As we prepare for the Celebration of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday, we first have to recognize that Jesus was 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 was 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 originally located in Minnesota, land of 10,000 lakes? And don’t get me started on the Dodgers, Giants 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 through which everything was created, set that aside, came into the world as a baby, allowed himself to be raised by a family and when he was thirty three he would 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 be willing to walk through the valley of death. Someone had to persevere through the challenges. Someone had to follow through and walk down the road that led to death, death on a cross.

We must willingly 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 we think there is an easier way. 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.

Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Racing is something not everyone understands. Racers, true racers, will sacrifice almost anything to race. Some will sacrifice everything. Sleep, food and hygiene are a few of the things that come to mind. Oh, and that money thing, you have heard it said, to make a small fortune in racing you need to start with a big one.

Racing doesn’t corner the market on sacrifice but for racers it is one we understand. What is it that would drive us so much that we would drive all night, race, and then drive all night to get back home or to the next track? Or sleep twelve people in a room for four. Or head out on Wednesday morning and race, repair, race, repair, race, repair for several nights in a row without regard for even the day of the week. Where am I? Stafford, it must be Friday. 

We lose sight of the day and time, we are here to race and when this one is done we pack up and head to the next one. Do you know why the family that races together stays together? If they don’t they won’t see each other. 

I always think of the Bouley family when I think of families that sacrifice to race. One story I remember well. We headed out to breakfast Saturday morning near the track, about 6:30, who did we meet coming in? The Bouley dually, after an all-night ride just to race. I watched as they made the best of what they had. George, Bev, Kim and Scott would give and have given everything to put Team 26 racing in the field.

Scott qualified in Twenty-sixth spot, the same as his number. George just shook his head in disbelief and wondered aloud how well Scott could do if he had a new motor and some decent equipment. Then a smile comes to a proud father’s face as he shares in his son’s accomplishment despite the odds and a 9:1 tired power plant. The Bouley’s had heart and no one can say anything different. They gave everything they had and some things they didn’t have to race, to compete. George and Bev have gone home now, but it is always a fond memory when I think of them.

What about us, is our heart in it? Maybe not racing but I am sure there is something in your life that you are passionate about. Something that will move you to sacrifice? Something that makes you willing to put everything aside and pursue? What is your all in endeavor?

For me, serving God falls into that category. God desires that our service to Him be all in. God desires that we would want to demonstrate His love for others more than anything we do in our lives. He tells us in his Word that unless our mind and our heart is in it we miss the relationship that will save us. A passage from God’s Word comes to mind:

Matthew 22:37-40; NLT; Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

But the challenge remains, to be all in you have to begin somewhere. We have to decide to follow Jesus. To do that we must remember the words of Jesus; 

Mark 1:15; NLT; “The time promised by God has come at last!” (Jesus) announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

The writer of Romans adds…

Romans 10:8b-10,13, … that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved… “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Two components are necessary to know God; it must be in your heart and you must say it with your mouth. We say a lot of things with our mouths that we don’t believe in our heart. It is pretty easy to spot someone who is doing something that their heart isn’t in. As servants of God that should never be the case. In fact, if our heart isn’t in it we are not saved.

We receive a twofold blessing. The first part of that blessing is the fact that we are saved. The next part comes in how we treat others. We are given the opportunity to participate in their lives. Not just participate but the opportunity to help them find the abundant life that God offers. The writer explains;

Romans 12:9-18; NLT; Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. 12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

When we say it and believe in our heart then we are all in. If our heart isn’t in it not only do we lose but others lose also. We have a great responsibility to not only confess the name of our Lord but to believe it in our heart, then others will see it in our actions. Our lives are not the only ones who depend on it. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news!

Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus. Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Work is an interesting word; it means far more than just the job we do to collect a paycheck to support our life. We have to work at everything we do. When we think about it, anything worth having or doing takes work. What do we work at in life?

Most racers have two “jobs”. They have the one that keeps them fed and the one that prepares them to race. I have heard the familiar refrain many times, work all day, then work all night in the shop on the racecar. Racers work hard to be prepared to enjoy a day at the track. Raceday is a lot of work also. Blessed are the ones whose work is racing. The ones who have one job, race. All their work is focused on what they enjoy, racing. That doesn’t mean there isn’t work involved.

What do we work at? Anyone have a home? Maintaining a home is work. You can tell the difference between a house that is cared for and one that is not. Work involves caring for something, having our heart in it. It is easy to identify a half-hearted effort. 

Think about some of the things you work at. Character is one of the personal things we work hardest at. Kindness, gentleness, peace, joy, love, grace, mercy, self-control, patience; the list goes on. There is work to be done for all of us. 

It is said if you work at something you have a passion for, you’ll never work a day in your life. Even if our work is focused on something we have a passion for that doesn’t mean it is easy or without sacrifice. Having a passion for something just means we are willing to work all the more harder to accomplish something. We are willing to make more of a sacrifice and put in more of an effort; more than the average person would. Passion helps us overcome the obstacles that would stop some.

When we hear the term Passion what comes to mind? A while back Mel Gibson produced a film with that title, The Passion of the Christ. It sought to reveal the lengths that Christ was willing to go to restore our relationship with God. God passionately pursued us with the goal of providing a way for us to restore our relationship with Him. Christ performed that work on the cross.

There are seven phrases that are attributed to Christ on the cross;

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34) 

“Today, you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43) 

“Woman, behold your son: behold your mother” (John 19:26-27) 

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 

“I thirst” (John 19:28) 

“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46)

“It is finished” (John 19:30) 

Each phrase revealed things necessary in our relationships; forgiveness, grace, responsibility, sacrifice, nourishment, dependance and follow-through. I won’t cover them today, but look for them this Winter as they will be the subject of our winter Bible Study.

When Christ uttered the words, “It is finished” He completed the work of the cross, a provision was made for our forgiveness. Through Christ’s work on the cross our relationship with God could be restored. He made the sacrifice for us, something he was passionate about. Without that passion it would have been difficult to endure the pain and suffering he did to finish the work.

We have the opportunity to respond to the work Christ accomplished for us, work we could not do ourselves. Paul put it this way;

Ephesians 2:8-10; God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

We can accept and believe the work of Christ, his death and God raising him from the grave. We cannot earn it; our work isn’t sufficient to cover our debt. It is by Grace, unmerited favor, that God extends to us. Our response is to receive it. When we do, our work for God begins. Notice the last verse; do good things God planned for us long ago.

Even God has a to-do list for each of us. I know that doesn’t sound like a blessing, but it is. Our passion to please God is ignited and the feeling of accomplishment is second to none. The reward for doing the things God has planned for us is a satisfaction and fulfilment we can’t attain anywhere else. A peace that passes understanding. 

Everything that is valuable is worth working for. Christ accomplished the work of the cross so that we would have hope, so that our relationship with God could be restored. His work on the cross made it possible for us to dwell with God for eternity.

When we receive it, the gift God provided, we submit our lives to Him. We allow Him to guide us, shape us and mold us into a reflection of His character. We develop a passion to please Him.

That effort will produce fruit. The benefit of our following Christ is for others to also know the peace and joy of a restored relationship with their creator. God’s desire is for all to know Him and come to him.

I am reminded of the words of David as he concluded the 23^rd Psalm;

Psalm 23:6; NLT; Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

As we prepare for the Celebration of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday, we first must understand that Jesus had to be willing to follow through with the plan. The plan was set forth long before it came time to implement it. He made a commitment to his Father that he would. When it came time for the plan to be complete, the cost was high, the suffering was great, the road was difficult to walk. I am thankful that Jesus fulfilled the plan.

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 midstream 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 His will because the going gets rough 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 2:3-8; NIV; 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!

In today’s world if the going gets tough, we change direction. We take the path of least resistance. We don’t stand up for what is right and just in the eyes of God. We just let things happen. We rationalize it as not being offensive, when, in fact, it is tearing the world we live in apart.

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 you are thirty-three you will die a horrific death at the hands of the people you 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 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 be accountable and follow through despite the road leading 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 the challenges we face. We cannot allow ourselves to be led away from God just because it is the easier way to go. We must persevere and follow through.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

“How’d you do?” is a familiar refrain. I remember the line from a popular movie, “the same as usual, I lost.” We determine how much progress we are making based on our finishing position, but that doesn’t always tell the story. Persevering and finishing is a great reward in itself.

One of the biggest hurdles in any racing career is learning how to finish. Finishing the race is the first step in the development of any driver. Anyone can drive fast, many can handle a car, but only a few learn what it means to finish. They are the drivers that advance their careers. 

When you are learning how to finish the race your position doesn’t matter as much as the fact that you finished. I always look at the laps completed in the race statistics along with the status of the car. They give me a good indication of who was prepared to finish and who wasn’t. I know things happen that are out of our control, but to be running at the finish and take the checkered flag indicates the perseverance that marks a winner.

Hebrews 12:1-3, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

We can learn many things that will help us learn how to finish. First we need those who know how to finish to show us the way.  Those who have experience and knowledge about the cars, tracks and other drivers provide invaluable information for us.

In life it means those who have come before us and have lived a life that honored God. Take a look around; is there someone who you can follow that is leading the right life, a life that honors God? 

We need to be wary of the traps that we can get caught up in. In racing we can be distracted and lose focus when we forget what the goal is; finishing the race. Someone bumps us or pinches us down and suddenly our goal is to get even instead of finishing the race. When we get caught up in getting even we fail to finish the race. We end up parked right next to the guy we thought we showed a lesson to. 

We can be easily distracted. We lose focus and we find ourselves entangled in situations and circumstances that God did not intend for us to experience. We let our selfishness get in the way and when we pursue what we want instead of what honors God we end up in places we should not be. 

How do we find our way out of situations that have distracted us? First, don’t get discouraged. There is hope in Jesus. Adjust your thinking and turn to Him. He promises that when we turn to Him, He will be faithful and deliver us from our sin. 

We need to develop perseverance. That means it won’t happen overnight. It will take time for us to get out of the entanglements we get ourselves into. It will take effort and prayer. We need to turn our focus to Jesus and learn from His example. 

What does that mean in our lives? Are we right with God? Do we live lives that honor Him? If we put our focus on Jesus and accept the sacrifice He made for us we can be right with God. We can have hope. We can live a life full of joy regardless of the circumstances that surround us. We prepare ourselves to finish the race.

The term joy escapes our grasp sometimes. We think it means being happy. Not so. Joy is an inner peace and contentment that we experience when we please God. When we are doing God’s will and living the life He planned for us we experience joy. Joy is of the Lord. Paul wrote;

Philippians 4:4-7, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We must remember that Christ gave His life for us. We live lives that in many ways fall short of the life that God has for us. But Christ gave His life for us. Think about that, how easy is it to do something for someone else? Now add to that the fact that the person you are doing it for doesn’t deserve it. It is very difficult for us to be gracious to someone who we feel is undeserving.

God is different, He loves us unconditionally. God doesn’t provide for us based on whether we deserve it, He provides for us in spite of our actions. When we consider the sacrifice Jesus made for us and the fact that God offers salvation to us in spite of our actions we start to see how we need to respond.

Our tagline at RWJM is a combination of a few verses in Scripture; 1 Corinthians 9:24 and Hebrews 12:1-2;

“Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus.”

Perseverance is required, Hebrews 12:1b; “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

I want to encourage everyone to look toward the finish, don’t worry about where we started but persevere through the race and finish well!

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Dedication requires our commitment to a certain course, thought or action. If we lose focus on that we run the risk of losing direction in our lives. Have you ever been at a point where you stop and say to yourself, where is this road taking me? At one time or another we all have. 

Our tagline at Racing with Jesus Ministries combines two Scriptures that remind us to be dedicated to following Christ. 

1 Corinthians 9:24; NLT; Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

Hebrews 12:1-2a; NLT; Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus…

“Run the race in such a way as to win, throw off everything that hinders and focus on Jesus.”

Do you remember the days when you scheduled a wakeup call in a hotel? Thinking about the purpose of those calls, the thought crossed my mind that we all need them once in a while. We could all use a little kickstart to get us going. When we go astray from the right path, when we forget our priorities, when life overwhelms us; these are situations that distract us from being dedicated to the pursuit of a Godly life.

Discouragement is one of the main factors in losing our way. We try so hard and put forth so much effort only to see things go differently than we planned. On those days we sit back and wonder if it was all worth it? 

Think about those race days that never even got started. You never got up to speed. You never got the chance to race. All the time, all the money, all the work, is it really worth it? It is if racing is the passion in your heart. It is if that is what you are dedicated to. It is if this is where you find fulfillment and satisfaction.

Let me throw something else out there for you to consider.

Matthew 6:33; NLT, Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Sometimes we are dedicated to the wrong thing and we fail to realize how things are connected. Sometimes when we dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of things we fail to see that things are temporary. Things rot, rust and are stolen.

Matthew 6:19-21; NLT, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

The fact remains; you can’t take it with you. All the pursuits that we dedicate ourselves to here on Earth will pass away. That is except one. If we dedicate ourselves to the Lord and His will for our lives He promises to provide everything we need. 

In racing and life there are no participation trophies. Well, if you count all the bumps and bruises along the road to finding your way, then maybe. Most of us take some time to discover what is really valuable. What is really worth pursuing. What is worth dedicating time and energy to attain. It is then when we look back and lament wasted time. It is said no one looks back on their life and wishes they worked more.

As wedding season comes upon us one of the topics I broach with couples in premarital counseling is the priority of the marriage relationship. This new relationship you are entering is the most significant relationship you will have second only to your relationship with God. You must hold it in the highest regard. You must be dedicated to its success. 

How many things in our lives fight for the top spot? We are pulled in so many ways, balance is difficult to achieve. I am sure of one thing, if we are dedicated to having things in the right order, the right priority then our lives will be on stable ground. How do we do that?

Philippians 4:8; NLT; And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Remember those words written in Matthew’s Gospel; Seek God First and he will provide what we need. Don’t lose sight of God’s promise to provide what we need. He created us, He knows what makes us tick and He knows what we need to be satisfied and fulfilled. That includes racing! God knows and has promised to provide. We must first be dedicated to Him.

Sometimes we lose sight of who God really is and the provision He promised. God created this Earth, He created us, He knows what is best for us. I encourage you to take a look at what you have dedicated yourself to and maybe it is time to reprioritize. Maybe it is time to…

Proverbs 3:5-6; NLT; 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Todd shares; have you ever had something promised to you and it never came to be?  Maybe you’ve promised something to someone else and weren’t able to live up to your word.  It’s pretty safe to say that we’ve been on either one or both ends of a failed promise.  How do promises in the Bible compare to our lives now and what does it reflect on who God is? 

Before we look at a promise from God’s perspective; what do our promises to others say about us? What happens to a race team when someone on the crew isn’t able to keep their commitment and doesn’t show up? Or remember when you were in line at the track concessions and promised to pay back your friend for the chicken fingers and fries?  Some of our promises don’t have huge ramifications in our minds but they leave a lasting impression on others about who we are.

From the beginning God made a commitment to care for His creation. We can read about it in Genesis 3. Adam and Eve received the garden and everything they needed was there, but they wanted more. Through their disobedience sin entered the world. Although God expelled them from paradise He made a promise, not as a punishment, but as a plan to restore them, us, back into relationship with Him. Adam and Eve had messed up and God promised a savior.  

God is compassionate and merciful. Even in their disobedience God provided. After the fall Adam and Eve realized their nakedness and God made them real clothes. 

Genesis 3:21; NLT; “And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.”

What is our reaction when someone breaks a promise? Do we respond in love and compassion? 

When we look at promises through our human perspective; we can see failure.  Circumstances beyond our control may change the outcome of what we thought was a sure-fire, easy promise to keep.  When we’re at the track, can a driver confidently promise his crew a victory? Well, they can but we all know the amount of chaos that can happen at a track.  A $5.00 bolt can be the difference between victory lane and crashing into the fence.  

Knowing the difference between our ability to fail and God’s inability to fail allows us to put our trust and hope in God’s unfailing promises. The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Titus

Titus 1:2; NLT; “This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began.”

God cannot lie.  He cannot break a promise. That is one of the attributes of God, If he broke a promise, he wouldn’t be God.  There would be no reason to worship him or follow him.  We see that in the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus. God followed through with the promise He made in Genesis of a way to restore our relationship with Him, a savior. Jesus is the fulfilment of that promise, the promise of a savior.  

People had been following God for hundreds of years, eagerly anticipating the Messiah. Some had given up hope, but many had not. Ever have someone tell you the checks in the mail? How long do we wait before giving up hope? God’s timing is perfect and His promises never get broken.  Paul writes about the confirmation of promises in 2 Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 1:19-20;  NLT; “For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No.” He is the one whom Silas, Timothy, and I preached to you, and as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” 

As we study God’s word it reveals his character, we see the grace, compassion and mercy he has for his people. Look at the promises God has made in his Word. We should learn from that and seek to copy that in our own lives. We then need to act in such a way that reflects His character in our own lives. When we make a promise let our actions and motives reflect the love of God in our hearts.  

How blessed are we that all that God promises come to fulfillment.  That is different from the promises we make, no wondering if we’re getting paid back, no being left disappointed, hurt or abandoned. God has the power and authority to keep His promises.

This doesn’t mean life will be simple or easy.  God doesn’t promise a trouble-free life.  He promises that a life lived in obedience to him will bring us joy, peace, satisfaction and fulfilment.  I have been on both sides; having lived life apart from God and lived life with God, I can personally say that facing trials with God by our side is a blessing and promise I wouldn’t want to live without.  I encourage you to trust and rest in God’s promises and see how good he truly is.

Thank you, Todd, for sharing your heart with us this week. God makes a difference, His presence in our lives provides so much more than we can provide for ourselves. God made that commitment to us and He will follow through.

Deuteronomy 31:6; So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

As we prepare for the Celebration of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday, 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 was difficult to walk. I am thankful that Jesus fulfilled the plan.

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.”

Loyalty is a component of follow through. Do we have the courage, wisdom and strength to remain true to our commitment? In a small way we see the lack of loyalty played out 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 midstream 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 when sacrifice is required. God has put a plan in place for our lives and if we deviate from the course because the going gets rough 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.

In today’s world if the going gets tough, we change direction. We take the path of least resistance. We don’t stand up for what is right and just in the eyes of God. We just let things happen. We call it being politically correct, when, in fact, it is tearing the world we live in apart.

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, through Him all things were made, must set that aside, he came into the world as a baby, allowed himself to be raised by a family and when he was thirty-three he died 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 death. Someone had to persevere through the challenges. Someone had to follow through despite the road that led to death, death on a cross.

Philippians 2:5-8; NLT; 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

6 Though he was God,

    he did not think of equality with God

    as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;

    he took the humble position of a slave

    and was born as a human being.

When he appeared in human form,

8     he humbled himself in obedience to God

    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.

I saw a sign the other day; “We Are in This Together”. I thought, really? I’m sure there are shared experiences and common challenges but are we really together? You see, for me, the word together implies a choice. We choose who and what to be together in. Just because we are in the same place, doing the same thing doesn’t mean we are together.

Racing is one of those things that can help us sort this out. There are so many people at the track. They are all there for one reason or another. They have different reasons and agendas. Just because they are in the same place doesn’t mean they are together. 

I have seen some race teams that weren’t together. You know what I mean, everyone on the same page pulling for a common goal. There are some that just seem to be tuned in to a different frequency. The most successful teams are the ones that have the most members on the same wavelength. 

We should be careful not to assume being on the same channel somehow indicates success. I have seen some great teams, united in defeat. There is a plus side, we have some company to commiserate with; as they say, misery loves company.

So how do we get together on something? Commitment; we all have to understand and make a commitment to work toward the same goal. The more committed we are the better our chances are of attaining the desired result. You cannot be together in something if you haven’t made a commitment to be. 

That also brings up the subject of commitment, or should I say level of commitment. You see for some winning is a life and death proposition, checkers or wreckers. The level of commitment required is all or nothing. Either you are willing to lay down your life to achieve the prize or you are not. I think it is safe to say many lack this level of commitment. 

Goals and level of commitment can get confused. Some goals do not require a level of life and death commitment but we place that significance on them. Winning a race isn’t a life and death commitment and I don’t think it should be. There are things in life that are significant enough to be life and death decisions. We can get confused it placing the highest level of commitment on goals that are not worthy of that significance. Paul helps us understand;

Philippians 3:7-8; NLT; I once thought these things (worldly status) were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ

Paul explains that all the things in life he had committed to attain were worthless when compared to being together with Christ. In fact, he laid down his life to be together with Christ.

Philippians 3:13-14; NLT; No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

A significant event happened shortly after Jesus ascended into Heaven to return to the Father; Pentecost. Pentecost marks the day when the promised gift of the Holy Spirit arrived and empowered those who were together with Christ to spread the Good News. The Holy Spirit found them together, praying.

The presence of the Holy Spirit altered the goals of the followers of Christ. They decided to do things a little different.

Acts 2:42-47; NLT; All the believers (over 3,000) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

The Holy Spirit united them and they were together. They united in doing things the way that honored God. The result was unexpected.

The shared meals together, they shared the Lord’s Supper together, they studied together, they shared everything they had together, they experienced miracles together, they shared their money and possessions with those who had need, they praised God together, and they worshipped together.

The result; they found favor with and enjoyed the goodwill of all people and the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

That’s a lot of togetherness, but without it there is division, faction, envy, anger, discord, jealousy, and all kinds of selfish behavior. Kind of makes me think of the world we live in. We have forgotten what it means to come together and lift up the name of the Lord. I encourage you to get together with some likeminded believers and change the community around you. This world resembles the result of separation, isolation and independent thinking. We are not islands and we were not created that way. We were created to be together.

Galatians 5:19-26; NLT; When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support and donations helps us continue this ministry. Thank You.