Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Three Word Wednesday :: Peace & Pace

April 29, 2015 by Kristin Leave a Comment

“But if my hope is in a sovereign God who never changes – if my peace and my pace come from him and if I believe he is who he says he is and if I trust him to shepherd and shape my calling and the conditions of my life – then I’m less likely to get rattled. God speaks light and flings stars and multiples cells and sets the fetal heart beating. He’s way ahead of online cultures that morph and mushroom overnight. He’s bigger than politics, bigger than physical safety or danger, bigger than what’s trending today and forgotten tomorrow, bigger than both the landscape and the velocity of change. He’s bigger than fear.”

{From “Dragons and Dirt” by Dalene Reyburn}

I can get rattled and lose perspective. Sometimes I rush my kids to bed because I’m tired. I’ve been known to hurry people out the door or into a store because I want to tackle a to-do list of tasks cluttering my mind. Unexpected detours can make me frazzled and I don’t like to be late.

But I know God has me on a journey toward peace.

The journey has been long. And while I don’t think it actually has a starting point, I can pinpoint first noticing it in my soul when we were trying to conceive a baby and couldn’t. There are landmark moments, where I’ve posted signs in my mind as I look back.

Peace came when I let go of trying to have a baby and turned my attention to adoption. Peace was present when I made schooling decisions for my kids, finished writing projects, and talked with friends about real life. Peace comes in the presence of God.

My life hasn’t lacked peace entirely, but I’ve been rattled more often than I care to admit. God is teaching me more about what living with peace as my perspective means. I want to mark more moments on this journey with evidence of peace and joy.

For me, peace is so often related to my pace. 

I like to be on the go. I like trips and celebrations. I like being with my people. And I like dreaming of what’s next. But I can’t be like that every day. I need that part of the journey to have some pit stops included so I can catch my breath, re-establish my perspective, and process the action.

I know when my pace slows, God gives me a chance to understand peace – the peace that only he can give, the peace that passes my understanding. {Tweet that.}

Whether I’m moving or slowing or stopping, God’s there. He’s not surprised with my personality that sometimes seems it’s made up of contradictions. He’s not caught off guard when I need to regroup and refresh. He wants me to see him – how he’s prepared me, how he’s gone before me, and how he was with me in the past.

I wrote 24,049 words in my ebook and used “peace” in the title. And here I am still learning about this five-letter word and how really it’s the center of so much else for me.

God is using the foundation of where I’ve been to prepare me for what’s next, even if I don’t know what that looks like. {Tweet that.} But he is sovereign, never changes, gives light to the darkness, creates life, and promises to be with us.

________________

A few housekeeping notes :: I’m going to write more about “Dragons and Dirt: The Truth About Changing the World – and The Courage It Requires” by Dalene Reyburn soon. This book surprised me with how much it’s speaking into my life. I’m marking whole paragraphs that I want to remember and come back to. That quote above is one of them.

Also, I have a super fun announcement on Sunday {my 36th birthday!} so be sure to come back then. I hope you’ll be glad you did.
________________

152 Insights to My Soul

An InLinkz Link-up

I’m also linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria Sisterhood Gathering. 

Want more insights? “Peace in the Process: How Adoption Built My Faith & My Family” is available on Amazon. Like me on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, peek into my life on Instagram, follow 152 Insights at Bloglovin’, or subscribe to receive “Insights in Your Inbox.”

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Filed Under: books, faith, life, quotes, Soli Deo Gloria, Three Word Wednesday

Comments

  1. Candace Creates says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:02 pm

    What an awesome quote, Kristin! Peace and pace are 2 things I desperately need help with. I can't wait to hear more about that book. Peace is definitely related to my pace as well. I can completely relate. Happy almost birthday, my friend!

    Reply
  2. Katie Reid says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    Great post Kristin. Joy and peace is something that my hubby prays for me, probably more than anything. Loved your tweetable statements, powerful and fresh air for this rushing mama.:)

    Reply
  3. Karen Brown says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    Love what you are sharing about peace. When He calls me to be still and know – and peace comes. You are so right that peace is related to my pace. And… I hope you have a very happy birthday on Sunday! 🙂 Thanks for sharing- I'm always encouraged by your words. Peace, friend.

    Reply
  4. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:32 pm

    Thanks, Katie! By default I'm a rushing momma too. So grateful God is faithful and patient with us. xoxo

    Reply
  5. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    Thank you, sweet Karen. I'm glad you could be encouraged and appreciate your kind comment and birthday wishes!

    Reply
  6. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    The book is a good one. I'm so glad I'm reading it right now. I like how peace and pace are so intertwined and the words are so similar. Nerdy comment, I know. 🙂 Thanks for being here, Candace!

    Reply
  7. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:34 pm

    Yes! I loved that study! Thanks for bringing it to mind again. I'm going to write a review soon, but, yes, add that book to your list! 🙂 xoxo

    Reply
  8. Kim Adams Morgan says

    April 29, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    Peace, definitely something I could not obtain on my own. No matter how hard I tried (and I have before), God is where I find peace. Sounds like a beautiful book. Congrats on getting so much writing done. Our pace certainly can get in the way of our peace, if we let it.

    Reply
  9. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 29, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    Oh, I try too … silly me. 🙂 Writing has given me a chance to slow down, reflect, and process life. So grateful for that time. Thanks for being here, Kim!

    Reply
  10. Tiffany says

    April 29, 2015 at 3:23 pm

    "For me, peace is so often related to my pace." Me too, Kristin. But often I don't notice until I slow down…then it's a revelation about how much better I do and feel when I'm not scattered and spinning. So grateful God keeps giving us those tangible lessons that help us grow.

    Reply
  11. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 29, 2015 at 3:27 pm

    Yes, sometimes I don't realize I'm scattered and spinning (such an accurate description!) until I'm about to fall down. So grateful for God's grace to continue learning. And so grateful for your encouragement and presence here. Thanks, Tiffany!

    Reply
  12. Jen Ferguson says

    April 30, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    As you know, we were separated at birth, so it's no surprise that I am nodding my head along with your words. I have been learning much of the same thing – when I am rushing I am so NOT enjoying life. (Sidenote: I just learned that life is supposed to be enjoyable.) I want so much to recognize that when God is slowing me down it is because He doesn't want me to miss something. Something as huge as how much He loves me.

    Reply
  13. KristinHillTaylor says

    April 30, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    Yes, I'm right there with you! Our world tells us if we slow down we're going to miss something, but, really, it's the opposite with God. I love our in sync our lives are … now, if we could just live closer together … 🙂 Love you!

    Reply
  14. Laura says

    May 1, 2015 at 6:54 pm

    I'm focusing on this word peace now that I have just read your post. It's only 5 letters and one syllable, but it's a powerful word! I, too, like to be on the go…and even when I need a break, that break can be hard to find. In the chaos of life, though, it's possible to grab hold of peace. And I find that when I slow down, I feel the presence of God in a profound way.

    Reply
  15. KristinHillTaylor says

    May 1, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    "Peace" and "joy" are the words rocking my world lately. And they're such tiny words but oh-so mighty. So glad you could be encouraged, Laura! (And P.S. … are you on Twitter or do you have a blog page n Facebook? I was looking for you!)

    Reply

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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.

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I’ve had a couple of conversations this week wit I’ve had a couple of conversations this week with dear friends who are walking through hard things. I’ve been proud of them and sad about circumstances and weary of the brokenness and yet generally peaceful. 

Honestly, I feel like it’s a hard cycle to escape. Maybe I’m not supposed to. I never know how much of other’s burdens to carry. And how do I carry their burdens when my own feel heavy? 

I sat across the table at Panera with a dear friend who has tear-filled eyes, who has fasted and prayed and sought counsel. I hear another friend express her loneliness in subtle but deep ways. So many of my mom friends are in the trenches of anxiety, both within their kids and within themselves. I hear of tragedies and brokenness all around me. I feel all the pain, forget about mine for a moment, and want to fix it all.

Sometimes solutions are waiting and trusting. Sometimes action is exactly what’s needed. Knowing the difference is hard for me to discern. 

So I keep going. I do the things in front of that need to be done. I sit with my friend and send another text. I pray about them and about me. I hope I teach my kids enough about the right things. I try to rush less because then I miss what matters. 

Through it all, I am absolutely certain we are meant to walk through this life together. God created us to commune with him and one another. 

One afternoon this week we literally stopped on the country road. No cars were around and she wanted to take a picture. While she captures the landscape, I thanked God for a peaceful pause in a chaotic life and asked Him to continue to show His goodness. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #countryliving #momlife #faithlife #motherhood #createdforcommunion #PorchStories
The world feels heavy & broken because it is. Pare The world feels heavy & broken because it is. Parenting has me at my max emotional capacity because it takes much soul and mental work. Spring soccer season started in the cold tonight. 

Even so, God is good and wants us to live abundantly here on earth while we wait for heaven. This week that looks like church league basketball games, dinner with friends, apologies, sideline encouragement, prayers, middle school humor, theological conversations with friends, tears, and laughter. 

Now it’s time to rest and do it again tomorrow. These are the rhythms of grace and goodness, heaven and earth, sorrow and joy. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #soccermom #thirdchild #momlife #reallife #faithlife #PorchStories
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
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