Kristin Hill Taylor

Seeking God as the Author of Every Story

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Search Results for: label/God-sized dreams

{God-sized Dreams} Something good coming true

December 31, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

This has been a good year, mostly, even though it’s nothing like I expected. I really thought I’d get farther on my dream to write a book and be building my freelance writing resume. I figured out family would include another child through adoption. I also hoped my blog would be bigger by now.

As I type those dreams of mine that haven’t turned out like I saw them in my own mind, I am reminded they are self-centered wishes. I outlined some dreams at the beginning of 2013. And I spent the first half of the year blogging my way through what God was doing there.

Throughout the years, I’ve been part of this God-sized Dream Team that Holley Gerth assembled. It’s affected us in ways we didn’t expect. We have a Facebook group full of prayers and hopes and dreams and disappointments. But God is there too. And he’s built relationships as we chased after the dreams God called us to pursue.

I had dreams I was pursuing. And then as I chased God with them, he called me to lay down some. And now that I’m sitting down to try and digest some of it, I believe he’s called me to pick up other ones.

The relationships. The prayers. The dreams. The writing. The family. The freelance job that came my way and lasted seven months before I knew I needed to lay it down. The book idea that is still brewing and the new book idea on my heart. The adoption process that has been confusing and hard and really isn’t even a process anymore.

God has been using every single thing to draw me to him. And, really, shouldn’t that be my dream anyway?

People all through the Bible had dreams. And when God fulfilled them in his way, he was glorified. People were changed miraculously. And God was glorified. People made hard choices. And God was glorified. People left and followed and walked and waited. And God was glorified.

During advent, my kids and I read from “The Jesus Storybook Bible” most days. One day early in December, Joseph’s story struck my heart, especially this part …

“God had a magnificent dream for Joseph’s life and even when it looked like everything had gone wrong, God would use it all to help make the dream come true. God would use everything that was happening to Joseph to do something good.”

{From “The Jesus Storybook Bible“}

My dreams, at least as I outlined them to fit in this calendar year, weren’t going to glorify God. I’m not entirely sure why. But I’m certain God has a plan.

He’s got a plan for my family, whether or not we get to adopt again. He’s got a plan for me, as wife, mom and a writer, even if it all doesn’t unfold like I scripted. And like my dear friend told me recently: I know His plans for you are good. Not just in the future but in this very moment.

I know God was working this year. And I know he’s still working as the dreams in my heart shift and change. He promises to work everything together for the good when we love him and are called to his purpose. His purpose. Not mine.

God calls us to make him known. The way that happens is unique to each person. For me, I believe in this mission God helped me word through the God-sized Dream Team: I believe God has created and called me to communicate stories from my own life and others’ lives for families to know God as the author and creator of every detail through writing, promoting and serving.

The details of these dreams change as I seek the Creator of every detail. But I’m willing to keep going. I’m ready to see where he leads my family in this new year and experience the stories he’s scripting for us because we believe he’s doing something good.

_______

Do you want help seeking God in your dreams? My friend Holley Gerth wrote some books that do just that. “You’re Made for a God-sized Dream” has been a blessing to me this year and I want to pass along some of the goodness. So one person will win a copy of this book. 

Yes, this God-sized Dream Team was created as a launch team for this book, but the message truly is one that continues to speak to my heart. And this is an extra copy of the book I had in my gift closet. I’m thankful for the way friends, both in my everyday life and here on the Internet, have encouraged me this year.

Use the Rafflecopter below for multiple ways to enter the giveaway. A winner will randomly be chosen on Saturday, Jan. 4. The giveaway is open to U.S. and Canadian residents.

{UPDATED 1.4.14} CONGRATULATIONS, Mindy! Your copy of “You’re Made for a God-sized Dream” is heading your way. Thanks, everyone, for sharing on this post. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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You can read all this year’s God-sized Dreams related posts here. Today I’m joining many other dreamers at the newly launched God-sized Dreams website my dreamer friend Christine Wright created. The rest of the crew there is inspiring too.  

And then I joined Jennifer Dukes Lee’s weekly #TellHisStory with this 2013 recap. 

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{God-sized Dreams} Summer To-do List

May 21, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment

Hematite Lake. Earlier May 2013. And I want to go back.

I’ve already let you in on how I was feeling weary of the school-year routine and commitments. Well, Summer is here. Yes, technically, as my rising first-grader reminded me, it’s not actually summer yet, but it’s been in the high 80s and school is out, so let’s call the rest of May “summer.”

So, Summer, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve got a little to-do list for us. Truth is, I’ve got a not-to-do list coming too. But, you know, I thought I’d start with this list of things I want to do with my family.

Pick strawberries
Go to the Louisville Zoo
Pick blueberries
Pick blackberries
Swim, swim, swim
Play in water in the backyard
Read “Beezus & Ramona” and “Ramona the Pest”
Watch Disney’s “Planes” (Comes out Aug. 9)
Hike at Hematite Lake
Play at the lake
Take the kids to a St. Louis Cardinals game
Go to the St. Louis Zoo
Eat at Belew’s
Play more board games
Host a neighborhood party
Participate in vacation Bible school
Go to Dairy Queen and snow cone shack {And I’m sure we’ll be back again and again}
Getaway with Greg while kids hang out with Gran-Gran

Some of these things are on my calendar, so they’ll probably happen. I’m sure nearly none of them will go like I expect. It’s mid-way through the Year of Imperfection. Summer, you’re my favorite time, so regrouping here with you makes sense. I want to enjoy the moment and make memories along the way to accomplishing these things come with you, Summer, and embrace unexpected adventures.

In an effort to embrace this freedom Summer brings and truly live with my kids, I wanted to write a not-to-do list. Balance, people. One time I wrote a list of things I don’t do even though lots of other people do. It was quite freeing for a perfectionist like me who many days tries to do too much.

_______

Perhaps it will help me not be so hard on myself and truly embrace this season. So here it is, my not-to-do list which has mostly been worded to really be a second to-do list. Yeah, I’m sorry, I’ve kind of confused myself.

Give my day to God before I get on Facebook
Close the laptop and be present
Don’t cry over spilled milk … or crushed cracker crumbs
Remember it’s not all going to get done today
Speak softer
Walk instead of drive when I can
Plan not to plan every minute of our days
Say yes when I can
Let go

This all has been on my heart, so much so I let Ben skip his nap yesterday — our first weekday of Summer Break — so we could go to the spray park and then have snow cones. And you know what? It was fine. His behavior is so much better when he can run and play and discover outside. Yes, he went to bed willingly before 7 p.m., but our napless afternoon was good.

_______

For our God-sized Dreams post this week, Holley asks: What part of your dream feels the riskiest? 

I wasn’t sure what I was going to say. Then I realized the par that feels riskiest is this hard-for-me-to-achieve balance of work and play. Just because my kids are out of school doesn’t mean my freelance job or lake house jobs stop. Here’s the thing about these jobs: I gradually added on-the-side jobs and now, as I’m working out a balance, it seems like I accidentally went back to work.

Accidentally in the sense that I never said, “I’m going to back to work.” But I did pray, “Give me opportunities to use what I know how to do.” I probably shouldn’t be surprised God led me here. The way it’s been gradual has been good for me. I sense God building a foundation for other things to come. I’ve wanted to use my skills and talents in a way that lets me stay home but still promote and write things I believe in. So here I am. A work-from-home momma who surprised herself a little when she realized she’s at the place she believes she’s supposed to be.

All of this to say, being here feels risky for me. I’m an all-or-nothing kind of gal, so achieving balance is a constant process for me. I want to be a wife and mom before I’m a writer. The hows of that change as often as the weather. But, really, isn’t that the beauty of seasons? 

For now, I’m here. And so is Summer.

Your turn. You’ve probably thought about what you want to do this summer. But have you considered what you don’t want to do? It’s worth thinking about. So, with that in mind, what are you going to do this summer?

________

Tuesdays are God-sized Dream days around here and I’m linking this post along with many, many other dreamers on Holley Gerth’s blog. I’m also linking up with the Soli Deo Gloria party at Finding Heaven Today, where I was reminded for the second time in one day not to be so hard on myself. 

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{God-sized Dreams} Right here, right now

May 14, 2013 by Kristin Leave a Comment


I believe God wants us to make a different where we are. I’ve been guilty of thinking I’ll make a difference … when I get to be a mom, when my kids are older, when our life slows down. But God finally convinced me of the important living out my faith right now, right here.

Now, whatever season of life you’re in my determine how and where and when you can serve. I finally got to be a momma and my kids are still fairly little, so some things would compromise the priorities Greg and I believe God wants for our family. But even then, while serving my family, while waiting for one season to end and another to begin, I can serve my neighbor and my God.

“… While I’m waiting I will serve You, while I’m waiting I will worship
While I’m waiting I will not faint, I’ll be running the race even while I wait
I’m waiting, I’m waiting on You Lord, and I am peaceful, I’m waiting on You Lord
Though it’s not easy no, but faithfully I will wait; Yes, I will wait
And I will move ahead bold and confident, taking every step in obedience …”

{From “While I’m Waiting” by John Waller}

This week’s God-sized Dream challenge from Holley: Share about your favorite nonprofit organization. They are all God-sized dream in action.

In last week’s God-sized Dream post, I shared about one of my family’s favorite nonprofit organizations. Compassion International makes sense to us because raising kids is where my husband and I are. My kids relate to the kids we sponsor. As I’ve learned about Compassion International, I’ve been impressed with how its staff executes its mission.

For this week, I thought I’d share about a more local project I’ve recently learned about and with which I’ve just gotten involved. The Needline Food Project is a way to incorporate regular giving into families’ routines in order to help other families in our community.

The idea is each week when we shop, we’ll pick up an extra non-perishable food or hygiene item and store it in a usable shopping bag designated for the project. The on the second Saturday of every other month, a neighborhood coordinator {in my case, that’s me …} will collect all the bags from the families on that coordinator’s neighborhood list.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

{Matthew 22:36-40}

I heard about this food project idea just before I heard Jen Hatmaker speak about missional-minded living and loving your neighbor. I was already thinking about ways to get to know the families who live near us. We live across the street from one of the two local parks, so there are often kids walking down our street. Sadly, we’ve done a poor job getting to know our neighbors and I’m ready to change that.

We have a neighborhood party on the calendar and I’ll be handing out flyers for that this week. This food project goes right along with what’s on my heart now: I want to know my neighbors. I want to teach my kids to help others. And I want to make a difference here in this community that is my home.

________

Tuesdays are God-sized Dream days around here and I’m linking this post along with many, many other dreamers on Holley Gerth’s blog. 

I’m also linking up with Jen at her Soli Deo Gloria party.




And on Wednesday, I decided to link up with Jennifer Dukes Lee, who is a master storyteller and asks others to #TellHisStory. 

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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 needed this weekend. The UK Wildcats didn’t I needed this weekend. 

The UK Wildcats didn’t win this afternoon like I had hoped. But following our house full of people on Friday night, I’ve spent a lot of time on my couch, under a soft blanket, with a book, while I watch #MarchMadness. 

Yesterday I pulled “When We Left Cuba” by @chanelcleeton from my to-be-read stack and then realized it was the second in a series about the Perez family. Thanks to @libby.app, I was able to get “Next Year in Havana” immediately. 

I finished it today during commercials and timeouts. And now I’m going to start “When We Left Cuba” as another basketball game also gets going. 

#KHTreads #basketballseason #weekending #bookstagram #reallife #booklover #librarybooks #KindleOasis #Kindlebooks #favoritethings
What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends What a fun night! Basketball is best with friends and food. So thankful for all these provisions and others in my life. Oh and a Cats win is icing on the cake. 

#MarchMadness #weekending #basketballseason #bettertogether #choosingJOY #BigBlueNation
You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor pos You know it’s #MarchMadness when Greg Taylor posts on Facebook — and a picture at that! — and puts his radio/TV degree to work figuring out how to improve the viewing setup. 

#reallife #basketballseason #wifelife #choosingJOY
I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected I had no idea just how deeply I would be affected while studying Genesis 1-2. Going back to the beginning and seeing how God created, ordered, and filled the earth has been exactly what I didn’t know I needed, especially as a mom. 

For quite a while now, I feel like I’ve been living a day at a time. I used to be able to see my life in larger chunks of time and anticipate and prepare accordingly. Now, I slap things on the calendar and then deal with them as they come. Navigating life with two teenagers and a first-grader is the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done.

Honestly, this moment-to-moment living has been good for me and helped me rely on the God who created the stars and rivers that still exist in our world. Focusing on where I am helps me take slower steps, trust God to provide, and remember I’m not in control. I’ve felt an internal shift with my relationships — with my husband, kids, and friends. I’ve felt behind on laundry and dishes and piles of papers. But I’ve also felt a refreshed nearness to God. 

I’m going to rest here while believing God created life and light when there was only darkness and continues to order my days. 

#livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #momlife #faithlife #preceptstudy #genesisstudy #genesis #beginnings #reallife #PorchStories
My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, My friend @ashleelyoung told me about this memoir, but I knew nothing about Sutton Foster or her story beforehand. She’s a TV actress and Broadway singer and dancer who processes her life — complicated family life, love, loss, spotlight, infertility, adoption, motherhood — by creating. She creates in the kitchen, on stages, with yarn, with paint, with her hands, and with her mind. But her story really is all the experiences and emotions that inspire her creative work. I enjoyed this one. 

#KHTreads #memoirs #bookstagram #booklover #audiobooks #audible #bookreview
Also from the weekend: Shout out to @lifehousemurr Also from the weekend: Shout out to @lifehousemurray for putting on the fabulous @beautiful.you.conference with @meggpam from @shelivespurposefully. My girl and her friends had a great time together and my momma heart is thankful this is how they chose to spend a Saturday morning. 

#momlife #girlmom #teenagers #weekending #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY #latergram
Yesterday was one of my favorite kids of days with Yesterday was one of my favorite kids of days with some of my favorite friends. Kids played inside and out, the TV was never on, and new memories were made with old friends. Plus we ended the night with our ninth year of Little Hands Trivia Night. It was our worst finish ever, but we still had such a fun time! 

#bettertogether #weekending #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
I’ve told you about Cate’s basketball season, I’ve told you about Cate’s basketball season, but we celebrated it (and the other middle and high school players) last night. What a joy, truly! She was surprise with the Lions Award for her overall approach to the game and her teammates. 

This context is basketball, but the bigger community and broader learning that happens are ultimately even more important. And, hey, middle school boys, you were also so much fun to watch! I’m so thankful Ben was part of that team. 

Shout out to the Schroeders for Tim being the coach of four teams and all the family time sacrificed as well as the other coaches and families who made it all possible. 

Give me a little break, and then I will be ready for more Lions and Lady Lions basketball to come! Scheduling for the fall and winter will start soon. 

I’m so proud to be part of New Covenant Christian Academy! 💛 @ncca.lions #momlife #girlmom #boymom #basketballseason #livingfaithfully #choosingJOY
Once again, I stayed up too late finishing a book. Once again, I stayed up too late finishing a book. 

“Half Way to You” by @jennifergoldauthor was my #FirstReads choice from Amazon this month and I dived right in. I loved it! This is a multi-generational story full of love, heartbreak, friendships that span decades, and travel. The story is told as a reclusive author shares her real story with a young podcaster who has personal and professional interest. The way the lives is woven together is brutal and beautiful. 

#KHTreads #AmazonFirstReads #bookstagram #booklover #KindleOasis #kindlebooks #readersofinstagram
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