You are the one Jesus loves

Ever have one of those moments where you hear something so often… you almost stop really hearing it?

That’s how John 3:16 can feel sometimes. Familiar. Comfortable. Easy to skim past. But this week at Amberlea, as we kicked off our new series (talking about the promises of Jesus) called Unbreakable, and we slowed right down and sat with it—and suddenly, it didn’t feel ordinary at all. Because this isn’t just a well-known verse.  It’s a deeply personal promise: you are loved by God. Not just “God loves the world” in a big, vague, Hallmark-card kind of way…No—God loves you.

And if you’re anything like me, that can feel a little… suspicious. It’s one thing to believe God loves people. It’s another thing entirely to believe God loves me—with my history, my missteps, my “what was I thinking?” moments. (And yes, apparently my early career in kitten smuggling and petty theft… not my finest season.)

But here’s what’s been sitting with me all week:

Jesus doesn’t just make a general promise—He makes it personal.

He tells a story about a shepherd who leaves 99 sheep to go after one. Not the best math strategy. Definitely not efficient. But wildly, beautifully loving.

You are the one.

And if that still feels hard to believe, consider this: one of Jesus’ own disciples—John—started out as a hot-headed “Son of Thunder” (which sounds less like a worship leader and more like someone you’d avoid in a parking lot dispute). At one point, he literally asked Jesus if they could call down fire from heaven on people who disagreed with them. And yet… after spending time with Jesus, John started referring to himself in a completely different way:

“The one Jesus loves.”

Not because he was perfect.
Not because he earned it.
But because he experienced it.

Somewhere along the way, love changed his identity. And maybe that’s the invitation for us too. To stop defining ourselves by what we’ve done and start receiving what Jesus has already done.

Because God didn’t just say He loves you—He showed you. In the most powerful way possible.

And here’s the part that might just change everything:

Love isn’t a feeling you have to chase—it’s a promise you get to trust.

So if your week feels heavy…
If your heart feels tired…
If you’re carrying regret, or doubt, or just a quiet sense that you’re “not enough”…

Try this. (Yes, I’m serious.)

Pause for a moment and say it—maybe a little awkwardly at first:

“I am the one Jesus loves.”

Say it again.

Let it sink in.

Because sometimes the most unbreakable truth is also the simplest one:

You are the one.

Dream Again!

What’s Your Next Step? Dream Again.

We’re all on a journey with God—and whether we realize it or not, there’s always a next step.

Maybe your first step has been building a real, honest relationship with God. Maybe you’ve been working through some of the hard stuff—past hurts, habits, or struggles—and finding freedom. But eventually, the journey leads us here: discovering our purpose and making a difference.

And that’s where many of us get stuck.

In a world that feels upside down—morally, socially, even spiritually—it’s easy to wonder: What difference could I possibly make?

The answer is both simple and profound. Start somewhere. Get involved. Say yes. Ask, “How can I help?” You might be surprised at how quickly purpose begins to take shape when you step in.

But there’s something deeper I want to gently nudge you toward…

God is speaking.

Not because God has to—but because God wants to. The challenge isn’t that God is silent; it’s that life is loud. And sometimes, we need to turn down the noise around us to hear the whisper within.

God speaks in many ways—through Scripture, through people, through circumstances—but also through dreams and visions. Those quiet nudges. Those holy ideas that seem to come out of nowhere. The things that stir your heart and won’t let go.

Scripture says, “Where there is no vision, people perish.” Not physically—but emotionally, spiritually, relationally. Without a sense of God-given direction, life can slip into survival mode. A quiet “meh.” A going-through-the-motions existence.

But you were made for more than that.

You were created for significance.

I’ve seen it in my own life—there’s a clear connection between how much I’m dreaming with God and how alive I feel. When vision fades, so does joy. But when I begin to dream again—even in small ways—something shifts. Hope rises. Energy returns. Joy follows.

So maybe your next step isn’t complicated.

Maybe it’s this: dream again.

Take a moment. Get quiet. Ask God what He’s stirring in you. Write it down. Pray over it. Pay attention to the ideas that won’t leave you alone.

And don’t worry if your dream feels small, unclear, or even a little impossible. God-sized dreams usually do.

Because the best dreams—the ones that truly satisfy—aren’t just about us. They’re God-honouring, others-focused, and often bigger than what we could accomplish on our own.

And if your dreams have grown stale? Or faded altogether?

Take heart.

We serve a “once more” kind of God.

The kind who restores vision. Rekindles passion. Opens our eyes again—sometimes in stages, sometimes unexpectedly—but always faithfully.

So here’s your gentle invitation today:

Lean in.
Listen closely.
And dare to dream again.

Because your next step might just change everything.

You were made for more!

We’ve just come through the beauty and celebration of Easter, and I’ve found myself in so many meaningful conversations about faith, commitment, and what it really means to follow Jesus. And it keeps bringing me back to one simple, important question: What’s your next step?

Because whether we realize it or not, every one of us is on a spiritual journey.

The psalmist says it so clearly in Psalm 92: “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord will flourish in the courts of our God.” There’s something powerful about being planted in the right environment. It’s where growth happens. It’s where life begins to flourish.

I was reminded of this when I read about Death Valley—one of the driest, hottest places on earth. For years, it looks lifeless. But after a rare rainfall, something incredible happens: flowers bloom everywhere. Seeds that had been buried beneath the surface suddenly come to life.

It turns out Death Valley wasn’t dead—it was dormant.

And I think that’s true for many of us.

There is God-given potential inside of you—seeds of purpose, joy, and calling—but sometimes they’re just waiting for the right environment to grow. When we place ourselves in God’s presence, in community, and in truth, something begins to awaken.

The Apostle Paul gives us a beautiful picture of this journey in his prayer in Ephesians 1. It’s simple, but it’s powerful. Four steps that guide us into the life God has for us:

Know God. Find freedom. Discover purpose. Make a difference.

It begins with knowing God—not just knowing about God, but knowing God personally and intimately. Faith was never meant to be just routine or religion. It’s relationship. And maybe for you, that’s the next step—to move from knowing ofGod to truly knowing Him.

Then comes finding freedom. Because once you know God, God begins to work on your heart. The pain, the habits, the hidden struggles—we all have them. And healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in honest, grace-filled community. There is real freedom waiting on the other side of vulnerability.

And from there, something shifts. You begin to discover your purpose.

You start to see clearly. You see that your life is not random. You were created on purpose, for a purpose. And here’s the truth: you won’t find lasting hope in circumstances getting better. Hope is found in knowing why you’re here.

And finally, you step into what you were made for—to make a difference.

Jesus said that when we bear fruit, when we live lives that impact others, our joy becomes complete. Not partial. Not temporary. Complete. There is a kind of joy you only discover when your life is about more than just you.

So let me gently ask you—where are you on this journey?

Are you ready to know God more deeply?
Is it time to find freedom from something you’ve been carrying too long?
Are you searching for your purpose?
Or maybe it’s time to step out and make a difference in someone else’s life?

Wherever you are, there is a next step.

Don’t wait for a better time. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” The truth is, God has more for you right now—more life, more freedom, more purpose, more joy.

You were never meant to stay dormant.

You were created to flourish. 🌱