As I sat reflecting on the racing season I received a
note from one of our Chaplains. It seems he was doing the same. The thoughts
he shared intrigued me and I thought I would share them with you. Greetings
in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Think about the things in life we can put behind us. Think about
the things that are easily discarded. We can get past some thing in our
lives, but there are those that just linger. Can we learn to put the past
behind us and look with hope toward the future?
Philippians 3:13-14, No,
dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,
but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the
heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
VMRS Chaplain Bobby Somers wanted to
share this with us;
“I found I had a need to look back and reflect over the 2013
season. As many of us do we look back over previous weekends and wonder
about the ups and downs we went through during the racing season. Most times
we reflect on the things that went wrong. What went wrong after a strong
practice or heat?
I guess it is human nature to focus on the negative. Some are able
to let it go, while others compete with the previous race still in their
minds. Our past failures become an obstacle and get in the way of us
improving and doing better.
In my sermon at Oktoberfest at LEE USA, I talked about letting go
of our past. Why do we seem to hang on to things of our lives that have
troubled us? We are quick to buy a new tire or two and throw the old away?
We replace the old worn out things we have for the better, new and improved
model without giving it a second thought. If it will help us do the job
better we get it. It could be a lawnmower, a leaf blower, a camera, cell
phone or maybe a new TV.
Don’t you think it’s time to let go of our troubling past? To bow
our heads and seek God, asking him to remove the burden of past failures.
Maybe it is time to let Christ into our life to handle things going forward?
Matthew
11:28-30, Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and
carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I
am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the
burden I give you is light.” It’s
easy to hold onto things, a comedian once said “we sell our homes to buy
another one, a bigger one, to put our old junk in. The longer we keep that
junk it seems to multiply and just keeps piling up. We need to have a junk
sale! Refresh our lives with something new, Christ!
I had a lot of junk; my past produced a tremendous burden. I
thought I could handle my life and make it what I wanted it to be. I came to
realize that the more I thought I was moving forward I was really sinking
deeper. I didn’t ask why or how come God took me from harm, but the Lord had
a plan for me. He came to me when I was in my deepest ditch, came alongside
me and carried me out of it. Now He has allowed me to be alongside you and
many others to pray and encourage you each and every weekend.
This off season we are going to refresh our engines, buy new parts
and maybe a new paint scheme. Why not refresh yourselves? Do you think you
need to be refreshed; you and your family as well? Maybe a new part could be
a bible? If you’re unsure of what parts you need, contact RWJM, any one of
us would be happy to help you get started on the right foot.
Think of it this way, if you needed to improve your car, make it go
faster, you would ask someone who has more experience that you. You would
seek out someone who had the experience to help. There are many translation
of God’s Holy Word out there to read, picking the one that will be
comfortable for you is important. We would welcome the opportunity to help.
We make a plan with our team at the track, why not do it around the
table with your family while you eat? Take turns praying together, do it
every day regardless of where you are right now, God will listen!
I asked one person at a track, "Would you like for me to pray with
you?”
They replied "I don’t go to Church!"
I didn’t ask why or how come, but gathered that person in; we bowed
our heads and prayed. They had several things going on in their life that
were very troubling to them; after we were done they looked up and you could
see the peace. They looked at me and smiled with a little chuckle” that’s
all I have to do”?
It starts with a simple prayer, letting Christ know you want him in
your life to help make things better for you and your family. When you pray
Christ isn’t going to ask why or how come, He knows and loves you no matter
what!
I know it’s challenging to find a church, meet new people, sit
quietly for an hour without texting, FaceBooking, or tweeting. Funny how we
will tell our life story to anyone who will listen, why not bow your head,
tweet Christ? Send Christ a Facebook message today!
This is the first weekend of no racing; I went shopping and out to
eat with Vinetta and Sarah. No drivers meeting, no heats or features, no
countless hours at the track. Yes, I miss racing already and the many
friends we have been blessed to meet along the way, but don’t miss out
growing with your family in Christ, it’s an incredible thing.
If you have some “how comes and whys” in your heart and weighing on
your shoulders, pray at the end of this newsletter. Jesus will hear your
prayer.
Matthew 11:28-30, Then
Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I
am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the
burden I give you is light.”
I’m going to throw some trivia at you,
remember the song that had the lyrics “someone is knocking at the door,
someone ringing the bell”? Well that door is your heart and your life! The
final lyric is “do yourself a favor (and family) let him in”.
Vinetta and I look forward to the upcoming banquets for Lee and the
VMRS in a couple of weeks!! God Bless everyone, be safe over this off
season!!”
Thanks Bobby for those encouraging words. Bobby is right, maybe
this off season it is time to upgrade you personal walk with Christ and that
of your family also. We stand here ready to assist in any way we can. Feel
free to reach out to us and we will come alongside and walk with you.
THOUGHTS
FROM THE ROAD
TIME TO REFLECT - The season has come
to an end, the void left by the lack of preparing the car or getting to the
track is challenging. What do we do with all this free time? Relax; get back
in touch with everything that was put aside during the race season.
I find this time of year the most challenging. After traveling from
track to track, race to race, too many events to get to them all, I find
myself trying to fill the void left by the sudden silence.
I have been able to catch up on a few things around the house. I
have been able to sit and enjoy the company of friends and family. I have
been able to turn my engine down to idle and take things at a little slower
pace.
How have you been doing with the silence of the off season? How
have you been feeling since you parked your racecar? I would be interested
to hear from you. Drop me a line and let me know what the off-season holds
for you.
WORLD DIRT FINALS - Okay, now that I have relaxed for a week
it is time to get back at it. We are headed to Charlotte this week for the
World Dirt Finals. I’ll be working with the WOO Sprint Cars, our WOO Dirt
Chaplain, Steve Fowler, will be in town from Montana and working with the
WOO Dirt Late Models and Ed Harkins from Finish Line Chaplains will be on
hand to minister to the Big Block Modifieds. It will be great to be with
those guys and the dirt community to close out their season. If you are in
the neighborhood, look me up and say hello.
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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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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