Faith Through Works Fellowship

Sunday, November 7, 2021

The power of choice…

We face many choices daily but for me, the most important and constant choice I face is to either seek God’s will or follow my own self-will.

Maybe some folks think like I used to think when I was first saved that I no longer had to battle with life’s twists, turns, tests, trials, and temptations, because I had Jesus in my heart.

However, the fact is that God loves us so much that even though through Baptism He fills our heart with His Holy Spirit, He loves us so much and so unconditionally that He allows us to keep our free will.

Now perhaps it’s different for you, but this is exactly why I must make the choice daily and even hourly at times to seek His will and not give into my selfish self-centered will.

How do you handle this choice?...

Check your experience…

“Before we begin, we ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced from self-pity, dishonest or self-seeking motives.” Big Book pg 86

Lord, thank You for loving us so complete and unconditionally that you let us keep our free will. Let us exercise this power of choice and choose to seek Your will in all things, AMEN.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20

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!

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Saturday, November 6, 2021

We are not alone…

There are all sorts of hi-tech headsets, ear phones, and other apparatus that makes it very easy to isolate these days.

Heck, with headphones being so popular, it’s almost even cool to keep them on whenever possible.

This comfortable isolation is good for brief periods to allow for pause, meditation, rest, and or prayer, but...

When it happens often and for long periods of time, then it can be very dangerous.

This type of isolation not only separates you from others but also closes your heart to the Holy Spirit.

Think about it, in times of stress or strain, do you find yourself desiring to be alone with your own thoughts?

Again, for a moment, its fine, but when it becomes a constant preferred mechanism of escape then problems left inside our own head become issues that lead to all sorts of behaviors, actions, and ultimately consequences we do not need.

Sharing your life’s trials, twists, turns, tests, and temptations with other believers will not only keep you from falling victim to the delusions of the isolated mind, but will also allow the Holy Spirit to show you the solution.

Are you isolating?..

Check your experience…

“No words can tell of the loneliness and despair I found in that bitter morass of self-pity.” Big Book pg 8

Lord, let us know that You put others in our lives to for us to lean on in rough times, AMEN.

“That their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love.” Colossians 2:2

Have a blessed day Y'all!

Please help us help others!

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Donate today!

How about a daily dose of hope and inspired thought?

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Friday, November 5, 2021

What is the total cost?..

Anyone who knows me understands my preference to avoid numbers in just about every situation that I can.

What I have learned in life and in school is that everything has a cost.

Not only a numerical valued cost, but also the cost of time, effort, relationships, and growth.

It’s pretty easy to count the numerical cost in most things.

My wallet and my bank account are a constant reminder that I am not made of money.

Now maybe it’s different for you, but it’s those other costs that are the most expensive to me.

I have learned to ask myself what the cost is; to the relationship, time, as well as what value is to be gained.

Needless to say, but whenever Miss Tami or my daughter needs me, that automatically wins, but..

What about the time I spend on other matters that may or may not be healthy for me or my relationships with my family, friends, and Jesus?...

Check your experience…

“Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid.” Big Book pg 14

Lord, let us include our loves, our priorities and our relationship with You when we count the cost of our efforts, AMEN.

“But don’t begin until you count the cost.” Luke 14:28

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, November 4, 2021

Becoming teachable...

Remember the last time you were able to lay aside your preconceived notions, expectations, and self-made opinions in order to truly learn something new?

Yeah, it's been a while for me too!

Part of having free will and becoming an adult is this magic magnifying mind that we have that likes to unconsciously grow and feed from our perceptions and experiences.

It tries to predict situations for us as well as attempts to harden our hearts through our own self-made assessments and judgements.

Until we stop this process and set aside the ability and power it has over us, we cease to truly grow spiritually.

Kids don't have this.

They look to us with wide eyes and open minds thirsty to learn.

It's only when we can open our minds willingly in this manner can God truly teach us and fill our hearts with Hid Spirit and wisdom.

Are you still willing and able to be teachable?..

Check your experience...

"But after a while we had to face the fact that we must find a spiritual basis of life-or else." Big Book pg 44

Lord let us set aside our own thoughts and become teachable like a child for Your Word, AMEN.

"He said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

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!

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.

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Wednesday, November 3, 2021

Stay outta yer head!...

Perhaps it’s different for you, but for many folks, myself included at times, we tend to live in our heads and block our emotions and feelings.

This causes us to make decisions based on self-will that affect us and others in not so good ways.

Now, hopefully we know that making decisions based on emotions only is also not a healthy thing, but blocking off our emotions prevents us from seeing, hearing, feeling, and allowing our hearts to assist us in making decisions.

Why is this so important?

It’s in our hearts where the Holy Spirit lives and guides us WHEN we let Him!..

Check your experience…

“Much has already been said about receiving strength, inspiration, and direction from Him who has all knowledge and power.” Big Book pg 85

Lord, let us rely on the love in our hearts to guide us in our daily walk, AMEN.

“…knowledge puffs up while love builds up” 1 Corinthians 8:1

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!

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, November 2, 2021

Fixing those broken connections…

Have you ever noticed the amount of stuff available that helps us to fix things?

From the self-help meccas of Home Depot and Lowes to the auto parts stores, hardware stores, deep discount big box stores, and even grocery stores, there are kits, tools, parts, and supplies that allow us to fix just about everything.

There are even YouTube videos available for non-mechanical folks like me that will show us how it’s done!

What about the spiritual and relational connections in our lives that need repair?

Sure, there are self-help books, counseling, and therapists to help, but...

Just like all the stuff in our homes we can fix, it requires willingness, effort, and honest hard work on our part.

The good news is that when Jesus sees our efforts and willingness, HE uses the Holy Spirit living within each of us to guide us on the repair of the relationship with Him as well as others in our lives…

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 open our hearts to let the Holy Spirit guide us in repairing and maintaining all our relationships according to Your will and not ours, AMEN.

“Jesus replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22: 37-38

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, November 1, 2021

What is your power source?..

Red Bull, coffee, Protein shakes, Power Bars, and all sorts of other products promise us energy.

Many other products promise to enhance our power.

Bodybuilders and folks into fitness and exercise routines gain physical strength and stamina, but, ….

Where do we really get our POWER from?

We see stories from time to time about folks doing superhuman feats to save another or help someone in danger.

I bet if you take a look at the events of your lifetime there have been a few times where you have had to “dig deep” to find that extra needed effort to complete a task or endure an unpleasant situation.

Where did that power come from?

Honestly, I know I am lying to myself if I try to claim it came only from me. I know for fact that through my faith in God and my walk with Jesus that God equips me with the power I need for every situation.

How about you?..

Where does your power come from?..

Check your experience.

“We had to find a power by which we could live, and it had to be a Power greater than ourselves.” Big Book pg 45

Lord thank you for giving us the strength we need to not only accomplish the task or endure the situation, but also to allow You to work through us to help others, AMEN.

“I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13

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?

Free daily blog emailed to you in the morning!

https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/blog