Life is full of temptations, challenges, difficulties and
decisions. Are we trying to get through it on our own? Do we have someone
walking beside us? Who is spotting for you on the road of life? Greetings in
the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The other day I was standing behind the grandstands talking with a
friend waiting for the Modifieds to take the track for practice. I wasn’t
sure what the schedule was but when I started to see the stream of spotters
walk by with the tools of their trade in hand I knew the time was close.
A spotter’s tools are simple; a good set of eyes to be able to
watch what is happening, good judgment about how to advise the driver and a
way to communicate to the driver. Without these tools the spotter is nothing
more than a spectator.
We all watch but there is a difference between watching and
spotting trouble. A good spotter sees difficulty coming before it happens. A
good spotter exercises judgment. Some things that happen need to be
communicated to the driver some don’t. There is no need to overload the
driver with information that they don’t need to run the race.
The third thing a good spotter needs is a way to communicate to the
driver. Just having a radio and talking into the mike doesn’t qualify. The
spotter and the driver need to speak the same language, they need not only
to hear each other but to understand what the other means.
Look at it this way, when the spotter says “inside” does that mean
go inside or go outside because there is a car inside? It could mean either,
that is up to the spotter and driver. The driver and the spotter develop a
language all their own and develop an understanding of each other so that
they can communicate with each other.
When that works, things go well. When it doesn’t it usually means
disaster. I have seen it happen several times when a car runs into a wreck
and the announcer says “his spotter didn’t warn him.”
With our ability to listen to the driver/spotter communications, we
know if it is true. It isn’t always that cut and dry though. Sometimes there
just isn’t enough time. Sometimes the driver doesn’t listen. Sometimes the
driver decides on their own what they are going to do.
I remember a race at Lake Erie with the Busch North/East Series.
Good old Barney McRae of Motion Racing was instructed by his spotter to park
it in the infield because he was being black flagged. Barney didn’t agree
and proceeded to do a burnout through the infield to voice his disagreement.
We can have the right guidance but that doesn’t mean we will follow it!
One of NASCAR’s rules for racing is that when you are on the track
you need a spotter. Wouldn’t it be great to have a spotter for life also? We
have our parents but let’s face it we really don’t pay that much attention
to them. We need someone who is in our ear, living inside our head and
guiding us in the right path. God has provided a spotter for us all; his is
The Holy Spirit. Listen to what Jesus says about the Spirit;
John 14:16-18, 25-27,
(Jesus answered) And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit
of truth.
The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.
But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave
you as orphans; I will come to you.
"All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counselor, the Holy
Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to
you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled
and do not be afraid.
In addition, we read in Acts of the
Apostles
Acts 5:5:
And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom
he has given us. The
Holy Spirit is given to us to guide our heart in the paths that are right. I
am reminded of the cartoon with the devil on one shoulder and the angel on
the other. This is a good illustration of what happens when the Spirit
becomes our spotter. He guides us with the right advice, but there is that
other voice; the voice inside us that is telling us something different,
something not of God. Which voice do we follow? Which guidance do we take?
The answer is to have another type of spotter in our life. Someone
who will hold us accountable to the choices we make. Someone trustworthy,
someone who loves and cares for us. Someone who would be willing to lay down
their life for us; a true friend.
We need to have The Holy Spirit as our guide. We receive The Holy
Spirit when we ask Jesus to come into our heart. When we seek forgiveness
from God for our shortcomings and accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us.
When we ask God for that He sends The Holy Spirit to live in our heart, to
guide us in the paths that are right, to counsel us, to show us the truth.
We also need someone to walk along our side. We can ignore the
voice of the Spirit and make wrong choices. But that person walking
alongside is hard to ignore. They look out ahead and spot the trouble before
we see it. They talk to us and guide us around the difficulty. They want us
to finish the race of life in the best possible condition.
Do you have The Holy Spirit in your heart? You can. He will be a
spotter that will never leave us. Ask God today to send Him and God will
honor that request and send Him. The key component is asking with sincerity
in our heart; we have to want to. Seek out the guidance of The Holy Spirit
today. Accept the sacrifice Jesus made for us and ask God to forgive our
sin. If our heart is sincere the transaction is done, our life has changed.
I would ask that you share that with us so that we can rejoice with
you. We can also help and guide you along the road. We will come alongside
you and walk with you through life. We will help you through the
difficulties. We will do our best to help you figure out life and learn how
to live it to the fullest. God Bless
LIFTING THE FAMILY UP - Bobby and Vinetta have had a busy
couple of weeks. Between the banquets for Lee and VMRS they had to deal with
the loss of Bobby’s brother Joey. Being with the racing family has a way of
helping us through life’s tragedies. I am glad they were surrounded by the
racing community during their time of loss. Bobby wanted to share these
thoughts with you.
This past two weeks we had back to back Banquets to attend. The
first was LEE USA Speedway and it was great to be back with the racing
family. Just two days prior to the LEE banquet, I received word that my
brother Joey went home to the Lord. What gave me comfort in these last two
weeks are not only his memories, but being around the racing family.
The second weekend was the Valenti Modified Racing Series. As the
2013 season has come to a close, let us focus on family and friends and
spending valuable time with them.
Earlier in the season at a drivers meeting with the VMRS, I talked
about being around the race car all the time, it doesn’t really matter or
care how much time you spend with it. What matters is the time you spend
with your friends and family. We can always go out and buy new parts and a
new race car, but memories and time can never be replaced or bought.
Let’s shift our priorities this off season and do something with
family and friends that you have wanted to do. The things the racing season
left you no time to do.
We report back to the crew chief how things are to make the right
changes. Look around, discuss with family and ask yourself, what changes do
we need to make? We do whatever we can to get to the checkered flag on the
track, but when the checkered flag gets waved by our Savior, are you going
to be there to receive the flag from Christ?
It is also import to make that relationship with Christ this off
season. He never wants us to be alone, suffering and carrying the burdens
that many do. I can attest in my own testimony, it’s incredible to have that
relationship with Christ.
Your life does really change when you reach out to him. The
blessings he provides, the burdens of daily stuff disappear, knowing I can
just allow Christ to carry them and I don’t have to. You have to decide
whether you want that checkered flag to hold for five minutes at a track or
do you want the checkered flag being waved , knowing you have eternity
with Christ?
1Corinthians 9:24-27; nlt, Don’t you realize
that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize?
So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to
win a prize that will fade away,
but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am
not just shadowboxing.
I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be
disqualified. God
Bless everyone and be safe, Bobby and Vinetta Somers
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 andJesus 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
SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY.
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RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
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Tolland, CT, 06084
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