Turn the page…. Many resolutions will be posted tomorrow and while it’s encouraging to see so many intent on change, we need to remember that change begins inside of us. Without our change of heart, mind, and soul, nothing really changes. The great news is that we are each capable of change and that there is a plan for success waiting for us if we would only allow ourselves to commit to Christ… Check your experience.. “We had to ask ourselves why we shouldn't apply to our human problems this same readiness to change our point of view.” Big Book pg 52 Lord let us look inside our hearts to see the changes we need and to turn our will and our lives over to You in order to see the plan You have for us, AMEN. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. Have a blessed day y’all! Did you know a donation to Furniture Bank gets you an Arizona state tax credit up to $800? Earn yours today. The state of Arizona provides an incredible incentive for taxpayers who donate to certain qualifying charities like Furniture Bank. Thanks to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, you can donate up to $800 and get it right back on your Arizona tax return. Furniture Bank works directly with Phoenix based social services, programs, and faith-based communities to assist families, Veterans, seniors, and other folks with a hand up to regain self-sustainability as they work to escape homelessness and helplessness. Please help us help others! Donate today! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html    

We all use some form of DEPENDS!.. Yup, I said it! While the adult diaper is a necessity for some folks, we all have something we DEPEND upon. Think about it! We depend on our employers to pay us for our work, our work to create the lifestyles we live, and even the light switch to turn on the light, just to name just a few. What about our thought and spiritual life? What are we using as a mechanism to allow us to depend? Hopefully we have found a spiritual path that works. My DEPENDS and in place and my faith allows me to rely on a relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. What are your DEPENDS?.. Check your experience… “It depends on us and on our motives.” Big Book pg 70. Lord, thank You for showing us again and again that faith in You, seeking Your will, and trusting Your word brings us peace, grace, comfort, and joy, AMEN. “Depend on the Lord; trust him, and he will take care of you.” Psalm 37:5 Have a blessed day y’all! Start your day on a positive note! Daily devotions from the Big Book and Bible combined! Paperback and Kindle versions available!! Every penny goes to support Faith Through Works Fellowship ministries including our beloved Furniture Bank! Please order yours today and help us help others! https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pastor+mark+farley&ref=nb_sb_noss

Looking in the mirror… 2020 is almost here and for many of us it’s a time for fresh starts and healthy changes. While these are noble goals based on good thoughts and great intentions, it seems that no matter where we go or what we do different, the same person inside of us is still involved! Now maybe it’s different for you, but I have learned that until I look inside myself to see what is fueling my actions, attitudes, and behaviors, that new thing I attempt to do will not bring new results UNLESS I first change those things inside of me that drive my thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. Until I can see that these things inside of me that drive my choices need to change,..  nothing will change!...Check your experience… “Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” Big Book pg 59 Lord, let us first rid ourselves of the character defects that drive our poor choices then we can seek Your will to enjoy the benefit of healthy change, AMEN.  “For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.” James 3:16 Lord, let us open our hearts and invite You into our lives so that we may know You as well as You know and love each and every one of us, AMEN. Have a blessed day y’all!  Did you know a donation to Furniture Bank gets you an Arizona state tax credit up to $800? Earn yours today. The state of Arizona provides an incredible incentive for taxpayers who donate to certain qualifying charities like Furniture Bank. Thanks to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, you can donate up to $800 and get it right back on your Arizona tax return. Furniture Bank works directly with Phoenix based social services, programs, and faith-based communities to assist families, Veterans, seniors, and other folks with a hand up to regain self-sustainability as they work to escape homelessness and helplessness. Please help us help others! Donate today! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html                 

First things first… There seems to be a natural order of things. We first must learn to walk before we run. Athletes practice over and over to gain the needed skills and endurance for their chosen sport. Hopefully we learn to get along with others before we enter into long term relationships! It’s the same with our spiritual journey. In order to understand God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, we have to first seek His plan and will for us. Maybe it’s different for you, but I have tried many times to get God to do things my way and it has never worked, but when I set my wants and will on the side and seek His will for me, things turn out better than I could have even imagined. How’s that working out for you?.. Check your experience… Each individual, in the personal stories, describes in his own language and from his own point of view the way he established his relationship with God.” Big Book pg 29 Lord, let us first seek Your will for us, AMEN. “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 Have a blessed day y'all! Did you know that your financial gift to Furniture Bank is not only tax deductible but also qualifies you for up to $800 in AZ Tax Credits? Furniture Bank is a 501c3 public charity and every penny donated goes toward helping our families, veterans, and individuals in need. Please help us continue to help others! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html

Those hard to open presents…. It seems we have had that one gift that is hard to open. You know, the one that is wrapped so tight it takes something stronger than kitchen scissors to open and usually contains what seems like military grade indestructible packaging? Maybe it’s different for you but each year someone in our family receives this well wrapped gift and we all get to watch the receiver try with all their might to open. Sometimes we even have to pitch in to complete the task. In the end the gift is opened and usually heartfelt thanks is offered to the giver...note that I shared “usually”!! We can have the same challenge with our spiritual life. When we get wrapped so tightly in worldly clamors and bound up deep in material wants and self-will, we make it nearly impossible to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that resides in our hearts. It’s not that we don’t deserve God’s spiritual love and gifts, rather it’s the fact that we are bound up, or wrapped so tightly if you will, in the chaos of this material world that we cannot open our hearts to receive God’s love, grace, and peace…Check your experience… “We found that God does not make too hard terms with those who seek Him.” Big Book pg 46 Lord, help us to open our hearts to receive Your gifts of love, grace, and everlasting life, AMEN. “Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.” Ephesians 4:18 Have a blessed day y'all!! Start your day on a positive note! Daily devotions from the Big Book and Bible combined! Paperback and Kindle versions available!! Every penny goes to support Faith Through Works Fellowship ministries including our beloved Furniture Bank! Please order yours today and help us help others! https://www.amazon.com/s?k=pastor+mark+farley&ref=nb_sb_noss

Some gifts you just can’t return… Ahhhh… the American way of life! In the retail world, whether it be the wrong size, shape, style, color, or fit, an exchange is made or a return is credited. However, some gifts just cannot be returned, spiritually speaking of course. Think about it, we were chosen to receive eternal life and we have done nothing to earn it. We just have it given us without even asking. We can’t return it! It’s ours as long as we open our hearts and accept the Holy Spirit. Perhaps it’s different for you but those that know more than I ever will about this subject have suggested that I show my gratitude for this gift daily by doing my best to seek and do God’s will. How are you handling this gift?.. Check your experience….“The main thing is that he be willing to believe in a Power greater than himself and that he live by spiritual principles.” Big Book pg 93 Lord, thank You for the gift of grace and eternal life through Jesus, AMEN. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2: 8-10 Have a blessed day y’all! Hey friends please check out Servants Hearts! It’s a free site to help connect folks with volunteer and helping opportunities! Furniture Bank, Spiritual Solutions Group, and Advocate Phoenix are pleased to share the newest free helping service from Faith Through Works Fellowship! Its Phoenix based for now. Pray for its growth to provide helping hearts and willing hands to our organizations that need help! http://aservantsheart.us/

So what is Christmas really about?… Merry Christmas friends. My hope and prayer is that you enjoy the hope and peace that this day represents. It’s hard to imagine in today’s world that anyone would love us so much and unconditionally no matter what our current situation is. Yet that is what Jesus represents. Most of us spend our lives seeking acceptance and searching for all encompassing love. That is what this day is for. Living, real, and never-ending love came to each of us in the form of Jesus. God even loves us so much that He does NOT force it on us. It’s ours to take and use as we understand it. Luckily for us HE gave us an instruction manual on how to receive, use, and share His never-ending love. I cannot give you this love. Heck, nobody can, but it is yours for the taking when you are ready, willing, and able. I can share with you that once you accept the love of Christ, your life will NEVER be the same!! MY life is better beyond my wildest dreams because of the love of Jesus I carry in my heart. To be blessed with a life with Miss Tami and Miss Kai and a host of loving family and friends is more than this ol’ wretch ever deserves, yet, God loves me unconditionally and wants me to receive this amazing life. Please take a moment today and look beyond the presents, gifts, and shiny things to reflect on the Holy Spirit that lives in each of our hearts and wants to love us unconditionally. Merry Christmas!... “When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did.” Big Book pg 52 Lord, thank You for sending Your living love to walk the earth so many years ago and for the Holy Spirit that lives in our hearts, AMEN. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” Isaiah 9: 6-7 Have a blessed Christmas y’all! Have a blessed day y'all! Did you know a donation to Furniture Bank gets you an Arizona state tax credit up to $800? Earn yours today. The state of Arizona provides an incredible incentive for taxpayers who donate to certain qualifying charities like Furniture Bank. Thanks to the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, you can donate up to $800 and get it right back on your Arizona tax return. Furniture Bank works directly with Phoenix based social services, programs, and faith-based communities to assist families, Veterans, seniors, and other folks with a hand up to regain self-sustainability as they work to escape homelessness and helplessness. Please help us help others! Donate today! http://www.furniturebank.us/arizona-tax-credit.html