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