AA Thoughts For Today - August

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AA Thought for the Day

August 10

Amazingly Lifted Up

But I soon found that when all other measures failed, work
with another alcoholic would save the day. Many times I
have gone to my old hospital in despair. On talking to a
man there, I would be amazingly lifted up and set on my feet.
It is a design for living that works in rough going.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (Bill's Story) p. 15

Thought to Ponder
Service made me feel useful.
Twelfth Step work taught me to accept my past.

AA-related 'Alconym'
G I F T S = Getting It From The Steps.

~*~A.A. Thoughts For The Day~*~

Higher Power
"My friend suggested what then seemed a novel idea.
He said,
'Why don't you choose your own conception of God?'
That statement hit me hard.
It melted the icy intellectual mountain
in whose shadow I had lived and shivered many years.
I stood in the sunlight at last.
It was only a matter of being willing to believe
in a Power greater than myself.
Nothing more was required of me
to make my beginning."
- Bill W.
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 12

Thought to Consider . . .
Willpower ... our will-ingness to use a Higher Power.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
B I G B O O K = Believing In God Beats Our Old Knowledge

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

Solo
From "Source of Strength":
"I would tell a friend of mine, who was having the same problems, that I prayed to God not to take a drink today and not
to get married today. It was a sort of pact. I was very serious about this. I couldn't seem to handle romance and God
too well at the same time. And God did start to give me the strength that I had always thought would come from the
man in my life. "New York, New York, USA"
1973 AAWS, Inc.; Came to Believe, 30th printing 2004, pgs. 102-03

*~*~*~*~*^ Grapevine Quote ^*~*~*~*~*

"AA recovery cannot be bought and sold, but more than once I've wished I could just send a monthly check instead of practicing those principles. Just making donations seems an easier, softer way, doesn't it?"
New York, New York, August 1998
"AA Is Not for Sale,"
AA Grapevine

*~*~*~*~*^ Big Book & Twelve N' Twelve Quotes of the Day ^*~*~*~*~*

We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show,
humbly saying to ourselves many times each day "Thy will be done." We
are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-
pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient. We do
not tire so easily, for we are not burning up energy foolishly as we
did when we were trying to arrange life to suit ourselves."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Into Action, pg. 87

"In our belief any scheme of combating alcoholism which proposes to
shield the sick man from temptation is doomed to failure. If the
alcoholic tries to shield himself he may succeed for a time, but
usually winds up with a bigger explosion than ever. We have tried
these methods. These attempts to do the impossible have always failed."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 101~

“Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a
strenuous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in ourselves which had been blocking us.”
-Alcoholics Anonymous p. 63

“Having so considered our day, not omitting to take due note of things well done, and having searched our hearts with
neither fear nor favor, we can truly thank God for the blessings we have received and sleep in good conscience.”
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 95

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

At Step Four we resolutely looked for our own mistakes. Where had we been selfish, dishonest, self-seeking, and
frightened? Though a given situation had not been entirely our fault, we often tried to cast the whole blame on the other
person involved.
We finally saw that the inventory should be ours, not the other man's. So we admitted our wrongs honestly and
became willing to set these matters straight.

Prayer for the Day: God, Take my will and my life. Guide me in my recovery. Show me how to live. Amen.