The first race I attended was the 1986 Summer 500 at Pocono.  Perseverance was abundant in the race.  The day was a challenge from the start, as fog plagued the area, delaying the start and then shortening the race.  There was a lot of perseverance just to get the race in.  Tim Richmond spun coming off turn three, and his transmission was stuck in reverse.  He managed to spin the car out entirely and put it into high gear.  After losing a lap, he came back to beat Ricky Rudd by a mere few feet to win the race.  If this sounds familiar, it was famously dramatized in the movie “Days of Thunder.” How did he win the race? With teamwork and perseverance.

Paul talks about the spiritual benefits of persevering in his letter to the Galatians.  “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT.  Have we allowed God to work and move in our own lives so that we are working for good? Unseen forces are trying to stop us from doing good.  The challenge is not small or insignificant; rather, it is a spiritual battle we must arm ourselves for.  

That armor involves a process of us knowing and seeking God on a deeper level each day.  Are we praying? Are we reading His Word?  Are we trusting Him and turning over every part of our lives to Him?  As we do these things, God will reveal more of himself to us.  As trials come our way, we will be better equipped to handle them as we carry the wisdom and presence of God with us.  Paul took a great view of this in his letter to the Romans. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 NLT.  Note that Paul doesn’t say “if” we run into problems and trials, but “when”.  The Christian life isn’t guaranteed to be problem-free; we just have an advocate and a helper on our side to guide us through those times.

Perseverance in racing may bring us a checkered flag at the end of the race, or for the select few, a championship trophy at the end of the season.   These things may etch our names into a record book, but it’s God’s book that matters.  After doing all he could to secure the Whelen Modified Tour Championship at Martinsville, race winner and championship runner-up Justin Bonsignore had a broader perspective, stating that having his wife and kids present with him was what really mattered.  While this battle didn’t end the way he hoped, he realized he already had a huge prize.

Trials come in a wide variety of levels, but each one offers us an opportunity to seek God, praise Him, and then walk things out in a manner that brings Him glory.  Perseverance through trials that aren’t quick can be difficult, but the refinement and blessing we can gain from them will have eternal benefits.  James, Jesus’s half-brother, was critical of Jesus while Jesus was alive.  That shifted once James encountered the resurrected Jesus.  James saw the complete picture of the Kingdom of God.  He understood that persevering in our faith was critical to our growth.  He writes: “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 NLT  James persevered right until the end of his life.  He died for his belief, being one of the early martyrs for the faith.

As the “off-season” begins to kick off, what are we doing?  How are we preparing for the trials that lie ahead of us?  What can you do now that will put you in a better spiritual situation for tomorrow? How about picking up the Bible or listening to it?  A new daily devotional can go a long way in preparing our hearts and minds for both the hills and valleys of the race season and the seasons of life.  As we do, there will be a change in us that even others will begin to recognize.  The author of Hebrews sums it up in this “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.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.  Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT.  

Where do we get the focus and energy to persevere? Through Jesus.  By keeping our eyes on Him and imitating Him, we will overcome obstacles and have peace in Him that truly surpasses all understanding.  

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 help us continue this ministry. Thank You.

Things don’t go the way we plan. Things don’t play out the way we hoped. Making adjustments is a necessary part of the deal. How do we respond, what adjustments are we making? 

Things can get heated up at the track. At times we don’t respond in a way that honors God. We need to remember, even in the heat of the moment, that we belong to God. We need to remember that we need to reflect his character not ours. 

One of the most challenging things to do in racing is to keep your composure when everything around you is going crazy. When we develop that composure we go a long way toward responding in a way that honors God. 

What does it take to win a race? It’s hard to put your finger on it. You need a fast car, but the fastest car doesn’t always win. You need a car that can get out front and lead, but the car that leads the most laps doesn’t always win the race. You need the skills and talent to drive a racecar, but the most skilled driver doesn’t always win. Surely a skilled team that can make the necessary changes during the race would win, but the best team doesn’t always win. As you can see, putting your finger on the necessary ingredients to win is a difficult task. 

What does it take to win? I guess that depends on the race you are running. It helps if we stop and remind ourselves of the race that we are running. Remembering that there is always a bigger picture.

In racing all the things mentioned above are necessary, we need them to come together on race day but that still doesn’t guarantee victory. We need to run the race. Things happen during the race that will have a significant impact on the outcome. Running the race properly involves responding to situations in a way that honors God. If we do not handle ourselves correctly we do not run the race properly. 

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I am reminded of the story of David and Goliath. If we look at the two competitors the race was over before it began. On one side we have the giant Goliath, an experienced fighter and intimidating. On the other side we have a shepherd boy with no armor, just his sling and staff. There was however something that tipped the scales in David’s favor, God. Goliath fought with his own strength and power. David fought not only with his strength and skill, but also with the blessing of God. You see, to run the race in a way as which to win, you must race within the will of God.

God’s blessings are realized when we follow His direction. When we choose to take things on with our own strength and understanding we are not running in a way as which to win. Paul points out three things that are important.

Don’t run aimlessly. In order to win the race we must know where the finish line is and the way to get there. God provides a direction for us. Seek Him out and follow His guidance. He is the best crew chief going.

Don’t fight against things that are not there. Too many times we spend our energy worrying about things that haven’t even happened. We get anxious and try to predict the future, don’t get caught up chasing the shadows of things that are not there. Deal with what is real and rely on the wisdom and strength of God.

Don’t be disqualified. We reason our way out of doing the things that are right. We find excuses to justify the choices we make. We cannot let ourselves give in to our selfish desires, but instead we must do what is right. We can justify anything we do with many reasons, but that doesn’t make it right. We must do what is right in the eyes of God. Paul adds that there is a way to respond that honors God. We need to reflect the character of God when we run the race. Only then can we have victory even in defeat.

Ephesians 4:1a-3, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

Some of those we race against are full of themselves. They strut around like they are so great. They are full of pride and arrogance. I am here to tell you if you get drawn into that thought process you will never win the race. Don’t get me wrong you can be competitive and a tenacious combatant and still honor God. The secret is not to think more of yourself than you ought to. Look at David and how he was able to be victorious over Goliath. 

Goliath laughed at him when he walked on the battlefield. Goliath insulted him and the nation he represented. Goliath didn’t take him seriously. David wasn’t defeated by the arrogance of Goliath. He placed a rock in his sling and flung one stone striking Goliath in the forehead and killing him. 

We need to remember what we have been called to and run the race in a way that will honor God. We will not wilt when the circumstances seem to be overwhelming, the pressure seems too much. Whatever we do will prosper, we will taste victory. Look forward to experiencing God’s blessings. 

 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.

Competition is at the core of our being. We are motivated to do the very best we can no matter what we are doing. We compete against ourselves, we try to improve, we strive to do better each time. While the goal is perfection, the hope is continued improvement. Perfection isn’t something we can attain on this side of heaven.

I say that but we all have seen those who have given up. We see people who have stopped trying. We see people who have become discouraged and beaten down. How do we respond to those people? How do we lift them up and change their future?

When we head to the track the reality is that there are a handful of cars that can win the race. For the others the motivation is to learn more, improve, find the missing ingredient that will put them in that group of potential winners. The fact remains, if you are not in the race, you have no chance of winning.

Are we in the race? Is it a race we can win? Well, that depends on how we look at things. Paul explains his view;

1 Corinthians 9:22b, I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.

How flexible are we? How willing are we to adapt and adjust to win the race? When we are at the track, competing to win the race will we do anything it takes to find the winning formula. How willing are we to do the same for someone who needs our help in life?

God asks us to have the same value in our heart that he does. His desire is that none of us would perish and spend eternity separated from him. We are His most valuable creation and the crowning achievement of all He created. We are so valuable to Him that he sent His only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to give his life as atonement for our sin.

John 3:16-17 (NLT); “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

The fact remains we will listen to anything and everything if we think it will give us the chance to improve our performance at the track. I have seen many strange partnerships come together in search of that magic combination that gives us the chance to win. Let me tell you how we can win the race.

It isn’t much of a secret; it is more of a choice. The winning formula is available for anyone who wants to truly run in such a way as to win. The choice comes down to one of two things, we will serve God or we will serve ourselves. It may seem too simple, but, in fact, it is that simple. We need to choose whom we will serve. When challenges come and temptations are great, who will we turn to?

2 Chronicles 7:14, (NLT); Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

To serve God requires that we acknowledge He is greater than we are. He can change things we cannot. He is over all. We need to seek him out, come to him, and follow His guidance. We need to stop doing things that dishonor him. We need to realize that he has the power over life and death; he holds our very being in the palm of his hand.

We have a tendency to make things more complicated than they are. We think that somehow if we turn to God all the fun will be taken out of our lives. We think that we will not be able to do the things that make us happy and fill our lives with joy. Nothing could be further from the truth.

You see God created us and knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what is good for us and what leads us down the path to destruction. We cannot see the future, but God holds the future in His hand. 

Have you ever thought you had something figured out? You knew the 411; you knew everything you needed to know. Then a piece of information came to light that changed your whole perspective on the situation.

It is like an incident on the track, we think we know what happened, but our view of things is always skewed toward the way we want things to go. Only when we take a look at what really happened, video replay, do we see things for what they are. 

We do not know it all. What we see isn’t always what really happened. The way we have always done things is not necessarily the best way. Too many times we fail to have a full understanding of things before we make a decision.

Don’t cut God off short, take the time to allow Him to show you how to live life. He is the creator of life and knows what is best for each one of us; whether we acknowledge, agree or choose it.

John 10:10, (NLT); The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

This is a race we can win; do not let the thief steal it! Turn your life over to Jesus and he will provide you with something that is rich and satisfying. Winning.

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.

One of the most challenging things to do in racing is to keep our composure when everything around us is going crazy. When we develop that composure, we go a long way toward responding in a way that honors God. 

What does it take to win a race? I thought about the ingredients necessary to win but had trouble putting my finger on them. I thought, well you need a fast car, but the fastest car doesn’t always win. I thought, you need a car that can get out front and lead, but the car that leads the most laps doesn’t always win the race. Or you must need the skills and talent to drive a racecar, but the most skilled driver doesn’t always win. I then thought surely that a skilled team that can make the necessary changes during the race would win, but the best team doesn’t always win. Well as you can see, I couldn’t put my finger on the necessary ingredients to win. What does it take to win? I guess that depends on the race you are running.

In racing we need all the things mentioned above, we need them to come together on race day and this still doesn’t guarantee victory. We need to run the race. Things will happen during the race that will have a significant impact on the outcome. If we don’t attempt to run we can never win.

Running the race properly involves responding to situations in a way that honors God. If we do not handle ourselves correctly, we do not run the race properly. How should we run? Listen to what Paul writes.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

I am reminded of the story of David and Goliath. If we look at the two competitors the race was over before it began. On one side we have the giant Goliath, an experienced fighter and intimidating. On the other side we have a shepherd boy with no armor, just his sling and staff. There was however something that tipped the scales in David’s favor. Goliath fought with his own strength and power. David fought not only with his strength and skill, but also with the blessing of God. You see, to run the race in a way in which to win, you must race within the Will of God.

God blesses us when we follow His direction. When we choose to take things on with our own strength and understanding we are not running in a way as which to win. Paul points out three things that are important.

Don’t run aimlessly. In order to win the race, we must know where the finish line is and the way to get there. God provides a direction for us. Seek Him out and follow His guidance. He is the best crew chief going.

Don’t fight against things that are not there. Too many times we spend our energy worrying about things that haven’t even happened. We get anxious and try to predict the future, don’t get caught up chasing the shadows of things that are not there. Deal with what is real and use the courage, wisdom and strength God provides.

Don’t be disqualified. We reason our way out of doing the things that are right. We find excuses to justify the choices we make. We cannot let ourselves give in to our selfish desires, but instead we must do what is right. We can justify anything we do with many reasons, but that doesn’t make it right. We must do what is right in the eyes of God.

Paul adds that there is a way to respond that honors God. We need to reflect the character of God when we run the race. Only then can we have victory even in defeat.

Ephesians 4:1a-3, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

There are times when we race against competitors who are full of themselves. They strut around like they are so great. They are full of pride and arrogance. I am here to tell you if you get drawn into that thought process you will never win the race. Don’t get me wrong you can still be competitive and a tenacious combatant and still honor God. The secret is not to think more of yourself than you ought to. Look at David and how he was able to be victorious over Goliath. 

Goliath laughed at him when he walked on the battlefield. Goliath insulted him and the nation he represented. Goliath didn’t take him seriously. David wasn’t defeated by the arrogance of Goliath. He placed a rock in his sling and flung one stone striking Goliath in the forehead and killing him. 

We need to remember what we have been called to and run the race in a way that will honor God. We will not wilt when the circumstances seem to be overwhelming, the pressure seems too much. Whatever we do will prosper, we will taste victory. Look forward to experiencing God’s blessings. Run 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.

One of the most common sights in the garage area is the constant attention to the tires. This is done because that is where the horsepower, through torque, is transferred to the track. The tires reveal to us what is happening when we are out on the track. They reveal how we can improve the car’s performance on the track. 

At times, when we see blisters or wear, we blame the tire; the compound is too soft or too hard. Maybe the tires are from a bad batch or they weren’t cured right. It isn’t always the tire. The problem may be deeper than just where the rubber hits the road.

Tire problems indicate deeper issues. What we see on the surface isn’t a problem with the tire; it is an indication that what the tire is attached to needs to be adjusted. Maybe the stagger is wrong, perhaps it is the shock setup or maybe the spring rate. The driver could just be driving too hard. Tire problems usually indicate the race car they are connected to is not stable. If the tire isn’t connected to the right setup it will show in the way the tire heats up and wears. How we respond to those indications determines how well we will run the race.

Let’s look at the closing passage of Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” found in Matthew’s Gospel.

Matthew 7:24-27, NIV; “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 

Therefore is an interesting word, it means; because of what was said make these adjustments to your life. Think of our tires again, when we see certain indications, we make certain adjustments to our car. Jesus says, “Therefore make the following adjustments.” 

Let’s take a look at the similarities of each man mentioned in this passage. First thing we notice is that they both sought to attain the same goal, build a house. This is not unlike our desire when we come to the track. We all want to win. As each of us know, having a goal and getting there can be two different things.  How do we go about accomplishing our goal? Is there one way that is best? Where do we find the answer?

That leads us to the second thing these men had in common, they both went to the same seminar. We need information to accomplish our goals. Rarely does someone accomplish something by accident. The usual method is threefold; establish a goal, learn what you need to know to accomplish it and then do it.

Each one set out to build a home, a legacy, if you will. Each one heard the words of Jesus. They had the right information to use. Each one had an equal opportunity to succeed. Like using the setup notes we have for a certain track. If we use that information we have a head start on getting our car setup in a way that will enable us to win. 

Thirdly we find that they both experienced the same challenge. There was a storm. It was the same storm for both of them. There was no difference between what took place in each of their lives. When we come to the track, we all are faced with the same challenge, set up the car so that you are able to win. The track conditions are the same for everyone. The distance is the same for everyone. The practice time is the same for everyone. The rules that dictate what equipment can be used are the same.

All things being equal, what separates the winner from everyone else? The team who makes the right adjustments based on the information they have. We all have choices to make in life. Each choice comes with its own set of consequences. How we choose and how we respond reveals who is in control of our lives. Do we make the proper choices based on what we have learned? Jesus contrasted the two men for us, the wise one applied what he heard and the foolish one didn’t. We can all have victory if we follow Christ.

It is very rare that the winner of the race had the wrong setup. Having the wrong setup usually plays itself out during the race. Most times we see it all too clear; Tire fails and you are introduced to the wall. Other times it shows up in lack of performance; we just can’t get up to speed. How our car is set up determines how we run the race. It determines if we are running in such a way as to win. Our set up decides whether we succeed or fail.

We had an incident at work one day that helps illustrate the choices we make and their consequences. We had just poured some fresh concrete and there was a little pile on the ground. A salesman was visiting and instead of bypassing it he decided to see if it was wet. He stepped in it with all he had. It was wet and now his dress shoe was covered with wet cement. Was it worth a ruined pair of shoes to see if the concrete was wet? We need to stop and examine the consequences of the decisions we make before we follow through on them. We need to take time to fully understand the choices we make in life. It is not necessary to learn everything the hard way.

One man applied what he had heard and when the storm came he was able to withstand it. The other ignored what he had heard, the storm came and his life came crashing down with a great fall. Where and how we finish is dependent on the decisions we make. It matters whose advice we follow. In life, much like in a race, if we have the right setup we will be able to finish in victory. 

Look at the starting lineup, can you tell who has the best race car? They are all nice and polished. They all have four wheels and a motor. They all have a talented driver. Can we tell which one will win? No, we can’t, we have to run the race. Then and only then will we see who made the right decisions. We not only need to run the race; we need to finish. No one ever won a race that they didn’t finish. As Yogi would say, 90% of the cars that don’t finish don’t win.

What can we take with us from this passage? Jesus said listen to my words and follow them. If you do this you will be able to withstand even the fiercest storm. If you listen to my words and do not make changes to your life, when difficult times come you will not have the foundation you need to withstand the storm and your life will come crashing down.

Jesus asked the question of His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Our answer to that question will indicate whose directions we are following. I encourage us to listen and apply the teachings of Jesus. He will enable us to have a strong foundation that is able to withstand any storm. 

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.

Have you ever tried so hard to attain something and it just seems out of reach? Think about the time and effort put into accomplishing a long-term goal. Think of the satisfaction of the victory. There is a blessing in that effort that is only realized if we stick to it. 

I was thinking about the Mystic Missile this week. I looked back on the history of the team and the list of Hall of Fame drivers that piloted the historic V4 yet the championship had eluded car owner Bob Garbarino for years. Names like Stevens, Worley, Maquis, Flemke, Connelly, Bodine, Ross and Hossfeld. Not until Lia achieved the title in 2007 and then again in 2009, followed by Santos in 2010 did the team taste the sweet nectar of victory from the championship cup. Forty-six years of trying only to return again the next year with the same quest.

The Mystic Missile was not a slouch team, the car was impeccable, the equipment the best, the crew was willing to do the work, but the top prize eluded them. I remember the excitement of one particular victory at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. As I stood in victory lane, holding driver Chuck Hossfeld mom’s hand as she shook. “I wish he took up golf!” There was excitement and promise for this young driver and stout team. The end fell short by 32 points of the dreams and goals as Todd Szegedy took home the prize that year. But a closer look at the standings revealed promise on the horizon, Donny Lia was the rookie of the year in 2003 and would bring the elusive title to the V4 Mystic Missile.

Stick to it, even when the results don’t achieve our hopes and dreams. 

Isaiah 40:28-31; NIV; 

Do you not know?

    Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

    the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

    and his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

    and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

    and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the Lord

    will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

    they will run and not grow weary,

    they will walk and not be faint.

Our strength and endurance come from God; he is the source of what sustains us. We are tempted to take short cuts, remember what we talked about last week? Temptation replaces integrity. We go there when we are looking for a short cut. We go there when we need a quick fix, a satisfaction of our desires. We compromise our integrity for a good feeling. 

The reality is that it is not lasting. It doesn’t have a lasting satisfaction. There is no fulfilment. We are left wanting for more. Don’t buy into the lie of the enemy. Stick to the course, trust that God has a plan and it is good. He will not grow weary or give up on us. No matter how many times we fall short!

Trials are from God; they shape us and mold us into the reflection of Jesus. Without the testing and trials, we would be incomplete and lacking. We need to understand the difference between trials and temptations.

Temptations have their root in our own wants and desires. Trials have their root in the plan of God that is beneficial and good for us. 

Galatians 6:7-10; NLT; Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Listen to those words, we always harvest what we plant. Are we planting seeds of hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, and division? Guess what our life will reflect? Yes, our lives will be filled with dissatisfaction, frustration, anger, stress, anxiety and worry. We will harvest death and decay.

Let’s not grow tired of doing what is good. When we plant love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control we reap the blessings of God. If we don’t give up! Jesus said I have come so that you can have life, abundant and overflowing. We need to understand that the seeds we plant in our heart are the things that flow out of us, our thoughts, words and actions.

We can stick to it and reap the blessings of God or we can give into our selfish desires and harvest the seeds of discontent. I encourage you to seek out God, ask Him into your life and allow Him to guide and direct your steps. Yes, there will be some housecleaning that needs to be done. We will have to adjust our thoughts and actions, but the benefit of the process is a truly rich and satisfying life. God says we are worth the effort and He will not grow weary and lose hope. 

Philippians 1:6: NLT; And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

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.