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Grace & Truth

/ Mike Farley / 1 Comment

John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”  

The suffix ian means belonging to, coming from, resembling, adhering to or following, and expert in.  It can be used to form a noun or an adjective.  Add that to the word Christ and you get Christian, someone who belongs to the Christ, coming from the Christ, resembling the Christ, or adheres to the Christ.

That means like John 1:17 I should have Grace and Truth coming from me. If it comes from Jesus it should also come from me because I have Christ in me, and I am suppose to resemble Him.  If you travel abroad you will hear people talk about the American attitude.  We are loud, and proud, and have a sense of entitlement.  Before you can do anything people expect that from you.  It should be the same way with different traits of Jesus.  Do people, when they find out I am a Christian expect to have Grace and Truth come from me, and regardless of that answer do I show Grace and Truth?

To be honest yes…..sometimes.  Sometimes I am a little more Truth, and sometimes I am a little more Grace (not always in the proper ratio).  Both are great and very important but there is something about the proper mixture of Grace and Truth that makes it fantastic.  It is not baking a cake where you always use equal parts of each and you can do it without thinking.  Having Grace and Truth flow from you means thinking in each situation.  Sometimes you need a lot of Truth and enough Grace to show the love of God, but sometimes you need only a little Truth to confirm something and so much Grace that people are overwhelmed by God’s great love.

I want to be known for having Grace and Truth.  If someone says “Hey do you know Mike?” I want them to think “Grace and Truth.”  I figure if I have Christ living in me, and I am in Christ, and I have the mind of Christ,  then I should be able to do this.  I want to do this.  

Just a thought,

Mike

Think about that

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Philippians 4:8: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Oh have I got a word for you today my friends.  It is a Greek word that has many meanings that are and can be used in a variety of ways.  The word is logizomai.  In the verse above it is the word behind think.  Think as used above means to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reason, to deliberate.   That might not seem like much at first but if you look at Romans 4:8 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.”  Impute here is the same word think in Philippians 4:8 logizomai.  In both these cases it is translated differently but the meaning behind it is the same count up and deliberate.

What is the point of all this?  Well I have two points.  First is think about the good things, and I mean really think about them.  Count them up and spend time thinking about them, just like you might be inclined to about the bad things.  You can’t help but think about the bad things when something is going on so you must force yourself to think about the good things.  Remember how God loves you, Jesus died and rose for you, you wife or husband loves you, your children, or what have you.  You have good things you can think about.  It doesn’t mean you ignore the bad things that need to be addressed but you do not give them the power to control the rest of your thoughts.  

Second is God does not count or weigh your sin against you.  He does not logizomai them.  Instead He sees you in Christ.  Sure there might be things that He wants to and will refine in you, but it is done from the position of love for His child.  That is pretty awesome if you ask me.  

Just a logizomai,

Mike  

Who does this guy think he is?

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Let me say that I do not know this for certain but I would imagine that Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, DL Moody, AW Tozer, and others did not have instant success in the ministry.  I would imagine there were times in the beginning where their names were not what a person wanted to see on the invitation.  Whether it be the pastor of a church, a person receiving the invitation to attend the meeting or what have you.  At the starting point their names did not bring in a crowd.  I can imagine a pastor wanting to have a revival meeting and seeing their name on the list thought to themselves “can we not find a real preacher?”  Now however (if they were all still alive) they could send a letter to almost anyone and the recipients would be elated at the possibility.  

I am not saying that I have nearly the oratory skills or Biblical knowledge of these men but I do have two things in common with them.  One is passion for lost and hurting people.  A deep longing and desire to see people come to faith in Christ, and not just those outside the church.  I long to see those that know Him come into a closer and more intimate relationship with Him.  Second is Jesus.  I serve the same Lord as they do.  You see it was not their name that got them to where they were it was His name.  

The Bible says Jesus has a name above all names, He has a place of supremacy above all else, and it is in His name that I go.  In my own name I will not go far, and right now I am nowhere (at least it feels that way) but I serve a great and mighty King.  One who does not call just to abandon.  He does not give passion without a way to live it out.  Even though it feels that way right now I know He will make good on His calling as long as I am open, willing, and obedient (and Lord knows I am trying).  

A verse that has stuck with me for about 10 years now is Numbers 23:19.  It says “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent.  Has He not said and will He not do, has He not spoken and will He not make it come to pass”  Now that is a promise if I have ever heard one.  It says that when God says it that settles it, and I love that.  I have had a few “dreams” in my life that I know where from God.  One was how He showed me I would learn.  It was and is beautiful, but it is a hard road because it bucks the conventional system.  It is a path that not many walk, and to be honest I do not always want to walk it because it is harder than the standard path.  But it is what He as for me.  So even though I cannot send letters to churches and get a response because my “name” is not what someone expects or wants to see, I do go in a “name” that is beyond what my name could ever be.

So who does this guy think he is?  He is a son of God and servant of Jesus Christ, and that is a name to be proud of.

Just a thought,

Mike

Where are you supposed to be?

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

I was thinking about David and Bathsheba yesterday.  Specifically about what lead up to the whole roof top, baby, and murder incidents.  There is something we can see that started this chain of events and something that also happens in your and mine.  The phrase I am referring to is “but David remained in Jerusalem.”  That one little phrase set of a chain of tragic events and devastating consequences.

If you do not know the story of these two then I recommend you read it.  There is a lot to going from understanding the story and seeing God’s great love.  But right now I want to focus on that phrase “but David remained in Jerusalem.”  This phrase is so very important because it succinctly shows how the rest of David’s life was set on a path he would have never chosen nor wanted all because he remained in Jerusalem.  You see David was supposed to be somewhere else, he had a place he was supposed to be but instead he was where he wasn’t supposed to be.  I do not like to use phrases like always, or never, but in this case I am going to.  If you remain where you are not supposed to be then you will always have some degree of trouble.  God has appointed a place for you to be.  Maybe it is locationally, emotionally, or spiritually, know this God has somewhere you are supposed to be, and if you are not there you will find trouble.

Let’s say like David, it is locational.  He was supposed to be in 20 miles east of the Jordan in Rabbath but he wasn’t there.  Instead he was in Jerusalem doing what he wanted to do.  This caused him to see something he should not have seen, and since he was already not doing what God wanted what is one more thing.  After all he thought “I am the King”.  Sorry David wrong answer.  You should have been where you belonged.  I got into heaps of trouble as a kid because I skipped school.  I was not in trouble for skipping school, it was the things that I was doing while I should have been in school that got me into the most trouble.  I was not where I belonged.

Let’s say it is emotionally.  You should have forgiven your father, brother, mother, husband, wife, son, daughter, cop, pastor, or whatever.  You should have let that burden go and moved on with your life, but you don’t.  Instead you stew on it and let it fester.  You think about it all the time.  You start to get in a good mood and then let it bring you back down.  How could they, how dare they, don’t they know, don’t they care.  You list all the reasons over and over again until finally it completely consumes you.  Guess what though…You don’t belong there.  You have somewhere you are supposed to be.  God has a place of perfect peace for you.  You are in the emotional land of Strife, but God has intended for you to be in the land of Shalom.  Shalom does not just mean peace, but peace, prosperity, completeness, and welfare.  That is where God intends for you to be.

What do I mean by spiritually though.  How can you be in the wrong place there?  Maybe you are not spending time with God.  Maybe you ignore him for whatever reason (usually something to do with the two above).  God has a place that you belong, and it’s called Relationship.  Perfect relationship actually.  Christians usually call this fellowship , but that just means spending time with and enjoying company.  God wants to spend time with you and wants you to enjoy time with Him.  Jesus did everything He did so that this could happen.  He wants you bad.  If you’re not in the right place here you will continually look for a place to be and find more and more trouble.

The tricky part of all of this is sometimes we honestly do not know where we are supposed to be.  I myself have struggled with this for years.  I am starting to get there but it is hard.  Spend time in prayer, ask God where you are supposed to be, and then go there.  Once you know where you are supposed to be it all gets better.  I am not saying you will never have trouble.  Jesus says in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you will have peace.  In this world you will have trouble,  but take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  Life can always be hard and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you something.  Take heart my friend Jesus has overcome and made a place for you.

Just a thought,

Mike

Big Picture, Little Picture

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

I love big picture, little picture.  It’s a little game God plays with me.  You’ve probably played it to.  It is where He shows you something and then tells you to keep watching.  For example I have read James 4:7-10 a few times this past week and I saw the big picture.  Namely; humbling yourself before God is the only way to be lifted up and beat things you might be fighting.  If you resist the devil you also turn to God.  It is not you who defeats the thing you fighting but God.  Rely on Him and He will pull you through it.  I know this and it is good stuff that I need to remember.

But wait there is more.  There must be because I have read this like 5 times and can see something but it is all fuzzy and I cannot make it out.  Then it hit me.  If you want a different outcome you have to change something.  

OK this one is tough to pull out of these verses but track with me for a minute and I promise to try and make sense of this.

James 4:7-10 “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.”

I am not very good at knowing what the different conjunctions and parts of speech are, but there are 8 instead ofs, or in place ofs.  You know like this instead of that….Ya dig.  

OK so here is the deal.  If you want something different you need to do something different.  So lets say sin is the problem you’re facing.  Well to defeat it you resist the devil and he will flee, you just tell him no and then come close to God.  The devil cannot occupy the same space as God (Job I know but thats a weird one because he was summonsed, and theres more to it).  Lets make it simpler and say chocolate cake is the issue.  Well just don’t buy it, and if it is in the house don’t eat it.  Instead eat a banana.  Cake and a Banana cannot occupy the same space in your mouth at the same time.  You have to do something different.  

Everything is like this.  If you want different results in your life you have to make different choices.  If you want to be healthy then you have to do healthy things instead of unhealthy (not just physically folks).  I know what you are thinking; Mike I appreciate this but I already know this, and it’s easier said than done.  My response is first I know that and that is why it is called a principal.  Second is if you know it then why are you not doing it?  Because it’s hard?  No because you don’t want to thats why.  You do hard stuff all the time, but you don’t make the choices you need to make because you don’t want to.  Guess what that is OK.  Just be honest about it.  Difficulty has almost  nothing to do with it, desire is almost all of it.

I get it there are some cases that are different.  There are some cases that are so extreme I would a total jerk to not feel bad for them.  But by and large those are the ones that inspire us.  Those are the ones that move us.  Those are the ones that give us hope, that give us drive to move on and accomplish.  Check out Nicholas James Vujicic and then tell me how hard things cannot be done.

So today either admit you don’t want to and stop whining, or start making different choices and see how God lifts you up.

Just a thought,

Mike

Another Year, Another Word

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Another year has come and gone.  A new year is upon us and that means it’s time for a new word.  First let me explain what the word is for any who do not know me.  Each year instead of a New Year’s resolution my family each picks a word.  Just one word that we want to pursue for the year.  Last year I picked audacious along with most of it’s variants.  While that word is typically used negatively I wanted to be positively audacious in all I did.  I wanted to go for broke, hold nothing back and be so daring it scared the crap out of me.  In my relationship with my wife, children, family, friends, and most importantly with God.  I wanted to trust God so much that I dared to do the impossible.  Of course I needed to be wise in my choices of what to go for so it required a lot of prayer to make sure I was going to make the correct jump.  Jesus says to carefully consider before you build (Luke 14:28-29) so that is what I did.  I am pretty happy as the year ends to say I lived my word.

Now before I tell you my new word let me make one more point about the word.  First for years I made New Year’s resolutions and every year I failed.  I might have had some success but by and large I failed.  I think a lot of people are the same way, and you may be hesitant about picking a word but let me tell you a secret.  I don’t pick the word on my own.  I spend time talking to God about it.  If I picked the word on my own I would probably fail, but by talking to God about it first I have a greater chance of success.  Last year God worked with me on being more bold and confident in my prayer life, and relationships, and decisions.  I am thankful God set up a sort of plan for me saying Mike this year I am going to make you daring and more determined.

So 2014 is brought to you by the word INSPIRE.  I want to be inspired, and I want to inspire.  My goal is to look for ways to be inspired whether by people, nature, movies, books, actions, or what have you .  I going to actively look for inspiration, and I am going to be more intentional about inspiring others.  There is such joy in knowing you played a part of someone deciding they CAN.  Seeing someone finally decide to shred the pain, or frustration, or aggravation, or whatever and do it.  Knowing you played a part in that changes you just as much as them, it pushes you harder, makes you want to go further, do better.  This year will be an inspirational year.

God says in Isaiah 55:11  “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”  That is pretty amazing.  God says if I am going to send my word out it will accomplish what I have sent it to do.  That is why I take the word for the year seriously, and talk to God about it.  Because if He says “Mike this year I will Inspire” then it will be accomplished.  

So here is to a great year everyone.  Remember that you can do this, you can make it through this, and you will get there.  There is a God who loves you and who wants you to rejoice.

Just a thought,

Mike

2 sides of the same coin (or Jedi vs Sith)

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Do you have something that you consider a fault?  Something that some people find a bit annoying?  For example I am what some call stubborn.  When I decide to do something I do it and thats that.  I don’t usually consider quitting an option.  If you ask my daughter what Farley means she will tell you “we never give up.”  I have told her that for years, and now believes it most of the time.  Now I will admit that the trait itself can be bad, but it can also be good.  The flip side of the stubborn coin is persistence, and everyone knows persistence is a good thing.  I find that odd because they are the same trait, one is used negatively and the other positively.  It is all about how you use it.  Don’t believe me just watch Star Wars.  The force is the force but you can either be Jedi or Sith.  You use the same power.  Generally speaking stubborn means you think something then do it.  Persistence on the other hand usually means it was carefully thought out ahead of time and planning was made (usually).  

So whats the point of my little message there?  God made you for a purpose.  He has given you gifts to use.  You can use them for good (Jedi) or bad (Sith), but you have to make a choice.  You have to decide to use them wisely and be more than a conqueror or foolishly and be conquered.  It is up to you.

Just a thought,

Mike

Let’s be real

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Let’s be real about this.  I am not a perfect father, or husband, or son, or employee.  I am not perfect at any of those things, and I am not a perfect Christian.  To be honest I still smoke, still like to have a drink, sometimes I get mad and say something I should not.  I am not perfect, but I am also not who I was.  Jesus has delivered me from many things and thankfully He will continue to deliver me.

I am not always faithful as I should be but He is.  Two verses that I think everyone (including myself) should regularly meditate on are Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus, and 2 Timothy 2:13 If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.  Both of those verses very clearly show that God is faithful and He is will always be faithful.  I don’t know how else to say it, but God cannot not be faithful.  Notice in 2 Tim it says He cannot deny who He is.  It is in His nature to remain faithful.  It does not depend on my faithfulness for Him to be faithful.  

We have seen those quotes about don’t judge where someone is because you don’t know where they came from.  As true is that is I am not sure we always apply it to ourselves.  We too should not be so hard on ourselves because Jesus has already brought us through so much.  We have to remember that He loves us and He sees what successes and failures you will have next week, next year, next decade.  He is not surprised by any of it, and inspite of all that He remains faithful.

I may have mentioned this before but it bears repeating.   If you want the ultimate example of God’s faithfulness and wanting to bring things to completion think about creation and the omnipresence (being everywhere at the same time) of God.  When God created the world He also saw the fall of man, and the rejection people would have, and the death of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus, and you embracing Him.  He saw it all at the same exact time and still uttered the words Let there be Light.  That is faithfulness, that is love.

So later when you get upset and remember that you are not perfect spin that feeling around on it’s head and remember that God is perfect and He loves you.

Just a thought,

Mike

Fathers…..

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Kenneth Ray Reid 7/1961.  That is almost everything I know about my biological father.  That and he served in the Army and has a twin sister named Debbie.  We now all know the same thing.  According to one census there are about 24 million children in the US right now living in a home without a biological father.  Some families may be divorced or have other similar circumstances so lets go ahead and drop that number in half to 12 million children…. Does that make it easier to bear?  Lets go ahead and add in the last two generations but only half from each and say 12 million adults who do not know or have any relationship with their fathers.  I am one of those 12 million.

Don’t get me wrong I am not whining.  I have done that and I have moved on (as much as one can) but I still think about it from time to time.  I think what did I do wrong, what was wrong with me, and so on.  Truth is there was nothing I could do on my part I was not even born yet.  No, it was just him deciding for whatever reason he did not want to be a father.  So I do the only thing I can, I forgive and I move on.  I take all of those feelings and fears and put them to good use.  I strive to be a great father to my children.  My wife and I have a daughter and she has two boys from her first marriage.  The only thing that is different between the three of them to me is that one is a girl.  I love those boys with all of my heart, I would and have done anything for them.

Why do I tell you this?  Why like any other time do I ask for a minute of your time?  Because sometimes life sucks, sometimes we are given a raw deal.  I want to you to know that I feel you I really do but at some point you have to make a choice.  You have to ask yourself “Will I let my past and my circumstances direct me, or will I take control?”  

I want to see fathers lead their families, I want to see young men who are like me (fatherless) come to the Father and see the life He has for them.  I want them to take what the world handed them and use it to reach others with the hope of Christ.  I want to see boys become men of God.  I know how hard it is and the pain from some things never actually go away.  Sometimes it hits me from nowhere (like now) but when it does I am reminded that I am not that man, no I am not him.  I am ME a new man in God and I will lead my family.  I will be there to take my kids out when I do not want to.  I will watch Disney when I want to watch UFC, and I will not let others decide who they become I will be a man.

Women, you are not unwanted, and you are not disposable.  You have a Father that loves you, and cares for you.  You do not have to seek attention or “love” from men who only care about themselves.  You were created for a purpose and have a mission for your life.  I know the love of a woman who knows who she is in Christ and I am so very blessed by it.  When you give yourself to God He will make you whole and new.  I cannot speak much as to what it means to be a woman who has no father but I can say you are worth more than you know, and any man who does not value you is not a man at all.

 

Just a thought,

Mike

For as for me and my house we will serve the LORD. – Joshua 24:15

 

Biscuits and Gravy

/ Mike Farley / Leave a comment

Peacefulness and thankfulness go together like biscuits and gravy.  Sure you can have them separately but when you put them together you have a dynamite combination.  

In Colossians 3:15 Paul says “Let the peace of Christ be in control in your heart (for you were in fact called as one body to this peace), and be thankful.” (NET Bible)  If you let the peace that comes from Christ control or rule in your heart you will have peace.  You will have a true peace that passes understanding in the midst of everything.  In turn you can be thankful.

Now before you start in on the “if you only knew what I was going through you would understand” speech let me tell you something, I am not at peace right now. I have not been at peace for awhile either.  My wife and I are trying to find a place to live and are not having much luck finding anything we can afford (and would want to live in).  We are trying to figure out how to pay off most of our debt, and a few other issues.  Because of these things I have not been at peace.  I mean as long as nothing else happens I can keep it together but as soon as the dog barks or the little one cries I start to feel like I am going to lose it.  That is not peace, but holding on.  I do not want to just hold on, I want peace.  

So how do I get this peace?  How do I get to a place of thankfulness and ultimately rest?  Simple answer is I let the peace of Christ control my heart.  Mind you that is the easy answer.  The hard part like all things is walking it out.  So here are some simple things I think will help you and me let His peace reign over our hearts.

First, stop looking at the check book so much.  You’re broke and need to pay bills, but if you check the account in the morning it will more than likely be the same way in the evening.  So here is what we can do.  Check your account in the morning and then pray.  Ask God to help you get what you need to get through the day.  Notice I did not say ask God for the money (not that it is wrong to do so, I am praying for 50k), but instead ask Him to provide.  I have had groceries show up on my porch, toy for Christmas, and a ride when I was walking.  You need a new job, house, etc.  Same solution.  Take a look in the morning and again in the evening.  Other than that just ask Him to provide.  He knows your needs and will meet them.

Second, is be thankful for what you do have.  Maybe you are flat broke but you still have something to be thankful for.  Time with your kids, time with your dog, time with your pillow….  Whatever it is, enjoy the things you do have.

Third, feel free to cry.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with crying out to God.  Read the book of Psalms; a good portion of that was David crying out to God for help.  Look at Elijah he cried out to God, Jesus in the Garden cried out to Father to let the cup pass.  Nothing wrong at all with crying out to God and saying please help me I cannot do this and I am so tired.

Again remember I am writing this to me as well as you.  I need to remember and do these things.  My hope is I can take my own advice and let the peace of Christ control my heart.

 

Just a thought,

Mike