So how are you doing...really?

So how are you doing … really?

In my conversations with people, I find that there are those who are thriving in this time of isolation and others who most definitely are not. There are others again who are fluctuating between the two. 

I find myself in that latter group. There are moments when I think, “How wonderful (in theory) to have time to stop and just be.” Unfortunately, that hasn’t panned out exactly as I imagined. It seems that the pandemic has created a different type of pastoral work, which requires new skills to be learned. I never signed up to be a televangelist!  Not only that, honestly, I had never heard of Zoom before all of this. Now it seems, a day doesn’t go by when I am not “Zooming”, sometimes several times a day ;)

So, on those days when I am feeling overwhelmed, battling feelings of isolation in a house with two other people, antsy to go out, frustrated with the news, I remember this: 

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

These are the words that Moses spoke to Joshua in Deuteronomy 31:6 and they ring as true today as they did then.

The Lord has promised to never leave His people. We need not fear because His unfailing love surrounds us always. 

Remembering that God is near helps me to stand stronger against feelings of fear, discouragement and all that isolation brings. 

So here are some things that I have been doing:

1. Spending some quality time with God.

The stores may run out of toilet paper, flour and hair dye, but as Christians we have a never-ending treasure in God’s word. I have been challenged in these weeks to read through the Psalms and it has been amazing!

2. Staying connected with others.

Like I mentioned, I have been “Zooming” a lot, but I have also been going old school and chatting with friends and family on the phone. I still have one of those phones that plug into the wall and it still works great!

3. We found Quarantine buddies!

Every Sunday night, since this thing began, Brian and I ‘Zoom chat’ with our dear friends in Hamilton.  We catch up on our week, talk about life, kids, and how we are coping. It has been so good to have friends to go through this with! 

4. We are maximize family time.

I spoke with a young person this week who told me that the best part of isolating is that he is spending more time with his parents than ever before. And he loves it! I am not sure Emily feels the same way about being stuck with her parents, but I for one LOVE it.  We are cooking, baking, watching movies, and having some great conversation, which are only some of the hidden blessings!

5. We are trying to serve others

At Amberlea we are trying to find creative and fun ways to serve others by building community in isolation. For instance we have: Zoom Coffee Hour at 11:45am on Sunday morning; the “Getting to Know You” series on our website; Youth gatherings on Zoom; and even Freezer Club! 

Personally, we are baking, cooking and sharing!  Delivering ice cream cakes, balloons, flowers and whatever else we think will brighten someone’s day. It’s likely been more fun for us than the recipient.

And, on those days when we feel particularly lonely and overwhelmed, 

6. We reach out 

I have spoken with friends I trust, colleagues and our outstanding and Godly elders. I hope you know that you can do the same.  You are not alone. We are the church and we are here for each other. So if you need help, please reach out. If you are feeling lonely, please reach out. We are stronger together and together we will get through this!

Staying put and staying strong!

In Jesus name,  Amen!

Legacy of Faith by Guest Blogger Nancy Varga

During this unusual time, one of the obvious fall outs is not being able to spend time with the ones we love. Whether we are crazy busy or find ourselves with some extra free time, the loss of up close and personal interactions with loved ones has been a hard transition for many of us. Our family lives a few hours away, and the pandemic has introduced my parents to new technology including, Zoom. It’s been neat to talk using video instead of just hearing them on the phone. At the end of our calls, my Mom usually tears up and tries to hold them back.  (It’s much harder to hide on video.)  Truthfully, we have always made fun of her for her emotional side, but now with almost grown kids and grandkids of my own, I better understand the bitter sweet reaction; the joy of loving and the pain of being separated. During this time of crisis and particularly as we come up to Mother’s Day we have pause to think about the things and the people that are most important to us. 

When I was a child, when the sky was still dark, my mom would wake me from my bed. I’d shuffle into the living room and curl up next to her on the couch. I’d lay my head on her shoulder as she read from 1Our Daily Bread. (A daily reading that included a Scripture, an encouragement and prayer.) Sometimes we took turns reading.  I don’t remember the words that were spoken, but I vividly remember the feeling of comfort and security and the time she gave even into my teens.  There was no doubt in my mind that my Mom was daily relying on the Holy Spirit to sustain her every day.  No worry was bigger than He could handle.   

I saw her pray for a new hair dryer (don’t underestimate the need for a hair dryer in the 80’s with two teenagers).  I saw her on her knees weeping to God about hurts and disagreements. I saw her skillfully make pies to encourage someone. I saw her go to small group to learn the Bible. 

What I saw evidenced in my mom was a woman who learned to trust God for every need. In those quiet moments, I saw glimpses of her learning to forgive and persist in loving even when it was hard. I witnessed and experienced her encouragement, her generosity and her love unconditionally. I saw her seeking after God. 

The Bible states so simply the legacy of faith passed on to Timothy by his Grandma and his Mom. “ I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”  2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)

I don’t know how Timothy would have described the faith he saw in his Mom and Grandma. It probably looked a little differently than what I saw in my Mom, and only time will tell how my children and grandchildren will (hopefully) describe the sincere faith they see in me.  Hopefully, they will see it in the quiet, everyday moments that are lived out with them. 

Moms, Grandma’s, Mothers-in-Law, Aunties, Sisters, Women of God… you are passing on a legacy of faith whether you realize it or not. You are not too old or too young. It’s never too early or too late.  Spend time, encourage, forgive and love… in Jesus’ name.2

Not sure where to begin or not sure if it will make any difference?  

Who are the godly women in your life? What do you admire most about them? How did God use them in your life?  This Mother’s Day, tell them.

Can you be that person for someone? What does that look like in this season?3

Happy Mother’s Day.

“Every time I say your name in prayer—which is practically all the time—I thank God for you, the God I worship with my whole life in the tradition of my ancestors. I miss you a lot, especially when I remember that last tearful good-bye, and I look forward to a joy-packed reunion.

That precious memory triggers another: your honest faith—and what a rich faith it is, handed down from your grandmother Lois to your mother Eunice, and now to you! And the special gift of ministry you received when I laid hands on you and prayed—keep that ablaze! God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.” 2 Timothy 1:3-7 (MSG)

1 If you are interested in reading Our Daily Bread, go to https://odb.org/for a digital version or if you are interested in receiving a paper copy, let us know at admin@amberleachurch.ca

2 https://mike-gordon.ca/hey-church/

3 Let us know how we can pray for you (prayer@amberleachurch.ca) and support you in sharing your legacy of faith this season. For KidZone resources check out: www.amberleachurch.ca.  

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Nancy Varga is the Family Ministry Director at Amberlea Presbyterian Church. You can contact her at familyministries@amberleachurch.ca

From Darkness came a Miracle by Guest Blogger Shelly Wedge

It is my honour to be a guest blogger this week. I’m a big fan of Mona’s blogs and I look forward to reading them each week. Thank you Mona for this opportunity!

First I would like to start off by saying that I hope everyone is staying safe right now.  We are living in different times that have changed our daily habits and our priorities.  All of us have had to adjust and make accommodations and are doing the best we possibly can.  

This week has been challenging for our family as we have had to deal with the passing of my stepdad in the middle of all of this. It’s hard enough in the best of time’s but as I know that others have experienced this as well it is not easy during these times and I grieve with those who have faced this as well.  

This brings me to where our faith comes in and our total trust in God. 

God has a plan for each of our lives. His plan is perfect and we need to follow his will. 

About a year and a half ago I began what I will call “my own spiritual journey. “

I had a major health crisis that changed my life forever. This crisis took me to the depths of despair. It made me question everything in my life both good and bad and stripped me down to the core of my being. 

There was no other way to go, other than up. I could not possibly sink down any further.  It wasn’t until I totally let go and surrendered myself to God that I was slowly able to climb back up. I did not do this alone and there were trials, struggles and questions every day.  

I had to take a good look a real look at myself and decide how I wanted to move forward in my life. 

With God’s help and the help of my family and friends I was able to recover.  The physical part was very difficult for me. The spiritual part was as well. I believe now that God allowed me to be incapacitated so that I had no other choice but to be still and lean on him. Being still is not in my DNA. Let’s just leave it at that.  

God taught me many lessons and that was just the beginning 

It is my privilege to share this experience with you through my book that I wrote throughout this experience. 

“From Darkness came a Miracle”

https://www.amazon.ca/Darkness-Came-Miracle-Shelly-Wedge/dp/0973899824/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=from+darkness+came+a+miracle+shelly+wedge&qid=1587831737&sprefix=from+darkness+came+a+miracle+shelly+wedge&sr=8-1

This is my journey and my hope is that you will find it inspiring.  If you are not walking close to God or are facing trials I hope you will feel lifted up and empowered to trust God to allow change in your life. 

By leaning on God, no matter what happens in our life, we are able to get through it.  God teaches us so much in trials that we could not possible learn any other way.  

I have great hope for the future.  Even with the world is as it is now, I’m grateful for my life and I’m grateful for the lessons learned every day.  

I know that God is my Father and he will never even leave me. I can never be alone because he is always there.  

If you would like to make comments or share your story or just vent, I encourage you to do this in my Facebook page.

From Darkness came a Miracle.

We can share and support one another even during these uncertain times.

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Shelly, her husband George and two children, Magenta and Jake are members of Amberlea. They have been instrumental in the creation and success of the Exceptional Families Program at Amberlea.