Connie E. Sokol's Blog, page 33

A Christ-Centered Christmas: Beauty for Ashes

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.”
Isaiah 61:3​

The two things I want to emphasize are the beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning.  I’ve been talking to a lot of women who are dealing with some really difficult things that are ongoing and excruciatingly difficult and trying to find understanding and the beauty in it.  They are still down in the ashes.

I want you to consider, what is an experience you’ve had in the recent past that didn’t happen in the way that you’d hoped or expected it would?  Consider that experience as I talk about the Majesty of Jesus Christ.

A Christ-Centered Christmas: His Driver Was Love

His Driver Was Love

I want to share today about this continuation of a Christ-Centered Christmas and I’m talking about his driver, his love. Again, I am doing some excerpts from My 40 Days With the Savior book and just sharing these.

 It’s a daily devotional book…

It’s non-denominational and just giving some insights into the character and traits of Jesus Christ and then some experiences that we can connect on and then some thought provoking questions that we can utilize so that we can think,

“How can I be a better person and isn’t that really one of the ultimate goals that we have everyday just doing a little bit better?”

That’s what I love about Jesus Christ. I feel like every time I learn, study, experience something about him, I become a little bit better. And so today I want to talk about this theme of his driver was love.

Listen this podcast episode by going to: iTunes Link

A Christ-Centered Christmas: Inspiring Stories on Handel’s Messiah

Inspiring Stories on Handel’s Messiah

This is from George Handel and we know him as a very famous composer and I’m going to jump right in because I don’t want to talk about all the historical part of this. I really want to talk about him being at this place, this crossroads because it’s so fabulous to liken these famous people who we revere for some of the things that they have done.

For example, with George Handel creating the Messiah and that every Christmas season, this and Easter, it’s played and it is profound and even though we can enjoy it year round, it is just a profound experience if you’ve ever listened to it.

If you’ve ever attended a messiah singing, there is something that happens when you listen to this music and especially when you partake of or participate in singing that music.

For example, with that messiah singing, it’s incredible. You all are in an auditorium and everyone is split into their parts of Soprano, alto, tenor, bass, and then you get the Libretto and you just sing.

It doesn’t matter if you know what you’re doing or you don’t know, you just all sing out and it’s easier to kind of follow along because everybody’s singing so beautifully. So here is this incredible experience and we we get to have it year after year, season after season.

How did this happen and what was the background that was going on in order for this to be created? And that’s the story that’s interesting to me.

Listen this podcast episode by going to: iTunes Link

A Christ-Centered Christmas Podcast Series: He is Aware

HE IS AWARE

In this episode I’m talking about “He is aware.” How aware do you think that Jesus Christ is of you and your life and what you’re going through? Have you ever thought about that?

I’ve thought about that a lot over the years as I’ve gone through a lot of difficult experiences. My son has Asperger’s.

My children, they have ADD and ADHD, depression, anxiety, a lot of genetic gifts that we have been given and being able to go through difficulties go through health issues, financial issues, divorce and different things that have been difficult and struggles…

I have to tell you, I am truly and profoundly grateful for the awareness that I know that he has for me and my family and that’s not because we’re special.

It’s because he has that for every single person on the planet and I know that I know that to my soul and so I got thinking about this. How do we know that he is aware? How do we know that he is aware, and then how can we learn from that and become more aware in our lives as well?

Listen this podcast episode by going to: iTunes Link

Seek Him: Jesus Christ is a Friend

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.” John 15:13

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when the palsied man is carried to the Savior by his four friends.  The four men carrying the litter (a stretcher) were kept from getting inside the house and to the Savior because of the multitude.

In a Facebook Live this week, focusing on Seeking Him and have a Christ-Centered Christmas, I mention this story and share a piece from my book 40 Days with the Savior.   To hear more, watch the video below.

“[The Savior] is always there, always helping always working on our behalf and never giving up on us.  Do we we remember that?  In times of loneliness or misunderstanding, do we truly remember that we have a constant friend and companion who can help us feel peace, contentment, truth, and comfort?  We only have to ‘pray to the Father’ to ask for it, and we can receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost to feel it.

“So if people or life or situations make you feel friendless, remember, you always have a friend in Him.

“How can you be a more devoted friend today?”

[Excerpt from 40 Days with the Savior, available on Amazon]

Loneliness is Making Us Sick

My You Got This Women! Sisters

Recently, the impact of loneliness has been on my mind.  I was reading an article that said loneliness is actually making people sick.  As women we get so busy and  we may realize we need connection, but we are not making them.  As social media has exploded, we have started to focus on our phones, but we have become more isolated.

From this article (found here) I read the following astounding statistics:

1 in 4 (25%) Americans rarely or never feel as though there are people who understand them.

2 in 5 (40%) Americans always or sometimes feel like their relationships are not meaningful, and that they are isolated from others.

1 in 5 (20%) report that they rarely or never feel they are close to people or feel that there are people they can talk to.

Connection is a need we are wired for as humans.  We get so busy in our day to day lives, that we don’t stop and connect.  It is imperative, especially as women, to take a moment during the day and ask ourselves, who have I connected with  — really connected with — as in we’ve actually looked each other in the eyes and had a meaningful, heartfelt conversation.

Now, on another side of this, I want you to ask yourself how you feel being in your own company.  Are you comfortable with yourself and being alone?   I’m giving you a challenge — give yourself 5 MINUTES a day being alone with yourself and getting used to those feelings to be happy being by yourself. You can try some things that make you happy.  Perhaps it’s painting, reading a book, taking a walk, or something else.  This is where you start.  When you are happy with yourself, then you are excited to start making connections with other people.

The reason this has even been on my mind is that this week is our You Got This Women Reboot. I want to issue a personal invitation to join me for this special occasion that will be ALL about connection (it’s our theme for the night).  It is THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 in South Jordan, Utah for three hours.  For only $25 a ticket, you can join me and a fantastic line up of women who will teach about meaningful connection, and it’s also International Chocolate Day, so I’m sure you can put 2+2 together.  (wink, wink)

Go to www.yougotthiswomen.com for tickets!

 

Hope to see you there!

Hugs,

Connie

P.S. For more information on this topic, visit my Facebook Page Connie Sokol to watch a FB Live on this subject.

Winner of the Motherhood Matters Scholarship–Why She Impressed Me

   A few months ago I sat in a high school scholarship assembly with my daughter who was to receive recognition. After awhile, I began to notice an amazing pattern–a young man’s name continued to be called about every two minutes, give or take. He would be called up to the stage–humble, gracious, and appreciative–then walk the length of it to shake hands with teachers, then make a loop up the seats and back to where he should have sat down. When his name would be called again, and instead of sitting down would walk straight down to the stage and repeat the process. Rinse and repeat. It was incredible.

   Among other awards, he also received the U.S. Presidential Award, given to only two people in each state. And would now be invited to the White House to receive it in a ceremony.

   This young man, Riley Lewis, had been stellar and not just academically. He had dealt with extremely difficult family and life circumstances, AND apparently while achieving a 36 on the ACT. And was quick to share that he had taken the test 11 times to get it. Who does that? And who shares that story, rather than just come off like he woke up genius (which, I’m kind of thinking…)

   Immediately, I saw two things–a lot of vision, determination, and hard work on Riley’s part; and a whole lot of mama support on the back-end by his mother, Tori. After talking with her I realized it had indeed been almost a part-time job tracking all of the academic and financial paths they were hoping for him.

   Within that news, I discovered that Tori wouldn’t be going with Riley due to personal financial circumstances. I literally could not sit still with this–what an incredible experience to share the White House experience with her son and she would miss out.

   Not so, said I. And a plan began to form. Our Motherhood Matters scholarship hadn’t yet been given and this seemed a perfect fit. But the typical amount wouldn’t be what she needed to make this happen. Enter a gracious anonymous donor, and we were able to donate what she needed to be with her son for this incredible apex moment of such an intense year.

Tori and Riley

   In true form to motherhood, the only time we could meet to hand off the scholarship was when we were both taking kids to events so we met at the park in between at a mutual middle point. Hilarious, but fabulous.

   So, my dear friends, please congratulate Tori Lewis on receiving the 2018 Motherhood Matters Scholarship! She will keep us posted on their White House experience and how it went for them. For me, I’m thrilled to see mother and son complete this life-changing experience just as they have pursued it–together, with faith, determination, and joy.

Love,
Connie

This Week’s Spotlight

“You Got this interfaith Women’s Conference.” | April 14

You Got This! Interfaith Women's Conference

In our chaotic, hectic world, women need real connection with other women who just “get it.”

I’m so excited to announced that I’ve partnered with inspiring women of different faiths and Rise Events to bring a historic women’s event here in Utah!

“You Got This” Interfaith Women’s Conference

April 14, 2018- UCCU Event Center

As  you can tell by the video below, we are very excited to bring this to you!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDXGs...

Women in Utah are linking arms to receive hope, tools, and connection as we help one another through our life challenges.  Like our Facebook page here to stay updated with the event and giveaways!

Chance are that you’ve seen her videos, and you’ve laughed or cried as you related to her truth bombs. We are jumping out of our seats to announce that Kristina Kuzmic (the Truth Bomb Mom) will be our Keynote speaker!!! Want to get to know her up close and personally? Then be sure to grab one of the 50 VIP tickets available where you can have lunch with Kristina and have special seating throughout the event.

 

 

 

 

Don’t wait to reserve your seat! Click the picture link to grab your tickets for you and your friends.

You Got This! Interfaith Women’s Conference

In our chaotic, hectic world, women need real connection with other women who just “get it.” I’m so excited to announced that I’ve partnered with inspiring women of different faiths and Rise Events to bring a historic women’s event here in Utah! “You Got This” Interfaith Women’s Conference April 14, 2018- UCCU Event Center As ...