Author: Mark Farley

No Pain No Gain

   February 12, 2024 0 Likes 188 Views
No pain…no gain….


Maybe it’s different for you, but I can honestly say that I do not enjoy pain of any kind in any form. 


I don’t intentionally go looking for it but I have learned that when I do find myself in pain, there is either a lesson to be learned or an experience to grow from if I look with a willing heart and open mind. 


Staying spiritually fit is hard work but the benefits are immense.  


Sobriety is not easy but the pains from gaining and maintaining it have brought me blessings far beyond what I deserve. 


The same can be said for my journey to attain physical health and fitness. 


God gives us the pain inside of every challenge to encourage us to find the benefit He has for us. 


Check your experience… 


“If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through.” Big Book pg 83. 


 Lord, when we are in pain, please remind our hearts to seek the goodness we can gain from seeking Your will, AMEN.


“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5: 2-4 


Have a blessed day Y’all! 


What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life?  


Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! 


https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching 


Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are?  

Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be!


[email protected]

The “Inner-Net” Connection

   February 11, 2024 0 Likes 207 Views
 The “inner-net’ connection… 


Plugged in, wired, and networked are terms we associate with our communications these days. 


I am glad I no longer need to figure out how to “interface” with folks! 


Wi-Fi and internet are the connections we seem to chase the most these days as we rely more and more on social media to get our “message” out there to “build our brand”. It sure feels like we need to constantly be networking ourselves to others in order to stay connected in today’s world. 

How do we stay plugged in to the things that keep us grounded, stable, and secure? 


What about our internal connection to God and the Holy Spirit? 


I am grateful that I have been shown and taught to seek quiet time daily, and even hourly at times, to connect with God to stabilize my heart and quiet my mind. When I do this, I become grounded and connected in the right way that makes my day go in the direction it needs to instead of more out of control. 


How are you keeping your inner connection solid?.. Check your experience… 


“In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves,” Big Book pg xxviii 


 Lord, let us seek Your grace and guidance daily to be grounded securely in your will and not fall victim to the illusions of worldly clamors, AMEN. 


“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 


Have a blessed day y’all! 


Join me in looking at the things we face daily with passages from both the Big Book and Bible! 


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pastor+mark+farley&ref=nb_sb_noss 


 How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought? 

Measuring Our Motives

   February 10, 2024 0 Likes 168 Views
 Measuring our motives… 


Way back when I was in grade school, every time we went to visit my father’s Aunt Mabel, she would send me to visit her friend Mrs. Wheatley. 


Now this was not fun for a 10 year old boy, but when the visit was over I would walk away with a big candy bar! 


So I was always willing to pay a visit to Mrs. Wheatley. 


Sadly today, that is the only thing I remember about Mrs. Wheatley. 


Now y’all can say it’s because I am old and my boyhood memories have faded, but the sad truth is my only motive in going was for the candy bar. 


Have you ever participated in something purely for a self-serving gain? 


Heck, I am guilty of that at times still to this very day! 


My point is that when others are counting on us to be there, we should check ourselves and our motives to make sure we are there for the right reasons… 


Check your experience… 


“Our thought-life will be placed on a much higher plane when our thinking is cleared of wrong motives.” Big Book pg 86 


Lord please help me clear my mind of self-serving thoughts so that my heart can participate 100% for the right reasons based on Your will and not mine, AMEN 


“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Proverbs 16:2 


Have a blessed day y’all! 


What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life?  


Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! 


https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching 


Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are?  

Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be!


[email protected]

What’s in Your Heart?

   February 9, 2024 0 Likes 181 Views
What’s in your heart?… 
We all have this autopilot inside of us that handles our daily routine functions. 


Breathing and walking are the obvious ones but what about those expected and meaningless interactions? 


You know, like the store clerk or that same person you see daily in the hall or gym? 


You have no emotional connection to them. 


They say “How are you doing? ” And you say “fine” with no thought or effort.  


Now what about when you need to either forgive someone or let go of something emotionally or pride fully? 

Do you find yourself mouthing the words of the correct or expected response yet keeping your imagined control of it in your heart? 


Perhaps that’s why we stay needlessly hurt or angry. 

We lock that thing in our heart yet act like it’s gone. 


God can fix that, but we must open our hearts and let go for real.  


Check your experience.


“…he should understand that he must undergo a change of heart.” Big Book pg. 143 


Lord let us open our hearts to be filled with your Spirit and healed by your grace, AMEN.  

“I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” Isaiah 57:15 


Have a blessed day Y’all!  


Join me in looking at the things we face daily with passages from both the Big Book and Bible! 


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pastor+mark+farley&ref=nb_sb_noss 


 How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought? 

Doubting Minds

   February 8, 2024 0 Likes 204 Views
Our tricky minds…


Sometimes when I let my mind wander, it tries to take me down the path of doubt. 


If I permit this “stinkin’ thinkin’” to continue then the path widens to include worry, fear, and ultimately negativity all fueled from my own self-will. 


What helps me during these times is to remember that the answers are not in my head and that I am no longer in charge of me. 


When I made the life changing decision to turn my will and my life over to God, HE became not only my “Employer” but also my mentor, guide, and rock. 


I have learned to stay out of my own head and not go there by myself because it is filled with fear-based illusions fueled by the worldly clamors around us. 


God has us covered. 


He not only has us here for a purpose, but also, HE has a plan for us that we can easily understand if we seek His will daily. 


Check your experience… 


“We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans, and designs.” Big Book pg. 63 


Lord, let us know in our hearts that You have a purpose and a plan for us that will keep us secure, successful, serene, and covered by Your grace, AMEN. 


“God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 


Have a blessed day Y’all! 


Join us in prayer and with your financial support as we tackle the challenge of helping and mentoring young adults aging out of the Foster Care System.

https://homesfromheaven.org/ 


AZ Charitable TAX CREDIT! 

Faith and Light Switches

   February 7, 2024 0 Likes 176 Views
Have you ever thought about whether the light would come on before you turned the light switch on?

Because I have the familiar experience of having successfully done it countless times before, I don’t even think about it, I just know it will work.  


Even when that 1 in a thousand times happens when the bulb is burnt out, I replace the bulb without thinking and the light comes on.


That is faith.  


When I am staying in a new or unfamiliar place like a hotel or a friend’s home, I instinctively know that if I just find that light switch, the light will come on.


That is faith.


I cannot see the mechanics involved and I certainly have no electrical training or background in engineering,


but because I have experience with the process, I trust it works and neither debate it, nor give it a second thought.


That is faith.  


OK, so this next part may not apply to you Spiritual giants…  


Now why then do I want to debate with God over trivial things?


Why do I expect the answer before I even begin the task that is new or unfamiliar?


Where is my trust being placed?


Where oh where is my faith?  

Has He not brought me this far in life successfully through things I have had no control over?


Why do I even think I need to discuss the new thing with Him?  

Where is my faith?


Check your experience……


“The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we   life, toward our fellows and toward God’s universe.” Big Book pg. 25

Lord, like the light switch, let us place our trust in You based on our experience with You, AMEN.    

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Have a blessed day y’all!  


Join us in prayer and with your financial support as we tackle the challenge of helping and mentoring young adults aging out of the Foster Care System.

https://homesfromheaven.org/ 


AZ Charitable TAX CREDIT! 

Different Yet the Same

   February 6, 2024 0 Likes 200 Views
Different yet the same… 


Observing people is a hobby of mine. 


I enjoy learning from others and behavior is usually indicative of a person’s habits. 


Over the years I have seen a blessed pattern emerge when I learn from observing a fellow believer. 


No matter what the action or activity is, the believer is doing it selflessly to help another without expectation of attention or recognition. 


This has taught me to remain humble and to keep my focus on others as I continue to grow my relationship with Christ and build my ministry. 


 I constantly remind myself that this (whatever the “this” is) is not about me…


Check your experience…


“Helping others is the foundation stone” Big Book pg. 97 


Lord let our helping actions and activities be focused on helping others and not ourselves, AMEN. 


“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 4:12-14 


Have a blessed day Y’all! 


What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life?  


Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! 


https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching 


Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are?  

Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be!


[email protected]

What Goes Around Comes Around

   February 5, 2024 0 Likes 187 Views
What goes around COMES around… 


Have you ever played with a bouncing ball? 


Did you notice that it always comes back to you with the same force you give it? 


Now I am not trying to teach physics, but the ball example contains today’s spiritual thought. 


I have learned over the years that my relationships with people, places, and things have the same effect. 

We GET what we GIVE. 


It’s a spiritual principle. 

When I treat others with grace, I get grace and when I throw out grief and negativity, I get it right back. 


Check your experience…


“Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.” Big Book pg. 68 


Lord, let us give others the same grace and joy that you freely give us, AMEN. 


 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,” Matthew 7:12 


 Have a blessed day Y’all! 


What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life?  


Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! 


https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching 


Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are?  

Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be!


[email protected]

Faith Over Fear

   February 4, 2024 0 Likes 184 Views
So why is it that sometimes we think we are walking in faith yet we still have that feeling of doom, failure, and or fear in our heads? 


Change brings this on more than anything for me. 


Now maybe it’s different for you, but I have this crazy head and it sometimes doesn’t like to connect with my heart. 


What I have learned, and mostly the hard way over the years, is that my self-will lives in my head and it loves to tell my heart what a loser and failure it thinks I am. 


Thanks to God, AA, SCAA, 
and a picket fence of friends, I have learned to tune that noise in my head out and focus on my heart where the Holy Spirit resides and directs me if I let Him. 


So when I get that feeling that perhaps I am going to fail or things are not going to go right, I politely thank my head and then shut the door on those thoughts and focus on what my faith and my heart are saying to me. 

How do you quiet your head so your heart can lead you?.. 


Check your experience… 


“Here was something at work in a human heart which had done the impossible.” Big Book pg 11 


Lord, let us turn out will and our lives over to Your care and direction daily, AMEN. 


“And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” Luke 24:38 


 Have a blessed day y’all! 


Join me in looking at the things we face daily with passages from both the Big Book and Bible! 


https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pastor+mark+farley&ref=nb_sb_noss 


 How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought? 

Bad Moment

   February 3, 2024 0 Likes 232 Views
Don’t turn a bad moment into a bad day….


Have you ever noticed that what you focus on influences how you feel and act? 


For instance, playing with children can make some older folks feel young and more alive. 


How about the feeling of accomplishment after completing a workout at the gym? 


What about the uncomfortable and unpleasant parts of our day that we all have? 


Have you ever noticed what happens when we focus on that? 


It tends to drag us into the negative mindset and bring us down. 


Now maybe it’s different for you, but I have found that when I enter into the unpleasant moments of my day, instead of focusing on the anticipation of the impending doom or negativity, I remind myself of all the good in my life and that this is just a moment in my day that will eventually pass. 


I find that when I greet negative times with cheerfulness, the negativity has a hard time taking me hostage. 

How’s that working out for you?.. 


Check your experience… 


What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life?  


Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! 


https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching 


Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are?  

Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be!


[email protected]Don’t turn a bad moment into a bad day….


Have you ever noticed that what you focus on influences how you feel and act?


For instance playing with children can make some older folks feel young and more alive.


How about the feeling of accomplishment after completing a workout at the gym?


What about the uncomfortable and unpleasant parts of our day that we all have?


Have you ever noticed what happens when we focus on that?


It tends to drag us into the negative mindset and bring us down.


Now maybe it’s different for you, but I have found that when I enter into the unpleasant moments of my day, …


instead of focusing on the anticipation of the impending doom or negativity,..


I remind myself of all the good in my life and that this is just a moment in my day that will eventually pass.


I find that when I greet negative times with cheerfulness, the negativity has a hard time taking me hostage.


How’s that working out for you?..


Check your experience…


“We were prepared to look at it from an entirely different angle.” Big Book pg 66


Lord, let us walk through the negative times knowing this is but a moment but You are in our heart forever and that we have blessings awaiting us, AMEN.  


“Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:14-15  




Have a blessed day y’all! 



What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life?  


Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! 


https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching 


Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are?  

Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be!


[email protected]