Leaders Serve…. H Ross Perot once said; “Inventories need to be managed but people need to be lead.” Leaders lead by serving. The easiest example I can think of is a coach. We don’t see the coach out on the field physically involved in every play. We see them on the sideline constantly encouraging, guiding, and directing. Always watching and paying attention to help the team by helping each individual improve. Leaders serve by paying attention to the needs of others. Through serving, respect is earned and trust is gained. Think about this. All managing does is keep things in order. We manage our house, our laundry, and our schedules. When it comes to those you love in your life are you leading or managing? Check your experience… “Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.” Big Book pg 562 Lord, let us lead by serving and let us serve by helping others, AMEN. “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,” Matthew 20:26 Have a blessed day y’all! THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOUR 2017 TAX CREDIT! … 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. $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! Please help us help others! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Don’t drop to their level… Sometimes we encounter people, places, or things that are neither pleasant, nor supportive. Now maybe it’s different for you, but my initial gut reaction (get it?.. REACT-ion) is to give it right back to them the same as they are giving me! Match attitude with attitude and that will show them! Luckily for me, time and bad experiences has taught me that this way does not work and only brings about more misery. Growing up spiritually and emotionally has allowed me to quiet that initial reaction and instead RESPOND in the way that I wish to be treated. That is, no matter what the situation is, I give it grace, tolerance, and open my heart to try to understand instead of “putting them in their place”… What level are you operating on when you encounter conflict or unpleasantness?...Check your experience… “We are then in much less danger of excitement, fear, anger, worry, self-pity, or foolish decisions.” Big Book pg 88 Lord, let us match unpleasantness with grace, rudeness with tolerance, and anger with a heart that looks to understand, AMEN. “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.” Romans 12: 17-19 Have a blessed day y’all! There is still time to get your 2017 Tax Credit! Contribute to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit program (ARS 43-1088), you can earn a dollar for dollar tax credit on your tax return while supporting children and families as they escape homelessness and move back into homes and jobs. To donate or get more information please visit http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

In the grip… We catch colds, come down with the flu, and get hit with allergies. It seems we are a target for many things! Luckily we have remedies and medications that help us to overcome these setbacks. What about life’s twists, turns, trials, and temptations that influence our thoughts, behaviors and actions? What or where do we get the remedies to escape these? Now my 12 Step friends know how we handle our addictions, but what about those other things that we continually let dominate our thoughts and lives? There is a Spiritual solution … BUT… we have to provide the willingness and effort to escape the grip of those things that are holding us down… Check your experience… “…in the grip…” Big Book pg 30 Lord, let us open our hearts and become willing to seek Your will in order to escape the things that are holding us back, AMEN. “It shall not fasten its grip on me.” Psalm 101:3 Have a blessed day y’all!! Furniture Bank is partnering with Backpacks 4 Kids AZ and these amazing organizations; Who I Am Foundation and Zuri's Circle to collect clothes and hygiene products for families in need. 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, 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- 6pmhttps://www.backpacks4kidsaz.com/

The gift that keeps on giving… Have you ever noticed that most folks have a thing or 2 that they are really good at and then some other things they are not so good at? Michael Jordan is probably one of the best, if not the best ever to play basketball, but he was an “OK” baseball player. There are quite a few famous and successful actors and actresses that cannot sing. I am pretty good with people but tools and handyman stuff are like a foreign language to me. The point is that each of us has a God given skill that is a talent and it is a spiritual principal that we should share it with others. Had Michael Jordan decided against playing ball after he was cut from his high school team, the world would have never got to enjoy his immense talent and passion for the game. We need to share our talents in an effort to help others. How’s that working out for you?.. Check your experience… “Giving, rather than getting, will become the guiding principle.” Big Book 128 Lord, let us use the gifts and talent You have given us to help others, AMEN. “There are different kinds of gifts. But it is the same Holy Spirit Who gives them. 5 There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. But the work is for the same Lord. 6 There are different ways of doing His work. But it is the same God who uses all these ways in all people. 7 The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4-7 Have a blessed day y’all! THERE IS STILL TIME FOR YOUR 2017 TAX CREDIT! … 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. $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! Please help us help others! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

If nothing changes then nothing changes…None of us are perfect. We each have things that need our attention and cannot be fixed without our participation and ownership. We need to own our challenges, struggles, and shortcomings. The good news is that God can and will help us if we stay willing and provide the effort! When He can see our efforts fueled by our motivation to change, then He can heal us! Ask yourself if you are participating in your own improvement and as always… check your experience… "..we did because we honestly wanted to, and were willing to make the effort." Big Book pg 22. Lord fill our hearts with the desire to change and the drive to provide the needed efforts, AMEN. "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke14:27 Have a blessed day y'all! Hey AMAZON shoppers!! Please help us help others! Choose Furniture Bank Phoenix and Amazon will donate a portion of the proceeds from your purchase to Furniture Bank! https://smile.amazon.com/ch/46-2771809

Most of y’all know I am neither a construction guy nor a fix –it repair man. So I had to figure out why the Lord put this verse in my heart today as I studied His Word… “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.” Luke 20:17 Now according to the “Book of Google”, the cornerstone is that stone which forms the junction between the two most prominent walls of a building. From what I understand that without it, the building will not be very secure. What comes to mind is the question I constantly have to ask myself as I measure my motives and efforts in my daily walk. Is what I am doing, saying, thinking, or wanting helping me to stay in God’s will, or is it guiding me to the illusions of my self- will? Is my foundation based on my cornerstone of faith or am I attempting to construct a free standing wall based on self that will crumble? What foundation are you using to build on for your life? How’s that working out for you?.. Check your experience… “It has been repeatedly proven among us that upon this simple cornerstone a wonderfully effective spiritual structure can be built.” Big Book pg 47 Lord let us anchor our life to our cornerstone of faith in You and Your Word, AMEN. Have a blessed day y’all! Daily Inspiration with the Big Book and the Good Book!! Get your copy here! 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

Watching our words…. Maybe it’s different for you, but sometimes the thoughts in my head that need to stay there slip out of my mouth as words and it’s never good. I learned a long time ago that words that come from negative emotions as well as reactions instead of responses can harm and hurt just like any other weapon. Luckily for me I have learned to keep these words inside of my head and let the Holy Spirit hear them and advise me and calm my emotions and allow my heart a chance to survey the situation and form a response instead of allowing the emotions of my initial reaction to come out as words. Allowing God to help me filter my words has saved me from many situations that could have proven hurtful had they gone unchecked. How do you filter your words?... Check your experience… “Our behavior will convince them more than our words.” Big Book pg 83 Lord, let us share our thoughts with you first before we form words that come from our mouths, AMEN. “In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” James 3: 5-6 Have a blessed day y’all! www.FaithThroughWorksFellowship.org