Author: Mark Farley

How to Keep “IT”

   December 7, 2023 0 Likes 215 Views
Charity begins at home…

This is one of the best thought tools I have come to rely on over the years. 
The version I learned was phrased like this; 

“You can’t keep it unless you give it away.”

It’s an action thought that has never failed me since I began my walk with Christ and in sobriety. 

Unless I am willing to help another, I am not in a position to spiritually receive the gifts the Lord blesses me with. 

Now this doesn’t mean we should give away everything we have, or start a crusade to end world homelessness,..

but it does mean that each day we should open the eyes of our hearts to see how we can best be of service to someone around us…

Check your experience. … 

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

 Lord, please open the eyes of our heart daily to see how we can best serve another, AMEN.  

“that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 

 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!!

Heart Light

   December 6, 2023 0 Likes 192 Views
Turn on your heart lights… 
It’s so much fun for me this time of year to see and enjoy the many creations and imaginative displays. 


Christmas lights everywhere not only give light but also a sense of warmth, happiness, and peacefulness. 


It’s easy to get caught up in the festivities and décor of the season. 

I have a few things I keep in front of me as a reminder of what this Season is truly about. 


Light plays an important role in the Christmas season as well as in our spiritual lives. 


The Holy Spirit that resides in each of our hearts helps to light up our spiritual walk and growth. 


In this season of giving we can help others by turning on our heart lights to show them the grace, love, and comfort we enjoy from our faith in the God of our understanding… 

Check your experience… 


“I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all.”  Big Book pg 14 


Lord, let us turn on our heart lights to help share Your life and grace with others, AMEN.  


“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light. “ John  8:12 


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! 

Using the Good GPS…

   December 5, 2023 0 Likes 174 Views
 There is good GPS and not so good GPS…. 


I have had the pleasure to travel a bit for my day job. 


What a beautiful country we live in! 


It was nice to have a GPS system to guide me to where I needed to be. 


Left to my own devices and road maps, it would not have gone so well! 


It’s the same with our spiritual walk. 


We can build our relationship with Jesus using the GPS in the Bible that will give us the true direction for our lives. 

Unfortunately, there are also others who, while claiming to know the way, forget to use the Bible as their road map. 


Make sure you have the right coordinates when you are mapping your spiritual GPS!..


Check your experience… 


“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.” Big Book pg 164 


Lord let us look to Your Word as our guide as we navigate the twists and turns of this world, AMEN. 


 “But there were false teachers among the people. And there will be false teachers among you also. These people will work in secret ways to bring false teaching to you. They will turn against Christ Who bought them with His blood. They bring fast death on themselves.” 2 Peter 2:1


 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 in? 


[email protected]

Take Time to Listen

   December 4, 2023 0 Likes 222 Views
Take time to listen before waiting to speak… 


Have you ever caught yourself on “auto-pilot” in a conversation? 


For me, it usually happens during a familiar conversation or recurring situation. 


My mind tells me the answer before the other person even asks or finishes! 


Now maybe it’s different for you, but I catch myself going into auto- pilot mode when I start deciding what must be done even before I have really listened and or HEARD what the other person is trying to say. 


OK, so this is part of standard fare for raising kids under 5 when it comes to junk food and unsafe toys, we DO know the answers before they form the question, but this type of listening hurts us in all other aspects of our lives. 


Think about it. 


We like to be listened to, heard, and feel that we have been understood. 


It’s a spiritual principle that we need to treat others in the same way that we wish to be treated. 


So maybe this is the 3rd time Aunt Mabel has told you the story about her trip to the grocery with the wrong coupons. 


Perhaps by actively listening to her and building conversation around her story, she may finally feel heard and stop telling you the same story. 


How do you listen? 


Does the solution noise in your head drown out what the other person is trying to say? … 


Check your own experience and…

Take time to listen instead of waiting to speak. 


“We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing.” Big Book pg 50 


Lord, let us listen with our hearts and hear with You Holy Spirit that resides in us all, AMEN. 


 “To answer before listening– that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13 


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]

Last Is First

   December 3, 2023 0 Likes 212 Views
Last is first… 


This is a fun time of year to watch people if you are a people watcher! 


It’s so inspiring to see the love folks have for others displayed as they shop and search for the gifts that they want to get for their loved ones. 


They forgo lunch to shop, they multi-task in order to have extra time to pick up the items that they want to give loved ones, and they even cover for one another other tasks to allow the time needed to pick up the treasures to put under the tree. 


What is so inspiring to me about seeing these activities is that it shows me that the Holy Spirit is alive and working in the hearts of others. 


It’s a spiritual principle to put others before ourselves and this is a great time of year to see folks naturally doing this motivated by the love fueled by the Holy Spirit in their hearts. 


It’s hard to see this in ourselves but easy to see in others. 


Do you find yourself putting others before you… 


Check your experience… 


 “Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.” Big Book pg. 77 


Lord, let us put others first in order to learn Your will for us, AMEN. 


“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35 


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? 

Power Sources

   December 2, 2023 0 Likes 196 Views
Power sources… 


It’s amazing and enjoyable to see the many lighting and lawn displays this time of year as we celebrate the Christmas season. 


What a credit it is to our resourcefulness and technological advancements seeing how all these amazing displays are powered. 


There is even a gadget that electronically coats the entire outside of your home in electronic moving Christmas lights! 


It seems there is power available to support whatever we can imagine. 


That leads me to think about the things inside of us that perhaps either pride, fear, or negativity keep us from trying, doing, or experiencing. 


Perhaps it’s different for you, but “the committee” residing in my mind used to prevent me from trying to improve myself, not to mention growing mentally and spiritually. 


The result was I stayed stuck in my own mental prison void of spiritual growth and freedom from the bondage. 


It all changed when I was able to choose to fight for my freedom. 


As I grew my sobriety and my spiritual life, my fears quieted down, my pride and self-centeredness decreased, and the committee in my mind was voted out of office! 


Just like the virtually unlimited power sources we have in our homes, I was able to tap into the unlimited Power Source of Jesus and sobriety based on the maintenance of my spiritual condition through daily working of the 12 Steps. 


Where are you getting your power from?.. 


Check your experience… 


“Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power.” Big Book pg. 85 


 Lord, let us tap into Your power, grace and love to fuel and support all areas of our lives, AMEN 


“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” 2 Timothy 4:17 


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]

Clear Vision

   December 1, 2023 0 Likes 231 Views
Clearing our vision… 


Those of us who wear eyeglasses know that we must frequently clean them in order to have clear vision. 


Most of us enjoy a clean windshield free of debris as we drive our cars. 


It’s even beneficial to clean our tablet, laptop, and computer screens, in order to see images clearly. 


So why is it we allow our internal vision to be clouded like a pair of dark sunglasses? 


Think about it. Perhaps it’s different for you, but there have been times in my life where I have allowed the influences of people, places, and things to cloud my visions and not see the truth. 


Unfortunately, consequences followed because of my inability to see clearly. 


I have learned over time through the 12 Steps and in having a daily relationship with Jesus in my life that I can keep the eyes of my heart free and clear of external negative influences along with my own selfish self-centered pride filled wishes by constantly seeking and doing God’s will. 


What helps me the best to keep the eyes of my heart clear is to have folks in my life that also seek God’s will over their own…


Check your experience… 


“See to it that your relationship with Him is right, and great events will come to pass for you and countless others.” Big Book pg. 164
 
Lord, let us open the eyes of our heart and clean away anything that clouds or blocks our vision and relationship with You, AMEN. 


“First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” Luke 6:42 


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? 

Who’s in Control?

   November 30, 2023 0 Likes 190 Views
 Who’s in control?.. 


The need for control is part of our human nature. 


The extremes we take it to and the illusions that we and others feel we have are usually where we have our struggles. 


For instance, Miss Tami, Miss Kai and our 2 cats allow me to think I am in control in our home. 


Luckily for me, I have seen through this illusion and get to enjoy my quiet corner of the living room, or as I call it my “command center”! 


Another example I love to share is to challenge folks to try and herd cats! 


How’s that control working out for you?!? 


The fact I have learned the hard way over the years is that there are only 3 things I am in absolute control of; my attitude, my thoughts, and my behavior. 


All of the rest are driven by people, places, and things. 


The good news is that when I learned that I could turn it over to God, I no longer needed to allow the chaos of people, places, and things to affect my thoughts and behaviors… 


Check your experience… 


“All of us felt at times that we were regaining control, but such intervals — usually brief — were inevitably followed by still less control, which led in time to pitiful and incomprehensible demoralization.” Big Book pg 30 


Lord, let us give up the need to control things outside of our attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors, AMEN. 


“For you are a slave to whatever controls you.” 2 Peter 2:19 


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! 

Asking Motives

   November 29, 2023 0 Likes 219 Views
It’s all in how you ask… 


Have you ever asked or prayed for something only to either not get it or get something you were not expecting? 


For years I have been asking and praying for weight loss, six pack abs, and a Tim Berry physique but y’all know that ain’t happening! 


I am sure many folks ask to win the lottery, but we all know how that goes! 


The thing I have learned in my sobriety and in my walk with Jesus is that it is OK to ask for things….BUT…. make sure we are asking with an open mind, willing heart, and correct motives. 


It seems all these years I have asked for weight loss while not being completely willing to do the required work on my part with diet and exercise. 


When I do ask in prayer with the right motives, the right things happen. 


While I don’t have six pack abs and a Tim Berry Physique at the moment, I have lost 127 pounds over the past 4 years. 


So, for me, the lesson is to look at my motives before asking in prayer to make sure they are backed by willingness and effort on my part. 


When I do this, things tend to work out pretty well. 

How’s this working out for you in your asking and prayer life?.. 


Check your experience… 


“Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.” Big Book pg 86 


 Lord let us ask You for anything with an open mind, willing heart and motives not based on self-will, AMEN. 


“You do not get things because you do not ask for them. Or if you do ask, you do not receive because your reasons for asking are wrong. You want these things only to please yourselves.” James 4: 3-4 


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! 

Fear Source

   November 28, 2023 0 Likes 243 Views
 So where does fear come from?.. 
Fear is one of those 4 letter words that cause discomfort and pain. 


It’s interesting to me to see the power this word has over our lives. 


Now perhaps it’s different for you, but my experience has shown me that when this 4 letter word enters into my thoughts, if left unchecked and unchallenged, it can cause all sorts of troubles for me and those around me. 


Over the years I have learned that the best way for me to deal with fear is to track it to its source. 


More often than not that source is me and my attitudes, perceptions, and insecurities. 


When I am able to see that the fear is not real but based on my own making, then I am able to give the fear to God in exchange for His grace, guidance, and love. 


How are you handling your fears?.. 


Check your experience… 


“We ask Him to remove our fear and direct our attention to what He would have us be.” Big Book pg 68 


Lord, let us give you our fears in exchange for your guidance, grace, and love, AMEN. 


“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 


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 in? 


[email protected]