Joy of of The Lord

 

"...Do not grieve, for the JOY of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

 

Not your mom or dad

Boss or coworker

Best friend or spouse

Not man

Humans fail us

Humans hurt us

 

The JOY of the LORD is our strength

The Lord is MY strength

 

 

Just like the changing of the season, we change as well
I am ready to be changed
I am ready to be stretched
All for His Glory

 

 

Always value your reputation with God more than your reputation with man.

 

 

Being positive does not mean we deny the existence of difficulty;

it means we believe God is greater than our difficulties.

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Balance

Balance in life is one of the keys to finding the peace which we were created for

 

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance.

The Lord be with you all!

2 Thessalonians 3:16

 

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.

"Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

 

 

 

How do you find your balance?



 

I found another "happy place" for myself
When life seems overwhelming I come to this track, turn on some pandora and let my imagination and dreaming begin

Prayer for Today

Jesus, help me give to others the things I need.

Make me emotionally generous and able to bless in the midst of a conflicting mess.

Amen

 

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Sometimes it's ok

Sometimes, it's ok...

to have oatmeal for dinner

to wear a hoodie with work pants

that your favorite jewelry consist of charity bands

to listen to a song five times in a row

to listen to Christmas music before Halloween

to not go to bed before 10pm...ever

(I may or may not have done all those this week today)

You know what else?

It is ok to not know what tomorrow will bring

It is ok not to know your ten year plans 

Who you will marry and what your "life calling" is

It is ok 

You know why?

Because He does

The one who created you, designed you and directing you

You may not know where

He does

You may not understand why

He does

In fact, you don't need to know 

He designed us not to look into the future

He designed us to live intimately with Him today

In trust that He has tomorrow

And the next day 

and forever planned out

Perfectly

I think God knows that if He told me where I was going, I would try and beat Him there

And I would

Instead He passes by me just long enough 

And I get a glance of where He is going 

I don't see the whole path

I barely see Him somedays

But I feel Him 

That quick brush against against my hand deep in my soul 

softly directing me

That is all I need to trust Him

So, though we don't know what our future holds

We know Who holds our future

And that brings me peace

And that is more than ok for me

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 

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Transformation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.

The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

 

2 Cor. 5:17

 

 

This is me

On a stage

In front of people

Scary right?!

 

Public speaking is not something I am natural at doing

In fact, I think I heard somewhere it was the #1 fear in America

I attended a Monday night Basic Training for Advocare

The plan was to arrive and listen to some amazing leaders share their wisdom and heart

So when I arrived I was not expecting to share anything much less my personal story

On stage

In front of people

 

When my leader asked me to share my first thought was,

 "Are you joking? No one wants to hear what I am doing with Advocare or my personal story"

Doubt, fear...instantly set in

 

How silly was that?

 

All to often I think we doubt what we have to offer

Obviously I do!

Even if it is from a simple, short story

 

We doubt what God has been transforming inside us

We doubt why He would give us opportunities to share our passion

We doubt the strength and confidence He promises to give us

 

"Abundant life exists right outside your comfort zone"

 

With my heart pounding, my hands trembling I shared my story

I shared from my heart

It wasnt perfect and my voice was shaking

But I did it

 

And you know what?

Whether with Advocare or another event,

I have no doubt that this was not the last time I will be on stage

 

Sharing my heart

Sharing my passion

Sharing my faith and purpose

 

 I am forever thankful for the transformation that God is doing in my life

 It is uncomfortable at times ALOT

It is imtimidating A LOT

But I have no doubt He is making me a new person

 Molding me

 Creating me into the woman I am meant to be

From the inside out

It is scary and exhiliarating all at the same time

 

But you know what the best part is?

Walking with Him through life is just plain FUN!

Through its highs and lows

The challenges and victories

 Life in a loving and deep relationship with Him...

Is worth it all.

 

 

 

I have been crucified with Christ.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

 

 

 

 

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Falling for Fall

“Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile.” 

It is funny because I never considered myself as a runner but I keep signing up for races!

I will be running run/walk in the Seattle Half December 1st

Yes, that is less than two months to train

I dont know about you but getting up early in the morning to run is hard

Need me to get up early for Starbucks or a Seahawks game? Easy

However, knowing I have a small amount of time ot train I knew I had to get this run in

Not only do you always feel better afterward, it was a beautiful Seattle fall morning

I know I say this all the time but Seattle is the most beautiful city in the fall

view along the greenlake path this morning

Around my neighborhood

I could walk around these streets for hours and just daydream

 What is your favorie thing about fall?

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When You Feel Disconnected

 

 

I love when I read something and just want to scream
"That is exactly how I feel!"
 I read that something this morning
Every line I read screamed how I felt
Her words are powerful
Truly touched my soul and how I have been feeling latley

I hope you can find some peace with her words as well

-------------------------------------

When you start to feel disconnected from God, just tell Him.

 

"God I feel so far from you, please come near to me"

He will.

I promise.

 

Press in... part of your assignment is to hold a space where heaven can rule and reign, through and around you.

This takes work.

 

Its not a work to prove that God loves you, that you've earned His love.

No, that all comes through Jesus. We earn the FULL love of God through Jesus.

But if we want to be the powerful mighty people of God we've been called to be

we must PRESS IN.

 

It is a battle. It is a war.
Don't be so surprised! Don't be so weary!

Say it, "God I feel so disconnected from you.

I'm sitting here and I need you now!" He will come near to you.
Don't just 'tack Him on' to your day. Set aside time everyday to talk to Him.

Really talk to Him. Really have relationship with Him. Read His word....

 

The religious spirit also reads His word & is not in relationship with Him. That's dangerous! Understanding Bible verses and even knowing the Greek and the Hebrew won't save you or bring you into deep intimacy with the Father. I love the Greek & Hebrew. I LOVE studying God's word. But it is HIM that I want! His presence. Him. His touch. Relationship with Him is what keeps me vibrant. Reading His Word when I am in Him& having relationship with Him REWRITES the Book! HA! It becomes ALIVE, daily! It's what keeps me alive.

 

Not church membership. Not a prayer meeting. Not a Bible study. I love my local church. I LIVE to pray and intercede. I love studying my Bible. But a deep intimate relationship with the holy Trinity and living IN heaven while I'm ON the earth, this is what I was created for and so were you. THE LOVE OF GOD settles the matter. Seek HIM. Seek His righteousness. Stop trying to be so good and stop trying to earn His affection. RECEIVE His affection. RECEIVE His love.This makes you altogether good AND powerful!

 

Lean in. Press in, my friends. Take the time. IF you do this... if you pursue relationship with Him above everything else in the entire world

.... your entire world will change.

Your work will be brighter.

Your communication will be better.

Your brain will operate more fully!

You'll dream again!

 

He is my DNA. He is my all. Nothing has any value to me apart from Him. And with HIM?!?! OH MY GOODNESS.... life is a blast! Through its highs and its lows and its challenges and its victories. Life in a loving deep relationship with Him

 

.... is worth it all.

 

Love you! Have a great day today.

Love,

Sandi Krakowski

 

 

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A Simple Thank You

I had some great blog post written in my head for tonight

About Gods peace that surpasses ALL understanding 

About how I feel God changing me from within

Molding me, making me stronger by the circumstances around me

Situations I never thought I would be in

Confronting people I never thought I could 

Everything around me could be in chaos 

Yet, He gives me peace

He gives me strength

But He knows what He is doing

He knows who He is molding me to be

He knows

I know

I see 

I feel Him moving

But tonight is different

No pictures 

No quote 

No open book on the table

No TV shows on in the background

Just me 

My hot tea

A pumpkin spice candle

Spotify christian music

And one FULL heart of Thanksgiving

Tonight I will thank HIm

Praise Him

For He doesn't need to give me anything

Yet, He is giving me everything

Thank you Jesus for challenging me

For strengthening me

For showing me grace and mercy

For providing peace and hope

Thank You

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 
In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope 
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

1 Peter 1:3

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What I am Lovin' Wednesday

Today was a pretty exhausting day

Rushing from meetings and bombarded with details about this week

I was drained of my strength

BUT 

Just when I thought this day was a bust and I was going to give myself a pity party

I was able to get away after work for a bit to workout with a friend I have not seen in awhile

We met at Queen Anne track and had a great workout but more importantly a great conversation

You know that feeling when you leave from a visit with a friend and you are just encouraged and filled up? It is no wonder we are called to be in fellowship with believers

He provided the right time for my friend to meet me to workout

He provided the sunshine an crisp, fall air

He provided fellowship and great conversation 

Our dreams He has placed on our hearts 

He provided everything I needed today

For the first time in a long time I am at peace 

About work

My life

Where God is taking me and molding me

I see it daily in the small things

For once I see Gods hand on my life

Everyday I wake up with expectation that He will show up

Take my hand to lead

Take my anxiety and stress away

Give me the strength when I feel weak

Give me wisdom when I am without words

And guess what?

He provides 

Every.Single.Day 

Other things I am loving this week!

Makes my heart happy

There are a million reasons why I love AdvoCare but receiving a texts like these is an amazing feeling!

As you know September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

To be the change you want to see in the world, you don't have to be strong. 

You don't have to be to wealthy. You don't have to be influential. 

You just have to be COMMITTED.

I am committed to bringing faith, hope and love to children all around the world

#bigdreams #yesiboughtthesweatshirt

"Wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope, I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning."

Psalm 130:5-6 

Lastly, I am loving my parents!

They have been dreaming about traveling together for awhile and they finally left today for Ireland!

It is bittersweet for my siblings and myself because as much as we are so happy for them, it is going to be so hard not being able to talk to them for 10 days! 

Yes, I am extremely blessed and talk to my parents almost daily

I am just so excited for them and praying for safe and exciting travels 

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I Want More of You God

Just a quick thought this Saturday night

Truth. 

I believe I wasn't truly living until I knew WHY 

We were not placed on this earth to just take up space

All of us were created to glorify the Lord 

Everything we do should humbly reflect Christ

Is it easy? No

Is it always obvious? No

 Does He always show you direction? No

But, I believe if you truly want to live life

Then live for Jesus

The one who created the universe

The entire universe 

Once I decided that was why I was created my whole perspective changed

I looked at my circumstances in a different, more humble, light

I saw dreams forming in ways I never thought possible

It is amazing what He can do when you open your heart to Him

I dare you to DEFY the odds. 

Step up & be the one that others can look to. 

Don't follow the crowd, lead a pack of life changers.

 - Sandi Krakowski

"There's no place I'd rather be

Than here in your love,

Set a fire down in my soul

That I can't contain and I can't control

I want more of You God, I want more of You God.

Love of God overflow

Permeate all my soul"

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