavior, whether the destruction fell on the dining-room furniture or his own moral fiber, can claim “soundness of mind” for himself. Therefore, Step Two is the rallying point for all of us. Whether agnostic, atheist, or former believer, we can stand together on this Step. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 33 Thought to PonderIt's never too ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 20, 2018* *The Message*Frothy emotional appeal seldom suffices. The message which can interest and hold these alcoholic people must have depth and weight. In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves, if they are to re-create their lives. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxviii Thought to PonderThe Twelve Steps -- a manuscript for rational living. AA-related 'Alconym'*A B C*  =  *A*cceptance, *B*elief, *C*hange. Than ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 19, 2018* *The Big Book*Well, we did quarrel violently over the preparation and distribution of that AA Book. In fact, it took five years for the clamor to die down. Should any AA's dream that the old-timers who put the Book together went about in serene meditation and white robes, then they had best forget it. The inspiration that readers now say they find in the volume must have got there by the grace of God only! - The Language of the Heart, p. 133 Thought t ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 18, 2018* *Defiance*“When we encountered A.A., the fallacy of our defiance was revealed. At no time had we asked what God's will was for us; instead we had been telling Him what it ought to be. No man, we saw, could believe in God and defy Him, too. Belief meant reliance, not defiance.". - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 31 Thought to PonderToday, my brain has cleared with the grace of clarity. AA-related 'Alconym'*F R O G*  =  *F*ully *R* ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 17, 2018* *Control and Manipulation*When we habitually try to manipulate others to our own willful desires, they revolt, and resist us heavily. Then we develop hurt feelings, a sense of persecution, and a desire to retaliate. As we redouble our efforts at control, and continue to fail, our suffering becomes acute and constant. 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.& ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 16, 2018* *The Fifth Step*When we decide who is to hear our story, we waste no time. We have a written inventory and we are prepared for a long talk. We explain to our partner what we are about to do and why we have to do it. He should realize that we are engaged upon a life-and-death errand. Most people approached in this way will be glad to help; they will be honored by our confidence. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 75 Thought to PonderThe gritty pain of alcoholi ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) July 15, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Rest On Our Laurels*It is easy to let up on the spiritual program of action and rest on our laurels. We are headed for trouble if we do, for alcohol is a subtle foe. We are not cured of alcoholism. What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition. Every day is a day when we must carry the vision of God’s will into all of our activities.  - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 85 Thought to Pon ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 14, 2018* *Continuous Action*More sobriety brought about by the admission of alcoholism and by attendance at a few meetings is very good indeed, but it is bound to be a far cry from permanent sobriety and a contented, useful life. That is just where the remaining Steps of the A.A. program come in. Nothing short of continuous action upon these as a way of life can bring the much-desired result. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, pp. 39 - 40 Thought to PonderS ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *July 13, 2018* *Going It Alone*The second difficulty is this: what comes to us alone may be garbled by our own rationalization and wishful thinking. The benefit of talking to another person is that we can get his direct comment and counsel on our situation, and there can be no doubt in our minds what that advice is. Going it alone in spiritual matters is dangerous. - Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 60 Thought to PonderSimply asking for help seems to be a help ...Continue Reading