Thankful for the Journey!

Some days on this journey, I have to ask myself, "Alicia, have you done the most important thing today?" Have you spent time with Jesus today?  Have you bowed your head in prayer and thanked Him for the blessings in life?  The realization comes, I can't do life without Jesus: Not today, not tomorrow, not ever.  Here's the real truth, I don't want to.

In the not too distant future we will ring in a new year.  We will all make resolutions to be better people, loose weight, become better at organization/time management.  In 2014 my biggest resolution is to continue to enjoy the journey He has me on.  I love spending time with God.  It's the most important part of my day.  If I don't spend time in His Word and prayer, the day is a nightmare.

In 2014 I want to run and follow hard after Christ!  I want to be so hungry for God that the passion wells up in me and that I can feel Him even closer than before.  I desire more than anything to point others to Jesus and His word. There's nothing else that matters more to me.

2014  will have it's mountains and valleys. Having Jesus as my guide through the journey will make it ever so sweet!

It is my sincerest prayer and wish for you that in 2014 that Jesus makes Himself ever so real to you and that you too will run and follow hard after Him!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

A sweet smelling savor! Living Wonder Struck

It is no secret that I am HEAD OVER HEELS IN LOVE with my husband!  You see, we've been married for 14 years!  I've been reading a new book by Sharon Jaynes called "Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe."  This is a MUST HAVE book for wives everywhere!  I confess that I got all choked up praying for him this morning.  Sure, I'd prayed for him before but not like this.

The other day I was in the kitchen and He was baking his famous ginger snap cookies that are to die for.  I said, "Honey, the whole house smells Heavenly."  He just smiled.  He let me have a cookie and it was simply divine.  Then the Holy Spirit whispered, "I want your life to be just like those cookies, a sweet smelling savor for me."

I am WONDER STRUCK by the mere fact that Jesus gave me Sean Roark for my husband!  He's truly a sweet, humble guy who truly has a servant's heart!  He'd give you the shirt off of his back.  He's 6 feet tall with blonde hair and blue eyes!  He is jolly and we both happen to be morning people!  It's really fun at our house around 7 a.m.!  Stay with me...I am going somewhere with this.

Even more than that, is the fact that Jesus Christ is a morning person, evening person, and night person.  He doesn't sleep or slumber.  Above all else, I want to please him in all that I do as a wife, woman in ministry, and a person in the workplace.

So as in the words of my sweet friend Margaret Feinberg, I double dog dare you to encourage your husband today, pray for him today and show him the love that only comes from Christ!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

A Season for Hugs! Living Wonder Struck

Let me tell you, I LOVE hugs!  I"m a hugger!  Well, never did I know the very place that I work (which I consider my mission field) would turn into a hugging adventure!  Sit back and relax as I tell you about a Wonder Struck moment that happened not so many weeks ago!

I was new to my position.  Laterally promoted to a department with 99% men.  All burly and masculine they would say hi to me.  So, I began to pray that God would break down the barriers for me to just show them love one day.  It was a Monday afternoon, and I was about to go home.  One of the guys, (I'll call him Sam to protect his identity) said, Mrs. Alicia can I ask you a question?  I said, "Sure, ask away, I may not have the right answer but I'll get you one.  He said, "Can I give you a hug?"  I said Sure!  This guy stands around 6 ft 2 and weighs about 350 lbs.  I gave Sam a hug and he said, "Thanks Mrs. Alicia, I needed a hug today, but I normally don't hug anybody."  I left work that night and told my husband. He said, "This is your mission field and God is answering your prayers and opening people up."

The next day at work I saw Sam and He greeted me and smiled!  I worked my shift and at the end of it another guy (I'll call him Joe) came to me and said, "I saw you hug Sam yesterday, can I have a hug too?"  Sure, I said!  Well, it didn't take long and one by one these masculine guys let down their guard and one by one eventually asked me for a hug!  Now, every day before I leave, they have to have a hug!

You see love is a universal language!  It doesn't take much to show God's love to people.  Eventually, those same guys began to ask more questions about who I am outside of work.  Then came the question, "Will you pray for me?!"  Guess, what, I told them I would pray for them!  It's an honor and priviledge to pray for them.

One day one of the guys was going through something difficult and asked to speak to me.  We went to the break room.  In that little bitty room this guy broke down and let me into his world.  He told me about heartaches, pains, and struggles of his life.  He literally buried himself in my shoulder and cried like a baby.  He said, "Mrs. ALicia, you show us all love every day.  I've never felt love like this before."  I said, "It's God's love inside me and it's Him that I desire to reflect every day."  He said, "Mrs. Alicia, I know you're married, but I mean this in a business and friendly way, I love you.  Thank you for showing us all love at work."

I'm not a perfect person but this scenario left me Wonder Struck to watch these young men break down and ask for a hug and trust me enough with their deepest issues of life.  Those issues I take before the throne of God.

Divine appointment too can come in the form of a hug!  Be ready!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

Hungry for God-Living Wonder Struck

Just less than 48 hours ago, it hit me.  I had a stomach issue and I felt HORRIBLE.  My precious husband sat up with me practically the entire night.  At one point he said, "Honey, why don't you try the crystalized ginger by your bed."  I groaned.  He said, "You don't have to if you don't want to, but it might settle your stomach."  I ignored his suggestion and well by ignoring his suggestion, the waves of sickness kept coming until I was in so much misery and discomfort that I finally gave in."  I started to suck on the crystalized ginger and wah lah...I quit getting sick.  I FINALLY fell asleep.   When I woke up the next morning he asked "Are you hungry?"  I said, "No, not at all."  He had gone out and gotten me some soup and ginger ale.  I sipped on ginger ale and just chilled out.

Later on that evening hunger hit.  I nursed soup along and then had 2 oranges.  I felt like I could eat everything in sight.  I was HUNGRY.

Yesterday I received my Christmas gift to myself, another book from my favorite author, Margaret Feinberg!  It's called Hungry for God.  Now I've just cracked it open this morning for a tad, but there's one thing the Holy Spirit spoke to me.  Alicia, just like your appetite came back with a roaring force,  I hope you hunger for me like that every day.  You see, in order to survive spiritually, I need God; God's WOrd, the Holy Spirit's guidance.  If I go one day without reading HIs Word, it's distaster.  Such a day happened on Monday.  I didn't read my Bible and OH MY.  The events of that day are now behind me but I had the WORST Monday I'd ever had.  My attitude stunk, I was unhappy, and I wasn't productive.  All because I starved my spirit.

Are you hungry for God?  I would like to encourage you to read His Word daily and therefore keeping your spiritual body full!

May God bless you and keep you today!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

God Came Down to Man!

I know I've been talking lots about Jesus' Birth lately.  Yesterday, my Pastor preached on Jesus' birth but yesterday was different.  It left me Wonder Struck like never before.  I'd forgotten a few important pieces of information of this annual sermon.  Yesterday was God's way of answering a prayer I'd prayed recently to have His Word become alive to me and to let this year's Christmas Story become new in my heart.

I could make the attempt to tell you about yesterday's sermon, but I'm gonna put the link here and let you listen.  Grab a hot cup of coffee, a Bible, a highlighter, some tissue (because even my Pastor got choked up in his sermon) and a heart that's ready to hear the Christmas Story like never before.

Go to yorkriver.org then click on sermons then click on the sermon titled "God Came Down to Man"
I"m asking you to please listen.  It will bless you.

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

Do you have room for Jesus?

There are now 20 days until we celebrate Jesus' birthday!  As I've been reading my bible lately, over and over again I'm reminded of the lowly place where He was born.  I'm sure Mary and Joseph were exhausted from the journey and then to find out there was no place for Him to be born?

Here in America this time of year we have our Christmas lists, grocery lists, and to-do lists.  I would like to pose a question today?  Do you have room for Jesus?  Are your lists so full that He has no place?  I would like to encourage you to make a room in your home where you and He can meet.  I meet with Jesus in my bedroom.  I close the door, hop on my bed, and pray, read the Bible and spend time with Him.  You see, when your heart and Home have room for Jesus your lists suddenly seem to get taken care of.  They seem less insurmountable.

You might say, well, if I start having a quiet time, I wouldn't know where to begin.  Here are just a few resources that I use almost daily in my quiet time:

1)  www.girlfriendsingod.com (devotional)
2)  www.margaretfeinberg.com (blog/devotion)

Another good one is:  www.crosswalk.com

Starting is the important part!  Do you have room for Jesus?!!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

My cup runneth over! Living Wonder Struck

God is showing up in ways that I can't even imagine these days!  For those of you who don't know, I'm the women's ministry director at my church.  This year, since there was nobody else to do it, I agreed that our women's ministry would take on the Thanksgiving Baskets to the community effort.

What I didn't understand was how BIG this task was and I UNDERESTIMATED IT GREATLY.  The first thing was the money issue.  We needed money to get these baskets going.  Well, I was told our church was poor and that we would NEVER get the money together.  I told this person God was bigger and that we were going to do 40 baskets this year and I believed that God would provide.

Well, I made 1 announcement last Sunday morning!  We went from having $79 for baskets to $529!!!  Yayy God!  So, God provided the money and 40 people who needed those baskets.  Now for the effort of getting it to all come together.  As I write this, I can tell you I'm glad the effort is over because I've never chased down so many cardboard boxes in my life.  I visited the grocery stores and explained what we were doing.  They eventually would say, "Oh you're with the church."  They knew.

Well, after getting all the boxes together, then came to get the church set up with all of the stuff and then for the meal.  THIS is where I REALLY underestimated what it took.  I didn't have enough help so I had to call my father in law for help and the Pastor helped get all the stuff set up.  Then I didn't think I'd need the social committee and so we were doing the boxes and making tea and setting up tables for food.  Yep, I needed help and didn't have enough.  In the end, it all came together thanks to God!

The people showed up to get their baskets.  Some of them their burdens were huge.  My heart broke for them.  You see they were souls in need of a Savior.  They were physically hungry.  So God used this effort to meet their needs.

My cup runneth over at how God took over and made this happen!  Completely WONDER STRUCK by it all.  This morning I was in tears over what God had done.  Tears of thankfulness!

I would like to take the time to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Blessings,
Alicia Roark

What God Can do: Living Wonderstruck!

Oh my precious friends, I just have to tell you about my HUGE Wonder Struck moment that happened yesterday!

You see, I'm the Women's Ministry Director at church.  Every year we do Thanksgiving Baskets for the community.  Well, there was nobody to do it, so I agreed that the women's ministry would take it on this year.  My Pastor asked me "How many baskets are we going to do?"  I said without hesitation, "40."  He said, "Ok."  A well-meaning sister in Christ said, "Alicia, I heard you've agreed to do 40 baskets this year."  I said, "Yes ma'am!"  She replied, "Our church is poor and we have under $100 to spread out for 40 baskets.  You'll never get the money together to do this.  This is way too lofty a goal we should be more realistic."  I said to my sister, "Well, I'm going to be realistic and  say that God fed a multitude of 5,000 so He can provide the money to do this with and besides, I'm not staring my 2 mentors in the face and informing them that I became a big old yellow bellied chicken and wallowed in my own insecurity.  I believe God will provide."

So, Sunday I made ONE announcement that it was the last day to give towards the Thanksgiving Baskets.  Yesterday evening I got a phone call with the final money total that God provided.  Remember, we started off with $75.  Grand total GOD provided:  $575!  WONDER STUCK!  I hung up that phone and jumped for joy!!!!!

You see, He's Jehovah Jireh, my provider.  I still trust HIm like that!  Guess what else.  We have EXACTLY 40 Names!  Completely WOnder Struck!

Praising God,
Alicia

Feeling Sentimental: Wonderstruck by a Baby in a Manger

Christmas is coming!  It's my favorite season of all.  I know you're thinking, we've not even gotten to Thanksgiving Alicia, slow down.  Stay with me though.

Every time I think of Jesus being born and His purpose here on earth, I get all kinds of choked up.  You see He was born in the stinkiest, lowliest place of all. a trough.   He lived on earth in the midst of sinful man.  He bore witness to who He was over and over again.  THEN, He died for the sins of all man kind by crucifixion on a cross.

I wasn't there for His birth or resurrection.  It just blows me away that He  was born and died for this Whosoever.  I saw something on the internet last year that sums it all up.  "Earth's saddest and gladdest days were 3 days apart."  Amen?!

I don't know about you but I'm forever thankful for a baby in a manger who came in the lowliest place of all.

Living Wonder Struck
Alicia

#LiveWonderStruck #MargaretFeinberg #Jesus'Birth

Prayer and Midrash: Living Wonder Struck

The practice of Midrash is new to me, but I'm learning.  These days I've got my face in His book gleaning from it priceless treasures from God.  I'm currently reading the book of Isaiah.  I started it earlier this week and I'm still just on Chapter 1.  The first 20 verses have given me lots to think about.  Chapter 1 has 31 verses in it.  I've always had trouble understanding the Old Testament books.  I've gotten lost in geneology and the who, what, when, where, and why and once I thought I'd gotten my mind wrapped around it then some how I'd forget what I'd read and would get confused.  

There are a couple of elements I'd left out.  One huge element was prayer.  Go figure.  These days I'm praying for God to make all of the details clear.  I"m not rushing the reading of His Word.  Isaiah has 66 chapters for crying out loud!  It won't matter how long it takes me to get through the book of Isaiah.  The most important thing will be lessons God has taught me along the way.  The Holy Spirit is my teacher and He's teaching me lots of stuff.  So far in Isaiah Chapter 1 God has taught me one huge lesson, His place in my life is #1 not 2nd or 3rd.  He's not a God who is to be dusted off of a shelf on Sunday morning.  He's a jealous God and He will not tolerate playing 2nd fiddle.

The second element I'd left out is Midrash.  I didn't know it existed until about 8ish weeks ago thanks to Margaret Feinberg.  Everybody learns differently.  I happen to learn by repetition and note taking.   I like things to go back and reference like notes.  So, I'm keeping a Midrash journal.  It's helping.  I can go back and reference things God has taught me along the way.

This journey is precious to me and I don't take it for granted.  Living Wonder Struck isn't just a passing fad, it's my way of life.

To learn more about midrash visit http://margaretfeinberg.com/how-midrash-can-change-your-spiritual-life-forever/

If you've not bought your copy of Wonder Struck yet I highly recommend it.  Please buy it from my precious friend Margaret Feinberg's website:  www.margaretfeinberg.com  She's battling cancer and the proceeds help she and her husband with the mounting medical bills.  You can tell her Alicia sent you!

Have an awesome day in Jesus today and be a blessing to somebody else!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

Love Languages: Living Wonder Struck

Part of the journey of living Wonder Struck is a 40 day journey of making big decisions!  Well, I'm journeying back into The 5 love langauges!  My husband's love language is Acts of Service and mine is physical touch.

You see, the one thing that leaves me Wonder Struck is the fact that God chose him to be my husband!  Sean is 6 ft tall, blonde hair, blue eyes and a personality that shines like the sun!  He's my amazing husband and has been for 14 beautiful and glorious years!  (You can take your umbrella down now, the sap has stopped dripping!)

Speaking his love language makes him feel appreciated, loved and wanted.  What does that look like?!  For Sean Roark, it's a clean house, a big breakfast in the morning, putting things back where they belong, and just doing things to make sure the house looks nice.  It speaks volumes to him!

He has no clue that I'm doing another 40 days of the 5 love languages but He'll find out when he gets the love letter from me in his car with a scripture to go with the day!

What leaves you Wonder Struck?!!  If you've never taken the 5 love languages quiz I highly suggest it!  Here's the link:  http://www.5lovelanguages.com/profile/

Please continue to pray for Margaret Feinberg and her father for "ZERO" cancer cells.  If you've not read "Wonder Struck" visit this link to buy it from Margaret's website.  Buying the book from her website helps with medical bills due to her current battle with cancer.  You can tell her Alicia sent you!

#LiveWonderStruck  #MargaretFeinberg #Lovelanguages
Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

From a trashcan to God's Treasure: Living Wonder Struck

Living Wonder Struck is a beautiful thing.  Today I would like to share something with you that has left me Wonder Struck for a bit now.  This Summer I became a brand new author.  That's cool to some folks, but for me, the part that gets me is how God wrote my story.

My friends have reminded me that my book is 5 months old and I've been a little too quiet about it.  I'm not a person who likes to toot my own horn.  It just isn't me.  However, I want people to be able to read how God rescued me from a trashcan and made me His treasure.

God has completely blown me away with how much He loves me.  His love is unconditional.  Unlike my biological parents who told me they didn't want me and that I was a mistake.  They made it abundantly clear.  I'm God's baby girl and He loves me and cares for me in ways that just leave me in complete awe.

I stand in awe of a God who would allow me to tell the story of His miracle-working hand in my life.  I stand in awe because He is awesome and His mercies don't fail.

If you would like to get a copy of my book, you may visit my website:  www.thedixiestreetmiracle.com

May God bless you today and leave you Wonder Struck!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark
Author
The Dixie Street Miracle

The Holy Spirit: Living Wonder Struck

Living Wonder Struck has done so much for me.  I have to confess that over the years when I've read my Bible, I've read either Psalms, Proverbs, or anything in the New Testament.  Why?

For me, the Old Testament is hard to understand (even with a version that is simple).  I get so lost in the Geneology then who did what, when, how and why.  Distractions come in between all of that of course and then frustration.

Well, I don't give up so easily, especially after reading Wonder Struck and starting to read my Bible daily.  The Holy Spirit whispered to me the other day, I can make those stories become clear.  Invite me where you are and let me teach you.  I'm your teacher and before you've depended on your own understanding.  So, I've decided to tackle the book of Isaiah.  Only little bits at a time because it's a big book with 66 chapters and some of the chapters are lengthy.

Spending time with God instead of playing games that waste time and don't impact others for eternity is making a huge difference.  I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit's guidance in my life.  I am thankful for God's Word.  It will not return void.

When I meet with God these days I wait with great expectation of what He will do.  He's an amazing God and I'm Wonder Struck every day by Him!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

Being Sensitive to the needs of others...Living Wonder Struck

Some days during this living Wonder Struck journey God takes me by complete surprise.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I work retail.  In my store there are over 100 employees.  Every day I pray on the way to work for God to help my co-workers see Jesus in me.  It never fails, at least once a day somebody will pull me to the side and say, "Alicia, will you pray about this for me." I am always glad to pray.

Yesterday, a young girl who is in a bad relationship talked to me for over 30 minutes.  She said, "I have nobody and nowhere to go."  It broke my heart for her.  Somewhere during our talk she explained to me that she was raised in church but hasn't attended in six months.  I told her I would pray for her and that I would see what I could find out to get her some help.

Living Wonder Struck means being sensitive to the needs of others.  It means putting aside your "to-do list" to listen to others. When you pray today, ask God to help you be sensitive to the needs of others.  Will you agree to pray for "Sarah" with me.  This is not her real name to protect her identity.  However, this girl needs some prayer.  I'll keep you posted as God answers!

Please keep praying with me for "ZERO" for Margaret Feinberg and her father who are both battling cancer.

God bless you today!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia

The Hope of Heaven: Living Wonder Struck

Yesterday, Dr. Billy Graham celebrated his 95th birthday.  He preached for the very last time.  Over and over again in his messages he speaks about the hope of Heaven.  The one thing that leaves me completely Wonder Struck above all else is the fact that Jesus Christ saved my soul at the age of 9 and I have the hope of Heaven.   It still brings to me to tears when I think about the day I gave my heart to Jesus.

Last evening my girlfriend Heather texted me and asked me to call her ASAP.  So I did.  She shared with me that my girlfriend Tara's dad has less than 24 hours to live.  They are currently as this hour waiting at his bedside with him until God calls him home.  Her dad has the hope of Heaven too. 

You see, I've got this question on my mind and I just have to ask you.  Do you have the hope of Heaven?  You see, it's too late when you're in the casket.  I've got to be brutally honest with you today and lay it all on the line for the sake of eternity.  Not everybody goes to Heaven.  You can know for sure today that You have the hope of Heaven!  

Here's how via Billy Graham's website:  http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/god-so-loved-the-world/

Today I've got Heaven on my mind.  I talk about how awesome this journey of living Wonder Struck is, but nothing will leave me more Wonder Struck than when I see Jesus for the very first time!  Now that, will simply take my breath away.  

Please pray with me for the Manuel family of Oakdale, Louisiana as they prepare to say goodbye to a father, friend, brother, husband and so much more.

Living Wonder Struck,

Alicia Roark

Author

The Dixie Street Miracle

www.thedixiestreetmiracle.com

Making big changes....Living Wonderstruck

Have you ever said, "oh that meeting or revival or song changed my life?"  I can almost guarantee you have!  Well living Wonder Struck is changing my life in so many ways.  Are they all just bubbling over with joy and sunshine.  Absolutely not, but on the cloudy days, I seek His face and things get better.  He's God and I am not.

40 seems to be a number of significance in the Bible.  40 days and 40 nights they wandered in the wilderness.  I know that during those walking in the wilderness days that God changed their lives.  Through this journey of Living Wonderstruck God is changing my life!  I was so hoping to post a picture that I finally got to take on instagram of my favorite tree in bloom.  It won't let me do it on here for some reason.

Sometimes God calls us to make big changes.  It takes us out of our comfort zones.  It causes us to focus on the things that are really important.  Here are a few big changes I'm going to make today:

1.  I'm deleting EVERY SINGLE GAME on my tablet and this computer..  For 40 days I will NOT play them at all.  I will install Godly apps that help me focus on my relationship to Him.

2.  I will go back and do another 90 days of the 5 love languages with my husband!  It forever changed our marriage this Summer and it wasn't even in jeopardy.

3.  I will install just 3 different apps on my Spiritual Walk with Christ....

4.  I will blog about the experience here.

5.  I will continue to pray fervently and listen as well.

6.  I will encourage others to pray with me for Margaret Feinberg and her family for ZERO cells!

40 days seems to be a long time but in 40 Days God does some amazing stuff.

Will you join me in this Wonder Struck journey?!  It's so worth it!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia

An attitude Adjustment...Living Wonderstruck

Oh my friend, these days the Holy Spirit speaks loud and clear.  I'm a morning person!  Well, this morning, I wasn't your usual morning person.  It is cold here in Williamsburg.  It's officially Fall and the weather is now catching up with that face.  My husband and I had to drop off my car to get the oil changed.  I am not a fan of having to hit the ground running in the cold air.  We dropped off the car then he decides he needs to gas up the car which is literally a block away.  My response was, "I want to go home can't you do this later."  He said, "Look at my gas needle."  Here's the real clincher, the gas station is ONE BLOCK from my house.  Approximately 10 minutes after leaving to drop the car off and fill up his tank we arrive back home.  My attitude was still horrible.  TOday we have carpet cleaners coming and they called to say they were running late...AN HOUR Late.  They ran into problems on  Wed due to the weather.  Ok...you get the picture.

I didn't start the day off with Bible reading and prayer.  Matter of fact, I just finished doing that.  What a difference it makes to spend time in God's Word and with Him.  Your Wonder Struck life can turn horrible in 2 seconds if you don't prepare for battle.  Put on God's full armour and you will be able to stand against the enemy!

So, I challenged you today in your Wonder Struck adventure to stop right now wherever you are and if you've not started your day with God or spent time with Him..Please Go do it.  THe enemy knows where we are weak.

God bless your day today!

-Alicia Roark

Moments with the Master: Living Wonderstruck!

These precious tender moments with Jesus are everything to me.  This morning I was challenged by Margaret Feinberg to sit in:

• The time I put into my relationship with God the more it will flourish.
• My cup of coffee reminds me that He fills me to overflowing.
• If Jesus were a sports legend His jersey would be red and white.  Red for the blood He shed and White because He washes us white as snow
• Faith, not fear.
• Study to show thyself approved unto God....
• Stop using excuses as to why I can't do something, Trust God instead.
• Keep on marching around your walls of difficulty, all the while praising Him.  One day the wall will come tumbling down.
• I am the Great I AM

And that's just a mere scratch!  Jesus invites us daily to spend time with Him in His Word!

My challenge to you is that you will take some time to sit in silence at the feet of the Master and see what He has to say!

Living Wonder Struck,

Alicia 

Being cleansed by the Master-Living Wonder Struck

Have you ever felt dirty?  I don't like that feeling at all personally.  I bathe daily (aren't you glad!).  It's something that I don't have to think about I just do it because if I don't I'll start to smell and people won't want to be around me.

Jesus hung out with the dirtiest people.  Not only were they physically dirty but spiritually too.  Look at Nicoldemus, Zaccheaus, the rich young ruler, the leppers, the adulteress woman.  Each time He encountered one of them, He offered them a soul cleansing.  They might've been dirty on the outside but once Jesus got ahold of them their souls became clean.

Jesus washed the feet of his disciples (John 13:5-20).  It was a humbling experience.  Some felt so unworthy and didn't want Jesus to touch their feet at all.  Our feet are probably one of the dirtiest part of our bodies. They sweat, get trampled on and get dirty.  They are in need of daily washing.  Well so are our souls.  Until we meet Jesus, our souls are dirty and stained with sin.  When we accept Christ as our Savior He washes us white as snow.

He still offers us a a towel and a bowl of water. He's still in the cleansing business.  Thank God He's still working on me!

Truly, there's no other place I'd rather be than sitting at His feet learning from Him and being cleansed!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

God's View-Living Wonder Struck!

Have you ever watched reality tv?  Cameras roll, facades get put on as the actors and actresses try to portray what their life is really like.  All over America people tune in weekly for their dose of reality tv.  Is it real?!!  I can say with some confidence that it's not all real due to editing that takes place.  They don't want people to really see their flaws and short comings.  

What if you played a part in your own reality tv show as it pertains to being a Christian.  Well, I did recently.  It was God's reality show.  His camera was rolling and what He caught with His heavenly lense caught me off guard, embarassed me, and caused me to start living completely different.  You see, people appreciate real people.  No facades, no pretenses, just real genuine people.

So, please grab a bag of popcorn, your favorite soda, and get in your favorite chair as I invite you to my own reality show, "Confessions of a Women's Ministry Director."  This summer God brought me to Rockville, VA to a Leadership retreat!  I was excited about this retreat because I'd get to learn more about how to be a better Women's Ministry Director.  I walked in with my bags and exchanged hugs with some people on the leadership team that I have great respect for.  I got my room key and a bag full of stuff.  One of the folders contained a book mark on how to pray for the weekend.  I dove right in with my naive self and prayed that prayer and asked God to do something God-sized.  Well, what happened next I didn't see coming for a million miles.  The retreat started and we praised God through song, did some activities and ended the night with the news of homework in the back of the folder.  Well, I looked at the homework and WHOA!  I wasn't prepared for a Reality check from God like that.  It was a Spiritual Journey assessment.  God gave me a dose of my own reality as a Women's Min director and it wasn't pretty.  What if people knew I didn't read my bible daily or spend time in prayer several times a day?  What would they think?  Would the numbers dwindle just like reality tv shows when interest is lost?   I walked away from that weekend more determined to get back into God's Word.  HOw long did it last?!  REALITY...2 weeks and that's a stretch!  Then God brought me to yet ANOTHER Leadership meeting where the ExACT SAME MATERIAL was taught.  I walked away from that meeting determined to do something about this Reality check from God.  I humbled myself and called the Women's Ministry Rep from my local area and asked her to disciple and mentor me.  She agreed.  Accountability.  It's what I needed!  So, the journey began.  God didn't stop there.  He brought me to Roanoke, VA to seal the deal in this hard look in the mirror.  He introduced a young lady named Margaret Feinberg to me on the stage.  She spoke about our relationship with God.  On the way home I read "Wonder Struck" cover to cover. REALITY!  It was time to up this journey with God.  Time to get my prayer life and Bible Reading life in order completely.  Well, it's been 2 weeks since then and all together in 6 weeks God put together a photo album of what my spiritual life looked like.  Let's say it's getting better.   Reality is that I'm in the midst of God's pruning process and it's not comfortable.  Reality is that I have this thirst for God like never before.  Reality is, that had it not been for God sending me on this journey this Summer I don't know where I'd be spiritually other than dead.

Reality, spending time on anything before God is an idol and He is a jealous God.  Living this Wonder Struck life is worth it.  Living a life with my Face in His Book is worth it.  Living Real instead of Fake is worth it.  

And as in the words of my darling new friend, Margaret Feinberg, I double Dog dare you to ask God to give you a look with His lens.  You might be surprised!

Living Wonder Struck,

Alicia Roark

#LiveWonderstruck #Realitycheck #NofakesbeforeGod

So thirsty for God! Living Wonderstruck!

These days I'm soaking up God's Word with every fiber of my being!  I look forward to spending time with Him and hearing from Him.  I can't get enough of it and I'm more than ok with that after not reading it faithfully for so long.  Thank the Lord His mercies are new each morning!

I'm more than thrilled to tell you living a Wonder Struck life is more than worth it.  I think the Psalmist says exactly what my heart is echoing:  "As the deer pants for the waterbrooks, So my soul pants for you, O God. Psalm 42:1.

I want more of Jesus, more of His Word and more time sitting at His feet.

Are you thirsty?!!!  He invites you to open up His Word and walk away filled to overflowing!

Living Wonderstruck,
Alicia

Today is day 4 of 21 in the Wonderstruck Journey:  visit www.margaretfeinberg.com and under the free gifts its at the bottom of the page under devotions!  Join me!  You won't be sorry!

The gift of Time: Living Wonderstruck!

Time.  It's precious!  Today is day 3 of the 21 day challenge of living Wonder Struck.  Time is my challenge today.  How do I spend it?!  As I think about the things that take up my time, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've been a victim of spending way too much time and years being a people pleaser.  Yep, I fell victim.

These days I'm committed to no longer being a people pleaser. I don't care if people don't like me because of my bubbly personality, or the fact that I send them letters or check up on them through email or that I am not running over with money.  I don't care that people think I'm too uptight and won't drink alcohol or go to places where alcohol is present.  I don't care about being popular.  I care about spending time living a life that is pleasing to God.  It's Him I need to please.

I'm done with fake theology, social gatherings that call themselves Bible Studies but all that happens is a gossip session and no souls are won for eternity. DONE.  Guess what?!  I don't even like all that Joyce Meyer has to say?!!  Shocked?!!! Maybe, but guess what that doesn't matter.  Now don't get me wrong, Joyce Meyer has some good stuff that she does say that is theologically sound.

My time is precious.  I'm done spending way too many hours on the computer.  Those days are diminishing. I've spent way too many hours on mindless games, and Facebook.  THese days I have my Face in God's Book and learning from Him!  Oh how sweet this WonderStruck life is!

What are you spending your time on?!!   I"m telling y'all you should join me on this #WonderStruck adventure!  God might rock your world too!

Living Wonderstruck,
Alicia

Being keen to His still small voice: Living Wonder Struck

My friend, this journey has shook me to my core and I'm grateful.  These days there's one thing I"m learning to do above everything else.  Being keen to His still small voice.  When you spend so much time away from God, hearing from Him takes a little time to get reacquainted.

My prayer today is that God will make Himself so real to me and that I won't have so much noise and stuff going on around me that I miss His still small voice.

It's day 2 of 21 Days of Wonder.  You should really join me!  :)

Blessings,
Alicia Roark

Waiting with Great Expectation! Experiencing His Presence Daily!

These days are precious to me!  I'm on the edge of my seat waiting with great expectation to hear from Him. Oh my friend, it's like Christmas on a daily basis!  Reading about Jesus, hearing form Him, and spending time at His feet.  It just doesn't get any better than this.

I"m learning so much as I experience God in a brand new way.  It's sad that it's taken me so long because I was so hard headed; but hey, I'm here and I"m not going anywhere this time.  The nudging of the Holy Spirit during the day is much clearer and sometimes it takes me by surprise.  Obedience is what is required from His promptings.  It isn't always easy but I'm learning!

Do you wait with great expectation from God?  Along with the 40 days of fasting and prayer I'm also starting 21 days of Wonder Struck.  You should join me!

http://margaretfeinberg.com/the-21-day-wonder-challenge/

May God bless you and keep you today as you wait with great expectation on what He can and will do during your day!

#LiveWonderStruck

Living WonderStruck
Alicia

For Such A Time As This: Living Wonder Struck

Oh, the places God puts us in!  We've all heard the expression, "You can't see the forrest for the trees."  Well, that was me until about a week ago!  My spritual walk had dried up, and all I could see was a dry, barren walk with Christ that was barely alive.  A retreat rekinkdled the fire then back to the old way again.  It didn't take long.

Then came Extraordinary Women in Roanoke last weekend.  God got ahold of me and I've not really been the same since.  I've started reading my Bible every day and praying.  I've asked God to make Himself real to me during the day and He has.  I've heard His still small voice ever so clearly and oh how sweet it is to be in this place.  I don't ever want to leave!

During the past 18 months I've not slept through the night but maybe once.  I'm here to tell you since I began reading my Bible every day and returning back to my first love I've slept through the night like a baby!  I feel like a brand new person!

Oh my friend, let me tell you.  It's worth going through the pruning process with God.  He'll show up and leave you in complete awe!

Today, I'm fasting.  Now for I know some of you probably will say that I'm not supposed to tell you I'm fasting.  There's a purpose behind it.  I'm doing 40 days of Prayer and fasting with my Pastor and church family.  I want to get so close to God that I can feel Him breathing.  I've only fasted once in my life I"m ashamed to say.  But I look forward to what this day will bring.

Today I will spend time with He who gave me  life and that more abundantly!  I hope you will spend some time with Jesus today too!

God bless you!

Alicia

Scripture leaps off the page at me!

Oh my dear friend, how sweet it is learning from God and reading His Word which is so precious to me!  I can't tell you what a difference it's making in my everyday life!

God's Word is powerful.  Yes, I know I've said that almost in every post, but it's true.  This morning I was Double Dog Dared by my new friend Margaret Feinberg to read Luke Chapter 24.  How can you not read it after being Double Dog Dared?!!!  After all, God might teach me something new!  Oh, and He did!

I love it when I read something I've not read before or a scripture jumps out at me.  That's exactly what happened this morning.  I read Luke Chapter 24 and saw where Jesus just hung out with His disciples and they didn't even recognize Him.  I actually don't think I'd ever read Luke Chapter 24 in it's entirety.  I know that's sad, but Hey God is working on me!  Thank you Lord!

It's awesome living this Wonder Struck life.  I don't ever want to leave.  I want to live on the edge of my seat like this everyday with great expectations of what God will do!

When's the last time scripture leaped off the pages and got ahold of your heart?!!!1  I double dog dare you to read Luke Chapter 24 and see what God will do for you!

Living Wonder Struck
Alicia Roark

Living with daily anticipation! The Wonderstruck Life

Each day of this journey so far has been refreshing!  I mean, what in the world took me so long to start living my Christian life Wonderstruck?!!!  I can tell you.  I wasn't in the word on a daily basis, I'd pray once a day and therefore I was living in a dry, and thirsty walk with Christ.  Yes, I'm being honest.

Oh what a difference studying God's Word and spending time in prayer (more than once a day) on a daily basis makes.  But wait, it gets better.  The listening part is becoming easier!  Go figure!

Everyday I wait with great anticipation of what God will do.  I expect Him to show up.  HOw?  I"m not sure but each day He shows up and completely blows me away!  He's God and that's just what He does!

Is your Quiet time non-existent?  How often are you praying?  Are you attending church?  Are you listening after prayer?

I invite you to live a Wonder Struck life!  It's so worth it.  Again, visit www.margaretfeinberg.com to order your copy of Wonderstruck.  You will not be sorry!

Living Wonderstruck,
Alicia

His still small voice: Living Wonderstruck

Oh my friend, how sweet it is to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from Him.  It's just been 3 days on this journey but oh what a journey so far.  God's Word is so powerful and over these past few days it has ministered to my heart.

This morning as I read the scriptures I learned of kindness.  It seems to come naturally for me.  Do I always pass the test?  Absolutely not.  Yesterday I blew the kindness test but thank God for His mercies that are new each morning. Lamentations 3:22-23.

I love it when I learn something new.  My new friend, Magaret Feinberg, taught me the art of Midrashing.  It's diving feet deep into God's Word.  It's finding the people, places, events and finding God in the midst of those!  Now I'm only beginning this Midrashing adventure but I'm learning lots.

God has called me to do a couple of things that I'm not used to doing but He's God and I'm not.  Soon I'll be fasting one day a week and praying and studying scripture.  It's then that I'll covet the prayers of my friends.  I've only fasted once in my life.  It wasn't easy but was worth it.  What?  Only once?!! Yes, but on that one occassion I learned lots from God.

Another thing I'll be doing is a 40 days of sacrifice.  It's kind of like lent but not in lent season.  I'm not Catholic but I've learned lots about lent in "Wonder Struck."  During those 40 days I"ll be praying, studying scripture, and giving up at least one thing that I do on a regular basis.  Most probably it will be Facebook.  I don't have a start day but soon I will set one.

Being with Jesus is all that I desire.  To know Him more deeply, to better my relationship with Him, and to continue to share the gospel with others in the process.

Living Wonderstruck has kept me with my eyes wide open and waiting with great expectation on God.
Oh how sweet it is!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

God, what do YOU want?!!! Living Wonderstruck!

It's morning!  I"m a morning person and it's when I have my time with God.  I go to my bedroom and shut the door and God and I meet.  There's no other place I"d rather be than sitting at the feet of my Savior learning from Him.  His still small voice is ever so quiet, but powerful.

This morning I read another devotion by Margaret Feinberg.  It posed one question; God what do YOU want?  I immediately thought, ok I'm about to have a heart check with God this morning and I bet I'm going to have to ask Him this humbling question.  It wasn't long until I was instructed to do that very thing.

So, I did.  I asked God what He wanted and then He spoke.  Here is what He said:  "He has told you, O man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you But to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."  Micah 6:8 (New American Standard Bible).  How's that for hearing straight from God???

That is all it took.  He's got my attention and on this day I will seek Him all day long and wait expectantly on Him.

Are you waiting expectantly on GOd?  Are you willing to ask God the tough questions?!!!

I pray that God blesses you beyond your wildest imagination today and that you live Wonder Struck for Him!

Living Wonder Struck for my King,
Alicia

Living Wonderstruck: My Journey with God!

There we were 10,000 women strong at the Extraordinary Women conference.  Our voices singing praises to God and our hands raised high in worship!  Then the speaker was introduced. Her name is Margaret Feinberg.  I'd not heard her speak before but I'd watched a small snippet on youtube of her and thought that she was intereresting.  NOTHING could have prepared me for what I heard her say.  I sat on the edge of my seat and was completely blown away. God had brought me to the conference to hear Him speak through Margaret Feinberg.  There were many great speakers over the weekend but she by far was my favorite.

The conference ended and my friends and I headed home.  My Best Friend bought Margaret's book "Wonder Struck."  I asked her if I could read it.  She said, "sure."  I opened up the cover and for 3 hours God spoke volumes to my heart through this book.  WONDER STRUCK...this is what I'd been aching for, and longing for in my walk with Christ.  I want to live with such great expectation of what God will do all the while sitting at His feet learning from Him.

I want to fall in love with Jesus all over again!  I want to have a deep hunger for His Word!  So, here I sit at a new beginning in my spiritual journey.  New disciplines will be taking place.  There will be boundaries placed so that I can focus on my relationship with Him.  I will blog about experiences along the way.

Until the next time, I would like to challenge you to visit www.margaretfeinberg.com and buy "Wonder Struck".  Margaret is battling breast cancer and when you purchase directly from her store it helps she and her husband with their medical bills.  Tell her, "Alicia sent me!"

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark