Bring the Rain by Mercy Me

"I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times
So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty"

Godly Leadership

As any of you that know me well are quite aware, I am very business minded and have a passion for leadership qualities and learning how to be a good leader.  I serve as a leader in many capacities, so when I heard the following lesson in Sunday School one day, I took close notes.  I'm not quite sure where the lesson came from, so I'm sorry I cannot credit anyone except the Holy Spirit working through God's Holy Word!  I know I lack in some of these qualities and have much room to grow.  My prayer is that I will continue to mature in each of these areas!

A Godly Leader must possess the following characteristics: 

1) Wisdom

"I will teach you wisdom's ways and lead you in straight paths." (Proverbs 4:11 NLT)

"For the Lord grants wisdom!  From his mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Prov 2:6 NLT)

"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Prov 10:19 NIV)

2) Integrity: Who we are and what we do when no one is looking.

He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.  He is a shield to those who walk with integrity." (Prov 2:7)

If a king judges the poor fairly, his throne will last forever." (Prov 29:14)

3) Love: How we love is more important than what we know or achieve.

"Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure." (Prov 20:28 NIV)

4) Seeks Godly advisors

"Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise." (Prov 19:20 NIV)

"For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisors make victory sure." (Prov 11:14 NIV)

5) Self-control

"Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked man ruling over a helpless people." (Prov 28:15 NIV)

"A food gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Prov 29:11)

6) Awareness of his influence

"When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice.  But when the wicked are in power, they groan. (Prov 29:2)

7) Compassion

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." (Colossians 3:12-13 NLT)

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2)

8) No need for public approval

"Watch out!  Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lost the reward from your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 6:1 NLT)

"Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety." (Prov 29:25)

9) Submission to God

"The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases." (Prov 21:1)

10) Forgiving Heart

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged.  Do not condemn and you will not be condemned.  Forgive and you will be forgiven." (Luke 6:37)

11) Boldness

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7)

"Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your words with great boldness." (Acts 4:29)

Update

Hi Everyone!  I'm terribly sorry that it's been over a month since I last wrote a blog post!  It's been a whirlwind of a Summer, filled with racing, family activities, fair, and VBS!  Racing kicked off in full force throughout June and July.  We've had some trouble; blown two engine to be exact.  We just keep persevering and know that knowledge and effort is what will help us be successful.  The Hend. Co. Fair was last week, and we spent lots of time at the fairgrounds watching demo derbys and enjoying time with our friends and community.  We spent July 4th at fireworks and spending time with family and friends.  And this week is VBS at church!  I just love witnessing to children through this program each year!  There's something special about planting Jesus seeds in a child's life!  This coming weekend really ends our July festivities, as we celebrate being cancer-free at Relay for Life on Friday and gear up for Lucas' 3rd (yes THIRD) birthday party on August 3rd.  I have been asked to serve as the Survivor Speaker for Relay for Life this year, and am honored to share my story and testimony with our community!  I should be putting finishing touches on that speech right now... hmmm... ;-)  All of this is wonderful, but let me tell ya, I'm wiped out and absolutely ready for August and September to be here!!

Health-wise, things are going wonderfully!  I'm feeling great and have no symptoms.  My next MRI will be in September, so I look forward to that, with expectation of great news.  I have really claimed God's promise as my own- By His stripes I AM HEALED!!!  I truly believe that my healing has already came; The Bible tells me that.  I just had to claim it.  I've done so, and now Satan has no authority over my health!  God is SO good!

That's all I have for now, friends.  Please know how much I appreciate your friendship and following my blog.  It means the world to me, knowing that I'm able to inspire others and touch lives through sharing my story!  I hope to see you Friday night at Relay for Life at the West Central High School track in Biggsville!  Opening Ceremony and my speech kicks off at 6:00pm!

Much love,
Alicia

No More Chemo!

For those of you following my adventures with brain cancer, I come to you this week with exciting news!  On Monday, June 2nd I went to Iowa City for my monthly trip, expecting to be placed back on another round of chemo.  I had my MRI and it showed no growth or change!  Good stuff!

The doctor chuckled as Mom and I snapped pictures of the brain scan on the computer screen:

In meeting with Dr. Carlisle, my Oncologist, he stated that May's chemo session was my 12th monthly dose of chemo (on top of the daily chemo for 7 weeks)!  He said that research doesn't clearly indicate or support that continuing chemo for more than 12 months assists any in keeping the cancer away.  Therefore, his suggestion was to discontinue taking it and follow up every 3 months for an MRI!  I was overjoyed at this news, due to each session of chemo affecting my body in more intense ways each month; nausea, weakness, fatigue, and constipation.

So, please join with me as I celebrate kicking cancer's booty!  To me, this marks the end of my battle with cancer and now we need to continue praying for it to stay away!  As I have said all along, God is bigger than cancer and I know that your prayers on my behalf are why I'm doing so well!!  Thank you for surrounding me with God's hedge of protection this past year!!

When Satan Attacks

1 Peter 5:8- "Be self-controlled and alert.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him."

James 4:7- "Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Ephesians 6:12- "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  

1 John 4:4- "The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

John 10:10- "The thief comes to kill and destroy..."

Isaiah 54:17- "No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper."

Ephesians 6:13- "Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand your ground."

This week, and in particular today, I am definitely feeling the spiritual attack of the roaring lion, Satan, on my life.  He's trying to separate a dear friend and I through whispering wrong thoughts.  He's attacking Travis and Lucas as they both have health issues occurring (Travis' wisdom tooth is bothering him and Lucas was diagnosed today with Scarlet Fever).  He's trying to bring doubt and fear into my thoughts, in order to keep me from moving forward.  The ways he's attacking my life right now just go on and on...

1 Peter 5:8 talks about how we must remain alert and self-controlled because the Devil prowls around like a lion looking to devour his prey.  I know it to be true that when I'm at my strongest, Satan's attacks are more intense.  He doesn't want the message of Christ to spread, so he will try stopping me anyway he knows how.  Basically, when I'm kicking butt in Jesus' name, Satan tries even harder to shut me up.  You know what, though?  1 John 4:4 says the One who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world.  It makes me want to say "Na na na na boo boo" to the devil himself!  The Spirit in me, God himself, is more powerful than any attack Satan can throw my way.

Satan is a thief who comes to steal and destroy us, but God's Word tells us in Isaiah 54:17 that "no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper."  God is more powerful and awesome than satan.  He has already won the battle.  The victory is ours!  I claim the victory and authority of Christ on my life tonight!

Look In the Mirror

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18 ASV

How many times each day do we take a simple glance into the mirrors that surround us?  As women, we check to make sure our hair is in the right face, our lipstick isn't all over our teeth, and mascara isn't smudged.  How often, though, do we look into the mirror to see how others see our insides, our Christian walk in this life?

I’ve often wondered, as I stared into the reflection, if others saw in me what I saw in the mirror. Did they see the face of Christ?  I have often wondered if my face glowed with the glory of Christ. Through both my joys and trials God has transformed my soul to be more like His. I can see it in my mirror…but can others?  Am I a visible reminder of Christ to others?  Do I not only talk the talk, but also walk the Christian Walk?  Do others see me as the joyful, compassionate, loving woman I see in the mirror?

And the important question is: because of how people see me living, does it point them to deeper desire to walk with Christ in their own life?

I challenge each of us to take a long look in the mirror and ask if the glory of God shines through. If the answer is no, then go to Him. Seek Him. Ladies, let's seek for His glory to clearly been seen through us!

Happy Scots Day

As I'm overwhelmed on social media with messages about my Alma Mater, Monmouth College, celebrating Founder's Day, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on my years as a student at MC.  I walked down the long sidewalk up to Wallace Hall during Matriculation in the Fall of 2007, an excited and nervous freshman about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.  For my first semester, my focus was socializing and figuring out what this college thing was all about.  I had done quite a bit of partying my Senior year of high school, and this seemed to roll over to this first semester of college.  I joined a sorority and made friendships that will last my lifetime, and I made some poor choices that fortunately pushed me to realize who I really wanted to be.  With the help of some amazing mentors and wiser ladies, I came to the realization that life was better with God and family as my focus.

My sophomore year was much different, as I was asked to serve as a Student Chaplain and joined encouraging and uplifting groups on campus.  I spent this year focused on my education, ministry at my home church, and my sorority.  I will never forget the mentoring from Paige Halpin and other ladies of Alpha Xi Delta.  Thank you for your inspiration and love during these years, ladies!  TFJ forever!

Junior year, I focused on figuring out what I wanted to do with my life.  I felt a call to start a nonprofit and I spent a great deal of my time off campus in meetings with community leaders with Danielle, developing plans for FOCC!  I was also busy planning a wedding and developing my relationship with Travis during this third year at Monmouth College.  At the end of my junior year, my amazing Advisor, Kristin, and I met to discuss plans for my senior year.  I discussed my desire to bring FOCC development and planning into my Senior Psychology courses and Kristin was thrilled to help me achieve my goals in this way!  We developed an Independent Study course, where I got credit for developing this nonprofit; I researched best practices, learned how to raise funds and write grants, and worked with Danielle and our lawyer to file our nonprofit paperwork with the government!  Kristin also allowed me to complete my Senior Research project based around FOCC, conducting a Needs Assessment Survey to see what the greatest needs were in Henderson County.

Looking back on this semester of college, I truly appreciate how MC and Kristin allowed me to bring my passion into the classroom.  I am now the Executive Director of FOCC, which serves over 200 families each year.  I can honestly say, without my time spent working on this project at Monmouth College and their willingness to be flexible with my learning experience, FOCC would not be the organization it is today!

After that Spring semester was complete, I graduated early and soon discovered Travis and I were expecting.  In January, I got my first "big girl" job and in May, I proudly walked across the stage to receive my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.  Thank you Monmouth College for the wonderful impact you had on my life!  Once a Scot, Always a Scot!