|
.
The thought came to mind this week about family and what that means. June is
a time for many weddings and with weddings come the start of a new family.
In May we celebrate Mother’s Day and June is reserved for Father’s day. What
does your family unit look like? How are things going in your family?
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Family has come to mean many things in our society today. We call any
group of people bonded by some common thread a family. Use the racing family
for example, we come together around the sport of racing. We have a common
language. We experience the ups and downs of racing together. We are bonded
by the tread of racing.
It is interesting how a common thread can bind people of various
backgrounds and histories together. We come from different times, different
parts of the country, with different views on life, but when we talk racing
we are all on the same level.
Recently I have had the opportunity to talk with racers from different
backgrounds. In Memphis I met their chaplain, he is affiliated with God
Speed Ministries. They primarily deal with the drag racing community. He
shared his story, showed me picks of his race car and even him popping a
wheelie coming out of the hole.
I have the pleasure of listening to many tell the stories of the good old
days. They have been doing this for a long time and have stories to tell. No
matter what we have shared as a racing family we all have our other family
behind the scenes.
Some families race together and some tolerate the racing of their family.
The family that we don’t always see at the track, the one we go home to is
the one I want to talk about this week. Have you taken the time to consider
how much that family means to you?
God created the family unit and gave each member responsibilities. In
creation he created man and his perfect complement, a woman. Together they
were to create and raise a family. God ordained marriage for a man and a
woman to come together in a life commitment to each other. A commitment that
starts with marriage and ends with death.
As I reflected on that commitment I thought about what it really meant.
This commitment is a statement to the world that you value the other person
so much that you set them apart from everyone else; you will remain with
them for life. How many of us view it that way today?
A marriage commitment says I will walk alongside you and witness your
life. I will be there for every moment. I will not let your life go
unnoticed, I will share it with you. I will not leave you.
Mark 10:6-9, "But at
the beginning of creation God `made them male and female.'
`For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his
wife, and the two will become one flesh.'
So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together,
let man not separate."
God provided guidance for us as we grow our
family and add children.
Proverbs 22:6, Train a
child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
This verse implies that we know the right way
to go. He impresses upon us that we need to do what is right. It is not
possible to live your life the wrong way and teach your children to go in
the right direction. Our children will follow our lead.
If we don’t know the right way, we need to learn it ourselves before we
have children.
We have dedicated many children from racing families to the Lord. In that
dedication each member of the family, Mom, Dad, Sister, Grandparent,
Godparents, other family members and friends made a commitment to guide that
child in the way of the Lord. They committed to raise that young child to
honor God and to follow His guidance.
God helps us understand the priorities that He has for our families. God
has made the Husband responsible for the family unit. Whatever happens to
that family will lay on the father’s shoulders. He first must love his wife
more than he loves himself. If he does that she will respect him. He must
teach his children right and wrong. He must not waiver from that path,
change the rules, have a different standard for his children than he does
for himself. He first must honor God in all he does, then lead his family to
do likewise.
Ephesians 5:33-6:4,
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself,
and the wife must respect her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right "Honor your
father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- "that it
may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the
training and instruction of the Lord.
The family was created by God as the most
intimate unit in society, the foundation of all we are. If we do not honor
that and build strong, God respecting families, we cannot hope to experience
the full life that God promises. A fulfilling and satisfying life starts
with a family built on the foundation that will withstand any storm; Jesus
Christ.
I understand there are reasons for the condition of each of our families,
but that doesn’t mean we cannot start here and move toward God. Look at it
this way, take a moment today and pray to God about your family. Just talk
with Him, ask Him to lead you in the right direction, ask Him to guide your
spirit, ask Him to teach you what you need to be doing. He will; he is our
Heavenly Father, like he expects our earthly father to do, he will teach,
guide and lead you in the right direction. Trust in Him and he will help you
move from where you are to where you need to be. Your life will be
fulfilling and satisfying.
Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust
in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Until next time, remember God loves you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful
support helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.
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
|
