Daily Devotion

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 <><

 Matthew 9:37-38 (Jesus said) “… to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest , therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

During this season and these days we are experiencing an amazing work of God in our fellowship, it is nothing more then a Sovereign move of God’s Spirit. No one can take credit for what the Lord is doing, we can not boast that HSF has it all together, we can’t say it’s because of anything we have done.

(2 Corinthians 10:17) “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord .”

Still here we are, we have people coming to faith, we have people making a deeper commitment to their faith. We have outreaches to children and our community. Even our new facility that is more then twice the size of the old, is beginning to get a little tight. What should we do? How should we respond to what God is doing?

As I have been in prayer and meditation about the future, I am compelled that the Lord is prompting us to “get ready for the harvest.” I do not claim to be a prophet, nor do I think I have some great incite to what God is doing, but I do feel this leading from the Lord.

First Jesus said that there is coming a plentiful harvest. He desires that all would come to salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Secondly Jesus said to ask, (pray) to the Lord of the Harvest for workers. That’s where we are, we need to pray for workers, pray for wisdom and pray for direction.

Secondly in getting ready for what God wants to do, we need both workers and leadership. So we will begin to prepare workers and leaders to handle whatever God has for HSF. Below is our three fold approach to the future.

First, develop and host a leadership class.

With so much growth in the past two years, we need to insure that all the workers are on the same page. HSF is not the perfect church, we do not have all the answers, but we do have a vision and core values in the way we minister. This is who we are, we will not deviate from those values. This class will communicate who we are. So beginning soon, (Date to be announced) we will have a six or seven week Sunday Evening course on leadership. It will include, but not limited to these topics. Biblical leadership, High Sierra Fellowship core values and Inductive Bible Study techniques.

Secondly following that course we will prayerfully consider adding new Deacons and Elders and empowering them in their areas of ministry.

Finally we will be adding a second Sunday service to accommodate what God is doing. With a second service there will be new opportunities to minister, new areas for leadership, and this should help with Children’s workers – as they can serve in one service and attend the other.

Please pray with us about the future, if God is sending a harvest and we are not ready – shame on us! If we have seen the bulk of the harvest and we are building up the body with leadership and bible study tools, then that’s a very good thing all by itself. But if God has a move of His Spirit in our future and we are ready, the result will be joy and salvation!

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Blessings and Grace,   Pastor Rich <><

 “JUST ONE REQUEST” AUTHOR UNKNOWN.

         Dear master for this coming year.

         Just one request I bring:

         I do not pray for happiness, or any earthly thing.

         I do not ask to understand,

        The way Thou leadest me.

        But this I ask, Teach me to do,

       The thing that pleaseth thee.

       I want to know thy guiding voice.

       To walk with thee each day.

       Dear Master make me swift to hear and ready to obey.

       And thus the year I now begin,

       A happy year will be,

       If I am seeking just to do,

       The thing that pleaseth thee.

As we begin this new year I believe the church will face many challenges. The greatest will be to keep our identity. The culture around us is evolving and dictating to the church to conform to their standards.

We live in what has been called the “post modern age” the culture is calling out, “don’t judge me.” “I’m ok you must tolerate and accept what I do.” Society pressures Christians to conform to their values that are in constant flux.

With a new year, the church stands as an entity that could be gobbled up in the culture if we do look back to our roots. The Apostles of our Lord and the first century church were willing to go to their death for the Lord not because they made resolutions to the Lord but they were resolved about the Lord.

It is with a similar resolve the church will triumph and grow today. What is the difference between a resolve and a resolution? A Resolution is: ” A formal determination.” Resolutions are not bad, but they are often like a treaty, they last as long as it is convenient. Like making a resolution to loose weight, how long do those last? The bible does not speak about resolutions, however it does speak about having resolve. And although the word Resolutions is derived from the word Resolve, I believe there are some important differences.

To be Resolved is: “To fix or settle by deliberate choice.” To be resolved is synonymous with being purposed, determined and holding steadfast in direction.

1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

The Apostle Paul said that to a church that was worldly. Then and now the believers have one thing to offer the world, and its the only thing that will matter in eternity, we offer salvation.

Today there pressure on the church to focus on things other than the Gospel. Some would think that the church is only social reform, or to preach on health and wealth. Still others would have the church be a welfare agency, or a counseling center.

All these things may help people but none offer eternal hope. Today, much of the church has lost it’s identity, just as it had in Corinth. So like Paul going to Corinth, believers must remember and proclaim the most important message. It is the only message that shows God’s power, its the message of the Jesus Christ and the cross.

Paul reminds us that was his focus his resolve. The message of Jesus Christ is simply that no one is good enough to get to God – so God sent his Son to be good enough for us. And whosoever believes in him will have eternal life. This is the only message that demonstrates the power of God.

1CO 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Let be like the first century church who had one message, with many avenues of ministry. To be resolved in our message is to trust that by the power of the Gospel, God will do the work in people’s lives that I can not do. To be resolved in the Gospel is to trust God’s power in my own life over working my way to God. Justification by faith, its all by Grace and that is my resolution for this year, to believe God’s word and to believe that there is power in His word.

Blessings for a new year 

Pastor Rich <><

Ok so you might be tired of my Hawaii examples, yet this morning as I woke up to the wind swaying palm trees, the Lord spoke to my heart of how the believer is to be like a Hawaiian palm tree.

The fruit bearing palms in Hawaii have a band of metal around them about 15-20 feet up the tree.  It’s a piece of aluminum about 18 inches wide and it goes all the way around the tree.  What is it for?  What is this ugly piece of metal?   It’s a “rat guard.”   If a rat tries to climb that tree it can only get as high as the guard, its claws can not dig into the metal and he slips down.  So the rat can not get the fruit.

What a vivid example for the believer in Jesus Christ.   There are rats out there that want to rob your fruit, the rat of bitterness, the rat of temptation, the rat of sin.   So like the palm tree in Hawaii there needs to be a protective band around the believers life to keep those pesky rats from getting to the fruit. 

Isaiah the prophet spoke about the Lord Jesus and his ministry, and how he came to make the believer into a tree, an oak of righteousness. 

Isa 61:1-3  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,  to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Oaks of righteousness, a tree that produces good fruit, a tree that has a “rat band” of protection about its trunk.   How does the believer protect themselves from the rats that are trying to destroy this work of God?  

Ps 1:1-3  Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.   He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

The blessed man, the protected woman is the one who delights in the “law” or the word of God.  They consider it all the time, they are a tree that is planted where the water is deep and its roots go deep.   Whatever is done for the Lord will prosper.   The “rat band” of the word of God will protect and help the believer to prosper in their faith.   In Acts 2:42 we find the priority of the first century believers, it was the word of God, the fellowshipping of the Saints, prayer, and communion (worship). 

As modern day disciples of Jesus Christ we too see these priorities as the “rat bands” that put up protection from whatever keeps you from flourishing in the Lord.

PRAYER:

“Lord, put a hedge of protection about me your servant, help me to continue daily in my devotion to you and the things that keep the rats of sin from overwhelming me.”

Aloha, Blessings, and Grace

Pastor Rich <><