27
Shew. Yep, I’m going to call it like I see it.
It’s just a number.
It’s actually a number that I wouldn’t want to change if my life depended on it.
Sorta a good thing, maybe? Given i’m on a tiny island in Malaysia, with a 12 hour difference, and met 27 face to face a few hours ago.
Helllllllllo, ya gorgeous thing!
Here’s why I wouldn’t change it…
It has taken the 26 years up to now to get to this very moment;
a moment I have never felt so ALIVE!!!
I am thinking deeper, processing further, struggling harder, and dreaming bigger than I ever have in my e n t i r e life.
And the coolest part is that it’s absolutely nothing that I’ve done, but what Jesus has done in me. He’s taken the life I’ve given to Him and redeemed, restored, revived every bit of it all for the Father’s glory.
I look back and imagine what I use to dream my year 26 would look like- and unfortunately (but really fortunately) I would have said settling down, marriage, working, family, and a little traveling on the side.
Now there is nothing wrong with being 26 or 27 and having all of that- shout out to you rockstars living out that life- but that’s just not for me, (yet).
I lived my year 26 believing for all the things that I use to set limits on… hopes, dreams and future.
I lived my year 26 surrounded by more devastation, poverty, filth, worry, and hopelessness than I’ve ever encountered in my life, while also encountering the purest joy.
I lived my year 26 embracing others and ensuring that they know how much they are loved.
I lived my year 26 fighting to see the real me, the authentic Taylor, the woman God set me apart to be.
I lived my year 26 confronting some of my deepest fears, biggest regrets, and a pile of shame, all taken care of by the nail-scarred hands of Jesus.
I lived my year 26 in 11 countries, learning and speaking 7 languages, seeing for my own eyes that love conquers all- heaven is here!
The kingdom is everywhere!
The goodness of my heavenly Father is in every town I’ve visited. The love of Jesus is evident in the people I have met. The kingdom is expanding ladies and gents and it sets a fire in my soul to know that I get to live out this next year fully alive, fully loved, and fully responsible for telling the world they are too!
Today marks the beginning of the best year of my life. A year ago, I would have wrestled with the thought of speaking that into existence with lack of humility or an assumed tone of conceitedness, but no, not at all.
This comes with a humbled heart, confident in the One who brings me life.
Something I’ve learned about the character of God this year speaks directly into what I see year 27 being all about…
He want us to see what He can do in us and through us!
And we have the power to shape our destiny with our words and choices!
When you come to the end of yourself, the only thing left from getting you to where you want to be is YOU!
So, what does that mean for us… we have to get up, get going, and go for it!
We forget about the failures, regrets, mistakes, lies, and every success and we fix our eyes on something far better. The only thing that really matters.
Loving God and Loving Others!
That’s it!
27, my greatest year yet.
Why?
Because it is a privilege to love God and love others. It is a privilege to be the church and expand the kingdom doing what I love, and what I’m passionate about.
I want to fail a few times at a lot of things to establish better perseverance because I love growth.
I want to define success by doing the absolute best I can with what I am given because I love grace above perfection.
I want to cultivate community that loves with a tough love- speaking truth, sharing wisdom and holding each other accountable to pursuing Jesus, because I love vulnerability and connection.
I want to experience the divine nature of the goodness of the Lord in every season I go through because I love hope.
And this is one saved soul sharing a real piece of my heart.
To be honest I can’t take credit, it’s all thanks to the One who created us.
Everyday is YOUR day… you just have to choose it!
What do you love? What do you want? Choose it! Get after it!
It won’t be easy, so tell about how hard it really is!
There is no better time to be the real YOU then right now!
XOXO
Tay
