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 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. 

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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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