Faith Through Works Fellowship: July 2021

Saturday, July 31, 2021

Make your actions match your words…

Ever been in a situation where someone’s words did not match their actions?

It not only makes it hard to trust the person or situation, but also it raises an awareness to check motives and efforts of others we interact with.

Hopefully is also serves as a good reminded to take a long look in the mirror to make sure our words match our actions…

Check your experience…

“But be sure you are on solid spiritual ground before you start and that your motive in going is thoroughly good. Do not think of what you will get out of the occasion. Think of what you can bring to it.” Big Book pg 102

Lord, let our motives match our efforts and our walk match our talk, AMEN.

“Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” Micah 6:8

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!

http://aservantsheart.us

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Who ya gonna trust?...

Trust is a strong word with heavy commitment.

We see it on our currency, and we use it as a part of our foundation for relationships with people, places, and things.

Think about it, how many times do we use the word trust in statements we make to ourselves or others, as we finalize our action decision?

We trust teachers with our children. We trust doctors with our health. We trust our employers to pay our wages. The experiences we build over time with our teachers, doctors, and employers helps to build this trust.

So where do we place our trust when we work on our spiritual life?

Are we placing it with strangers, fads, or are we placing it in building a long term relationship with God?...

Check your experience…

“We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.” Big Book pg 68

Lord, let us place our trust in You through growing closer to You in Your Word, AMEN.

“So God’s promise is given to us because we put our trust in Him. We can be sure of it. It is because of His loving favor to us.” Romans 4:16

Have a blessed day Y'all!

Please help us help others!

http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Donate today!

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

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Friday, July 30, 2021

What are you a slave to?..

Have you ever considered that you might be spending too much time in thought, deed, or action with someone or something?

Now my 12 Step friends understand this all too well with addictions and obsessions,..

but we can also become slaves to our jobs, the gym, and even toxic people, places, or things.

When we find that most of our time, energy, and efforts are spent chasing someone or something to the point it influences the way we participate in the rest of the parts of our life, we are its slave.

Think about it and... Check your experience…

"We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness." Big Book pg 83

Lord let us be free from the chains of the many worldly temptations, AMEN.

" For you are a slave to whatever controls you." 2 Peter 2:19

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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Thursday, July 29, 2021

How we know what we know....

There are all kinds of ways to learn.

Memorizing things imprints them in our brain for a needed purpose. Book learning helps to grasp a concept or way of thinking. Cramming for a test gets us through the test. We learn things daily through our experiences.

But think about it, how do we KNOW stuff?

While we have many ways to learn, the only way we truly ever know anything is by the experience gained that is imprinted in our hearts.

Therefore the Holy Spirit lives in each of our hearts. God opens our hearts to receive the true knowledge we need, or, if you will, the truth...

Check your experience…

"Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth" Big Book pg 98

Lord, let us willingly open our hearts to be filled with Your knowledge and truth, AMEN.

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32

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

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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Helping others helps yourself…

Whenever we help someone, we are helping ourselves.

Helping others is an invitation to give.

It’s an insight into where we are spiritually with our willingness to help others.

Finally, this is an incentive to look past our needs and wants to help another person.

So, while we are built spiritually to give and help others, are we actually willing and able?..

Check your experience…

“It is not the matter of giving that is in question, but when and how to give.” Big Book pg 98

Lord, thank You for giving so much to us in blessings, favor, and grace, please let us give back by giving to others what we can when we can, AMEN.

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Proverbs 19:17

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!

http://aservantsheart.us

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

One heart….

We see a lot of credit, responsibility, and focus given to our heart.

It’s the source of our spirit, the keeper of our innermost thoughts, and the driving force of our will.

It would make sense then to pay attention to what influences and tries to go into our heart.

Trying to manage our heart alone is futile.

There is simply too many worldly clamors and influences and we become easily overwhelmed, but turning our hearts and minds over to the care of God enables us to be free and protects our hearts from the chaos.

How are you protecting your heart?..

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 examine our hearts daily to be sure we have it tuned into Your will and Word, AMEN.

“I will give them one heart and I will put a new spirit within them; I will remove the hearts of stone from their bodies and I will give them tender hearts,” Ezekiel 11:19

Have a blessed day y’all!

Please help us help others!

http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Donate today!

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog.

Monday, July 26, 2021

Que sera sera, whatever will be will be….

What makes the Bible so vibrant and vital to every generation and time period, including today is the fact that despite minor details, there is nothing new that the Bible doesn’t address.

Think about it, the character defects of Pride, Anger, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, and Sloth (PAGLEGS to my 12 Step friends) are the driving forces behind every incident of self will here on Earth.

God knew this when He created us and knows this to be true of every human because it’s included in the DNA of our free will.

Our hope is in the fact that we can turn our will over to the care of God and then these defects of character no longer run our lives and put us into situations that cause us and others pain…

Check your experience…

“As we go through the day we pause, when agitated or doubtful, and ask for the right thought or action. We constantly remind ourselves we are no longer running the show, humbly saying to ourselves many times each day “Thy will be done.” We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions. We become much more efficient.” Big Book pgs. 87-88

Lord, let us turn our will and our lives over to you daily and receive grace, peace, comfort, and direction, AMEN.

“What has been is the same as what will be, and what has been done is the same as what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

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?

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Sunday, July 25, 2021

We all have something to contribute…

Most of us have a few things that we are good at and a few that …well…it’s probably best if we leave it to others more suited to that skill set.

It’s a known fact among my family and friends that I have neither understanding nor purpose to handle tools. Oh, I like them, they’re shiny, but I have no clue as to why Allen has his own named wrenches and Phillip gets his own screwdrivers!

Luckily, my family, friends, and ministry partners have found things I am more suited to doing and we balance well off each other.

God gives each of us gifts and talents to not only use to help us while we walk here on Earth, but also to help others He puts in our path.

What are your gifts and how are you using them to help yourself and others?...

Check your experience…

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

Lord, please use our talents and gifts to help those You put in our path, AMEN.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7

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!

http://aservantsheart.us

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

Saturday, July 24, 2021

The power of forgiveness…

We have all experienced this.

Fueled by anger, resentment, and or thoughts of revenge; our emotions produce words and actions that we would never allow if we were not caught up in the bad feelings of the moment.

Sadly, some folks stay this way for years and it poisons all the relationships around them.

It’s OK to be upset when people, places, and things harm or hurt us, but it’s not ok to continue to replay that moment or event and let it influence the rest of our day, week, or year.

The good news is that we can start our day over anytime we want. God makes this possible with His Spirit of forgiveness that lives inside each of us.

While some wrongs can never be righted, we do not have to allow then to hold power over the rest of our lives.

Are you holding any lingering resentments or allowing anger to influence your actions or relationships?..

Check your experience…

“It is plain that a life which includes deep resentment leads only to futility and unhappiness.” Big Book pg 66

Lord, let us give our hurts and anger to You in return for the peace and serenity that comes from forgiveness, AMEN.

“Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

Have a blessed day Y'all!

Please help us help others!

http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Donate today!

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

Friday, July 23, 2021

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 big 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!!

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?

Free daily message in your morning inbox.

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Thursday, July 22, 2021

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?

Free daily message in your morning inbox.

I never share, sell, or publish your email. https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

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 heart, but also knows what fills it 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 heats 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!

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!

http://aservantsheart.us

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Keep walking the Path….

It seems no matter what the reward is, there is some form of risk involved.

From a child first learning to trust gravity to ride a bike, to the risks we take as adults with relationships, finances, employment, and other worldly things, we have to risk something to gain something else.

Risk is part of our Earthly experience and a great exercise for us to build and practice our faith as we seek the reward.

Sometimes we hit bumps in the road but if we keep our hearts and eyes focused on our goal, our risk does not become ruled by fear and our faith carries us through.

Measure your risk with your faith and see how it helps!

As always, don’t take it from me, rather…. Check your experience…

“Faith has to work twenty-four hours a day in and through us, or we perish.” Big Book pg 16

Lord, let our hearts know that our risk, supported by our faith will carry us through to the reward, AMEN

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.” 1Peter 1:6

Have a blessed day y’all!

Please help us help others!

http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Donate today!

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Take off your shoes…

Years ago when I was on staff at Salvation Army as a counselor, I taught a class for the men in the Adult Recovery Center in Sacramento.

One of the more popular lessons I taught was called “Take off your shoes”

I would post a sign outside of the chapel that served as our classroom asking all who entered to take off their shoes.

Everyone complied and no one ever had a serious problem with the request.

I would then share with the men how we are always willing and able to comply and participate with general requests, like taking off our shoes.

I would then ask them to think about why they did not feel the need to demand to know what kind of shoes I was asking them to take off. Would sandals qualify or be excused? What about sneakers and boots?

The point I was making for the class was that we all put something on our feet and even though it may be a boot, sneaker, or sandal, it’s still just a shoe with the main purpose of protecting our feet.

I then used this understanding to hone in on the fact that whether it is SUGAR, alcohol, cocaine, pills, meth, heroin, or other chemicals, we are all addicted to something and we all have that in common and need to band together to recover.

Driving home the point that we all put something inside of us to numb ourselves to the outside world.

Now folks, I am NOT politically motivated, and those who know me best know that I am color blind with respect to skin and race.

So my point today is that we are all living and breathing humans, so why can’t we band together to help one another instead of all this senseless nonsense…

Check your experience…

“The point is, that we are willing to grow along spiritual lines.” Big Book pg 60

Lord, let us remember we are all Your children and one Earthly family, AMEN.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

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!

http://aservantsheart.us

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog

Saturday, July 17, 2021

Is this available on Amazon or at the Wal-Mart?...

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just order wisdom online, download it to our mind computer and keep on moving?

Heck, even buying the CD and watching it would… no wait, lots of late night ads are already trying this and I don’t think it’s delivering on the desired effect all too well.

So, what is the secret to getting wisdom?

I am still trying to figure that part out, but I can share from my own experience as well as watching and learning from others, that wisdom comes from learning, applying, and gaining experience.

We have a great Book of knowledge that contains many skills, lessons, and insights, but it takes a commitment to read it, share it, and practice the principles it contains. It’s a good thing to have a Bible, but we can’t gain from it until we learn from it and apply it to our lives.

How’s that working out for you?..

Check your experience...

“We have learned that whatever the human frailties of various faiths may be; those faiths have given purpose and direction to millions. People of faith have a logical idea of what life is all about.” Big Book pg 49

Lord, open our minds and hearts with willingness and a thirst to learn from Your Word, AMEN.

“Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.” Proverbs 4:7

Have a blessed day Y'all!

Please help us help others!

http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Donate today!

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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

Free daily message in your Inbox!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog