Seasons

Summer went as quickly as it came.  I soaked  up as many precious memories with our son as I could.  We went to the beach, zoo,  and a few other places.  He's looking less and less like a baby and more like a little boy every day.  My heart doesn't quite know what to do with that fact other than to savor each moment and to give thanks to God.

The seasons go by so quickly. If you blink you miss them.   In just a few weeks fall will be here.  We will trade  sand filled shoes, baby dump trucks, buckets and shovels for beautiful fall leaves, cool air, warm cups of coffee and new ministry opportunities.

I am personally in a season of God growing me up.  He's challenging me, pruning me, and showing me that no matter what Season in life I find myself He's there, He's the answer, and He will provide at just the right time.   It's in this season that I am earnestly seeking His will for an area I've been asked to pray about serving in at my church.  I feel so ill equipped.  I have done nothing like this before.  There is a committment and a time factor.  I will not just feel a spot.  I will harken to the still small voice of the HOly Spirit and do what He says.

God is such a good God and in this season that He has me in, I listen, wait, and look forward to what He has in store!!!

Blessings,
Alicia

Praising His Name!

It's morning!  The fragrance of breakfast and coffee fills the air!  I head for the kitchen where my sweet husband greets me with a kiss and his usual "Good Morning sweetness!"  I greet him right back,"Good Morning Gorgeous!"  Yep, we still talk to each other that way after 17 years of marriage! We absolutely are head over heels in love with each other!  I mean who wouldn't like to wake up to a 6 ft tall, blonde headed blue eyed guy who loves Jesus with all of his heart and loves his wife and kid with a love that is simply breath taking?!!!!!  Be still my heart...I digress. ;)

I grab my coffee and reminise about yesterday's drive to work!  I didn't listen to my usual Spotify play list, I played my Christian music play list.  Earlier I'd prayed for the HOly Spirit to go before me and prepare the way for the day and to just be ever near me yesterday!  I plugged in my phone turned on the music and all the way down 64 Jesus reminded me of His unfailing love!

Yes, all the way to work I was praising Jesus!  You might say, "Alicia, you do that almost everyday on the way to work, we know that about you,"  YEsterday though I prayed something just a touch differently, I prayed, "HOly SPirit fall fresh on me today."  He did!  The Holy Spirit showed up in that car and made himself very real to me.

You can either start each day complaining or praising!  I choose the later!  Is it always easy?  No, but praising God always makes you feel better! Try it you might like it!!!!

Praising His Name,
Alicia

Under Construction

It's morning!  I cling to my cup of coffee and give great thanks to God for it since I've not slept much in the past two nights.  Two words...Sean, and Snoring!  Put the two together and you get the drift!  Working out in the heat as a mailman wears him out!  He  works really hard for our family and I am grateful!  

Just hours from now I'll get in my car and join the ranks of the working world.  A decision faces me.  Do I take 64 which is currently under construction for like a 10 mile stretch or do I take Jefferson Avenue, the road less traveled packed with traffic lights?  On 64 the traffic might be flowing smoothly or bumper to bumper.  It's packed with constuction workers, trucks, cranes, and a plethra of other things I have no idea what they are or what their purpose is.  Do I take the chance of getting slowed down?  It is still the most popular route and the route most people take.  If I take the road less traveled it causes me to slow down and notice my surroundings:  the people at the bus stop, the homeless person, the Verizon people striking.  

Just like the which route to take to work, daiy in our Christian lives we face the decision.  Do we follow the crowd and give into the various kinds of temptation this world offers, do we participate in gossip, visit websites we shouldn't?  We too are currently under construction being molded each and every day by the Master Carpenter.  Daily, He picks us up and dusts us off when we fail, showering us with endless amounts of mercy and grace packed with tons of forgiveness.  When we use the right tools and use them for the right purpose the road less traveled in this life isn't so bad.  The Bible is our instruction book and the Holy Spirit is our teacher!  

I don't know about you, but this body will be under construction until the day I see Jesus face to face.  Then He will gladly take down that under construction sign!  Until then I pray that you too will choose the road less traveled and take time to see the people, things, needs that God places right in front of you!

Blessings to you,

Alicia Roark

A week "Unplugged!"

My Week Unplugged from Social Media

When I started out on this journey to "unplug" from Social Media for an entire week, I knew it wasn't going to be easy!  I'm sure I"m not the only person who checks Facebook multiple times a day to see the answer to one simple question:  What's on your mind?  Well, that one question that millions, even billions answer decided to take a spiritual turn.  I asked God, "God, what's on your mind?"  What He had to say caught me by complete surprise.

On the first day God gave me this verse, but I had NO IDEA why:  "The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on their way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day. Exodus 13:21.  Over and over again God reminded me of this verse literally ALL WEEK.  Did I go do a deep theological study of this passage?  No, not at all.  But I made sure to pay attention to what God would say was on His mind the rest of the week.

Here's what God had to say to me was on His mind on Sunday:  "You spend way too much time on Social media and other things that distract you away from time with me. Time with Me is the most important of them all.  You ought to be concerned about what's on my mind and not on the minds of others who flock to a Social Media site to vent, post their earthly drama and spend almost little or no time wondering about Godly things."  How's that for day 1 to find out what's on the mind of God?  A little scary huh?!!!  Yep, it caught me complete surprise, but He's God's Son and HE deserves even more of my time.  I still had that verse on my mind.  I knew He had more to say and if I'd listen He'd reveal more.

Now, being the happy person that I normally am, I thought, hey, this week without Social Media is kind of like a vacation!  What I couldn't see was just how tired I really was!  On day two I began to feel EXHAUSTED like never before.  I had to occupy my mind on this day in order to not log on to Facebook.  Work took a majority of my day then by the time I got home, completely wore out.  There at the end of the day was that verse again?  What did it mean?  Why that verse?  Why was God speaking that verse to me?  As I went to bed that night I caught a small glimpse.  God said, "Do things in my strength not yours.  I'll be your cloud by day and your fire by night so that you can see clearly to get through this week!"  What I couldn't see is how the week would take shape.  I was in for a surprise.  Unglugging isn't so bad after all!  

Tuesday came!  I was EXCITED about this day!  The temptation to log into facebook was fading!  I had to work and then I was going to a Bible Study that a friend of mine was leading!  I went to work knowing that I would hear from God again on what exactly was on His mind!  I thought this day couldn't get any better when I glanced down at my phone that I'd ignored all day too and saw that I'd received a message from my BFF.  I opened it up to read that Comedian Chonda Pierce's husband had been promoted to Heaven. My heart broke for her.  I said, "God, this was supposed to be a good day."  God said, "It is, it's the happiest day of David's life."  It was true.  When somebody who knows Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior gets promoted to glory it's the best day of their life.  No more sickness, no more pain or suffering.  They are in the presence of Jesus and it truly is a Happy Day.  However, for those left behind it's toughest because we will miss them.  I left work and went to a Bible Study.   It was after that Bible Study I learned that I'll be saying a VERY VERY HARD goodbye to one of my girlfriends.  I got in my car that night and tears began to fall.  I said, "God, this was supposed to be a happy day.  I had a great day at work but then the day went from great to grim at the news of David and now one of my dearest friends is moving?  How is this a happy day God?"  Then came the verse again.  Maybe it was His way of saying I'll get you through this tough goodbye coming.  Although it won't be easy, I'll lead you.  I wasn't sure and still 5 days later still am not sure how I will muster up the will power to say goodbye to my friend that I love so very much.  I've cried EVERY DAY this week over that.  

Wednesday came.  I woke up in a fog.  I'd cried myself to sleep over the news of my girlfriend moving.  I woke up in tears.  I felt like I needed to sit down and have a long, long chat with God.  Through tears I said "God this is devastating.  She's leaving and all I'll have are memories and a 3,000 mile distance."  He said, "Remember when Lazarus died, I wept too.  It's ok to cry and weep it's part of how I made you.  You'll miss her but remember I'm still God and I gave you this friendship.  She's still very much alive there's just going to be some distance between you.  Let me fill that gap!"  I didn't feel better right away but I knew that it would/will get easier. On this day I wasn't even tempted by Social Media at all.  All I could hear was what was on God's mind and how there are some things I still need to work on in my spiritual life.

Thursday came!  I felt like I had crossed a huge hurdle between Sunday and Thursday.  I was no longer tempted to even go near Facebook.  It wasn't really even on my mind.  I knew that I'd hear from God on this day too, I just wasn't sure what He'd have to say.  God showed up on this day and even on Wednesday through the power of friendship!  My baby's nursery was fully painted and baseboards were up by the time I got home on this day.  You see,  God knew I needed a pick me up and He sent just the right people to do it!  My BFF and another sweet, dear girlfriend!  Put the three of us in a room together and it's a riot!  We have a BLAST together!  They worked their hind parts off in that room along with my sweet hubby to get it practically finished.  At bedtime I prayed, God thank you for my sweet husband and girlfriends that you sent over today to be a blessing to me!"  Then God said one thing, "I am who I Am."  

TGIF!  I can see the end in sight on this week of being unplugged.  It's not been hard after all.  It's been a matter of just trusting God on the good and bad days and knowing that He knew what was best!!!  On this day, there was a HUGE ray of sunlight!  WE moved furniture into my baby's room!  It now looks like a little boy's room minus the mural and the pics on the wall that need to go up.  Other than that, it's a done deal!  OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!  You have NO IDEA how much I underestimated this nursery and how ELATED I am that it's practically done!!!!  At the end of the day God reminded me of the verse we began the week with.  It was HE who has guided me through this week.  Good days and bad.  It is He who will see me through the next two days.   

It's Saturday!  Today I've been a busy little bee!  The sun shines bright and it's been fun!  I've been cooking lots today!  Red beans and rice with cornbread and a chocolate cake!  Martha Stewart, step aside!  I'm knee deep in baby clothes to sort through and diapers to put away!  You'd think I am gonna have a baby or something!!!!  Facebook isn't a temptation today either. Tomorrow is my last day of being unplugged.  On Monday I'll post this blog and make it go public!  

I've just got one question for you.  Could you go unplugged for a week?!!!  Would you dare ask God the question, "What's on your mind?"  You might be surprised at His answer!  Sorry this was long, but I wanted you to see how it felt to go unplugged for one week.  The joys, the sorrows, and everything in between!  He's been my cloud by day and my fire by night!  He has led me through this week.  I've done NOTHING in my own strength!

Will I do this again?!!!  YES! YES! YES!  It's totally worth it!

Living Wonderstruck,

Alicia

Lent Challenge: I will never be the same again!

I'm simply captivated by what the Holy Spirit is teaching me through this Lent Challenge.  So far I've finished
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (known as the 4 gospels).  These men and their accounts of walking with Jesus daily are simply breath taking.  They saw Him perform miracles, walked and talked with Him, and learned from Him.  Then He was taken from them..Well, not completely; He left them the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them!

As I finished up the Book of John I noticed some things that I missed before.  Things that may not make you go wow but for me things I'd glossed over.  There's this one word in John Chapter 15 that is consistent throughout the chapter when Jesus speaks about Him being the True Vine and us being branches.  What is that word?  Remain.  It means to "Endure, abide, persist, stay."  It hit me this morning like a brick.  If I "Endure, remain, stay, and am persistent in my walk with Jesus I will bear much fruit that the world can see.  Remaining is sometimes tough especially during times of difficulty but those times when we stay in close communion with Jesus that we produce great fruit.  Oh, I can't tell you how sweet this experience is for me!
So it makes sense that if I stay away from reading God's Word, church, or fellowship with other believers that I produce little to no fruit.  It just makes sense!

This is just another thing that I missed over the years...In John's account of Jesus' burial Nicodemus shows up.  The guy who came to Jesus by night...remember him?  Yep, that guy shows up at Jesus' grave with about 75 lbs of embalming ointments made from myrrh and aloes. John  19:39.  I'd never noticed that before.  They bury Jesus with one of the same gifts presented to Him at His birth.  WOW, WOW, WOW!

Oh how sweet it must've been to walk and talk and learn from Jesus!  I'm so glad though He's left us the Holy Spirit to teach us until we get to see Him face to face!

This is truly leaving me Wonder Struck!

Blessings,
Alicia Roark

Lent Challenge...At the feet of Jesus!

Well, each time I finish reading for this Lent Challenge I'm always left with one word: WOW!!!  God is completely leaving me WOnder Struck through this journey and I'm only in John!  Oft I've asked myself as I've read, "How Did I miss.....?"  For instance, Jesus saw Pilot TWICE.  That's just one of what seems to be a gazillion things that I've glossed over because I had told myself, "I've read this before, I know how the story goes."  What I'm learning is that I haven't even scratched the scratch of all that Jesus wants to teach me.

In the four gospels I've learned about life's storms, marriage/divorce, what it means to truly follow Jesus and the cost that disciples paid to follow Him.  Something else that has stuck in my mind is the fact that the pharisees (dumb pharisees) kept asking Him for a sign.  No matter what they saw Jesus do they still questioned who He was, and were always there to try and trap him or correct Him for things like healing on the Sabbath.  Then it hit me, there are still people today walking the earth who still say they need a sign before they'll believe in Jesus.  I always want to ask, "Is an empty tomb not enough?"  I just don't get it.

The one thing  that I've experienced above all else so far is that I can't get enough of God's Word.  I mean I'm thinking about it ALL DAY LONG.  It's like water to my soul and it's refreshing.  I'm learning so much.  Oh if I'd not glossed over so many things before, but now is the time for me to learn at the feet of Jesus and what it means to be like Him, to follow Him, and to tell others about Him.

This truly is leaving me Wonder Struck!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

Margaret Feinber's Lent Challenge..Days 1-5......

Well, yet again I've been double dog dared to join  my precious friend Margaret Feinberg along with thousands of other people across America to join in on the 40 day Lent Challenge and read the entire New Testament through!  Challenge and double dog dare ACCEPTED sweet friend!!!

The first thing I knew when I started this journey is that there not only would be Jesus on this journey but satan too would be all to aware that I've decided to dive in feet first and let God do some soul work on me.  God is doing a mighty work in me.  Satan tried to have a hay day with me yesterday (the nerve he had on my birthday of all days...I think yesterday was Margaret's birthday too!).

So far, I've managed to only miss a day!  I caught up this morning though.  I finished the book of Matthew this morning.  I don't know about you but it was easy to try and gloss over those stories I've read time and time again, but each time before I've sat down to read I've asked God to show up and show me something new.  Well, He's done that time and time again!

There's one place that got me!  I read it this morning and I realized that I'd been glossing over 11 verses of scripture.  It's about the 10 bridesmaids.  5 wise, 5 foolish.  They went to meet the bridegroom, but the important part is that only 5 of them were prepared and brought extra oil for their lamps.  The bridegroom was delayed so they slept.    At midnight, the bridegroom shows up and they realize it and go to welcome HIm.  The 5 foolish asked the 5 wise for some oil for their lamps but they get turned down.  The 5 foolish go out and buy oil and while they were away the bridegroom invites the 5 wise into the marriage feast and LOCKS THE DOOR.  Matthew 25:2-13.  This is a perfect picture of what our lives as Christians should be like.  The 5 wise bridesmaids.  We should always be prepared with our lamps lit for Christ's coming.  We don't know the hour He will return.

I don't know about you but I want my light to shine BRIGHTLY for Christ.  I don't want it doing dim due to a lack of oil (time spent in His Word, Worship, helping others, witnessing.). I'm so thankful to be on this journey with Jesus, thousands of other women, and Margaret!  You should join us!    40 days can change your life!!!!

This truly is a Wonder Struck Moment and God is blowing me away!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia