Love is in the air!... Lots of love in the air today! Cards, candy, and flowers helping to seal the deal so to speak! Remember folks, we each have a personal Valentine that loves unconditionally JUST AS WE ARE! Deep in our heart exists the Holy Spirit that not only looks out for us and protects us when we allow it to, but also loves us unconditionally! Don’t believe me, just check your experience!... “He stood in the Presence of Infinite Power and Love.” Big Book pg 56 Lord, as we share this day with our loved ones today, let us remember Your ultimate unconditional love for us, AMEN. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 Happy Valentine’s Day y’all! www.FaithThroughWorksFellowship.org

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. …“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 Lord, let us look in our hearts and seek Your will when we are confused or uncertain, AMEN. “We trust infinite God rather than our finite selves.” Big Book pg. 68. Have a blessed day y'all! THERE IS STILL TIME to get your 2017 AZ Tax Credit! YES for 2017! Come on now….MAKE A DIFFERENCE! $400 provides furniture to make a house into a home for our clients and families escaping homelessness and hopelessness. Furniture Bank is a 501c3 public charity and every penny donated goes toward helping our families, veterans, and individuals in need. We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! You can donate any amount for a tax deduction and tax receipt, BUT…. a gift of either $400 as an individual or $800 as a couple to Furniture Bank, Inc. a 501c3 public charity, can also reduce your tax bill to the State of Arizona by that amount dollar for dollar! Visit our website www.FurnitureBank.us and click on the PayPal button for a secure transaction and tax receipt that will follow within 48 hours. Please help us help others! We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! Please help us help others! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

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 half way 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! We continue collecting new socks and underwear and gently used men, women and children’s clothing, shoes, purses, and belts. Every piece helps! We will also can use hygiene products (Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Lotion, etc) If you would like to donate, please contact us at Backpacks 4 Kids Az, Inc. - bp4kidsaz@gmail.com Furniture Bank, Inc. Mark@FurnitureBank.us Who I am Foundation - halona.pineda@outlook.com Zuri's Circle - zuriscircle.mbc@gmail.com Drop Off Location is Arizona Storage Inn Address: 6750 W Buckeye Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85043 Monday- Friday 9am- 6pm https://www.backpacks4kidsaz.com

The “inner-net’ connection… Plugged in, wired, and networked are terms we associate with our communications these days. I am just glad I no longer need to figure out how to “interface” with folks! Wi-Fi and internet are the connections we seem to chase the most these days as we rely more and more on social media to get our “message” out there to “build our brand”. It sure feels like we need to constantly be networking ourselves to others in order to stay connected in today’s world. How do we stay plugged in to the things that keep us grounded, stable, and secure? What about our internal connection to God and the Holy Spirit? I am grateful that I have been shown and taught to seek quiet time daily, and even hourly at times, to connect with God to stabilize my heart and quiet my mind. When I do this, I become grounded and connected in the right way that makes my day go in the direction it needs to instead of more out of control. How are you keeping your inner connection solid?.. Check your experience… “In nearly all cases, their ideals must be grounded in a power greater than themselves,” Big Book pg xxviii Lord, let us seek Your grace and guidance daily to be grounded securely in your will and not fall victim to the illusions of worldly clamors, AMEN. “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15 Have a blessed day y’all! THERE IS STILL TIME to get your 2017 AZ Tax Credit! YES for 2017! Come on now….MAKE A DIFFERENCE! $400 provides furniture to make a house into a home for our clients and families escaping homelessness and hopelessness. Furniture Bank is a 501c3 public charity and every penny donated goes toward helping our families, veterans, and individuals in need. We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! You can donate any amount for a tax deduction and tax receipt, BUT…. a gift of either $400 as an individual or $800 as a couple to Furniture Bank, Inc. a 501c3 public charity, can also reduce your tax bill to the State of Arizona by that amount dollar for dollar! Visit our website www.FurnitureBank.us and click on the PayPal button for a secure transaction and tax receipt that will follow within 48 hours. Please help us help others! We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! Please help us help others! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

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! THERE IS STILL TIME to get your 2017 AZ Tax Credit! YES for 2017! Come on now….MAKE A DIFFERENCE! $400 provides furniture to make a house into a home for our clients and families escaping homelessness and hopelessness. Furniture Bank is a 501c3 public charity and every penny donated goes toward helping our families, veterans, and individuals in need. We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! You can donate any amount for a tax deduction and tax receipt, BUT…. a gift of either $400 as an individual or $800 as a couple to Furniture Bank, Inc. a 501c3 public charity, can also reduce your tax bill to the State of Arizona by that amount dollar for dollar! Visit our website www.FurnitureBank.us and click on the PayPal button for a secure transaction and tax receipt that will follow within 48 hours. Please help us help others! We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! Please help us help others!http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

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 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 locked inside your heart by emotions of pride, anger, or other hurt feelings? 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 have to 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! We will be collecting new socks and underwear and gently used men, women and children’s clothing, shoes, purses, and belts. Every piece helps! We will also be collecting hygiene products (Shampoo, Soap, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes, Deodorant, Lotion, etc) If you would like to donate, please contact us at Backpacks 4 Kids Az, Inc. - bp4kidsaz@gmail.com Furniture Bank, In. Mark@FurnitureBank.us Who I am Foundation -halona.pineda@outlook.com Zuri's Circle - zuriscircle.mbc@gmail.com Drop Off Location is Arizona Storage Inn Address: 6750 W Buckeye Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85043 Monday- Friday 9am- 6pm https://www.backpacks4kidsaz.com/

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! THERE IS STILL TIME to get your 2017 AZ Tax Credit! YES for 2017! Come on now….MAKE A DIFFERENCE!! You can donate any amount for a tax deduction and tax receipt, BUT…. a gift of either $400 as an individual or $800 as a couple to Furniture Bank, Inc. a 501c3 public charity, can also reduce your tax bill to the State of Arizona by that amount dollar for dollar! Visit our website www.FurnitureBank.us and click on the PayPal button for a secure transaction and tax receipt that will follow within 48 hours. Please help us help others! We are in the hand-UP business and not the HANDOUT GAME! Please help us help others! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html