Category: Being Thankful

Be Right With God—Be right with Your 1st Ministry |Leadership 101

The Above is still true today as it was long ago and will be in the future…

We are to teach and lead our wives & children to Christ. This is the ultimate goal in life. 

Imagine a mob of 100 people going around your neighborhood. They have one thing in mind—to break into all the houses, including yours. 

You hear the noise in your home and the next-door neighbors. You have your wife call 911. Will you go and help your neighbor and leave your wife and kids to fend for themselves?

Or will you grab your gun, bat, knife, etc., have your wife call 911 and then go and defend your family?

I know that you’re smirking and saying, “Oh, you poor soul….ha ha ha, Oscar, of course, I’ll defend my house! What fool would not!

I say, good for you. I know you would defend your house and everyone in it. But why then, are you not having the same fervor with their spiritual walk?

“Well, uh…what do you mean?!”

Does the Bible say in Deuteronomy 6:1-9 to:

—Love and obey God with everything you have, then go and share that to your co-workers?….NO

Love and obey God with everything you have, then go and share that to the children in Manacutta, Babylonia (not a real place)?….No

—Love and obey God with everything you have, then go and share it with your neighbors?….No

Deuteronomy 6:1-9

TEACH OUR CHILDREN AND THEN community

Community is not just the church community. Our faith is at its strongest when we are discipling and sharing the gospel. Our faith has become stagnant when all we do is go into a building and fellowship together.

Eat, drink (water for me and soda or juice for anyone else), go to functions together, have home fellowships together, and go out together. Does that sound about right? Please don’t get me wrong. Fellowship is vital for our spiritual health. But so is discipling and sharing the gospel. That is what we are to be doing.

Going out into the world and making disciples of all nations…we live in a part of the country where so many nationalities are living together. We don’t have to hop on a plane to make disciples of all nations. America is the land where all countries come to live and thrive in.….All the nations are here!

All this to say, if you are having problems with your spouse, stop everything you’re doing and go and fix the problem, the church will be there when you’ve won her over.

If your spouse and kids don’t want to go to church, ask yourself:

—Are they that rebellious to God?

—Or are they tired of seeing you at church every moment of the week, instead of being at home taking care of your family duties?

If you find yourself at a church study here, a church function here, a cleaning day there, women’s gathering here, a special church function over there…and you are not in full-time ministry, stop it! Then you wonder why your spouse and kids are so antichurch. They don’t want that kind of Christianity.

Go and spend some time with your kids. Talk to them. Communicate with them like you do to people at church. Love your spouse and family, disciple them. And when they start asking to go to church with you and mean it, be glad that you left the ninety-nine and went to get your lost little sheep ( Matthew 18:12 ).

There are too many divorces and children going by the wayside because we did not stop everything we were doing at church to go and fix the problems at home (Matthew 5:24, Mark 11:25 ). God and your church building will be waiting for you after you make things right in your personal life. Then and only then will God truly bless your walk…

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment

The Journey is Yours—But Don't Go It Alone |Christian Basics

Hebrews 12:1

As Christians, we must look at life as a long marathon or journey through the last stop.
When I was younger, I would run eight miles up and back with just a water break in between. I often would just run to run. I loved running. It calmed me down.
Now, as I am older, I’ll tell my wife I’m going for a walk. Sometimes, I’ll call her five miles later to pick me up. This also clears my head.
We usually get up and walk early in the morning before anything or anyone is up. This is the best time to talk about the day, our goals, and about God.

—All this to say, life is a journey. Yes, you’ve heard this before. But for those who have committed their lives to Christ, that phrase has more profound meaning.
We are to run this life race and help others in their journey along the way.

Where there are people who are running the wrong way, we are supposed to stop and offer directions. We are to get those who are lost a way back on the road.
When we see someone stumbling, or slowing down, this race is at an individual level, but it doesn’t mean we don’t stop to help and encourage others who may be slowing down or about to get off the road and stop.
Our lives are not for racing as fast as we can and taking first place.

—Our job is more of medics, who are running or jogging down the road to find and help those who are hurting, or ready to call it quits.

Psalm119:99

—Our medicine is the Word of God, and our emergency contact is God Himself. We have a 911 direct line to God anytime we need it. And unlike calling the earthly 911 here, God will not tell us that we are not supposed to call for non-emergency stuff.

You see, our journey is so much better when we have a ‘cloud of witnesses‘ running alongside us, helping us, and seeing us through. Because we will also be making sure those around us get help in getting back up or even carried through this race.

—All this to say that with 2020:

—If you are one of those who are tired or weary from last year, ask God to lighten the load you’re carrying.
—If you don’t know how to ask God, it’s as easy as going somewhere quiet, looking up and asking God to help you through this tough period in your life.
—If you are struggling financially, or with a horrible addiction, or are going through a complicated relationship issue, God will help you through. He may not take away the problem that was there already.

But, I do promise that He will make it bearable for you to see it through.

If you are a Christian who is looking at 2020 without being excited about the possibilities where God can use you to help others or get in a better relationship with Him; I ask you to stop everything you are doing and go in your prayer closet. Wherever that may be, and sit still enough to hear from Him. Be patient, ask with sincerity and humility. Then see what He guides you in.

Make this year the year that grows you spiritually, mentally and physically, in that order.

When you get right with God, everything else in this journey falls into place the way God wants it. It may not be the way you thought it would, but trusting him and surrounding yourself with other believers, will see you through this year and the next, and the next after that.

Run the race or walk it with endurance, the prize will be all those around you whom you have helped along the way…
Go get 2020! It’s yours! Because God has you covered!….

If you want to get closer to God, or want to have a personal relationship with Jesus, ask Him into your life. Comit yourself to Him today. DOn;t wai!

Know God

Steps to Peace With God

How Can I know God

Pasos para la Salvación PDF

Paz Con Dios

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment

A Time To Start Again |Happy New Year 2020!

Isaiah 40:30-31

In my previous post I asked what kind of gift God had given you, and how you would be able to use it for God.

Since 2020 is fast approaching, I want to take time out to reflect on the things that I know most of us are thinking about:

—What is it that I want to do next year?

—What have I been wanting to get done this year that I have not done yet?

—What am I supposed do with my life?

—How do I know what I am supposed to be?

—Why have I not finished school yet?

—I want to get started on this but am not sure that I can do it.

—I am afraid to allow myself to start on _____________.

—What is it that makes you want to go and conquer?

—If you had all the money in the world, what would you do to give back to humanity?

—If you are still in school and under 21, what is it that you want to do in life?

If you are under 21 and you’re not sure what you want to do in the future, it’s okay, you don’t have to figure things out yet. But, you do have to set some goals for yourselves for next year.

—Which of the questions above are you pondering?

—Which one of the above have you procrastinated on?

Whatever questions, whatever state, whatever problems you face, whatever ideas you want to start, know this—

God has your back. He will help you get through or get started or get over it.

So make 2020 a new, refreshed, reinventive, reorganized, refreshed, resolved, readjusted, recommitted, #New Year!

Here’s to a New Year where you soar above all the problems, nuisances, & past events!

Let this New Year be where you wait on God to renew you spiritually, mentally & physically! Go get 2020 by the tail & don’t let go until you arrive at your destination!

Then Soar Like Never Before!

Happy & Blessed 2020 to all of you!

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment

Back To The Garden—T-13 Days |Christmas 2019 Series

T-13 days Until Christmas!

—In my previous post, I mentioned that Joseph, and his future bride Mary, who was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, were in a bind, trying to find a place to rest for a few days in Bethlehem.
They were forced by the Roman Emperor’s decree to go to their ancestral tribe’s town to get counted in a Roman Empire wide census.

This was one of the principal Prophecies being fulfilled by God for verification. But there were others…

Genesis Genesis 3:15

—You see, God had promised Adam and Eve, right from the beginning of their disobedience, that He would one day redeem them and reconnect His relationship with them. Redeem means to buy back, or release the debt. This redeeming was going to be fulfilled by Jesus on the cross.

2 Samuel 7:13, 2 Samuel 7:16 BSB

But here’s another amazing part:

—Jesus also had to fulfill God’s promise to Adam. One of his descendants would be born to stomp on satan’s head. Not killing him but injuring his devilish whisperings.

This devious and evil fallen being would wreak havoc on Adam and Eve’s descendants, until Jesus’ work of redemption on the cross. ( Genesis 3:15 ).

—And, Jesus had to come from the line of King David due to the promise God gave this king. That one of his descendants would be The Anointed One or Messiah of Israel( 2 Samuel 7:13; 2 Samuel 7:16 ), thus being born of Mary’s line through David ( Ruth 4:18-22; Luke 3:23-38 ), and also legally through His step dad Joseph’s line through David ( Matthew 1:1-17 ).

Satan would never recover. His weapon is the intellectual essence of this world…

—Satan would never recover. His weapon is the intellectual essence of this world. People who are influenced by this enemy and his hordes intellectually, are also those not spiritually connected in a relationship with Christ ( 1 Corinthians 15:55).
Those who “hear his voice”( John 10:27, John 10:14 ) have lessened the effect of the enemy’s whisperings. We are filled by God’s Spirit, who gives us discernment to perceive something is wrong when we come across things that may not be good for us.

All this to say, Joseph & Mary could not find a room to rest in their ancestral place. Yet, they both had family in Bethlehem, who may have helped them but were unable to host them correctly.

—This little family would end up in a place with animals who witnessed the birth of their God incarnate. It would be a perfect conclusion to God’s promise of one of Adam and Eve’s descendants, who would come and make things right again. Reconnecting humanity back to God in a sort of garden-like-state.

Here’s what I mean:

Two people—a man & woman back in connection with God and his creatures, like in the Garden.
No poor, poor Joseph & Mary, God had them where He wanted them.

—Alongside His other creation. The Almighty would also be making the animals reconnect with their Creator. The little donkeys, sheep, and goats would be a witness for their kind; since they could see who this Baby really was!
Why would God want His little creatures there?
—Like Joseph and Mary’s fore-parents when they were taking care of the Garden, more specifically, God’s animals.
God orchestrating this incredible manger scene to show his children that this God-baby-King was setting the Garden scene back to what it should have been….thus fulfilling the Genesis prophecy, and the Davidic prophecy of a Messiah coming to set things right.
—No other man in His-story has even come close to fulfilling just one specific prediction written thousands of years before ever taking place.
—Jesus fulfilled hundreds and hundreds of pre-written prophecies regarding His First Coming or First Advent.
More to come on these predictions being fulfilled…

If you don’t have a connection with Jesus, make this incrdibly wonderful time of the year be the moment you reconnect with your God, don’t wait:

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

Paz Con Dios

Pasos para la Salvación PDF

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment

But You, House of Bread…T-14 Days |Christmas 2019 Series

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2

At the time of this prophecy, Bethlehem’s population was about 200 or so. When Jesus was born, there was no room at an inn. The town of under 500 would not expect so many people visiting all at once. This overpopulation was due to Caesar Augustus (Luke 2:1) demanding a decree for all his subjects to be numbered in a Roman census.

The decree forced people to go to their ancestral towns to get counted. Not because the emperor was concerned about his subjects, but because he wanted to ensure the empire was taxing its subjects correctly.  

So right around 4-6 B.C., a future family of three traveled about 80-90 miles from Nazareth (Luke 2:4). They were tired, and poor Mary had been putting up with the bumps and bruises of sitting on a donkey through steep mountainsides to get to their ancestral town. 

So the “no room at the inn” scenario is highly possible.

Now imagine all of them tired and dirty from travel. Baby starts moving more, and Mary is feeling all of it. Men, we don’t have a clue about this, but the women who have gone through the process of giving birth definitely know what comes next!

Typical Jewish House during time of Jesus—Courtesy of Jesusstory.net

Joseph! I don’t care if there’s no room at the inn! This baby is coming out whether we have reservations or not!

Joseph, trying his best to protect and care for his family, does the next best thing to a reserved room at the inn—He saves money, and the little family gets comfortable in a manger (Luke 2:7). 

Courtesy of Psephizo

Now you may be thinking that these mangers are filthy. Yes, they were. Anywhere animals are kept will be dirty, but remember that most animals’ living spaces were at the bottom of the dwelling where their owners lived. They had to bring them in for safety reasons—one was to keep them warm, and the other was to keep them from being stolen. 

All this to get to the House of Bread or Beyth-lechem, where Jesus’ lineage was. Both Mary and Jesus’ step-dad were from the same tribe or clan or house. Except each came from different ancestors before ending with David.

The same David who slew the great Giant Goliath and the same one whom God promised one of his descendants would be the Messiah of Israel and the world.

The incredible prophetic utterance of Micah is astounding. The odds of two people from the same ancestor (David), getting together and having to travel just under a 100 miles through steep mountainous terrain, and Mary being with child. Then as soon as they get to their destination, she delivers, while extraterrestrial things are happening right outside of the little town, with a moving star leading Magi to the very spot where a baby king was being born, would be astronomical! Thats for a future post!

For now, just think of you and your spouse meeting and then getting married. Only to have to go to your ancestral cities for a world-wide census. What would be the odds of both of you coming from the same city or town? Let alone having a male baby being born in that town at the exact time you had to be there for the census?…

This was what Jesus did, fulfilling an 700-800 year old prophecy or prediction of the coming Prince of Peace whom the Jews called their Messiah…

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

Paz Con Dios

Pasos para la Salvación PDF

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment

God with us — T-15 days |Christmas 2019

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace


Isaiah 9:6

To think that the Creator of the universe humbled Himself and became a Baby to fulfill His promise thousands of years back. This prophecy in Isaiah chapter 9, was about 700-750 years old. One of many predictions or prophecies which came true!

More to come….

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

Paz Con Dios

Pasos para la Salvación PDF

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment

8 DAYS OF GIVING THANKS T-2 DAYS |THANKSGIVING 2019

Thank You LORD for those who serve us

by Oscar Roca
Soldier Coming Home
Bible verse John 15:13

Today I want to thank all those who serve people in any capacity. From the waiters and waitresses at restaurants, or the store employees who work hard to keep the aisles and checkouts clear, to the first responders who selflessly give up their family time to keep all of us safe and in good health.
I especially would like to thank the men and women in the armed forces who will not be with their families this upcoming Holy Day Season.
I pray that all of You make it back home safely and that you are blessed by the LORD tremendously. Your selfless service to this country and the world is noticed and appreciated by all in this family.
LORD, I thank You for all those that will be working to stock the aisles and clear the busy holiday checkouts. I also thank you for the local public servants who are out there keeping our streets safe and doing extraordinary things in emergency services. I ask that You keep them all safe as they take care of this community.
Father, I ask that You bring those that are far away from their families, peace of this season, where Your Son came down from His throne and became a humble infant, only to accomplish Your will—to save humanity from their sins which separated us from You.
May all those serving in the military find Your peace, joy, and love while they are out there putting their lives on the line for all of us. May they also know Father, that we are praying for their safety and the safety of their families left behind without a dad, mom, uncle, aunt, brother or sister. I pray that they will feel the love of their families, communities, and especially the love of Your son Jesus. I pray this in Your name Lord…

______________________________________________________________________________

“Nadie tiene un amor mayor que éste: que uno dé su vida por sus amigos.

Juan 15:13 Spanish: La Nueva Biblia de los Hispanos

Hoy quiero agradecer a todos los que sirven a las personas en cualquier capacidad. Desde los meseros y meseras en los restaurantes, o los empleados de la tienda que trabajan duro para mantener los pasillos y las cajas abiertas, hasta los primeros en responder que descuidan el tiempo de su familia para mantenernos a todos seguros y en buen estado de salud.

Me gustaría agradecer especialmente a los hombres y mujeres de las fuerzas armadas que no estarán con sus familias esta próxima temporada de días santos Navideños. Oro para que todos ustedes regresen a casa sanos y salvos. Que el Señor los bendiga tremendamente. Su servicio altruista a este país y al mundo es notado y apreciado por todos en esta familia. SEÑOR, te agradezco por todos los que trabajarán para abastecer los pasillos y despejar las cajas de compras. También te agradezco por los servidores públicos locales que están manteniendo nuestras calles seguras y haciendo cosas extraordinarias en los servicios de emergencia.

Te pido que los mantengas a salvo mientras cuidan de esta comunidad. Padre, te pido que le des a los que están lejos de sus familias, la paz de esta temporada, donde Tu Hijo bajó de Su trono y se convirtió en un Niño humilde, solo para cumplir Tu voluntad, para salvar a la humanidad de los pecados que nos separaron de Ti.

Que todos los que sirven en el ejército encuentren Tu paz, alegría y amor mientras estén lejos de su seres queridos, arriesgando sus vidas por todos nosotros. Que ellos también sepan Padre, que estamos orando por su seguridad.  Además oro por la seguridad de sus familias que se quedaron sin un padre, madre, tío, tía, hermano o hermana en estas temporadas. Oro para que sientan el amor de sus familias, comunidades y especialmente el amor de Tu hijo Jesús. Amen…

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

Paz Con Dios

Pasos para la Salvación PDF

oscarlikes2writeLeave a comment
Create a website or blog at WordPress.com