Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Raising my hand in surrender

November 14, 2018 by Kristin 15 Comments

I stood between my husband and my best friend with my hands raised as Matt Maher and Zach Williams closed out their concert with a song together.

“Love will hold us together
Make us a shelter weather the storm
And I’ll be my brother’s keeper
So the whole world will know that we’re not alone …”

Raising my hands was an act of surrender because that’s not my usual style. Sometimes I’m too distracted to give myself fully to God at that moment. Sometimes I worry too much about what others think. Sometimes I just don’t want to draw any additional attention to myself.

But this time I needed to surrender and let go of all the thoughts and worries and striving. Raising my hand was a physical act of what was happening in my heart.

Matt Maher has taken me into the presence of God as I’ve driven around my small town or cooked dinner in my kitchen with the usually messy floors. He’s been on my list of who I’d like to see in concert for a long time. I like Zach Williams’ music and message too.

Concerts are my love language. Being at this specific concert with my husband, my oldest daughter, my best friend, and her two daughters was so good for my soul. Then twice Matt Maher had a video from Guatemala scrolling behind him. Seeing the church built on a hilltop, the children who look like ones I’ve met on other Guatemala hillsides, and the scenery that reminded me of where we were in June. The whole night was a perfect merging of people and places I love.

For the past year or so, God’s really been teaching me about living rescued, which is rooted in surrender. (Here’s where I introduced RESCUED as my focus for 2018 and explained what God was teaching me.) The songs I heard at the concert really spoke into that freedom that comes because God has already established his kingdom and welcomed us in through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Living rescued is about letting go and living in God’s truth rather than striving for impossible standards in our own power.

Living rescued allows us to lay down our
burdens and be burdened for what matters.

{Tweet that.}

Matt Maher talked about laying down our burdens so we could be burdened for what burdens God. I have to be rescued from my selfish ways every day if I want to truly see others. I have to be rescued from my own plans if I want to be willing to go with God. I have to be rescued from all the distractions if I want to remember the truth.

I walked out of the Carson Center that night feeling lighter from being in God’s presence with some of my very favorite people. I told Greg I wanted to go back to Guatemala. I told Cate I was glad I finally got to see Matt Maher in concert and enjoyed Zack Williams too. And I thanked God for rescuing me over and over again.

*****

If this idea of living rescued speaks to you, earlier this year I shared Five Practical Ways to Live Rescued. I also wrote about another concert that prompted this season in my heart of living rescued. Like concerts are my love language, so are playlists, so I have a playlist about the rescuer.

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - Porch Stories
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Filed Under: Porch Stories Tagged With: faith, life, music, rescued

Comments

  1. Laurie says

    November 14, 2018 at 5:47 am

    Music, for some reason, allows me to be free. It lifts my spirit and allows me to respond in ways that I normally would not give myself permission to. I should listen to music more often! So glad to read about your concert experience. I hope you do get back to Guatemala.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 14, 2018 at 7:23 am

      Yes, I’m the same with music. I think it just blocks out so much that’s happening around me or in my mind that I can really focus on the message and God. I hope we get back to Guatemala too. We’re thinking maybe April 2020. Thanks for being here, Laurie!

      Reply
  2. Michele Morin says

    November 14, 2018 at 6:32 am

    I’m such an information junkie that I listen to podcasts a lot more than music, and this is something I want to do differently.
    Thanks for this glimpse into your life.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 14, 2018 at 7:26 am

      I can lean toward information junkie too, although sometimes it overwhelms me because I feel like there are SO MANY voices telling me what to do and how to live. I actually had to take a break from most non-fiction books this year. I’m hit and miss with podcasts too, although I do like them and have my favorites I listen to regularly. I’m glad you’re here, Michele!

      Reply
  3. Melody says

    November 14, 2018 at 8:23 am

    Surrender is a word that God has been emphasizing inside of me this week. And so your post was a beautiful fit. So glad you had that sweet time or worship and release of self and stepping into unrestrained worship. It just feels right to move into those divine moments of surrender and worship. And I love that it comes in many different forms.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 14, 2018 at 9:22 am

      Divine moments do come in many forms, and I don’t want to miss them. I’m glad God could encourage you through my experience too. Thanks for being here, Melody! xo

      Reply
  4. Susan Shipe says

    November 14, 2018 at 8:48 am

    You know Kristin, Holy Spirit dropped the word “rescue” into me many, many years ago. It is a powerful word because He truly is our Rescuer!!! Thanks for the reminder my sweet friend. xo

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 14, 2018 at 9:21 am

      God has shown me rescue for my soul over and over again this year and I’m so thankful for the repetition. I’m glad you’re here with more affirmation! xo

      Reply
  5. Lisa notes says

    November 14, 2018 at 11:15 am

    I saw Matt Maher last month in concert with the Bible Tour! And loved every second of the truths he shared as we all worshiped together.

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      I’m glad you got to see him too! So good! Thanks for being here, Lisa!

      Reply
  6. Rebecca Hastings says

    November 14, 2018 at 1:35 pm

    I love surrender. Well, I love the idea of it. But sometimes it seems hard! I’m so grateful for the grace in-between my willing times of surrender!

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 14, 2018 at 2:55 pm

      Yes, yes, me too, Becky! xo

      Reply
  7. Lauren Sparks says

    November 15, 2018 at 2:27 pm

    Oh, I definitely want to check out your playlist. Thank you. laurensparks.net

    Reply
    • Kristin says

      November 15, 2018 at 2:27 pm

      I hope you enjoy it! xo

      Reply

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  1. Burdens: Jesus Understands and Feels our Pain - Words, Photos and Art says:
    November 14, 2018 at 3:35 pm

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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.

Learn more about my story here.

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🎶 All throughout my history / Your faithfulness 🎶 All throughout my history / Your faithfulness has walked beside me / The winter storms made way for spring / In every season, from where I'm standing / I see the evidence of Your goodness / All over my life … 🎶 @joshbaldwin in “Evidence”

I love summer. But my summer has started off busy: appointments, book edits deadline, establish new habits with the kids at home. All that’s necessary and good, it just cuts into my down time beside the pool. 

Today we have two open gyms for our basketball players, my book study with a few friends, a new weekly high school girls’ book study at our house, and a monthly dad-son character study. 

I long for a little more white space on the calendar, but I also wouldn’t change a thing because the kids are only 16, 13, and 7 once. This summer will only be this summer once. And I’ve already learned time flies with big kids. 

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