Welcome to December...(well, almost)

Sorry for the silence. I'm working on finishing "Something's Gotta Change Part 2" and it'll be up sometime this week. I also have been thinking a lot lately of how I can best be Christ-exalting in this blog and starting tomorrow December 1st I will be posting my daily devotional. This isn't gonna be so much for your benefit as it is for mine, but hopefully and prayerfully God will be pleased in it and you will be blessed by it. Thanks again for you love and prayers. Grace and Peace

Jacob

Something's Gotta Change

Hi! Thanks for your patience with me and also your faithfulness in prayer for me. During the past few weeks there has been a lot of change going on in my life. Change is something that most of us hate because it is usually not our idea and it puts us out of our comfort zones. Change makes us feel out of control and causes a lot of uncertainty and stress. But when I look back in my life, change has been a great thing!

I mentioned in my very first post that "Since I became a Christian, almost 4 years ago, God has been doing A LOT in my life in the way of maturing me in the faith. For the sake of time I'll save the details for later blogs"...Welp, I've got some time on my hands so you're in for it haha.

I'll start my story all the way back to when I was in second grade. All my life up to this point my parents had been faithfully bringing my brother, sister, and me to church basically every time the doors were opened. I don't really remember a lot about it except some of my buds from school came there too and we always had fun. During this time, however, a lot of change took place. One morning I woke up and remember seeing my Dad's dad (Paw) in our house and was informed by my brother, who was 14 at the time, that our dad had been taken to the hospital. We went on to school that day and once we returned home, our mom called us and told us all she knew. My dad had a massive stroke that caused him to lose about 2 liters of blood, over half of his physical brain, and peripheral vision in his left eye. The doctors gave him 0% chance of survival. While he was in the hospital, people from the church we still attend would come and take care of us, mow the grass, chop fire wood, and whatever else they could do they did. They loved on us a lot not only physically but spiritually too. Before leaving someone would always remind us that they were praying and even pray with us. I didn't really have an understanding of prayer and remember doubting the significance of it. I would say to myself that there was no reason to pray because 0% isn't much of a chance. It actually means there is no chance.

One month later, I saw my dad for the first time. Man had he changed! He was in a wheel chair with a freshly shaved head and a feeding tube in his belly. He couldn't walk or talk but I remember hugging him for the first time and, after my mom placed his hand up around my back, him patting me on the back as to say, "I love you, son. Everything's gonna be alright."

There's quiet a bit more detail that I could gladly tell you but the gist of it all is that this change produced in me faith that this God who all the people had told me they were praying to actually existed and that He is in the business of performing miracles! My dad who was basically pronounced dead had been given life! He is still alive today!

Soon after, I went forward at church, said that I wanted to be saved and was baptized shortly after.

Now most people, including myself for the longest time, would have said that I became a Christian then but seeing my inward thoughts and actions during my middle and high school days, it is pretty evident that there was not a life change. I lived a morally good life (no smoking, drinking, etc) but what I did not have was a relationship with Jesus Christ. The only time I would ever open my Bible was on Sunday morning and even then I didn't read it or pray. The only thing I was concerned about was being "cool" and when I would fail at that (more often than not) I would just look for something else to do. But never was even the name of Jesus brought up in my conversations except to cuss Him.

So I graduated high school, enrolled at Tennessee Tech University only because my mom and brother had both attended and graduated. The only thing on my agenda when I came to college was to graduate with a degree that would make me a lot of money, marry a supermodel, and live happily ever-after. The last thing on my mind was Christ. But that's when the weirdest thing happened. My random roommate was a Christian and as we were talking the question came up of whether or not I was a Christian. I answered, "Yes! Back when I was in second grade..." and as I kept on talking about myself all I could think was, "Jacob. You are a liar."

During that semester a lot of change was taking place. I was actually having to work at making good grades,I was meeting a ton of new people, I had listened to my mom's final words of advice to not miss church on Sundays, and a guy on my floor began inviting my roommate and I to a Christian organization on campus. Living with this guy, I began seeing up close and personal how my life as a Christian and his were radically different. About halfway through the semester I began reading the Bible some and after hearing the Gospel every week at church (Stevens Street Baptist), from this guy on the hall (Ben Nichols), from my roommate (Matt Metzger), and also this organization (Campus Outreach), God convicted me of my sin and how lost and hopeless I was without Christ. I needed to change but I couldn't. God had to do the changing and He did. The Miracle Worker was back in action and this time He brought me from death to life!

....To Be Continued....

Coming Soon: Official Update

Sorry for the delay in updating. I have not forgotten and will give an in-depth update tomorrow sometime. I seriously love knowing that you are praying for me and thinking of me. That is very encouraging. Check back in tomorrow for the "goods."

Jacob

Picture Time

I know what you're thinking. "Jacob, you said pics, as in multiple pictures! All I see is one picture." Well, you're right all there I have is one picture. It's a great picture isn't it?! I took it our second day here, it's of the sunrise and there's a little bit of the building in the bottom right and everything...ok ok. Seriously now. To be honest I have more pictures and was wanting to put them up, but since it took SO LONG for this one pic, I just posted them on facebook.

Thank you for your prayers this past week. It was awesome! I didn't get to share with any of my coworkers (keep praying for this) but today as I was leaving the park I was able to strike up a conversation with an 8th grade guy named Cody. I was able to share a little with him but he has been taught a bunch of lies from his grandmother (the only one in his family who will even take him to church!) but he wants to hang out again...next Sunday same time same place. Please be praying for him. He seems bummed out about life and desperately needs Jesus to save him.

Thanks again for all your prayers. I love you all and I like ya too!

Jacob

ps. If you get a chance, go to a book store and pick up "Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll and read the first few pages of the chapter entitled, "What did Jesus Accomplish on the Cross?" It's money in the bank! If you want to know the truth, I actually cried just a little when I read it!

Back in the Saddle Again

To start things off, my visit home was super great! I thank everyone for showing me so much love while I was in. It strengthened my soul. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. It gives me hope to recall to mind every second that God blessed me with to receive encouragement from you all. I can't thank you enough.

This past week we made some major progress at work. For two and a half weeks we spent nearly the entire time building 5 trusses. They are made out of 6x9 cedar beams spanning nearly 42 feet, measuring just over 9 feet tall, and weighing in at 2,200 pounds. In material alone, $55,000 was spent on these 5 trusses! On Wednesday we had a crane come in and help us set them in place. It took nearly an hour a truss but we finally had the "centerpiece" of the building in place. It feels so good to come in every morning and see those bad boys finished and in place. I'm taking my camera to work tomorrow and now that I have my cord in Texas I'll be sure to post some pics :)

Changing gears to a little more personal stuff, while I was home my brother, Thomas, informed me of some really neat things going on in his life. First, the company he works for, Vextec, has been named as Forbes Magazine's "Most Promising Company in America." He was so excited. Thomas has always been a very good, hard worker but he is an even better brother and it was great to see things going good for him. I guess I love my brother...I mean, only if I have to :) The next thing he told me, however, was even more exciting. The church that he is involved with in Lebanon, TN recently had deacon nominations/elections and he was voted to be ordainded as a deacon! I will not be able to be present when he is ordained on October 18th but I AM SOOOOOO PUMPED FOR HIM!!! Please pray for him as he begins to serve in this role at his church.

There is a lot more that I'd love to tell you but...well...it's bedtime in Texas. Please continue in prayer for me as I seek to share more of the Gospel with my coworkers this week. Your prayers are of eternal value. Don't think for one moment that your prayers are not effective. I assure you, they are! I CAN FEEL THEM!!!

For His Name's Sake,

Jacob

Week 3 Update

Homesick. I've never thought much about being homesick. Only little girls who miss their mommy get homesick. 5 Years have passed by since I moved to Cookeville and I maybe could have possibly been homesick one time (my first birthday away from home), but even then it just barely crossed my mind. But this trip to Texas...man, I am homesick. I'm ready to see my family. My friends. Even I-40 haha. Being homesick stinks...

Now that I've got that off my chest, I think Texas is pretty cool (not literally...mid 90's in late September is not cool). I've seen more deer in the past 3 weeks than I ever have in my life! We were told when we first got here that if we made it a month without hitting a deer that we've done something. Exactly one week into our "adventure" and we took Bambi out. Since then, we've been deerber (kinda like sober but not really haha).

This past week has been the most challenging both for our crew and personally. We've hit a few obstacles at work (ie. welding shop not having our pieces finished, inspectors being extremely picky, etc) and it's just been a frustrating week having to "hurry up and wait." Personally, it's been a trying week for my pride and patience. I've been finding it nearly impossible in my heart to love my coworkers and then when I have ideas shot down only to later have others take credit for them working perfectly, I want to scream, "I TOLD YOU SO!!!!!"... ... Please pray for me to have patience and love for my coworkers. Also, as most of you know, I was told this week that my uncle Terry was taken to the ER because he was having trouble breathing. He had to spend a few days at the hospital but the mighty hand of God worked in his body and he was able to come home today. God is faithful to take care of his children. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for his health as well as the salvation of his youngest daughter, Tasia.

I spent today sleeping in (6:45 is sleeping late!), Going to church, spending about 4 hours hanging in a hammock down by the river, and then going back to church. Today was sooooo refreshing! I have been studying the Gospel of John lately and just being reminded of the love that was shown for us on the cross and really trying to draw applications from the life of Jesus has been great. There's a long chain of events that lead me to this next statement but...The Entire Bible Points To JESUS!!! It's amazing. From the very beginning God had planned Jesus' coming to save His people from their sins. God has loved us since before time and space existed and He's gonna love us forever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and ever and...you get the picture.

I want to close this blog with Psalm 150. God has been bringing this passage to my mind a lot lately and well...here it is

"Praise the LORD!

Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
²Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
³Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
⁴Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
⁵Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
⁶Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD!"

Week 2 Update

Hello...This week has been pretty good so far. We've gotten quiet a bit done this week considering that it has fallen a flood the past 2 days. When I went to a local church here last Sunday, Ingram First Baptist, they had 2 things on their prayer list that I wasn't really used to seeing: "Rain! Rain" and "Relief from Heat." Well, God has once again answered prayers! Isn't it amazing to have the priviledge through Christ to pray to the Creator of all things!! Take a minute and really focus on that...Amazing!

This week with the coworkers has been going good as well. I was able to share a good amount of the Gospel with Scott. It seems that he has a fair amount of knowledge about Jesus but I believe there is no relationship. He is very interested in my life (ie. why I have joy, why I get up early to go be alone, etc). Please pray that I would love Scott as a person and not a project and pray that God will change his heart of stone into a heart of flesh......my friendship with Corey is growing. He lives in a different room so I have to be more intentional with my time with him. Please pray for there to be time this weekend to get to hang out (possibly go swimming in the Guadeloupe River on Sunday) and that God will save him.....with Marty, I honestly haven't made him a priority however our relationship as coworkers is getting better. He gave me a huge, encouraging compliment the other day that came out of no where. Basically he said I'm a good worker and that he enjoyed working with me. That means A LOT! Please pray for him to see the true reason behind my hard work (Col 3:23). Pray for God to save him and that his entire household(wife, daughter, and Corey) would declare Christ as their KING!......I have gotten very little time with Jimmy. He has been very busy getting all the material ordered and the sub-contractors scheduled. Please pray that his time will free up and that I'll get to share my faith with him before we fly back to TN (Sept 22).

Thank you for partnering with me in prayer. It is VERY, VERY, VERY encouraging knowing that I have you holding the ropes for me. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."(Phil 1:3)

For His Name's Sake,

Jacob