I second that emotion.

So I'm wondering, how are you? Like really?

Honestly, I have found this question to be a complicated one to answer recently. People ask, “So how are you doing?” and I pause. I wonder if I should tell them the truth, that things are really not great. Or should I just say “Fine thanks, how are you?” Which I am loathed to do.  Because I am really not “fine”. 

I am feeling many different things and I wonder if the recipient of my answer has the emotional bandwidth to receive it.  So my elevator response has become, “I’m hanging in.”  Which, when I think about it, doesn’t say much of anything but interestingly people accept it and we move on to talking about the weather.

This got me thinking. So, I posted a question on my Facebook page. It was fascinating how people responded.  The question I asked was: what one word best describes how you are feeling right now?  I purposely did not put barriers or restrictions around the question. There was no mention of the pandemic or the lockdown or politics… just, "how are you feeling right now”? 

How would you answer that question? What one word summarizes your emotional state, right now? 

Here are some of the top responses to my mini survey: 

• tired

• heavy

• angry

• lonely

• confused

• anxious

• fearful

• numb

• weary

• compassion,

• fortunate,

• hopeful,

• joyful,

• grateful

I think for me, if there would be one word to summarize my emotional state right now, it would be the word unsettled.

It is, and has been for many, a very emotional time. We are feeling all the feels — and that is not a bad thing because so did Jesus.

How often we forget that Our God is an emotional God. God is not void of feelings. We have emotions because we are made in the image of God. Not only is God an emotional, feeling God but God cares deeply about our emotions and feelings.

It is so easy for our emotions to be based on our circumstances… by the opinions of others, the pressures of life, and opportunities we had or didn’t have. As a result we end up on a constant emotional roller coaster following the ups and downs of this shaky world. It is so easy for our emotions to be controlled by the things of the world rather than the foundation of love laid before us by the sacrificial love of Jesus.

It’s interesting that Scripture clearly describes a link between emotional health and trust.

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Psalm 56:3-4 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” 

And Psalm 33:21 says, “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in His holy name.”

Scripture makes clear that our emotional health is directly linked to our level of trust.

In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” 

God’s heart is to fill you with peace. 

God has consistent, constant peace available to you. But, as scripture lays out for us clearly, we must trust the Lord in every area of your life.

In these isolating and weird times, look to your Heavenly Father for peace. Find rest in God’s abundant love for you. Find your self-worth and confidence in the fact that God so desired a relationship with you that he laid down his own life to have it. 

As we draw close to God, may our lives be marked by increasing emotional health as we grow in trust.

A Special Mother's Day Blog by Family Ministry Director, Nancy Varga

Such a beautiful post in honour of Mother’s Day written by Nancy Varga (Family Ministry Director, Amberlea Church). Reposted but worth reading again! Enjoy.

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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)

*This blog was previously posted May 2020

Peace where you are.

Some days are harder then others.  This particular day was a doozy.  In the span of eight hours I heard three heartbreaking stories of families in chaos. Then I made the mistake of turning on the news. There wasn’t a heartwarming story to be heard instead, I listened to the broadcaster share the soaring numbers of this raging pandemic, in a world in a state of turmoil.

Maybe it was the day I had had that made me desperate to find some peace. So, I put on the kettle for some tea, turned off the television and sat in the quiet and prayed.  

It was then that I remembered this story:

There once was a ruler who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The ruler looked at all the pictures. But there were only two he really liked, and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror with peaceful towering mountains all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains, too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was a stormy sky, from which rain fell and in which lightning flashed. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all to those who saw it.

But when the ruler looked closely, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush, a mother bird had built her nest there. In the midst of the threatening torrent of water, and stormy sky, sat the mother bird on her nest-in perfect peace.

Guess which picture won the prize? The ruler chose the second picture. Do you know why?

He chose the second picture because it was true to life. Peace does not need to be found in a place where there is no noise, trouble, hard work, or strife. Peace can be found in the midst of all those demanding things. 

Peace can be found in knowing that in the midst of the chaos, God is still in charge. God is still in control and God sees you and knows exactly what you need.  Peace is surrendering to God.

Peace can be find right where you are.