Lauren Gaskill

Encouraging women to live in faith and joy

 

lauren gaskill

a note from lauren

Welcome, dear friend! Whether we’ve known each other for years or are just meeting today, I am so glad you are here. Here’s one thing you need to know about me: My passion is to see Body of Christ find healing and joy through intimacy with God. Together, we can experience His transforming light and presence and carry that light and presence into the world.

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Discovering the Power of Prayer Week #2: Five Easy Ways to Pray More Every Day

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In week two of the Discovering the Power of Prayer Blog Series, my friend and fellow blogger Jennifer Moye joins us to share simple ideas for how you can start praying more each and every day. If you missed week one of the series, you can still access that post here.

Five Easy Ways to Pray More Every Day

“I would love to have a prayer life, but I just don’t have time for that right now.” This was a statement a friend shared with me the other day. She is a busy mom of 4, working full time outside of the home. She is overwhelmed with life and just can’t bear the thought of one more thing added to her daily list. I get it. I think a lot of us are like her. We have somehow gotten the idea that prayer looks like an hour long quiet time, tucked in my war room (aka my closet with the door barricaded shut), and uninterrupted quality time with Jesus.

Don’t get me wrong, this would be wonderful! But if I am completely honest with you – this looks like a good opportunity for a nap. Just keeping it real today.

Ephesians 6:8 tells us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests.” While hours of devoted time in prayer are wonderful, scripture tells us to be in prayer constantly and with all different types of prayers. For many of us, the above idea is just not feasible in this stage of life. Does that mean we give up all together? No! Prayer in its simplest definition is simply paying attention to God. Perhaps a conversation that involves slightly more listening that talking. That’s it. No fancy rules or formalities. Just you and your creator talking about the day.

Here are five easy ways to pray more every day. I hope you will find them helpful!

The #1 easiest way to pray more every day is to just be aware of Jesus. #PowerOfPrayerBlogSeries

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Rise and Shine

You know the how the old Sunday school song goes, “Rise and shine and give God the glory-glory children of the Lord?” There is some serious merit to that! Whether your alarm clock looks like a black rectangle from the depths of Hades or the beautiful face of a snotty-nose, full diapered 2 year old – the best way I have found to start the day is to find 30 seconds to pray before my feet hit the ground. There isn’t a better way to start the day than acknowledging my Savior and taking a short moment to ask Him for guidance for what the day will bring. God equips each of us with spiritual gifts and armor designed to help us thrive in this life and bring Him glory. We must never forget that prayer activates this armor (Ephesians 6). In our daily lives, if we leave out prayer we are walking around with talents and weapons designed to help us fight our enemy – but they are like useless, heavy junk without being activated.

Shower Power

If you work outside the home, this one will probably be easiest for you. This is an easy time to shout out to our Father praises and petitions. Some mornings I find myself in tears standing in the shower.

As the water flows over my face and covers me completely, I find myself in awe that Jesus’s sacrifice covers me from the consequences of my sin in the very same way this water crashes over me. He chose to wake me up this morning and give place air in my lungs – He even chooses me to do His work here on Earth.

Now, if you are a stay at home mom, or work inside the home this one may be a little more of a challenge. Let’s just be real honest – I don’t always get a shower every day – not with three little ones running around. But when I do, you can ride on the fact that my naked hinny will be having a conversation with my Creator in the shower!Read More

Discovering the Power of Prayer Week #1: Understanding Prayer

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Discovering the Power of Prayer {8-Week Blog Series}

When your TV shows burning buildings and people running and screaming around NYC, it doesn’t matter if you are in the middle of eating a doughnut and playing your favorite computer game. You drop everything and give your undivided attention to the news.

That was me on, Sept. 11, 2001, and I remember they day like it was just yesterday. How could anyone forget such a tragedy?

I remember watching the plane fly into the second tower. I remember watching my mother cry and running into her arms out of sheer terror. I remember not understanding what was going on. I remember feeling an urgent need to get on my knees and pray.

But I wasn’t the only one praying. In the days and weeks following Sept. 11, many local schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and churches gathered for a time of dedicated prayer. Even the evening news aired reports of people all around America joining together in prayer. We prayed for peace, healing, unity and courage — for the victims and their families, for ourselves, and for this great nation. And while it was a sad time, it was also a beautiful time because those prayers brought us closer to each other and to God.

You may think it bold of me to say, but I believe those prayers are what allowed this nation to rise from the ashes of that tragic day.

Because prayer is powerful. And when we understand prayer — what it is and how it works — we can experience this power in our very own lives.

Understanding Prayer: What It Is

At its core, prayer is having a conversation with God. And the beauty of this kind of conversation is that we don’t have to do our hair and make up or formally write down our prayers prior to entering God’s presence. All He asks is that we show up. It doesn’t matter the time or place. God is always there, and He is delighted to respond to us when we come to Him in prayer (Psalm 34:4).

There is no cookie-cutter prayer formula, and prayer looks different depending on the day.

Sometimes prayer is sitting in silence and waiting for God to speak. Sometimes prayer is praising God for who He is and what He is doing. Sometimes prayer is falling on our knees and bearing our soul. Sometimes prayer is weeping. Sometimes prayer is simple raising our hands and saying, “Lord, I surrender. Have your way in me.”

While the world and Hollywood often portray prayer as a way to present requests to God, there’s so much more to it than that. Prayer isn’t just a chance to lay our burdens at the Father’s feet. It’s also a chance to worship and praise Him.

Psalm 100:4 tells us to enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise. So when we come to the throne, our first response should always be to praise God. If you’re feeling downcast and don’t know what to say, you can simply thank Him for who He is! Thank Him for being a personal God who made it possible for us to come to Him through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Thank Him for caring and loving this world. Thank Him for not giving up on us, no matter how many times we fail.

Prayer Nourishes the Soul

One of my favorite writers, C.S. Lewis, once wrote, “God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.” Prayer is more than a conversation — it is food for our souls! It brings healing. It brings safety and salvation. It is a refuge that can renew a weary soul. We were made to rely on the Lord in prayer.

We were made to rely on the Lord in prayer. #PowerOfPrayerBlogSeries

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An Invitation to Discovering the Power of Prayer {8-Week Blog Series}

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discover the power of prayer

Dear Jesus, thank you for this food and bless it to our bodies for our strength and health so that we may bring glory and honor to you. Amen.

This humble dinner prayer pretty much sums up the extent of my childhood prayer life. It’s not that my family didn’t pray. On the contrary, I come from a long line of prayer warriors. My gramma and grandpa are some of the most devoted followers of Jesus, and they modeled prayer well for us growing up. But for some reason the power of prayer didn’t become real for me until I had to face the world on my own as an adult.

I had read that the power of a righteous person was powerful and effective (Jame 5:16), but I didn’t understand the role prayer played in my life. From what I could see, prayer was something Christians reserved for Sunday mornings, mealtimes and before bed. Prayer was that “thing” you had to do to make sure you were paying reverence to God and being a good Christian.

It wasn’t until I joined a ministry team in college that I began to understand more about the role of prayer in our lives.

Here’s some of what I learned prayer is NOT:

  • Prayer isn’t frivolous.
  • Prayer isn’t wishing upon a star.
  • Prayer isn’t a chore to check off our to-do lists.
  • Prayer isn’t formulaic.
  • Prayer isn’t a shot in the dark.
  • Prayer isn’t lip service.
  • Prayer isn’t a last resort.

As I surrounded myself with people who were passionate about prayer, here’s what I learned prayer IS:

  • Prayer is an invitation to enter into God’s presence.
  • Prayer is an act of surrender.
  • Prayer is a no-strings-attached conversation.
  • Prayer is a gift, and it should be our first response in both times of blessing and great need.
  • Prayer is a tangible way to bring joy, love, hope and peace to our lives.
  • Prayer is a lifeline when we find ourselves in the darkness.
  • Prayer offers our souls space to rest.
  • When spoken in faith, prayer works and God answers. This might not necessarily be on our time table, and it might not be the answer we want, but He responds to those who call and faithfully seek Him (Matthew 7:7).
  • When spoken in faith, prayer is powerful and effective, just as God’s Word tells us in James 5:16!
Prayer is an invitation to enter God’s presence and experience His peace. #PowerOfPrayerBlogSeries

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I’ve said this before in a different blog post, but at the risk of being redundant, I want to post the quote here again:

Prayer is not too good to be true. Prayer is the truest and surest thing we have in this life.

If we think our prayers are useless and not worth the effort, they will be useless. They will not make a difference to use one bit. BUT, the moment we choose to believe our prayers have merit in the eyes of the Father … this faith in prayer changes everything.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we don’t have to wish upon a star or cross our fingers like those who do not have hope. Because of Jesus we can know the Father hears us. And we can expect God to answer us because He says He will. 

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” {Jeremiah 33:3}

Discover the power of prayer and transform your prayer life today. #PowerOfPrayerBlogSeries

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Next week, we will begin an 8-week journey toward discovering the power of prayer. You’re invited to join us on that journey, and I hope you’ll stop by the blog or sign up to my email list to catch each weekly post!

Running Into the Light, Finding Joy Again {+ Free Printable and Wallpaper}

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When it’s a picture-perfect day outside, smiling comes naturally. If the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the breeze is blowing and the sky is blue, that should be enough to be joyful, right?

the sun is rising

I remember when it used to be enough.

There was a time when finding joy came easily for me, especially when the weather wielded a beautiful day. I’d lace up my sneakers, walk outside and smile blissfully as I breathed in the sweet smell of pine, tasted the fresh air and felt the warm sun flood my face.

But sitting on my best friend’s couch the other night, I cried as I had to admit: I’m not the same joyful person I used to be.

It’s true — for being a woman who hosts a podcast named “Finding Joy,” I’m not as quick to find joy as I once was.

Several years ago, before we had a name for my health problems, I found a beautiful print that read, “today, I choose joy.” At this point in my life, I was starting to understand that experiencing joy really was a choice. It didn’t matter if my life was turning out to be a fairytale dream or a complete mess — I could choose to be miserable, or I could choose joy.

Most of the time, making the right choice wasn’t too difficult of a task. But on the hard days, I needed a visual reminder to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus. So, after downloading the print, I immediately made it the background to my computer screen.

Though I didn’t realize it at the time, today I can see that having “today, I choose joy,” constantly in front of my face is what kept me accountable and helped me make better decisions each and every day.

I don’t remember when I changed my computer background, but somewhere along the way, the “today, I choose joy,” print was no more.

And then somewhere along the way, life got hard.

And with that hardness came a slow and silent hardening of my own heart. It’s not like I woke up one morning and instantly felt cold, sad and bitter toward the world. I didn’t want my heart to become hard … it just happened.

The more I dwelled on the mess of my life, and the more I forgot to choose joy, the harder my heart became and the harder it was to find joy in the everyday.

When life got hard, I stopped looking for the good in people and situations. When life sent me disappointment after disappointment, I stopped expecting things to work out. Instead of focusing on what would go right, I focused on what could go wrong. When life didn’t get better, I wallowed in my brokenness. When life overwhelmed me, I grew ashamed of the woman I’d become.

All of this overwhelm is what led me to my best friend’s couch just weeks ago. We’d shared Dairy Queen ice cream together, and talked and cried for hours …

And that’s when the question hit me: When had I become so negative? When had I become fixated on my brokenness? When had I stopped looking for the good in my life and in my faith?

Let us not grow weary of seeking and living in joy. Let us cling to our faith, for it is good.

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As a writer and a speaker, I tell others to seek God’s face and choose joy in ALL circumstances, but could the same be said of me? I shuddered to myself as I had to admit: no, no it couldn’t.

I wonder if you’ve ever felt the same way.

The morning after spending some time with my sweet friend, I took out a piece of paper, and on it I wrote: It’s time to start seeing beyond the struggle. It’s time to redeem and celebrate the faith I have in Christ. It’s time to walk away from the dark and toward the light. These three declarations are the standards I’m holding myself to these days.Read More

Finding Joy Ladies Night Out 2017 Preview

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Hey, loves! I know I said I was taking a break from blogging for a few months, but I’m hopping back on very quickly to share some of the exciting things that have been/are happening this summer.

For starters, the Mr. and I made it to our new home in North Carolina! We cannot thank you enough for your prayers, and we are so blessed by your support. This is a dream come true, and living here has felt like tasting a little bit of heaven each and every day. If you want to continue to pray for the business we bought, we covet those prayers.

Alright, now onto the Finding Joy Ladies Night Out 2017 preview!

In just a few short weeks, I will be flying to Des Moines for the second annual Finding Joy Ladies Night Out (FJLNO) celebration. This is a time where women from all around the community and state come together for a night of food, fellowship and fun. Every year, I invite some of my favorite speakers to join me on stage for this event. So, not only are women able to enjoy delicious food and make new friends, but they are also inspired and encouraged by each speaker’s message. The theme for this year’s FJLNO is, “Shine Bright,” and I could not be more excited for Aug. 4 to be here.

For those who can’t make it to the live event, don’t worry! I will be posting about it in the weeks following Aug. 4. Until then, I’d like to take a moment to say a special thank you to our sponsors and speakers. This event would not be possible without you!

SPONSORS

Canyon Bakehouse

This company is bringing love back to bread one slice at a time. From non-GMO whole grains and food safety to our zero-gluten standard, we’re committed to making the best gluten-free products. Learn more about Canyon Bakehouse’s sustainability efforts and company culture here. (I can’t even begin to tell you how much I LOVE their bread, bagels and brownie bites! So thankful for this company and all they do!)

Get Fit Grill

Located in West Des Moines, Iowa, Get Fit Grill’s main objective is to set a higher standard in the quality, taste and options for the meals provided in the healthy restaurant and meal prep industry. The restaurant team is committed to providing customers with superior healthy food prepared by a friendly and courteous staff; with a convenient, comfortable and fun atmosphere! (Get the California Sunrise Wrap with Sweet Potato Tots … breakfast bliss!)

Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance (MCA) at Mesothelioma.com is the web’s most trusted information resource for individuals who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and their families. MCA’s mission, as a leading authority on this topic, is to continually provide relevant, timely, and factual information about asbestos exposure and its causal links to mesothelioma cancer. (One of the FJLNO speakers, Heather Von St. James is a mesothelioma survivor. You will be encouraged by her story! She is incredible!)


SPEAKERS

Barb Roose

Barb Roose inspires women to discover God’s beautiful truth so that they can find freedom from shame and guilt in order to become godly women clothed with strength and dignity. Discovering her beautiful identity in Christ transformed Barb from a young woman desperately searching for self-worth and acceptance into a confident woman in Christ who still makes mistakes but embraces the captivating power of grace.

She is the author of the book, Enough Already: Winning Your Ugly Struggle with Beauty and a six-week DVD Bible study titled, Beautiful Already: Reclaiming God’s Perspective on Beauty. Barb has been speaking at conferences, churches and women’s ministry events since 2005.Read More

When Loving Well Means Taking a Huge Leap of Faith {+ Finding Joy Episode #34 with Hands Free Mama}

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Take the leap of faith.

I didn’t know if I would have the courage write this blog post to you. But thanks to a lot of nudging from the Holy Spirit, and by God’s grace and strength, I know this is what I must do.

Before I let you in on some pretty big, exciting news, let me start by saying thank you. Thank you for being a part of this community. Thank you for sharing your heart with me week after week here on the blog and in the email newsletters. Thank you for supporting this ministry. Thank you for coming alongside me in prayer.

I’ve said it many times and I’ll say it again: Writing may be something God has called me to, but you guys are one of the main reasons why I write. You are the reason why I stay up editing podcasts when I get home from working my full-time job. You are the reason why I pour my soul out week after week, in the hopes that my story might inspire and encourage you in your own faith journey.

So thank you. Thank you for being here and thank you in advance for supporting me in what I’m about to share with you.

When I first met my husband eight years ago, I had no idea how our story would unfold. But I did know two things: one, he loved me; and two, he wanted to be a business owner someday. After moving from Indiana to the great state of Minnesota and then to Iowa, I knew three things: one, he loved me; two, he still wanted to be a business owner; and three, we wanted to settle somewhere warm — a place with plenty of beach and mountain scenery to go around.

From the day our moving truck unloaded our belongings here in Des Moines, we knew this city was only a chapter in our journey. We just didn’t know how long we’d be here.

Lord, please speak to my husband when the time is right to move. You know our hearts and what we desire, but we also want Your will to be done, so we will stay here until you say go. 

In January, a year and a few months after we’d moved, my husband came to me and said, “I think it’s time.”

He’d already been looking at businesses to acquire for more than a year, and this time, the Lord brought a venture to him that was too good to ignore.

Five months later, I am thrilled to let you in on our little secret:Read More