Category: Guys With God

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Perceptions and Trust

   February 13, 2023 0 Likes 205 Views
Perception is a funny thing. 


Maybe it’s different for you but my mind likes to try to lead me to believe things that are not actually true or as they appear.


I have learned the hard way that most things advertised as “free” generally have a cost associated somewhere. Also, experience has taught me that most “easy” and “simple” things are either low in quality or not worth really having.  


The good news is that I have learned over the years to trust my heart and not what my mind likes for me to believe.


The verse I am sharing today reminds me of this truth. Check your experience… “We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.” Big Book pg. 68  

Lord, let us look in our hearts and seek Your will when we are confused or uncertain, AMEN.  

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all “your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3: 5-6

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]

No Pain No Gain

   February 12, 2023 0 Likes 216 Views
No pain…no gain….


Maybe it’s different for you, but I can honestly say that I do not enjoy pain of any kind in any form. 


I don’t intentionally go looking for it but I have learned that when I do find myself in pain, there is either a lesson to be learned or an experience to grow from if I look with a willing heart and open mind. 


Staying spiritually fit is hard work but the benefits are immense.  


Sobriety is not easy but the pains from gaining and maintaining it have brought me blessings far beyond what I deserve. 


The same can be said for my journey to attain physical health and fitness. 


God gives us the pain inside of every challenge to encourage us to find the benefit He has for us. 


Check your experience… 


“If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are halfway through.” Big Book pg 83. 


 Lord, when we are in pain, please remind our hearts to seek the goodness we can gain from seeking Your will, AMEN.


“And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5: 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? 

Measuring Our Motives

   February 10, 2023 0 Likes 208 Views
Measuring our motives…


Way back when I was in grade school, every time we went to visit my father’s Aunt Mabel, she would send me to visit her friend Mrs. Wheatley.


Now this was not fun for a 10-year-old boy, but when the visit was over I would walk away with a big candy bar!


So, I was always willing to pay a visit to Mrs. Wheatley.


Sadly today, that is the only thing I remember about Mrs. Wheatley.


Now Y’all can say it’s because I am old and my boyhood memories have faded, but the sad truth is my only motive in going was for the candy bar.

Ever participated in something purely for a self-serving gain?


Heck, I am guilty of that at times still to this very day!


My point is that when others are counting on us to be there, we should check ourselves and our motives to make sure we are there for the right reasons.


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 please help me clear my mind of self-serving thoughts so that my heart can participate 100% for the right reasons based on Your will and not mine, AMEN


“All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord.” Proverbs 16:2


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?

What’s in Your Heart?

   February 9, 2023 0 Likes 170 Views
What’s in your heart?…


We all have this autopilot inside of us that handles our daily routine functions.


Breathing and walking are the obvious ones but what about those expected and meaningless interactions?


You know, like the store clerk or that same person you see daily in the hall or gym?


You have no emotional connection to them.


They say “How are you doing? ” And you say “fine” with no thought or effort.


Now what about when you need to either forgive someone or let go of something emotionally or pride fully?


Do you find yourself mouthing the words of the correct or expected response yet keeping your imagined control of it in your heart?


Perhaps that’s why we stay needlessly hurt or angry.


We lock that thing in our heart yet act like it’s gone.


God can fix that, but we must open our hearts and let go for real.


Check your experience…


“…he should understand that he must undergo a change of heart.” Big Book pg. 143


Lord let us open our hearts to be filled with your Spirit and healed by your grace, AMEN.


“I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.” Isaiah 57:15


Have a blessed day Y’all!


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Visit Servants Hearts!


It’s a free site to help connect folks with volunteer and helping opportunities!
http://aservantsheart.us

Our Tricky Minds

   February 8, 2023 0 Likes 198 Views
Our tricky minds…


Sometimes when I let my mind wander, it tries to take me down the path of doubt. 


If I permit this “stinkin’ thinkin’” to continue then the path widens to include worry, fear, and ultimately negativity all fueled from my own self-will. 


What helps me during these times is to remember that the answers are not in my head and that I am no longer in charge of me. 


When I made the life changing decision to turn my will and my life over to God, HE became not only my “Employer” but also my mentor, guide, and rock. 


I have learned to stay out of my own head and not go there by myself because it is filled with fear-based illusions fueled by the worldly clamors around us. 


God has us covered. 


He not only has us here for a purpose, but also, HE has a plan for us that we can easily understand if we seek His will daily. 


Check your experience… 


“We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well. Established on such a footing we became less and less interested in ourselves, our little plans, and designs.” Big Book pg. 63 


Lord, let us know in our hearts that You have a purpose and a plan for us that will keep us secure, successful, serene, and covered by Your grace, AMEN. 


“God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” Ephesians 2:10 


Have a blessed day Y’all! 


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Walking Toward the Light

   February 7, 2023 0 Likes 209 Views
Keep walking toward the light… 


Have you ever stayed overnight in a hotel or even a friend’s home for the first time and had to find the light switch in the middle of the night? 


Strange rooms and unfamiliar surroundings bring us confusion and we find ourselves moving slowly with caution. 


We know there is a light switch there somewhere, so we proceed forward, but ever so slowly because we don’t quite trust our new surroundings and environment. 


Now think about this with me. 


Isn’t our reaction the same when we encounter new or unforeseen pressures and circumstances in our lives? 


How do we handle the new, uncomfortable, and unforeseen?


Now maybe it’s different for you, but over time I have learned to seek and trust God’s will in these unfamiliar situations, mainly because, even though I may be uncomfortable and lack experience with handling the situation, I trust in my faith and that God has me covered and will guide me through. 


How about you?… 


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 put our faith and trust in You and Your will for us when times get hard and we find ourselves in new or unfamiliar circumstances, AMEN. 


 “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 


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? 

Different Yet the Same

   February 6, 2023 0 Likes 230 Views
Different yet the same… 


Observing people is a hobby of mine. 


I enjoy learning from others and behavior is usually indicative of a person’s habits. 


Over the years I have seen a blessed pattern emerge when I learn from observing a fellow believer. 


No matter what the action or activity is, the believer is doing it selflessly to help another without expectation of attention or recognition. 


This has taught me to remain humble and to keep my focus on others as I continue to grow my relationship with Christ and build my ministry. 


 I constantly remind myself that this (whatever the “this” is) is not about me…


Check your experience…


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


Lord let our helping actions and activities be focused on helping others and not ourselves, AMEN. 


“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.” 1 Corinthians 4:12-14 


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]

We GET What We Give

   February 5, 2023 0 Likes 207 Views
What goes around COMES around… 


Have you ever played with a bouncing ball? 


Did you notice that it always comes back to you with the same force you give it? 


Now I am not trying to teach physics, but the ball example contains today’s spiritual thought. 


I have learned over the years that my relationships with people, places, and things have the same effect. 

We GET what we GIVE. 


It’s a spiritual principle. 

When I treat others with grace, I get grace and when I throw out grief and negativity, I get it right back. 


Check your experience…


“Just to the extent that we do as we think He would have us, and humbly rely on Him, does He enable us to match calamity with serenity.” Big Book pg. 68 


Lord, let us give others the same grace and joy that you freely give us, AMEN. 


 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,” Matthew 7:12 


 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? 

Faith Over Fear

   February 4, 2023 0 Likes 196 Views
So why is it that sometimes we think we are walking in faith yet we still have that feeling of doom, failure, and or fear in our heads? 


Change brings this on more than anything for me. 


Now maybe it’s different for you, but I have this crazy head and it sometimes doesn’t like to connect with my heart. 


What I have learned, and mostly the hard way over the years, is that my self-will lives in my head and it loves to tell my heart what a loser and failure it thinks I am. 


Thanks to God, AA, SCAA, 
and a picket fence of friends, I have learned to tune that noise in my head out and focus on my heart where the Holy Spirit resides and directs me if I let Him. 


So when I get that feeling that perhaps I am going to fail or things are not going to go right, I politely thank my head and then shut the door on those thoughts and focus on what my faith and my heart are saying to me. 

How do you quiet your head so your heart can lead you?.. 


Check your experience… 


“Here was something at work in a human heart which had done the impossible.” Big Book pg 11 


Lord, let us turn out will and our lives over to Your care and direction daily, AMEN. 


“And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?” Luke 24:38 


 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]

A Bad Moment Not a Bad Day

   February 3, 2023 0 Likes 204 Views
Don’t turn a bad moment into a bad day….


Have you ever noticed that what you focus on influences how you feel and act? 


For instance, playing with children can make some older folks feel young and more alive. 


How about the feeling of accomplishment after completing a workout at the gym? 


What about the uncomfortable and unpleasant parts of our day that we all have? 


Have you ever noticed what happens when we focus on that? 


It tends to drag us into the negative mindset and bring us down. 


Now maybe it’s different for you, but I have found that when I enter into the unpleasant moments of my day, instead of focusing on the anticipation of the impending doom or negativity, I remind myself of all the good in my life and that this is just a moment in my day that will eventually pass. 


I find that when I greet negative times with cheerfulness, the negativity has a hard time taking me hostage. 

How’s that working out for you?.. 


Check your experience… 


“We were prepared to look at it from an entirely different angle.” Big Book pg. 66 


Lord, let us walk through the negative times knowing this is but a moment but You are in our heart forever and that we have blessings awaiting us, AMEN. 


 “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.” Philippians 2:14-15 


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?