Do you know what is going on around you? Sometimes we get
tunnel vision. When we focus so much in one direction we can lose our sense
of what is around us. We need to be focused but not so much so that we lose
our sensitivity to our environment. What happens when loose our vision?
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever gone looking for something in your shop? You know
where it is supposed to be but when you look there you don't find it. Now
lets be honest, some shops are more organized than others. For you guys with
the not so organized shops this is not a problem; you are used to not
finding things where they are supposed to be. But for the guys who have
everything in its place it is very frustrating when you cannot find
something.
The search is on, where is it? First you “ask”; who didn't put it
back where it belonged? Then you start to look for it only for someone to
find it very close to where it belonged. You never saw it. You have
proximity blindness.
When we are looking for something that we expect to be in a certain
place we fail to see what is around it. This doesn't only happen when we are
looking for something but it also happens when we expect things to happen a
certain way. When things don't happen the way we expect we fail to figure
out what is really happening. We don't always look or see everything that is
going on around us.
In racing we have spotters to help us know what is going on around
us. We can't always see everything. Wouldn't it be great to have spotters in
life? To have someone who is watching what we are doing and guide us in the
correct way. Many people try to tell us where to go and what to do, but not
everyone has our best interest at heart. We wonder sometimes who we are
letting guide the direction we are heading in life.
This week is Holy Week, the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem , the
beginning of Holy Week; we follow his journey to the cross. This is a week
that would see our Savior submit and allow himself to be crucified for our
sins.
While some acknowledged him, sang and honored him as he rode in on
a donkey, others didn’t think that was how God was going to send a Savior.
Many expected a military ruler that would drive the Romans out. They
expected a King to rule over all and exact justice for all the wrongs they
had endured. But God sent Christ for such a time as this.
Isaiah the prophet explained to us who the Messiah would be. In
Isaiah 53 he explained what we needed to be looking for.
Isaiah 53, Who has
believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry
ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance
that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with
suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him
not.
Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered
him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he
was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are
healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and
afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers
is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his
descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my
people he was stricken.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though
the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD
will prosper in his hand.
After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be
satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear
their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the
spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the
transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
When
Jesus came not everyone recognized Him. Many thought he was a good man.
Others thought he was a prophet and still others thought he was someone
else. Jesus posed this question to his disciples, “But what about you, who
do you say that I am?”
What a great question. Who do we say Jesus is? Our answer goes a
long way in how we respond to him. If we do not think he can heal us or
forgive us than what do we think he can do? Most times we look to Jesus when
we have gotten ourselves into a difficult spot that we can no longer deal
with. We turn to Jesus when we have no other option. We turn to Him as a
last resort instead of a first option. Is it because he is not who we are
looking for? Maybe, but Christ was sent for a time such as this.
We may be looking for someone to set things right, someone to right
the wrongs that others have committed toward us. In Isaiah 53 it says that
even though Jesus was falsely accused He did not open His mouth. Jesus took
the false accusations. Jesus didn't argue or retaliate. He let them say what
they wanted.
We may be looking for someone to overthrow the government. Jesus did not
come to change the government. Jesus came as a humble servant. In fact he
was asked if it was right to pay taxes to Caesar. He took a coin and asked
whose picture was on it. Caesar was the reply. Jesus said; give to Caesar
what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's.
If we are not looking for the right thing we will not see the gift
that God has provided. Jesus endured the cross to atone for our sin. He
suffered and died so that we could be forgiven. At the hands of the Roman
guards he was beaten and abused; crucified to make atonement for our sin,
for a time such as this.
In the end as he hung on the cross one Roman guard found what he
was looking for. He put it this way,” Surely this was the Son of God.” I
find it amazing that in all of this the guard’s heart was touched by the
Holy Spirit and he came to understand what so many had missed. This was
God's one and only Son who gave his life for me.
As we celebrate Holy Week and the celebration of Easter I ask you
to think of the Cross. Think of the savior God sent to save you and me.
Think of the cost. Think also of what you are looking for in life. You will
find it in Christ. Christ came for a time such as this.
John 3:16-17
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to
save the world through him.
This Easter season look to the Savior, look
to Jesus and accept the sacrifice He made to set you free. He came for a
time such as this, ready to forgive and restore our lives. He came to claim
our lives for God and bridge the great chasm that separates us from God.
Think about that this week.
I will share some additional thoughts on the significance of the
empty tomb next week, never has something empty help so much hope for us.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
THE PLUG WAS PULLED - With all the
plans we had for racing this past weekend it was over before it got started.
Early on the week the entire WoO Dirt Late Model slate for Arkansas ,
Mississippi and Tennessee was postponed for weather concerns.
On the K&N side, Rev. Dan made the trip to Greenville only to
arrive at the track and find it pretty much empty. The race was postponed
for rain and rescheduled for April 6. That will require some juggling and
schedule changing.
I would ask for your prayers for us as these challenges and the
adjustments we need to make are decided. Like the race teams we travel to
the track and back whether they race or not. Having to return just adds
another race to an already crowded schedule.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE - A couple of local tracks will
open for pre-season practice this weekend. It will be good to see some
familiar faces. I wish we didn't have to decide where to go. As of this time
we are undecided where we will be, but keep an eye out for us.
A SPECIAL LADY - This past weekend Miss Ellie Seymour
peacefully went home to her Lord. She was surrounded by her family and was
looking forward to the journey. During her time in the hospital the staff
had to make provisions for a larger room so that she could entertain all her
visitors. On occasion they had to come in and tone down the celebration.
Miss Ellie was a special lady and touched the lives of many. You
didn’t have to know her long before she shared with you her thoughts on
things; she was the strength behind a true racing family. In fact when the
Hospital Chaplain visited her, she took the time to explain a few things to
him also.
We can say our life is better from having been touched by her
spirit. We can say we are going to miss her presence here. We can cherish
the memories she gave each of us. But one thing we should not do is be
saddened by her leaving, she is where she longed to be, home with our Lord,
her Lord.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Seymour family and
the racing community that she touched. Calling hours will be from 2:00 to
8:00 PM on Tuesday, March 26 at the John Rowe Funeral Home, 57 Main Street
in Marlboro, MA. The funeral will be 10:00 am on Wednesday, March 27 at St.
Bernadette’s Church 266 Main St., Northborough, MA. Cards of condolence and
sympathy can be sent to the family c/o Seymour Enterprises, 500 Boston Post
Road West , Marlboro , MA 01752 .
Enjoy your Easter Weekend and remember the gift God provided to
each one of us through Jesus.
Until next time, be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals
and apparel. See them at the Show Your Faith Apparel Store at
http://www.rwjm.com/store. Send us your prayer and counseling needs no matter
what part of our racing family you are in, or give us a call. Remember that
God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
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Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
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RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
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