Blog

Finding Joy #17: Debbie Lindell

October 12, 2016 • 10 Comments

Finding Joy is a podcast dedicated to bringing you encouragement and inspiration in all of life’s moments — the good, bad and everything in-between.

Debbie Lindell is our special guest for the 17th episode of the Finding Joy podcast, and I couldn’t be more excited! Seriously ya’ll, I think this may be one of the most fun podcasts I’ve ever recorded to date. I just know you’re going to love it, too.

As a lead pastor at James River Church, author, speaker and mom, Debbie is passionate about life and serving God with all her heart. Her greatest desire is to use her life to lead all who are watching her closer to Jesus, and to inspire every girl to believe what God’s Word says about them and His amazing plan and purpose for their life. Debbie loves to write, give gifts, eat chocolate, drink lattes and play with her grandkids.

Before we get to today’s show, I need to tell you a little bit about the backstory behind how Debbie and I met.

Several weeks ago, Debbie’s publicist reached out to me to see if I would have her on the show to talk about her ministry and new book, She Believes. The second we recorded the podcast last Friday, I knew that it was no accident her publicist had reached out to me. During our conversation we talked about many things, including the Designed for Life Conference (DFL) 2016, which kicked off last week.

The minute we started talking about it I had a sense that I was supposed to go, even though it was the following weekend and I didn’t know how I would even get there. The unrealistic nature of it all made me laugh inside. So I just let it go, shrugged it off and continued talking. But then something incredible happened. When we wrapped the podcast up, I jokingly told Debbie that I had had such a good time that I was about to jump in my car and come down and see her. In that moment, she invited me to the conference … talk about a divine appointment.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting Debbie in person at DFL — an experience I will never forget. This woman is the real deal, and I am blessed to have connected with her.

In this episode, Debbie and I talk about:

Her new book She Believes, which released on Oct. 4.
How even the faith of a mustard seed can move mountains and transform your life.
The difference between knowing God and believing God.
The power of biblical sisterhood and the dangers of comparison.
What it looks like to lead by example in community.
The power of self-talk and why it matters how you speak about yourself.

Debbie encourages us to believe God for every detail of our lives and focus on living the faith-filled life God created us to live.

Links From the Show

Debbie’s Book
Designed for Life Conference

Connect With Debbie

Facebook | Twitter | InstagramRead More

We’re Children of the Light, and We’re Not Turning Back

October 10, 2016 • 17 Comments

This post is part of the devotional I was asked to write for a recently published devotional book called “Let Your Light Shine.” More details below.

Several months ago I woke up in the middle of a nightmare with a traumatic flashback fresh in my mind. My heart was racing, my chest was tight and my body was drenched in sweat. I tried to shove the memories playing in my head to the side, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of sheer panic. In my delirium I struggled to catch a breath and got up to splash some water on my face.

The cold water refreshed me as it washed away my beads of sweat, but seconds later I felt tears taking their place. Usually I would have stopped the water works from getting too out of control. You know, stuff the tears back where they came from. But this time, as the rolled down my cheek, I didn’t try to stop them. Like a rushing river I just let them flow.

I looked at myself in the mirror and scowled. What’s wrong with you? Seriously … you’re pathetic. You should be ashamed of yourself right now. I knew these thoughts were lies from the enemy, but the longer I stared at myself the more I started to consider them. Sure, there is always hope in Jesus, but part of me felt hopeless, like a Humpty-Dumpty who could never be put back together again.

Darkness has a way of making us question who we really are.

If you’ve seen any of the Star Wars movies, you’re probably familiar with the Force. There’s the Living Force (i.e. Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi) but there is also a Dark Side (i.e. the Sith and Darth Vader). Here’s the thing: Vader didn’t always belong to the Dark Side. Like so many of us he began his journey as an innocent, wide-eyed child of the day. But somewhere along the way the darkness found him, and it made him question who he was. Suddenly he was lost and confused — fighting a battle against light and dark while forgetting his true character.

Friends, we too face a similar battle each and every day. There is an enemy. There is darkness. And it will do everything it can to blindside us and steal our joy and identity in Christ.

New Look, Same Uplifting Message: Introducing Lauren Gaskill Inspires

October 6, 2016 • 44 Comments

Today is the day! The big reveal day and launch party for LaurenGaskillinspires.com! My stomach has been full of butterflies for the last several days. Seriously guys, I’ve been living on adrenaline high for like a week. And now I can share what I’ve been working on all these months with you.

P.S. I’m also attending the Designed For Life Conference in Missouri today. Best. Day. Ever.

Making Life Sweet has been rebranded to Lauren Gaskill Inspires. New name, new look, but the same uplifting message of faith.

When I first started this blog, I had no idea where God would take it in the years that followed. Since my first blog post, I’ve dabbled in food blogging and recipe development, wrote a Christian women’s book (stay tuned on publishing details), made connections with some pretty amazing people, and felt God’s calling on my life to pursue ministry.

Making Life Sweet will always have a special place in my heart, but I’m excited for what this new name and focus will offer. Lauren Gaskill Inspires represents what I’m passionate about and what I feel God calling me to: encouraging women to be Positively Lovely daughters of God, and encouraging the body of Christ to live healthy, joy-filled and redeemed lives. Whether that’s through my podcast, speaking events, books, shop or blog posts. (For those of you who loved my recipes, you can still access them here.)

WITH THIS NEW SITE AND REDESIGN COMES A FEW HOUSEKEEPING NOTES:

People I Need to Thank: Special thanks to my dear husband Alex, who has supported and encouraged me in every step of this website launch; my friends and family members (you know who you are) … I love you; my writing sisters on Facebook (you also know who you are) … thank you for your enthusiasm, support and prayer behind this transition; Nick and Alison Tiemeyer, who helped with the URL redirects; and Jennifer Hardwick of Earl Grey Creative, who brought my website designs to life (seriously you guys, she’s the best developer ever)
Links: All links will automatically redirect from www.laurengaskillinspires.com to www.laurengaskillinspires.com. If you run into technical issues or find broken links today or in the coming weeks, please let me know!
Social Media: I always used some form of “lauren inspires” for my social handles, so these are staying the same. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram — all of them. 🙂
Email/RSS Feed: If you are subscribed via email or RSS, this will update automatically. No need to re-subscribe or change your preferences.

As you explore the new site, here are some of my favorite highlights:

The Positively Lovely Community

If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know I’m all about encouraging women to be Positively Lovely daughters of God. But what exactly does that mean, and how can we apply it to our lives? Head over to the community to learn more and share your #PositivelyLovely story for a chance to be featured on the blog.

The Positively Lovely Shop

This shop is a tangible way for us to remember who we are in Christ each and every day! Hop on over to the shop to check out all of the fresh designs! You can save 10% off your order by using the SAVE10 code at the checkout.

The first person to sign up for my newsletter today will receive a free T-shirt from the shop and a Starbucks gift card!

A Big, Huge, Exciting Announcement

October 3, 2016 • 2 Comments

Happy October, ya’ll! With this being my favorite month of the year, I’m ridiculously excited for what the new season has in store for this blog, and cannot wait to announce something BIG in the coming days ahead.

The past year has been, by far, one of the biggest years of my life (moving to Des Moines, starting a podcast, traveling to the Bahamas, and attending She Speaks back in July) and this next year is looking to be just as exciting, too.

If you follow this blog, you know I’ve been teasing the new site for a few months. Today I’m happy to say the teasing is almost over and soon I will unveil the brand new LaurenGaskillInspires.com! Stay tuned.

If you’re wondering why the URL switch, here’s some thoughts from me before the launch:

“Even though I’m leaving MakingLifeSweet.com behind, my heartbeat will always be about making life more sweet. I believe life should be sweeter — filled with good food, love, faith, friends, inspiration and encouragement. But it’s time for a change. Time for me to focus more on what God has called me to do: to inspire women to be Positively Lovely daughters of God. And that means being clear about what I’m about and what I do. I am a Christian writer and speaker.

You may have noticed I haven’t been posting as many food recipes as I used to. That’s because I have felt strong conviction from the Lord to focus more on what He has called me to. This was a hard decision to leave food behind, but I have a great peace about it, and I appreciate your support.

I’ll always love food and still be a part of the food blogging/recipe development community, you just won’t see any more food posts from me (although you’ll be able to access them through my archives). Instead, LaurenGaskillInspires.com will be the place you go to when you need a friend to lift you up, encourage you to step out in faith, or inspire you as you continue to walk with Jesus. Again, I appreciate your support during this time of transition. You guys are the reason why I do what I do, and I love you so much! XOXO, Lauren”

A Prayer for Patience

September 26, 2016 • 34 Comments

I walked into the post office expecting a long wait. That’s just how post offices roll these days. But when I saw 10 people already in line and only one clerk at the counter, I knew it was going to be an even longer-than-usual wait. Luckily I got there at the right time, because soon after I claimed my place in line, about six more people filed in behind me.

Within minutes, the lady behind me started tapping her foot and sighing loudly.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. I don’t have time for this,” she said while hitting a bunch of buttons on her phone.

The sympathetic part of me could feel her anxiety, because that used to be me. I used to be the girl who was always impatient. Always on the move. Always thinking about the next thing instead of thinking about the thing that’s happening right here, right now. But because of His grace and mercy, God’s been teaching me a few things about patience over the years, and I’m happy to say I’m not who I once was.

Now, that’s not to say I completely have this patience thing figured out — because I don’t. You see, patience is a weird thing. One day I can feel like I’m finally making strides toward becoming a more patient person. And the next day, it completely eludes me. Maybe you can relate.

I think part of the reason for this is that as fallen human beings, we are wired for impatience.

It’s easy for us to get carried away with to-do lists and obligations. What’s hard is learning to surrender our time to whatever God has for us each and every day. Even if what He has for us is waiting 30 minutes in line at the post office. He’s the one in control of our days after all.

Patience is found when we learn to surrender our time to whatever God has for us.

Click To Tweet

Proverbs 16:9 tells us that in our hearts, man has an innate desire to plan the course of their days, but it’s the LORD who establishes their steps.

We have to learn to be OK with waiting. We have to learn to be at peace with not knowing what’s around the corner. And that takes time, and oftentimes a lot of prayer.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a woman whose life is marked by hurry, chaos and disorder. I want to be a woman whose heart is at peace.

I don’t want to be a woman whose life is marked by hurry. I want to be a woman whose heart is at peace.

Click To Tweet

I want to be a woman who is patient and kind in all situations. But I can’t do it on my own. I need God’s help.

As you’ve been reading this post, if you’re nodding your head in agreement, I want to invite you into to step into that place of patience with me. Invite God to breathe patience into your heart by praying this prayer:

Lord, we live in a culture that wants everything, and wants it yesterday. Help us break free from this way of living. Help us be counterculture. Today, we ask you to replace our restlessness with patience, contentment and peace. We release whatever we’re feeling impatient about into your hands and trust that your timing is perfect. We turn away from selfish striving to embrace simply abiding in you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Get inspiration delivered to your inbox weekly! Click here to sign up for my free email newsletter!

5 Things I Learned This Summer

September 12, 2016 • 44 Comments

The end of summer is always bittersweet. It’s the end of never needing a coat to go outside, grilling out every night, sleeping with the windows open at night and watching fireflies and butterflies flicker their way through the sky. But it’s also the beginning of autumn — my favorite season. The season when Alex and I started dating back in high school; when we got married two years ago; and when the Earth glows with the warmness of the autumn sun and changing leaves.

Before I fall head over heels for all things autumn (pumpkin spice lattes, scarfs, soups and bonfires anyone?), I’m taking a few seconds to reflect on what I learned this summer. And so that’s why today’s post is all about what God’s been teaching me lately. A lot of these lessons are things I already knew to be true, but God used this summer to let the truth sink even deeper into my spirit. I’d love to hear about what he’s been teaching you in the comments! Here’s what I learned this summer.

Summer Lesson #1 – God is good. All the time.
It’s been a rough summer. But from my experiences at She Speaks to a surprise visit from my parents and enjoying my first summer with a dog, God has been so good to me amid the craziness. He has given me great joy every day. He has blessed me with amazing friends (some of whom I met in person for the first time this summer — Kristen, Sarah, Jenni, Emily, Cindy, Melissa, Sue and Suzie I’m talking about you!). He has blessed me with a family that I can continue to count on. He has given me moments of clarity for both my ministry and my book. He has blessed me with a good, good husband who I am so thankful for. And he has blessed me with perfect peace.

Summer Lesson #2 – God can be trusted with every little thing.
Having chronic health issues can give you a lot of reasons not to trust God. You never know how you’re going to feel when you wake up in the morning, or by the end of the day. You never know what new health thing is going to crop up next. You never know if one day you’ll be better, or if you’ll just continue to get worse. But this summer, God has proven that He can be trusted by extending me grace in the middle of new health problems that took eight months to figure out. I can trust God with my life, because He is faithful to provide my every need — even when life is hard.

I can trust God with my life, because He will provide my every need — even when life is hard.

Click To Tweet

Summer Lesson #3 – I don’t have to do it all. I just have to do what God’s calling me to.
I’m a doer. I love creating, doing and finishing things. I love checking things off my to-do list just so I can add more things to it. But this summer God showed me that while that drive and energy is a good thing, I still need to be intentional with the time He has given me. I don’t need to fill my schedule with a million things I want to do. I just need to quiet myself and ask God what he wants me to do, then do that thing. It’s OK to say no and let some things go. Because that’s where freedom lives.Read More