Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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The sounds of Becoming

January 20, 2020 by Kristin 6 Comments

“I am miles from where I was
It’s so far from where I want to be
With each step I learn to trust
The maker is still making me …”
– Jason Gray in “Becoming”

In September, I sat with on my counselor’s couch and told her about this idea of transformation being a process of order to disorder to reorder. I stole the concept from singer/songwriter Jason Gray who was inspired by Franciscan friar and author Richard Rohr’s idea and wrote some songs about it. On the heels of a hard year, these songs helped me make sense out of conflict, disappointment, loss, and grief. They helped me see how God was working even when my heart and head hurt.

These songs are part of a three-part project that’s being released in segments. The first set of songs – “Order” – has been out since September and I’ve been listening to it frequently. There is also a five-day devotional that goes along with the songs and spoke truth into my wounded soul. I can’t carry a tune and I haven’t played my clarinet since 1993, but other people’s songs have always marked my seasons and helped me along.

So, of course, I looked to see if Jason Gray was on tour. He didn’t have any dates near me, but not long after he posted on Instagram about wanting to schedule some small shows with him and his guitar. My mind started intertwining lots of ideas I had to make a concert part of a bigger fundraiser for our mission team that’s headed to Guatemala in April and needed to raise thousands of dollars to build two houses, visit about 20 families and help meet some of the physical needs, and distribute 50 wheelchairs. Jason Gray and I exchanged some emails and got a date on the calendar.

The date was last night, and this morning my heart is full.

My natural Enneagram One way is to think about how more seats could have been filled or more money raised, but I know God is asking me to unclench my fists and hold my palms wide open. It’s an ongoing conversation God and I have and one we’ll probably continuing having because Jesus saved me from my sins but he’s still saving me from my anxious ways.

Last night Jason talked about how our weaknesses are what make us safe places for each other. Then he sang about how the wounds are where the light gets in, trusting is a lot like falling, and sometimes the truth is hard to tell ourselves. He sang about how we’re all still becoming and being made new. He sang about how it’s good to be alive, even if we have to be reminded who we are.

Before the concert, we had a chili cook-off with 11 pots of chili from my friends, a silent auction of donations from other friends, and a bake sale my daughter and her best friend headed up. There were lots of ways to support our mission projects and these families in Guatemala we’ll get to serve, but, more importantly, there were many ways to be connected to one another. That’s where God does beautiful work.

Maybe it’s on a counselor’s couch, through the songs of a stranger who seems to understand, or while planning an event so a team of people can serve together, but we are at our best when we make room for each other – even when the brokenness is obvious and the wounds are far from healed.

Jason Gray opened his show with “Becoming” – one of those songs from the “Order” project. That’s my word this year. In 2020, I want to focus on becoming more like Christ, resting in real life knowing living surrendered is far more productive than controlling and clinching. Jason didn’t know that’s where I am, but he knew that’s where he’d been and trusted he wasn’t the only one.

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Holy Roar (a review)

October 28, 2018 by Kristin 2 Comments

With his new album, Chris Tomlin does a wonderful job of leading listeners into worship wherever they are. I listened in the minivan with my kids, in the kitchen while cooking, and on my laptop while writing. Each time, I forgot about my to-do list, things I wanted to tell people, events I wanted to plan, and groceries I needed to buy. Instead, I remembered God’s goodness and faithfulness.

“Holy Roar” welcomes people to the throne of God right in the midst of their ordinary lives, and, really that’s the wonder of worship, which doesn’t have to happen in a designated sanctuary or on a certain day of the week. Of course, many of these songs would be great to sing on Sunday mornings with your church family.

As we praise God, we remember what matters
– both in this life and the one to come.

{Tweet that.}

About the album

The album includes 12 songs:

  1. Holy Roar
  2. Nobody Loves Me Like You
  3. Resurrection Power
  4. Goodness, Love and Mercy
  5. Satisfied
  6. Impact
  7. Praise Him Forever
  8. Is He Worthy?
  9. Forever Young
  10. I Stand In Awe (featuring Nicole Serrano)
  11. Praise is the Highway
  12. How Sweet It Is (featuring Pat Barrett)

“Holy Roar” officially released Oct. 26, 2018 by Sparrow Records. Buy on Amazon or wherever else you like to buy music.

I’m also intrigued by the companion book by the same time that Tomlin cowrote with his pastor Darren Whitehead. “Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change the Way You Worship” shares a fresh perspective about the worship practices of the ancient world and provides insight and encouragement to deepen your practice of praise. This 128-page hardback book is published by Thomas Nelson (Oct. 23, 2018).

About the artist

Chris Tomlin is one of the most heralded singer-songwriters in the world who has amassed an impressive body of work, including 12 albums. He has sold more than eight million albums, 11.3 million digital tracks with 16 No. 1 singles. The GRAMMY winner’s list of music awards includes an American Music Award, three Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards, and a BMI Songwriter of the Year Award. He also cowrote the bestselling children’s book, “Good Good Father.” More than anything, Chris loves being a husband to Lauren and a daddy to Ashlyn and Madison.

To learn more, visit www.christomlin.com or follow Chris on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Giveaway

I’m happy to be able to give away a copy of this CD to one of you too! U.S. residents may use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win. I’ll choose a winner on Friday morning.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

I received a copy of this album to review from FlyBy Promotions / Propeller Consulting, which is also providing a copy to the winner of my giveaway. These opinions are my own. If you have won a prize from our sponsor FlyBy / Propeller in the last 30 day or this same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win. The winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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New music from Tori Kelly welcomed

September 13, 2018 by Kristin Leave a Comment

I had recently told my oldest girl I wanted to hear more Tori Kelly music because I really love her with Lacrae on his “I’ll Find You,” which we hear on the radio a lot. My youngest girl has watched “Sing” more times than I could even count, so we’re also familiar with Tori as Meena.

Needless to say, I was excited to have some new Tori Kelly music to play around our house. Tori’s voice is so soothing and strong on her “Hiding Place” album. She was a wonderful companion while I cooked and cleaned the kitchen.

Here are the eight tracks on this new album:

  1. Masterpiece featuring Lecrae
  2. Help Us To Love featuring The Hamiltons
  3. Sunday
  4. Just As Sure featuring Jonathan McReynolds
  5. Psalm 42
  6. Questions
  7. Never Alone featuring Kirk Franklin
  8. Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well)

“Psalm 42” is a beautiful reminder of how Jesus quenches our thirsty souls. “Sunday” is about our everyday hallelujahs and need for grace regardless of the day. “Soul’s Anthem (It Is Well)” is a beautiful song of trust.

About the album

Tori Kelly’s new album “Hiding Places” honors her deepest musical passion and delivers an album that’s infused with R&B infused and is a melodic take on classic gospel music. She has teamed up with 12-time Grammy Award-winning gospel artist Kirk Franklin on this one and the first single features him. In fact, half of the songs were written by Franklin. The other tracks were a collaboration between him and Kelly. This is the first time Franklin has ever co-written in his decades-long career that’s seen his songs performed by legends like Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston.

The album officially releases Sept. 14, 2018 from Schoolboy Records & Capitol Records. You can buy it on Amazon or wherever else music is sold. You can also watch the official “Never Alone” video.

About the artist

Now 25 years old, Tori Kelly first gained recognition after posting videos on YouTube at the age of 14. When she was 16, she auditioned for “American Idol.” After being eliminated from the show, she began to work on her own music. In 2012, she independently released her first EP that she produced, wrote, and mixed herself. A year later her first major label release was another EP. Her debut album was released in 2015 and included a single that became her first U.S. Billboard Hot 100 appearance. She was the 2016 Grammy Award nominee for Best New Artist. Learn more about her at her website.

*****

Many thanks to Propeller Consulting / FlyBy Promotions for providing a CD for me to review and another for me to giveaway, which is happening for TODAY only. {ENTER HERE!} The winner was chosen randomly. If you have won a prize from Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you aren’t eligible to win again.

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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. 

So here we are finding out footing, singing praises with church friends on our porch, grilling delicious chicken, and squeezing in the wide-open spaces when we can. This is evidence of the good stuff. 

#84daysofsummer #poolpeople #momlife #momconfessions #faithlife #livingfaithfully #favoritethings #choosingJOY #countryliving #reallife #PorchStories
The Hill family reunion at @shelterpointretreat ha The Hill family reunion at @shelterpointretreat has become a favorite tradition to kick off summer! The weather was perfect and everyone enjoyed one another. 

#familyreunion #lakelife #kentuckylake #kylake #getoutside #familytime #memorialday #memorialdayweekend #favoritethings #84daysofsummer #summerisbest #choosingJOY
Hello, #84daysofsummer! ☀️ #TeamTaylor #girl Hello, #84daysofsummer! ☀️ 

#TeamTaylor #girlmom #boymom #momlife #reallife #summerisbest #siblinglove #countryliving #poolpeople #getoutside
First of all, who else has read this book? The plo First of all, who else has read this book? The plot was promising as a thriller and the setting really worked. There were some good twists, and then there were ridiculous twists. I skimmed the end only because I wanted it to make sense. And it didn’t. It was too weird for me. 

But this made me wonder: how do we know if a book is going to be weird, contain elements we don’t like, or go places that don’t make sense? I don’t like to read much about a book before I read the book. Usually, I do a better job of picking books for myself. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #donotrecommend #bookofthemonth @bookofthemonth
I needed this low-key weekend that was pleasant we I needed this low-key weekend that was pleasant weather, a mixture of productivity and rest, and had plenty of wide-open space to enjoy our property and each other. 

#weekending #TeamTaylor #poolpeople #countryliving #favoritethings #choosingJOY #maydays
And that’s a wrap on soccer season! I love watch And that’s a wrap on soccer season! I love watching them both play. 

#soccermom #weekending #springtime #momlife #girlmom #boymom
On Mothers Day, I wanted to sit by the pool with a On Mothers Day, I wanted to sit by the pool with a book, but I didn’t know what I wanted to read. Whenever I have indecision about books, picking up a thriller usually helps because of the story’s pace. 

“The Only Survivors” worked well because there was a lot happening! Lots of creepy, mysterious moments. Only so many people could be guilty of infiltrating a small group who had lots of secrets! 

I loved the timeline of this one. The back story about an accident was told in seven one-hour segments. The present mystery was told in seven days. 

#KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #latergram #bookofthemonth @bookofthemonth #poolpeople #mothersday
Y’all we are very ready for summer. ☀️ And Y’all we are very ready for summer. ☀️ 

And when I say summer, I mean we are ready to shake up the routine, mentally regroup, turn off the alarms, establish some new habits, soak in the sun, and catch up with friends we’ve been crossing paths with too quickly. 

I want to savor the #84daysofsummer and I want to embrace this new season. And it’s almost time. Three more days of school. (Deep breaths.) 

Meanwhile, I’m going to keep collecting the moments — the hard, hurried, happy, and heartfelt. The seasons do change, but this is the life we are living. 

“The moments you collect may not be loud or flashy. They might be quiet or covered or a far-off view you were lucky to catch. But this I know to be true: A moment savored says to your soul, ‘You have lived something beautiful.’ And it keeps you buoyed. It sustains you when you’re running empty. It lifts you up and carries you forward.” — Joanna Gaines in @magnolia summer 2023 journal issue no. 27 

#momlife #reallife #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #summerisbest #teenagedriver #choosingJOY
I’ve read quite a few World War II novels, but t I’ve read quite a few World War II novels, but this one by Soraya M. Lane focused on three nurses, their friendships, and how the war changed their lives. It’s a hard story, but it’s full of love and hope despite the destruction around them. 

And it’s the second historical fiction audiobook I’ve listened to in a row! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #Audible #KindleUnlimited #historicalfiction
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