Greetings Cascade Family and Friends,
As we experience the Advent season, I would like to remind us that this is a time of spiritual Preparation and great Anticipation. We can certainly expect to receive God's invitation through Jesus Christ, to be reconciled and restored to right RELATIONSHIPS with God Himself. What a gift Jesus is! He offers us the opportunity to mend our brokenness, as well as our broken relationships with God.
We are given a Savior and a Lord who took on our humanity! What a special time in the life of the believer. We are reminded that God loves us so much that He looks beyond our faults and meets each of us at the point of our need. This is reason to celebrate!
Each Sunday, we light a candle to represent Christ's coming to remove the darkness and evil in the world. I would like to invite you to regard this season as not only an opportunity to reconnect with God, but to also reconnect with friends and family; particularly those who are very dear to us. Naturally, we will be intentional about affirming the relationships that are in "good standing" by engaging them in a meaningful time of reflection and sharing. And that is great.
We should continue this practice all year long. However, I am saying we should also see this time as an opportunity to mend some of those relationships that (for one reason or another) have gotten "off track." Advent is a time of reconciliation and restoration. God saw our need and He sent his greatest gift: His only Son, Jesus. We can thank Him for Jesus by growing in love and focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. Broken relationships are causing us some real challenges in the community and the world.
Too many persons are feeling alone and unloved, which leads to behavior that is not healthy and sometimes very destructive. Just imagine what the world would be like if you reached out, or responded to someone who has reached out to you, with a resounding "Yes, You Are Loved; Welcome Back!" Open your heart, rejoice in His presence, and welcome the light of His truth.
Blessings,
Pastor Lawrence Young
