Transparent = Walking Your Talk

Mark Farley September 4, 2022 0 Likes 238 Views

**Being transparent…**

***Isn’t it nice when it turns out that things and people ARE what they seem?***

We don’t get to experience much of that today, but it sure is refreshing when we do.

It seems to be a cultural norm that either we are only seeing and hearing what we want to, or we are being shown and told only what others think we want.

**It sure gets confusing.**

***It’s a spiritual principle as well as a biblical truth that we are at our best when we do what we say and say what we do.***

**Living transparently allows us to be us all the time and not have to switch characters and remember what roles we need to assume for different people and situations…**

Check your experience…

***“There is action and more action. “Faith without works is dead.” Big Book pg. 88***

*Lord, let us be transparent in our daily lives, learning to be the best we can be through seeking and doing Your will, AMEN.*

***“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18***

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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Words: Weapons or Welcoming?

Mark Farley September 3, 2022 0 Likes 290 Views

**Words have power; IF you let them…**

Let’s think about words for a minute.

***While there is much attention given to negative words and a lot of advice on how NOT to use them or let them influence us,…***

**we don’t tend to see much attention given to positive words.**

Think about it.

When was the last time you recall actually borrowing, copying, highlighting, saying or writing words that can build you or others up.

What about influential words or phrases?

How many of those words do we actually remember or have somewhere handy that we can read and reflect on often?

***Now maybe it’s different for you, but I need to see, read, say, and recall positive influencing words.***

Because of this my home, office, and electronic devices are filled with phrases that encourage, inspire and guide me daily.

***These give me power and assurance that despite the person, place, thing, or situation I am facing I can rely on the Holy Spirit in my heart and Jesus to stay with me and show me the way***.

**How are you using your words?..**

Check your experience…

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

*Lord let us listen with our hearts in an effort to understand and not fix, AMEN.*

***“Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body” Proverbs 4:20-22***

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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We GET What We GIVE

Mark Farley September 2, 2022 0 Likes 319 Views

You Got Skillz

Mark Farley September 1, 2022 0 Likes 274 Views

**Everybody’s good at something….**

We all have talents, abilities, and skills.

***Thank goodness they are not all the same.***

It’s easy to get caught up in the cultural norm of our society to compare ourselves to others, but with that comes the human-based negative emotions that lead to pride, envy, greed, and so on.

**What if we practiced celebrating our differences instead of belittling them?**

I am lost without my friends who are mechanically inclined as well as my other friends who have the common sense I was not blessed with!

***We each have the unique ability to help others and what a positive feeling that produces.***

**Are you willing to look for ways to help and celebrate your differences?..**

Check your experience…

***“He was inexplicably different.” Big Book pg 9***

*Lord, let us use our differences to help others and learn from one another, AMEN.*

“There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. There are different ways to serve but the same Lord to serve. And there are different ways that God works through people but the same God. God works in all of us in everything we do.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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Beware of Isolating Thoughts

Mark Farley August 31, 2022 0 Likes 322 Views

**There is no “i” in team…**.

A few years ago, I borrowed the phrase; **“I can’t fix the head I got with the head I got.”** from Brian C. from one of the AA meetings here in Phoenix.

I learn many things from listening to and observing people and this thought has proven to be a strong tool for myself and others.

***Maybe it’s different for you, but when I am in spiritual pain or struggling with issues of pride and self-will, I have a hard time initially sharing my struggle.***

**This thought gives me a quick reality check and motivates me to seek counsel from others and not let my selfish thoughts continue to dominate my mind and actions.**

***How comfortable are you in using your own mind to clear up your struggles with your thoughts and spiritual walk?..***

Check your experience…

“Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.” Big Book p.g 84

***Lord, let us not only share the things that are dominating our thoughts and blocking us from Your grace but also be willing to act on advice received from others, AMEN. “***

***One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:1***

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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Offer a Hand Up Instead of a Hand Out

Mark Farley August 30, 2022 0 Likes 211 Views

Give a hand up and not a handout…

Have you ever noticed that when you give stuff to people for free, they will usually take it?

It’s a nice thing to give to others and that is what we should do as part of our spiritual growth and walk with Christ, but sometimes helping actually hurts those you are giving to.
Stop giving them fish and instead teach them to fish!

Think about it, if we continue to provide for others without teaching them or giving them a chance to provide for themselves,…

then we are hurting their growth and not really helping.

It’s good to give, please don’t misunderstand,..

but it’s not helpful if we continue to give and do for the same people over and over without giving them a chance to learn how to provide for themselves.

Check your experience….

“Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others,” Big Book pg 102

Lord, let us share our bounty with others as you so generously share with us, but let us share with a motive of helping with hand UP and not a hand-OUT, AMEN.

“Treat others as you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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