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