Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Full-time purpose

March 8, 2017 by Kristin 20 Comments

“Why don’t you have a job, Mom?” my inquisitive 9-year-old girl asked recently.

She’s been asking all kinds of questions about my life before she can remember. She’s wondered about my college days, about my newspaper reporter job before she was born, and her babyhood. I knew the inquiry about my lack of a job was an information-gathering prompt and not an assessment on how I spent my time.

But the question still gave me pause and prompted me to think about purpose.

Honestly, I’m grateful not to have a normal job. If I went to an office or a newsroom like I used to, I would miss out on some things with my kids and wouldn’t have time to do other things I believe I’m called to do.

I manage three vacation rentals at nearby Kentucky Lake and volunteer with my kids’ school and local crisis pregnancy center. And, of course, I write here. Only some of that brings in part-time income, but all of it is part of my purpose in this season.

Each week, Kate Motaung hosts Five Minute Friday and last week’s prompt was PURPOSE. When I saw the prompt during the weekly Thursday night Twitter party, I had intentions of writing, but I couldn’t focus my thoughts. But then Cate’s question came. And in church a couple of days later someone read Romans 8:28 – one of my all-time favorites.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28

Purpose.

I may not have a full-time job.
But I have a full-time purpose.

{Tweet that.}

I’m a wife, mom, friend, writer, property manager, volunteer, and adoption advocate. Greg’s business as an attorney has been blessed in ways that free me to not have a normal job. And that’s pretty much what I told Cate when she asked me why I didn’t have a job.

Jobs can be fleeting, but purpose, even while it can change with life’s seasons, is more lasting and intertwined with who God created us to be. I hope my girl recognizes that and strives to put her identity where it matters.

*****

I know it’s Wednesday, but I’m linking with Kate Motaung and the Five Minute Friday crew anyway. 

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - 3 Word Wednesday
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Here I Am

March 1, 2017 by Kristin 18 Comments

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say
That you’re my God …

{From “Here I Am to Worship“}

Church is always an adventure with kids. But here we are, finding our way to “our seats” in the second row on the near side of the sanctuary like every Sunday morning.

I feel like we announce our presence when there are any pauses in songs with the toddler flinging her cup because after being once desperate for it she’s moved on to something else, the middle boy wanting to play and move when he gets distracted from the words on the screen, and the oldest asking questions.

Our row typically includes much movement, some extra kids, and the crinkling of fruit snack packages.

This past Sunday, I was fresh off two steroid shots the day before because the low-dose one I got three days earlier wasn’t clearing up my poison ivy. I was still wanting to claw my arms, chin, and neck off, but the two new shots were working.

And making my hungry, thirsty, and restless.

So I ate some fruit snacks (hello, mom purse) during the songs … and, yes, I shared with the various kids around me. I drank from a water bottle. I tapped my leg more than usual. I wrangled my youngest who ended up falling asleep on Greg, which is a rare treat and one I was slightly jealous was happening on my husband.

There was a tornado of normal kid and mom activity in my row Sunday. And then those lyrics from a worship song I’ve heard hundreds of times before stopped me in the moment.

Here I am to worship.

Our speaker Sunday morning talked about the transfiguration of Jesus and how that affects our worship. Yes, we have mountaintop experiences, but much of our lives are lived in the valleys. Remember the mountaintops and allow worship to remind us what God has done. Worship allows us – wherever we are – to come before God, who sent His Son as the sacrifice His righteousness requires for us to approach Him..

We are loud and messy and distracted and busy and itchy and so far from perfect.

But here we are to worship and bow down because of who God is and what He’s done for us – on the mountaintops, in the valleys, and on a cross once and for all.

And there’s absolutely no other way I could live because Lord knows without Him we would be louder and messier and more distracted from what truly matters.

*****

I’ve got two music giveaways happening now, so be sure to enter to win, if you haven’t already.

Passion’s Worthy of Your Name

Reba McEntire’s Sing It Now: Songs of Faith & Hope

*****

Kristin Hill Taylor - 3 Word Wednesday
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We are friends

February 22, 2017 by Kristin 12 Comments

Two of my dearest friends and I have an ongoing group text. It started after one-third of our group moved to a different town. We have hashtags that regularly make their way into conversations, laugh at things nobody else would care about, and share our daily lives this way.

It’s really the only group text I enjoy, honestly. And that’s because I know these two women deeply.

We are friends.

Kay Harms, author of “When You Find Another,” defines friends as people who speak into each others’ lives on a mutual basis. She compares different kinds of friends to different kinds of apples.

Jaclyn and Sarah are my Golden Delicious Friends, according to Harms’ definitions. (But, really, give me a Honeycrisp apple to eat any day!)

The texting sustains us until we are all back together. Then we manage to pick up where we left off, fill in the gaps, and make new memories. This is true of both the ongoing group message with Jaclyn and Sarah as well as other texting conversations I have with friends between face-to-face visits.

“The loveliest friendships of all feed our souls with the sweet and beneficial conversations they provide. They encourage us and push us forward to be all God created us to be. They comfort us and restore our souls when we feel broken, wounded or weary. They make us laugh and bring us joy. They remind us of who we are and whose we are and why we are who we are. And they give us faith and courage to keep on going.” – Kay Harms in “When You Find Another”

Friends remind us who we are
and where we belong.

{Tweet that.}

Golden Delicious Friends encourage one another – thus infuse with courage – in their dreams, but they also spur each other on in everyday life. There are more common Red Delicious Friends and tart Green Delicious Friends. All kinds of friends are nourishing for our lives.

“When You Find Another” challenges readers to consider the quality and health of their friendships and spurs them to action to cultivate meaningful relationships. And that takes courage, initiative, and responsibility.

Sarah has said Jaclyn and I made her be friends with us. And we kind of did. We kept inviting her … to church events, to our houses, into our lives, to hear our stories, and to answer our questions. After some time, she realized we were serious about this friendship thing.

About the book

Sometimes we take friendships for granted, but truly these unique relationships are treasures to be carefully cultivated. In “When You Find Another,” Author Kay Harms calls friendship “an ongoing conversation” and encourages us to consider carefully what we are speaking into each other’s lives. For this simple and sweet book, she invited other authors to join the conversation, contributing stories of friendships found, cultivated, lost and renewed. You’ll find encouragement, biblical truth and tender personal insights in this delightful book, and you’ll want to share it with a friend.

I’m thrilled to be among the contributors to this book. In preparing my story of friendship with Jaclyn, I was able to reminisce about God’s faithfulness in this one-of-a-kind relationship. I hope you enjoy a peek into our story. (It’s on page 95, if you’re curious.)

About the author

Kay Harms loves teaching women how to apply the ancient words of the Bible to their modern lives. She has written Bible studies and a devotional guide.

Kay earned a journalism degree at the University of Georgia and enjoys a freelance writing career. She also serves as a MOPS mentor mom and teaches weekly Bible studies for women at her church.

Raised in Georgia, Kay has followed her husband James to Arizona, where he tends to a local flock of believers in the beautiful high desert of Sierra Vista. James and Kay have two grown children.

*****

As a contributor, I received a free copy of this book and am part of the launch team. But these opinions are mine and I’ve actually already bought a copy of the book to gift to Jaclyn. 

Kristin Hill Taylor - 3 Word Wednesday
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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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I know, “everyone” is reading “Spare” by P I know, “everyone” is reading “Spare” by Prince Harry. But I also keep hearing different opinions about it. So here’s mine!

I am intrigued by the royal family and I liked watching “Suits,” just so you know my very loose interest. I had also watched the @netflix documentary Harry and Meghan released. 

Short answer: I really enjoyed listening to this book. 

An heir, then a spare. Deep grief as a child when his mom dies that he doesn’t really confront until he’s older. An institution that governs every decision in his life yet doesn’t protect him when he felt like he needed it. That’s some heartbreaking makings of a good story. And I appreciate Prince Harry telling it — even though I’m sure parts were incredibly difficult. I also appreciate why he and Meghan did what they did and are trying to establish new, different roots. 

Ultimately, this book is about death and life and all the moments in between. I’d recommend listening to it because his voice is a good one. 

One minor, silly complaint: There are 232 chapters, although they’re numbered starting with one in each of the three sections. That makes the audiobook not flow quite as well as it would otherwise because most of them are just a few minutes long. 

I give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I’d love to hear what you think because, you know, everybody is reading it! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #readersofinstagram #audiobooks #audible #princeharry
We are all in for basketball season! Tonight was @ We are all in for basketball season! Tonight was @murraystateuniv Spirit Night at the @memgrizz game. We had some pre-game fun with friends, watched the Grizzlies come back from 19 down to win, and witnessed Ja Morant’s triple double.

#memphisgrizzlies #basketballseason #NBA #TeamTaylor #bettertogether #weekending #favoritethings #RacerNation #MurrayState #WeAreRacers
Cheering for our Racers — and, really, most ever Cheering for our Racers — and, really, most everything in life — is more fun with friends! What an awesome atmosphere at the CFSB Center today with a Murray State win, Ja Morant in the arena, and more memories.

#RacerNation #MurrayState #collegebasketball #basketballseason #bettertogether #WeAreRacers
I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let I’ve worn a favorite sweatshirt that says “Let heaven and nature sing” twice this week. I may not be singing Christmas carols anymore, but I still felt the depths of winter this week. The sweatshirt seemed right. 

The sun didn’t shine much this week, although seeing on Friday as we wrap up the work and school week was welcomed. It’s mostly been cold and gray. It’s felt like winter. 

A lingering tension needs resolution and understanding, but honestly the gap between seems so vast. I crave slow time at home and meals around our table. I miss some friends and was reminded of the heartache that can come with community, but I also felt the deep appreciation of friendship and remembered the beauty of sharing this life with others. I was excited for an invitation and easily accepted it. I started a new habit (hopefully) walking with a friend. 

While driving through my days, I remember how uncertainty is what makes me look up. I remember my Creator when I am slapped in the face with the reality I’m not actually in control. I remember (again) to surrender. 

Goodness happens in the gray of winter. Life may look and feel different, but new life is always preparing to break through the cracks of the ground. The gloom that tempts us to look down doesn’t last long when we believe the sun will break through the icy trees and the fog will lift. 

This is hope. Even in winter. Thank God for it all. Let’s let heaven and nature sing. 

#countryliving #latergram #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #reallife #weekending
I heard mixed reactions about this book from two d I heard mixed reactions about this book from two different friends, but I enjoyed it! 

I liked the backward timeline, although I was uncertain about how it would work until the end. Some of the twists and connections were so good! 

I also liked the bigger ideas Gillian McAllister tackles: We miss things when we are living our life at our normal pace. What if we could go back? What would be notice that would change our reality? And, of course, perhaps, there would be unintended consequences. 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It did get a little slow in the middle, but the end and beginning are quite good! #KHTreads #bookstagram #booklover #kindlebooks #kindleoasis #readersofinstagram
This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in This about sums up motherhood: My teenage girl in the middle rebounding and playing hard and little sister photobombing the moment! 

Honestly, parenting has been hard lately. Nothing major. But so constant and always adjusting. 

Even so, I love watching them on the court and in life. There is so much excitement and goodness among the repetition and exhaustion. 

This is real life. And those are our 10-0 Lady Lions out there. 🦁💛

@ncca.lions #momlife #reallife #basketballseason #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #girlmom #firstborn #thirdchild
I finished studying Colossians today with my Prece I finished studying Colossians today with my Precept group. Paul wrote this letter to an established church that was still growing and learning and maturing in the faith — like us all.  I really loved this study because it spoke right into my life with encouragement for knowing Christ, walking in wisdom and truth, praying continually, letting peace rule, and giving grace. Plus Paul deeply loved his people. 

“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” — Colossians 2:6-7

Too often I step out of God’s presence for two minutes while are loading up the van in the morning or I’m rushing kids to bed. Too often I don’t surrender my fleshy desires and feelings to the One who holds this whole wide world in His hands. Too often I think my plans are worth holding onto tightly. Too often I think I can bring peace to my household, minivan, or dinner table. 

But real peace passes all my understanding. It rests in God’s wisdom and knowledge alone. How amazing we have access to that, thanks to Jesus. How easily I forget where I’m rooted. 

I want to let peace rule — in my home, in my head, and in my heart. 

Today while I was driving, I noticed how lovely the road, land, and sky looked. But today was really windy, like feel-it-move-my-vehicle and knock-over-trash-cans windy. It almost felt deceptive with the beauty before me, but, really, that’s like life. 

Sometimes it seems I have it together. People know my gifts of organizing information and people. I show up on time and am responsible. But so many thoughts and feelings are swirling in my mind. I replay conversations and fight against the same insecurities from the previous day. 

I feel both lovely and like my swirling mind could knock me over at any moment. And that’s why I needed God, particularly through His words through Paul to the Colossians. 

#livingfaithfully #faithlife #churchlife #reallife #countryliving
This girl has been complaining of a sore throat th This girl has been complaining of a sore throat the last couple of days, but she hasn’t had a fever or any other symptoms so I kept telling her she was fine. Truth be told, she a bit of a hypochondriac and generally happy, so it’s hard to tell if she sick sometimes. 

The folks at Aligned Health took care of her this afternoon and are treating her for strep or whatever bacteria is making her throat look and feel rough. 

I’m thankful for access to medical care and an unexpected night at home.

#momlife #thirdchild #reallife #momconfessions #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #sickday
I really loved this book! “Life is the stuff th I really loved this book!

“Life is the stuff that happens in the cracks between your plans and expectations.” — from “One Night on the Island” by @josiesilverauthor 

The writing is excellent, the setting works well, and the story unfolds in some predictable but sweet ways. I also think it was the right book at the right time for me. 

#KHTreads #romcom #romcombooks #bookstagram #booklover #librarybooks #readersofinstagram
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