WELCOME TO THE BLOG
I have a YouTube Channel!
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
Updates: Books, Encouragement, Sale, and more….
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!
A Personal Update: Joining the team at Moody Publishers!
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.
A God Who is For Us Now
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’s grace to convict
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.
Introducing Our Kids to the Kids of the Civil Rights Era
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.
Meeting African Americans Born After Slavery
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 Halftime Show and #MeToo
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?
1947 Hymn Book
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
Think about these things…
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.
Where I’m From: A Writing Prompt
Yesterday was the second time a group of authors and singer/songwriters gathered together in Nashville to develop a CD and accompanying book. I am a part of that group of talented women. I’m not a songwriter but I have had the opportunity to now contribute to three songs. Today will be the fourth. It’s been a thrilling ride and I look forward to sharing this work with you. But today I’d like to share one of the exercises we are doing to get our creative juices flowing.
Join SJ in prayer for 2020 (Copy)
It’s a new year! None of us know what 2020 will bring but we know that God will be faithful and good to us. As you may know, my family started a small online boutique to benefit the artisans in Rwanda.The response has been incredibly encouraging and faith-building. You can see some of the stories we’ve shared and other encouraging updates on our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/sjboutique2020/. We have more work to do and hope for the women and the boutique, and we hope you’ll join us in praying for our 2020 goals. We believe in the power of prayer, so many of these goals double as prayer requests. Would you join us in praying for these goals?
Introducing SJ Boutique
If you follow me on social media, you’ve likely seen posts and a video about a project my family has been working on called SJ Boutique. I wanted to take a moment to share more about SJ before we launch it into the world in the coming weeks (or days!!).
To Walk and Not Faint
I’ve invited friends to share their own stories of endurance or the stories of others. My prayer is that you would be inspired and encouraged as you read each guest post. Learn more about my new book: Sacred Endurance.
Isaiah Christmas
Every year since Tony Reinke introduced his Isaiah Christmas online reading club, I’ve taken up reading the wonderful book through the month of December. This year is no different. Although I’m terrible at remembering to use the hashtag associated with it, you can follow along via Twitter (and possibly Facebook) following the hashtag #IsaiahChristmas. And by all means, join us.
A Fresh Look at Proverbs 31
This past week I joined five storytellers in Rwanda to meet the incredible men and women served by HOPE International and capture stories. The stories are wonderfully encouraging but their lives were a lesson to me. On Tuesday, we drove out with another organization (Aziza Life) to learn from women of the Abumurvava Village, which means “The Courageous People” and experience the typical lifestyle of a woman in the countryside. As we drove out to this village and as I interacted with the women, I couldn’t get Proverbs 31, the famous Hebrews poem, out of my head.
Join us (virtually) in Rwanda!
In a few short days I’ll be embarking on a journey to Rwanda with five storytellers to meet the incredible men and women served by HOPE International. We’ll be sharing stories and images and would love for you to join us virtually! You can follow along on social media by searching #2019InvestinginDreamsTrip. Learn more about HOPE and the trip via https://bit.ly/2Be6V1H
Many of you have offered to pray for us. I wanted to provide specific ways to pray along with however the Lord prompts you.
The words we use to care well
Last week the ERLC hosted a national conference focused on sexual abuse and assault. The Caring Well conference was attended by over 1500 people. Overwhelming. That’s how I would describe witnessing a sea of laymen and pastors, counselors and caregivers, survivors and others pour into the conference. Emotions were high. There were moments of tears, laughter, and yes, grief. But one theme stood out to me: naming the abuse. Unfortunately, naming the offense can also start a war. Too often victims are shamed, not believed, and belittled.
Will God really fight for you?
Do you believe that you must avenge yourself? Many of us do, whether we use those terms or not. It’s why we react the way we do when we are wronged by others. God calls us to a radical love that includes loving our perceived enemies. We won’t do it perfectly, but by the grace and power of God we can do more good than harm. We can strive to live peaceably with all no matter what the cost and no matter what they’ve done or who they are.
Suffering, faith, and singing
Lately, I’ve found myself gravitating towards hymns. This isn’t anything new for me. I tend to listen to contemporary worship for a time but then always find my way back to older songs. There’s something so rich about them—theologically and worshipfully. This is not a critique of contemporary worship songs, although perhaps it could be, but rather it’s simply that my heart needs deep truth. I love the catchy, rhythmic tune from time to time and I’m grateful for the simplicity of many of the songs today. And yet I’m still drawn to hymns.
Today, Trevin Wax has a post highlighting the potential problem of one of those catchy songs. Here is an excerpt:
There’s a popular worship song I’ve heard in recent years that I just can’t sing. The heart behind the lyrics is right, and the overall focus of the song is the goodness of the Lord, but at one point, it repeats a line over and over again—that God is never going to let us down. Every time I hear it, I just can’t bring myself to sing those words…
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