~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~
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Great Reality
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"Deep down in every man, woman, and child,
is the fundamental idea of God.
It may be obscured by calamity, by pomp,
by worship of other things,
but in some form or other it is there.
For faith in a Power greater than ourselves,
and miraculous demonstrations of that power in human lives,
are facts as old as man himself.
 We finally saw that faith in some kind of God
was a part of our make-up,
just as much as the feeling we have for a friend.
Sometimes we had to search fearlessly,
but He was there.
He was as much a fact as we were.
We found the Great Reality deep down within us.
In the last analysis it is only there that He may be found.
It was so with us
."
  
c.1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 55
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Thought to Consider . . . 

God seldom becomes a reality until God becomes a necessity.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
P R O G R A M =  People Relying On God Relay A Message

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

From "Bill's Story":

"My friend had emphasized the absolute necessity of demonstrating these principles in all my affairs. Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, be would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die."

© 2001 AAWS, Inc., Fourth Edition; Alcoholics Anonymous, pgs. 14-15

*~*~*~*~*^Daily Reflections^*~*~*~*~*
THROUGHOUT EACH DAY

This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 84

During my early years in A.A. I saw Step Ten as a suggestion that
I periodically look at my behavior and reactions. If there was
something wrong, I should admit it; if an apology was necessary,
I should give one. After a few years of sobriety I felt I should
undertake a self-examination more frequently. Not until several
more years of sobriety had elapsed did I realize the full meaning
of Step Ten, and the word "continued." "Continued" does not mean
occasionally, or frequently. It means throughout each day.

 

©Copyright 1990 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS WORLD SERVICES, INC.©
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~*~*~*~*^As Bill Sees It^*~*~*~*~*
When Conflicts Mount

Sometimes I would be forced to look at situations where I was doing badly. Right away, the search for excuses would become frantic.
"These," I would exclaim, "are really a good man's faults." When that pet gadget broke apart, I would think, "Well, if those people would only treat me right, I wouldn't have to behave the way I do." Next was this: "God well knows that I do have awful compulsions. 1 just can't get over this one. So He will have to release me." At last came the time when I would shout, "This, I positively will not do! I won't even try."
Of course, my conflicts went right on mounting, because I was simply loaded with excuses, refusals, and outright rebellion.

<<<>>>

In self-appraisal, 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.

1. GRAPEVINE, JUNE 1961 - 2. TWELVE AND TWELVE, P. 60
*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book Quote ^*~*~*~*~*
"As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and
ask for the right thought or action."

~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 87~

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

How seriously do I take my obligations to A.A.? Have I taken all
the good I can get out of it and then let my obligations slide? Or
do I constantly feel a deep sense of loyalty to the whole A.A.
movement? Am I not only grateful but also proud to be a part of
such a wonderful fellowship, which is doing such marvelous work
among alcoholics? Am I glad to be a part of the great work that
A.A. is doing and do I feel
a deep obligation to carry on that

work at every opportunity? Do I feel that I owe A.A. my loyalty
and devotion?

Meditation for the Day

If your heart is right, your world will be right. The beginning of
all reform must be in yourself. It's not what happens to you, it's
how you take it. However restricted your circumstances, however
little you may be able to remedy financial affairs, you can always
turn to your inward self and, seeing something not in order there,
seek to right it. And as all reform is from within outward, you will
always find that the outward is improved as the inward is improved. 
As you improve yourself, your outward circumstances will change for
the better. The power released from within yourself will change your
outward life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that the hidden power within me may be released. I pray that
I may not imprison the spirit that is within me.