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
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