Count the Cost

Mark Farley November 6, 2023 0 Likes 274 Views

What is the total cost?..

Anyone who knows me understands my preference to avoid numbers in just about every situation that I can.

What I have learned in life and in school is that everything has a cost.

Not only a numerical valued cost, but also the cost of time, effort, relationships, and growth.

It’s pretty easy to count the numerical cost in most things.

My wallet and my bank account are a constant reminder that I am not made of money.

Now maybe it’s different for you, but it’s those other costs that are the most expensive to me.

I have learned to ask myself what is the cost; to the relationship, time, as well as what value is to be gained.

Needless to say, whenever Miss Tami or my daughter needs me, that automatically wins, …

but what about the time I spend on other matters that may or may not be healthy for me or my relationships with my family, friends, and Jesus?…

Check your experience…

“Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid.” Big Book pg. 14

Lord, let us include our loves, our priorities, and our relationship with You when we count the cost of our efforts, AMEN.

“But don’t begin until you count the cost.” Luke 14:28

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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Teachable

Mark Farley November 5, 2023 0 Likes 239 Views

Becoming teachable…

Remember the last time you were able to lay aside your preconceived notions, expectations, and self-made opinions in order to truly learn something new?

Yeah, it’s been a while for me too!

Part of having free will and becoming an adult is this magic magnifying mind that we have that likes to unconsciously grow and feed from our perceptions and experiences.

It tries to predict situations for us as well as attempts to harden our hearts through our own self-made assessments and judgements.

Until we stop this process and set aside the ability and power it has over us, we cease to truly grow spiritually.

Kids don’t have this.

They look to us with wide eyes and open minds thirsty to learn.

It’s only when we can open our minds willingly in this manner can God truly teach us and fill our hearts with His Spirit and wisdom.

Are you still willing and able to be teachable?..

Check your experience…

“But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life-or else.” Big Book pg 44

Lord let us set aside our own thoughts and become teachable like a child for Your Word, AMEN.

“He said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

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?

Fixing Broken Connections

Mark Farley November 3, 2023 0 Likes 219 Views

Fixing those broken connections…

Have you ever noticed the amount of stuff available that helps us to fix things?

From the self-help meccas of Home Depot and Lowes to the auto parts stores, hardware stores, deep discount big box stores, and even grocery stores, there are kits, tools, parts, and supplies that allow us to fix just about everything.

There are even YouTube videos available for non-mechanical folks like me that will show us how it’s done!

What about the spiritual and relational connections in our lives that need repair?

Sure, there are self-help books, counseling, and therapists to help, but just like all the stuff in our homes we can fix, it requires willingness, effort, and honest hard work on our part.

The good news is that when Jesus sees our efforts and willingness, HE uses the Holy Spirit living within each of us to guide us on the repair of the relationship with Him as well as others in our lives…

Check your experience…

“The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous.” Big Book pg. 25

Lord let us open our hearts to let the Holy Spirit guide us in repairing and maintaining all of our relationships according to Your will and not ours, AMEN.

“Jesus replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-38

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?

Personal Power Source

Mark Farley November 2, 2023 0 Likes 213 Views

What is your power source?..

Red Bull, coffee, Protein shakes, Power Bars, and all sorts of other products promise us energy.

Many other products promise to enhance our power. Bodybuilders and folks into fitness and exercise routines gain physical strength and stamina, but, ….

Where do we really get our POWER from?

We see stories from time to time about folks doing superhuman feats to save another or help someone in danger.

I bet if you take a look at the events of your lifetime there have been a few times where you have had to “dig deep” to find that extra needed effort to complete a task or endure an unpleasant situation.

Where did that power come from?

Honestly, I know I am lying to myself if I try to claim it came only from me.

I know for fact that through my faith in God and my walk with Jesus that He equips me with the power I need for every situation.

How about you?..

Where does your power come from? …

Check your experience. …

“We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” Big Book pg. 45

Lord thank you for giving us the strength we need to not only accomplish the task or endure the situation, but also to allow You to work through us to help others, AMEN.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13

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/

Corrupt Data?

Mark Farley October 31, 2023 0 Likes 239 Views

Corrupt data…

Have you ever heard of this term?

Corrupt data comes from errors in reading, writing, transmitting, and processing data.

These days, we can have computer trouble, TV trouble, and even car trouble when data is corrupted.

It can be fixed by finding and fixing the error.

We can also have corrupt data in our lives.

The thoughts that we allow to drive our behaviors and influence our actions can be corrupted from misunderstandings, bad examples, and self-will unchecked.

This leads to hardened hearts and misery for all.

God can fix the errors that corrupt our spiritual data.

We just have to become willing and let Him.

How is the data transmission from your head to your heart?..

Check your experience…

“Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of inspiration. We come to rely upon it.” Big Book pg 87

Lord, let us open our heats to allow Your Spirit to guide our thoughts, actions, words, and will, AMEN.

“Everything is pure to those whose hearts are pure. But nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving, because their minds and consciences are corrupted.” Titus 1:15

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?

Thought Battles

Mark Farley October 30, 2023 0 Likes 272 Views

Picking our battles…

Perhaps it’s different for you but every now and then when I am alone with my thoughts, the quiet thought that has been with me for most of my life tries to remind me that not only am I a loser but also I am not worthy of others.

Now thankfully I have enough Jesus in my heart and step work from over 30 years of sobriety to remind me quickly that this thought is not mine, it is from my disease;

get it?

DIS-EASE…

The disease of addiction capitalizes on this for those times when we struggle with self-doubt and or fear.

I am thankful for my picket fence of friends in sobriety and my brothers and sisters in ministry who constantly remind me that God is using me for His will and I need to continue with my passion for helping others.

How are you handling your thoughts of DIS-EASE?..

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, let us go to war on our thoughts and not let thoughts of doubt and fear control our minds, efforts, and actions, AMEN.

“We fight with weapons that are different from those the world uses. Our weapons have power from God that can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments 5 and every proud thing that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10: 4-5

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]

If You Can’s See It Then BE IT!

Mark Farley October 29, 2023 0 Likes 235 Views

If you can’t see it, then BE it!..

Here is a suggestion.

Think about this and try it today and this week!

While going about your normal day and doing your same routines, look around today using the eyes of your heart.

Find someone doing some good and go out of your way to thank them.

Do something good unexpectedly for another person today.

You will make their day and your heart will thank you!….

Check your experience…

“Helping others is the foundation stone” Big Book pg 98

Lord open the eyes of our hearts today so that we can see and do good for others, AMEN. “

Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith.” Galatians 6:10

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?

Gain the World?

Mark Farley October 28, 2023 0 Likes 241 Views

What’s the real price?..

Perseverance and dedication are admirable traits and are certainly needed in order to be successful but at what cost?

It’s wise to learn, practice, and train in order to become good at what we do and gain valuable experience in order to be successful.

But what about the other parts of our lives?

Think about it.

How beneficial is it to neglect our family and friends and ignore our Spiritual needs while we pursue a personal or professional goal?..

Check your experience…

“The central fact of our lives today is the absolute certainty that our Creator has entered into our hearts and lives in a way which is indeed miraculous.
He has commenced to accomplish those things for us which we could never do by ourselves.” Big Book pg. 25

Lord, let us set aside our earthly wants and seek Your will for our lives, AMEN.

“And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?” Matthew 16:26

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 Are You Wearing?

Mark Farley October 27, 2023 0 Likes 247 Views

What are you wearing?..

We have gear for all types of weather, events, sports, hobbies, and seasons.

I just learned, and pardon my fashion backwardness, that there are even special shoes just for driving your car!

While it’s nice to have all of these choices to clothe ourselves properly according to weather, activity, and such….

How are we covering, preparing, and protecting our Spirit for all situations we encounter?

Our Bible teaches us to clothe ourselves in love which covers all things.

While I’ll admit that sometimes that this is really hard to put on for certain situations, it generally goes much better when I do...

Check your experience…

“…asking each morning in meditation that our Creator show us the way of patience, tolerance, kindliness and love.” Big Book pg. 83

Lord. Let us clothe ourselves in love to handle all people, places, and things that we encounter, AMEN.

“Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Colossians 3:14

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?

Embracing a Challenge

Mark Farley October 26, 2023 0 Likes 216 Views

Embracing a challenge….

When it’s all said and done, we basically have 2 choices with respect to challenges.

We can either let fear win and stop us from moving through it, or we can park our fears and walk straight into the challenge with faith, hope, and perseverance.

Think about it. It is our own mind that usually stops us from embracing change.

We tell ourselves through negative self-talk that we can’t.

Heck, we even try to rally others around us to reinforce this thought and gain their agreement that we can’t.

This makes it easier not to even try.

How about looking in your heart?

That is where the Holy Spirit lives and usually, if you listen to your heart, your head quiets down with the negativity…

Check your experience…

“For if (we) failed to perfect and enlarge (our) spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, we could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead” Big Book pgs. 14-15

Lord, let us embrace a challenge knowing we can learn and grow from it, AMEN.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.” Romans 5:35

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/

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