Beware of Isolating Thoughts

Mark Farley August 31, 2022 0 Likes 168 Views

**There is no “i” in team…**.

A few years ago, I borrowed the phrase; **“I can’t fix the head I got with the head I got.”** from Brian C. from one of the AA meetings here in Phoenix.

I learn many things from listening to and observing people and this thought has proven to be a strong tool for myself and others.

***Maybe it’s different for you, but when I am in spiritual pain or struggling with issues of pride and self-will, I have a hard time initially sharing my struggle.***

**This thought gives me a quick reality check and motivates me to seek counsel from others and not let my selfish thoughts continue to dominate my mind and actions.**

***How comfortable are you in using your own mind to clear up your struggles with your thoughts and spiritual walk?..***

Check your experience…

“Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone.” Big Book p.g 84

***Lord, let us not only share the things that are dominating our thoughts and blocking us from Your grace but also be willing to act on advice received from others, AMEN. “***

***One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires; he rejects all sound judgment. Proverbs 18:1***

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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Offer a Hand Up Instead of a Hand Out

Mark Farley August 30, 2022 0 Likes 101 Views

Give a hand up and not a handout…

Have you ever noticed that when you give stuff to people for free, they will usually take it?

It’s a nice thing to give to others and that is what we should do as part of our spiritual growth and walk with Christ, but sometimes helping actually hurts those you are giving to.
Stop giving them fish and instead teach them to fish!

Think about it, if we continue to provide for others without teaching them or giving them a chance to provide for themselves,…

then we are hurting their growth and not really helping.

It’s good to give, please don’t misunderstand,..

but it’s not helpful if we continue to give and do for the same people over and over without giving them a chance to learn how to provide for themselves.

Check your experience….

“Your job now is to be at the place where you may be of maximum helpfulness to others,” Big Book pg 102

Lord, let us share our bounty with others as you so generously share with us, but let us share with a motive of helping with hand UP and not a hand-OUT, AMEN.

“Treat others as you want them to treat you.” Luke 6:31

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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Bad Moments Are Not Bad Days

Mark Farley August 29, 2022 0 Likes 123 Views

**“Don’t turn a bad moment into a bad day.”**

Back in Sacramento, years ago, ol’ Dick E. of Group 3 used to say this “phrase that pays” the AA meetings.

***I have held onto that thought over the years and found it very useful when I am in times of stress or struggle.***

I simply force my head to remember these words and it stops the bad moment from becoming a bad day.

While some situations last longer than a moment, I have learned that I am not facing it alone and that when I turn my troubles and fears over to the Lord, not only does my day go better, but also, the situation usually resolves itself and leaves me in a better place as a result.

**Are you allowing bad moments to become bad days?..**

Check your experience….

***“In this book you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves.” Big Book pgs. 70-71***

***Lord, what times of uncertainty, stress, or struggle come, remind my heat that You are with me and I can turn it over to Your care and not let it run my whole day, AMEN.***

“I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine.” 1 Peter 1:6-7

Have a blessed day
Y’all!

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Transform Instead of Conform

Mark Farley August 27, 2022 0 Likes 126 Views

**Going with the flow…**

It’s easy to know how to act, dress, and what to do these days.

**Just watch TV or pay attention to any form of advertising and it will tell you how to think, act, and feel.**

***But, is that healthy for us?***

**It’s nice to “fit in” …**

***but what mold are we trying to actually fit in to?***

Because we have a God who loves us unconditionally and give us free will, we can become disillusioned by some of the trappings of this world.

**Most of us know that money and things do not buy real happiness.**

***Having a real relationship with a real and living God does! …***

Check your experience…

***“We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change” Big Book pg. 84***

***Lord, let us not fall into the illusions of the material trappings of this world and distort our relationship with You, AMEN.***

***“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:29***

Have a blessed day Y’all!

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The Test of Fire

Mark Farley August 26, 2022 0 Likes 123 Views

Heart Traffic

Mark Farley August 25, 2022 0 Likes 146 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, and 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 will perceive 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 hearts 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 had been ever since.” Big Book pgs. 12-13***

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

***“Let us put everything out of our lives that keep 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!

Looking to volunteer or plug into an existing helping opportunity in the Greater Phoenix AZ area?

**Visit Servants Hearts!**

***It’s a free site to help connect folks with volunteer and helping opportunities!***

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Helping Others Frees Us!

Mark Farley August 24, 2022 0 Likes 155 Views

**Hang on, help is on the way…..**

***One of the most freeing experiences for me is to help another person.***

It frees me from the burden of self and puts perspective onto my self-centered perceptions of my challenges and problems.

Now maybe it’s different for you, but…

When I can place my focus on helping another, my heart gets filled with not only a refreshing humility from the service,

***but also, I gain a fresh perspective when I revisit my issue or challenge and***

**it no longer appears to be such a problem, but a manageable challenge.**

***This is how the Holy Spirit works in us and among us.***

Give it a try next time you feel your chips are down.

**Reach out and help someone and see how your day changes!** …

Check your experience… “

***Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help.” Big Book pg 84***

*Lord, let us look to help others and be of service, in order to gain perspective on our issues and challenges, AMEN.*

***“Help each other in troubles and problems. This is the kind of law Christ asks us to obey.” Galatians 6:2***

Have a blessed day y’all!

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Walking by Faith

Mark Farley August 23, 2022 0 Likes 120 Views

**Faith is not believing that God can…It is in knowing that God will…**

***Wouldn’t it be great if we could wake up every morning with a faxed or emailed itinerary of EXACTLY how our day will go?***

**No more guessing, juggling, and figuring out, just seeing and doing.**

Unfortunately, we live in a real world with other real people, places, and things that are ALWAYS changing.

**The good news is that we actually DO have the daily itinerary!**

It’s in our hearts and all we have to do is drop the expectations on people, places, and things and walk forward in faith, knowing God has the end result covered, all we need to do is participate fully with our hearts.

Think about it.

**Doesn’t your day go so much better when you drop the expectations and just be? …**

Check your experience…

***“In this book, you read again and again that faith did for us what we could not do for ourselves.” Big Book pg 70***

*Lord, let us walk in faith and not in expectation, AMEN.*

***“For we walk by faith, not by sight” 2 Corinthians 5***: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!

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pastor+mark+farley&ref=nb_sb_noss

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

Looking at Your Heart

Mark Farley August 22, 2022 0 Likes 186 Views

**It’s a matter of the heart…**

Have you ever heard or used the expressions; “’ You’re all heart, ‘; ‘ She has a lot of heart’; or ‘bless his heart”?

**Hopefully, we use and or hear those phrases associated with good thoughts.**

***They are spiritually based and character driven by design.***

**The Bible is full of examples and references to our heart and how we should guard it, allow good to flow from it, and protect it.**

*The fact of the matter is that God not only sees our hearts but also knows what fills them and how it fuels our lives.*

**So, what do you see when you look at your heart?..**

Check your experience…

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

*Lord, open our hearts to contain good and grace and remove those things that get in the way of our usefulness to You and those You would have us help, AMEN.*

***“God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7***

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!!***

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[email protected]

Stay on the Path

Ron P August 21, 2022 0 Likes 113 Views

The path that God has me on is both a privilege and a peril. I sometimes feel burdened by it. Am I doing the right thing? What do others think? As long as I feel I am doing what God calls me to do, I am to not worry about what others think. What God is doing in me is not always revealed at first. As long as I continue to trust in what God is doing in and through me, stay on the path, His Blessings will continue to help me grow in the joy and peace He wants for us all!