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Lauren Gaskill

Encouraging women to live in faith and joy

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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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Holding Fast to the Word

August 26, 2015 • 8 Comments

It’s only Wednesday, but this week has already been filled with uncertainty and chaos for not only myself, but for a lot of people surrounding me. Friends. Coworkers. Family members. I’m amazed at the stress that many of us seem to be under lately. And while I am slightly comforted knowing that I am not the only one that experiences stress, it’s difficult to witness and sustain so much strife and madness.

anchoredinhim

In this season of life, I know many people who are struggling to make sense of their purpose. They either don’t know what they are passionate about, don’t like the current job they are in, or are under so much stress that they can’t see a way out. Even for me — someone who feels like she has a sense of God’s purpose for her life — lately the path has not been clear.

Sometimes our purpose and the path before us is clear and smooth. But there are times when circumstances muddy the waters. In these times, our flesh wants to hold fast to our grievances and problems. We hold fast to the stress, as if clinging to it will make it go away. But there is another way. A better way.

A few weeks ago, I blogged about what it means to surrender our lives to Christ. We talked about how surrendering isn’t a one and done action — it’s a daily choice. Every day we have a choice to live for ourselves or surrender to our Father.

But when it comes to tapping into God’s will for our lives … surrender is not where the action stops. Surrender is only the beginning.

When we surrender, we stop holding fast to our grievances and problems. From there we have to make another conscious effort. We have to give up our troubles and hold fast to the Word of God.  We let go of our stress to lay hold of Jesus: The name that saves; The name that calms the storm; The name that has the power to lift us from the grave. One Word. One Name.Read More

Paleo Blackberry Bars

August 24, 2015 • 24 Comments

A few years ago I spent a summer living on Bainbridge Island, Wash., where I was the editorial intern for YES! Magazine.

paleo blackberry bars

Many days were full of the stereotypical rain that you would expect out of living so close to Seattle. But as the locals say “when it’s sunny, it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth.” And I couldn’t agree more. Aside from the rain there was nothing not to like about Bainbridge. Chain businesses were restricted on the island and as a result a local community had flourished, giving the island a certain charm not afforded to most cities these days.

During my short three months on the island, I even became friends with one of the local shop owners, Lisa of Bon Bon Candies. Lisa inspired me because she had opened up her own fudge shop, against all odds. I cannot wait to return to Bainbridge someday so I can see her now upgraded storefront (congrats m’dear!).Read More

Am I Expecting God to Show Up?

August 18, 2015 • 7 Comments

A few years ago I dove into the local pool like any other morning, happy to swim some laps while resetting my focus on God and conversing with Him in the silence of the water.

expect God to show up2

This morning was different though because I was swimming with a heavy heart. A heart full of dreams, desires and wishes left unfulfilled. A heart full of longing. A heart full of wonder. A heart wanting so desperately to tap into the will of its creator.

God, I need you to show up here. I need you to make the way clear. I need you to show me what steps to take next.

With each flip turn I waited, expecting Him to show up and speak to me, but all I heard was silence. And so the day went on and with the distractions of work, I stopped listening. I stopped expecting Him to show up. I stopped looking for Him.

Later that day, I had the pleasure of getting coffee with a friend. We sat a talked for nearly an hour and I told her about my experience in the pool and the crazy workday that followed.

“I just feel like God is silent lately,” I said.

“I know what you mean … but can I ask you something? Why did you stop expecting Him to show up?”

I believe God used my friend to speak something into my life that I really needed to hear. I smiled as she spoke, and looked up the heavens. You showed up! I whispered to God. (As if there was reason to doubt that He would.)

Today I still have unanswered prayers in my life. I still don’t always know what steps to take or where the road is leading, but I do know one thing: I live in full expectation of God.

I expect to meet God today and every day. I live in full expectation of God.

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I expect to meet God today and every day.  I expect Him to show up. I expect Him to do great things.

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Focaccia Pizza With Pear, Manchego + Caramelized Onions

August 17, 2015 • 19 Comments

You just can’t go wrong with pizza.

focaccia pizza with pear, manchego + caramelized onions

The cheese, the dough, the endless topping combinations … what’s not to love? That’s right. Nothing! I’m not going to lie, when I found out I needed to go dairy and gluten free to fight my fibromyalgia and chronic daily headaches, I cried because that meant: 1) No ice cream and 2) No pizza.

focacciaforweb5

But oh, how wrong I was. Going gluten free didn’t mean I couldn’t have pizza — it just meant I had to get creative and try new things. There are a lot of great gluten-free crusts out there, and places like Canyon Bakehouse even make focaccia that you can use for a doughier, thicker flatbread-style pizza.

focaccia pizza with pear, manchego + caramelized onions Read More

Coconut Fish Tacos with Watermelon Salsa

August 10, 2015 • 5 Comments

Kids are going back to school and the days are getting shorter, but I refuse to acknowledge that summer is more than halfway over.

Coconut Fish Tacos | Making Life Sweet

I’m optimistic like that. On the other hand, I’m a total pessimist when it comes to winter. I can’t wait to see family again this Christmas, but whenever someone mentions December I plug my ears and sing la la la don’t know what December is. Snow? No. Not happening.

The fact is my husband and I love being Minnesota transplants. But we also laugh at the fact that neither of us really cares for frigid winters. Because let’s face it — weather truly affects our mind, body and spirit.

fishtacos1_gaskill_snap

So yes, I’m going to be in denial about winter coming until the first snowfall. And I’ll cook like it’s not winter for however long I can too! So long as watermelons are fresh and flavorful, you bet I’ll be making these tacos too — a new favorite in our house.Read More

Spiced Lamb Burgers with Herbed Yogurt

August 5, 2015 • 4 Comments

I know it’s already Aug. 5 but I don’t think it’s too late to say, Happy August!

Spiced Lamb Burgers

The hubby and I finally crossed something off our 2015 Summer Bucket List. Kind of sad being that it’s already August and all, but hey! It’s never too late. We still have time before the abominable snowman hits Minnesota.

The first item we checked off our bucket list? A 7-mile canoe trip on the St. Croix River.

canoeing

Our adventure was the definition of a perfect summer day: pure blue skies, butterflies and bald eagles swirling in the sky, time outdoors with my love. It was a day for the memory books, that’s for sure.

If you haven’t been on a canoe trip, I would highly recommend trying it out! At first I was a little skeptical, but I ending up having a wonderful time, even with a bum arm from a fibromyalgia flare up.Read More

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