Happy New Year Cascade Family and Friends,

 

As we continue to sing praises and give thanks to God for Jesus and for bringing us safely through 2016, let us maintain an attitude of prayer for the year ahead.   God wants to do a new thing, mighty works, in and through us in 2017 and we have to be ready to meet the challenges that will surely come.   Allow God to strengthen you by not only reading the Word, but also by hearing the Word and being obedient to it.   Open your hearts, minds, souls and spirits to the possibilities of the Divine intervening in your lives to bring about good for the masses.

 

We anticipate changes that will be proposed and implemented by the new regime in the White House and on Capitol Hill. Change often creates anxiety and distress for people who don't want to move from their comfort zone.   Saints of God who profess to trust God for all things are giving way to fear of what the future may hold under this new leadership. This fear moves them into dark places that dim the light of Christ which should be shining brightly with hope and optimism. Be encouraged. Do not allow your distaste and distrust of our new President to harden your hearts and cause you to weaken your faith and love for others, including those we tend to care less about. In fact, these are the ones who you should care more about and pray for the hardest.

 

One reason for fear is that people feel their security is threatened economically. Moreover, as we move about society, people are anxious about reduced economic benefits, war, their neighbors robbing, injuring, and even killing them.   No, we cannot give way to fear because fear is a device of the forces of evil and causes people to walk in darkness.   Our goal is to walk in the beautiful light of Christ.   In fact, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said in his 1933 inaugural address : ". . . the only thing we have to fear is fear itself-nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."   Our call is to not sit around crying, "Woe is me!"   Our call is to take an active stance against injustice, unrighteousness, and systemic oppressors, and fight the good fight with "frankness and vigor." Despite the forecasts, you must stand firm, unshakable, excelling in the work of the Lord as always. God is still GOD!

 

I pray for you; you pray for me, and watch God change things!

 

With love and gratitude,

 

Rev. Tanya Y. Pittman
Associate Pastor