Daily Devotion

2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

Those words were written by the Apostle Paul during his last days before he was martyred for the Lord.  I love that text because Paul reminds us that the crown is for “All who long for his appearing.”  Our dear Brother Al Goheen has been longing for that day and now the confidence of that text is fully understood by him.

Let me take you back to a day I will never forget, Sunday December 26^th 1976.   Suzanne and I were young long haired hippy types when we had been invited to a little Pentecostal church.   As we drove in that day, we were a little on the late side and had a bit of an argument about not going.   Still my stubbornness and the fact that the Lord had been dealing with me for about a year, we barged into the song service that had already started.

There in that little church was a room full of people, one couple we knew was Al and Kathy Goheen with their (at the time youngest) daughter Hollie.    Suzanne and I had known Kathy and Hollie for several years as Kathy worked at A&H – the only convenience store in town.

That Sunday suddenly there we were with them and dozens of others worshiping and hearing about Jesus.   Well, the Lord touched our hearts that day and salvation came to the Lammay household.   That began a wonderful journey of faith which has had the Goheen’s being part of our life and family for much of that journey.  

Fond memories for me of Al are: Working on a Carson Valley Days float in the 1970s.   A car Al painted for me. Painting and working around a couple of different church buildings.  A couple of weddings (Hollie and Bill / Tracy and Arron), some funerals and a lot of worship and praise together.

For Al these past couple of years have been a real journey of faith and trials with his health.   Yet I have seen Al go back to the fire of Jesus that we shared in those early days at the church on Tillman.

There’s a great old song that always reminds me of those days, and speaks to me of what the Lord is doing currently at High Sierra Fellowship.

“LITTLE COUNTRY CHURCH”

©1971 MARANATHA! Music (Love song) Words and music Chuck Girard

Little country church on the edge of town
Doo-do- do-dn-do-do-do
People comin’ everyday from miles around
For meetin’s and for Sunday school
And it’s very plain to see
It’s not the way it used to be

Preacher isn’t talkin’ ’bout religion no more
He just wants to praise the Lord
People aren’t as stuffy as they were before
They just want to praise the Lord
And it’s very plain to see
It’s not the way it used to be

They’re talkin’ ’bout revival and the need for love
That little church has come alive
Workin’ with each other for the common good
Puttin’ all the past aside
Long hair, short hair, some coats and ties
People finally comin’ around
Lookin’ past the hair and straight into the eyes
People finally comin’ around
And it’s very plain to see
It’s not the way it used to be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZkWrn9SXwo

This is for you Al – We’ll see you soon – Maranatha! come Lord Jesus.

Zephaniah 3:5  “The LORD within her is righteous; he does no wrong. Morning by morning he dispenses his justice, and every new day he does not fail, yet the unrighteous know no shame.”  

The Lord spoke to the nation Israel via the prophet, when the city was rebellious against God, he spoke to them about this faithfulness. Today as we live in a world of uncertainty, with violence, crime, corruption and division in our culture, what great comfort these words of Zephaniah give.

 He reminds us that within the world of evil is a God who is righteous, the Lord who does no wrong. Zephaniah’s message is so timely so important to our generation. Because every day, “morning by morning” he is just, he love and mercy do not fail.

As we enter a new year and a new decade I am so excited about what the Lord is doing not only in our church and community but around the globe. As nations divide over global warming, as conflicts happen around the globe, as people in our nation separate over political ideologies, what comfort there is to know that Jesus Christ did not leave the church without hope.

John 16:13-14 “But when he, the Spirit of truth , comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.”

The Holy Spirit has been guiding believers for millennium and will continue to be with us bringing glory to Jesus by taking from what is his and revealing it to the church. How does he do that? By your life lived as a “living sacrifice” to the Lord. When the church walks in / lives by the Spirit they will bring glory to Jesus in everything we do. Glory to him by the fruit of our lives. After all that is what Jesus said is going to make all mankind know we follow him.

John 13:34-35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Lets take up the sword of the Spirit and walk in the truth as we see then new year approaching. New Year resolutions will fail but a heart focused on Jesus, a life relying on the Spirit will represent him well. It is only our connection to Jesus Christ that we can do anything. It is the Holy Spirit that brings glory to Jesus, but the Spirit is promised to the Church not to the world (John 14:17). It is as the church lives after the Spirit we will not gratify the flesh and we will represent him(Gal 5:16).

Personally I am very excited about 2010 all that the Lord has for his church. Personally I am anticipating what he has for me as a follower of him, and what he has for us at HSF as small part of his body that desires to bring glory to him.

Grace and peace, 

Pastor Rich <><

“What books are you currently reading Pastor Rich?”  That question comes to me more often then most other personal questions.   So, here’s the last few and what I am currently reading. 

The End of Reason – Ravi Zacharias.   A Response to the New Atheists  great defense and proof that our faith is reasonable and can be intellectual.   GREAT BOOK! 

Vintage Jesus – Mark Driscoll & Gerry Breshears.   Timeless answers to timely questions, a fresh look at doctrinal truths in modern street lingo.  HALF FINISHED–EXCELLENT BOOK!  

Old Testament Theology – Walter Brueggemann.    Essays on Structure Theme, and Text.  Textbook for school, very hard read, not very readable.  WOULDN’T RECOMMEND IT. 

 Proverbs – Solomon (most likely) Awesome wisdom from God!  HIGHLY RECOMMEND

 1 Timothy – Apostle Paul.  Pastoral Epistle wisdom for the church and believer from the Holy Spirit.    HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Well there’s a few of my current and recent reads, hope God speaks to you from his word and by his Spirit.   

Grace,

Pastor Rich <><

Psalm 100:4-5  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Happy Thanksgiving from San Antonio Texas.  Thanksgiving is truly a uniquely American and Christian holiday.   Fun, food, football but mostly faith.   The only reason we celebrate Thanksgiving is to thank God for his blessings.   I always think of Psalm 100 on Thanksgiving day, not because of the word thanksgiving but because of the priority of giving thanks.  

The Psalmist tells us that it is by thanksgiving we enter into the presence of the Lord.   It is with a thankful heart that we are even able to come before the throne of God.   Giving praise and thanksgiving to his great name.   Why?   Because the Lord is good and his love never fails and he is faithful to all generations.  

He is faithful today as he provides salvation through his son Jesus Christ.  His grace is enough to bring the worst of us sinners to himself.   

Suzanne and I are here in Texas and find that the Lord is as present here as he is back home.   Like his faithfulness continues through all generations, so his presence is with all who seek him, all who worship him.  

I think we live in a generation that is being prepared to carry our faith to an unbelieving world like no other generation before.   Our culture is turning away from God, our society is opposed to God, but as believers we stand in opposition to that culture.   Interesting that it is as we enter into the courts of the Lord, as we honor and praise his name that the world will know that God is worthy to be praises.  

Lets all make this thanksgiving day a time of giving praise to him who is to be praised.

Psalm 103:1-5  Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits —  who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  

Grace to you,

Pastor Rich <><

Psalm  103:1-5  “Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits — who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. ”

Forget not, the benefits of the Lord.  His forgiveness, healing, redemption, love, satisfaction, and regeneration.  High Sierra Fellowship was established almost 20 years ago with this in mind, to study God’s word and praise His name for all that He has done for mankind. Let’s agree with the Psalmist and Praise the Lord!”

This Sunday, October 18^th High Sierra Fellowship will begin a new venture of faith as we embark on two Sunday Worship Services. It’s the right step in what the Lord is doing in our church. I am both excited and apprehensive at the same time. I know so many of you have been working hard to provide the support needed to make sure all age groups are ministered to at both the 8:45 & 10:30 am services.

God has been adding to our congregation daily as He sees fit. If you’re new to the fellowship, I would like to give you a hearty “welcome”. If you’re new to the Lord I rejoice with the angels in heaven that you are now part of the Kingdom of God. No matter how you came to HSF or if you have been here for a short or long time, this Sunday we embark on a new adventure and a new venture in faith.

Having two services presents some problems but more importantly it provides for a solution. The problems seem to be around the question: “What will happen when we divide up a loving and close church family”? But the solution two services provide is more important, because it solves how we provide for the people God is bringing into the church. 

No matter which service you choose to attend, I am expecting the Lord to meet us like he does now. We will worship with the same excitement, we will sing with the same joy, we will continue to consider God’s word chapter by chapter, verse by verse. And – we will continue to join with the work of the Holy Spirit. Along with the Psalmist, let’s all look at the work of God and say: “Praise the Lord ,O my soul!”

Grace to you,

Pastor Rich <><

Please pray for Rebecca Martin a young girl in our fellowship who is in the USC hospital after getting hit by a car. She was visiting her grandmother and walking down the street when things went bad. Shane and Sabrina are there in L.A. So please keep the entire family in prayer.

James 5:13-15 “Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick ? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up…” 

We are not there physically to anoint Rebecca with oil, but God is not limited by time or space as we intercede for her. If you want to keep up with Rebecca’s progress check out this web page.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rebeccamartinupdate/journal

Blessings and Grace

Pastor Rich <><

Wow, its been a great week.   We averaged 85 children each day, with 140 total different kids coming to this years VBS.    Studio Go, was the theme, and it was not only fun but taught the children scripture as well as service to the Lord.  

 Thanks to the many workers, prayer team, and those who gave financially to make this years VBS an incredible event.

Check ou this fun link. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWFJ_rykyA4

Grace to all,

Pastor Rich <><   

James gives us three examples of what faith looks like. Faith bites its lip, by faith we do not gossip, backbite, or harm others by our words rather we build one another up in love and good deed.   

Secondly James reminds us that faith will help others, taking the risk of helping orphans and widows or whomever needs our help. It is a risk to step out because it might cost us our pide, our money or even our reputation.

Finally James reminds us that it is by faith that Christians live different then the world. The pollution of the culture will lead you away from purity and holiness. But by the risk of faith we go into the world, living different then the world and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ to guide us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. 

Here we go, Studio Go that is.  VBS is on its way day one was awesome, I’m not exactly sure how many kids we had but it was a gaggle!

The best part for me as Pastor of High Sierra Fellowship is watching all the servants come and help. Youth Group teens are involved in every part along with lots of moms, dads and just plain people who love the Lord.

Our theme scripture is:

Joshua 1: 9  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

What a great theme, today the children learned about Gideon and how he was obedient to the Lord even when he was unsure of his own calling. Gideon should be a wonderful example to all believers, he thought little of his own abilities and skills, he feared the enemy, and even asked God for a few “signs” to be sure the Lord wanted him to go into battle.  But Gideon went, and he went in faith, and when God gave him less troops, Gideon still went in faith and obedience.

Gideon stands as an example to all men and women of faith.   His faith is remembered by the Lord and his name is included in the “Hall of faith”, Hebrews chapter 11.

Tomorrow we start again.   Please pray with us that the Lord will touch many children with grace and faith.   It is our desire to fulfill the great commission and to follow our Lord in allowing the “least” to come to him.

Grace,

Pastor Rich <><