Your Faith Journey - Finding God Through Words, Song And Praise

Life at times seems filled with hard places.  There are few among us who have not experienced hard times, hard challenges in life.  This past week, I have experienced one of those hard places.  On Monday, it was the first anniversary of my father’s death.   And, on that morning, my son Andrew called me to tell me they had just gotten back from seeing the doctor and the baby Natalie was carrying had died.  I know, there are few among us who do not know what it feels like to be in hard places, or to be overwhelmed and even underprepared for life’s hard places, especially those that hit unexpectedly.  And, during those hard times, in those hard places in life, I think we long for and want to hear the words, “Do not be afraid.”  I think we want to hear words of comfort, and I think we long to hear a sure and certain word from God.  So, I find it heartening that the lectionary readings for this Sunday focus on these things as God’s message to us on this day tells us we are God’s beloved. On this day, we begin with