Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Let’s come before the throne

April 26, 2022 by Kristin 2 Comments

We collectively are living in difficult times. I’m sure every generation has said that. But it doesn’t make the harsh world in which we are living any less true. We’ve weathered COVID-19 and the many ripples in our daily living, healthcare system, political climate, and soaring gas and grocery prices. 

Plus as individuals, we are all facing our own trials. I think the assumption is nobody will understand our difficulties as wives, moms, friends, sisters, and aunts. But that’s not actually true. We have a God who understands and wants us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help at the time of our need” (Hebrews 4:16). 

At the time of our need. Not after we’ve figured it out. Not after the difficult season has passed. Not when we’ve sought the advice of our best friends. (I’m preaching to myself here!) 

I’ve been disappointed with people, but I’m not the first person to navigate difficult relationships. Just think about Moses. God called him to lead the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt and through the wilderness to the Promised Land. The people grumbled. Moses needed Aaron to speak for him. But God didn’t give up on Moses and Moses met with God regularly. Moses may have never gotten to see the Promised Land, but he had a faithful relationship with his God and his people. 

Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh, but he prayed even after his disobedience. Plenty of times in my life I didn’t want to do what I knew was right. I’m thankful we can approach God despite whatever circumstances and choices are keeping us from obedience. 

Those are just two examples of people who prayed in difficult times. “Before the Throne: Finding Strength Through Prayer in Difficult Times” is an eight-week Bible study I’m looking forward to working through this summer. Lord knows I have my own difficult times, but I still want to deepen my relationship with God in ways that come about through prayer. 

About the book

God’s people know they can turn to Him when times get tough. Instead of trying to fix things on our own, we can enter God’s throne room in prayer. The access granted to us by Jesus our High Priest is our comfort when the world is turned upside down. In “Before the Throne,” Crickett offers eight prayer warriors from Scripture who turned to God when times became difficult. You’ll learn to pray with:

  • Moses in times of disappointment
  • The Psalmists in times of need
  • Hezekiah in times of battle
  • Habakkuk in times of questioning
  • Jesus in a time of intercession
  • Paul in times of hardship
  • Revelation saints in times of worship

As you study these prayers, you’ll be strengthened as you see how these godly Bible characters poured out their hearts to God and how He responded to them. You’ll learn how to pray with the same power when you feel weak, helpless, stressed, or afraid. As you turn your focus toward God’s character through prayer, He will supply the strength you need to face whatever is before you.

“Before the Throne” is a 256-page paperback Bible study published by Moody Publishers (March 1, 2022). 

About the author

Crickett Keeth is the women’s ministry director at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where she writes and teaches women’s Bible studies. She is the author of several published Bible studies, including “On Bended Knee,” “The Gift of Rest” and “Sumatra with the Seven Churches” (co-authored with Sandra Glahn). Crickett was on staff with Cru for ten years and is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. In addition to teaching regularly at her own church, she also speaks at women’s conferences and retreats. She offers free resources for discipleship and encourages others in their own walk with God through her website at www.crickettkeeth.com. Her life purpose is to encourage others to passionately pursue Jesus Christ.

Giveaway

And I’ve got a copy to share with one of y’all! The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. A winner will be chosen randomly Monday, May 2. Use the Rafflecopter below to enter to win!

ENTER HERE! –> Before the Throne giveaway

*****

I received a free copy of this Bible study from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I only recommend books I believe are worth your time. 

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The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water

January 4, 2022 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Starting “The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water” by Erin Bartels at the end of one year and finishing it on the first of a new year felt poetic. In the novel, the main character Kendra Brennan is trying to move beyond her childhood trauma in order to write her second book. Some of her childhood trauma was the catalyst for her debut novel, which was successful but also prompted a mysterious note from a Very Disappointed Reader.

While inching closer to her upcoming deadline, Kendra learned there were secrets from her past that complicated what she thought to be true and who sent that mysterious note. This first-person novel switched to a second-person voice when Kendra addressed her childhood best friend, who was a main character in the story but never actually appeared in the current day plot. I don’t know that I’d ever read a book with that alternating voice, but it worked well and allowed the reader to understand Kendra’s friendship with the estranged Cami and gave insight to Kendra’s thoughts. 

The summer lake setting worked well for this story of Kendra unraveling the past so she could move forward with her life. The supporting characters had depth that helped move this well-written story along and straight into the depths of many human emotions. Plus I’m always rooting for love — both the friendship kind and the romantic kind. 

This novel is emotional and suspenseful — and I really enjoyed it. I’m always glad to see a new-to-me author has other books and I’m looking forward to reading more from Bartels. 

“The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water” is about how secrets shape us and unravel us, how forgiveness is a process, and how love is possible even among the pain. This is an example of how the best stories, even the fictional ones, are built on truth and love.  

This 352-page paperback is published by Revell (Jan. 4, 2022). 

About the author

Erin Bartels is the award-winning author of “All That We Carried,” 2020 Christy finalist “The Words between Us,” and “We Hope for Better Things,” a 2020 Michigan Notable Book, 2020 WFWA Star Award-winner, and 2019 Christy finalist. A publishing professional for nearly twenty years, she lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son. Find her online at www.erinbartels.com.

*****

I received a free, advanced paperback copy of this book from Revell in exchange for a review. These opinions are my own. 

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Books of 2021

December 30, 2021 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I link all the titles to Amazon, where I also keep a big ol’ list of recommended reads, and have links to reviews on social media if you want to know what I thought of the books. Plus, now I tag all my reading-related posts on Instagram and Facebook with #KHTreads, so follow along there too!

Some things to know about my reading habits: I like actual books, but I do sometimes read on my Kindle. I like reading Kindle books even more now on my new, waterproof Kindle Paperwhite. I will quit books if I can’t get into them, although I’ve gotten better about selecting books I anticipate liking. I almost always have a book with me, you know, just in case I happen upon some time to read. (Here are some other tips for making time for books and reading more.)

I can’t choose favorite books, but how about some superlatives before we dive into the whole list of 62 books.

  • BEST HISTORICAL FICTION BY AN AUTHOR WHO USUALLY WRITES SUSPENSE: “Eternal” by Lisa Scottoline
  • BEST SUSPENSE BY AN AUTHOR WHO USUALLY WRITES SOUTHERN FICTION: “Mother May I” by Joshilyn Jackson
  • SLOWEST BOOK that I don’t actually recommend: “Sunflower Sisters” by Martha Hall Kelly
  • MOST UNIQUE WORLD WAR II NOVEL that I do recommend: “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” by Kristin Harmel
  • WEIRDEST BOOK THAT I ALMOST QUIT: “Golden Girl” by Elin Hilderbrand
  • READ IN ONE SITTING: “The Secret Keepers of the Old Depot Grocery” by Amanda Cox
  • FELT LIKE THERAPY (IN A GOOD WAY): “Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First.: 10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level” by Laura Tremaine
  • STUMBLED ON DELIGHT: “The Accidental Text” by Becky Monson
  • WISHED I LISTENED TO ON AUDIO: “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey
  • HELPED ME ESTABLISH A GOOD MORNING HABIT WITH MY KIDS: “Roar Like A Lion: 90 Devotions to a Courageous Faith” by Levi Lusko
  • MOST EERIE, ESPECIALLY AFTER 2020: “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel
  • SUSPENCEFULLY SET IN COVID TIMES: “56 Days” by Catherine Ryan Howard
  • LEAST FAVORITE: “Friends and Strangers” by J. Courtney Sullivan

Now, here’s the whole list:

Historical Fiction

  1. “Atomic Love” by Jennie Fields {Instagram Review}
  2. “Summer of ’69” by Elin Hilderbrand {Instagram Review}
  3. “The Four Winds” by Kristin Hannah {Facebook Review}
  4. “Send for Me” by Lauren Fox {Instagram Review}
  5. “The Secret Stealers” by Jane Healey {Instagram Review}
  6. “The Beantown Girls” by Jane Healey {Related Facebook Post}
  7. “Eternal” by Lisa Scottoline {Instagram Review}
  8. “Sunflower Sisters” by Martha Hall Kelly {Instagram Review}
  9. “The Last Bookshop in London” by Madeline Martin {Facebook Review}
  10. “Sold on a Monday” by Kristina Morris {Instagram Review}
  11. “The Forest of Vanishing Stars” by Kristin Harmel {Facebook Review}

Contemporary Fiction

  1. “Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe” by Heather Webber {Facebook Review}
  2. “The Chicken Sisters” by K.J. Dell’Antonia {Instagram Review}
  3. “Friends and Strangers” by J. Courtney Sullivan {Instagram Review}
  4. “Only the Pretty Lies” by Rebekah Crane {Instagram Review}
  5. “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel {Facebook Review}
  6. “The Last Thing He Told Me” by Laura Dave {Instagram Review}
  7. “The Dutch House” by Ann Patchett {Facebook Review}
  8. “Malibu Rising” by Taylor Jenkins Reid {Instagram Review}
  9. “The Sixth Wedding” (a short story that follows “28 Summers“) by Elin Hilderbrand {Related Post}
  10. “The Accidental Text” by Becky Monson {Instagram Review}
  11. “The Magic of Found Objects” by Maddie Dawson {Facebook Review}
  12. “Eliza Starts a Rumor” by Jane L. Rosen {Instagram Review}
  13. “Under the Southern Sky” by Kristy Woodson Harvey {Facebook Review}
  14. “Summer Rental” by Mary Kay Andrews {Instagram Review}
  15. “The Secret Keepers of the Old Depot Grocery” by Amanda Cox {Review}
  16. “Golden Girl” by Elin Hilderbrand {Goodreads Review}
  17. “Where the Grass is Green and the Girls Are Pretty” by Lauren Weisberger {Instagram Review}
  18. “The Newcomer” by Mary Kay Andrews {Instagram Review}
  19. “The First Husband” by Laura Dave {Instagram Review}

Suspense Novels

  1. “The Survivors” by Jane Harper {Instagram Review}
  2. “You Are Not Alone” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen {Facebook Review}
  3. “The Wife Between Us” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen {Instagram Review}
  4. “An Anonymous Girl” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen {Instagram Review}
  5. “The Half Sister” by Sandie Jones {Facebook Review}
  6. “Mother May I” by Joshilyn Jackson {Instagram Review}
  7. “Northern Spy” by Flynn Berry {Instagram Review}
  8. “A Double Life” by Flynn Berry {Facebook Review}
  9. “56 Days” by Catherine Ryan Howard {Instagram Review}
  10. “Not a Happy Family” by Shari Lapena {Instagram Review}
  11. “Everything We Didn’t Say” by Nicole Baart {Facebook Review}
  12. “You Were Always Mine” by Nicole Baart {Instagram Review}

Romance / Romantic Comedies

  1. “The Unhoneymooners” by Christina Lauren {Instagram Review}
  2. “The Dating Plan” by Sara Desai {Facebook Review}
  3. “One to Watch” by Kate Stayman-London {Instagram Review}
  4. “Josh & Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating” by Christian Lauren {Instagram Review}
  5. “People We Meet on Vacation” by Emily Henry {Facebook Review}
  6. “Field Notes on Love” by Jennifer E. Smith {Instagram Review}
  7. “Tacos for Two” by Betsy St. Amant {Review}
  8. “Just Haven’t Met You Yet” by Sophie Cousens {Instagram Review}
  9. “We Met in December” by Rosie Curtis {Facebook Review}

Memoirs

  1. “That Sounds Fun: The Joys of Being an Amateur, the Power of Falling in Love, and Why You Need a Hobby” by Annie Downs {Review}
  2. “Share Your Stuff. I’ll Go First.: 10 Questions to Take Your Friendships to the Next Level” by Laura Tremaine {Review}
  3. “Growing Slow: Lessons on Un-Hurrying Your Heart from an Accidental Farm Girl” by Jennifer Dukes Lee {Review}
  4. “Greenlights” by Matthew McConaughey {Facebook Review}
  5. “Inheritance: A Memior of Geneology, Paternity, and Love” by Dani Shapiro {Instagram Review}

Devotionals & Non-fiction

  1. “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus: Experiencing the Peace and Promise of Christmas” edited by Nancy Guthrie
  2. “The Enneagram Type 1: The Moral Perfectionist (The Enneagram Collection)” by Beth McCord {Related Facebook Post}
  3. “Satisfied: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are” by Alyssa Joy Bethke {Review}
  4. “Roar Like A Lion: 90 Devotions to a Courageous Faith” by Levi Lusko {Review}
  5. “When Change Finds You: 31 Assurances to Settle Your Heart When Life Stirs You Up” by Kristen Strong {Review}
  6. “The Wonder of Creation: 100 More Devotionals About God & Science” by Louie Giglio {Review}

Now it’s your turn. What should I add to my Amazon Wish List (aka my to-be-read list)?

*****

Need more recommendations? Here are lists from 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

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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 ninth-grade girl who never forgets, our have-no-fear sixth-grade boy, and our joy-filled kindergarten 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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School’s out FOR THE SUMMER! #88daysofsummer #mo School’s out FOR THE SUMMER! #88daysofsummer #momlife #siblinglove #summerisbest #maydays
I’m proud of myself for … … surviving and t I’m proud of myself for …

… surviving and thriving this school year. I resist change almost all of the time, and the past nine months have been full of so many transitions for our whole family. I know, that’s life, but these changes seem like the kind that will mark us forever. 

My kids navigated new beginnings in kindergarten, middle school, and high school. As a mom, sometimes I’m too close to see the growth, but this year it happened in each of them right before my eyes. They navigated friendship hurdles, embraced new friends, and settled a little more into who God created them to be. Middle school isn’t for the faint of heart, but I feel like I’ve come out of this year closer to my son, so I will take it. 

I’m proud of myself for leaning into where God has me. I’ve grown deeper friendships, invested in my kids’ school as a board member and business manager, and seen God work in our ordinary days. 

Y’all know I’m a summer girl, so I’m proud of myself through getting through the winter and coming into summer stronger and braver. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #summerisbest #bettertogether
I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book I’m honestly surprised I didn’t read this book sooner. I loved so much about it, but I did want some of her stories to be  less repetitive and offer more practical advice for living out “radical, ordinary hospitality.” Rosaria Butterfield defines hospitality like this as sharing what you have in real time, preparing to continually life this lifestyle, and bringing strangers in so they become neighbors who become family. 

I took notes throughout, but especially during the introduction. I came away with an appreciation that hospitality can involve lists, schedules, and habits. I felt encouraged, even if I thought the book could have been organized better to include practical tips and other people’s stories. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #audiobooks #livingfaithfully #bookreview #booklover
Something I don’t usually share (online) … I Something I don’t usually share (online) …

I am an opinionated person, but I don’t usually share political opinions on social media. People who know me in real life know I value being pro-life, having less government involvement in our everyday lives, defining marriage as God intended it, and being fiscally conservative. As a former newspaper reporter, I still get excited about elections. I admittedly pay a little less attention in the almost 15 years I haven’t been in a newsroom. But I still care and have plenty of opinions. 

I voted today in Kentucky’s Primary Election. I’m thankful for the freedom to share my opinion by darkening some blocks on a paper ballot. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #reallife #livingfaithfully
Old friends and live music are two of my favorite Old friends and live music are two of my favorite things, so having them together is the best. My friend Aaron and I went to multiple Dave Matthews Band shows together during our college years, so now two decades later it’s fun to do it again as grown ups with our spouses for a band that speaks truth into our lives. 

@needtobreathe put on the loudest acoustic tour I’ve ever seen, but it sure was good! And its encore of completely unplugged songs was especially sweet. 

#NTBlive #needtobreathe #bettertogether #choosingJOY #favoritethings #livingfaithfully #weekending
Happiness is … … a slow morning that gave me Happiness is …

… a slow morning that gave me a chance to finish reading a good book right after I fixed my favorite cinnamon toast. 

… some shade to invite me to pick some more weeds around the house. But why doesn’t my Apple Watch count this as exercise? It felt like exercise to me! 

… an appointment with my oldest girl for us both to get our nails done this morning. 

… my youngest girl’s last soccer game of the season, even though the heat made her a little grumpy. 

… pool time, another good book to read, my mom visiting for the second weekend in a row, a little more weeding, and a night at home with no specific plans. 

Happiness is everyday, normal life with my people, especially when it comes with a slower pace after a hectic week. 

#OneDayMay #maydays #soccermom #KHTreads #momlife #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #poolpeople #PorchStories
I regretted having to go to sleep last night befor I regretted having to go to sleep last night before I finished this book, so I picked it up at breakfast and didn’t do anything else until I finished it. 

I loved the Alaskan cruise setting, the quick love and understanding between Greta and Ben, and the realistic ways grief changes people. Well done, @jenniferesmith! 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #kindlebooks #booklover #kindlepaperwhite #reallife #weekending #recommendedreads #poolpeople #amreading
Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of s Happy Friday! 🎉 We’ve got four more days of school next week and then it’s #88daysofsummer! Obviously, we’re ready. ☀️ 

Here’s to a refreshing weekend with much anticipation of what’s to come! #weekending #choosingJOY #livingfaithfully #thirdchild #momlife #summerisbest #poolpeople #PorchStories #maydays
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’ve already bou ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’ve already bought three copies of “Glad You’re Here: Two Unlikely Friends Breaking Bread and Fences” by @walkerhayes and @craigallencooper to gift to specific friends. I’ve referenced this story in conversations this week and will likely recommended it for years to come. 

This story is about two seemingly different guys befriending each other because their kids were on the same baseball team and their wives became friends. They kept showing for each other, encouraged each other, and changed each other for the better. In fact, their friendship was the catalyst for Walker deciding to follow Christ. 

Give me Applebee’s on a date night, a real-life story of how we are eternally better together, and an audiobook that makes me want to drive and I’m a happy girl. I’m fancy like that. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #bettertogether #livingfaithfully #hospitalitymatters #audiobooks #booklover #favoritethings
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