*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 12, 2018* *A Good Beginning*In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves. We hope you are convinced now that God can remove whatever self-will has blocked you off from Him. If you have already made a decision, and an inventory of your grosser handicaps, you have made a good beginning. That being so you have swallowed and digested some big chunks of truth about yourself. - Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 70 - 71 Thoug ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) March 11, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Serenity*In all times of emotional disturbance or indecision, we can pause, ask for quiet, and in the stillness simply say: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Thy will, not mine, be done.” - Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions, pp. 40 - 41 Thought to PonderSerenity isn't freedom from the storm; it is peace within the storm. AA ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 10, 2018* *Realm of Spirit*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 be ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 9, 2018* *Happiness In Giving*These men had found something brand new in life. Though they knew they must help other alcoholics if they would remain sober, that motive became secondary. It was transcended by the happiness they found in giving themselves for others. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 159 Thought to PonderIn AA, we discover that it is impossible to give without receiving, or receive without giving. AA-related 'Alconym'*H J F*  =  *H*appy, *J*o ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 8, 2018* *Liabilities*Nearly every serious emotional problem can be seen as a case of misdirected instinct. When that happens, our great natural assets, the instincts, have turned into physical and mental liabilities.  Step Four is our vigorous and painstaking effort to discover what these liabilities in each of us have been, and are.- Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, p. 42 Thought to PonderThe Three A's .. Awareness, Acceptance, Action. AA-related 'Alconym ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 7, 2018* *Simple*Belief in the power of God, plus enough willingness, honesty and humility to establish and maintain the new order of things, were the essential requirements. Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. - Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 13 - 14 Thought to PonderNew ideals and new attitudes bring a new life. AA-related 'Alconym'*S W ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 6, 2018* *Children of a Creator*We have no desire to convince anyone that there is only one way by which faith can be acquired. 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 PonderN ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 5, 2018* *Spiritual Principles*If the man be agnostic or atheist, make it emphatic that /he does not have to agree with your conception of God/. He can choose any conception he likes, provided it makes sense to him. /The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles/. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 93 Thought to PonderI came; I came to; I came to believe. AA-related 'Alconym'*G O D*  = &nb ...Continue Reading

AA Thought for the Day(courtesy AA-Alive.net) March 4, 2018 ~ Scroll Down for Share ~ *Sponsors*But as he calmed down, he began to listen while I tried to show him that humility was the main key to sobriety. Finally, he saw that I wasn't attempting to change his religious views, that I wanted him to find the grace in his own religion that would aid his recovery. From there on we got along fine. . . Years later, this tough Irish customer liked to say, “My sponsor sold me one idea, and that was sobriety. At the time, I ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 3, 2018* *In Any Meeting*In any meeting, anywhere, A.A.’s share experience, strength, and hope with each other, in order to stay sober and help other alcoholics. Modem-to-modem or face-to-face, A.A.’s speak the language of the heart in all its power and simplicity. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. xxiv Thought to PonderWithin our wonderful new world, we have found freedom from our fatal obsession. AA-related 'Alconym'*E S H*  =  *E*xperience, *S*trength an ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 2, 2018* *Tradition Three**"Our membership ought to include all who suffer from alcoholism. Hence we may refuse none who wish to recover. Nor ought A.A. membership ever depend upon money or conformity. Any two or three alcoholics gathered together for sobriety may call themselves an A.A. group, provided that, as a group, they have no other affiliation."* At last experience taught us that to take away any alcoholic's full chance was sometimes to pronounce ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *March 1, 2018* Step Three“Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God /as we understood Him/.” This is the how and why of it. First of all, we had to quit playing God. It didn’t work. Next, we decided that hereafter in this drama of life, God was going to be our Director. He is the Principal; we are His agents. He is the Father, and we are His children. Most good ideas are simple, and this concept was the keystone of the new and triumphant arch ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *February 28, 2018* *Defense*Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental defense against the first drink. Except in a few cases, neither he nor any other human being can provide such a defense. His defense must come from a Higher Power. - Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 43 Thought to PonderI can't, He can, I'll let Him. AA-related 'Alconym'*F R O G*  =  *F*ully *R*ely *O*n *G*od. Thanks to all of you for sharing so generously of your experien ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *February 27, 2018* *Virtually Impossible*We know that while the alcoholic keeps away from drink, as he may do for months or years, he reacts much like other men. We are equally positive that once he takes any alcohol whatever into his system, something happens, both in the bodily and mental sense, which makes it virtually impossible for him to stop. The experience of any alcoholic will abundantly confirm this. - Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 22 - 23 Thought to PonderAlc ...Continue Reading

*AA Thought for the Day*(courtesy AA-Alive.net) *February 26, 2018* *The Main Problem*These observations would be academic and pointless if our friend never took the first drink, thereby setting the terrible cycle in motion. 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 th ...Continue Reading