Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

  • Home
  • About
  • Books
    • Peace in the Process
    • Bringing Home More Than Groceries
  • Contact

Rejoice. Be gentle. Don’t be anxious. Pray.

August 2, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Kentucky Lake. May 2013. 

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

{Phil. 4:4-7}

I love to read, but I sometimes I need to re-read. I have a bad habit of being so into a book that I just read and read and read. This is bad for a couple reasons: I finish excellent books quicker than I’d like and then I can’t remember the details of what I read like I wish I did. That last part mostly applies to non-fiction books, which need to be read differently from fiction. This applies to the Bible. Sometimes I read with too much assumed familiarity that I miss important phrases.

So, anyway, I read the popular “Crazy Love” by Frances Chan in January 2010. A couple points stood out to me then and continue to stay with me. One of the passages I think about quite often is related to my favorite verse. {See, I told you there would be more recent thoughts on Phil. 4:4-7 …}

“But then there’s that perplexing command: ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’ (Phil. 4:4). You’ll notice that it doesn’t end with ‘… unless you’re doing something extremely important.’ No, it’s a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge, ‘Do not be anxious about anything’ (v. 6).

That came as a pretty staggering realization. But what I realized next was even more staggering.

When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job — I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a ‘right’ to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.”

{From “Crazy Love” by Frances Chan}

Um, yeah, me too.

We talk about obedience often at our house. I have a 3-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl, so there is still much obedience training going on. Lately, I’ve been telling them how they can trust me and Daddy because we’re trusting God. Obedience is a choice.

And I’m reminded my kids aren’t the only ones who need to be making some more obedient choices. There are commands packed in those favorite verses of mine about how we’re supposed to live our lives:

Rejoice. 

Let your gentleness be evident. 

Don’t be anxious about anything.

Pray about everything. 

Y’all, this is my favorite passage of scripture, yet these are constant struggles for me. They’re my go-to words of encouragement to friends, even though I need frequent reminders myself. It’s that peace that passes understanding that makes the difference in everyday moments. 

So, really, I guess that means we don’t have to understand to obey. Hmm, seems like I’ve said that to my kids before. Now, I don’t believe we’re called to blindly obey. We are invited to know God, just as kids know their parents. But sometimes we don’t get the bigger picture that our Father can see, just like us parents sometimes see more than our little ones can grasp.

Like I mentioned yesterday, my God-sized dreamer friend Mandy mentioned to me about that line about gentleness between “Rejoice …” and “Don’t be anxious …” And, you know, I skip over it sometimes, many times, actually. It’s almost like it shows up out of the blue when I actually read from the Bible instead of repeating it from memory. {And right now I’m can’t remember if Frances Chan really talked about Phil. 4:5 near the passage I quoted.} But, you know, I still struggle with yelling or becoming irritable about circumstances that aren’t worth the energy it takes to be that way. I don’t feel gentle so much of the time.

Gentleness is part of the fruit of the Spirit. It’s about being considerate. The part I skip over in my head and apparently my heart. But, you know, it’s possible because, truly, the Lord is near. I’m thinking if I allowed the gentleness part to be part of my mental pep talks to refocus on God during my ordinary days, there would be less yelling and irritability, thus peace on the inside and outside.

Really, living any other way is disobedience to the One who is actually in control anyway.

________


I saw writing prompts from Ellen Stumbo, and really wanted to write nearly all of them. But I started with: “My favorite quote … ever!” And then I realized those words from Philippians 4:5 are a little out-of-the-blue challenge for me when I remembered they were there, so I’m linking up with Kristen Strong at Chasing Blue Skies too. {She’s hosting this week’s link-up on her Facebook page.}

Want more stories? Like 152 Insights on Facebook. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram. Follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’. Subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.” Affiliate links included.

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: books, faith, life, quotes

Comments

  1. kasmith03 says

    August 2, 2013 at 11:06 am

    Thanks for the reminder..I too forget this pretty quickly!!

    Reply
  2. KristinHillTaylor says

    August 2, 2013 at 1:39 pm

    I know I'm thankful for grace, especially in this area.

    Reply
  3. Mandy says

    August 3, 2013 at 1:01 am

    Kristin, it is no coincidence that you renewed these verses for me right now, and that they have prompted me to focus on being gentle and calm. God has really used you to ground me in my current circumstances. Thank you, friend.

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    August 4, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    I'm so glad God knows exactly what we need. Thinking about you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let’s Connect

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter

About Me

Telling stories is my therapy and I love sharing them with friends on my porch.

The main characters in my stories are my entrepreneur husband, our high school girl who never forgets, our middle school boy who has no fear, and our joy-filled first-grade girl. As we live out our stories, we seek God as the author of them all.

Learn more about my story here.

Subscribe for Updates

Recent Posts

  • How to enjoy motherhood
  • How & why to travel with kids
  • From snow to sand
  • Books of 2022
  • How to enjoy winter days at home

Join the Conversation

Join the Conversation

On Instagram

I sat on my porch beneath a blanket and finished t I sat on my porch beneath a blanket and finished this book today. Yes, I’m fully invested in this Cuba saga involving the Perez family. “The Last Train to Key West” by @chanelcleeton is the third in the series. I have the fourth on hold at the library for pickup on Monday. 

I wasn’t sure I was going to love this one as much as I did Cleeton’s first two, but it was a slow-building story that turned stormy. I loved how the three women were in Key West for their own reasons, developed meaningful relationships as they navigated their lives, and managed to survive the storms of their lives and an actual hurricane. 

The historical fiction story offers hope:

“It’s strange how your life can change so quickly, how one moment you can barely eke by, desperation filling your days, and suddenly, out of the unimaginably horrific, a glimmer of something beautiful can appear like a bud pushing through the hard-formed earth. There’s so much broken around us; maybe all we can do is try to fix each other, do what we can to preserve these precious moments in a world where there is so much sadness and loss. … Maybe some would say my dreams are too small. Perhaps they would dream of railroads that go over the sea, great, wonderful things. Maybe others want riches and jewels, a chance to travel the globe. For me, this is enough: A corner of paradise in this wretched world that I am able to call my own.” — Helen in “The Last Train to Key West” by Chanel Cleeton

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #historicalfiction #weekending #favoritethings #choosingJOY #bookquotes #bookreview
This morning there are three “holes” in Wright This morning there are three “holes” in Wright Road after the creek flooded it overnight. The Calloway County road department responded quickly and is working to pack in various kinds of gravel so it will passable again soon. I’m thankful for their work, but these Band-Aids aren’t an actual solution. 

Wright Road needs a permanent solution for when Wildcat Creek rises. A bridge seems to be the best idea, so the creek can rise and flow beneath the road rather than flowing across it and washing out the gravel on top of the culverts. 

I know it’s an expensive fix and would take local government working with state government, but I wonder how many times the road has to break before it can be truly repaired.

#callowaycounty #kyweather #kentuckyweather #countyroads #countryliving #reallife #murrayky
In a week filled with all the parenting emotions, In a week filled with all the parenting emotions, God has provided conversation with friends who understand, new mercies, a few walks and talks with a friend, and cinnamon rolls on a rainy Friday afternoon. I’ve been reminded when we are vulnerable and share our real lives, friends bring truth and goodness — often in ways we don’t expect but bless us anyway. 

#bettertogether #createdforcommunion #reallife #momlife #weekending #parenthood #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully
People ask when I have time to write. The truth is People ask when I have time to write. The truth is I like to make time to write, but sometimes it happens in the cracks of my days — at Panera, in the Notes app on my phone, at the library before I pickup my kids, or while I’m waiting on kids at activities. This week I edited my manuscript while Rachel practiced soccer. 

#momlife #writerlife #selfpublished #bloggerlife #authorlife #soccermom #thirdchild #createdforcommunion #bettertogether #favoritethings
I needed this weekend. The UK Wildcats didn’t I needed this weekend. 

The UK Wildcats didn’t win this afternoon like I had hoped. But following our house full of people on Friday night, I’ve spent a lot of time on my couch, under a soft blanket, with a book, while I watch #MarchMadness. 

Yesterday I pulled “When We Left Cuba” by @chanelcleeton from my to-be-read stack and then realized it was the second in a series about the Perez family. Thanks to @libby.app, I was able to get “Next Year in Havana” immediately. 

I finished it today during commercials and timeouts. And now I’m going to start “When We Left Cuba” as another basketball game also gets going. 

#KHTreads #basketballseason #weekending #bookstagram #reallife #booklover #librarybooks #KindleOasis #Kindlebooks #favoritethings
What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends and food. So thankful for all these provisions and others in my life. Oh and a Cats win is icing on the cake. 

#MarchMadness #weekending #basketballseason #bettertogether #choosingJOY #BigBlueNation
You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor pos You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor posts on Facebook — and a picture at that! — and puts his radio/TV degree to work figuring out how to improve the viewing setup. 

#reallife #basketballseason #wifelife #choosingJOY
I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected while studying Genesis 1-2. Going back to the beginning and seeing how God created, ordered, and filled the earth has been exactly what I didn’t know I needed, especially as a mom. 

For quite a while now, I feel like I’ve been living a day at a time. I used to be able to see my life in larger chunks of time and anticipate and prepare accordingly. Now, I slap things on the calendar and then deal with them as they come. Navigating life with two teenagers and a first-grader is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Honestly, this moment-to-moment living has been good for me and helped me rely on the God who created the stars and rivers that still exist in our world. Focusing on where I am helps me take slower steps, trust God to provide, and remember I’m not in control. I’ve felt an internal shift with my relationships — with my husband, kids, and friends. I’ve felt behind on laundry and dishes and piles of papers. But I’ve also felt a refreshed nearness to God. 

I’m going to rest here while believing God created life and light when there was only darkness and continues to order my days. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #faithlife #preceptstudy #genesisstudy #genesis #beginnings #reallife #PorchStories
My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, but I knew nothing about Sutton Foster or her story beforehand. She’s a TV actress and Broadway singer and dancer who processes her life — complicated family life, love, loss, spotlight, infertility, adoption, motherhood — by creating. She creates in the kitchen, on stages, with yarn, with paint, with her hands, and with her mind. But her story really is all the experiences and emotions that inspire her creative work. I enjoyed this one. 

#KHTreads #memoirs #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #audible #bookreview
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Favorites

Categories

Archives

Copyright © 2023 Kristin Hill Taylor | Design by Traci Michele | Development by MRM