TGFS! LIve Wonder Struck!

I've probably already gotten your attention with the title!  What in the world is TGFS?!!!  Well, sit back, grab a cup of coffee and allow me to explain!

In my daily life I'm a wife, women's ministry director, and  a full-time employee.  My plate is overflowing and I am always on the go.  If I get to sit still for long it's a miracle.  Well, my Wonder Struck journey requires me to sit still, listen and take in the sweet whispers of God's Holy Spirit.

Just about 5 minutes ago, I was thinking about my work week (particularly this week).  It's been a long week.  We've all heard people say "I'm having a case of the Mondays."  What if you had a "Case of the Mondays" all week long?  You're searching for some good news, a ray of sunshine, a break in the chaos.  It's not been a horrible week, but it's just been hectic you could say.  There hasn't been enough of me to go around.

Not 10 minutes ago, the Holy Spirit whispered to me "Sunday is on it's way!"  I got quiet and began to think about that phrase.  Then came the picture of Jesus dying on the cross.  You want to talk about having a case of the Mondays?!!! Jesus had a case of the Mondays wrapped up in a week.  He was betrayed by His own, accused of things He didn't do and then crucified.  God quietly reminded me that earth's saddest day and gladdest day were 3 days apart!  You see, things might've seemed hopeless on Friday, but on Sunday when the stone was rolled away and Jesus rose victoriously from the grave, it was the gladdest day on earth!  Sunday brought new hope!  On Sunday life had new meaning!

So, TGFS (Thank God for Sunday!).  So when I'm overtired and my week gets hectic, He is my portion! (Psalms 142:5) He's more than enough to get me through every day of every week!  Sunday is on it's way!  Live Wonderstruck!  Live with anticipation that brighter days are ahead!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

It all begins with Him! Live WonderStruck!

My journey with God is beautiful!  He beckons me daily, "come spend time with me.  Watch for me throughout your day I am ever present."  You see, this journey isn't a journey at all without God by my side!

I've experienced God in brand new ways since reading "Wonder Struck" by Margaret Feinberg.http://www.margaretfeinbergstore.com/products/wonderstruck-awaken-to-the-nearness-of-god  God has shown up in big ways!  I've seen Him answer prayers in very unique ways.  He's revealed Himself lots through scripture.  There's one thing that's constant in this Wonder Struck journey:  A daily invitation to come spend time with Him!  Time to sit at His feet and worship, to lay down my burdens, to feast upon His Word that is sharper than any two-edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12 King James Version).  Part of that invitation requires me to be still and know that He is God.  (Psalms 46:10 KJV)

Now if you know me personally, you know that sitting still is a challenge!  I'm a busy body, happier than a little bit, a beam me up Jesus girl indeed!  It's naturally difficult for me be down much less sit still for longer than 5 minutes unless you have my attention.  However, God invites me to be still and know that He is God.  It's there in the quiet moments that He shows up and makes known His majesty to me.  It's there He whispers, "I've heard your prayers for _____ but keep trusting me."  

Some days tears roll down my face in complete awe of who Jesus is!  He truly leaves me Wonder Struck.  His promises don't fail, He loves me unconditionally, and He's an amazing Heavenly Father to me!  His daily invitation to me to spend time with Him is priceless.  I can't wait to hear what He has to say, what He wants to show me, or what promises He wants to remind me of.

It's true, this journey is impossible without Him.  This invitation to live Wonder Struck by Jesus is one that I love to experience daily!

Please if you've not gotten a copy of "Wonder Struck" please go buy a copy from my precious friend Margaret Feinberg.  www.margaretfeinberg.com.  I know you could buy it elsewhere, but as a favor to me and my precious friend, buy it from her website please.  She's now cancer free and the medical bills are there to be paid.  All of the proceeds help pay her medical bills.  Thanks in advance for blessing my sweet friend!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark

Unanswered Prayers...Praising Him still.

 Some days on this journey are tougher than others.  Jesus never promised me the Wonder Struck life would always be a bed of roses.  There is a bump in the road called Unanswered Prayers.  Prayers that God at this point in the journey has chosen not to answer.  Prayers that come from deep within me and cause tears to flow freely from my face.  However, He currently says no.

Some days in the Wonder Struck journey God can seem distant, uninterested, and quiet.  However, it's in these moments that I call on Him even more because He cares.  He knows where my heart is and the desires of my heart.  He knows what is best for me.  He's my Father and I just have to trust Him.  Unanswered prayers are sometimes the hardest but some of the most sweet times because it's in the quiet where I hear Him speak the most.

So today, in my Wonder Struck Journey, I'm praising Him still even for Unanswered Prayers.  WHy?  Because He's my ROck, My Comforter, My Savior, and My friend who still sticks closer than a brother. His promises never fail and all that stuff in His Word, you can take it to the bank...the maps included!

If you think about it today, would you mind lifting me in prayer?  It's an unspoken request.  I could use some encouragement today.  I'm not gonna lie.  I may not feel so Wonder Struck today but I know that He's enough...Answered or Unanswered prayers.

Prayerful,
Alicia Roark

Looking for God in the small things!

As I journey along on this Wonder Struck adventure, there's one thing that remains constant:  God's faithfulness!  You see, I must confess some days I don't feel like journeying.  I'm tired, or God might seem distant or silent on a particular day.  Some days I ask, "God are ya there ?"  Then in the quiet of the moment, I hear God whisper, "You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all of your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

You see, it's the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit that minister to my heart the most.  It's when I throw my hands up in frustration that He reminds me that if I seek Him with ALL of my heart and not just part of it, that I will find Him!  His Word refreshes my soul, His promises fill me to overflowing, and His love amazes me.

Each day I wait with great anticipation of what GOd will do.  HOw will He reveal himself to me today?  What promise does He have for me?  The only way to truly find out is to seek him with All of my heart then I will truly find Him!

So, I challenge you today to seek God with all of your heart! It's amazing what He says when after we seek Him we get quiet.

Blessings,
Alicia Roark

A New Year..Waiting with great anticipation!

It's a New Year!  Praise be to God!  I love New Years! Why?  They bring new beginnings, new adventures, and new ideas!  Now resolutions, not so much.  However, I've made a few!  One of them I'll share with you is that my husband Sean and I are going through 1 year of the 5 love languages!  Yes, 1 year of speaking the other person's love language!  It's only day 3, but so far so good! Want to learn more?  Visit this link:  www.5lovelanguages.com/‎

The one thing I desire more than anything else in 2014 is to continue to draw closer to Jesus.  I want Him to do great and mighty things in my life.  I want the things of God to stir in my heart like never before all the while leaving me completely Wonder Struck!  He truly is my everything and I'm not kidding you!  Being parentless has left me with no choice but to be 100% dependable on God.  Just the other day I was second guessing myself on what to do, so I prayed.  Imagine that right?!!!  I know! I should've done that FIRST!  Anyways, I prayed and asked God what to do and He answered.  Everything so far has turned out ok.

It has led me to a very hard question to ask myself.  Why is Jesus choice 2 instead of choice 1?  Why is He plan B instead of Plan A?  The answer is simple.  Pride.  Pride often gets in the way and because of my own human flesh I don't want to be wrong.  Well, guess what Jesus is always right!  He's the best choice!  He's the only choice!

I'll be continuing on this journey God has me on!  The Wonder Struck life is simply amazing! I wait with great anticipation of what God will do!  OH, Speaking of Wonder Struck, I've mentioned to you guys plenty of times about my sweet friend Margaret Feinberg who has been battling cancer. I've asked you to join me and thousands of others around the world to pray for Zero for Margaret.  Welll guess what?!!  The very first news I read on January 1, 2014 was that God gave Margaret ZERO!!!! SHe's cancer free! Praise the matchless name of Jesus!

Thank you so much for praying for my new friend!  Please visit her page at:  http://margaretfeinberg.com
Margaret is a dynamic speaker and will put you right at the feet of Jesus!  Seriously, check my friend's page out!  When you order books, please continue to do so on her page to help defray the cost of their medical bills.

Have a blessed 2014 and may God leave you Wonder Struck!!!

Living Wonder Struck,
Alicia Roark