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Lauren Gaskill

Encouraging women to live in faith and joy

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lauren gaskill

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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 to step into their kingdom identity and authority. And my heart is helping others encounter Jesus in a way that refreshes their faith and fills them to overflowing with His love and joy. Together we can push back the dark and shine bright in this world as we rely on the joy of the Lord to be our strength!

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Peach Cobbler Muffins

March 20, 2013 • 2 Comments

I love cookbooks. Maybe someday I will have one of my own, but until then, I really admire those that have already been published. I can only imagine how much work goes into compiling one!

Peach Cobbler Muffins | Making Life Sweet with Lauren Hardy

My good friend, Kelsey, gave me the Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook for my 20th birthday. Ever since, I’ve tried to make at least one recipe from the book every month. For March, I let my dad pick while I was home on spring break.

It’s not even close to being summer, but I wasn’t surprised when he picked these Peach Cobbler Muffins. I mean, who doesn’t like peaches?

Peach Cobbler Muffins | Making Life Sweet with Lauren Hardy

Unless, of course, you don’t. Which in that case, you can probably substitute another kind of fruit for the peaches.Read More

Developing a Kill Switch

March 18, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Here’s a small confession: I write a lot about overcoming fear, but I still wrestle with it almost every week.

Photo | bjorn.watland, Creative Commons
Photo | bjorn.watland, Creative Commons

I don’t think fear is something we can completely extinguish from our lives — it’s part of the human condition. The only person who can truly silence it is Jesus. That being said however, I also think that when anxious situations come our way, we have a choice in how we react to them. This is why I will continue to write about fear; because I think the more it’s talked about, the easier it becomes to deal with.

Last week, for the memoir I am writing, I had to revisit what caused my high school anxiety attacks. I didn’t know how I would react. Honestly, I was more frightened of what would happen afterwards versus facing the source of fear itself. To my displeasure, as I took this trip down memory lane, the feelings I felt almost five years ago came flooding back. Like a bullet comes out of a gun once the trigger is pulled, I couldn’t stop the fear from crippling me.

Shaking, I ran outside to get some fresh air. But instead of trying to relax, I started to beat myself up. Look at how pathetic you are, Lauren. You’ll never escape the reality of what happened. This will always stay with you, and you’ll never be able to stop the flashbacks from coming. I felt hopeless and helpless.

Traumatic events have a way of staying with us. The severity of life-altering situations leave an impression on our brains like a deep footprint in wet cement. And while trauma doesn’t have to be a death sentence, it’s only a matter of time before the cracks begin to show.Read More

What Keeps Us Safe

March 6, 2013 • 1 Comment

After a long night of traveling with Alex through a winter storm and trying to stay on the road for our dear lives, I was reminded of and thought to share these words with you. Can they ever be said enough?

love sands

1 Corinthians 3:7. When we think we can’t make it through, God truly does keep us safe, and his love sets us free.

Illustration | Lauren Hardy

Managing Distraction

March 4, 2013 • Leave a Comment

To-do lists have a way of never ending.

IMG_0766

The completion of one task is only the signal of another’s start. After weeks and weeks of round the clock activity like this, a simple day, where I don’t have to do anything but whatever I please, sounds like paradise. I just want to lie in bed all day and think about nothing. I will say. But the funny thing is, when that day of freedom finally comes, I often don’t know what to do with it.

Unless I’m on vacation in a tropical or foreign place, there is a part of me that can’t just be still.

Even now on my Spring Break, at my childhood home, I feel this need to have something to do every day. It’s quite the contradiction: I dread being busy, but I also don’t like the idea of of having nothing to do.

Time is valuable to me, and so I feel guilty if I’m not doing anything with it. Instead of relaxing when my to-do list runs out, I turn around and fill it up with stuff again. I wouldn’t call myself a workaholic, but I can be preoccupied by making sure I hit each day’s targets and goals.Read More

Maple Flax Granola

February 27, 2013 • 1 Comment

Granola is one of those things that I like to have on hand 24/7.

Maple Flax Granola | Making Life Sweet with Lauren Hardy

You can eat it plain, use it in baked desserts (like fruit crisps), or sprinkle it over yogurt, ice cream, pancakes, baked breads or even salads!

I use it for all of the above, which is why I go through so much. It rides shotgun in my grocery cart nearly every week. And yet, as delightful as Bear Naked’s Maple Pecan granola is, I’ve finally grown tired of forking over $4 each time I need another small bag of it. Because c’mon people, it’s basically a simple mixture of baked oats, honey, oils and a bunch of spices. You can buy 15 cups of rolled oats for less than $4 … it just doesn’t add up!

Maple Flax Granola | Making Life Sweet with Lauren Hardy

Read More

Remembering the "I" in Relationship

February 25, 2013 • 3 Comments

Illustration | Lauren HardyPhoto backdrop | Chantel Beam, Creative Commons
Illustration | Lauren Hardy
Photo backdrop | Chantel Beam, Creative Commons

I’ve lost two very close friends in the last two years. Not to a disease, sudden death or an unanticipated relocation, like you might think. No, I lost these friends to something I never expected would drive a wedge between us:

Their boyfriends.

I still love these women and want the best for them, but the sad truth is I don’t know who they are anymore. Along the way, they’ve chosen to abandon themselves in the midst of their relationships.

It’s an all too familiar scene. Girl meets boy — or boy meets girl; the two become a couple. Couple spends the majority of their time together. Couple isolates themselves from the outside world. Couple becomes dependent on one another, which often leads to unhealthy personality changes.

As a woman who is in a devoted relationships of almost 3 1/2 years, I understand being in love and wanting to spend a lot of time with your significant other.

But since when did having a significant other mean you should have to completely change who you are? Or neglect setting aside time for yourself and your friends?Read More

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Hi, dear friend! I'm so glad you're here. And though I wish we could be meeting face-to-face over coffee, I'm grateful for the chance to know you here. The community here inspires me, and I hope you feel like you belong while you're here. If you'd like to connect with me, please follow me on social media. I want to hear from you, so please reach out! And don't forget to sign up for my newsletter — you'll get access to special content and freebies.

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A few weeks ago, the Lord told me to make a pictur A few weeks ago, the Lord told me to make a picture book of all of the ways He has shown Himself faithful in 2020. As I sat down to gather all the pictures together, I couldn’t help but weep. This year has been so many things, but more than anything, it has been the year I received an even greater revelation of the goodness and faithfulness of our great God. 

I don’t know what all will happen in 2021, but I know that my God will continue to show Himself faithful to His kids as He lavishes His love, blessings and goodness on us. 

How did God show Himself faithful to you this year? I would love to hear about it in the comments! 🌈
The birth of Jesus so threatened the powers of dar The birth of Jesus so threatened the powers of darkness that they colluded together to influence the leaders of that day to issue a decree to massacre thousands of innocent male babies. Because of this, Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt before eventually settling in Nazareth. 

If your life and future have felt under attack this year, take heart. The fight taking place has little to do with you and much to do with the advancement of the kingdom of God. You see, God has great plans for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And oh, how bright the future is for those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ.

For the path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter until the perfect day (Proverbs 4:18).

Your life and your future was worth the blood of Christ then and it is worth whatever fight you are facing today. But remember, Paul didn't call it a "good fight of faith" for no reason. It's a good fight, because Christ has already won the victory. We are victors. We are overcomers. All we have to do is stand our ground — stand on what God has said and what He is saying to us now.

Beloved, as we look to 2021, may our hearts be set on one thing: to know Him more and glorify Him with our lives.

Jesus is our life. He is our very reason for being. Without His blood, we would still be trapped in sin, bondage, sickness, shame, and all other manners of darkness. But because of His blood, we have been set free, made righteous, healed, delivered, translated in the kingdom of His beloved Son, that is, the kingdom of light.

The enemy is terrified of you manifesting that truth to the world. That is why he has come against you the way that he has, both in the past and in 2020. But while the powers of darkness have been colluding together to cause massive opposition against the Word prevailing in your life, I declare over you today that as you stand on the Word, the Lord is working and moving on your behalf.

Don’t give up. Don’t give in to the opposition. Fix your eyes on Jesus and know your breakthrough is nigh.
More than 2,000 years ago, one teenage girl prepar More than 2,000 years ago, one teenage girl prepared to give birth to the Savior of the world, our Lord and King Jesus.

Today, I am reflecting on what a blessing it is to carry the promise of life during the Christmas season. I might not be carrying the Messiah, but who I am carrying is very special and has a unique destiny God fashioned just for him.

I remember even before we started trying to have a baby, I asked God who our first child would be. Over the course of the next several weeks and months, He started speaking about this child’s calling. He also gave me visions of their personality and physical characteristics. And so, before we even conceived, I knew what my God had spoken over this child, as well as my husband and I. Like Mary, I could say nothing but “be it unto us according to Your Will, Father.” Because our Father’s will is perfect and good like that. 

All of this reflection got me thinking about all the millions and billions of lives that have yet to be born. Each one has a unique destiny, calling and characteristics unlike anyone else on this planet. Each one is beloved of God, even if they never come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Each one matters. Because each one represents LIFE made in the image of God Himself.

God is the author of life, and He intimately knows every soul before He knits them together in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). He knew and loved you before you were even a thought in your parents’ minds. He cared for you so much that when His first creations, Adam and Eve, fell, He immediately put a rescue plan into place — a plan that was fulfilled through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. His one life changed everything and showed us how much LIFE is worth to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Let us count the cost and give thanks for every bit of LIFE we get to carry, enjoy and experience. For while the thief comes only to kill, steal and destroy, Jesus came to give us LIFE more abundantly (John 10:10). 

Hallelujah! For this, and so much more, we rejoice. 🥰
One year ago, this beautiful woman and sister in C One year ago, this beautiful woman and sister in Christ @rochelle.merrell joined me in the adventure of co-hosting the @shefoundjoy podcast. To think that by the end of 2020, we’d be broadcasting God’s Word to 5,000+ people a month ... it is something I could have never dreamed of but am so honored by.

Rochelle, podcasting with you is one of my greatest joys! I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes us in the future. 

Friends, our last episode of the year will air this coming Monday, December 21. You don’t want to miss it! Listen on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify.
Really feeling like our little love is going to ar Really feeling like our little love is going to arrive sometime earlier in March as opposed to later in the month. There’s some debate over how far along I am ... but if my gut is correct, I am somewhere around 27-28 weeks. What do y’all think based on today’s bump pic?

Favorite things right now: His daily kicks, punches and somersaults, telling him how much I love him, reading the Word to him, imagining with The Holy Spirit what he will be like, getting all of the things for the nursery, meditating on every promise our family is still walking out with the Lord. 🌈💜💙
Reese is very confused as to why we are moving eve Reese is very confused as to why we are moving everything out of his bedroom (not to mention reassigning him to a new sleeping spot). Sorry love, it’s time to make room for your brother. I promise y’all will be best friends. 💙 #reesedoggrams
1 Corinthians 2:4 is a verse I have underlined in 1 Corinthians 2:4 is a verse I have underlined in every Bible translation that I own, but the Passion Translation pierces my heart in a way unlike any other.

I love this verse because it not only shows us what/who we should be putting our faith in, but it’s also a question we can ask ourselves as we walk through this life with Christ. Every day, in every situation, we can ask ourselves: Am I trusting in man’s wisdom or in the truth of God’s Word and the power that lives within me through the Holy Spirit? 

Pray with me: Father, thank You that I have eyes to see and ears to hear what you want to say to me today. Holy Spirit, please reveal any areas where I have been relying on man’s wisdom instead of Your truth. Help me understand with all of my heart what it means to trust in Your almighty power. In Jesus’ name, amen.
One year ago, I boarded a plane for Brazil to join One year ago, I boarded a plane for Brazil to join @global_awakening in ministering hope and healing to thousands of men and women. 

To say that this was the best trip of my life would be an understatement. Not only did I receive partial healing on the plane ride over, but I also made friendships that will last an eternity. Not to mention every moment of this trip felt like I was living a page from the book of Acts. 

And then there was the getting to spend a little more face time with someone I consider to be a spiritual father, @randyrayclark. Randy, you probably don’t even remember the prophetic word you released over me, but it has changed my life, and I will never be the same.

Before this trip, I was so nervous before praying for healing or prophesying over people in America ... but since coming home, the Lord has filled me with boldness to be His hands and feet wherever I go. If He says to talk to, pray for, or give something to someone, I don’t even hesitate. Because I have seen what He can do with an obedient heart who believes the simple gospel ... and oh, what incredible things He can do through us indeed. 

Church, the time to be His hands and feet is NOW. There are billions of people who need a touch from heaven today and you carry heaven within you through the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s true, Christ, the hope of glory, lives in you if you’ve said yes to Him and asked Him to make His home in you. The only question is whether or not we will yield our hearts, minds and lives to what God wants to do — not just in, but through us.

Lord, have Your way! Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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