Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

Let us hold onto truth

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“Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.” — Philippians 3:15-16

I’m 42 years old, but I’m not as mature as I want to be. 

I’ve been studying Philippians with my Precept group and so many life lessons are echoing what Paul is writing about first to the early church in Philippi and also to us as Christ-followers. Our pastor Bro. Ricky Cunningham even stepped away from the teaching series on Acts to teach from Philippians 3 to start the new year because it’s about new life resolutions, not just new year resolutions. (Watch that encouraging sermon here.)

God is wanting me to hear some things, that’s for sure. 

In Philippians 3, Paul is repeating himself because what he’s saying is important:

  • Put no confidence in the flesh. 
  • He counts all the many earthly gains as loss for the sake of Christ. 
  • Faith in Christ leads to righteousness. 
  • Believers share in Christ’s suffering and the power of his resurrection. 
  • Paul is pressing on toward the prize of Christ.
  • He forgets what lies behind. 
  • Strains forward to what lies ahead. 

Paul had been a Christ-follower for about 30 years at this point. He grew up among the people of Israel, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, a zealous persecutor of the church, and righteousness under the law. But Christ changed him from the inside out and now we’re encouraged to imitate him (verse 17). We should imitate him because he points to Christ alone.

Do people want to imitate me? Some days they should; other days they definitely should not. 

When I’m mature enough to “think” like Paul did (verse 15), I’m able to be understanding and wise. I can control my thoughts because I rest in my identity in Christ alone. On days I wake up grumbling because I didn’t sleep well or I’m worried about circumstances far beyond my control, nobody should imitate my grumpy self-centeredness. 

Only let me hold true to what I have attained (verse 16). 

Too often I let my circumstances dictate my attitude when I know the truth is I’m called to be of the same mind as Christ. I start to believe lies of convenience and assumption rather than rely on the truth that I know deep in my soul or have the conversations that bring me back to reality. Those lies — all the lies — steal my joy. 

In addition to studying Philippians, I’m reading “Live No Lies” by John Mark Comer. On a morning when I woke up in a hot, crowded bed much earlier than I liked, I read this:

“The daily decision to rejoice — to cultivate a way of seeing our lives in God’s good world, not through the lens of our phones, news apps, or flesh, but through gratitude, celebration, and unhurried delight — will over time from us into joyful, thankful people who deeply enjoy life with God and others. What starts as an act of will eventually turns into our inner nature. What begins with a choice eventually becomes a character. … We make our decisions, and then our decisions make us.”

I want to make mature decisions. I want to be like Paul. Ultimately, I want to be like Jesus. 

*****

While Precept encourages applications from scripture study, every now and then there’s an application prompt that’s a little different from the usual lessons. That’s what happens at the end of the lesson about Philippians 3. Specifically, I was supposed to take some truth that God has spoken to me through Philippians 3 and develop it in such a way to share it with others. So that’s what prompted this devotional writing that helped me work through some disjointed thoughts in my head. I hope you’re also encouraged. 

‘Satisfied’ is a truly satisfying book

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“Satisfied: Finding Hope, Joy, and Contentment Right Where You Are” by Alyssa Joy Bethke is truly a lovely book inside and out. It’s full of pretty pictures and beautiful Biblical truths. I truly enjoyed holding it in my hands and reading it. 

I saw that it’s available as an ebook, but I don’t recommend that. This is the kind of book you’ll want to hold, read, display, and read again. The chapters are topical essays so you could even read whichever one seems right on any given day. The topics addressed include loneliness, grief, body image, social media, motherhood, anxiety, and fear. But they all come back to the beauty of faithfulness and goodness. 

“Perhaps this life is made up of small miracles. Of looking for all the little ways the Lord loves us and is at work. Of how he is holding all things in his hands, and holds all things together.” — Alyssa Joy Bethke in “Satisfied”

This book points to Jesus, offers practical advice on living out your faith in your ordinary life, encourages women in areas that matter, and ends with some recipes I can’t wait to make. 

About the book

In “Satisfied,” Alyssa Bethke shares a compelling collection of relatable essays that will help you embrace and cultivate beauty in your life. This book will provide you with the knowledge that you are not alone in your fight to be fulfilled. Alyssa shows you the ways in which you are enough — not only for those around you, but for yourself.

The book is divided into three parts and includes these chapters:

  1. Longings Met
  2. Holy Moments
  3. His Love
  4. Griefs Healed
  5. Slow Miracles
  6. Weary Hearts Rejoice
  7. Trap of Comparison
  8. Fighting for Faith
  9. Oh, Hey Body!
  10. Garden of Our Hearts
  11. True Identity
  12. Enough
  13. Small Things
  14. Learning Contentment
  15. Laughter
  16. Thankful Hearts
  17. Joy in the Grind
  18. My People

This 240-page hardcover book is published by Worthy Publishing (June 15). Learn more at the book’s webpage.

About the author

Alyssa Bethke is a mother to three children, Kinsley, Kannon, and Lucy, and a dog named Aslan. She and her husband, Jeff Bethke, live in Maui, and are bloggers, YouTubers, and hosts of The Real-Life podcast. Jeff and Alyssa are the New York Times bestselling authors of Jesus > Religion and It’s Not What You Think and Love That Lasts. They are passionate about encouraging and strengthening families at familyteams.com a program that brings families together with the idea of becoming a team.

*****

I received a free copy of this book from Hachette Book Group as part of FirstWords Bloggers in exchange for a review, but I truly love it. In fact, I’ve already spent my own money to buy it as a gift for one friend, and I suspect I will buy several more copies to share with friends.

Hospitality in the new life of spring

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Spring breathes new life right into my soul. I’m always thankful when this season comes around, and not solely for the sunshine! In my book “Bringing Home More Than Groceries: Stories About Gathering & Nourishing People,” I open the spring section with this quote from author Shannan Martin: “Seasons changed, and we changed with them. Every day became its own kind of spring, good things growing from low places, belonging to everyone, teaching us to stick our necks out, take a risk, and bloom in spite of struggle.” 

In honor of this new season, I wanted to share another excerpt from my book. Join me on my porch that overlooks trees turning green, grass that needs to be mowed again, and the pool that’s waiting for someone to jump in. 

*****

We didn’t live here in the spring we bought this property, but we stopped by to check on things periodically. Living here when the grass and trees become greener brings healing and adventures. Now I know where the daffodils pop up, often in February, and I wonder if they’ll really survive March. Somehow they do. 

Adventures don’t always come easily to me because I like order, but I’m part of a family that’s full of adventurers. And now I live in a place that beckons me to come out — out of my house and out of my comfort zone. My kids are growing up here, where the stars are easier to see and the trees shelter so much life. Since we’ve moved to the country, they’ve outgrown many pairs of shoes and pants, lost their teeth and Nerf bullets, and moved up so many notches on the growth charts. 

I’ve grown up too. Greg and I have had some of the best years of our marriage here in the country, where my soul feels more relaxed and the pressure to keep too-quick a pace is less. I’ve bought muck boots, know the best entrances to the creek, and keep an eye on the turkey and deer who like to call our yard home too. 

Spring on our property and in my soul makes it seem like life is always changing and being made new. But my faith remains in a constant God who faithfully ushers me into a connection with Him and my people in all the seasons. Hospitality allows us to adventure because we’re anchored to where we’ve been, where we are, and the unknown that’s still to come. Through it all, God is unchanging and asks us to seek Him all of our days. 

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Hospitality matters in every season. As a reminder of that, please download the free printable that offers practical suggestions on how to open your heart, home, and life to others — regardless of the season. (DOWNLOAD HERE.) Also on the “Bringing Home More Than Groceries” page, you’ll find sample chapters, endorsements, and a playlist.