God – Tina Unsell

Deeper – Dane Ortlund

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026by Tina UnsellLeave a Comment

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Introduction

Deeper by Dane Ortlund is a thoughtful and Christ-centered book that explores what it means to grow in the Christian life beyond surface-level faith. It focuses on spiritual depth that comes not from striving harder, but from resting more fully in the person and work of Christ.

This book builds on themes of grace, transformation, and ongoing spiritual formation, pointing the reader back again and again to the heart of Jesus.

My Thoughts

This book felt like a gentle but steady invitation to move away from shallow or performance-based faith and into something deeper and more rooted in Christ.

What stood out to me:

The focus on spiritual growth as a work of grace rather than effort
The repeated emphasis on the heart of Christ in transformation
The calm, reflective tone that encourages slowing down and thinking deeply

How it impacted me:

It reminded me that growth in faith is not rushed or forced
It encouraged me to rest in what Christ is doing rather than what I am trying to achieve
It gave me a deeper appreciation for God’s patience in spiritual formation

Writing style / tone:

Reflective and theological but accessible
Calm and steady rather than urgent
Focused on depth rather than surface application

Key Themes

Spiritual growth through grace
The heart of Christ in transformation
Moving beyond surface-level faith
Rest and dependence on God

Who I Would Recommend This To

Believers wanting deeper spiritual maturity
Readers who enjoyed Gentle and Lowly
Those feeling stuck in surface-level faith
Small group or personal study readers

Favorite Quote

“Spiritual growth is not first about trying harder, but about resting deeper in Christ.”

Final Thoughts

Deeper is a steady and thoughtful reminder that true Christian growth is rooted in grace rather than effort. It calls the reader to slow down and consider the depth of Christ’s work in shaping the heart over time.

This is a book I would recommend to anyone who desires a more grounded, reflective, and Christ-centered understanding of spiritual growth.

👉 Buy on Amazon

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

Book Reviews

Gentle and Lowly – Dane Ortlund

July 1, 2026July 1, 2026by Tina UnsellLeave a Comment

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Introduction

Gentle and Lowly is a deeply comforting and Christ-centered book that invites readers to see the heart of Jesus in a new and tender way. Dane Ortlund draws from Scripture and historic Christian writings to show the compassion, gentleness, and steady love of Christ toward sinners and sufferers.

This is not a book that rushes you. It is one that slows you down and gently turns your attention back to the heart of Jesus.

My Thoughts

This book met me in a very quiet and personal way. It reminded me that Jesus is not distant or harsh, but gentle, patient, and full of mercy toward those who come to Him honestly.

What stood out most to me was how consistently the book points back to the character of Christ. It is not centered on striving or performance, but on rest and belonging in Him.

The writing is simple but rich, and each chapter feels like an invitation to pause and reflect rather than rush through.

What stood out to me:

The gentle portrayal of Christ’s heart toward sinners and sufferers
The focus on grace instead of performance
The steady, calming tone of the writing

How it impacted me:

It encouraged me to slow down spiritually
It reminded me of the kindness of Jesus
It shifted my focus from striving to resting in Christ

Writing style / tone:

Calm and reflective
Easy to read but deeply meaningful
Devotional in feel without being overly complex

Who I Would Recommend This To

Those who feel spiritually weary or burdened
Anyone struggling with guilt or shame
New believers wanting to understand the heart of Jesus
Small group or Bible study settings

Favorite Quote

“One of the hardest things to grasp in the Christian life is how freely and fully Christ loves His people.”

Final Thoughts

Gentle and Lowly is a book I would return to again. It is steady, comforting, and rooted in Scripture. It gently shifts the reader’s focus away from striving and back to the heart of Christ’s mercy.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who needs to be reminded that Jesus is truly gentle and lowly in heart.

👉 Buy on Amazon

Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

Poetry

Refined by Fire, Rising in Grace

November 22, 2025by Tina UnsellLeave a Comment

**Not perfection —** **but grace** unfolding.

A psalm of brokenness and restoration. May these words be a sanctuary for your heart today.

—

I carry shame for actions, words, and thoughts.
The inability to trust You
still escapes me.

Though doubts and confusion
make me feel so weak,
still You call me worthy—
more than I can believe.

Even in my most broken state,
You still call me daughter.
How can You remain so faithful
when I continually falter?

I often wonder if I am truly chosen,
or destined to a life undone by the world,
when trials shake me to my core—
when I cannot feel Your Presence,
and Your voice seems so distant,
the silence pressing in like stone.

You whisper: You are not defined by misery,
nor by a life without purpose.
The refining fire is painful,
even breaking at times,
yet beyond the surface
a greater work is unfolding.

You stretch the limits of my sight,
so I may see through clouded glass,
bask in surrender’s light,
and drink deeply of living water—
drawn into intimacy with You.

The burden I carry,
the weight of my heart,
is being woven into a tapestry,
a work of art.

You are preparing me.
In the stillness, You mold and shape me,
making room for my story
that will propel me forward—
not perfection, but mercy,
a blessing that lingers in the lives of others.

My testimony will no longer be bound by pain.
For when I walk in my calling,
a lioness will rise forward
to guard the hallowed ground with reverence.
Your strength will be my armor.
Your power will be my shield.

Not perfection, but grace.
And in You, I am made whole.

—

There are moments when weakness feels louder than faith, yet I have found a deeper truth: even in my frailty, His love calls me His. What seemed like breaking has become shaping, and grace has carried me into wholeness.

Do you hear that same love naming you, even in your own fragile places?

~ Tina

Poetry

Never Let Me Go

September 7, 2024September 7, 2024by Tina Unsell2 Comments

When I am lost Lord

You find me

When I am tired

You revive me

When I am weak

You give me strength

When I am wandering

You call me back to You

When my heart is heavy

You carry me

In my pain and sorrow

You comfort me

Even in my grief

Your love surrounds me

Thank You Lord

I can’t live without You

Thank You for loving me

And for never letting me go

Faith

Faithfully Waiting

April 20, 2024April 30, 2025by Tina UnsellLeave a Comment

Have you been hoping, praying, wandering in those desert places, waiting for that defining moment when you can boldly declare that you’ve received your healing? Your miracle?

Faithfully waiting for that prayer that you’ve prayed countless times over your healing, healing for a loved one, healing for a friend, healing and restoration or renewal for your marriage, healing for your children, grandchildren, salvation for a prodigal child or family member, your parents health, that circumstance or situation that never seems to be resolved, your financial situation, mending of a broken relationship or friendship? Maybe you’ve been praying for that impossible dream that you fear will never come into fruition or something that seems impossible to overcome.

Whatever it is that you’re asking of the Lord, know that none of this defines you.

Your value isn’t found in your answered or, for that matter, your unanswered prayers.

Your value is found in the person and work of Christ Jesus.

Let me clarify that in better terms to help you understand what I’m trying to convey.

Just because you pray and it seems like your prayers aren’t being answered, it doesn’t mean that your faith is weak or that you need to pray harder.

And just because your prayer does get answered does not mean that your faith is better than anyone else’s.

To further clarify, prayer is key to having a healthy relationship with God. Yes!

And having abiding faith means putting your trust in God and having confidence that He will fulfill His promises. And that we continually receive, believe, and trust that Jesus is everything we need.

However, you are not defined as unloved, forsaken, or forgotten if the answers to your prayers aren’t fulfilled or come to pass.

God loves you no matter what the outcome.

He knows what’s best for you.

Don’t lose heart.

Keep your eyes on Jesus.

And stay persistent and patient in waiting through prayer.

Remember these Scriptures …

Romans 12:12 – “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”

Ephesians 6:18 – “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

James 5:16 – “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Never stop praying.”

Are you still faithfully waiting for that unanswered prayer?

Then you are in good company.

Just remember, your value or worth aren’t determined by anything other than who Christ says that you are.

Not even your unseemingly unanswered prayers.

Faith, Poetry, Prayer

Our Prayer of Faith

August 29, 2023April 30, 2025by Tina UnsellLeave a Comment

Lord,
Hear our hearts cry!
We are desperate
for a healing
touch from You.

We ask that You
would listen
to our pleas,
dry our tears,
and cleanse our bodies
from all impurities.

Hear our prayer!

We ask for Your
sustaining strength
for when we are
weary and weak.

Restore our frail
and sickened
bodies with renewal
and rejuvenation.

Pour out Your
healing balm of
grace, love, and
tender mercies
of rivers overflowing
into each
and every crack,
every broken piece,
every shattered hope,
every painful wound,
every grief and sorrow,
every part of our burned,
sickened, bruised, and
battered-mortal bodies,
every dry and barren ground.

This is our prayer for healing.

We believe that You heal those
who are suffering and sickened
in mind, body, and spirit.

We believe that You are
the God of the impossible.

We believe that, You God,
are our High physician.

We believe in Your
Miracle working power.

Immersed in Your love,
Your presence,
and in Your tender mercies
that are new each morning,
we find a renewed hope
and are sustained,
refreshed,
and strengthened
to face any challenge
that may come our way.

We prayerfully wait,
watch, and listen.

You cover us in Your grace
and we remember Your
promise in Your Holy Word,
that if ask anything in Your Name,
believing, You are faithful to answer.

This is our prayer of faith.

Your Will Be Done! Amen.

Thoughts & Reflections

THE LORD IS MY ROCK

November 13, 2019February 18, 2021by Tina UnsellLeave a Comment

When I think about all that I have been through..
All the pain, all the heartache, and all the suffering..
Nights of tear soaked pillows..
All the mistakes I have made..
And will make..
Feeling like a failure..
In everything…
Never quite measuring up..
Defeat etched into my mind..
Self worth all but diminished..
Feeling abandoned..
Unloved..

I am comforted by the assurance that…Through it all.. God was there..

Even now…
I have immense battles that I am desperately trying to conquer..
Enormous struggles that no one knows about..
Trying hard not to be what everyone else wants me to be..
But, to just…be me..
Longing for the wisdom..
And for strength to make wise decisions..
Reaching, but never quite grasping what I was created to be..
Wanting desperately to be freed from the toxic relationships that bind me..

Through it all… Even Still… God is there…Seeing my through..

Though my life isn’t what I had hoped it would be..
I have never given up..
I will never give up..
Taking each day as a lesson..
Watching, waiting, trusting, seeking and learning all that God is teaching me along this journey..
Holding nothing back and laying it all at His feet..
Letting go..
Allowing Him to teach me..
To lead me..
To guide me..
Filling me with His wisdom..
His strength..
His courage..
Helping me to face each day anew..
Loving me as His precious child..
Renewing my mind, soul and spirit with His Truth..
Instilling in me a new found confidence to rise above the challenges and the struggles..
To claim victory over my life..

He has given me the life-giving keys that I need to free me from the things that keep me bound..
The keys are hidden in His Word (the Bible) empowered by prayer, and completed by the work of His Holy Spirit living in me..
Giving me a new found freedom and a hope so that I may share it with others..
Not only so that I may find my own way, but in the hopes that others might find theirs..
He has called me out of the darkness..
To be a bright and shining light for and to others..

I find peace and rest in knowing that through it all He was there..
Is there, still..
In the midst of it all..
My rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:2‬ )..
My ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1)..
He fights for me..continuously..

Never once have I ever been alone..
Even at times when I felt alone..
He was there..
Comforting me with His love and presence..

He is here…Even Now..
Speaking to my heart..
When I silently listen..
In stillness I hear…
He says softly that I am worthy..
I am loved..
I am cherished..
I am valued..
I am forgiven..
I am redeemed..
And I am His..
And He is mine..

God has promised that He will never leave or forsake His children..
Knowing the Omnipresence of God, He is everywhere and He comes to us wherever and whenever we call on Him..

“I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.”
~ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Words can’t adequately express just how eternally grateful I am for His love, mercy and grace..

Thank you, Lord…for loving me so..
And for making me your child..
I choose to walk the rest of my days in Your truth..
Knowing that through it all…
You are there..
Walking beside me.
Your, beloved daughter.