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.

PSA: It's Valentine's Day on Friday!

This is a public service announcement: This Friday is Valentine’s Day!

Not that you needed the reminder. When I walked into our neighborhood grocery store yesterday, I was bombarded with oversized red helium heart balloons, an abundance of flowers, and a giant sign urging everyone to show their love by making the appropriate purchase.

Valentine’s Day gets a lot of hype in our consumer-driven society, doesn’t it? Retailers waste no time enticing you to make the perfect purchase—whether in-store or online.

Do you know the origin of Valentine’s Day?  One source cited that there was a priest by the name of Valentine who lived in Rome about 250 AD.  At that time, Rome was ruled by Emperor Claudius II who desired a big army but found many men just wouldn’t volunteer– they did not want to leave their wives and girlfriends.  This infuriated Claudius II, so he got this crazy idea that if men were not married, they would join his army.  Claudius II decided not to allow any more marriages.

Young people thought his new law was cruel. Valentine thought it was ridiculous!  One of his favorite jobs as a priest was to marry people.

Well after Emperor Claudius II passed his law, Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies – but secretly.  He would whisper the words of the ceremony, while listening for soldiers on the steps outside.  One night, he did hear footsteps.  The couple he was marrying escaped, but he was caught.  He was thrown in jail and told that his punishment was death. 

And do you know what happened? 

Many young people came to the jail to visit him.  They threw flowers and notes up to his window.  They wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love.  One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard.  Her father allowed her to visit him in his cell where they often sat and talked for hours.   On the day he was to die, he left her a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty.  He signed it, "Love from your Valentine." That note started the custom of exchanging love notes on Valentine's Day.  It was written on the day he died, February 14, 269 A.D.  Now, every year on this day, people remember and think about love and friendship.

“Love” and “friendship” are huge themes in the Word of God.   For instance 1 John 3:18 says: “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”   We are told that our love must be true love and that we should show that love by what we do.

Our words have to match our actions if we really mean them.  St. Valentine backed up his belief with action.  He continued to perform marriage ceremonies even though he knew he could die for doing it.   As we know, St. Valentine’s actions were not so unique. God showed His extravagant love for us first.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17)

God did this for you and for me – before we even knew that God existed.  God gave us the greatest “Valentine’s Day” gift ever given!   

But how do we show our love for God? 

The Bible is clear that God calls us to love others as Jesus loves us.  We can say that we love others – but what does it look like?  And does it only happen once a year on Valentine’s Day.  I don’t think so.

It means that in our daily, everyday lives we need to treat people the way we want to be treated.  With love.  I suppose what I am trying to say is that actions sometimes do speak louder than words!   

So, on Valentine’s Day, remember that you have already been given the greatest Valentine’s gift of all. And as a response to God’s extraordinary love let us love others just as God loves us!