.
Do you know what I like best about Springtime? The noise! Whether it be the
birds singing or the Modifieds humming, Springtime is a wonderful time for
renewal and rebirth. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.
Look around, life abounds, waking up from its sleeping slumber. We see
the hope of life in those things we thought were dead; Springtime. Life
returns to the brown landscape. Winter’s cold melts away in the warmth of
Spring yielding the sounds of life.
We hear it at the track, the smell of rubber and racing fuel, yes spring
has sprung. The cars and their new paint schemes; the drivers and their new
suits, the new teams, the old teams, everything is fresh and new in
Springtime. After a long and snowy winter we see the hope that life is
renewed. What have you seen new this year? What does it bring to mind?
Springtime reminds me of the new life I received in Christ, once dead
with sin, now alive through Him. The spring of living water has renewed my
hope and given me life.
One of the difficulties with this new life is living like we have really
have been given a new start. We somehow don’t believe that God meant what he
said. If we did we would live differently. In a song Steven Curtis Chapman
sings he says, “This is life I’ve been given. I was a dead man who has been
called out of the grave. Wake the neighbors, make some noise!”
You know what’s neat about a spring morning, the noise! You’ve heard it,
birds singing, the world waking up, and life anew. Have you been given a new
lease on life?
Ephesians 4:17-24, NLT;
With the Lord's authority let me say this: Live no longer as the ungodly do,
for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness;
they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds
and hardened their hearts against him.
They don't care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given
themselves over to immoral ways.
Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed.
But that isn't what you were taught when you learned about Christ.
Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is in
Jesus,
throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten
through and through, full of lust and deception.
Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's
likeness--righteous, holy, and true.
Think of the comparisons found in these
verses. Hopelessly confused, closed minds, full of darkness, hardened
hearts, don’t care about right or wrong, surrendered to immoral ways, full
of all kinds of impurity and greed. They describe a life without Christ.
Throw that away: It’s rotten through and through,
full of lusts and deceptions.
Put on a new Spirit; renew your thoughts and
attitudes;
Phil. 2:5-8,
Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God,
he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing;
he took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.
And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a
criminal's death on a cross.
Our new self is a not one of demanding our rights, but one of a humble
servant,
obedient to God’s direction and will for our lives.
Listen to the contrast in
Galatians 5:19-23;
When you follow the desires of your sinful
nature, your lives will produce these evil results:
sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure,
idolatry, participation in demonic activities,
hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition,
divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong
except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and
other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again,
as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the
Kingdom of God.
But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of
fruit in us: love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Here there is no conflict with the law.
I encourage you to make some noise, sing
a new song, this is life we have been given, and we have been called out of
the grave.
Demonstrate it in the way we live:
*Not demanding rights, but humble, with a servants heart, obedient to
God’s will.
*Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control.
Eph. 4:23b-24;
There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes.
You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's
likeness--righteous, holy, and true.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
FINALLY! - We did it, we accomplished
what a few weeks ago looked like it would never happen, we got to the race
track and ran a race! It was good to get back out there.
We have a few updates to report on; WMT driver Wade Cole was unable to be
at the track due to an eye problem but the #33 was there and Johnny Bush
filled in for Wade behind the wheel.
NASCAR Official Ginny Heffernan was at the track Sunday but not in an
official capacity. She is dealing with some medical issues but is on the
mend and hoping to be back in form at Stafford.
Motion Racing, a team that competed on the Busch North Series lost team
member Linda Austin this past week. She was a dedicated servant to the teams
and families through the Ladies Auxiliary and will be missed by many. I will
be headed up to Maine next Monday, April 27, to participate in a celebration
of her life. I am sure her husband Ralph and son Andy would be encouraged by
those who she touched in her life with us at the track.
Calling hours will begin at 5:00, with a celebration service at 6:30 at
the Alfred Parish Church, 12 Kennebunk Rd, Alfred, ME.
BRISTOL BOUND - This week we have a quick trip to Bristol for the
Saturday night K&N Pro Series East race. Keep out travels on your prayers.
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
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