Tag: windsor

All Things New

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

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We made it. We survived another year. I keep hearing the last two years described as a whole bunch of nothing, while at the same time, feeling as though we’ve all aged 20 years, emotionally.

It’s a lot. It’s been a lot.

Yet in my world, this blog in my little corner of the internet turns 2 today!

I didn’t, or I couldn’t, have anticipated what I was getting myself into in January of 2020 when I decided to share from the deepest overflow of my heart in such a public way. But I am super glad that I did.

So seeing as this is the first blog post and podcast of 2022, I thought it appropriate to share some biblical inspo for new beginnings.

Regardless of how weary, worn out, weepy, frustrated, flustered, or furious we may feel, I firmly believe that God IS doing a new thing. And we are invited to be a part of it!

Let’s explore these verses together.

Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!

– Genesis 1:31

This might seem like an odd place to kick off, but it’s foundational for us to recognize that all God makes is GOOD…

If, from the very beginning, as God reflected on the world He created and could see that it was very good, then, we can be confident knowing that whatever God does, it is good. So if you are following Him, He has good planned for you too.

In our current context, do you ever find it hard to distinguish between good and bad because of all the grey areas and nuances that must be considered? I absolutely do. But when it comes to God, He is always good. And all God does is always good. If we start there, we can’t lose. Even as life gets messy and confusing, there is an undercurrent of peace available to us when we seek out and recognize God’s goodness in our lives.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

– Ecclesiastes 3:11

Does that encourage you? That God has made ALL things beautiful in their own time? There’s hope in that! If what you’re facing isn’t beautiful now, it just means it ain’t over yet. It will get there because God really does make all things beautiful in their time.

I’ve always loved the part about how God sets eternity in people’s hearts. Meaning, He created us with an eternal mindset. If you find yourself longing for more than what you see around you, just know that that longing was put inside you by God on purpose! An eternal perspective. An otherworldly approach to this life that looks past the heartache of the circumstance for what God is doing in the bigger picture.

The verse ends with a reminder that none of us could fully know what God is really up to. Sure, He offers us glimpses, but it will only fully be revealed in His time. That’s why faith is so critical. Faith that God is truly making everything beautiful in its time.

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

– Lamentations 3:22-24

Other translations say that we are not completely wiped out, not completely destroyed, not exhausted… all because of God’s love for us.

Does this resonate with you? Have you ever felt so close to the end of yourself and ready to give up, but somehow, inexplicably, the Lord sustained you? When you should have been flat on the floor, He lifted you up, strengthening and equipping you to somehow carry on?

It IS possible. And each morning is an opportunity to experience His mercy and grace and faithfulness anew. Let’s wait for Him to move, and show up, and refresh in 2022.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

– Isaiah 43:18-19

If you’re like me, forgetting the former things, and not dwelling on the past is no easy task. But searching intently for the new thing God is doing really helps!

And knowing He is working something out in the wilderness and wasteland, specifically, should be refreshing in and of itself, because it gives purpose to those places in our lives that feel too far gone for anything to possibly be salvaged there. But that’s where God does His best work. And that’s what fills us with hope.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

– 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

If this doesn’t help reset our perspectives to a heavenly one, I don’t know what will!

We can absolutely acknowledge the struggle and how real it is. The wasting away can feel inescapable right now. But we don’t lose heart! And why? Because God promises to renew us each day. What is difficult in this season, will result in eternal glory a zillion times better than whatever we’re facing now.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new life into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

– 1 Peter 1:3

Every once in awhile, I realize, as if for the first time, what a big deal God’s plan of salvation really is.

Recently, my sons and I had a conversation about grace and mercy. And it was really special for me to watch as they began to understand some of the profound beauty of God’s mercy: the forgiveness of sin. That the punishment for sin is actually withheld, and grace is offered in its place. Grace: that unexpected, free gift of NEW LIFE offered to anyone who believes. It really is amazing when you think about it!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”

– Revelation 21:4-5

We started in Genesis, so it’s only appropriate to end in Revelation.

Friends, at the end of the story, God wins. And as His children, we get to win too. He really will make everything new. Whatever plagues us, burdens us, or grieves today, it will be gone. And not just gone, but forgotten as we read in previous verses. This is because we’ll be too captivated by our awesome God to dwell on former things any longer. The old order of things will pass away. Our God is seated on the throne and can always be trusted because He is always faithful to keep His promise to His children.

What’s in the Ears

I’ve been ringing in the new year with this song for a few years now so it made sense to share it here. It’s to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, but weepier.

Do you have a favourite scripture that has encouraged you to look forward to new things? Share it with me in the comments and pass this on to a friend if it has encouraged you. Happy New Year!

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The Fringe of Christmas

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

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Special things sure have a way of losing their sparkle when they grow familiar.

  • That shiny new car can quickly get all banged up without a second thought after awhile.
  • New sneakers get all the scuff marks scrubbed out initially. But before long that crisp white fades to a sad beige hue.
  • And the Christmas story can easily become a snooze-fest after we’ve heard it a zillion times.

If you’re familiar with the Christmas story, then you know how difficult it can be to find new meaning amongst the hustle and bustle, and the tinsel and twinkle that inevitably comes with the Christmas season. Going through the motions can numb us to the true wonder of it all.

Well in recent years, I’ve been intentional about finding ways to engage with the story of Christ’s birth at Christmastime.

Here’s the pro tip: Plant yourself in the story!

Not as Tina, an obscure writer with a good sense of fashion and a humble sense of humour. Not even as a fly on the wall, or a third-party observer.

But as one of the many people we encounter in the biblical accounts of God becoming a human and making His home among us. (John 1:14)

There are lots of people in the Christmas story, but this year I was especially drawn to the shepherds. Theirs is one of the more well known of Christmas stories, so it’s a good one to explore together.

The Shepherds

You can read the full account of the angel and the shepherds in Luke 2:8-20.

When I do, I imagine myself as a shepherd, hanging out with my sheep and fellow herders. I plant myself in the story, gather the facts, and ask reflective questions.

So let’s try this exercise together!

First, gather the background facts.
Here are some important things about shepherds:

  • Shepherds were fringe members of society in every way.
  • Their work forced them towards the outskirts of towns where their sheep could graze freely.
  • Their work was filthy and undignified, which meant that respectable members of society looked down on shepherds.
  • In fact, most members of society avoided associating with shepherds altogether.

Second, gather the story details.
Here is the gist of the shepherds’ part of the Christmas story:

  • Shepherds were up in the middle of the night watching over their sheep.
  • Out of nowhere (the Bible uses the term suddenly!), an angel appeared in the sky announcing the birth of the Messiah in King David’s town, and instructions on where to find Him.
  • An army of angels then joined the angel glorifying and praising God, and proclaiming peace on those whom God favours.
  • When the angels left them, the shepherds resolved to go find this baby immediately and hurried off to do so.
  • Once their eyes confirmed what the angel had said, they hurried off again to tell everyone they could about the birth of the Messiah.
  • Finally, anyone who heard their report was amazed.

Let’s reflect on this together.

Would the angelic announcement of the Messiah’s arrival inspire the same reaction if I had been among the shepherds that day?

Additionally,

  • Do I believe that the angel’s announcement is actually good news, like they said?
  • Do I believe it’s meant to bring great joy to all people? Why, or why not?
  • If God’s incarnation (meaning: God, coming to earth) really is good news to me, then does my reaction to this good news mirror the shepherds’?
  • Do I share their sense of urgency to tell anyone and everyone about this good news?
  • Did it change anything for me, the way it changed everything for them? Why, or why not?

After having reflected on these as a way of connecting with the story more personally, I ask a few more WHY questions.

But instead of WHY questions to myself, I like to ask God.

Disclaimer: My constant desire is that what I read in the scriptures will tell me more about God. About His character, His will, His purposes, the way in which He works in and through our world. The Christmas story is no exception!

Here are some of my Why God questions about the angel and the shepherds:

  • God, why did you choose to make this epic, angelic announcement to the fringe of society?
  • God, why not announce this important news to the religious leaders (Pharisees), political leaders (kings, governors), or even influential persons (scribes, intellectuals, wealthy businesspeople)?
  • God, why in the middle of the night?

Here’s what we can learn about God by asking these questions:

  • God announced the birth of His Son through the angel to the shepherds because the shepherds had nothing to lose. They were already rejected, unpopular, among the least important members of society.
    Their reaction was enthusiastic and pure. They trusted the angel’s announcement at face value, and – if I had to speculate – did exactly what God would have wanted in response: which is to go and tell everyone!
  • In contrast, God did not choose the highest members of society to be the first to know that His Son, the Messiah, had entered the world because they probably would not have responded as the shepherds did. God wanted the news of His Son’s arrival to spread, and fast. The shepherds did so with no inhibition.
    The religious elite would likely have responded with scepticism. I believe this because of the way they respond to Jesus throughout the His earthly ministry as documented in all four gospels.
    The political leaders would likely have responded in fear, as exhibited by King Herod in Luke 2:3 where it says he was greatly disturbed at the news.
    And any other influential persons would likely have responded with the same dejectedness we see this in the rich young ruler who realized what he’d have to give up to follow Jesus. (Mark 10:17-27)

All of these reactions, although speculated, tell us a lot about God. He isn’t out to impress the best of the best. He made Himself small, like a baby. Brought Himself low, like a member of the lower class. Born in a barn so that anyone can reach Him. Born in obscurity. Basically anonymous. Unknown. Common. Ordinary.

  • And the middle of the night? Well, that’s easy. The darkness is where God always meets us! When we were still sinners. Children of darkness and sin. That’s where He reaches down to pull us up. He doesn’t wait for us to claw our way to the light, or somehow clean up our act well enough to be worthy of Him. Because that’s impossible.

My favourite children’s Bible The Jesus Storybook Bible says,

As silent as snow falling, He came in. And when no one was looking, in the darkness, He came.

– Sally Lloyd-Jones

It’s all part of God’s upside down kingdom. Changing the world through a baby. Announcing His arrival to the fringe of society, to lowly shepherds, in the middle of the night. Because if He came to the best of us, the rest of us could never reach Him. And that’s what’s so magical about Christmas. We don’t have to. Because He came down to reach us.

Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

What’s in the Ears

If you know me, you know it was nearly impossible to narrow down a Christmas song for this week. I tried real hard. This isn’t even a Christmas song but it’s on the new Maverick City Christmas album and it brings me ALL the way back to my high school choir days from the 90s. Hope you enjoy!

Friend, may you have a wonderful Christmas surrounded by loved ones, and FILLED with God’s love. Anything else is gravy. Thank you for concluding From the Overflow‘s second year with me. I love connecting with you here. God bless you.

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The Deepest Desire

Published on by tinavila201 Comment

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Every evening, after the kids finally settle for the night – or in my daughter’s case – settle for 3.5 seconds before she makes herself dramatically known to the world again – I have this inner battle over what to do with my freedom. Especially on evenings when my husband is out for work, I struggle between binging a show and spending time in God’s Word or in prayer.

Don’t hear what I’m not saying.

I’m not saying there’s anything inherently wrong with Selling Sunset or the latest trending Hallmark Christmas movie. It’s not sinful to stream a Rom Com, and you don’t go to hell for watching TV. That’s not the point.

The point is to answer the following question with unwavering conviction:

What is my goal?

  • Is it to numb out until Netflix asks me (ever so passive-aggressively), “Hey! Are you conscious? Still watching?” RUDE! Yes, I am, OK?
  • Or is my ultimate goal something bigger? Something…. deeper?

Saint Ignatius was the founder of the Jesuit Order. For all the bad rap they get for the many atrocities committed, their founder, Ignatius, was actually a man of deep devotion and profound commitment to Jesus. He emphasized an ardent love for the Saviour, and union with Jesus was his goal – or, deepest desire, if you will.

And herein lies the distinction we all must make.

The difference between our deepest desire and our strongest desire.

  • The deepest desire is the thing you want in your very core. The desire that drives you. The desire that you arrange the rest of your life around.
  • The strongest desire is the thing you want so badly. Often, right in the moment. An intense draw. A momentary pull. Fleeting, but overwhelming. Brief, but intoxicating. It can also be considered the surface desire. That impulsive thing you want at a superficial level.

Here are some examples of each:

Deepest desire:
To be more like Jesus.
To be a supportive spouse.
To be an attentive parent.
To be a reliable friend.
To be successful in my work.
To find fulfillment in my purpose.
To achieve a work/life balance.
To be a source of love, joy, peace, inspiration to those around me.

Strongest desire:
To be comfortable.
To have it easy, and to take it easy.
To enjoy the finer things in life (food, drink, entertainment, etc).
To be attractive.
To have financial security.
To be sought after.

Saint Ignatius argued:

The goal of our life is to live with God forever. The God who loves us and gave us life. Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to the deepening of God’s life in me.

In light of this, I recently came to a sobering realization.

I was driving home after a day of uneventful errands and feeling inexplicably anxious. There was so much unrest in my spirit and I found myself close to a panic attack. I couldn’t settle on why until it dawned on me:

  • I am looking to so many things to sustain me. When nothing and no one but Jesus can. (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3)
  • I want peace that passes understanding, but I don’t go to the Source of peace. (Phil. 4:6)
  • I want joy beyond my circumstances, but I don’t go to the Source of joy. (James 1:2)
  • I want to be loved unconditionally, but I don’t go to the One who IS love! (1 John 4:16)

We allow our strongest desires to dictate how we live our lives and fill our time. And then we wonder why we lack peace, or feel so unfulfilled.

A friend recently shared this example from her own life:

After a few days of feeling quite anxious over the state of our world. She realized she’d had AM radio droning on all day as a backdrop to her daily tasks.

Now, as we already established with everyone’s favourite streaming service, there isn’t anything inherently wrong with the radio.

But if my deepest desire is to see a deepening of God’s life in me, then I must be intentional to engage in activities that will do that. It’s that simple.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 

– Colossians 3:1-2

This manifests differently for everyone. Thankfully, God is so amazing to connect with each of us in ways that are unique to us. But I must still find out what that is!

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

– Philippians 1:9-11

I can’t sugarcoat it. Choosing to deepen God’s life in me requires sacrifice and discipline. These are not popular words in a culture whose mantra is: Treat yo’ self!

And yet, we see both applied in everyday life.

  • Training for a marathon? You’ll deny yourself certain foods or activities to help prepare your body for the task.
  • Got a big job interview? You’ll reschedule a social dinner the night before to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.
  • Looking to move your growing family into a larger home? You’ll sacrifice day and night to save for a down payment.

Generally, we can agree with the concept of sacrificing small things for BIG goals.

But we must accept that our deepest desire, the one put in us by God, requires more than just discipline and sacrifice. It’s a dying to self that doesn’t make sense without His Spirit in us.

You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.

– Augustine of Hippo

When nothing else makes sense, prioritizing God in us makes everything else make sense. Because as A. W. Tozer argues, God made us for Himself is the only explanation that satisfies the heart of any critical thinker.

Coming back to our original question: What’s my goal? Ignatius would encourage his pupils to ask this of themselves in a different way: What do I desire?

Let’s consider this too. What do I desire? And then just sit with that question. Bring it to the Lord. Let Him show you what is at the core of you. Is it Him? More of Him in your life?

Is your deepest desire to be all He made you to be? To fulfill all He created you for?

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

– 2 Thessalonians 1:11

May our deepest desires be for Jesus. After all, He came to give us life! That we may have it in the fullest way possible. (John 10:10)

What’s in the Ears

From the highly recommended new album, Homecoming! This song talks about God’s love being deeper than just infatuation or the rush of something new… a love that’s weathered.

When you walk with Jesus long enough, you know it to be true.

How sweet it is to trust You, Jesus.
To know You, I mean really know You.

Where does this land for you? Does comparing deepest vs. strongest desires resonate with you? Enlighten you? Annoy you?
Let me know in the comments, send me a message, and feel free to share this with a friend too!

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What a Disappointment

Published on by tinavila20Leave a comment

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I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed…

Anyone had that line thrown at them growing up? It stings, doesn’t it? We can easily feel like we’ve fallen out of someone’s good graces when we’ve disappointed them.

Or maybe you just can’t look at someone the same way after being so painfully let down. The relationship has changed and you can’t seem to come back from that disappointment.

Our loved ones disappoint us, we disappoint them. We are fickle and relationships change.

Thankfully, God is not like us.

Although sin stirs His anger, His love for us CAN. NEVER. CHANGE.

Here’s why:

1. God is omniscient

(All-knowing)

Meaning, He knows all that has happened, is happening, and will happen. God knows it all. Which means He created us knowing we would fall short of His standards.

…for all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.

– Romans 3:23

And yet God chooses to heal and forgive you!

He delights over you with gladness! He will calm all your fears and rejoice over you with song.

– Zephaniah 3:17

Despite knowing your worst, God chooses to bless you and include you in His good plans to bless others!

In love [God] chose us before He laid the foundation of the universe! Because of His great love, He ordained us, so that we would be seen as holy in His eyes with an unstained innocence.

– Ephesians 1:4

God sees us from a divine perspective

This is significant, so don’t miss this!

When we surrender our lives to Jesus, His glory is magnified in our lives, and He forgives our wickedness and remembers our sins no more. (Hebrews 8:12)

Friends, He doesn’t even remember our sins! How can God be omniscient AND also forget our sin?

Because He chooses to see Jesus’ atoning work on the cross to redeem us instead!

An omniscient God can be trusted to know that Jesus’ sacrifice truly is the best plan of salvation imaginable. We couldn’t come up with something better if we had a thousand lifetimes to try.

Thinking that we could add or take away from God’s love for us, implies that Jesus’ sacrifice wasn’t enough to save us. But it was! And because of it, we are enough in God’s sight too.

We are enough for Him, solely because Jesus is enough for us.

Isaiah 53:10 says that it actually pleased God to crush Jesus and cause Him grief through death. It was through Jesus that God’s purpose was to be accomplished: the salvation of our souls. So all of God’s wrath reserved for sin was fully absorbed in Jesus on the cross.

But what does this mean in our daily lives?

Do we carry on sinning so that God’s kindness and grace will increase? (Romans 6:1) That’s a hard NO!

Sin dies with us when we surrender our lives to Jesus. Though we still fight against sin, God’s omniscience means He knows what we are and He loves us the same – on our best days, and our worst.

What’s more, our FEELINGS do not disappoint Him because He created us to feel each one in response to something we experience.

Maybe you’re confused, frustrated, hurt, disillusioned, or even jaded by what God is doing or NOT doing.

I’m convinced He is more disappointed when we hide our true feelings from Him, rather than just being honest with Him and ourselves about our struggle to trust and surrender.

Doubting Thomas? More like, Confident-Faith Thomas!

Consider how Thomas in John 20 wanted physical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. When Jesus finally appeared to Thomas and the disciples, He greeted them all, but He addressed Thomas directly. Jesus invited Thomas to reach out and touch His wounds. He encourages him to stop doubting and believe.

Have you ever noticed that there is no record of Thomas actually touching Jesus? Yet Jesus’ invitation was there. He offered the tangible opportunity to dispel Thomas’ doubts because Jesus knew Thomas, and He knows us.

He knows we are prone to doubt. He knows it is sometimes hard for us to trust. He isn’t disappointed with how we might feel.

But perhaps the assurance of faith that Thomas so desperately wanted is exactly what Jesus honoured by allowing him to explore for himself.

Perhaps Jesus wants to see that in all of us. Echoing author Angie Smith: like Thomas, we don’t question God because we want to prove He doesn’t exist, we question because we want to rest in unshakable faith!

So we can freely wrestle through those doubts, trust issues, and ugly emotions with God without fear of disappointing Him or losing His love.

2. God is unstoppable

At the end of Job’s tragic but redemptive life, Job tells God:

I know that You can do anything. No one can keep You from doing what You plan to do.

– Job 42:2

Other translations say that God’s plans could never be: thwarted or withheld, frustrated, restrained, ruined or hindered.

WOW! Whatever God wants to do, whatever He wants to accomplish on this earth, in your life, in your family, in your character, in your destiny… it. will. happen. It cannot be stopped. God cannot be stopped. Because God’s plans always come to fruition.

There is nothing we could do to ruin what God has put into motion before the foundations of the earth. The hard truth? We’re just not that powerful – and that’s a good thing!

A line from the song I’ll be sharing at the end says:

I’ll never be more loved than I am right now. Wasn’t holding You up, so there’s nothing I can do to let You down.

Coming to terms with how small we are in the presence of a Holy God should humble us. But realizing how loved we are, how good His plans are, what He gave up to save us, should draw us all the closer to Him too!

Because only He can heal brokenness, pain, rejection, and sin. Only He can do it. His plans cannot be stopped. And neither can His love for us.

3. God is immutable

(Does not change)

God has never changed and can never change in any smallest measure. To change, He would need to go from better or worse or from worse to better. He cannot do either. For being perfect, He cannot become more perfect, and if He were to become less than perfect, He would be less than God.

A. W. Tozer

Here’s the connection:

If God does not change, His thoughts towards us don’t change either. We are loved fully and completely in every moment.

The psalmist says in Psalm 139:17

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!

Let’s conclude with some of God’s unchanging thoughts towards you:

  • You are chosen (1 Peter 2:9)
  • You are treasured (Deuteronomy 14:2)
  • You are protected (Psalm 121:3)
  • You are His masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)
  • You are free (John 8:31)
  • You are forever loved (Jeremiah 31:3)

What’s in the Ears

This line of the song bears repeating:

Wasn’t holding you up, so there’s nothing I can do to let you down.

Friend, you can put down that burden. You can let go of that pressure. You can stop trying to avoid disappointing God through perfect performance. He can take it. You’re not fooling Him because He already knows. He wants you to admit your weakness so you could finally accept His sufficient grace. For His power is made perfect in your weakness. And we can boast in our weaknesses and struggles, because that is where God’s power dwells. In the parts of our lives that feel like a disappointment, that’s where His power can manifest most.

If this resonates with you, let me know in the comments, send me a message, or even share with a friend!

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Celebrating 50 Blog Posts!

Published on by tinavila204 Comments

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FIFTY, Y’ALL.

I can’t even believe that’s real. I’m pretty proud of this milestone, which is why we’re going behind the scenes for a look on how we got here!

This is likely old news, but my background is in education. When I pursued a history teaching degree, I was sure I had found my life’s calling. Minoring in religious education meant all my favourite things were mixed into one undergraduate degree and I was set for life.

I truly loved each of the high schools at which I taught after earning my degree. Every school had its issues, every class had its drama, but I felt so content in my role. So fulfilled in my calling.

Mrs Avila – my first year teaching, 2009

And then, the move.

When we moved away from Montreal, I gave up a lot. My home, my family, my friends – as well as the seniority I was gaining with my school board. Still, I had no regrets.

It’s amazing how God fills you with His peace when you walk in His will.

I acquired my Ontario teaching license and was ready for that new classroom any moment now.

Well, it came as quite a surprise when I was without a teaching opportunity at all. Ontario’s teaching market was even more competitive than Quebec’s. So despite my modest seniority and the teaching experience I brought with me, I just couldn’t get my foot in the door. Nothing. Not a bite.

So I gave it up. That so-called calling was left to die.

I quickly moved on as life got busy settling into our new church, raising kids, and a part-time job I’ve been doing from home ever since.

Until two years ago when I felt a longing for more.

Sure, I missed having students, the structure of teaching, the exchange of ideas, the research and study that went into preparing lessons.

But then I realized, it was more than that! I had a restlessness in my spirit about the trajectory of my life and how I was spending my time. I felt aimless and purposeless and empty.

So when our pastor was putting together a study for his doctorate on discernment and the Holy Spirit, I took it as an opportunity to sort through some of this. I came out of the 8-week study with a clearer understanding of the source of my unrest. But also a clearer picture of what I wanted for the next season of my life.

I finally stopped ignoring my desire to continue my education. And although I’ve put a pin in that for now, one day this aging mama is going to do some graduate work in biblical studies or theology or something equally amazing.

I’ve accepted that the high school classroom isn’t for me…

Rather, I’m eager for opportunities to teach from God’s Word. It’s where my greatest passion and interest lies. I already get to do that with some amazing women at our church in a small group setting. Perhaps one day I’ll have opportunities to teach in a more formal capacity after acquiring some formal training.

Until then, starting this blog was the best thing I could have done to satisfy that desire. I couldn’t have predicted what the last two years were going to look like on a large scale. Although it’s hard for me to believe I’ve maintained consistent content throughout, I also can’t imagine what I would’ve done without this creative outlet in the midst of this pandemic.

The blog’s first year was an exercise in finding my voice. I explored all sorts of topics and some were, admittedly, complete rubbish.

Leading into the second year of the blog, I felt the immense gravity of what I was doing and was compelled to go deeper into faith topics exclusively. No doubt this has lost me readership, but I’m learning to be ok with that.

Online, as in life, I don’t feel I have much to offer if I’m not pointing to Jesus. I don’t do this perfectly by any means, just ask my family! But sharing from God’s Word is still my favourite thing. Anything else feels like a waste of your time. And I’m not about doing that!

I’m no authority on any given topic, but I do recognize where God has gifted me, and this has been my most life-giving venture by far.

First photo taken for the blog 2 years go!

Where do blog ideas come from?

The Bible! Reading the scriptures is my favourite spark of inspiration for topics to explore further. God teaches me a lot through His Word, and the teacher in me is continually compelled to pass along my findings.

My prayer, as Paul says in I Corinthians 11:23: that what I receive from the Lord, I would pass on to you… that what I’ve been learning would show up in my writing!

I’m also inspired by books, articles, podcasts, sermons, and songs. Message me for a list of current favourites!

What does the writing process look like?

I wish I had an ingenious formula to unveil here, but for the most part it’s pretty simple and not glamorous at all.

  • I start with a general thesis and come up with a working title to plug into my calendar. (There’s usually a few of these floating around in my drafts which get bumped up in the queue as they get closer to completion.)
  • I do additional research through online articles or biblical commentaries I borrow from our pastor.
  • As ideas formulate, I simply write and write and write! Sometimes just a little at a time, sometimes the entire post gets banged out in one sitting.

What do I hope to accomplish with the blog?

I’m often asked why I haven’t monetized the blog.

The reason is this: Right now, I write from the overflow of my heart. (Luke 6:45) I can’t say what financial income would do to this process. I want nothing more than to bring God glory with this blog and podcast.

So with no one to answer to, and no expectation to profit from it, I’m free. Plain and simple! No one owns me, and I don’t owe anyone a thing.

God speaks to me so loudly through His Word. He’s provided this space where I get to teach, in an unconventional way, the things that bring me life like nothing else.

Perhaps that’ll change someday. For now, I’m content in this. That you are still here is a blessing not lost on me. I’m so grateful and feel so lucky that despite 3 kids, 2 jobs, 1 Bible study, and all the other hats I wear as wife and homemaker, I get to do this.

I get to talk about Jesus and tell you about how great He is and how much He loves you and what lengths He took to reconcile you to Almighty God.

My screen is blurry with tears as I type this, but thank you for 50 posts. Thank you for being part of this journey with me.

May God bless you and keep you; May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; May He turn His face toward you and give you peace.

– Numbers 6:24-26

What’s in the Ears

There’s a zillion songs to choose from, but this one sums up my life pretty well and how I hope it’ll end. This song was also really significant to me as it came out during our first autumn in Leamington 6 years ago. I have the fondest memories of that season and this song. Here are the lyrics. Enjoy!

Thanks again dear reader/listener! I’m curious if any of this was new to you? Drop any questions or comments below or send me a message!

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United We Stand

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

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It’s no secret we’ve all struggled through the past few years, but for various reasons. Personally, I’m grieved by the growing division amongst followers of Jesus.

I recently finished reading Francis Chan’s Until Unity. Y’all… I HIGHLY recommend it and I’ve linked it here. I’m not foolish enough to attempt anything more original than him, but it’s worth sharing highlights I found especially compelling.

So, if you’re weary of divisiveness, and still think unity is possible, then this is for you!

6 thoughts to compel us and propel us toward unity.

1. Why unity?

Because it was Jesus’ dying wish. One of Jesus’ very last prayers before being crucified was for unity. I think we sometimes breeze past this without giving it much thought.

We can become enthralled with someone’s last words, death bed confession, or final blessing before they pass. With this in mind, should we not give more consideration to Jesus’ desperate last words to Almighty God in the garden before His own death?

20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in Us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 22 I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One— 23 I in them and You in Me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.

– Jesus, in John 17:20-23

2. Unity: Because nothing is more important

We weren’t called to follow political parties or ideology, nationalism, consumerism, or power. Instead, we were called to apprentice ourselves to Jesus’ way of life. We were called to be part of establishing the Kingdom of God here and now in our walking-around lives.

– Sarah Bessey, Out of Sorts

If we’re truly a people that believe Jesus’ call to unity is as important as He says it is, then by default all the other things that may define us or divide us are simply not as important, and should not take precedent over our unity and the fellowship of believers. It’s that simple.

3. Unity: Because it’s the one thing that makes our mission effective

If we can at least agree that the believer’s mission is to make disciples of all nations, then scripture is clear that love for one another is the way that we’ll succeed in our mission.

This is how everyone will know that you are My followers: if you love one another.

– Jesus, John 13:35

Notice how Jesus doesn’t say, everyone will know you are my followers if you form compelling arguments regarding:

  • correct ways to worship
  • women’s roles in the church
  • spiritual gifts
  • the relationship between church and state
  • strong Biblical literacy vs. charismatic Christianity
  • Biblical politics

It’s solely about how we love one another!

4. Unity: Because division grieves a Holy God

When love is shallow, all it takes is something as trivial as a disagreement to divide us.

– Francis Chan

Division has plagued the church for centuries. So if we can get serious about this and consider that the disagreements we’ve allowed to divide us are actually the work of the enemy, and not Spirit-filled conviction from God, we would be humbled to realize that we are actually grieving God’s Spirit who dwells in us.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

– Ephesians 4:29-32

5. Unity: Because I couldn’t possibly be right all the time

The love chapter (1 Corinthians 13) states that for now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Friends, how can we be so arrogant to think we are right all the time, every time? How?

Even the Apostle Paul admits in this passage that he couldn’t know it all perfectly on this side of heaven! I love how Francis Chan puts it when he says that if God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34 and James 4:6), it’s hard to imagine those who are most arrogant would be the most accurate. Yes!

He goes on to say that…

Everyone seems to start out with the assumption that his or her opinion of God is right, rather than recognizing that all of us have an incomplete, flawed knowledge of God. Without humility, we will never have unity. More importantly, without humility, we cannot be in a right relationship with God.

6. Unity: Because nothing matters more to God

Consider this, if God moved heaven and earth in sending Jesus to die so we could be reconciled to Him, would it not make sense that He would also want His beloved children to be reconciled to one another as well?

His plan of salvation, the goal of redemption, is to reconcile all things unto Himself! Allow these words to wash over you from Colossians 1…

15 Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.
    He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation,
16 for through Him God created everything
    in the heavenly realms and on earth.
He made the things we can see
    and the things we can’t see—
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world.
    Everything was created through Him and for Him.
17 He existed before anything else,
    and He holds all creation together.
18 Christ is also the head of the church,
    which is His body.
He is the beginning,
    supreme over all who rise from the dead.
    So He is first in everything.
19 For God in all His fullness
    was pleased to live in Christ,
20 and through Him God reconciled
    everything to Himself.
He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth
    by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.
21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault.

This passage really struck me as I asked myself a simple question. I encourage you to reflect on it too:

If I will stand before God, holy and blameless without a single fault after all He’s done to reconcile me to Himself — what is stopping me from lovingly accepting a fellow believer who I don’t understand, cannot relate to, and have rejected as dead wrong?
Am I justified in that?

What’s in the Ears

This is an old hymn and I just love this rendition so much. As Jackie Hill Perry recently put it, this song’s dripping oil (anointed). Enjoy!

Do you also share the grief of disunity among believers? Let me know if this encouraged you! Send me a message, comment below, and share with a friend!

*Podcast version on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or Anchor!

The Art of Waiting Well

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

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This is could easily be the extended version of my last blog post, Count the Fruit. There was just too much to say about the fruit of the Spirit that I couldn’t help but keep writing this week. So if you haven’t checked that out, please do!

A little behind the scenes of my writing will tell you that I read Bible passages in almost every English-language translation, and try hitting the original Greek text too, in order to get the most out of what the authors are saying.

Well, this was no different. And I was particularly struck by the Amplified Bible translation of the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

– Galatians 5:22-23

Did you catch what it said about patience? Oh my WORD! That’ll preach.

Patience isn’t just about the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting.

I mean, am I the only one who feels personally attacked with words like that? (I feel like Michael Scott from The Office when he declares that he is the victim of a hate crime!)

The point is that if we are truly surrendered to God, walking with Jesus, and filled with the Spirit, then the result of His presence within us will. be. this. fruit!

It’s literally the cause-and-effect theory in action.

Why does it matter how we wait?

  • If I’m not hurting anyone, why does it matter how I wait?
  • If it doesn’t make the wait any shorter, why does it matter how I wait?
  • If I’m not gaining anything from it, why does it matter how I wait?
  • What difference does it make??

I’m reminded of that line by John Wooden that says:

The true test of a person’s character is what they do when no one is watching.

So maybe it doesn’t change anything in your circumstances to wait well. But something happens inside us when we do.

  1. Perhaps you wait in ANGER
    Your default is irritability and frustration. You have a short fuse and should not be crossed if you don’t receive the answer you’re waiting for in a timely manner.
  2. Perhaps you wait in ANXIETY
    Your default is to be overwhelmed and filled with stressful, anxious thoughts. You can’t get your mind to settle, and you can’t function as what if‘s overtake you.
  3. Perhaps you wait in LISTLESSNESS
    Your default is apathy and disinterest. You lose any kind of ability to function because waiting on that one thing becomes all that matters. And life loses all meaning without that piece of the puzzle in place.

What do all these characteristics have in common?

They are symptoms of distrust in God.

Focusing on our circumstances makes the process of waiting unbearable.

It puts all the responsibility on our circumstances to fulfill us – our needs, wants, expectations, goals, and more. It’s not meant to be this way. We will ALWAYS be disappointed with this approach.

But those who wait for the Lord? Ohhhhh….. they will renew their STRENGTH! They will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not faint.

– Isaiah 40:31

How is this even possible?

How can strength be RENEWED… not just sustained, propped up, extended… but renewed. Only God, y’all. Only God.

Because if His Spirit is filling us, even though we may begin weary and worn out… renewal comes as we focus on Him over our circumstances.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

– 2 Corinthians 4:18

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for Him, He thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and He is now seated at the right side of God’s throne.

– Hebrews 12:2

So how do we wait well?

Worship while you wait

Because He is worthy ALWAYS. Even when we’re not getting what we want.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become restless and disturbed within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.

– Psalm 42:5

Bring it to God

Because He alone can sustain and fill us with hope in the waiting.

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

– Romans 15:13

These can only happen when we expose TWO LIES, and disarm their power over our thinking patterns.

Culture feeds us the following lies that are masquerading as RESPONSIBILITY and MATURITY.

1. The Responsibility of Being in Control

  • Culture tells us that we’re somehow being responsible when we get busy trying to control every potential outcome of our circumstances. It is the illusion of control, and believing the lie that we can decide when and how things will turn out. Of course, we can control some things. So distinguishing the difference between things we can control, and things we cannot control, is critical.

Listen, those of you who are boasting, “Today or tomorrow we’ll go to another city, spend some time there, go into business and make heaps of profit!” But you don’t have a clue what tomorrow may bring. For your fleeting life is but a warm breath of air that is visible in the cold only for a moment and then vanishes!

– James 4:13-15

2. The Maturity in Worrying

  • Culture also tells us our worry is a sign of maturity. Because if we dwell on our problems and consider all possible outcomes, then we are morally good for worrying about them. We believe that immature people simply don’t understand what’s at stake, or don’t consider all the factors. When in fact, we’re really just believing the lie that we care more because we worry more.

Does worry add anything to your life? Can it add one more year, or even one day? So if worrying adds nothing, but actually subtracts from your life, why would you worry about God’s care of you?

– Luke 12:25-26

It goes on to talk about how if He cares so much about birds and plants, wouldn’t He care for YOU all the more?

Bottom Line

Waiting well matters. Not just for my witness, but for my mental health and the state of my soul! It’s worth reflecting on how we wait, and ask God to help us trust Him with all the unknowns so that the result of His presence within us could be the fruit of His Spirit. And that is the true art of waiting well.

What’s in the Ears

I cannot even deal with how good this song is. Hit it at the 7:00 mark if you feel like a good cry over words to build you up in your season of waiting. You’re welcome.

Have you mastered the art of waiting well? I can assure you, I have not! But I’d love to know if any of this has been helpful to you! You can let me know in the comments or send me a message. And feel free to share this too if it resonates!

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Count the Fruit

Published on by tinavila209 Comments

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“Count to 10. Just breathe… and count to 10.”

Have you tried that? Well, I have. Many times. I’ve flaunted my counting skills plenty without much to show for it. I was no less angry, and no more calm than when I started. Just another confirmation that I can in fact count from 1 to 10. And most of the time… I couldn’t even get to 10 because my blood might have just boiled over first.

Mom rage. It’s real. It’s that moment after you’ve asked them calmly to stop 6 times in a row with not even the faintest acknowledgement of your words. Then you’re seeing red and feeling very disrespected in your own home by a bunch of people half your size… Ok, who’s the boss around here? Who’s raising these kids? Because there’s no way I’d let my kids get away with this! Except oops! They are my kids… and they’re absolutely getting away with it.

That picture might make you think of 10 ways I’m getting it wrong, or 10 more things you would do differently. And you could be right! But that’s not really the point.

I’m not writing this to share parenting advice. I’m not selling you anything, and I’m not trying to debate parenting models.

I’m just saying: I struggle. It’s hard. And sometimes I feel trapped by the very thing I wanted more than anything – my family.

I hate to give you a mental image of me that’s anything less than the picture of perfection. As much as we want to appear real and authentic, it’s terrifying to be that vulnerable in such a public setting. So I won’t go into further details because that won’t bless anybody. But it’s worth noting that as much as I love sharing my highlight moments, lots of things about parenting are a lowlight challenge for me. And I suspect they are for you too.

We may not struggle with the same things, or in the same ways, but we’re all imperfect people trying to do life perfectly. Well, it’s just not that easy.

Then it hit me…

A few months ago, I was praying through the fruit of the Spirit. You know…

  • love
  • joy
  • peace
  • patience
  • kindness
  • goodness
  • faithfulness
  • gentleness
  • self-control

You can find them in Galatians 5:22-23.

I have prayed through the list for years, pleading with God to make each of these qualities a part of my life.

But in that moment, I sensed Him telling me to count them out. Just count the fruit.

In stressful moments, in angry moments, in tense moments, in overwhelming moments, in mundane moments. Count out the fruit of the Spirit. So I did. I tried it. And it changed everything!

Allow me to me explain…

Defiance and cruelty are triggers for me.

If a child is being willfully disobedient after clear instruction or correction, I tend to lose it.

We all make mistakes. Kids are kids and their brains are not fully developed, blah blah… so I can usually make allowances for dumb stuff they do without realizing.

But if they are explicitly told not to? If they were corrected in their behaviour or actions and still continued down the same path? Ohhhhhhhhhhh dang, good luck to that kid because I CANNOT with disobedience and defiance.

That, and cruelty. When my kids are cruel to each other (and it happens, I ain’t raising angels), I have very little patience for this. I know it’s all part of being human since we’re all selfish and self-serving. But being cruel, just to be cruel, makes me super angry. And the result isn’t pretty.

So these are the scenarios where I need the Lord’s strong arm of intervention, because there’s a good chance we’ll all end up in tears if I gave in to my flesh.

And therein lies the problem. Where do my reactions come from? What’s at the root of my response? Is it God’s Spirit in me? Or is it my own selfish flesh?

Romans 7:15-20 talks about doing what we don’t want to do. Case in point: I don’t want to yell at my kids. But I do.

So rather than counting to 10, which has been useless to me, I now count the fruit.

When I’m confronted with defiance towards me, or cruelty towards each other, I recite the fruit of the Spirit and something incredible has been happening…

The blood-boiling, rage-inducing moment subsides as I say:

love… joy… peace… patience… kindness… goodness…
faithfulness… gentleness… self-control…

I have literally felt my anger melt away. And the culprit in front of me who was driving me crazy, making me want to rip my hair out…?

Well somehow I’m left staring at that child through the eyes of Almighty God. I’m filled with compassion, empathy, and God’s love for this kid. I’m reminded of how precious and loved they actually are.

And I can parent with a cool head.

Friends, I wish you could see my face as you take in these words. This is legit. I have never, ever, E-V-E-R found success in keeping a cool head in parenting through moments that push my buttons HARD. It’s just not in me.

Maybe it’s my passionate Greek blood. Maybe it’s because I’m selfish and I want things to go my way. Whatever it is, counting to 10 wasn’t doing it.

So what is it about the fruit of the Spirit?

I’ve learnt this: it’s not about trying hard enough to do the right thing, because under pressure, the mouth speaks what the heart is full of (Luke 6:45). When my heart is full of rage, rage comes out.

So I meditate on the fruit of the Spirit. I ask God to fill me with His Spirit, so that from the overflow of my heart, I can speak:

love… joy… peace… patience… kindness… goodness…
faithfulness… gentleness… self-control…

Because when we’re rooted in God, the fruit of the Spirit naturally flows out of us.

How do we remain rooted in God?

  • Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you – James 4:8
  • If you remain joined to me, and I to you, you will bear a lot of fruit. – John 15:5
  • The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9
  • Keep your mind focused on what’s above, not on earthly things. – Colossians 3:2
  • Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about these things. – Philippians 4:8
  • Be unceasing and persistent in prayer. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

That last one was the real game-changer for me. I now spend much of my day just running through the fruit of the Spirit in my mind. While chopping lettuce, folding laundry, sweeping the floor… I just count that fruit as a prayer. Asking God to fill me with His Spirit. So that when another trigger episode comes, I’m already in a mental state of…

love… joy… peace… patience… kindness… goodness…
faithfulness… gentleness… self-control…

And that fruit can then pour out of me.

I can meet that child with understanding and acceptance — not acceptance of their behaviour or actions — but for who they are: loved and cherished. So we can figure out the why of their choices, together.

And then I don’t feel like a complete failure or hypocrite. It’s still a work in progress. But I’m finally feeling hope and freedom in this parenting journey.

What’s in the Ears

If you decide to try counting the fruit, would you let me know? Have you got any good parenting tips that have surprised you with mild or wild success? Message me or comment below!

*Podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!

The Holy Mundane

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This is my life. This is the tension in which I live. The desperate desire to live in what scholars refer to as the sacred.

The spaces and places and moments and actions that we believe are dedicated to God and pleasing to Him as holy.

On my ideal day, this is what sacred or holy looks like:

  • Bible reading
  • blog research
  • blog writing
  • Bible study prep
  • leading Bible studies
  • listening to podcasts or sermons
  • listening to worship music
  • prayer or meditation
  • attending church with my people

Basically, a dream day!

And then, lurking in the corner as a constant pull and vying for my attention is the mundane. Or what scholars refer to as the secular.

The average secular day looks like this:

  • feed kids multiple times in the day
  • errands with kids
  • chauffeuring kids to school, extracurriculars, and various activities
  • make all the meals
  • laundry, laundry, laundry!
  • work calls and emails

Cheers to the secular.

Sacred splash pad

I hope that sharing my own experience, and how I’m learning to manage this tension will be a blessing to you in your own journey.

I recently read The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer, and he says this:

These secular tasks we often do reluctantly and with many misgivings, often apologizing to God for what we consider a waste of time and strength. The upshot of this is that we are uneasy most of the time. We go about our common tasks with a feeling of deep frustration, telling ourselves reflectively that there’s a better day coming when we will shake off this earthly shell and be bothered no more with the affairs of this world.

– A. W. Tozer

Friends, I can’t begin to express how deeply this resonated.

It’s not specifically about apologizing to God for not spending more time in sacred activities.

But I’m sure on a subconscious level, that I believe I’m somehow more pleasing to God, that my time is better spent, that I best fulfill my purpose, or that I am more worthy of His love when I toil away at my sacred passions.

Perhaps you’re like me and you grow resentful of time spent away from the things that make you feel closer to God. When really, He never meant for there to be a difference! On the contrary, He has always intended to meet us everywhere!

Sacred ball park day

As we navigate the tension between sacred and secular, we could not find a better model than Jesus for the best outlook.

By the end of Jesus’ life on earth — when all was said and done, and He ascended to the Father in Heaven, God accepted the offering of His life in its entirety.

Friends, please understand this with me, because it was truly a game-changer in how I view my own mundane, secular life.

God didn’t make a distinction between sacred or secular, between holy and mundane. In fact, in John 8:29, Jesus Himself said, I always do what pleases the Father.

If that was truly the case…

…then there’s no ranking of tasks, nor hierarchy of holiness!

All that Jesus did brought glory to God. And this was made possible because His whole life was dedicated to God’s glory. He didn’t engage in certain sacred activities with the subconscious thought that they were holier than others and therefore distinct in some way. The mundane, secular activities were therefore holy as well. All of it dedicated to God.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, that whatever you do – even eating and drinking! Do all of it for the glory of God.

Nothing is off limits. It’s all for Him! Every mundane task, even those we don’t like. No, especially those we hate! – They can be sacred acts of worship to God when we do them for His glory.

Sacred ice cream treat

Here’s another way to look at it:

In the Old Testament, the sacred place was the tabernacle, and later the temple, where God would meet with His people. The shekinah glory of God — the physical manifestation of God’s presence on earth, could only be seen and experienced in the sacred space: The Holy of Holies. The centre of the temple, where only the high priest could enter.

Then, John 1:14 says, The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us. The original language for dwelt refers to setting up a tabernacle.

Friends, this means that Jesus Himself became the Holy of Holies on earth. His incarnation was the sacred space to meet with God. So when we walk with Jesus, and His Spirit indwells us, our whole lives are that sacred space too!

We no longer need to qualify for the priesthood to enter a sacred temple to meet with God. Even a religious establishment is not seen as more holy than your own kitchen or car.

Let’s go a step further

If the birth of The Church took place in the upper room of a house where Jesus’ followers were huddled together and waiting for what only God knew, then why not your upper room?

God filled that room, filled that space, filled their lives with the very sacred and Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

It was a mundane, secular upper room. But it became holy ground when God showed up. And those ordinary people became sacred vessels of God’s Spirit. The holy mundane.

Sacred skate park

The Aggressive Faith

For us to realize this truth in our own lives, we have to be INTENTIONAL about how we view our mundane tasks. This calls for what Tozer refers to as aggressive faith:

We must offer all our acts to God and believe that He accepts them. Then hold firmly to that position and keep insisting that every act of every hour of the day and night be included in the transaction. Keep reminding God in our times of private prayer that we mean every act for His glory…. Believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there.

Friends, there’s nothing special about a holy task. Rather it’s that it is done to glorify a Holy God. So even reading the same stupid dinosaur book to my daughter, or playing yet another round of Guess in 10 with my boys can be holy. Because I do it for God’s glory.

  • I wipe noses for God’s glory.
  • I cut up apples for God’s glory.
  • I fold laundry for God’s glory.
  • I’m awoken in the middle of the night for God’s glory.
  • I break up fights for God’s glory.
  • I prepare meals for God’s glory.
  • I write an email for God’s glory.
  • I correct behaviour for God’s glory.

Because whatever I do, whether in word or action, I can do it all for God’s glory.

– Colossians 3:17 (my edits)
Sacred wonderment at God’s creation…
So what’s the difference?

I close with a final punch from Tozer

It is not what you do that determines whether your work is sacred or secular, it is the why you do it.

The motive is everything…. So as you perform your never so simple task, you will hear the voice of angels saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

What’s in the Ears

This is definitely not a worship song, but it’s a favourite. A classic from 1972 and actually quite sad! But it’s got a happy tune with a catchy beat and my family loves dancing to it. So for us, it’s sacred. And I guess that’s the whole point.

Do you view your own mundane, secular life as holy? Do you see it as sacred to God, for His glory? Please share your thoughts in the comments or send me a message.

If this spoke to you, share it!

*Check out the podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!

Paradigm Shift at a Pig Roast

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

*Check out the podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!

I was part of a book club this summer that went through Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey. It’s about making peace with an evolving faith.

It really helped me nail down things I have struggled with over the last little while – particularly when it comes to the Church, her role in the world, and my own role within all that.

I’m hoping some of my own thoughts on this will be helpful to you as well!

As you may know, I was a history teacher before I started raising kids in Essex County, so this next bit really fascinated me. I’ve made it as concise as is humanly possible, but reach out to me if you want more!

The history of the Church has had four major paradigm shifts including her inception at Pentecost.

A paradigm shift occurs when a new discovery is made, new research is revealed, or new techniques are developed that changes the way of thinking or doing things.

Since these paradigm shifts have taken place roughly every 500 years, that should tell us a lot about where we might be heading!

  • The first was the foundation of the Church itself at Pentecost
    This consisted of the Holy Spirit falling upon Jesus’ disciples in the upper room in Acts 2. Then followed by the Apostle Peter being filled with the Spirit and addressing the crowd where thousands came to faith on that very day.
  • The second was when the Roman Empire fell, and the Dark Ages of Christianity were born, circa 500
    These medieval years were unfortunately tainted with Holy Wars and Crusades that did little good to draw ordinary people to the Saviour.
  • The third is known as the Great Schism in 1054
    At this time, there was conflict in the church. Most of it surround the belief that either Peter or Paul was the first official head of the church, as well as debates surrounding a Pope. My overly simplified response to that is… Jesus? Regardless, this resulted in the first of countless church splits. And the Catholic and Orthodox Churches were born.
  • The final shift took place during the Enlightenment Period and is known as The Reformation
    This is when opposition arose against the corruption and absolute power of the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church was born.

I sure hope y’all enjoyed that little history lesson as much as I enjoy learning about these important markers of our history. Because many church scholars and theologians would argue that we’re about to enter another shake up in the life of the Church.

Buckle up kids, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! I mean, I say this in jest, but actually, it’s all very serious and intense.

Keeping in mind these important changes in Church history, I am dying to get to the good stuff of this post found in Acts 10, and I can’t wait to share some applications I am trying to adopt in my own life too.

Let’s check it out together.

Three main things happen in Acts 10

  • Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, is visited by an angel because he is a devout, God-fearing man who gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly (vs. 2). The angel tells him to send for a guy named Peter and have him come to his home. He does just that.
  • Meanwhile in Joppa…. the Apostle Peter is hungry and up on a rooftop praying. Suddenly, he has a vision of this sheet coming down in front of him and all kinds of animals are on it. Some kosher, some non-kosher.
    In his vision, God tells him to kill and eat. Peter, in his usual adversarial manner, argues with the Lord that he cannot eat meat that is impure and unclean. God tells him, do not call anything impure that God has made clean!
    They go back and forth on this three times. (Because apparently “three” is the magic number for Peter!) While he’s thinking about this vision and what it might mean, the men who were sent to fetch Peter arrive and escort him to Cornelius’ home.
  • Peter meets with Cornelius and tells him that technically he shouldn’t even be there since Cornelius is a Gentile (non-Jew) and it’s unlawful for them to even associate.
    Peter then asks Cornelius why he sent for him. Cornelius isn’t exactly sure! He tells Peter that an angel told him to send for a man by his name, so he did.
    Peter then realizes the meaning of the sheet with the impure and unclean animals.

And this is where it all comes together…!

This story is about including non-Israelites into the family of God. Because guess what? After Peter tells Cornelius all about Jesus, Acts 10 concludes by saying:

…the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

So, even though Peter’s vision was about God permitting the consumption of ritually impure foods, the vision was only a symbol God was using to prepare Peter for a huge paradigm shift in the early Church!

What was the shift?

  1. No longer have to keep kosher
  2. No longer have to be circumcised to be included in God’s family

WHAT DOES THIS SHIFT IMPLY?

NO MORE DIVISION
ONLY DIVERSITY

Y’all I don’t know how to communicate what a HUGE deal this was for the early believers. Or if we can fully appreciate what this meant for the people they rubbed shoulders with in their daily lives.

To think that after thousands of years, the very things that set them apart as God’s chosen people, namely: circumcision and keeping kosher… these were no longer requirements for being included in God’s family. And it is BLOWING MY MIND.

So what’s the point?

Friends, let’s be open to what God desires to change in our way of thinking. Now, don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not talking politics. I’m not talking Covid. I’m not talking the right or wrong way to do church.

  • I’m talking about each of our individual views of God. How we perceive Him, and how those perceptions INFORM the way we see our world.
  • I’m talking about how those views of God FRAME our perceptions of the people around us.
  • I’m saying, let’s ASK God for vision-of-a-pig-roast kind of moments
    • to shake up our thinking
    • to prepare us for what’s coming
    • to equip us with His wisdom and His heart to interact with HIS world the way He desires for us!
  • I want the next paradigm shift to resemble a Peter and Cornelius moment; rather than the schisms of division or the crusades of holy war that have for too long tainted the Church of Christ and her mission in the world.

And what’s the mission?

To love God. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

To love people. (Mark 12:31)

To make disciples of ALL NATIONS. (Matthew 28:19-20)

What’s in the Ears

This song is a little different than my usual, but it’s my favourite on Dante Bowe’s new album, as well as being very well suited to this topic, so win-win. Enjoy!

Ok I need to know your thoughts on this! Was any of this new to you? Does it resonate? Do you agree/disagree? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!

*Check out the podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!