.
Have you ever made a commitment to do something only to rethink it later and
decide not to follow through? One of the challenges we face today is keeping
our word, being who we say we are. Sometimes walking away is not an option,
we need to move down the road planned for us. Greetings in the name of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
As we prepare for the Celebration of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday,
next week, we first have to realize that Jesus had to be willing to follow
through with the plan. He made a commitment to his Father that he would
follow through. When it came time for the plan to be complete, the cost was
high, the suffering was great, the road difficult to walk. I am thankful
that Jesus walked the road that led to the cross.
Luke 22:42, nlt, “Father, if you are willing,
please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be
done, not mine.”
I think we see the least loyalty in the world
of sports as it relates to teams and players. For the sake of money, wins
and egos; players, teams and franchises change location. I still do not
think the Indianapolis Colts should be allowed to use that name. And what
about the NBA, the Lakers in LA? Do you know they were called the Lakers
because they were located in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes? And don’t get
me started on the Dodgers or Braves!
There are many examples of franchises switching horses for the sake of a
better deal. Don’t get me wrong, I think we all need to make the changes
necessary for us to be the best we can be, but let’s not just jump ship on a
whim. God has put a plan in place for our lives and if we deviate from the
course because we see greener pastures then we will miss the blessing that
perseverance brings.
Charles Schultz once wrote, “The grass is always greener on the other
side of the fence until you get over there and discover it is artificial
turf.”
Racing is no better than other sports, things change every year, we call
it silly season. Race fans are pretty tolerant though, they get a new
wardrobe every year. As sponsors change, colors change, styles change. We
don’t have to worry about something wearing out, before it can wear out the
driver, team or track has a different sponsor. Be honest now, how many of
you have a t-shirt in the drawer that you haven’t worn because the sponsor
changed before you could wear it?
One of the things that I miss, and I am sure I am not alone, are things
you can count on. Things that will always be there no matter what tomorrow
brings. I am a big fan of those who have stood by their commitments, allowed
themselves to be held accountable to the promises they made and persevere
through the challenges to reap the blessings that come from a hard road
traveled. Jesus would be the one I turn to for that example.
Philippians 2:3-11; Do nothing out of selfish
ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than
yourselves.
Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the
interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very
nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself
nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being
found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is
above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and
under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
We have lost something very valuable in our
society; our word. A contract, written or spoken, means nothing. If the
tables turn and things are not going in our favor, we just walk away. There
is much to be said for those who persevere through the challenges; they will
see the blessings of God.
Think about Christ and the plan for his life. Jesus; the one who possesses
all power and authority must set that aside, come into the world as a baby,
allow himself to be raised by a family and when he is thirty three he will
die a horrific death at the hands of the people he came to save. I am
reminded of the poem, One Solitary Life;
He was born in an obscure village, the child
of a peasant woman.
He grew up in another village, where He worked in a carpenter shop until
He was 30. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never wrote a book.
He never held an office.
He never had a family or owned a house.
He didn't go to college.
He never traveled more than 200 miles from the place He was born.
He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness.
He had no credentials but Himself.
He was only 33 when public opinion turned against Him.
His friends deserted Him.
He was turned over to His enemies and went through the mockery of a
trial.
He was nailed to a cross between two thieves.
When He was dying, His executioners gambled for His clothing, the only
property He had.. . . on earth.
When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a
friend. Nineteen centuries have come and gone, and today He is the
central figure of the human race, the leader of mankind's progress.
All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all
the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put
together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that One
Solitary Life.
Jesus fulfilled the plan of His Father, He
persevered through the challenges; physical, mental and spiritual, He ran
the good race, He finished the course, and He is seated at the right hand of
God. He intercedes for us for the forgiveness of our sins. He is our Hope
and Salvation.
As we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection remember that before there
could be a resurrection someone had to walk through the valley of the death.
Someone had to persevere through the challenges. Someone had to follow
through and move down the road, the road that led to death, death on a
cross.
We must allow ourselves to be held accountable to the commitment we made
before God. To be held accountable to living a life that honors God, no
matter where that road leads. We cannot allow ourselves to be led away from
God just because it is the easier way to go. We must persevere.
Find yourself a good friend who knows you well. If you do not have one,
start building a relationship with someone. When you have someone to walk by
your side, help you maintain your focus on Christ, correct your steps when
they stray and pick you up when you fall, you will find it much easier to
honor God with your life. It may not always be comfortable, but it will
always be worth the effort.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND 600 HP - It is by the grace of God
that we can be out here continuing to serve you. He makes it all possible
through people like you who have partnered with us to bring the grace of God
to the racing community. As we get ready to roll into the racing season here
in the Northeast we have already been to many places throughout this
country. We have already logged many miles in our effort to embrace the
plans God has put in place and reach out to the racing community.
God continues to assemble a great team at RWJM to accomplish His Plan. As
we follow God and accept new responsibilities we discover the need for
additional resources. We share with you some of our needs with the hope that
God has put it on your heart to partner with us.
We stand ready to serve and promote those who come onboard as partners
with us. We are a 501c3 charity registered with the IRS and any gift we
receive is eligible for a full tax deduction.
Please pray about how you might partner with us and give us the ability
to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the racing world. A one dollar
donation from everyone who reads this would provide for many trips down the
road. We are excited as we look ahead. We are able to see God’s plan unfold
before us. Pray that we would honor God in all that we do. Until next time,
remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! Thank You.
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
www.rwjm.com. 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.
Check our weekly printed pages in "Area Auto Racing
News",
the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper.
See our on-line Apparel
Store for subscription information.
Check our home page
http://www.rwjm.com for past
articles.
We invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book.
Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful
financial support.
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.
SEND THEM TO:
RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES
PO Box 586
Tolland, CT, 06084
TheChromeHorn RWJM Archives
Racing With Jesus Ministries Website
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