Loss and hope.

I was recently with someone who was grieving the loss of a loved one.  Though years had passed, the grief, pain and sense of loss they felt was as raw that day as they had when their love one first passed. My heart ached for them.

As I reflected on my time with this dear soul, I was reminded of a time when Jesus Himself grieved. In the gospel of John we are told the story of Lazarus. There are so many facets to the story of Lazarus. Jesus knew him — this wasn’t just someone who pursued Him in a crowd or heard of His miracles. This was a friend Jesus spent time with. We know Jesus loved everyone, but the Bible specifically says, “Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5).

Jesus had dinner with Lazarus. Jesus even found Himself in the middle of sister drama with Martha and Mary. He knew this family, and they knew Him. Personally.

That was one of the many reasons why the death of Lazarus was such a shock. It was hard to understand why.

You may recall how the story ends — Lazarus didn’t stay dead long. Jesus displayed what He proclaimed: He is the resurrection and the life.

But in the middle, between death and life, something else happened. “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). This is scripture’s shortest verse—and one of its most profound. Imagine the Son of God, who would defeat death forever, weeping with mourners at the grave of the man he was about to resurrect.

This begs the question … why? Jesus knew Lazarus would live again. Why weep? He could have started with “Lazarus, come out!” but He chose to shed tears with Mary and Martha instead.

Why?

Because God is present.  God is with us in the midst of our grieving and grieves with us in our pain. It is all about this incredible love that God has for humanity — for you and for me.

Ash Wednesday (March 5th) marks the beginning of the Lenten season. Lent (find out more here) is a time that invites us to grieve as Jesus grieved, and to glory as he gloried—in the death of death. There is HOPE!

You are Loved!

Love and Faith

On Sunday, we had the privilege of welcoming Mike Gordon to Amberlea. Mike is a gifted communicator, and his message was both simple and profound: Jesus calls us to love others.

Yes, we are called to love—but do those who receive our love understand why? Do they know that we love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19)? Do they see that love is not just a kind act but a reflection of our faith in Christ? As we extend kindness, generosity, and compassion—which I believe we do well—do people recognize that we are followers of Jesus?

An old hymn declares, They will know we are Christians by our love. But let’s be honest—Christians don’t have a monopoly on love. Many atheists and people of other faiths love deeply and serve their communities in remarkable ways. Love, in itself, is not uniquely Christian. So what sets us apart?

This past Saturday, our Amberlea Session (church leadership team) gathered for a retreat—a time to seek Scripture, pray, and reflect on our calling as a church. As the elders described Amberlea, words like loving, generous, and welcoming came up again and again. I pray that has been your experience, and I wholeheartedly agree—this body of believers truly embodies those qualities. But I have to ask: what makes us different from the Lions Club or the Rotary Club? They also do incredible work for their communities.

The difference, my friends, is the why behind what we do.

Jesus said, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:35). Our love should not just be evident—it should be unmistakably tied to Christ. We don’t love simply because it’s the right thing to do; we love because He first loved us. That is what makes our love different. It carries the power of the Gospel.

But let’s be real—this is the hard part. Acts of kindness are easy: shoveling a neighbor’s driveway, picking up groceries for a shut-in, making a meal for a grieving family. What’s challenging is explaining why we do it. In a world where people are quick to take offense, we often hesitate to share our faith, hoping that our actions will speak for themselves. But do they? Do people truly understand that our love comes from Jesus? Or are we assuming they’ll just figure it out?

So let me ask you the same question Mike asked us on Sunday:

Do people know about your relationship with God? And do they know that you love them because God first loved you?

May we be a church that not only loves well but boldly proclaims why we love. May our kindness not just bless others but point them to the One who is Love itself. Amen.

What do you do with a bully?

I grew up in St. Catharines, ON—a place that, at the time, felt very small in more ways than one. It was a world of sameness, where faces and traditions rarely strayed from a single mold. And then there was me—the only brown girl in my public school, one of just a handful of students of colour in my high school. For some, I was a curiosity, someone different and interesting. But for others, I was simply other.

And for one boy, I was a target.

His name was Brett. Every day after school, he would chase me home, hurling slurs like “black widow spider” and “paki” with a cruel delight. His words cut deep, but it was the fear he instilled in me that stayed the longest. Would he have actually hurt me? I don’t know, and I never wanted to find out. He never said those things when I was in a group, but his silent glares, the whispered insults as he passed by, were just as chilling. And when he caught me alone, the taunts became louder, sharper—impossible to ignore.

So why am I telling you this?

As I listened to the news this morning and heard about the continued threats to Canada by the president of the United States, I had the same visceral response. That old pit in my stomach, that sense of dread and helplessness, resurfaced. It triggered the memory of my childhood bully.

What do you do when you feel threatened?

When it came to Brett, I finally told my mom. And my mom told Brett’s mom. And Brett stopped. But I had endured years of torment before I had the courage to say something. I had lived with it privately because I was embarrassed that someone would think such awful things about me. I didn’t want people to know because I feared they might think those things too.

But what do you do when your mom, as great as she is, can’t do anything about the threat? What do you do when the fear is bigger than a schoolyard bully—when it comes from a powerful leader, a shifting culture, or an uncertain future?

Here’s what I’ve learned:

1. Turn to God in Prayer
   When we feel powerless, we must remember that we serve an all-powerful God. The Bible tells us, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). God sees our fears, our struggles, and our pain, and He invites us to lay them at His feet.

2. Claim God's Protection and Presence
   Fear thrives in isolation, but we are never truly alone. Psalm 46:1 reminds us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Just as my bully waited until I was alone to attack, the enemy of our souls loves to prey on our solitude. But God is with us, even when we feel alone.

3. Remember Your Worth in Christ
   The words of a bully, whether a childhood tormentor or a powerful leader, do not define us. We are defined by who God says we are: “Fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14), “God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). When we remember that we are loved, chosen, and precious in His sight, the lies of the world lose their sting.

4. Stand in Faith, Not Fear
   There will always be bullies—people who seek to intimidate, control, or belittle. But fear does not have to rule us. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” When we trust in God’s power over any earthly force, we can walk forward with confidence.

5. Find Strength in Community
   One of the most powerful ways to combat fear is to surround yourself with people who uplift and encourage you. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, “Two are better than one… If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”If you are struggling with fear, anxiety, or the words of others, do not suffer in silence. Reach out to trusted friends, your church community, or a mentor who can remind you of God’s truth.

If you’ve ever been bullied—whether in childhood, in the workplace, or in society—you know the pain and anxiety that comes with it. But you don’t have to live in fear. God is bigger than any bully, stronger than any threat, and faithful to His promises.

So today, if you feel that pit in your stomach, if anxiety threatens to overwhelm you, take a deep breath and turn to the One who holds the universe in His hands. He sees you. He loves you. And He is your refuge.

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).

You are not alone, dear friend. Stand firm in His love, and let His peace guard your heart.