Lost and Found

I received a text from my husband today about a message that he found through a corrupted file at work. Talk about how God works in amazing ways. This is what the message had read.

Flourish in the New Year

Today's Scripture: The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree.
Psalm 92:12, NIV

Today's Word: Have you ever seen a palm tree in the midst of a great storm? That tree may be bent so far over that it's almost touching the ground, but when the wind finally stops, that palm tree bounces right back up. What's interesting is that while that palm tree is hunched over under the pressure of the storm, it is actually becoming stronger. See, the reason God said we'd flourish like a palm tree is because He knew there would be difficult times. He knew things would come against us to try to steal our joy and victory. But God said, "You're going to be like a palm tree because when the storms of life blow, you are going to come rigt back up stronger than before." As you reflect ont he events over the last year, remember, the storms ou have encountered have only made you stronger. You are wiser. You are more alive, and you are headed for victory. Your brightest days are right out in front of you! Always remember that with God on your side, nothing can hold you back!

Prayer for Today: Father in heaven, thank You for making me strong in You. I trust that You are working in my life, even in the midst of the storms. Thank You for a new year and a new season of blessing in You in Jesus' name. Amen.

It's amazing that something lost was found. How amazing is it that someone's original message that was not meant for us, was found and has such a perfect message...a message for us all.

Favorite Worship Song

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
And should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart and my soul, I give You control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise, become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Your will above all else, my purpose remains
The art of losing myself in bringing you praise

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

My Soul cries out to You
My Soul cries out to You
to You, to You

My heart, my soul, Lord I give you control
Consume me from the inside out Lord
Let justice and praise become my embrace
To love You from the inside out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out

Everlasting, Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending, Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart is to bring You praise
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out
From the inside out, O my soul cries out.

Morning Muffins & a Special Service!

This Sunday my husband and I enjoyed a wonderful service with our ABF at the Heights Baptist Church. We feel absolutely blessed to have such wonderful couples in our lives to grow, serve, and share with. We truly do feel at home. Something that I have been praying over lately and something that is very close to my heart is the thought of being baptized. This is something that for quite some time I have been feeling lead to do so for the next chapter of my life I am so excited to say that I will be moving forward in the process and speaking to someone at the church. More information will be given at a later date. I do pray that on this date those I love will be able to attend and share in such a special time and service.

Earlier this morning, Ray and I had woken up at 6:45AM to make muffins. It was our turn to bring in breakfast for our ABF and what could be better than tasty chocolate, blueberry, and strudle muffins fresh out of the oven. Well what we hadn't planned for was the time change on top of waking up early, so both the husband and I were a bit tired but the final product was fabulous and it was fun to cook together. I truly am so thankful to have a husband that loves to cook:) and knows his way around a kitchen. Here is the final product! They were so very tasty!

I love how God leaves us special "love notes" to let us know he's present in our lives. I am so thankful for the promise He has made to all of us and am so excited for the path that he has in store for me... for all of us.
...

Our God truly is greater....stronger...and higher than any other!

Chiseled- Learn to Serve!

Ephesians 2:8-2:10

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Isaiah 30:18

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on Him."

God's patience always involves his passion!

I truly believe that God places specific people in our lives for a purpose. And while it may be unknown to us at the time, He is always perfect in His plan!

Thank you Sally.

Love,
Alicia

Fun 4th, Apartment Search, Pool Days, & Pup Pics!

What an amazing and whirlwind of a weekend! Our days consisted of fun and relaxing family time, apartment searching, much needed hair cuts, a very special church service, game time with sweet friends, a very heated running attempt, and a lazy day by the pool! Enjoy some of our sweet moments this July 4th holiday!

Love the Zellners & Pups!

The Friday night weather kept us in for the most part as we enjoyed another quiet night at home with the pups. More dinner and a movie time with the fam!

Saturday we were a bit more adventurous as we decided to stay in town and apartment search. Our travels took us all the way up to McKinney (you heard me right... McKinney) and parts of Plano in hopes to find our new home for next year. Our lease will end this September and we wanted to know if moving would be in our future... and after our amazing search this past Saturday we are almost 100% on our decision. We are taking one final look this week at a one bedroom to finalize plans (as a one bedroom had not been available on Saturday). We are both very excited about our new adventure next year and hope that our plan will work out that we may buy a home that following year:) More information will be updated shortly!!!

Our July 4th Church service at the Heights was extremely special. 26 individuals gave their lives to Christ this past Sunday in a combined worship service!

It was a time of prayer, remembrance, and celebration!

The Heights Baptist Church July 4th morning

For lunch, Ray and I met up with a few couples from our ABF class in downtown McKinney for some Mexican Food at Aparichios. The Kiekhoefers were 2 of the 26 individuals who rededicated their lives to Christ. What a special treat to celebrate such a wonderful occasion.

That night we met up with the Goodings & Kiekhoefers for a fun fourth celebration. We made hot dogs and played a few games before heading out to see the Plano fireworks.

Plano, TX Fireworks!

Group pic while watching fireworks!


The Zellners, Goodings, & Keikhoefers... oh my:)

Game Time w/ Quelf!

These are just two of the several random game pictures I took. Ray was a biscuit farmer while I had to find and wear something with a chin strap. So I got a little creative. Shall I say I just took the penalty. 15 minutes of wearing a gift wrap bag over my head was a bit difficult... but the game was tons of fun!

Chase balancing a spoon on his nose!

On Monday, Ray and I decided to go take a run along our old path in Plano. It was a gorgeous day as it hit 96 degrees by noon. So it may not have been the best idea to run in the summer heat, but a run none the less. Here is a picture of Ray getting ready for our 5K... with Mattie at his side!

After our run, we decided to have a lazy day at the pool. Sun tan lotion would have definitely been a great idea. I am now sporting a nice red glow.... Ray calls me his Red Lady Lobster. Ha!

The Hubs & I hanging Poolside!

No Lifeguard on Duty!

I will leave you with one final note... I hope you had such a wonderful July 4th Holiday! I am so excited to hear about all the wonderful memories you made this weekend with those you love.

I just had to add a picture of this little cutie during the July 4th weekend! Happy almost 3rd birthday (July 14, 2010) to our beautiful niece!

Love,
The Zellners

Are you ENGAGED?!?!

This Sunday, I was ENGAGED!

On May 2, 2010, The Heights Baptist Church held Engage Sunday, a community wide service project where hundreds if not hopefully thousands go out into the community to serve and share Christ with others.

The honeymooners traveled to Vickery Creek Apartment complex to engage with a ministry called Refugee Resources serving with children and their families. Our services included... passing out breakfast burritos and drinks, playing fun games including soccer, badminton, playing with chalk, bubbles, running 3-legged races... but what these kids taught me will truly stay in my heart for a lifetime!

View Video Here!

Meet the Honeymooners/Staff and the sweet kids of Vickery Creek!

Jesus Loves You!

To learn more about the Heights Baptist Church and Engage Sunday view here.

It is amazing to know that God truly does have a plan for our lives... that again it may not always be our timing or our chosen path... but it is through us that He truly works His miracles. I saw it on Sunday and through those kids. I think it is so important for us to be reminded of such love and to be thankful for all that we have been given. As sometimes we focus our negativity on what we don't have... maybe we should focus more on what we do. We all have been given a gift... and it is up to us to return such a favor.

Today truly reminded me all that I am thankful for and hope that in return I will be reminded to pay it forward! I hope we all can do that.

Love,
Alicia

Easter Sunday!

I'll be at the Heights Baptist Church come Easter Sunday! I would love to see you there!

Love,
Alicia

Life as a Rollar Coaster!

Life's Ultimate Ups and Downs!

A dear friend of mine wrote on her blog about a topic that many of us can relate to... a whirlwind life of constant ups and downs... and of good times and bad! I think that many of us agree that sometimes we are dealt our fair share of bad hands and that difficult times seem to multiply. But then there are times that things are just so amazing and we are on top of the world. I honestly believe that God doesn't give us more than we can handle... even though sometimes it seems that it might be. It is in those difficult times that he uses our story for something greater... something that's larger than us and larger than we can even comprehend.

Somehow I heard a story that really stuck with me... it may be an email, a post, something... and I may even get the story a bit wrong... but regardless it shares the same message...

Speaker... "I never thought this day would come!" (pure excitement)
Friend... "God answers our prayers!"
Speaker... "But I wasn't praying."
Friend... "Yes, but someone was!"

My sweet friend is right. Sometimes I think we just need to be reminded of all those prayers that God has answered. Moments that have been given to us. Things that we are so undeserving of... Things that truly make us happy... b/c it is our stories that are used for something that is greater and larger than we can ever imagine.

- I think one of the most incredible moments that sticks in my head was a moment that honestly should have killed us... but we walked away without a scratch. On a trip home to Houston, my husband and I were nearly 45 minutes from my parents house. It had rained all day and the roads were extremely slick. I remember talking to Ray and laughing. As we came over a hill on the freeway, I glanced over to see a water cooler truck inches away from my husband's window. Obviously he didn't see us. I yelled to my husband in fear we were about to be hit. Ray swerved and barely missed the SUV in the next lane. Both the truck and Ray over corrected and instantly we were in a slide... on the bridge... on the freeway. We swerved back and forth... then in a full 360 degree circle crossing about 4 lanes of traffic... again all on a bridge. I remember screaming after the second swerve as I watched my husband quickly try to gain control of the car. It was so surreal. All he said was "I got it and I love you!" At the end of what seemed like 10 minutes when in reality this probably all happened in less than 30 seconds... we swerved into the right lane, spun in a circle across 4 lanes, and ended up on the shoulder of the furthest left lane facing the wrong direction and inches away from the concrete barrier. No cars were on the road except for us and the water cooler truck even though moments before the road had been packed. We were unharmed. No car had been hit. No one was injured. This had been a miracle. God's hand is on us every day, guiding us, protecting us, and using our stories for something greater. I only hope that in those difficult times that I remember what he has done for me and all that I may be able to do for someone else.

What makes you happy? What are your stories?


I found this picture on a blog and thought it was such a wonderful representation with such amazing simplicity with such an essential concept.

Love,
Alicia

My Heart!

Everlasting your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart is to bring you praise
From the inside out Lord my soul cries out!


I pray this year that I focus more on YOU! And instead of focusing on all the things I cannot control, have faith that there is a plan beyond my personal desires. I need to understand that it is all for something greater than me. I pray that I take the path YOU lead before me and instead of constantly questioning the reasons, take the time to thank YOU for all that you've given me already and realize that everything has a purpose. It may not be the path of my choosing or even the time frame that I ask, but I pray for the mental strength to leave it to YOU for it is through YOU that I will find true happiness! I pray that I trust in myself this year and have the confidence to know my worth. I pray that when I take to time to speak to you it is not only out of selfishness on what I want but really to focus my mind and energy on what YOU want for me. I may not know every story, every phrase, or even every term but know that my heart has been positioned to YOU and my aim is to follow YOU wherever YOU lead.

Love,
Alicia