Next 5 Minutes

So we are now back to first semester schedule for the rest of the year now. Even though we lose a free day again I am very happy to be back and have another day of class added to the schedule. As the last couple of weeks are coming and going by fast, I am thankful for the extra time back in the classroom.

On Monday since we are back to first semesters schedule we had OSEF again. We went cross country skiing on what little snow is left in the low country. I must say it was a test of my attitude that day. Cross country was not something I wanted to do nor something I thought would be very fun for me. Long and slow is not my cup of tea. Long and fast or running laps in the park all day, that's what I like. The strange part of it was for it being the first time ever that I was on any type of ski (not to mention on Xcountry skis your foot pivots up and down while you move) I was really good. But I just don't get it. Why put more effort into going a distance when walking is just as easy and if not faster? So it was something I wrestled with throughout most of the OSEF. But as I have been learning more and more from my time out here, I am going to have to die to myself (in this case physically) and be submissive to those who are over me if I truly want Christ to be seen through me. So through the power of the spirit I was able to put on a good face and more importantly a good heart for the day. Even though it was something I didn't like I was able to enjoy the day because of that.

 

Tuesday for workday a group of us was picked to go over and help my family and covenant leader Rob do some spring yard cleanup. I always enjoy working with Rob and being under his leadership. It was a bonus that day as it was his birthday so us select few were able to celebrate with him by raking, trimming tree, weeding, and eating cake. Needless to say it was pretty good workday.

 This week our guest speaker was Kelly Dorhety. He was the principle at His Hill down in Texas for many years until he had to step down just recently to move back home to Louisiana to take care of his aging parents. 

He took us through Hebrews and how it explains that Jesus has fulfilled the law. A couple points he made that really stuck out to me were how that the Old Testament law was a shadow of Christ. Now its not that I didn't already know this but how he pointed it out stuck in my mind. "A shadow proves the substance".  When you go for a walk with someone, you don't want to just take their shadow with you, you want to take the person. So why then would you only want to walk with the shadow of Christ, when you could walk with him in substance? 

The other favorite point of this weeks teaching was that "we need to quit trying to be like Jesus, but just let Jesus be himself through us". Meaning if we have the Spirit inside of us we don't need to try to be good, nice, etc. Just let the Christ live through us and it will naturally be that way.

I was able to get 2 more days in on the mountain towards the end of the week. The snow is going fast so only a few days left out there. It makes me sad to see it go but I am glad I was able to make the most of it. Just a little Jared thought here with some Bible sprinkled on top, "I could have spent days inside watching movies or playing games. But I chose to make the most of my time out here and experience something while I still could. I am very glad I did and didn't let the time pass me by". So that to say if you have the opportunity to do something awesome, get off your butt and go do it! You will be glad you did.

Lastly I have been putting a lot of time and late hours into my 15 minute teaching. A project that I thought I would barely be able to get about a page done up, has quickly become a 5 page sermon and it's not even a third done, just let me say oi (insert chuckle here*). But seriously though you give a Southern Baptist kid a 10-15 minute time frame and expect him to make that time frame you are asking for a work of the Lord. I mean all my life I have been a part of a Sunday morning service that goes at least 15 minutes over anyway and now you are asking me to change my ways? All I am saying here is I think the faith may need to be just a little bit bigger than a mustard seed.

But in all seriousness I am really enjoying putting it together and seeing how the Spirit is speaking to me and bringing scripture to mind as I write and type things out. As I believe I mentioned before I will be teaching on James 3 and the tongue. I will give you a small taste of one of my thoughts for it so far. 

If we are unable to control our tongues, then who can? We know from Matthew that out of the mouth the treasure of the heart speaks. So depending what treasure we have in our hearts according to Matthew are mouths will follow suit. So what are you making the treasure of your heart, Godly things or fleshly things? In James 3 it makes a comparison of how a ship though very large and moved by strong winds, is very easily controlled by a small rudder wherever the pilot directs. So does the tongue even tho a small member of the body it boasts great things. So my question would be who is the captain of your heart?

That's all you are gonna get of that for now :)

With everything starting to come to a close this year and thinking about the memories I have made and what is to come and how I have really learned this year to get up, get out, and get to it with whatever it may be. From teaching, to snowboarding, outreach, missions trips, and even coming out here. So make the most of your time wherever you are! 

So think about these words.

I can reminisce about the already
I can worry and fret about the not yet;
But when it all comes down I know it really,
Really all comes down to the right now
So right now

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes,
'Cause I know the next 5 minutes
May be all I have
And after the next 5 minutes
Turn into the last 5 minutes,
I'm taking the next 5 minutes
And starting all over again
Starting all over again (Starting all over again...)

Every moment God is giving is precious
Every heartbeat; every breath I take;
We'll never have them back once they've left us.
There will never be another right now
So right now

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes,
'Cause I know the next 5 minutes
May be all I have
And after the next 5 minutes
Turn into the last 5 minutes,
I'm taking the next 5 minutes
And starting all over again

(This is the day;
This is the hour;
This is the moment
The Lord has made...)

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes,
'Cause I know the next 5 minutes
May be all I have
And after the next 5 minutes
Turn into the last 5 minutes,
I'm taking the next 5 minutes
And starting all over again
I'm starting all over again
Gonna start it all over again, yeah.
Gonna start it all over again, oh hey.

I'm living the next 5 minutes
Like these are my last 5 minutes, yeah
I'm living the next 5 minutes
I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live like these are my last 5 minutes
I'm living the next 5 minutes
Oh yay-yeah-yay
I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live, I'm gonna live... 

Till Next Time

Love Jared