Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Women of Courage (a study & giveaway)

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A friend and I were just talking about how we often use a Bible app on our phones instead of an actual Bible. I like the convenience and resources that come with the app, but I sometimes miss holding an actual Bible and taking notes in the margins.

The other day I was needing some encouragement, so I picked up the CSB (in)courage Devotional Bible off my shelf. In those pages, I found real-life stories and unchanging truth that my soul needed to hear. I’m honored to have contributed a couple devotionals, but I’m more grateful for this resource in its entirety.

Starting February 1st, (in)courage is hosting women who want to journey through God’s Word together. In this Women of Courage study, you’ll meet 12 incredible women from Scripture and dig into three themes from the (in)courage Bible. Those themes are Better Together, Friendship on Purpose, and Imperfect Hospitality. There will be weekly interactive discussions, videos from our devotion authors, and more in a Facebook group for 12 weeks. The study is free, but everyone needs a copy of the (in)courage Devotional Bible to participate. {SIGN UP HERE.}

And guess what! I’ve got one to give away, thanks to (in)courage. Just use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter to win before Friday, Jan. 25, when I randomly choose a winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Bible

I’ve shared about this Bible before, but I’m grateful to have two devotions included. One is about how the Prince of Peace reconciles and rescues, based on some verses from Isaiah 9. The other is about God’s people dwelling together, taken from Ephesians 2.

There are 312 devotionals written by 122 contributors, and they are organized into 10 devotional themes. Each theme has a distinct color and design to identify it throughout the Bible. In addition, each theme has a reading plan. The reading plans note title, page number, and the author of each devotion. In the back of the Bible, you’ll find a list of all contributors, their bios, and on which pages you can find their devotions.

Additional custom features encourage women to explore the Bible and find their story through God’s story, plus journaling space at the bottom of each page. The Bible will be offered with four different covers with a variety of prices: white hardcover, blue leather touch, green fabric cover, and navy genuine leather.

You can buy this beauty wherever Bibles are sold, including Amazon.

About (in)courage

Founded in 2009 by DaySpring, the Christian products subsidiary of Hallmark, the vision for (in)courage is to create a new home for the hearts of women, where women take turns pulling up a chair to share their stories of what Jesus looks like in their everyday, gloriously ordinary, often messy lives.

Since then, (in)courage has grown into a vibrant community that reaches thousands of women every day, sharing stories, loving support, and resources for meaningful connection. Our name represents DaySpring’s goal of bringing women into deeper community with Christ and with one another. The (in) means that we are in Christ, connected, and in community with each other. From all of this comes true courage.

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I’m grateful (in)courage is providing this additional copy of this Bible for me to share with you!

God’s forever on our side

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“Oh I don’t know / What’s around the bend / Oh, all I know / Is that my love / It knows no end / All these pieces they fall in line / Because I’m forever on your side / Take my hand when you can’t see the light / Cause I’m forever on your side / I will carry / You every time / Because I’m forever on your side”

– Needtobreathe’s “Forever On Your Side”

My mind hasn’t wanted to turn off this week. I’ve been processing news in lives of people I care about, parenting three kids in different seasons, and navigating a hard conversation. So many perceptions and feelings can influence my mind, distracting me from all the good around me.

One evening this week my mind was dwelling on this and that and this again. I couldn’t shut it off long enough to fall asleep so I got out of bed and folded five loads of laundry while I watched “New Amsterdam” on the DVR. The show had a storyline that made me think of a friend of mine. But instead of letting my mind spiral into all the stuff again, God influenced my perception. He reminded me to be still and trust him as God.

I have hope & disappointment side by side in my hands. I know joy and grief at the same moment. I truly believe God uses it all when we love him and are called to his purpose (Romans 8:28). In a world of factions and sides, conflict and change, surprises and distractions, I’m grateful God is forever on my side. And I’m grateful for the ways he brings his truth into our lives through others who follow Christ. That’s the kind of influence we all need.

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I’m joining the Five Minute Friday writing crew with this post. The prompt this week was INFLUENCE.

How to make time for books

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I’m not great at goals and resolutions. I’m an all-or-nothing girl who does really well with immediate efficiency but stumbles around long-term goals. Maybe it’s a little bit of fear of failure and a little bit I don’t want to put myself in a box.

This year as I focus on being faithful, I want to establish new habits. I’ve been making my bed, trying to drink more water, walking on the treadmill or outside on the random warm days, and reading books instead of mindlessly scrolling.

In 2018, I read 52 books. That total was 47 in 2017, 53 in 2016, and 43 in 2015. I don’t know how many books I’ll read this year, but I already love the four I’ve finished the first two weeks of this year. I’ve been sharing about them on social media and will continue to share book roundup posts, but I want to answer a question I’ve gotten over the years:

How do you manage to read so many books?

“So many” is relative because I know some people read more books than me. But, hey, I like to watch TV too. Anyway, I thought I’d share some ways I manage to read books while also mothering my children, who are currently 11, 9, and 3.

1. I read on a Kindle.

Say what you will about missing the physical turning of pages and the smell of an actual book, a Kindle is convenient. I can have hundreds of books at my fingertips wherever I go. And when I finish one, my next ones are right there.

I do read actual books, especially when I get them free. (See #2.) And I write in them, just in case you’re wondering. I usually also then type all the marked passages into a Word document so I have them to reference later. (Call me a nerd, whatever.) When underlining on a Kindle, Amazon saves these quotes online, which, honestly, is amazing.

Also, Prime members get a free book each month as part of the First Reads perk. In January, I was given TWO BOOKS and those are among the ones I’ve read this year. (They were “Rock Needs Rivers: A Memoir About a Very Open Adoption” by Vanessa McGrady and “The Forgotten Hours” by Katrin Schumann. And in case you’re wondering, the other two I’ve read this year are “Letters to the Church” by Francis Chan and “The Sacred Enneagram” by Christopher Heuertz.)

2. I review books on my blog.

I get quite a few free books through launch teams and blogger review programs. The deadlines that come with the review process keep me reading too. Plus reviewing books helps me process them and connect with other readers.

3. We spend a lot of time poolside.

I devour some fiction books at the pool. In the summer, I’m easier going when it comes to chores and household tasks. (I’m trying to adopt that mentality year around, though!) Just one more chapter and then I’ll move the laundry to the dryer and start a new load in the washer!

4. I read when I’m waiting or sitting …

… at the doctor’s office, at the school pickup line, and when I eat breakfast. I’ve been known to buckle in my youngest and show up at the big kids’ school early just so I can read. Plus I’ve been consistent on the treadmill, so that gives me another window of reading time.

5. I stop reading books I don’t like.

There are way too many good books to waste time on the ones that aren’t working for me. For real, ain’t nobody got time to wait and see if a book might get good.

6. I read what I’m in the mood to read.

Typically, I read one book at a time, but I started the year with about three books going because they were different. One I needed to read slowly to digest, another was also non-fiction but easier to read quickly, and another was a memoir that I read in two sittings. I tend to go through fiction binges. I don’t pressure myself to read through a list. I choose my next book when I’m done with this one.

7. I keep a wish list of books.

I love book recommendations, so I have an easy-accessible list on Amazon. I add to it often, order from it sometimes when prices drop, and consult it in the library, especially in the summer when I check out a few fiction titles at once. I also keep an Amazon list of good reads to share with others. As much as I like reading, I certainly also like talking about books.

Fellow readers, what would you add to your list about how you make time to read?

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This is an edited and updated version of a post from a few years ago.

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