The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree…. Have you ever noticed the fruit produced tends to depend on the health of the tree? Trees that are given ample water and in well maintained soil produce the best fruit. Trees that get little water and are located in not so fertile soil don’t produce much fruit and the fruit that is produces usually does not compare in quality to a healthier tree. If you think about it, our lives are the same way. When we are connected to a healthy, positive, and nurturing spiritual, emotional, and physical environment, we tend to be healthy for ourselves and others. When our surroundings are full of negativity and all kinds of chaos, we struggle to receive the spiritual food needed to be healthy… The apple does not fall far from the tree! How fertile is your environment?.. Check your experience… “His roots grasped a new soil.” Big Book pg 12 Lord, let us surround ourselves with a fertile environment filled with love, grace, and growth, AMEN. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.” John 15:5 Have a blessed day y’all! Start your day on a positive and inspiring note! Daily Meditations from the Big Book and Good Book combined!https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&field-keywords=Pastor%20Mark%20Farley&ie=UTF8&url=search-alias%3Daps

Don't drink the Kool-Aid, just drink water... When an unknown person, place, thing, or situation comes wrapped in a pretty package, it can be misleading. Perhaps it’s different for you, but I have learned this life lesson the hard way. It seems our accepted cultural norm these days is to look for the quick fix and instant gratification. However, do we get the desired long term and permanent results? It's what's inside that counts. In my walk, this only happens from first gaining experience from that person, place, thing, or situation. It’s the same with my spiritual growth. The more I take the time to learn the spiritual principles needed to keep me in God’s will, the less I find myself lost in my own selfish self-centered will. Instant gratification a’int all that good for the long run!.. Check your experience…"Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did." Big Book pg 52. Lord thank you for quenching the thirst in our souls through Your Word and Spirit, AMEN. "Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst — not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” John 4:14 Have a blessed day y'all! www.FaithThroughWorksFellowship.org

Going all in… Maybe you play poker, or you have you watched the pros play poker on TV. When they place their entire pile of chips, everything, as a bet. They go “all in”. They are totally committed with no chance to change their minds. It makes me wonder what I am doing in my life to that effect of “all in”. I know I need improvement here in all aspects of my life including my relationship with the Lord. Jesus went “all in” for us when He went on that cross…Check your experience… “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him.” Big Book pg 46 Lord, let us give you all of our heart and soul, just like You have for us, AMEN. “But from there you will look for the Lord your God. And you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and soul.” Deuteronomy 4:29 Have a blessed day y’all! https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&field-keywords=Pastor%20Mark%20Farley&ie=UTF8&url=search-alias%3Daps

Walk your talk…Plan your work then work your plan….Stay in the now….Keep your feet on the ground but keep reaching for the stars…. These are just a few of the takeaways and good reminders I have gathered over the years in the 12 Step rooms. What all of these encouraging words mean to me is that I must walk daily on the path of humble spiritual growth. I have found the best way for me to do this is by keeping a picket fence of friends around me who not only share a strong faith but also practice spiritual principles in their daily lives that allows us to live transparently as we grow in our walk with Christ… Check your experience!.. “We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit, and you will surely meet some of us as you trudge the Road of Happy Destiny.” Big Book pg 164 Lord, thank you for filling my heart with a humble willingness to know You better daily and surrounding me with others who also seek to know and do Your will, AMEN. “Watch the path of your feet and all your ways will be established.” Proverbs 4:26 Have a blessed day y’all! www.FaithThroughWorksFellowship.org

You ARE enough… I don’t know about you, but sometimes this magic magnifying mind of mine tries to tell me things that just are not true. It especially likes to try to convince me that I am not worthy and not “good enough” for this or that. It loves to try to get me to believe the illusion that I am nothing and have nothing to offer others! Thank goodness for AA, the 12 Steps, and God’s Word. Through the fellowship of AA, CONSTANTLY working the 12 Steps, and being in God’s Word daily I know that what my mind wants me to believe is false and that I need not let it run my thoughts and actions. I am nowhere near perfect, but I can help others! We all matter and each of us has the ability to share and help another! Give what you got. Go with what you have and make your best effort. If you are truly seeking God's will and your motives are of His spirit you will be amazed... Check your experience… "we did because we honestly wanted to, and were willing to make the effort" Big Book pg 26. Lord let us look to seek Your will and give our best efforts with what we have instead of allowing our self-will to delude us to thinking we can't, AMEN. "Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. And they all ate and were satisfied; and the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve baskets full." Luke 9: 16-17 Have a blessed day y'all! https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=smi_www_rco2_go_smi_2609328962?_encoding=UTF8&field-keywords=Pastor%20Mark%20Farley&ie=UTF8&url=search-alias%3Daps

When WANTS overpower NEEDS…. There are few rules of life that I try to go by to keep my wants from overpowering my needs. For instance, I don’t go to the grocery store hungry, and I try not to make big decisions until I have had a chance to think it through, pray about it, and get advice from those I trust. I also try to respond instead of react. Now perhaps it’s different for you, but I have learned that my WANTS seem to be fueled by my pride, fear, resentment, and or greed. That puts me deep in self-will and away from God's will for sure. Check your experience… "The greatest enemies of us are resentment, jealousy, envy, frustration, and fear." Big Book pg 145 Lord help us to check our motives and efforts so that our self-will does not lead us to fear, resentment, or greedy actions, AMEN. "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it." James 4:1-2 Have a blessed day y'all! www.FaithThroughWorksFellowship.org

We become a product of the environment around us. Some of the things that influence our thoughts, actions, behaviors, and lives are good for us. Some are social, cultural, and even spiritual. Fashion, clothing, fit eating and living are a few of many good influences we experience. I am still waiting for Leisure suits and mullets to come back into style! Then there is the environments of peer pressure, self-serving desires of the ego, pride, and negativity. These environments can lead to bad choices, poor decisions, and hurtful habits. What actions, attitudes, and behaviors are we tolerating and allowing to influence us? What are we feeding our hearts, minds, and spirit? Check your own experience folks... To the precise extent that we permit these, do we squander the hours that might have been worthwhile.” Big Book pg 66 Lord open the eyes of our hearts to show us the things we need and the illusions we don't, AMEN. "But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance." Luke 8:15 Have a blessed day y'all! https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Pastor+Mark+Farley&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3APastor+Mark+Farley