AA Thoughts For Today - July

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AA Thought for the Day

July 29

No Effective Mental Defense

Once more: The alcoholic at certain times has no effective mental
defense against the first drink. Except in a few rare cases, neither
he nor any other human being can provide such a defense.
His defense must come from a Higher Power.
- Alcoholics Anonymous, (More About Alcoholism) p. 43

Thought to Ponder . . .
The ultimate defense against the first drink is a spiritual one.

AA-related 'Alconym'
F R O G = Fully Rely On God.

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

Courage
"We never apologize to anyone
for depending upon our Creator.
We can laugh at those who think spirituality the way of weakness.
Paradoxically, it is the way of strength.
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."
1976AAWS, Alcoholics Anonymous, p. 68

Thought to Consider . . .
The peaks and valleys of my life
have become gentle rolling hills.

*~*~*AACRONYMS*~*~*
S O B E R = Son Of a Basket, Everything's Real

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

Spirit of Service
Tradition Nine: A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly
responsible to those they serve.
A.A. has to function, but at the same time it must avoid those dangers of great wealth, prestige, and entrenched power
which necessarily tempt other societies. Though Tradition Nine at first sight seems to deal with a purely practical
matter, in its actual operation it discloses a society without organization, animated only by the spirit of service - a true fellowship.
1981, AAWS, Inc., Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions, page 175

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

"Every day, every meeting, there's something more to learn."
Arlington, Virginia, October 1997
"Chair Master,"
Emotional Sobriety II

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

"Abandon yourself to God as you understand God. Admit your faults to
Him and to your fellows. Clear away the wreckage of your past. Give
freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the
Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you
trudge the Road of Happy Destiny."
Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, A Vision For You, pg. 164

"My drinking assumed more serious proportions, continuing all day and
almost every night. The remonstrances of my friends terminated in a
row and I became a lone wolf."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Bill's Story, pg. 3~

“Admitting he may be somewhat at fault, he is sure that other people are more to blame.”
-Alcoholics Anonymous p. 61

“Where other people were concerned, we had to drop the word ”blame” from our speech and thought.”
-Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions p. 47

Misc. AA Literature - Quote

At Step Three, many of us said to our Maker, as we understood Him: 'God, I offer myself to Thee - to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that my transcendence over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love, and Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always!'
We thought well before taking this Step, making sure we were ready. Then we could commence to abandon ourselves utterly to Him.

Prayer for the Day: "God, I admit my powerlessness and the unmanageability of my life. Help me live with others as an equal, dependent upon you for direction and strength."