Have you ever felt like a gerbil running on a
never-ending wheel? Many times life is a blur, moving at a speed that is
difficult to keep up with. We find ourselves being swallowed up. STOP!
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever seen twelve hours go as fast as it does on race day?
The hours turn into minutes, the minutes into seconds and before you know it
the checkered flag has fallen and it’s time to pack up and head home. This
is especially true when you are chasing the setup or you are trying to
repair some damage. The next thing you hear is the call for your heat or
feature. Where does the time go?
We experience similar events in our daily lives. We wake up, get
going and before you know it, the day is over and it is time to get up and
do it again. Where does the time go?
I look at the photos of my children and remember the times that
went by all too quickly. I wonder some times if I spent enough time with
them. I wonder if I have taught them the right way, the way of God.
We get caught up in things that seem important, seem like they need
to get done, but in hindsight they were not the most important thing we
could have done. I received an important piece of advice from a good friend
once, “If it’s going to matter in 300 years it’s alright to worry about, if
it is not don’t waste the time worrying.”
We are guilty of placing importance on things that are not truly
important. We loose our priorities. We worry about things that we need not
worry about. We consume our time trying to change or influence things we
cannot. I am reminded of the Serenity Prayer;
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot
change;
courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
Knowing the things we cannot change takes
wisdom. It also takes experience. We need to be at peace with the fact that
everything will not be going our way. Even with that understanding we have
an agenda and when it doesn’t go the way we want it to we worry about what
will happen next. Jesus asked us a question:
Matthew 6:27; Who of you by
worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Do you know the answer? Some times we
think we can change the events of tomorrow if we worry about them enough.
Worse yet, we think we can change the events of yesterday. We can’t. The
answer, no one can. So why do we do it? We do it because we have trouble
believing that God really has it all under control. We sometimes think He
needs some help. Red Flag!
Have you stopped to notice that others are watching? Do you think
they wonder about our behavior? Are we really thinking about our actions?
Are we really thinking about what is most important? Are we thinking about
what God wants? Most times the answer is no, we are only thinking about what
we believe is best for us.
God promises us that He will provide for our needs. He has it all
under control. We need only to trust Him. Proverbs explains it this way:
Proverbs
3:5-6; Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own
understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
There is too much life to live to be
enslaved to the rat race. Try to avoid getting so busy with things that we
forget about what God wants us to do. Try to avoid getting so busy surviving
that we forget to take time to look around and see what others are going
through. God promises to provide what we need to survive. God wants us to
focus on what others are going through instead of focusing on ourselves.
If you have put your trust in yourself and your own understanding
then you will be disappointed. Even if you accomplish everything you think
you want you will still be missing something. It is God and God alone that
can give you abundant life. Fulfillment in life comes only through Jesus
Christ. No matter what we have, what we accomplish, what our social standing
is, it will be incomplete without a saving knowledge of God through Jesus.
John 10:7-11;
Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the
sheep.
All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not
listen to them.
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and
go out, and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full.
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Do you see the promise contained in that
verse? In Jesus we will find pasture, a place that supplies all our needs.
Remember Psalm 23?
The LORD is my shepherd, I have all I need. He makes me lie down in
green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He
guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
It is Jesus who brings abundant life, who leads us to green
pasture, who restores our soul. The promise from God is one of abundant
life; a full life that has no regrets, no dissatisfaction, a life that is
complete, a life that honors Him.
Do we ever want to stop and wave the red flag. Do we ever want to
consider what God has for us? I encourage you this week to STOP. Take a step
back and review your thoughts and actions. Ask yourself, who am I living
for?
Don’t get consumed by the pressure to get things done. The line of
the song says, “Life’s too long to live like this.” Focus on what is truly
important, what will affect eternity. Focus on the things of God. Live in
such a way as to be sensitive to the leading of God.
To do this we must step off the gerbil’s wheel and stop running so
fast that life is a blur. We need to slow down and let things happen. Watch
for where God is working and join Him there. Don’t worry about your schedule
or whether it fits. Respond in a way that shows the love of Jesus that is in
your heart.
Psalm 118:24;
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
STAFFORD GETS A BREAK - It appears
that Thursday has become the bad weather day of the week, Thompson Speedway
hasn’t run in a few weeks, but Stafford Motor Speedway had the gem of the
week for the Whelen Modified Tour as they ran on a beautiful Friday night in
August.
Bobby Santos set the tone winning the pole, but it was Doug Coby
who dominated the race. Coby lapped nearly the whole field on his way to
victory. In the end six cars finished on the lead lap. With no cautions over
the past hundred or so laps and no one willing to pit under green, you had
what you had. Coby had it. As Coby closes in on the point lead of Ryan
Preece, the race for the championship is heating up. Preece suffered a flat
right rear late in the race and started to fade from his second place
running position before the tire went totally flat on the white flag lap and
finished 16. Stay tuned for this barn burner.
VALENTI MODIFIED LIMITED TO ONE RACE - With the weather
Thursday night postponing the show at Thompson for another week, the VMRS
could concentrate Beech Ridge. Beech Ridge is a great little track on the
coast of Maine and one that we visited last Friday night to say goodbye to
Wardie Hamilton. Rev. Dan was there to help the Hamilton Family and friends
say goodbye. He shared these thoughts.
I need to let you know how good God is. I was feeling real tired
and worn out after my incident with a tick bite last week. My fever running
pretty high, I had no energy and could hardly talk. I needed a miracle if I
was going to preside over the spreading of Wardie Hamilton’s ashes ceremony
at Beech Ridge Motor Speedway. God provided all I needed. I knew I had to be
there to support our faithful friends Warren and Denise Hamilton. I knew
that God wanted me there it was just Satan who kept on throwing roadblocks.
Debbie and I arrived early afternoon and we met Warren at the track
to take in an early supper at Wardie’s favorite place, Sarge's in Saco Maine
. After dinner, we went back to the track and rested up before the ceremony.
God provided a golf cart, a small sound system and no rain for the ceremony.
Approximately 50 people attended and each heart was touched - God's word
will do that to you.
God gave me the strength to honor Wardie and his family during this
difficult time. At the end of the ceremony Wardie’s ashes were spread into a
trench in the shape of the number 71, the last car number he was associated
with at the track. We then covered up the trench - he will forever be at the
track he loved. Keep the Hamilton 's in your prayers - still a lot of
decisions to make, but with God's wisdom, we know they will make the right
ones!
LEE AND VMRS CHAPLAINS UPDATE - Just over a week ago,
Vinetta and I thought the Lord was calling me Home. I had some medical
issues that appeared to be very serious. I spent a few days at UMass and now
I am at home. Since I have been home it caused me to reflect on things,
small and large, very differently. We laughed a lot this weekend even with a
few bumps in the road, just to be around the racing family was medicine all
by itself.
When we walked into Lee USA Speedway Pits Friday Night we were
greeted by the #15 Late Model Team and given a Get Well card signed by many
teams and families. We are so very blessed to be part of the Lee USA family!
When I heard the Announcer John Spence make those words echo like he does
each and every Friday “Welcome to Lee USA Speedway”, I knew I was where the
Lord wanted me this Friday night Under the Lights! The track had their hands
full of racing tonight with a 50 lap Hobby Stock race and 3rd Qtr
Championship point racing.
At the end of Lee’s evening of racing Vinetta took the helm and we
drove to Scarborough Maine, making our way over to Beech Ridge Speedway for
the Valenti Modified Racing Series for their 100 Lap Race. We would also
like to thank all those within the Valenti Modified Racing Series family for
their prayers and the greeting we received at the track. We are both so very
humbled by all this.
Just prior to the prayer at the drivers meeting I spoke to the
teams about the following, I told them that no matter how much time they
spend with the race car it doesn’t matter, but the time they share with the
family does matter. Your wife, children and extended family and friends are
always reaching out for that valuable one on one time, togetherness and
memories.
Don’t ever give up spending that time with family, because you
never know when that time will come and you will be called to come home to
the Lord. Your children, wife, mom, dad and friends, love them, make sure
you tell them in person or by phone each and every day, even though they may
know it. Sit down and ask them how their day is going, pray together, grow
together not apart. Remember Pray, Love, Grow together.
The Lord has blessed us with many talents, but it doesn't mean
that's what we stay focused on 24 hrs a day, focus on family.
Please keep Flagman Steve Grant’s Dad, Earl in your prayers as he
has ongoing health issues. We also would like to thank the many for your
prayers and ongoing prayers as I continue in my recovery. God Bless You!!
Thank you, Dan and Bobby for the great updates. Our ministry is so
blessed with many faithful chaplains who no matter what may happen to them
they realize that serving the Lord by continuing to be with the series and
friends they minister to is where they need to be. I am so thankful for each
and every one of them! This week there is a little break in the action for
our NASCAR divisions. The VMRS will be at Waterford on Saturday. It is
summer and the best thing to do on your summer vacation is take in some live
racing action.
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.
 Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586,
Tolland, CT 06084.
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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
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
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RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO Box 586
Tolland, CT, 06084
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