5am

So here it is now 6am I have been awake since 5 on a Saturday. Either I am seriously eager to learn more Greek or I am obsessed. Either way I woke up feeling like I was dreaming about Greek.  I have a lot to do today but all I want to do is read and learn.  My agenda today is grocery store, Walmart, hair cut, and suppposed to go to a friends birthday party.  But I need to do laundry, dust, vacuum. Spending time with God and growing closer to him is not bad either.  I guess I have to turn my brain off and enjoy some of the weekend or I will blink and it will be over. But I am not the only one busy today.  My sister is taking a huge step hopefully to better herself and moving to San Jose.  I know this is not easy for anyone.  Please lord surround your angels around my sister that this is the right thing for her to do she accomplishes her dream of going back to school she finally can truly be happy with someone who has no baggage to bring unnecessary drama into her life.

Have a great Saturday
Jocelyn

Καλημέρα

So I decided awhile ago that I was going to take Biblical Greek through school.  One I thought it would be very interesting and since they are opening The Bible Musuem in Washington DC.  I thought how cool it would be to walk through there and look at old manuscripts and be able to read them for myself.  Second I need some extra course credits other than the recommended stuff.  Last night I took my first test and not to toot my own horn but I am proud of myself for getting a 100% and I only had to look at my notes a total of 3 times.  I am actually enjoying it.  FYI the post name means Good Morning (if you want to throw someone off here is a easy way to say it Ka-lee-mera) but say it fast.   So should I throw some random Greek words at you for fun?  I probably will here and there but I promise I will tell you what it means.

Happy Friday everyone.  Have a wonderful weekend.  I challenge you to impact someone this weekend in a good way.  It can be something small or big your choice.  Leave a good impression on someone.  Let someone know you are just there for them whenever they need you.  Oh and make it a stranger or a friend you don’t talk to and see all the time.  Let’s not make it easy..  So with that being said I will post Monday how I made an impact, the person doesn’t have to know you did something but knowing you did is what matters.  You don’t need the thank you from them sometimes just knowing you did something can warm your own heart.

Jocelyn

Zionism what is it?

I have to admit when I hear that word I think of a Alien.  It seems to be such a weird word to me for some reason.  But I have been hearing this word a lot lately.  Maybe because I just finished Theology and it sticks out to me more.  I was reading this article today about American Evangelicials are changing colors and so is Zionism.  There was that word again.  So now I needed to look it up to see what it is all about.   So here is what I found out.  First definition that comes up is;

1. a movement for (originally) the re-establishment and (now) the development and protection of a Jewish nation in what is now Israel. It was established as a political organization in 1897 under Theodor Herzl, and was later led by Chaim Weizmann.

   
   

   But you can go back to the Bible to start learning of Zion in particular Mount Zion.  From what I read Zion actually appears in the Bible 150 times.  When I googled it all the pages that came up all showed it.  I personally have not counted but that many sites confirm it I will believe it to be true.  Some believe Judaism is a nationality as well as a religion.  Well that’s an interesting one. So here is a couple of links for you to decide on your own.   One thing is for sure it is the protection of the Jewish nation, but they all say something a little differently.  I for one will be reading more about this.  1st reason is because for some reason the word alone is interesting to me.  2nd I want to know more about the true back ground of it.  Just what I need something else to look into and read about.  I must be nuts.  Between preparing myself and reading Becoming a Contagious Christian, my Chaplianacy class and Biblical Greek 1.  Yup you read that last part right.  I am taking a stab at learning Biblical Greek (that will be another post for another day).  So please share your thoughts on Zionism and I apologize if I sparked a interest in you about now wanting to know as much as I do about Zionism.
   
   https://www.vox.com/cards/israel-palestine/zionism
   
   http://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/zionism/
   
   https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism
   
   
   
   Have a wonderful day
   
   Jocelyn
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

   
   

     

   https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zionism

   
   

   
   

True Happiness

After last night’s session of Becoming a Contagious Christian my mind has been racing.  3 things that I took away from last night.  Authenticity, Drawing in, and chain links.

1. Authentic relationships are a must.  This I agree 100% with a few added things.  I think you have to be a genuine person first to have those kind of relationships.  If you don’t know who you are and where you truly stand how can you can have that kind of relationship with others?  So let’s start with what truly makes you happy vs what you think makes you happy.  What gives you that butterfly feeling the goosebumps and that true genuine smile?  Think about that and start working on surrounding yourself with happiness.

 2. Drawing In, instead of making people feel they have to try my church, my beliefs because one keeps nagging them come to Jesus.  Sometimes that pushes them further away.  Instead draw people in by being a better you.  Let people see real difference in you that they want to know what caused this change.

3. Chain link.  A person cannot do things alone, if you have a support group or “Chain Links” of other Christians you can accomplish your vision.  If you link your life with those who inspire you or lift you up.  It may just be a little easier to step out of your comfort zone to talk to people about your faith.

Bringing God’s children back to him is what the world needs right now.

Jocelyn

Striving for Patience

It seems that every Monday I ask God to give me patience and yet I allow myself to get overwhelmed and annoyed.  I wish I could just turn it off and breath every time I feel that way.  Why can’t I take a moment and just breath before reaction?  Sounds simple right?  So why is it so hard?

In Proverbs 13:16 Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness. So how do I get myself to not act like a fool everyday, because that takes patience in retraining myself?  That’s my whole problem having patience.  What a vicious circle I allow myself to be in.  Time to get myself out of it and just let go. 


Today’s agenda spend time listening to Proverbs while I prepare myself to lead my Women’s Ministry in a disciple training course, to help sooth my mind and get me a place of peace in my mind.
Lord be with me as I lead these wonderful women to be brave in being ambassadors for your sake.
Jocelyn

Reaching the lost Or choosing silence?

Matthew 9:37-38 “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

I read this blog where the writer stated:  
that only one out of every ten believers have lead someone to Christ and that about 90% keep their faith to themselves.   

Wow that is a scary stastic (I have not researched that to know if fact or not).  But to think of it I can’t say that I have knowledge of leading anyone to Christ. Why do I feel the need to be silent and not spread the word?  Oh yeah because I have fallen into the I don’t want to debate or listen to negativity.  Well Jocelyn that comes with the territory and how am I going to spread God’s good word if I sit by and be silent?  The answer don’t be silent.  I am starting a series with my women’s group called Becoming a Contagious Christian and it couldn’t have come at a better time.  With the wonderful women who are doing this series with me together I am hoping we learn how to cheer each other on and not just sit around and be spectators any longer.  I am going to try my hardest to not fall into the silliness of the world.  I am not perfect and I may fall down but I cannot be an ambassador of God if I don’t speak about him.  If I choose to go back to facebook, twitter or any other social media it will be to post of spread the word of God.  So if you are reading this I hope you enjoy my rants there may be more than one a day and if you talk to me know that every morning I pray and ask God to speak through me and I will be happy to discuss him if you want to have meaningful conversations.  

Have a great day of many blessings
Jocelyn

Deception in today’s world

I have kept my mouth shut on this subject because I personally do not want to get into a debate with people and their opinions I am just stating mine.  You don’t have to agree with me as I don’t have to agree with you and this will probably be the only time I post something somewhat political.  I personally don’t agree with all the dang protesting something I was brought up to respect.  

First, I will always stand for the anthem out of respect for the men and women who have fought (like my Grandpa Aragon) and continue to fight for our freedom here in America. Now there has been people around us at Lions games that sit silently in their protest.  They don’t distract me, they have never spewed hate when I have stood.  

Second, part of the song that we don’t sing as there is much more to the song, is:  

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,

Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation;

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the heav'n-rescued land

Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust"

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

With that being said did you notice the Motto is supposed to be “In God is our trust”?While everyone is out there making a big deal out of who took a knee.  We are all missing the bigger picture and to me the biggest concern.  Satan is a man of deception:  He shows you that the majority of the people in the world, along with the great and mighty of the world, do not worship the Lord. Satan will ask, “Don’t you see that the great, the rich, the honorable, the intellectual elite, the wise, the most honored, and the sheer majority of people do not trouble themselves with worshipping the Lord? You would be much better off to be like them. After all, why would you think that you, of all people, have this figured out?” To have success here he will intentionally draw your attention away from Exodus 23:2 and many similar passages: “You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice.”

He fills your mind with unimportant and distracting thoughts while you are attempting to worship. He afflicts you with so much distraction and futility that you are tempted to say, “I have no desire to hear from the Lord in his Word, no desire to speak to him in prayer, no desire to spend time with other Christians in worship services.” He crowds out the very thought of worship by the sheer weight of lesser concerns.

I don’t know about you but in order for us to be united we need to be just that united.  The more people let Satan distract the world with nonsense the more we are torn apart.  This is his plan.  

Jocelyn