Greetings Beautiful Cascade Family and Friends,

Do you remember what Christmas felt like  when you were a child?  I can remember feeling an amazing excitement during the days before Christmas. Over time, I realized that my family would have gifts under the Christmas tree--waiting for me! So, when Christmas day finally came,  I was filled with joy !  Ithanked God because of the gifts that were especially for me. The power of the gift was not simply that it was a toy car, a Lego set, or a basketball. The power of the gift was that, regardless of its size or cost, the gift was an expression of warm love from my family.

John 3:16 explains God's greatest gift of love to the world: Jesus Christ! "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." We have been preparing our hearts during Advent for His coming.  Let us now receive Him afresh in our lives. Let us now open our hearts and receive His love, peace, joy, and salvation.

In Jesus, God came near to save a hurting, broken world. How wonderful it is to know that God still comes to us every moment of every day! Jesus is our Emmanuel, the very presence of "God with us" (Isaiah 7:14).  Therefore, wherever you are in your journey in life, be assured that God is coming to you exactly where you are. If you are in the valley of doubt or despair, God is with you. If you are at the mountaintop of praise, God is with you. If you are grieving the loss of a loved one during this season, God is with you. If you are believing God to fulfill the promises God made to you, God is with you. If you are longing for and working towards the day when peoples and nations study war no more, God is with you.

Jesus is our answer-our living proof that God loves us! Feel His presence today. Be encouraged to spend time with Him in worship and in prayer like Mary and give Him your best like the Three Wise Men.  And, just like a child on Christmas morning, you, too, will be filled with His amazing grace, abundant hope, unconditional love, and unspeakable joy. More importantly, like the angels and shepherds in the Christmas story, go and tell the world of the good news: "A Savior is born!" Believe in Him and receive the gift of Eternal Life. Yes, God is with us!

With love,

Robert S. King

Associate Pastor