Faith

Let’s Dive Into the Deep {+ A Sneak Peek of My First Book Cover!}

July 25, 2018 • 7 Comments

Living by faith can feel scary. Sometimes it feels like we’re treading water out in the ocean, with no sight of land and no place to secure our feet. Sometimes the deep waters of life can leave us feeling worn out, battered and bruised. Sometimes the waves make us feel like we’re going under. Have you ever felt that way? I found myself feeling this way in high school, after battling panic attacks, and again in my early 20s, after being handed a debilitating health diagnosis.

In these moments of distress, when the deep waters around me started churning with an untamable force, I knew I had two options. I could sink. Or I could learn how to swim with Jesus as I put my faith in Him and trusted His Word for my life.

I cannot even begin to tell you how many questions I grappled with during these seasons of life: How can I trust a God that is allowing all these bad things to happen to me? Is God really good? Can God really be trusted? Is the Bible really truth I can rely on? How can I exchange fear for faith? The answers to these questions and the lessons I learned saved my life — and they also became a book!

After working toward becoming a published author for the last five years, I could not be more excited to unveil the cover of my first book, Into the Deep: Diving Into a Life of Courageous Faith (which releases November 6!!!)

This book is an invitation to dive headfirst into a life of courageous faith and, in the process, exchange fear and frustration for holy confidence and joy. Together, we will discover that we do not have to drown in the deep waters of life. With Jesus by our side, we can learn how to overcome and see that we are warriors of the deep:

We are more than conquerors.
In Him, we are strong.
In Him, we are courageous.
In Him, we are victorious.
And because Jesus lives in us, we will overcome the waves.

This is my hope and prayer for all of us — that we would learn to be warriors of the deep who overcome every high and stormy gale by clinging to our faith in Jesus!

PREORDER YOURS NOW

If you’re interested in reading Into the Deep, I’d be incredibly grateful if you preordered your copy today. Preorders are kind of a huge deal for authors. Not only do they ensure booksellers will have the book stocked properly when it releases, but it also helps spread this powerful message of faith to others who are browsing for books.

You can preorder at any of the following retailers:

Make sure to save your online receipts because I’ll be offering a few lovely preorder bonuses soon! (Bonus: If you watch the trailer video below, you’ll be the very first to hear more about the book!)

If you’ve ever wanted a deeper faith that circumstances cannot shake, will you please join me on this journey? Together, we can truly learn to be the warriors of the deep God made us to be.

All my love,
Lauren

With Jesus by our side, we can learn how to overcome and see that we are warriors of the deep.

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*Links in this post may be affiliate links. If you purchase using one of these links, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting this ministry!

She Found Joy #3: Amy Elaine: Becoming a Victory Girl

July 23, 2018 • Leave a Comment

Amy Elaine Martinez joins me today for She Found Joy #3. Amy Elaine is an inspirational speaker, radio show host and Bible teacher. Her ministry is devoted to helping women with heart-shattered lives become whole again in Christ.

In this episode, Amy Elaine encourages us to feel empowered in our faith by living from the place of victory Jesus so graciously gave us through His work on the cross.

I love the way Amy Elaine describes victorious living, “The victorious part of walking with Jesus is that we aren’t who we were yesterday.” Amen! Victory in Jesus is what we experience when we allow God to work and move in and transform our hearts and mind through the power of the Holy Spirit at work within us!

In addition to talking about victorious living, we also talk about: how to help others live victoriously in Christ; the importance of prayer when we are in the middle of a battle; and how saying yes to God in the little things can lead to bigger things for His glory.

A challenge from today’s podcast — Look in the mirror and repeat after me: I AM VICTORIOUS IN CHRIST! Yes, I, (name), am victorious because He lives. Today, I renounce the lies the enemy is throwing at me to try and make me feel defeated. Instead, I am clinging to the promise of victory I know Jesus died to give me. God, help me live from a place of victory and triumph over the enemy!

Enjoy the show!

P.S. If you’ve been blessed by the She Found Joy Podcast, or if this episode blesses you, it would mean the world to me if you left a review on iTunes. This will help more people find the show and learn more about the joy of Jesus.

She Found Joy #2: Katie Reid: There’s No Shame in Being Made Like Martha

July 11, 2018 • 8 Comments

Katie Reid joins me today for She Found Joy #2. Katie is a dear friend, author, speaker, wife and mom (AND, she’s speaking at the Nashville, Tennessee and Elkhart, Indiana She Found Joy events this fall!) Her book, Made Like Martha: Good News for the Woman Who Gets Things Done released yesterday, July 10, which also happened to be my birthday … so, you know, it was basically one of the best days of the year!

In this episode, Katie invites modern Marthas everywhere to exchange try-hard striving for hope-filled freedom without abandoning our doer’s hearts in the process.

As a child and young adult Katie knew she was saved by grace, but regardless of that head knowledge, she spent years living like it was her works that make her worthy. Over time however, God began to show her that she didn’t have to earn the love she already had from Jesus. In this time of spiritual growth, she realized was enough regardless of how many things she crossed off of her to-do list. She was enough because of what Christ did on the cross. And guess what? So are you. You are enough in Christ.

In addition to talking about living like we’re enough, we also talk about: learning to serve within the strength God given us, not the strength we wish we had; how to rest while we work; the importance of praying bold and unedited prayers; and the power of faith.

Katie tells Marthas, “God isn’t asking us to shed our efficiency or put down our to-do lists forever. He wants us to get things done, but He wants us to do those things as a response to His love … not as a means to try and earn the love that we actually already have in Him.”

I pray this show encourages you to live in the present as you embrace your identity as a beloved daughter of Christ. Enjoy!

P.P.S. We are giving away a copy of Katie’s book to one lucky listener! Simply comment below with your favorite takes away from the podcast to enter!!!

Links from the Show

She Found Joy tour information
Unafraid Book

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We are enough because Christ is enough. #SheFoundJoyPodcast

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She Found Joy #1: Carey Scott: Living Unafraid and Authentic

July 2, 2018 • Leave a Comment

Today is a super exciting day, 1) because my sweet friend Carey Scott is joining me on the podcast and 2) this is the first episode since rebranding my ministry from “Finding Joy” to “She Found Joy!”

One of the reasons I love Carey is because she’s devoted to honesty and authenticity, and she’s all about helping other women live untangled, uncommon and unafraid lives. (Those adjectives also happen to be the names of her bestselling books, with her most recent book Unafraid: Be You. Be Authentic. Find the Grit and Grace to Shine releasing July 1.)

In this episode, Carey and and I talk about what it means to live authentic — to live a life that’s deeply rooted in Christ and the identity He gave us through His work on the cross.

I love what Carey had to say about learning how to filter the messages the world sends us about ourselves through God’s Word. “We have to settle in us the biblical truths of “This is who I am in this very moment … This is what God says about me.” Now, this is a tall order because the world tells us that we aren’t good enough … but I encourage women to ask themselves, “What is the lie I am believing about my identity?” and then filter it through what God’s Word says about us. For example, let’s say the world says you’re a failure but God says you’re blank.”

Carey challenges us all to take 24 hours and write down all the negative things we say or think about ourselves and then ask God to tell us the truth of who we really are in Him. Y’all. This is a powerful exercise, and I highly recommend you join us in doing this! Enjoy the show.

Links from the Show

She Found Joy tour information
Unafraid Book

Connect With Carey

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Connect With Lauren

Facebook | Instagram

Tweet the Podcast

We see 2,000 messages a day that tell us who we should be. But what does God say? #SheFoundJoyPodcast

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God doesn’t apologize for how He created us. He loves us just the way we are. #SheFoundJoyPodcast

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Introducing … She Found Joy!

June 4, 2018 • 1 Comment

Hey, sweet friend! I know it’s been a little quiet around the blog, but I have some pretty exciting news to share with you today!

Remember the rebrand I told you was happening with Finding Joy Ladies Night Out? Well, on June 1 we had our brand reveal party to unveil the story behind the new name God has given us AND the new direction the ministry is taking.

Finding Joy Ladies Night Out is officially … SHE FOUND JOY!

New name, new website, new vision, same tour and expanded ministry offerings. You can tune in HERE for a recording of the reveal party and some encouragement from the book of Nehemiah, but I also want to include a recap in this post for those of you who might not have time to watch the video.

Here are some of the highlights:

The tour is still happening this fall, and tickets will sell out soon. So, if you or a friend lives near any of these spots, grab your ticket today!
- Jacksonville, FL // Oct. 2 from 6-9 PM at Southside UMC
- Woodstock, GA // Oct. 7 from 6-9 PM at Venue 92
- Des Moines, IA // Oct. 19 from 6-9 PM at Jasper Winery
- Fayetteville, AR // Oct. 26 from 6-9 PM at Pratt Place Inn & Barn
- Southlake, TX // Oct. 28 from 6-9 PM at CAMBRiA Southlake
- Elkhart, IN // Nov. 2 from 6-9 PM at Elcona Country Club
- Nashville, TN // Nov. 5 from 6-9 PM at The Loveless Barn
- Raleigh, NC // Nov. 9 from 6-9 PM at The Raleigh Convention Center
Next year, in addition to the tour, we will also be offering a 2-3 day retreat (we are still praying over details). The goal for the retreat is to provide a place where women who are struggling — maybe they suffer from an illness, maybe they lost a loved one, maybe they are going through a divorce — can come and be ministered to, body and soul.
Soon, we will also start to offer online resources and Bible studies/devotionals designed to help women grow deeper into their faith and relationship with God and create community with other women. So stay tuned!
Lastly, we now have a shop! Visit the She Found Joy shop for encouraging Tshirts and accessories designed to point you and others to choose to live in the JOY of the Lord each and every day.

With joy and love,
Lauren Gaskill

Trusting God in Tough Seasons {A Guest Post by Tiffany Bluhm}

April 30, 2018 • 2 Comments

Tiffany Bluhm joins me for a guest post on the blog today. Tiffany is the author of Never Alone and its companion Bible study. She is a speaker and writer who is passionate about helping women come to know their value and purpose because of a loving, redeeming God. In a style that speaks to women right where they are, she shares insights from a life spent chasing after Jesus. Read her blog at www.TiffanyBluhm.com.

Have you ever thought you were walking into a good week, month, or year only to find a season of aches, pains, and not-so-wonderful surprises? Maybe it was harder and more costly than you could have dreamed? I certainly have. A few years ago, I was certain I was arriving to an oasis only to find a desert.

Eager for a new season, both my husband and I transitioned from jobs we knew to ones we didn’t. My husband left teaching to go into real estate, and I left full-time ministry to stay home with kiddos, write during naptime, and teach Bible study in the evenings. We knew it was time for something new but found ourselves grossly underprepared for the waves of change. We changed jobs, churches, pre-school for our son, and life groups. No stone went unturned in our obedience as we felt strongly it was time to move into a new season.

In no time at all, housing deals fell through, and our savings account ran low. We stayed awake wondering how we would make the mortgage payment. In the natural, it was a season of lack, no question. Yet, we held onto hope, believed God was with us, and sought the sanctuary of his presence. Day by day, we felt a bit stronger and a bit braver.

Desperate times call for desperate prayers. We uttered dozens of them while we kissed our babies to sleep, under our breath as we drove, or with tears in our eyes in the shower. We knew God was near; we clung to him like he was our first and last hope, because he was. In those days we found something sacred. We found the abundant presence of God. It was as if we were on a honeymoon, craving the presence and goodness of God in every moment knowing he would meet our every need. We never went without a meal or a mortgage payment unpaid, but the miracles were greater. The miracle of his holy presence, alive in our hearts convinced us He was and ever will be enough. He would never leave us alone. It was our peace for the day and our hope for tomorrow.

I muttered to Him, “What do you want me to do in all of this, what are you teaching me? Do you see me full of anxiety and worry as I clip coupons, change dirty diapers, and clean peas off the floor? How can I thrive alongside my husband as we battle unforeseen disasters, one after another? Lord, we thought this would be a season of vibrant new beginnings, not a season of hopelessness and loneliness. He answered every prayer I uttered with his good presence and grace. I couldn’t escape it. He taught me to trust him regardless if I liked the outcome of his will and timing. He reminded me that my life, my marriage, and my destiny was no surprise to him. He was with me and would never leave me. He reminded me to embrace the discomfort and frustration, pressing into him all the more. This was a time to thrive in my faith, not merely survive.

We can all easily trust God in the joyous seasons of life but what about the hard ones?Read More

Faith

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Links from the Show

Connect With Amy Elaine

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Links from the Show

Connect With Katie

Connect With Lauren

Tweet the Podcast

Links from the Show

Connect With Carey

Connect With Lauren

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Finding Joy Ladies Night Out is officially … SHE FOUND JOY!