WELCOME TO THE BLOG

I have a YouTube Channel!
Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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

Read More
Updates: Books, Encouragement, Sale, and more….
Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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!

Read More
A God Who is For Us Now
Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
God’s grace to convict
Personal Trillia Newbell Personal Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Introducing Our Kids to the Kids of the Civil Rights Era
Black History Month, Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Black History Month, Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
The Super Bowl Halftime Show and #MeToo
Personal Trillia Newbell Personal Trillia Newbell

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?

Read More
Think about these things…
Personal Trillia Newbell Personal Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Where I’m From: A Writing Prompt
Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Join SJ in prayer for 2020 (Copy)
sj boutique, Updates Trillia Newbell sj boutique, Updates Trillia Newbell

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?

Read More
Introducing SJ Boutique
sj boutique Trillia Newbell sj boutique Trillia Newbell

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!!).

Read More
To Walk and Not Faint
Sacred Endurance Trillia Newbell Sacred Endurance Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Isaiah Christmas
Personal Trillia Newbell Personal Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
A Fresh Look at Proverbs 31
Personal Trillia Newbell Personal Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Join us (virtually) in Rwanda!
Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
The words we use to care well
Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell Personal, Updates Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Will God really fight for you?
Bible Study, Personal Trillia Newbell Bible Study, Personal Trillia Newbell

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.

Read More
Suffering, faith, and singing
Personal Trillia Newbell Personal Trillia Newbell

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…

Read More

Subscribe to my newsletter

Sign up with your email address to receive my monthly newsletter Where Faith and Life Collide which includes a series of reflections, devotionals, news and updates direct to your inbox.