90 Days with Jesus-Day 48 (Saturday's blog)

Hurricane Irene. Two words that I totally wished weren't part of my vocabulary. All over the news this week we heard about how this storm was going to impact Hampton Roads VA.

In the midst of all of the chaos God began to speak to me about spiritual houses. In the New Testament (Matthew 7:24-27), Jesus talks about people who build their houses on the rock or on sand. Sure, there's a hurricane and there will be damage, but if their spiritual houses aren't in order then they are in for real trouble.

I started thinking about the house built on sand. What does it look like:

Foundation: Sand (Satan, the World)
Walls/inside: Sin, lust of the flesh, false hope, worldly pleasures, trying to get by everyday on emotions (which are also fleeting) and much more that Satan has to offer.

Result of spiritual storms: Doom, sadness, not knowing where to turn, and that kind of spiritual house will sink. No doubt about it.

Now, let's quickly look at the house built on the Rock:

Foundation: Rock (Jesus)
Walls/inside: Hope of eternal Salvation, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and a peace that surpasses all understanding no matter what storm may come.

Result of spiritual storms: Faith that can move mountains, peace, grace, love and God's Promises that never fail and most importantly, AT THE NAME OF JESUS, SATAN MUST FLEE FROM THE ROCK!!!! Surely the way to build a spiritual house!

So today, I would like to ask you the following question:

1. What kind of house is your spiritual life built upon?

God bless you!

In God's Love,
Alicia Roark

90 Days with Jesus-Day 47 (Friday)

Sometimes God puts you into situations to see if you stand firm in your faith! Yesterday was one of those days. Here in VA and all over the East Coast we've been preparing for Hurricane Irene. Yesterday people either stayed home or came out to buy last minute items such as "C" and "D" cell batteries, flashlights, battery-powered radios, and portable tv's.

The morning started off rough. People were in a rush, and their attitudes weren't very nice. I thought why are these people in such a hurry when they've had an entire week and to prepare? THEN GOD SPOKE...."It's not any different from their spiritual lives, but you must show them my love today." Well, I didn't feel like showing people God's love yesterday. It didn't matter though. Jesus didn't feel like going on the cross to die for us but He did it. I got in contact with a few friends and asked them to pray because I was having a hard time yesterday morning.

The afternoon came and do you know that people's attitudes were much different? They were nicer, not as many people were snapping at the employees, and the flow of the afternoon seemed to be much smoother! I liked that!

Just before my day was over, God spoke again one more time. "They've waited to the last minute for a hurricane, and people can hear about my Word, be shown my love, but they will wait to the last hour to believe in me. You must show them my love on good and bad days and point them to me." Enough said.

Here's a question for you:

1. When situations like natural disasters happen, do you take the time to show people God's love in the midst of chaos?!!

2. When's the last time you genuinely showed people God's love?!

Thanks for taking this journey with Jesus and I!

Love,
Alicia

90 Days with Jesus-Day 46-(Thursday)

Warnings! They normally come with the sound of an alarm or a loud noise! They alert us to situations of harm or danger and allow us time to prepare for what is to come.

Yesterday morning the Lord prompted me to go have my bible reading and time alone with Him at New Quarter Park right down the street from me. I was all game! I was going to do this...THEN I began to think of the things I had to do. My spirit became disturbed. The Holy Spirit kept prompting....Go to New Quarter Park. Well, I was reminded about a show that I'd missed on Monday night so my thoughts turned toward catching up on the episode I missed. Well, I decided. to watch the latest episode of the tv show I'd missed.

The fact that my spirit was disturbed should've been a warning sign. Well, it didn't stop there. I finished watching the tv show, got dressed, made lunch and headed out the door. By the way I prayed a pathetic emergency prayer on the way out the door.

I drove to work listening to my new favorite song and for the first time it didn't excite me. What was the matter? It was still the same awesome song. I arrived at work and the first hour was MISERABLE. The people, co-workers, everybody was in shambles it seemed. We had one cashier and several people in line. I walked up front to gather paperwork for the day. A lady said, "Is this the only person open?" I said, "Yes ma'am, she's it." I wasn't on the clock yet so I couldn't help her. People began to get frustrated. Then I became frustrated. My buddy I work with who is also a Christian said, "It's gonna be one of those days."

When I did get on the clock my monitor wouldn't work and the keypad froze. Our financial services app wouldn't run, and I had to restart the computer I went to also. All these little warning signs and I didn't heed any of them. It's kind of like the hurricane that's coming. They've been warning people to get ready for about a week now and yet people are choosing to wait to the last minute. Some folks I understand might've had other things going on in their world but for those who didn't and haven't heeded the warning signs until now....Oh my.

The day continued and lunch time came. I had forgotten my lunch on my island at the house. I had to run out to subway to get something to eat real quick. By the time I'd gotten done I had like 8 minutes to throw down a sub. Then I heard God say, "Alicia, you should've heeded my warning early this morning when I told you to go to the park to have your quiet time with me.

I immediately headed for the bathroom. I prayed and asked God to forgive me and the day started anew. The day began to be brighter, people got nicer, and the technology began to work! Amazing huh!

All those warning signs and I didn't heed them. What did God have for me yesterday? I am not sure because I chose to be disobedient and not listen to that still small voice.

In the old testament there is a scripture reference on God giving people warnings. These people were watchmen and it was their job to look out for harm. Take some time to read it today! Ezekiel 3:17-27.

So here's a question for you today:

1. Is God giving you warning signs about your spiritual condition?

2. Are you listening?!!

Thanks for taking this journey with Jesus and me! God bless you!

Love,
Alicia

90 Days with Jesus-Day 45

We are at the 1/2 way point on this 90 day journey! I can't believe how quickly the time is flying. I want to savor every moment! I want to soak up all that the Savior is saying to me! I love hearing His still small voice! I am loving reading the Word more than ever!

This morning I was mopping the kitchen floor and I threw in an old Steven Curtis Chapman Cd. A song that started to play was "For the Sake of the Call." Some of the words are: "we will abandon it all for the sake of the call, no other reason at all but the sake of the call. Holy devoted to live and to die for the sake of the call." I got to thinking about this 90 day journey. It's all about following Jesus and becoming closer to Him and more like him.

When Jesus asked the disciples to follow him they did so with complete abandon. They simply threw down what they were doing and followed Jesus. There were no questions asked they just obeyed him.

How often has God spoken to us and asked us to follow Him? How often do we listen without reservation? Something to think about huh?! I know that He's asked me to follow Him and I"ve asked a gazillion questions before giving in. I think we're all guilty of that.

Tonight's question is:

1. What would you be willing to give up to simply follow Jesus and spend more time with Him?

Please enjoy the video! God bless you all!

90 Days with Jesus-Day 44 (Wednesday's blog)

Yesterday was election day (this blog won't be about politics!). One word began to keep popping up in my mind yesterday. TRUTH. People want to know the truth and don't like to be lied to. Yesterday was no different. As the went into the poles to vote I heard one person say, "Who knows the truth anymore?"

So, God began to impress upon my heart about how His Word is truth and How it gives promises that never fail. Here's one verse that people use often. "Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." John 8:32. I'm so glad that God's Word is true from cover to cover and that reading it, memorizing it, and meditating on it can bring us so much closer to Him! In His Word He reveals who He is to us and how He desires to have a closer relationship with us! The most important thing is that Jesus is dependable, He never leaves us or forsakes us, and He loves us unconditionally! Now that piece of truth just blows me away!

Today I would like to challenge you to spend time in the Word of God and find one verse that you can memorize, and meditate on. Let the powerful Word of God speak truth into your life today!

P.S. Please take time to enjoy the video...



God bless you,
Alicia Roark

90 Days with Jesus-Day 43

It's Day 43 and it just so happens to be Monday. It's the beginning of the week which means the first day of the work week, a new to do list for the week, and a plethora of other tasks that must be completed! This week for me is going to be really busy. However, I must keep in mind that when I get tired or worn out from the busyness of the week, that I am a Christian and others are watching me.

This morning's devotion was on our words. We use words verbally, and on our cell phones, we update our statuses on Social Media with words. Once words leave our mouths we can never take them back. Also this morning Jesus reminded me about our Christian lives and how we live them. Our Christian lives are like a book. People are reading it and what do they see/read? There's an old familiar hymn called "Let Others See Jesus in you." One of the verses says: "Your life's a book before their eyes, there reading it through and through. Say does it point them to the skies? Let others see Jesus in you." It was a HUGE reminder that no matter where I find myself I need to live my life in such a way that others can see Jesus in me. Trust me, people are watching you and are waiting to see just what a true Christian is like!

So today I would like to challenge you to be an example to others out there as you go through your week!


Here's a question or two to ponder:

1. Do I choose my words carefully no matter where I find myself using them (i.e. verbally, on a social media website, work. church, etc)?

2. Does the way I live my life point others directly to Jesus?

Thank you all for joining me on this journey! I love you all so much!


Blessings,
Alicia Roark

90 Days with Jesus-Day 42

Today is Sunday! It's my day of worship and rest. It's exactly what God has allowed me to do! Sunday School was AWESOME! We're in the last couple of chapters in Revelation! Oh what a powerful book! It's a very clear picture of what it is like when you're a child of God and what it will look like when somebody rejects Jesus. We just finished up the part on Hell. Next week will be about HEAVEN! I can hardly wait to see what God will teach me!

God's Holy Word is more precious to me these days than I can even begin to tell you. He speaks so powerfully and I am so grateful. I"m learning to pray the Word, take Christ as His Word, Memorize His Word, and use the Word daily to apply to my daily life. Recently I was asked about why I was so happy, and so I took the time to tell a few people why I was so happy. They let me know that they weren't ready for Jesus quite yet, but thanked me for being such a positive light in their world. It's ALL about Him! It's Him in Me!

I firmly believe God was preparing me for this process over a year ago when I attended my very first Vacation Bible School for Women at the Ferguson Center in Newport News, VA. I honestly had no plans that day, but God put that in my path on the internet that day. I told my friend, "there's this VBS for women at the Ferguson Center we should go. It doesn't look like it costs anything." So, off we went...Well, let's just say God brought me there because He was beginning to work on me for this very 90 day journey. The theme was "Crossing Over from Mediocrity to More in Christ." That was me...I was living a very mediocre life. I was doing things my way and my walk had begun to stray. Bible reading? What was that...My bible was something I dusted off on Sunday mornings to look good. Sharon Thomas, the speaker/Bible Teacher/ Founder of Established Footsteps began to teach the Word that night. All I can remember is that God convicted me that I needed to cross over and get back on the right track with Him....

I just finished my second VBS for Women! The theme "Isn't She Lovely." It talks about how Christ sees us as lovely and some pretty heavy scriptural stuff based out of the scripture 2 Corinthians 3:18. Oh how GOd showed me on that weekend that this was just a continuation of the journey from one year ago. It's still part of the crossing over but how He is transforming my Christian walk on a daily basis! You see how God can take something like a VBS for Women and do a mighty work in the life of somebody?!

Christ is still helping me to Cross over to more in Him, He's still transforming me! He's removed the veil and now these days I"m beholding His glory and learning to become more like Him!

So, on this night I would like to introduce you to my brand new friend and Bible teacher Sharon Thomas, founder of Established Footsteps. God brought that young lady into my life to speak to me. Let me tell you, this young lady is an anointed woman of God and I'm so blessed to call her my friend. Her website has many bible studies that she's taught before and shirts and stuff. Please give her website a visit! www.establishedfootsteps.com

Here's a question for you to think about:

1. In what ways is God helping you to Cross Over?

2. Has there been a Christian event that changed your life and your walk with Christ?!