Author: Mark Farley

True Power Source

   December 2, 2022 0 Likes 327 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! 

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? 

Seeing Clearly

   December 1, 2022 0 Likes 332 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! 


Looking to volunteer or plug into an existing helping opportunity in the Greater Phoenix AZ area? 


Visit Servants Hearts! 


It’s a free site to help connect folks with volunteer and helping opportunities! 


http://aservantsheart.us 

Who’s in Control?

   November 30, 2022 0 Likes 321 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! 


Please help us help others! 


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 Donate today! 

Please Help Furniture Bank

   November 29, 2022 0 Likes 274 Views
TODAY IS GIVING TUESDAY!


FURNITURE BANK CAN USE YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT!


http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html


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


For years I was 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 those years I  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 107 pounds and kept it off for over 5 years now. 


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?.. 


“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! 


Please help us help others! 


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 Donate today!

Fear Source

   November 27, 2022 0 Likes 287 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]

Cant Keep It

   November 27, 2022 0 Likes 271 Views
 We can’t keep it unless we give it away…. 


 It is a wonderful feeling to be able to help another person with no expectation of a gain or a return.


 Perhaps you have experienced this spiritual principle enough to know the powerful blessing it brings to you and those you help. Just being able to help another is humbling for me, for there was a season for me over 30 years ago when I had nothing to give and not much hope. 


Thank goodness for the Salvation Army who loved me until I could learn to love myself again. 


 AA and walking with Jesus has blessed my life far better than I could have ever imagined with Miss Tami, Miss Kai, and all the gifts of friends, family, ministry, and service work I have in my life today. 

 I know from experience that we cannot keep it unless we give it away. 


 Please …check your experience… 


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


 Lord, thank you for the bounty of blessings and the ability to help others not as blessed as we are right now, AMEN.


 “Because you have these blessings, do your best to add these things to your lives: to your faith, add goodness; and to your goodness, add knowledge; and to your knowledge, add self-control; and to your self-control, add patience; and to your patience, add service for God; and to your service for God, add kindness for your brothers and sisters in Christ; and to this kindness, add love.” 2 Peter 1: 5-7 


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?

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

   November 26, 2022 0 Likes 287 Views
Don’t judge a book by its cover…


Looks can be deceiving, especially when we allow our judgment to be based solely on what we initially see. 


Perhaps it’s different for you, but I have shared before how my magic magnifying mind likes to trick me into trusting the ideas it generates on its own just for me. 


It pays to learn more of the story before we pass judgments. 


Years ago when I was living, recovering, and working at the Salvation Army in Sacramento, we had this very small man named Joe who also lived there. 


Because of a stroke he suffered, he walked funny and had a hard time speaking so it was easy to pass him by as another needy and hopeless cause. 


However, I got to know Joe. 


As our friendship grew, I learned that he was a powerlifter in the gym and before he had a stroke in his mid 20’s, he was a college graduate with a promising career in engineering. 


Different choices he made around drugs and alcohol led to difficult twists, and turns in his life, like many of us encountered before we wound up at the Salvation Army for help. 


Joe helped teach me and others to weight lift and use the gym safely. 


He was very encouraging to me to get my college education and pursue God’s calling on my life. 


I am glad I took the time to get to know Joe before he went home to the Lord. 


His encouragement and influence helped me a lot during that season of my life. 

 Are there any “Joe’s” in your life where you don’t know their story?..


Check your experience….


“We let God be the final judge.” Big Book pg. 70 


Lord open the eyes of our hearts so the we can see those You send to help us, AMEN. 


“Do not judge according to appearance” John 7:24 


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]

Greed Friday

   November 25, 2022 0 Likes 222 Views
GREED Friday?…..

Black Friday… 

COME EARLY and BUY THIS NOW, SAVE NOW, THE FIRST SHOPPERS GET THE DEAL!

I saw this a few years ago… A Car Dealer offering $2000 off to the first few customers that show up tomorrow! 

WOW! 

I know it’s great to save money and get deals but why are we allowing this need to override our time with family, friends and cloud the reason for the season?.. 

Check your experience… 

“Is it not evident to all the rest of the players that these are the things he wants?” Big Book pg. 61 

Lord, let us know in our hearts that stuff comes and goes, but our relationship with You lasts forever, AMEN. 


“Then he said to them, watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Luke 12:15 


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? 

We Only Keep What We Give

   November 24, 2022 0 Likes 307 Views
There are many things that I am grateful for. 


Too many to list here, but most of all I am grateful for my salvation, sobriety, and serenity. 


I am thankful for my family, friends, and ministry. 


It’s a spiritual principle that I try to live daily… 


We cannot keep it unless we give it away…. 


 “We thank God from the bottom of our heart” Big Book pg. 75 


Thank you Lord for my family, my friends, and the bounty of blessings You allow them to bring in my life AMEN. 


 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11-12 


Happy Thanksgiving! 


Have a blessed day Y’all! 


 Looking to volunteer or plug into an existing helping opportunity in the Greater Phoenix AZ area? 


Visit Servants Hearts! 


It’s a free site to help connect folks with volunteer and helping opportunities! 


http://aservantsheart.us 

Watch Your Tongue!

   November 23, 2022 0 Likes 243 Views
Watch your tongue… 

It’s that time of year when we gather together with family, friends, and others to fellowship, celebrate, and spend time with others that we may not see that often.  


Hopefully these times are full of fun, love, and create more warm memories. 


This can also be a time where our petty differences, resentments, and unchecked emotions can try to take the stage in front of the captive audience gathered. 


Please take this as a suggestion and guard your words!  

Our self-will can override our spiritual connection during times of stress and anxiety leading to all sorts of words and actions that we later regret. 


Hopefully you can direct those nasty words to stay inside your head and not come rolling off your tongue. 

Remember the Holy Spirit lives within you and can give you grace, peace, and comfort during these times IF you let Him…


Check your experience… 


“Patience, tolerance, understanding and love are the watchwords.” Big Book pg 118   


Lord, let our words be driven from love and kindness and not from motives of hurt and pain, AMEN.  


“So also the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is always ready to pour out its deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our heavenly Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against men…” James 3:5-9  


Have a blessed day y’all!  


Please help us help others!


 http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html    


Donate today!