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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 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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Why Lance Armstrong Is Still a Hero

January 18, 2013 • Leave a Comment

Last night was Part 1 of the Oprah, Lance Armstrong “World Exclusive” Interview. I didn’t expect much going into it, but I was curious to see what Lance had to say. The interview exceeded my expectations.

Much will be written about this, and much will be said about Lance’s story and his admittance to using performance enhancing drugs, but I think we should examine what it means for all of us, and what it says about the world we live in.

Photo | Wikimedia Commons
Photo | Wikimedia Commons

Early in the interview, Lance reflected on his Tour de France triumphs.

“Looking back, you have this mythic, perfect story,” he said. “But it wasn’t true.”

Citing his perfect marriage, victory over cancer, and seven Tour de France wins, Lance acknowledged just how epic that part of his life was … and although it wasn’t all “true,” as Lance points out, I don’t think the doping takes away that epicness that many who looked up to Lance felt in regards to his story. He was a hero.

The Heroic Myth

We all have heroes in our lives that we look up to. We relish in their stories of courage, bliss and adventure.

This world needs heroes. Without them, there’s no one to look up to, no one to put on a pedestal, no one to make us feel like we are a part of something that is larger than life. That’s what heroes do — they make us feel like anything is possible, like impossible is nothing; they make us want to be better. These are all good things.

But we take things too far. We want to believe our heroes are superhuman, so we place high expectations on them, only to be angered or shocked when they fail to live up to these gold standards. Yet every hero is a human, and no human is perfect.

There is only One who is perfect, and that is our God, who never fails us (Psalm 136).Read More

Oven Roasted Turkey, Brie + Blackberry Panini

January 15, 2013 • Leave a Comment

I almost did a backflip at Meijer this morning. However, considering the gymnastic phase of my life only lasted for a short, three months, I decided to hold my excitement inside.

You know you’re a foodie when you freak out about Brie being on sale. To be exact, it was $2 off.

Brie Cheese

It’s not too often I buy gourmet cheeses. Havarti, Gouda, goat, Brie: I love them all. But I am a college student, and typically, my budget only allows Cheddar, provolone and Mozzarella purchases … the usuals. Not that there is anything wrong with those kind of cheeses. All cheese is delightful! Some cheeses are just better.

Oven Roasted Turkey, Brie + Blackberry Panini

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Tuning In to a Tuned Out World

January 14, 2013 • Leave a Comment

The Gathering, the church I attend in Muncie, began its first series of the year yesterday. As I walked into the sanctuary, I immediately noticed something was different about the room. Chalk boards lined the whole length and width of the left wall.

“Before I die, I want to …,” the black slates read, over and over again in rows.

One person had taken chalk to the board and wrote in “… change the world,” after the repeated phrase.

Waiting on the World to Change

Starting in Nehemiah 1, our pastor, Joshua, started to paint a picture of the character and faith of Nehemiah, cupbearer to the king. After hearing that the people of Israel have been scattered, and the walls of Jerusalem have been broken down and burned with fire, Nehemiah weeps.

But he doesn’t just stop there. He prays with devotion for those who are hurting or have turned away; he then confesses on behalf of all of Israel (v. 6-7).

Then, starting in verse 8, he prays for grace and restoration. “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, 9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name’” (NIV).

Nehemiah saw what was happening in his world and did something about it. Although he lived in a much different time, when news could take as much as 45 days to get from one city to the next, he didn’t turn away from the information. He ran toward it.

I wonder how a man like Nehemiah would feel in today’s world of infinite information. Would he pay attention, or would he, like so many of us do, turn away?

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Thoughts From the Bahamas

January 2, 2013 • 1 Comment

Greetings from the Governor’s Harbor Airport in Eleuthera, Bahamas! For the last week and a half, I have been vacationing here, spending time with loved ones and relaxing in the sun. This is why there have been no blog posts. I wanted to leave a post the first day we arrived on the island, but there was no internet in our house, so I had no way of posting anything that I wrote.

One of the mornings here on the island, I stumbled across a book which inspired me to write today’s post. Aside from journal entries, this is the only thing I wrote during my time in the Bahamas. I hope you enjoy it.

– – – – – – –

The sunrises on Eleuthera are absolutely breathtaking! Combined with the pink sand, it's more than a taste of paradise.
The sunrises on Eleuthera are absolutely breathtaking! Combined with the pink sand, it’s more than a taste of paradise.

Thin. Curvy. Book smart. Dumb. Loyal. Quiet. Strong. Weak. Short. Rich. Poor. Beautiful. Plain. Athletic. Lazy. Optimistic. Indifferent. Alone. Afraid. Angry. Loving. Kind.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? A list of “somethings,” like those listed above, or an individual — someone who is uniquely, wonderfully and fearfully made?

Maybe your reflection has become clouded by these “somethings.” And then somehow, over time, maybe these descriptors have become the only thing you see splashed across the mirror.

Maybe there are words you want to change, or words you wish could be erased. For whatever reason, maybe you think that changing those words would uncover what’s been lost beneath the black scribbled haze of words that coat the plexiglass in front of you.

Here’s the thing about mirrors: they are one-sided.

There’s no depth. What you see is what you get, and what you see is all a matter of perspective.

When we strive to be something rather than someone, we risk becoming consumed with the superficial self. Rather than appreciating ourselves for who we really are, we sell ourselves short and settle for only a glimpse, a fragment of what lies within.

TIME TO BE SOMEBODY.

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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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