What is Faith?

Mark Farley November 25, 2024 0 Likes 50 Views

Using Faith…

Have you ever thought about whether the light would come on before you turned the light switch on?

Because I have the familiar experience of having successfully done it countless times before, I don’t even think about it, I just know it will work. Even when that 1 in a thousand time happens when the bulb is burnt out, I replace the bulb without thinking and the light comes on.

That is faith.

When I am staying in a new or unfamiliar place like a hotel or a friend’s home, I instinctively know that if I just find that light switch, the light will come on.

That is faith.

I cannot see the mechanics involved and I certainly have no electrical training or background in engineering, but…

B
ecause I have experience with the process, I trust it works and neither debate it, nor give it a second thought.

That is faith.

OK, so this next part may not apply to you Spiritual giants…

Now why then do I want to debate with God over trivial things?

Why do I expect the answer before I even begin the task that is new or unfamiliar? Where is my trust being placed? Where oh where is my faith? Has He not brought me this far in life successfully through things I have had no control over? Why do I even think I need to discuss the new thing with Him?

Where is my faith?

Check your experience…

“The great fact is just this, and nothing less: That we have had deep and effective spiritual experiences which have revolutionized our whole attitude toward life, toward our fellows and toward God’s universe.” Big Book pg 25

Lord, like the light switch, let us place our trust in You based on our experience with You, AMEN.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Have a blessed day y’all!

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It A’int For Sale

Mark Farley November 24, 2024 0 Likes 47 Views

It ain’t for sale….

Just about anything we could possibly want or think we need is available instantly these days.

From the basics of food, shelter, and clothing to instant fixes from pills, powders, and motivational mojo, we can get it instantly with our bank cards and money.

Maybe it’s different for you but I have learned the hard way that none of my flaws, defects, or shortcomings can be fixed instantly and from purchasing that latest thing they hawk on the TV or online.

My fears and pride are only managed through a daily reprieve contingent on my spiritual condition and growth.

I know I cannot buy my grace from God. He does not offer it for sale but He gives it to us for free when we become willing…

Check your experience…

“What we really have is a daily reprieve contingent on the maintenance of our spiritual condition.” Big Book pg 85

Lord, please help us to work daily to grow our relationship with You and not be confused by worldly clamors offering lies, AMEN.

“And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.'” Acts 8: 18-19

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!

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Faith Lift!

Mark Farley November 23, 2024 0 Likes 45 Views

Free Faith Lifts….

It’s not only the most wonderful time of the year but also the most hectic and chaotic time of year.

The stress of our self-imposed gift buying frenzy strains our finances and frazzles our nerves giving rise to fear and worry.

Add to this the fact that most of us tend to get caught up in the business and busy-ness of our daily lives with our tasks, routines, and responsibilities as we should but along the way…

Our faith can get muted and or even placed on the “I will get to that later” shelf.

Our faith can carry us through the hard and scary times as well as propel us to the blessings and grace that awaits us here on Earth as well as in Heaven.

Can your faith use a lift?..

Check your experience…

“Arrived at this point, we were squarely confronted with the question of faith.” Big Book pg 53

Lord, revive the faith deep within our hearts to brings us in line with Your will for us and relieve us of the stress of the worldly calamities constantly surrounding us, AMEN.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

Have a blessed day y’all!

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Inspired 365 Mentorship with Mark Farley!!

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Add Some Light

Mark Farley November 22, 2024 0 Likes 48 Views

Let’s throw a little light on the subject…

Light sure makes things easier for us.

We have different lights for different needs.

Sunlight is necessary for all living things.

Light bulbs give us access, safety, and convenience in our daily lives.

It’s part of our culture to use the term “throw a little light on the subject” when we want to draw attention to an observation or discussion point.

Have you considered how we use the Lord’s light in His Holy Spirit?

When we walk in the light of the Holy Spirit, our path is illuminated with grace, hope, and we find ourselves in the company of fellow believers and not so alone anymore.

Try turning on the light of the Holy Spirit next time you feel alone or confused.

It will amaze you how different things look and feel in His light!..

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 continue to seek and dwell in Your light as we seek Your will and grace daily, AMEN.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another” 1 John 1:7

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!

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Looking Out for Others

Mark Farley November 21, 2024 0 Likes 50 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!

Did you know that Mentorship can help you grow and achieve your goals and dreams?

Inspired 365 Mentorship with Mark Farley!!

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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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How Are You Asking?

Mark Farley November 20, 2024 0 Likes 53 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!

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as well as mentoring young adults aging out of the Foster Care System with Homes From Heaven
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Where Does Fear Come From?

Mark Farley November 19, 2024 0 Likes 49 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!

Did you know that Mentorship can help you grow and achieve your goals and dreams?

Inspired 365 Mentorship with Mark Farley!!

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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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Give It Away to Keep It

Mark Farley November 18, 2024 0 Likes 51 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 32 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.

Walking with Jesus and and staying active in 12 Step 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.

…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!
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Spiritual Google

Mark Farley November 17, 2024 0 Likes 55 Views

A different way to “Google”

Google has made life a lot easier for me!

It seems whatever I need to know; from directions to anywhere to what is the name of the actress that played Lorelai on Gilmore Girls, Google has it for me in a split second!

How convenient and time saving it is!

If only I could get answers to my moral and self-will challenges along with my spiritual directions from Google.

While Google will attempt to answer our life questions and offer spiritual direction, it can’t see our hearts or know our soul like the Holy Spirit does.

Thank goodness we can find those answers WHEN we become willing to ask, look, and receive.

How is this working out for you?

Are you turning to your internal Google in the form of the Holy Spirit when times are confusing or uncomfortable?…

Check your experience…

“Here we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought or a decision. Big Book pg 86

Lord, let us ask You for guidance and direction with open minds and hearts, AMEN.

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waiver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind.” James 1: 5-6

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

Don’t Judge

Mark Farley November 16, 2024 0 Likes 59 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!

Did you know that Mentorship can help you grow and achieve your goals and dreams?

Inspired 365 Mentorship with Mark Farley!!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching

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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