Have a Blessed Thanksgiving

Mark Farley November 23, 2023 0 Likes 84 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!

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!

Watch Your Tongue!

Mark Farley November 22, 2023 0 Likes 107 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!

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!

Take Time to Listen

Mark Farley November 20, 2023 0 Likes 101 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!

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Looking Away or to Help?

Mark Farley November 19, 2023 0 Likes 77 Views

Looking away or looking to help…..

Sometimes when we see uncomfortable or unpleasant things, we divert our eyes away so our mind won’t focus and our hearts won’t feel the situation.

I used to do this every time I walked by my teenager’s room.

I am sure it’s a well-organized myriad of clothing, books, and life pertinent items to her, but it looked like remnants of a hurricane to her mother and me.

It’s easier to just look away and move on.

What about those times when we are at work or out and about with a group of friends and we see someone noticeably upset or hurting.

Hopefully it’s our natural reaction to seek to learn the situation, offer comfort, and help if possible.

Now what about when we see that out of place person trying to deal with something that is obviously unfamiliar for them?

I know that it’s easier to look away and pretend we don’t see that older person in the store trying to figure out how to lift that case of water.

Or it’s “better to ignore” the dirty looking person on the street with the shopping cart full of weird stuff.

I am not suggesting we stop and try to change their whole life, but what about looking them in the eye and saying hello?

What would Jesus do?

Check your experience…

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

Lord, let us open the eyes of our heart to see where You would have us offer compassion and help, AMEN.

“Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.” Philippians 2:4

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?

Motives and Efforts

Mark Farley November 18, 2023 0 Likes 116 Views

Motives and efforts….

Ever heard the saying you get OUT of it what you PUT IN to it?

Great examples of this are folks that run their first Triathlons, lose massive amounts or weight, win their first bodybuilding contest, or achieve some other life altering change for the good.

The secret to success in each of these examples is that while they were training and working to achieve their goal, they constantly made sure their efforts matched their motives daily.

We can use this “secret” in our everyday lives for ordinary things as well.

This is a biblical principle that never changes!

From being a better person, to overcoming an uncomfortable situation, if we measure our motives and match them to our efforts we will see change..

How well are your efforts matching your motives?…

Check your experience…

“Keep on the firing line of life with these motives and God will keep you unharmed.” Big Book pg 102

Lord, let us provide the efforts needed along with the right motives to bring healthy changes into our lives and strengthen our walk with you, AMEN.

“People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16: 2-3

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]

Bad Moment

Mark Farley November 17, 2023 0 Likes 88 Views

Don’t turn a bad moment into a bad day...

It was in hearing and learning the St. Francis prayer in AA that I first learned that in order to be forgiven, I must first forgive others.

Back then, and even sometimes today, it was a tall order and I had a very hard time finding the willingness to open my heart and mind to become forgiving.

Over the years I have learned from my own experiences as well as from watching and working with others that we tend to hang on to negative feelings and experiences longer than we should and if not addressed, these feeling and experiences can take on a life of their own and begin influencing our thoughts, actions and over time behaviors over other people, places, and things.

With Thanksgiving coming next week, all sorts of resentments, anger, hurts, and ill feelings will come rushing to the front of folk’s minds as family and friends gather together.

Jesus forgave us for our sins and continues to forgive me daily because of His unconditional love.

It is a spiritual principle that HE can’t forgive us until we are able to forgive others…

Check your experience…

“We go to him in a helpful and forgiving spirit, “Big Book pg. 77

Lord let us open our hearts to become forgiving of others so that we can be forgiven ourselves, AMEN.

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

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?

Heart Traffic

Mark Farley November 16, 2023 0 Likes 84 Views

Navigating through traffic…..

It seems we encounter traffic in just about everything we do these days.

The freeways are full of commuters, the Starbucks and Dutch Bros lines are long at times, there is usually a wait time for scheduled doctor appointments.

Most of us become aware of these patterns and we adjust our schedules to either accommodate or avoid these situations as best we can so we can continue with our day.

What about the things that can clog our hearts at times?

The “rush hour traffic” of fear and worry, or being taken hostage by worldly clamors of self-willed perceived wants and materialistic desires can derail a good day if we let it.

There is a plan and a solution to avoid this clutter and traffic in our hearts.

Turning our will and our lives over to the care of God clears this traffic of our heart and allows us to focus on the important things and enjoy peace and grace…

Check your experience…

“But soon the sense of His presence had been blotted out by worldly clamors, mostly those within myself. And so, it has been ever since.” Big Book pgs. 12-13

Lord, let us give You the things in our heart that block us off from your grace and Spirit, AMEN

“Let us put everything out of our lives that keeps us from doing what we should. Let us keep running in the race that God has planned for us.” Hebrews 12:1

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!

Look for the Helpers

Mark Farley November 15, 2023 0 Likes 83 Views

Look for the helpers…

Tragic events have hopefully shown us that we are capable of caring for, praying for, and helping others in need.

It’s sad that it takes enormous tragedy to spotlight this, but this is our culture and socially acceptable.

The good news is that there are many of us who don’t wait for a tragedy to strike but set out daily to look for the good and ways to plug in to be helpful and supportive.

A few have shared a timely quote from Mr. Rogers; “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

It’s easy to focus on the bad in times of trouble, but spiritually speaking, the Lord through His Holy Spirit can help us see the good when we look for the helpers…

Check your experience….

“Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of life.” Big Book pg. 63

Lord, let us look past the hurt and pain and find the helpers and the hope that You bring to every situation, AMEN.

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.” 1 Peter 3:8

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!

We GET What We GIVE

Mark Farley November 14, 2023 0 Likes 97 Views

We get what we give…

It seems to be a common line of thought and an acceptable practice these days to look for the bad and find fault in others as part of the attempt to build ourselves up.

Perhaps you have learned the hard way, like I have, that all this brings us misery, chaos, and trouble.

When I took an honest look at my part in these behaviors years ago, I knew I had to make a change.

Just like the spiritual principle says,

we GET what we GIVE.

I find that when I spend my time building others up and looking for the good in others, the same is returned to me, even more than I deserve!..

Check your experience…

“We cannot be helpful to all people, but at least God will show us how to take a kindly and tolerant view of each and every one.” Big Book pg. 67

Lord, let us look for the good in others and not give into fault finding, AMEN.

“Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13

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?

Spiritual Food

Mark Farley November 13, 2023 0 Likes 88 Views

Filling food…

Most folks I know are doing a better job these days of choosing better foods and meals.

Just like having the proper fuel for our cars, it’s important to have the proper fuel in the form of nutritious healthy food for our bodies.

Slowly the fast food chains are getting this message and it’s possible to get a sort of healthy meal from them if there are no other healthier options, but for the most part, fast food, like sugary snacks, are full of empty calories that fool our bodies and leave us more hungry as well as tired.

It’s the same in our spiritual nutrition as well.

We can fool ourselves and load up on man-made words and spiritual “junk food” that require no action on our part and make us feel momentarily good about ourselves.

Unfortunately, like fast food, this leaves us hungry and thirsty in our souls.

We can get true spiritual nutrition daily by turning our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him and feast on His Word daily…

Check your experience…

“A new life has been given us or, if you prefer, “a design for living” that really works.” Big Book pg 28

Lord, let us feed spiritually on Your Word and the Holy Spirit, AMEN.

“Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35

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]

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