The trip of a lifetime!

God is good all the time! All the time God is good! I'm so excited to tell you about my latest trip though. But God is not just good on trips but here in the everyday. Although, the trip was wonderful. Alright, time for you to hear where I went. INDIA! It was incredible but I think what I told a friend in an email sums this up really well:

"Ok... Here's about India. This trip seemed to be more of a trip of what I am not. Let me explain. 

First, God made it really clear that India is not my field. Which surprised me. I actually love that country.... and I enjoyed being there but God was just like, ( even though he didn't actually audibly speak ) "Jacob, this is not your place or field." 

Second, I'm not called to be a preacher. While there my pastor was talking about a passage in Jeremiah about preaching, Jeremiah 20:9, "If I say, "I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name," there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." My pastor calls this a Holy Woe... To take preaching away from a preacher is to take away his life. I enjoy preaching, but it not the one thing that will make or break me. What I really enjoy doing is mentoring young people... that might be the one thing I couldn't live without. 

Third, I am not really one to go far from home, or country. While I loved India, it was not home. When I went to Mexico, it was not home. The US is home. This doesn't mean that I don't need a mind ( or heart ) change but I don't think I do..... =) It seems so weird and I know I feel called to Missions, but it just seems that, from what God has been showing me lately, Missions is not what He has called me too. I don't understand this at all. You can pray for me that God will show me direction. 

It sounds a little strange to say: "This trip showed me more of what I am not", but it's true! =)"

I don't think I can sum up better. That shares the more personal side of the trip. It was honestly a learning trip and I am still not sure how to take it all. =)

I'll spend sometime in the future days, posting personal bible study's, interesting stories or thoughs about India, or other random things that come to mind!

For now though, I must go. I have some assignments to complete and then I get to continue reading "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffery Chaucer. Everyone's favorite. =)

God bless!

The Second Snow and an update

Hey All!!!

Okay. I know it has been a LONG time with no post but I finally have time to hop on here. Forgive my absence.

Things are going well here and I am enjoying the cold weather. I would like to formally introduce you all to my good friend, Howard. He is the first of his kind this season and I think you will enjoy meeting him. ( To anyone named Howard I apologize for the coincidence. :) His picture shall come up shortly. Little J, Big J, and I made him after a snowball fight. :)

God is good, amen?!? I had the privilege to go to an Leaders in Training conference in the beginning of Dec and it was just a blast. I attended a session on Leading through fear and God really spoke. What stood out to me though was in the Last message by Evangelist Rich Tozour. Mr. Tozour was speaking on The Mantle of Leadership/Elisha and Elijah. I found it very interesting that Elijah went up in the Whirlwind not the chariot of fire or the horses but Elisha had to keep his eyes on Elijah and it would have been sssooo easy to watch all that was going on around him but Elisha kept his eyes on his goal. The most important part though is when Elisha reached down and picked up the Mantle of Elijah. I know... your thinking, "big deal with the weird turban okay?" But it is so much more than that. God had a plan for Elisha. He wanted to use him but it was up to Elisha to pick up that Mantle of Leadership and use it to be used by God. What about you? Has God given you a job to do? Are you willing to pick up the the "mantle" left in your local church, school, or just your sphere of influence as in your friends, family, and for some, co-workers? I know that God really spoke to me on picking up the job's that are there. God can use you. You don't need a bible college degree or anything like that. ( although those are good things and can help you serve even more. ) Pray and ask God what he would want you to do. It will change your life. I know it has changed mine.

Well I must go for if I kept going I wouldn't have anything left to type for future posts. :)

God bless you all as you grow closer to him in your life,

Adios Mé Compadres.

~JT