.
Have you ever stopped and turned around to take a look back? What do you
see? When we reflect on the life we lived we see the milestones that
mark out our walk. We see the places of our greatest successes and sometimes
our biggest disappointments marked out for us. They inspire us to look ahead
building on our successes and learning from our defeats. Greetings in the
name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastes
3:1-8; There is a time for everything, and a season for every
activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant
and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down
and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and
a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time
to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a
time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to me, a
time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a
time for war and a time for peace.
Our experiences in life offer a wide variety of events. We go through
highs and lows, joy and pain, good times and bad. Everything has its place,
there is a time for everything, looking back and looking forward.
We sit, anticipating the new racing season. We reflect on the races we
have run. We set goals to accomplish. By nature our schedule is a little
more condensed, sometimes its hours not days or weeks. Remember those times?
The memory churns; “Remember that race where we ….” or “How about the
time we ….” or “Wasn’t it great when we ….” And the story goes about how we
made it through the trials and challenges. How we always managed to get
through and find the encouragement to come back and race another day. How
the difficulty inspired us to set a new goal, a new milestone, a target to
aim for, something to look forward to.
Racers are a unique breed; they can see victory even in situations
that have the appearance of failure. I think that’s what makes a racer a
racer, the ability to look past even the worst adversity and find a silver
lining.
Competing is the goal; just let me go out there and race. As one slogan
puts it, settle it on the track. I think the only disappointment a racer
experiences is when they come to the track and don’t get to race. Practice
is nice, Qualifying is okay, but get out of the way I came to race!
Racers see the positives in life more than the negatives. Even through
the challenging times racers know there will always be another day to race.
It is what we do. We show up at each track with the expectation of winning.
We are realistic about our chances, but the goal still remains Victory Lane.
Who knows what the day will bring? Racers are prepared for just about
anything and what they don’t have with them someone else will let them
borrow. That is the racing community I know.
In life we face the same challenges, the same ups and downs, and the same
disappointments. As we look back our accomplishments sit as milestones along
the path of our life. We can list the common ones, birth, graduation, job,
marriage, children, home, retirement, etc.
Racers we might add first car, first race, first checkered flag, and
first sponsor. Do you notice the difference? Racers mark their milestones by
the first time they do something
while most everyone else marks their milestones by when they complete
something. I guess it just means that racers expect to do it again. They
have an expectation that tomorrow will be better than yesterday. Last is a
four letter word in a racers vocabulary and it is not used to remember
things. They look back and are inspired to look forward.
The events of our life that mean the most to us are life changing events.
They change the course of our lives. Christ came with one desire in His
heart, to provide the opportunity for Salvation to everyone; to change our
lives for the best.
John 10:10; The thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have
life, and have it to the full.
To provide us with a full life meant Christ would have to give His
life as a sacrifice for ours, a substitute. His entire purpose was to give
himself for us. He marked that milestone with three simple words, “It is
finished” in the 19th chapter of John’s gospel.
We can look back on that event and find the motivation to look forward.
Through Christ we have victory but we still have a race to run. Will the
life he provides for us change the way we see the future?
There are many important events in the life of Christ that are recorded in
Scripture but the most important one is this, he accomplished on the cross
what we could not do for ourselves. He paid the price for our sin. We are
forgiven because of his sacrifice. We have a restored relationship with God
because of his sacrifice. We can live an abundant life because of his
sacrifice.
As you reflect on the milestones of your life is there one there that
marks the day you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior? Is there one that
marks the day you followed Christ in Baptism? There should be. That
milestone is where your life changed. You began anew, you were born again!
If that milestone isn’t there allow me to help you mark it. We invite you
to believe in your heart and pray this simple prayer with your lips:
"Dear God, help me. I have tried and have fallen short of the
life you want for me. I am a sinner. Nothing I can do can save me from my
sin, I need Jesus. I ask Him into my life. This day, this moment, I receive
Jesus as my personal Savior. I submit to Him as my Lord and King. I turn
from my sins and turn toward You. I receive your forgiveness and will strive
to live for your glory. I receive your Holy Spirit to dwell richly within
me. I ask for this in Jesus’ Name. Thank you Father for saving me. Amen."
If you prayed that prayer there is a new milestone in your life. One that
marks the day you were saved from the penalty of sin and welcomed into the
Kingdom of Heaven. The day you looked back and saw what Christ did for you
and now can look forward to a life full of the blessings of God.
Congratulations, please share your decision with us. We welcome the
opportunity to walk with you through the journey that lies ahead of you.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
HOLDING PATTERN - Things are moving
slowly up here in the Northeast, Snow still covers the landscape and we are
close to ushering in mud season. Let’s hope it is a short one and we can
clear a way to get some racing in.
I did kick cabin fever and took the bike out for a ride, now I am waiting
for it to be warm enough to wash it! So we wait.
MEANWHILE DOWN SOUTH - Some of the Northern guys couldn’t wait and
headed south for the Whelen Southern Modified Tour opener at Caraway. Eric
Goodale and the #58 Goodie Motorsports Team took home the trophy, back to
Long Island. Great job, guys, all that work in Florida helped.
We will just have to be patient.
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.
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
|