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  The Chrome Horn - Racing With Jesus Ministries

GIVE AND TAKE
by Rev. Don Rivers

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  In life there are the have and the have-nots. How we interact is the subject I wanted to talk about this week. How do we respond to those in need? How do we respond when we have a need? Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

  At the track we talk about give and take, letting the car with the advantage go and having the courtesy returned to you when you have the advantage. Bugs Stevens talked about racing etiquette in a Speedway Illustrated article that covered the same subject, an unwritten code of ethics between drivers that showed a mutual respect.

  The fact of the matter is that at any given time we may have what we need or we need something. On the track it is the right setup, in life it is the resources to live. How we respond to having too much or too little shows who our trust and faith is in. We try too many times to provide for ourselves without first turning to God and letting Him provide for us. We see things through our eyes and forget that God has promised to supply everything we need.

  Do you remember Moses? He led the people out of slavery in Egypt. You would think they would be grateful, but like any leader of people, Moses faced the complaints from the nation of Israel. That doesn’t happen; does it?

  They complained about not having food because they saw the desert and didn’t know how they were going to find something to eat. They wondered aloud if God had called them to the desert to die. They thought they would have been better off back in slavery in Egypt. They looked at things with their own eyes and had no idea what God had in store for them in the Promised Land. We have many similarities with them don’t we?

  We rush to judgment without taking the time to step back and look at the whole situation. We think we know what is going on but we really don’t understand how God works. Do you think for one moment that God called the nation of Israel out of bondage to let them die? Sounds kind of funny when you say it that way. Of course he didn’t. He had a plan for them just like he has a plan for us.

  I have been to enough driver/crew chief meetings to know that what is said there is only a fraction of what goes on behind the scenes as it relates to complaints. I am sure every race director and technical inspector could write a book.

  The fact remains that we are not ready to let things play themselves out and see what God has in store for us. We would rather complain and whine about what we don’t have or what we think we need. Before you start defending yourself, let me explain.

  There are times when discussions need to take place in racing about what is fair and equitable, that is not what I am saying. I am saying we get into the habit of jumping on something before we actually see how it will work out. We think we know better when most times we don’t.

  God provided food for the Israelites with one simple instruction, Take only what you need. Like most of us, they didn’t have enough faith and took more than they needed thinking they would save some just in case God forgot about them tomorrow. Do you know what happened to the excess? It rotted, stunk and was filled with maggots. God provided daily for their needs and He will do the same for us.

  In 2 Corinthians Paul tells us that God provides some of us with more than we need and some of us with less than we need so that we can learn to have faith in Him. Those with more should give of their excess to those with too little. Read along;

2 Corinthians 8: 9-15 (NIV), For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich,
yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter:
Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so.
Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it,
according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has,
not according to what he does not have.

Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.
Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much,
and he who gathered little did not have too little."

  The last sentence refers to the Israelites in the desert. They had what they needed if they only took what was needed. They learned to trust God and have faith in Him to supply their daily needs. The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught us to say says the same thing, “Give us this day our daily bread.” God intended for us to trust Him on a daily basis and let Him supply our daily needs.

  Take a look around and see the stuff you have accumulated. Do you know someone who could use it? Give it to them, no strings attached. Trust that God will provide for you when you have a need. Don’t let your life get so burdened down with stuff that you forget to live. Learn to live in the freedom that comes with having faith in Jesus and trusting that He will meet your needs.

  Remember Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Think of it this way; the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. Trust in God to provide for your needs, give freely from what He has provided you, live in the freedom of releasing yourself from the burden of stuff. Let God supply.

  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.
 

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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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Source: Rev Don Rivers / Racing With Jesus Ministries
Posted: June 30, 2017

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