Take Time to Listen

Take time to listen before waiting to speak…

Have you ever caught yourself on “auto-pilot” in a conversation?

For me, it usually happens during a familiar conversation or recurring situation.

My mind tells me the answer before the other person even asks or finishes!

Now maybe it’s different for you, but I catch myself going into auto- pilot mode when I start deciding what must be done even before I have really listened and or HEARD what the other person is trying to say.

OK, so this is part of standard fare for raising kids under 5 when it comes to junk food and unsafe toys, we DO know the answers before they form the question, but this type of listening hurts us in all other aspects of our lives.

Think about it.

We like to be listened to, heard, and feel that we have been understood.

It’s a spiritual principle that we need to treat others in the same way that we wish to be treated.

So maybe this is the 3rd time Aunt Mabel has told you the story about her trip to the grocery with the wrong coupons.

Perhaps by actively listening to her and building conversation around her story, she may finally feel heard and stop telling you the same story.

How do you listen?

Does the solution noise in your head drown out what the other person is trying to say? …

Check your own experience and…

Take time to listen instead of waiting to speak.

“We never gave the spiritual side of life a fair hearing.” Big Book pg 50

Lord, let us listen with our hearts and hear with You Holy Spirit that resides in us all, AMEN.

"To answer before listening-- that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13

Have a blessed day Y’all!!

What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life? Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are? Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be! Inspired365LifeCoaching@gmail.com

Last Is First

Last is first…

This is a fun time of year to watch people if you are a people watcher!

It’s so inspiring to see the love folks have for others displayed as they shop and search for the gifts that they want to get for their loved ones.

They forgo lunch to shop, they multi-task in order to have extra time to pick up the items that they want to give loved ones, and they even cover for one another other tasks to allow the time needed to pick up the treasures to put under the tree.

What is so inspiring to me about seeing these activities is that it shows me that the Holy Spirit is alive and working in the hearts of others.

It’s a spiritual principle to put others before ourselves and this is a great time of year to see folks naturally doing this motivated by the love fueled by the Holy Spirit in their hearts.

It’s hard to see this in ourselves but easy to see in others.

Do you find yourself putting others before you...

Check your experience…

“Our real purpose is to fit ourselves to be of maximum service to God and the people about us.” Big Book pg. 77

Lord, let us put others first in order to learn Your will for us, AMEN.

“Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

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?

Power Sources

Power sources…

It’s amazing and enjoyable to see the many lighting and lawn displays this time of year as we celebrate the Christmas season.

What a credit it is to our resourcefulness and technological advancements seeing how all these amazing displays are powered.

There is even a gadget that electronically coats the entire outside of your home in electronic moving Christmas lights!

It seems there is power available to support whatever we can imagine.

That leads me to think about the things inside of us that perhaps either pride, fear, or negativity keep us from trying, doing, or experiencing.

Perhaps it’s different for you, but “the committee” residing in my mind used to prevent me from trying to improve myself, not to mention growing mentally and spiritually.

The result was I stayed stuck in my own mental prison void of spiritual growth and freedom from the bondage.

It all changed when I was able to choose to fight for my freedom.

As I grew my sobriety and my spiritual life, my fears quieted down, my pride and self-centeredness decreased, and the committee in my mind was voted out of office!

Just like the virtually unlimited power sources we have in our homes, I was able to tap into the unlimited Power Source of Jesus and sobriety based on the maintenance of my spiritual condition through daily working of the 12 Steps.

Where are you getting your power from?..

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 tap into Your power, grace and love to fuel and support all areas of our lives, AMEN

“But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” 2 Timothy 4:17

Have a blessed day Y'all!

What if you had a person who coached and mentored you in building a better life? Inspired 365 Life Coaching with Mark Farley!! https://www.faiththroughworksfellowship.org/inspired-365-life-coaching Want a one-on-one coach to get you out of where you are? Email today and let’s chat to see if we can make up a plan for you to get you to where you want to be! Inspired365LifeCoaching@gmail.com