AA Thoughts For Today - November

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AA Thought for the Day

November 10

Our Own Conception

Much to our relief, we discovered we did not need to consider
another’s conception of God. Our own conception, however
inadequate, was sufficient to make the approach and to effect a
contact with Him. 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.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (We Agnostics) p. 46

Thought to Ponder
God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him.

AA-related 'Alconym'
G I F T = God Is Forever There.

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

Today
"I realize that all I'm guaranteed in life is today.
The poorest person has no less
and the wealthiest has no more --
each of us has but one day.
What we do with it is our own business;
how we use it is up to us individually.
I feel that I have been restored to health and sanity
these past years not through my own efforts
nor as a result of anything I may have done,
but because I've come to believe
-- to really believe --
that alone I can do nothing.
That my own innate selfishness and stubbornness
are the evils which, if left unguarded,
can drive me to alcohol.
I have come to believe that my illness is spiritual
as well as physical and mental,
and I know that for help in the spiritual sphere
I have to turn to a Higher Power."
c. 1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 473

Thought to Consider . . .

I can't have a better tomorrow
if I am thinking about yesterday all the time.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S I T = Stay In Today

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

Design for Living
From: "There Is A Solution"
Here was the terrible dilemma in which our friend found himself when he had the extraordinary experience, which as we have already told you, made him a free man.
We, in our turn, sought the same escape with all the desperation of drowning men. What seemed at first a flimsy reed, has proved to be the loving and powerful hand of God. A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, "a design for living" that really works.
2001, AAWS, Inc., Alcoholics Anonymous, page 28

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

"We measure our progress in AA by two words, 'humility' and 'responsibility.' May I ever keep my eye on these yardsticks as I continue to seek only knowledge of his will for me."
Spiritual Awakenings Vol. 1
Tulsa, Okla., July 1978
"The Power of the Program,"

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

"The fact is that most alcoholics, for reasons yet obscure, have lost
the power of choice in drink. Our so-called will power becomes
practically nonexistent. We are unable, at certain times, to bring
into our consciousness with sufficient force the memory of the
suffering and humiliation of even a week or a month ago. We are
without defense against the first drink."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 24~

Highly competent psychiatrists who have dealt with us have found it
sometimes impossible to persuade an alcoholic to discuss his
situation without reserve. Strangely enough, wives, parents and
intimate friends usually find us even more unapproachable than do the
psychiatrist and the doctor.
But the ex-problem drinker who has found this solution, who is
properly armed with facts about himself, can generally win the entire
confidence of another alcoholic in a few hours. Until such an
understanding is reached, little or nothing can be accomplished.
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, There Is A Solution, pg. 18~

When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God.
-Alcoholics Anonymous p.52

The answer, now seen in Tradition Three, was simplicity itself.
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p.141

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

When our membership was small, we dealt with 'low-bottom cases' only. Many less desperate alcoholics tried A.A., but did not succeed because they could not make the admission of their hopelessness.
In the following years, this changed. Alcoholics who still had their health, their families, their jobs, and even two cars in the garage, began to recognize their alcoholism. As this trend grew, they were joined by young people who were scarcely more than potential alcoholics. How could people such as these take the First Step?
By going back in our own drinking histories, we showed them that years before we realized it we were out of control, that our drinking even then was no mere habit, that it was indeed the beginning of a fatal progression.

Prayer for the Day: THINGS TO GIVE -
Today, I pray I may give:
To my enemy: Forgiveness
To my opponent: Tolerance
To my customer: Service
To a friend: Kindness
To all people: Charity
To my family: My heart.
To every child: A good example.
To myself: Respect
To You, Higher Power: LOVE
With all my heart, with all my soul, with all my mind.