God’s grace to convict
Recently, I spoke at a high school about loving your neighbor who is not like you. It was so much fun and completely chaotic. The lights went out–all electricity lost. I was screaming to 200 students about Jesus’s command to love. It was hilarious.
But they listened and were responsive and just so great. But then at the end something unexpected happened.The principal of the school came up to me and said, “I’m convicted. That convicted my heart. I am a racist against (a certain people group). I have a lot of work to do.” He continued to share more. I told him it was God’s kindness that he’d reveal that and thanked him for confessing. God can work miracles with the lights completely out, when it seems like a complete disaster. God doesn’t need the lights to work! God uses whatever He desires to work good in the world and in us. Also, God can change hearts. Let’s have hope for others (and ourselves) that He can change us! He can. He does.
If we confess our sin he is faithful and just to forgive us and purify us. (1 John: 1:9)
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Hey Faithful Readers and Friends, after a year of wrestling with the idea, I’ve finally pulled the plug and started a tube channel. The YouTube channel will match my blog in that it will still be where life and faith collide. Looking forward to seeing you there! Trillia
It’s been quiet here! Since March, like much of the world, I’ve been adjusting to life at home, kids at home, work at home, and church at home. What’s interesting about that sentence is that it’s not unique. I imagine that you’ve had many of the same adjustments to make during this year. Since it’s been a while, I thought I’d write an update on life and work. I’d love to hear from you, too!
In a season of bad news, I’m thrilled to share a little good news with you. Next month I’ll begin working with Moody Publishers as an acquisitions editor. Moody Publishers took a chance on me as a young, unknown writer and I am forever indebted to them.
I have had the opportunity to write several articles during this tough time and I hope to share those soon. But today I wanted to send you a link to a video Moody Publishers asked me to record for all of us. My friends who know me well, know that I have endured various hard trials. The Lord has been faithful in those times. So, when Moody Publishers asked me to encourage us during this time I went to Romans 8. This is not some encouragement to be happy or pretend like nothing is happening. My desire is that we’d remember a Person not a concept. Our Hope is Jesus and my prayer is that this word encourages you as you endure–remembering that God is for you and will never leave you.
God can work miracles with the lights completely out, when it seems like a complete disaster. God doesn’t need the lights to work! God uses whatever He desires to work good in the world and in us. Also, God can change hearts.
A few nights ago my family experienced the hardest, most sobering time we’ve had since starting our #BlackHistoryMonth meal and historical conversations. It was kids choice night. The kids chose the dishes and we discussed some of the stories of Black children in the Civil Rights era. Our were thankful for what we learned that night, thankful for the kids who made it possible for them to enter their schools without much fear.
This month my family is celebrating Black History Month through cooking through Jubilee and discussing historical figures and events related to or inspired by the food we eat.
The Super Bowl has come and gone but the conversation about the halftime show might have taken center stage. The show headliners were two Latina women, Jennifer Lopez, or J.Lo as she’s known by fans, and Shakira. Both are strong performers with unique styles. Both are dancers with two decades, three or more for J.Lo, under their belts. And both tend to wear little clothing and twist and shake in ways many Christians might find inappropriate. The question many asked after the show was how could J.Lo and Shakira do this in the midst of the #MeToo Movement? Don’t they realize that they aren’t empowering women?
This was written as a prompt from a 1947 hymns book (pictured). We had 15 minutes to write. By Trillia Newbell via a prompt #blackhistorymonth
I’ve had the joy of leading a book club through my newest book Sacred Endurance. Today, we did a short discussion on Chapters 5 and 6. Chapter 5 is likely one of the most important chapters in the book. In it, I consider the ways we struggle to endure because of our minds. It’s easy to act a certain way because our actions are seen by others. We can pretend to be okay. We can pretend to love. We can pretend to be pure. But our thoughts reveal what’s truly in our hearts. What we think reveals what we truly believe about God. That’s why I dedicated a chapter to our enduring and the mind.