Examining Our Motives

Mark Farley November 18, 2022 0 Likes 176 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!

Join me in looking at the things we face daily with passages from both the Big Book and Bible!

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***How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?***

Forgive First and Be Forgiven

Mark Farley November 17, 2022 0 Likes 143 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!

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Got Traffic in Your Heart?

Mark Farley November 16, 2022 0 Likes 200 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!

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Helping Others Helps You

Mark Farley November 15, 2022 0 Likes 143 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 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 thoug***ht?

We GET What We GIVE

Mark Farley November 14, 2022 0 Likes 215 Views

Wisdom

Ron P November 13, 2022 0 Likes 200 Views

“We’re drowning in information but starving for wisdom.”

What am I feeding my soul with? What am I allowing into my mind? What kind of Information am I looking for?

I pray that I fill my mind with the right kind of information that will lead me to transformation!
The kind of information that gives me the wisdom to become who God created me to be.

Spiritual Nourishment

Mark Farley November 13, 2022 0 Likes 169 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!!

**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?***

Trading the Truth for a Lie

Mark Farley November 12, 2022 0 Likes 151 Views

**Truth or consequences…**

Perhaps you have a better handle on this, but it can get confusing for me at times to know when I am getting the truth or a lie with respect to information.

Looking at information for just about anything these days takes a measure or patience mixed with persistence to sort through the word vomit and visual imagery to learn the truth needed to make a decision.

Trying to help Miss Tami find sunscreen for her face became a hunting expedition as we read ingredients and learned about all kinds of scary stuff that is part of the ingredients in some brands.

I am neither a scientist nor an expert, but it seems to me that putting various concoctions and mixtures of alcohol and mineral oils on one one’s face cannot be good in the long run, let alone make a good sunscreen for sensitive skin!

***Experience, trust, and faith are the anchors I depend on to get me through.***

We found the brand she likes and lo and behold, no alcohol or mineral based petroleum products are used!

This experience leads me to my thought for today,..

**How are we reading the ingredients that we are putting into our spiritual lives?**

***Are we getting the good soul food from God’s Word or….***

**Are we getting “junk food” and chemical substitutes that make us feel good for the moment but have no lasting spiritual nutritional value?…**

Check your experience…

***“We have seen the truth demonstrated again and again:” Big Book pg. 33***

*Lord, let us look for Your Truth in seeking Your will and learning from Your Word, AMEN.*

***“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie,” Romans 1:25***

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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Thank You Veterans!

Mark Farley November 11, 2022 0 Likes 213 Views

Thanks, and God Bless Chuck Jackson, Rick Jackson, Scott Jackson, Nick Farley, Uncle Charles King, Uncle Russell Priddy, Curtis Smith, Eric Fowlston, John R., Coop, Bill S., Roger, Tyler, Dan H., my Sponsor Jim R., Phil, Adam, Mel, KD, Dave C., Raenee, and all Veterans past, present, and future.

**Your honor, duty, sacrifice, and service keep us safe, protected, and free!**

***“Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.” Big Book pg. 77***

*Lord, we thank and honor those who protect our freedom by serving our country. May You constantly bless them and their families, AMEN.*

***“Greater love has no one than this that he lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13***

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?***

Willingness in Our Hearts

Mark Farley November 10, 2022 0 Likes 145 Views