Daily Devotion

With a new year upon us its always a great time to reflect on the passing year and be resolved to make some changes for the coming year.   Still, how long do New Years Resolutions really last?  They say that gym memberships are at a yearly high in January only to fall to a low by June.   Diet books fly off the shelf now only to collect dust later.   But when it comes to reflecting on your faith, and resolving to grow in God’s grace, you really don’t need to wait for a New Year. 

Lamentations 3:22-23 – Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.   They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

 Jeremiah the prophet wrote those words around 590BC.  Jeremiah was a great preacher to Israel, one who, although called by God only a few people listened to his message of repentance.  He was persecuted and rejected by his own people even as he spoke the truth to them.   Still as he reflects on his life and perhaps the year gone by, Jeremiah comes up with a great conclusion:  God’s mercy is new every morning and he is always faithful.

 For us in the twenty first century, we can come to that same conclusion.   You don’t have to wait for a New Year to turn to God or return to your faith.  The mercy of the Lord is still new every day.

 Perhaps this past year was hard for you.  Maybe it was just a weird year, or maybe you had a great year.  No matter what 2011 was like, God is still calling people to himself.   When sin separates people from a relationship with God, Jesus came to bridge the gap between man and God. 

 John 10:10  (Jesus said) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Life and the devil want to rob you of a relationship with God, but Jesus says, I am here to bring you to a right relationship with God.  By trusting in him, by believing that he came to justify those who are far from God, by turning away from things that are not pleasing to God – you are born of God’s Spirit and the mercies of God are yours.

 This coming year could be a great year or maybe the Mayan calendar is right and it will be the end.  Be that as it may, whenever a man or a woman turns to the Lord in sincerity of heart, his mercies are new.  Christ came to usher in forgiveness that mankind can be right with God.  He came to give abundant life now as you can live in relationship with God, and he came to give eternal life to all who trust in him.    God’s mercy is there for all who receive his gift.   

 I hope 2012 is a great year for you all, we are praying about some direction for the fellowship, and excited about the new things that God is doing.   Mostly I pray many will come to the mercy of God and say with Jeremiah “Great is His faithfulness!”

God’s Grace to you all

Pastor Rich <>< 

Marie Glasgow March 31,1926 - October 27,2011

 Ecclesiastes 3:1-4  “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,  a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”  

When King Solomon wrote those words he was on a personal quest to find fulfillment and meaning in life.  In some ways he went down the wrong path, he begins to become cynical as he finds life meaningless.  He sees the merry-go-round of life.  He considers, birth, work, partying, raising a family, pursuing wealth, sensual pleasures, all as unsatisfying toil that end in death.   He sees the cycle of life as a drudgery that man can do nothing about. 

In the end the wise king comes to a deep understanding that fulfillment and satisfaction will only come from a relationship with God. 

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty ] of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

That’s exactly what Jesus told us, that life can and will bring worry and stress, life can be a drudgery but there is a fulfillment in your relationship with God. 

 Matthhew 6:33-34  “…Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you… Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

The old rock song says it well, Steve Miller wrote:   Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ – Into the future Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’ – Into the future. 

Life can bring drudgery and even pain as time just passes away but when you have your relationship with God, although there is sorrow and pain, there is purpose and meaning in the cycles of life.

 With this post my mother, Marie has suddenly passed away.  Within two weeks she went from going out to dinner with family to being in eternity.   She was a very intelligent woman who had her trials in life and although she had little formal education she succeeded in everything she did.   She leave behind a sister, four children, 10 Grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many who love her deeply.

 Suzanne and I want to thank you all for your prayers, love and support during a very tough season of life.  More then the death of my mother, we have faced trials from every side.  Some of those trials we are facing with some of you, some on our own.  But God… God is good all the time.  It is times like this that we all are reminded of the words of our Lord. 

John 16:33 “…In me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

 Grace to all,

Pastor Rich   <><  

Today there’s a lot of talk about debt. We have the national debt that’s out of control.  We have personal debt, which most Americans have way too much.   We have corporate debt and the housing crisis all because our culture has borrowed our way to prosperity.
 
The Bible speaks volumes about prosperity but mostly about a prosperity that comes to the soul that’s right with God.  The bible also speaks much about debt and the bondage financial debt brings to a person.  Like prosperity the Bible also speaks about another side of debt, the debt that everyone owes God.  The debt you can not repay, the debt of Christ dying for your sin. 
 
Then there is one more debt that the Bible brings to light.  The debt Christians owe their neighbor.
 
Romans 13:8-10 “ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”   Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
 
Jesus gave one commandment, to love like he loves us (John 13:34-35).  He said that by keeping his command people will know that you’re his follower.  The Apostle Paul writes, “You are indebted to love” – and that’s a debt worth keeping.  When financial debt brings bondage and stress the debt of love brings freedom. 
 
Our text says:  “When you live in love, you fulfill all the commands.”  When the 10 commandments stand as a picture of God’s perfection and a lofty goal for believers to live by, the harsh reality is that nobody has ever been able to keep God’s law.  But the law of love is different, when you live by divine love (Agape), you are keeping the commandments.
 
Wow, that’s exciting, because it reminds me that it’s not by legalistic ritual that anyone is made right with God.  It’s only by following the Holy Spirit that anyone has the capability to love that way.  Who can love like Jesus?  Humans are full of greed, envy, jealousy and suspicions but God’s love is perfect.  How can you love with divine love?   How can a man / a woman live in this debt of love?  It’s only by surrender to Christ and a constant infilling of the Holy Spirit.
 
Galatians  5:22-23 “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
 
First surrender to Christ as Lord, then follow the Holy Spirit, the result is love and all the virtues that love brings.   
 
In a day when debt is on the minds of many, I believe its time to get back to the understanding that we are indebted to God and should be indebted to love others with the love that God has given to us.  (1John 4:7-8)

Grace & Love in Christ;     Pastor Rich   <><  

James 5:16 “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

As many of you know our Brother and HSF Elder Dave Buffo had major brain surgery today.  We are in SF with him and the family, and all went well. 

Suzanne and I were able to see and talk with Dave after the surgery (amazing he was very cognizant and aware of everything) and I was very encourage by how we interacted.    The next few day will be tough the Doctor said that there will be brain swelling and he will take some steps backward for a couple of days before things get better.  

 Please continue to pray for Dave and Elaine as there will be months of follow up, Chemotherapy and Radiation.  

God has given wisdom to mankind and at UCSF medical center they are on the cutting edge of technology and were able to perform a surgery that was unheard of just a few years ago.  So – God gets the glory and we continue to pray for complete recovery and healing.

As James reminds us the prayer of a person who is right before God is powerful and effective.  James continues to give us a great human example of powerful prayer. 

James 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.  Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.”

 Elijah was just a regular guy but when he prayed things happened.  God hears the prayers of his people not because of what we are but because of who he is and because our prayer are given in the Name of our Lord and Sovereign, Jesus Christ.  

The Apostle Paul simply reminds us.

 Ephesians  6:18  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

When Jesus sent his men out to minister he gave them specific instructions, one of those instructions was to leave a place that they were not welcome. 

Mark 6:11  “And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them.”

High Sierra Fellowship is moving locations – in part because we are not welcome in our current facility.  During the past three years on Industrial Way, we have seen tremendous growth in both numbers and depth with the Lord.  As a congregation we have grown to where we will be adding a third weekend worship service and it’s been awesome to see what God has been doing.  Yet even more exciting is the depth of work that we have witnessed among our members.  We have seen salvations, dozens of baptisms and we have witnessed folks returning to the Lord leaving sinful lives and going deeper in their relationship with Jesus.   That’s what we are all about!

At the same time we are witnessing the Lord work, we have been challenged in some relationships with our neighbors in the building.  Those challenges have come to an impasse where the landlord has decided it is easer for her to not deal with the few requirements we have for worship times.   We have asked for a few quiet hours on Sunday’s and Wednesday evenings. 

As the majority renters and good stewards of God’s money, we felt that was reasonable, yet the other party is not only not willing to work with us they are not willing to speak with us.   So, like Jesus, when he was not welcome he left that place, we too will be moving to new facilities. 

Our new home was built as a church, it has no co-renters in the building, but will present a few challenges.   1701 Lucerne Street Minden is the address, we are currently working in the building to make it work better for our needs.   Some of the challenges are the size is somewhat smaller then our current facilities and the parking is limited so we have secured off site parking.  Finally, there is not enough room for a comprehensive youth facility, so we are looking at an off site building for the youth.  

While God has blessed us in our current location, as he has wherever we have met, I have no doubt that he will continue to work in our new location.   There is excitement in the midst of the work to be done.  Over the next few weeks we will be doing some minor construction, lots of painting, and having new carpets installed.  With  those changes come opportunities to help.  If you can volunteer for anything from painting to packing, from moving or coordination of efforts.  Please call the church office 782-7486 and we will get back with you.  

Our target date is April 3^rd. it’s an aggressive schedule but together we can make it happen, if the Lord wills.   So – “Here we Grow”.   I use that term because through this move we will continue to do what we do best.

1. Teach God’s word.
2. Worship in Spirit and Truth.
3. Minister by the Holy Spirit. 

Acts 2:42  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord and your support of the ministry of High Sierra Fellowship.   Please plan to attend our Business Meeting on March 13^th @ 1:00pm for some more details and future vision for the fellowship.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Rich    <><

Psalm 100   “Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  Know that the LORD is God.  It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  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.”

 The bible speaks volumes about Thanksgiving and when it does, it is always expressed toward God.  So as we celebrate this wonderful holiday, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I too enter the gates of the Lord with Thanksgiving and praise.

 This year we are in Texas for the holiday and having a wonderful time with our children, their spouses and our six grandchildren.  We had a wonderful meal and fellowship with their Pastor here in San Antonio, we have relaxed, gone on school outings, hikes, worked on cars, worked on a swimming pool, enjoyed warm weather, and watched a little football – all things to be thankful for.   Yet real thankfulness is not for things or blessings, but gratitude for the Grace of God.   

 As the Psalm says, we enter into the presence of the Lord with our thanksgiving.  Its an understanding that all we have, the blessings of family, the joys of life and the benefits of faith are from the Grace and hand of the Lord. 

 When God knew the depraved state of mankind, he did something about it.  He sent the Savior Jesus Christ as the Atoning Sacrifice for sin, once for all, Jesus died for our sins, the just for the unjust.   If you know this to be true, then you really have something to be thankful for.

 How you express that thankfulness is seen in our Psalm, with shouts of joy, worship and praise, and keeping in view his loving kindness, and his faithfulness, that is the heart of Thanksgiving for those who believe.  

 What are you Thankful for?   Maybe things are hard, but remember the Lord is Good, and HIS Faithfulness is seen in all generations. 

GRACE TO YOU

PASTOR RICH <><

Fellowship

Prayer

Worship

Teaching

The number 40 is a very biblical number. Forty days of flood and Noah’s ark, forty years Moses was in the wilderness and on the mountain. King Saul ruled for forty years and of course Jesus fasted forty days and nights. Forty, the number of brave Men from High Sierra Fellowship who participated in our “Living Sacrifices” Retreat. Men form their late teens to mid sixties all gave up a weekend for the one purpose of knowing God better. 

Pastor Jay McCarl (Calvary Chapel Cool CA) led most of our teaching giving us amazing insights into what a living sacrifice is and what it looks like in a twenty first century man. Garritt Fauria challenged us with an awesome devotion and EdAddeo kept us laughing as he challenged us with being bold and not timid.

Our men broke into small groups where we watched the Lord move and work in guys lives and hearts. Two men came to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and I think all of us were moved to draw closer to God.

Romans 12:1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 It is the consistent view of God’s mercy that challenges us to offer our lives back to him. Living different then the world, not conforming to the culture and being transformed in our thinking is what allows the believer to know, test and approve of God’s will in their lives.

Continue to pray for all forty of us that the work that God did this weekend will continue to grow as we become great men and leaders for God.

Starting with a great birthday on Sunday and ending up with emergency surgery on Monday, it’s been quite a ride. Yet through it all God is so gracious and working in both my life and the lives of those He puts in my path. 

So what happened? Okay, the Readers Digest version is best. Monday Suzanne and I were taking on a long put off landscape project and went out in the mountains to gather some colorful rocks. On our second trip, I tripped. I was carrying two large rock up a very steep hill when my feet slipped and the rocks went flying. Well, one of them landed on my right index finger which broke in several places. We rushed home changed vehicles and went to the emergency room. Four hours later I was having surgery. Dr. Robertson did a great job putting pins in my finger and we hope it will heal completely over the next few months. 

So… I have a cast on my right arm (yes I’m typing left handed) but more than any pain or inconvenience I want to blog about the goodness of God. 

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

When trials come be they because of my own clumsiness or be they from the had of another, or even from God. I can take that trial as from the Lord. James teaches us to look beyond the outward manifestations of the trial and look to what God is doing in my life by the trial.  

What great comfort I have knowing that God knows and knew about this long before it happened. What great anticipation I can have knowing God loves me so much that he wants me to learn perseverance and grow my faith by this trial 

Thank to all for your prayers, support and love – keep it up.

Grace To You all.

Pastor Rich <><

 Psalm 121:1-3 “I lift up my eyes to the hills — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber.

Saturday 11 hearty hikers ascended Markleeville peak. What a great time, at the top Bob Stulac shared from this Psalm. There something about being near 10,000 feet elevation and viewing all of God’s wonderful creation as you hear the Word of God spoken. What an awesome time!

I really like that Psalm, in a day when people look to nature for peace, the Psalmist reminds us that “help comes from the Lord.” God is the one who watches over his children, not mother nature, its “Father Nature” “The Maker of heaven and earth.”

 High Sierra has another hike planned this one a little more family oriented. Lake Margarete near Kirkwood will be the destination on August 21^st. Hope you can make it.

 Grace  Pastor Rich <><

Fathers day in the Minden park was awesome. We worshiped in the open air, had a teaching from Hebrews about “Father Abraham”, a Barbecue, and a concert. What a great day.

Although Abraham is called the father of all who believe, he is mostly our example of faith. By faith when spoken to by a God he did not know, he left his father’s home and went where God showed him. By faith he lived as a nomad, a stranger in the land God had shown him. By faith, he believed the promise of a son, and Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah in their old age. By faith he offered his son on the altar as God tested Abraham and he passed the test with flying colors.

That last thing is often hard for us to understand; Why would God have Abraham offer his son? Yet I think that is the sign of a great father. One that will take his children and offer them back to the Lord as a sacrifice, not with a knife and fire but by trusting God with them and raising them as strangers in the world.

Ephesians 6:4 Fathers , do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

The Apostle Paul gives us that great wisdom, it’s God’s word for the believing man, to raise their children / grandchildren in the ways of the Lord, not push them to the point of discouragement, and not punish them too harshly – but “train them”. Training of course involves interaction and involvement. Fathers are to be involved with their kids, involved with their lives, their personalities, and their education. They need to have interaction with their children’s schooling, with their children’s manners, and raising them to become productive citizens of our nation and for our God.

Father’s day has been around since the early 1900s but fathers have been both good and bad examples to their children since the creation. As believers in Christ, we are commanded to live like Abraham, strangers in the world, a huge piece of that is to raise our kids and grandkids in the was of God. Let’s take Paul’s word to the church in Ephesus to heart, and “bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”

Grace to you;

Pastor Rich <><