Encouragement – PleaseBeStillMoments

Church Is Where You Take It! |Boundless Church

I was speaking to my Barber as he was cutting my hair. I’ve gotten to know him well. It’s been almost a decade.
There are barbers closer to me. I had one before that is about a 5-minute drive who cuts hair just as well, but his bedside manner is atrocious. The current Barber is a little bit longer ride.
The reason I go to him is that he is one of the most Christ-like people I know.
In the years I’ve been going there, he regularly shows me an example of what a Christian should be.
People come in to see him and wait, sometimes hours to ask him questions. He is one of the best counselors I’ve heard. He gives scripture in every answer, and Christ’s love is always apparent.
Sometimes, I wish that I could have his patience. Homeless people come in asking to use the restroom. He lets them use it, and after they leave, excuses himself to clean it, so that his paying customers will not complain.
He wanted to be a Catholic priest early in his life and decided that marriage was more important. I agree with my Barber’s statement. Adam was lonely, even when walking with God. Men and women are never to be isolated, except to fast from each other.

All this to say, my Barber encourages me incredibly; and for that, I am eternally grateful. Why? Because he knows I am a pastor, and I know he loves God being a Catholic. Yet, we both are working in the LORD’s Harvest until the day He sounds the Trumpets for His workers to stop the work and go and celebrate. I am delighted and rejoice when it’s time to see my Barber because we can chat about Christ and point all who hear us to Him!

If you own a business or if you are a coach, or stay at home mom, or if you are a jet setter traveling all over the place, church is everywhere and anywhere. Go out and make disciples. Point evryone to Jesus! There is no boundery or limit or lack of people!

P.S. i didn’t name him because I will not take his crown away!

Click on any of these links if you want a personal relationship and commitment to God:

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

October 17, 2019October 17, 2019

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Sweet Smelling or Downright Putrid Sacrifice?

DISCLAIMER:
I am as competitive as anyone who has played sports during the first third of their lives. I get upset as well or better than anyone. So this is also for me…

“1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the Law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.…”— Galatians 6:1-2 Berean Study Bible

A few days ago, the Dodgers let themselves be taken out of the playoffs.
I was extremely disappointed with them, but what are you gonna do!?
Oscar Roca

***“My old torn Dodgers shirt- waiting for them to win World Series to get another!”***

But, I have learned one thing, sports, whatever sport it is… is just this— a bunch of athletes trying to either hit, kick or move a ball from one direction to the next. That’s it! No more, no less!
These athletes get paid for doing what we all did at recess and after school!
But for those reading this who are Christians, we don’t put baseball or football or American Football in the same sentence as life and death moments!
There were comments all over social media about the Dodgers after their playoff debacle. These comments were not so Christ-like. I’m not talking about those who are not Christians. That would be a regular thing. The comments came from Believers.
Again, the moment my team lost, A thousand thoughts, both good and evil, came to mind.
Then something happened, as it always does— God sent me a flash-like video
Of a couple whom we love, and what’s happening on their journey this moment.
You see, one of their little ones is going through a ferocious ordeal. Such as most Christians would not be able to handle. Yet, I know that the LORD has sent this to them because they are proving and showing their Spiritual Growth. They have been right in the middle of the storm, riding it through with God’s Providence.
From an outsider’s point of view, the situation would have brought people to their knees, cursing and crying like some of those fans on social media did when their team lost.
But this couple’s precious walk has shown both of them:
— That God is in full control through the storm, they are going through.
—That their faith has made them trust the LORD more than ever.
— That their walk is not wavering but is stronger in both of them.
— That each has stepped up and held on tightly to God and each other.
— That they are well deserving for their kids to call them mommy and daddy!
— That their child is in perfect hands—God’s and their’s.

I pondered a bit in this after seeing the comments. I wanted to write something, anything, for my team to fix their problems. But I didn’t. Why?
Because in life, when a spouse or child or friend has fallen down, we pick them up. We don’t yell at them or curse them or leave them in the mud Galatians chapter 6 tell us to bear one another’s burdens.

I feel for all the Dodgers and Kersahw. I don’t wish them anything bad. I will lift them up in prayer, because, that’s the right thing to do. Sepecially, when a fellow brother in the LORD is hurting!
Oscar Roca

That young couple I’m speaking about has cast their burdens on Jesus. They have trusted in Him and want their children to do the same.
This couple has made an investment in faith, trust in God, each other, and the doctors involved.
Their children are watching their sweet smelling living sacrifices for the LORD, making their little walk with God real and captivating!

I don’t know if those who wrote all those derogatory comments towards their team, individual players, and organization can say the same thing.
What will the spouses, kids, family, and friends see in their testimony?…

October 11, 2019October 11, 2019

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Atonement You can’t Atone Yourself |Feasts of The LORD 2019

Today is a solemn day for a significant percentage of Israeli and Jews throughout the world. This is the day where they come before the LORD in Repentance. This is one of the holiest of Holy Days for the observing Jews. This is the day that every Jewish believer lives for. For on this day, the sins of Israel are said to be atoned by God.

Leviticus 23 tell us:

Atonement: Per Noah Webster Dictionary of 1828: 3. In theology, the expiation of sin made by the obedience and personal sufferings of Christ. Expiation means a redeeming, reparation, restitution; in this case, the erasing or redeeming, purchasing of a person’s sins for the year, pardoned by God through the sacrificial blood of the bull and goat in Levitiucs 16.

Each man representing his household would come into the Tabernacle, and later the Temple of God, and offer up their sacrifice. This sacrifice would atone or placate God’s righteous judgment on them for one year until the following Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur.

Kippur comes from the word KPR or כָּפַר— From Strong’s H3722. kaphar— Which means to cover over, pacify, make propitiation. In other words, to give a person grace or pardon for another year without God’s wrath being poured out on them…
Oscar Roca

There is story in both Talmuds, which tells of the scapegoats who were released as a symbol of God’s grace to the nation of Israel from 30-70 A.D. Each year, during the Day of Atonement, one goat was sacrificed, and another was sent out into the wilderness as a symbol of the nation’s sins. The High priest would tie a crimson or red string on the scapegoat, then send it away from the encampment. This scapegoat would be a symbol for the nation of Israel taking all of their sins away from them and into the wilderness. If the scapegoat came back, they would check the color of the string wrapped around it’s horn. If the string turned white in color, it meant that God had forgiven the nation of their sins. If it stayed red, that mean God had not. Another fascinating thing happened throughout the same years, the priest would cast lots with a type of token or coin. To make a long story short, the priest would cast lots from an urn (like water pitcher). If he picked L’HaShem on his right hand, that meant that God had forgiven Israel for that year. If the lot ended up on his left hand, that determined God had rejected the whole nation...

From 30 A.D. to 70 A.D., the string tied around the scapegoat’s horn came back red & the lot the priest would pick always ended up on his left hand! Meaning that God had rejected His people’s sacrifices for that year!
Talmud – Yoma 39a – 39b

What happened between that incredible period? Jesus was crucified, and a generation later, the Temple of Herod was destroyed in 70 A.D.

So for those forty years, God was telling a generation of Jews, His people, to come back to Him by believing in His Son Jesus, Messiah. YHWH’s incredible love and mercy for His people was evident. Because God is not willing that any should be punished eternally. (Isaiah 30:18, 2 Peter 3:9, 2 Peter 3:15 )

I was wondering how I would be explaining the application to this incredibly High Holy Day. As I was taking a break, I received a text from a young man in the LORD. He explained his anxiousness and also his regret of a couple of things he was struggling with. As I was praying before answering him, it hit me! Here is what I replied:

THE APPLICATION FOR THIS DAY OF ATONEMENT:

That is why you are antsy. It is the eternal conflict of the flesh warring with your spirit. Your spirit is hungry and malnourished. You will not stop being uneasy until you start fellowshipping with other like-minded souls. You have nothing to do with this world (Ephesians 5:11—2 Corinthians 6:14)

Let your spirit draw deep from the waters of Jesus’ life. Start today, do not wait, you’ll save your work by Prayer, Devos, and fellowship…then serving. Better yet, go and do something for your family. Write 10 things you can do today to serve others at work and family. They don’t have to be something “churchy” but something that will draw them to Christ.
Oscar Roca

Keep your eyes focused on God. This is where I believe some Christians fall short in teaching and discipling and explain what serving is.

Serving doesn’t just take place in church walls or church buildings. Serving others is getting up and focusing on others instead of ourselves. When we serve others, we stop focusing on our selfish, sinful self and focus on others the way Christ would help others.

First, by praying with God and sitting and listening; second by praying intensely for others’ needs. Praying is serving God first. Having communication with Him and Him alone before anything else. The other side of serving is sitting and listening to what God wants you to do each day (Matthew 14:13, Matthew 14:23, Luke 4:42, Luke 5:16).
Serving is getting up and making breakfast for somebody. Serving is listening to others when they are down and in a deep valley. Serving is praying for those people that need it most.
How do you serve as you go throughout the day? Become a servant to all at work, out in the world, and at home(Matthew 20:26, Matthew 20:28).

And don’t beat yourself up. We all fall short.
1 John 1:9— always seek His mercy. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.
Just don’t allow the enemy to claim you as a pathetic weakling who can’t forgive himself for past mistakes and sins. Because that’s where the enemy wants you, in a dark cave, crawling and not moving for Christ. Start at work. Serve someone.
Especially in this exceptional day—The Day when Christ will come back and touch ground and Redeem His people Israel (Matthew 26:64 , Mark 13:26 , Luke 22:69 , Revelation 1:7). This is a solemn day where one can start over.
Start today. I know God will honor your petition if you come humbly before His throne and Cross. Just ask Him for a start in your spiritual walk in life ( Isaiah 57:15, Isaiah 66:2, Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:3, Luke 18:13, Luke 18:14)

If you feel like you need to know more about God so that you can get deeper with your relationship with Him, or need to ask Jesus for forgiveness, here are a few weblinks to read through. They will answer your questions. You can also leave me a question if you can’t find what you are looking for. Start today, don;t wait. This special day is the day that Christ can pay an eternal ransom for your life:

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

October 9, 2019

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God’s Defining Moment for You!—Grace Unmerited |The Attributes of God Series

Grace. This word could be used for naming your baby girl.

It could be used for someone who is found guilty to plead for mercy.

It could be used for someone who flows effortlessly in sports.

There are many different ways to use this word. Yet, the most important one is found in the Bible.
Oscar Roca

—Grace is unmerited.

—You can’t earn it.

—You can’t buy it.

—You can’t inherit grace.

—You can’t study hard to achieve it.

—You can’t wish it to come to you..

The only way to get grace from God is to ask for it wholeheartedly, with humility and contritely. This means that a person can only touch, feel, see and hear God spiritually when they let go of all pride, sin, heartaches that keep you locked in a chain of burdensome self-condemnation or guilt. Allow God to give this unmerited and unwarranted gift of new life to you.

The grace of God can give you such incredible peace, that it surpasses any understanding that you may have about what God’s love, mercy and grace are.
Oscar Roca

There is nothing you have done that can keep you away from God’s grace. The only way that God will not forgive you is if you don’t humbly ask Him to!
Oscar Roca

All this to say— Make today the day that you empty yourself of all the guilt and suffering of your past! Allow God to regenerate you from the inside out. Allow Jesus to be the Savior of your life by asking Him to forgive you of any sin—wrongdoing you have done today and in the past. I promise you that He will bring you peace from all the burdens you may be struggling to carry. Allow Him to carry those burdens and toss then into the never ending depths of His love. Make today the day you finally rid yourself of all things that are causing you to stay stuck in the past. Of anything that has you chained up and not moving forward to a fulfilling life with God and others in your life.

Don’t wait, if you are reading this, it’s no coincidence! Make the decision and commitment to Jesus. He in turn will commit Himself to you!

…6 Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.…—Isaiah 55:6-8 Berean Study Bible

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

October 7, 2019October 7, 2019

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Yom Teruah—The Blasting Shofar of God! |THE LORD’S FEASTS 2019

Yom Teruah—What is the significance of this, and the rest of the Feasts of the LORD? Why do Christians have to know these Holy Convocations?

—What would you say if I told you that as Christians, we are missing some of the most essential information given in the Hebrew Scriptures, what we call the Old Testament?

—What if I told you that by having this information, you’ll have a spiritually deeper understanding of the Second Person of the Trinity, and His character?

—What if I told you that this information needs to be rehearsed by you and your spouse, children, and extended family every year?

—What if I said that once you have this vital information memorized, it will have you genuinely looking up to the heavens, thanking and expecting the LORD to call us home?

—What if I also said, that every year during the Fall period, we are to practice the return of our Lord Jesus?

—And that these dress rehearsals have been there for us to practice every year since the time of Moses?

But we, not knowing its full meaning, have missed its depth and relation!

To most Christians, and also to many Jewish people, the name Yom Teruah is not a familiar name. Most have heard of Rosh Hashanah, but have never heard of Yom Teruah; which is a shame. You see, Rosh Hashanah is not a High Holy Day, scripturally speaking; it was started during the Babylonian captivity and had nothing to do with the LORD’s Feasts.

It is not a Holy Day instituted by God, so I’ll be teaching about Yom Teruah instead. Yom Teruah has a few unique things that none of the other Moedim or Holy Appointed times have.

Yom Teruah is the First High Holy Fall Festival—Feast—Appointed Time—Or Moedim of God. No other of the LORD’s Feasts starts on the first day of any month. It is the Fifth of Seven Holy Feasts instituted by God. He wanted His followers to commemorate these Holy Days every year for eternity.

By Lilach Daniel – Flickr: [1], CC BY 2.0,

This Holy Day, is also a type of mystery. The LORD’s people are to:

—Have a sabbath or rest day. In other words, do nothing but remember God wholeheartedly and with great solemn despair of contrition.

—The LORD’s followers are to blow Trumpets (Teruah #H8643) or Shofars loudly.

That is it. These were all of the instructions given to Moses for God’s followers to observe.

This decree is for all who read God’s word. We are to acknowledge these Holy convocations. These Holy Appointed times can be researched in Leviticus chapter 23.

First off, I do want to make one thing clear. As Christians, we don’t need to celebrate these Feasts as our Jewish friends do, with all the mini directions added throughout their history. As Christians, we are to rehearse what God said to do with an added and an astoundingly precise flavor to these Holy Days—when we add Jesus to each of the Feasts, their significance enhances a thousandfold!

You see, an incredible thing happens when you add Christ into all the Holy Feasts of God. They go from being printed two-dimensional perusals that you can’t imagine but still go through the motions of reading them, not fully understanding their meanings—the work of Christ’s Redeeming act during Passion Week and future events foretold. These Feasts go from being ancient and extinct stories from long ago, to three-dimensional interactive stories of God’s love, grace, and mercy for all people on earth.

When you add what Jesus did during (the Passion Week) the Spring Feasts, their meaning comes to you with length, width, height and depth.

I’ll discuss these incredible 3-D -Come-to-life-fulfillments on Part II, and continue to explain the mysterious Feast of Trumpets that just passed a couple of days ago…actually, just finished yesterday because this Holy Day lasts two days. This two day LORD’s Feast is incredible…

If you feel like you need to know more about God so that you can get deeper with your relationship with Him, here are a few weblinks to read through. They will answer your questions. You can also leave me a question if you can’t find what you are looking for:

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

References:

Bible Quotations from:

Berean Study Bible

Graphics from FreePik

Wikipedia

October 2, 2019October 2, 2019

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Make a Change Impeach? No Change Will Come Until We Preach! |Only Christ’s Crucified Will Change the World!

…25 Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. 26 And as you see and hear,not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed—she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.” —Acts 19:25-27 Berean Study Bible

As Christians, we need to keep the priority on what we want to accomplish in our faith.
— Some Christians want to change the world for America through politics.
— Some want to go to the ends of the earth and proclaim the Gospel to other nations.
— Some want to be the best in their fields with the help of God.
— Some want to change society from within and force non-Christians to live as we do with a set of Biblical laws, whether people want them or not.
—Others see themselves living quietly and letting the world take care of itself while they await the coming of our LORD for us.
— Most of these priorities are by themselves, okay. Yet, they miss the mark on what God wants for His followers.
You see, we can’t change the world on our own and for our country until we change peoples lives through Christ.

We can’t change a community, & or a nation or the world with more Laws. We change them all with Christ’s love and what He did on the cross for them!

—We can’t go to the ends of the earth until we go next door and proclaim the Grace of God for all mankind to our family and neighbors.
— We can be the best in our fields without having a fulfilled life. This fulfillment is only brought to life if we are in God’s will.
— We can’t place God’s laws on people who will not understand them. It is by the Spirit who counsels us in the things of God that we will recognize and be guided to do what Christ wants for our lives. I believe that all life begins before birth. Why? Because God states it in His scriptures. I can’t see taking a precious life unnecessarily, or only because I consider it an inconvenience that I will be responsible for taking care of this baby for eighteen years plus.

Getting back to the reasons why Christians believe that they should force our way of life on others…

Christian principles have been, and still, are valuable to the world, to individual nations and to communities where we live.

Christian beliefs, laws, and morals could be implemented ’til Kingdom come. But without having a saving knowledge, and personal commitment to the LORD and Savior Jesus, we will have the cleanest cities on earth; with the most law-abiding people on earth, going straight to hell once they leave this planet!

“”17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 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. 19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate…. 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength...””—1 Corinthians 1 Berean Study Bible

What we need to do is preach Christ crucified and keep preaching His sacrificial blood on the cross.

We need to let people know that it is only through Christ’s death payment, that individuals can come to a lasting relationship with God. But we also need to tell them the consequences of not listening to what we are saying. If we only preach love, we could be condemning people straight to hell.
Each person needs to know what their wrongdoings or sins have done in their lives. Each person has to come to repentance and commitment to changing the direction they are headed in their life.

If you are anything like me, I had to hear this time and time again until I realized that it was not by saying thousands of repeated prayers, or going to church every Sunday, but not adhering to Christ’s teachings the rest of the time.

We need to be like the Apostle Paul. His total commitment to preaching is all he did. There was no, I am going to speak to the city leaders to implement the Torah to the Greeks. He did not go and speak to King Agrippa or the Governor Festus to change the way unwanted Roman babies were being thrown out into the front porches all over the Roman Empire. What Paul did was take the Gospel into all towns, cities and provinces of the Empire. He spoke to one person after another, groups of people by rivers, mountains, and major cities!

Just one man filled with the Holy Spirit turned all of Asia to Christ. To the point of people turning away from their false gods and committng to the LORD Jesus! So much so, that he was stoned and thrown from a cliff by the sellers of the false deities who had been losing customers and their livelihood becasue of one man.

My fellow brethren, preach Christ crucified as much as you can. Do as much preaching about Jesus as soon as you wake up, until you go to sleep. If need be, open your mouths to tell this world about Him! What I am saying is this— Live your lives so filled with God’s Spirit, that they see the goodness in you and glorify the LORD!

Go change your homes, communities, nation and the world for Jesus!

If you are reading this and want to preach Jesus and Him only, but don’t know how to get started. Get to know God more and what He wants for your life:

Know God

Steps to Peace With God

How Can I know God

September 25, 2019September 24, 2019

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From The Cross—To The Grave—To The Trumpet Blast of The LORD |The LORD’s Feasts 2019

This month marks the beginning of the Fall Feasts that some in Israel are celebrating. The Feasts of The LORD or Holy Convocations that God institutes in Leviticus 23, are for all mankind.

This post is meant to give you a short cut outline to my future seven posts of the Feasts of God. I will explain each one in detail as we reach their perspective dates.

Again, these Feasts were not from Moses, nor were they only for the young nation of Israel when they were given. Because these Feasts or Holy Convocations, were a type of repetitions or rehearsals which are to be memorized and repeated continually for all ethnicities of people in every country of the world; for all to practice as the dates arrive.

It was God Himself that dictated to Moses, what the Israelites and non-Israelites should do during these Holy Days:

The LORD (YHWH) spoke to Moses, You notice that God speaks and Moses dictates.

2 “Tell the Israelis that these are my festival times appointed by the LORD that you are to declare as sacred assemblies:

God goes on to explain the Spring and start of summer Holy Days—Sabbath, Passover, First-Fruits, Feast of Weeks,

This is where we are in God’s calendar-—He then again says:

“The LORD spoke to Moses…—24“Tell the Israelis that on the first day of the seventh month you are to have a Sabbath of rest for you—a memorial announced by a loud blast of trumpets. It is to be a sacred assembly..”

God goes on to explain the Fall Holy Days—Trumpets, Atonement & Tabernacles

We start with The Feast of Trumpets:

This yearly Fall Festival or Holy Day period is to start on the seventh month (Falls on September 29th of this year), people are to have a rest day from everything except remembering God, and this special day was to be for sounding ram’s horns throughout the land. He then says that it is a sacred assembly.

After ten days, God tells His people to assemble together once again:

27 “However, on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It’s a sacred assembly for you. Humble yourselves and bring an offering made by fire to the LORD. 28 You are not to do any work that same day. It’s the Day of Atonement, because your atonement is made in the presence of the LORD your God.”

Then God again tells His people:

33 And the LORD said to Moses, 34“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month the Feast of Tabernacles to the LORD begins, and it continues for seven days. 35 On the first day there shall be a sacred assembly. You are not to do any regular work. 36 For seven days you are to present an offering made by fire to the LORD. On the eighth day you are to hold a sacred assembly and present an offering made by fire to the LORD. It is a solemn assembly; you are not to do any regular work.

This again is just a glimpse of what will be explained in the furture. The world needs to know what God wants for all of us. These Festivals or Feasts or Holy Gathering were meant for us to be aware of God’s Timeline in History. These are not meant to try and figure out the exact time of each of the prophetic events, but more as a guidleine to ensure our faith and make it stronger.

Please go back and look at each of the picture graphics. They explain why God wanted us to rehearse, know, live and act on these Feasts.

If you don’t know God in a way that you understand the scripture references, I invite you to get to know Him and His Holy Calendar of future events:

How Can I know God

Steps to Peace With God

Know God

References:

Bible Quotations from:

ISV Bible

Berean Study Bible

Graphics from FreePik

Wikipedia

September 20, 2019September 20, 2019

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