DAILY PONDERABLES
Together WE Trudge The Road OF Happy Destiny
Daily Reflections
GUIDANCE
...this means a belief in a Creator who is all power, justice, and love; a God who intends for me a purpose, a meaning, and a destiny to grow, however .... haltingly, toward His own likeness and image.
AS BILL SEES IT, p. 51
As I began to understand my own powerlessness and my dependence on God, as I understand Him, I began to see that there was a life which, if I could have it, I would have chosen for myself from the beginning. It is through the continuing work of the Steps and the life in the Fellowship that I've learned to see that there is truly a better way into which I am being guided. As I come to know more about God, I am able to trust His ways and His plans for the development of His character in me. Quickly or not so quickly, I grow toward His own image and likeness.
From the book Daily Reflections
© Copyright 1990 by Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Twenty-Four Hours A Day
A.A. Thought for the Day
Now we can take an inventory of the good things that have come to us through A.A. To begin with, we're sober today. That's the biggest asset on any alcoholic's books. Sobriety to us is like goodwill in business. Everything else depends on that. Most of us have jobs which we owe to our sobriety. We know we couldn't hold these jobs if we were drinking, so our jobs depend on our sobriety. Most of us have families, which we either had lost or might have lost, if we hadn't stopped drinking. We have friends in A.A., real friends who are always ready to help us. Do I realize that my job, my family, and my real friends are dependent upon my sobriety?
Meditation for the Day
I must trust God to the best of my ability. This lesson has to be learned. My doubts and fears continually drive me back into the wilderness. Doubts lead me astray, because I am not trusting God. I must trust God's love. It will never fail me, but I must learn not to fail it by my doubts and fears. We all have much to learn in turning out fear by faith. All our doubts arrest God's work through us. I must not doubt. I must believe in God and continually work at strengthening my faith.
Prayer for the Day
I pray that I may live the way God wants me to live. I pray that I may get into that stream of goodness in the world.
From the book Twenty-Four Hours a Day
© Copyright 1975 by Hazelden Foundation
NA - Just for Today
God's will, or mine?
Page 54
"We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."
Step Ten
In Narcotics Anonymous, we've found that the more we live in harmony with our Higher Power's will for us, the greater the harmony in our lives. We use the Tenth Step to help us maintain that harmony. On a daily basis, we take time to look at our behavior. Some of us measure each action with a very simple question: "God's will, or mine?"
In many cases, we find that our actions have been in tune with our Higher Power's will for us, and we in turn have been in tune with the world around us. In some cases, however, we will discover inconsistencies between our behavior and our values. We've been acting on our own will, not God's, and the result has been dissonance in our lives.
When we discover such inconsistencies, we admit we've been wrong and take corrective action. With greater awareness of what we believe God's will for us to be in such situations, we are less likely to repeat those actions. And we are more likely to live in greater concord with our Higher Power's will for us and with the world around us.
Just for Today: I wish to live in harmony with my world. Today, I will examine my actions, asking, "God's will, or mine?"
From the book Just for Today
© Copyright 1991-2013 by Narcotics Anonymous World Services, Inc.
Thought for Today
Open your eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?
~Bob Marley
“Happiness is not a destination or an experience. It's a decision.”
― Carlos Santana
Dis-ease
A spiritual malady can not be filled with material wealth.
The void of the soul needs spiritual health.
The mind of a drunk tries to justify means.
Destroying the soul, destroying the dreams.
To relinquish control of that which is you
Is said and has proven itself to be true.
Belief in a power that's bigger than me,
Is the answer, a practice, a new daily key.
No expectations of the people or lies
That only will feed the disease, the disguise.
Wearing a mask, protecting the ego
The mask is torn off then where does it go?
Believing the steps and practicing love,
It's a gift and a new start from the Power above.
So, when it seems that I am alone, I ask that the Power above be my home.
Ginny A.
Buddha/Zen Thoughts
When everything is clean-clear in your own mind,
nobody can create obstacles for you.
-Lama Thubten Yeshe, "The Bliss of Inner Fire"
Native American
"In the Indian way, we are connected to that flower if we understand its spirit, the essence of its life."
--Larry P. Aitken, CHIPPEWA
Everything on our Earth is alive. Every rock, every plant, every animal, every tree, every bird, every thought is alive. This is true because everything is made by the Great Spirit and the Great Spirit is alive. We need to slow our lives down each day and realize, consciously, that this is true. First we need to realize it, second, we need to acknowledge it, third, we need to appreciate it and, finally, we need to go on.
Great Spirit, let me see life through Your eyes. Today let me be alive.
Keep It Simple
To thine own self be true. --- AA medallions
Sometimes we hear that we have a "selfish program." Being "selfish" means that we ask for help when we need it. We only go to places that are safe for us, no matter what others are doing. Being selfish comes to mean safety for us.
Being selfish doesn't mean we act like brats. We must act in ways that show respect and love---for ourselves and for others. being selfish means we do what is good for us. What is good for us? First, we have to save our lives by stopping our drinking and drugging. Next, we start working the Steps. We come to know a loving Higher Power. This is how we come to know our true self.
Prayer for the Day: Higher Power, help me be true to myself and my values. Help me be "selfish" about spending time to talk with You each day.
Action for the Day: I'll list ten ways I need to be "selfish" in recovery. If I get stuck, I'll be "selfish" and ask for help.
Big Book
"Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get
well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in
God and clean house."
~Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th Edition, Working With Others, pg. 98~
Premature Amends
He’s sober now for many months; his life’s been turned around
The fellowship has welcomed him, some great new friends he’s found
Life at home is getting good, he’s told they see a change
He’s learned to care for folks again and not to feel estranged
He’s done the first three Steps but now he wants to skip ahead
Four through eight can wait awhile, go straight to Nine instead
Friends and family need to know he want to make things right
To show this time it’s real and that he truly is contrite
His sponsor warns against it, says he need to take it slow
He compliments his progress, but says, “you’ve still a way to go”
It’s crucial when you do Step Nine your sobriety is sound
For if it’s not and you slip up your progress comes unwound
But he thinks he knows better since his drinking days are done
He’ll reach out first to family, then later everyone
He makes amends to wife and kids, convince them he’s for real
Explain that NOW he understands the hurt he made them feel
They tell him they are happy that he’s joined up with AA
They hope this time he’s serious and glad he seems ok
They tell him he’s forgiven and are pleased that he is back
Back to the man he was before his drinking came off track
Some months have passed without a drink and he begins to thinking
What led him to his problem was he had to hide his drinking
If he could only have a drink without the need to hide
He’d moderate his intake, put those extra drinks aside
Of course, that did not work the way he wanted or had planned
John Barleycorn had won again, was once more in command
A drink or two was not enough, his body craver for more
He found the old obsession was now worse than it was before
The amends he made were meaning less, they seemed like such a lie
His people thought he had not changed, he still was that same guy
The one that said “I’m sorry”, yet was certain to repeat
The actions that had caused them pain, his lying and deceit
Before we undertake Step Nine, we need to be assured
Our program is on solid ground, the first eight Steps secured
For if they’re not and we rush on, make premature amends
We will lose that forgiveness from our families and our friends.
Larry R.
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