Cover Your Mistakes

When the things we place our trust in are suddenly taken away we find ourselves searching for an answer. We have a difficult time trusting again. We need to have something or someone who, no matter what, will never leave us or forsake us. Christ is the answer. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Have you ever wanted someone to accept you with all your flaws? Have you ever wished that people could look past all the things you didn’t do well to find the things you did do well? Have you ever wanted someone to love you just for who you are and not want to change you? We all do.

We have to overcome our tendency to look at the negative instead of the positive. We have been so conditioned to focus on what’s wrong that we very seldom take the time to see what is right. We need to change that process. We need to take a step back and start to see all the things we have been blessed with.

Someone said to me the other day, as they listed the challenges they faced physically, that they weren’t big issues compared to some of the difficulties others were facing. Amen. I am sure they were difficult to deal with but take a look around at all God has blessed you with, there is not much room for complaining is there? We have been conditioned to see what we don’t have, not what we have. We need to adjust our focus.

When the driver comes into the pits and consults with the team he only tells them what the car isn’t doing. He proclaims what is wrong with the car, not what is right. I suggest if you look at your whole life, we spend more time talking about what is wrong instead of what is right. I think if we changed that, it would make us aware of how much God is blessing us.

Have you ever made a mistake? Silly question, we all have. We make mistakes of all shapes and sizes. Some affect others and some don’t. Let me ask you, how do you correct them? Who forgives you for making them? One of the hardest things to do is forgive yourself when you make a mistake. We carry the guilt and shame, sometimes for a lifetime. We need to relieve that burden and give it to Jesus. He came to this earth to cover the cost of our mistakes.

Some of us think God is mad at us for not living the way he directed us to. He is not mad. In fact he cares so much for us that he provided a way for us to overcome our guilt and shame. He sent Jesus. Listen to what John’s Gospel says;

JOHN 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him

God sent Jesus to save us, not to punish us. The guilt we feel from making mistakes causes us to think that all we deserve is punishment. That is not true. We do need to be disciplined and redirected, but through encouragement, not punishment. God chose to do it this way because of his love for us. He is not mad at us. He wants to save us from the downward spiral our life will take when we concentrate on the mistakes instead of the good things we do. He wants to remove the guilt and replace it with forgiveness. Without Jesus that is impossible.

God is perfect and just and nothing other than that can be in his presence. Jesus came and gave his life for our life. He was the perfect sacrifice for our imperfect lives. Through Jesus, we can stand before God. Through Jesus, we can receive forgiveness. Through Jesus, we can set the guilt aside and focus on the things we do right. Through Jesus, we are saved.

Romans tells us the way to accept that gift;

Romans 10:9-13, 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. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Scripture makes it clear that God does not want to condemn us, he wants to save us. Believe that in your heart. Confess that with your mouth. Call on the name of the Lord and let him bear the guilt of your mistakes. Set yourself free from the burden of remembering everything you did wrong and start to focus on the good things, the right things you do. Let Jesus save you.

THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD

We had a great time at Martinsville. We were not only joined by the Whelen Southern Modified Tour, we were also had time to spend with Kyle and Michelle Froman, from MRO. They serve as the Spiritual guides for the Southern contingent. We met them earlier this year when the Busch East traveled to Nashville as that is their home base. Its great to know there are fellow workers out there helping to reach out.

Phillip Satkowski also joined us on the road. Phillip helps out locally at Thompson And Stafford. This was his first road trip and he had a great time. We are looking forward to the next time he can join us on the road.

Jimmy Blewett returned to the track in Martinsville and car owner Eddie Partridge made sure it was noticed. He rolled out the new hauler he had purchased. You can’t miss this one. The rear half of the trailer is red and has the biggest WMT logo know to man. Ed said the CB was active on the ride down and everyone wanted to know what kind of cars and where they raced. Thanks Ed for getting the word out and showing your support for NASCAR’s oldest division.

Jimmy did great, working through the natural emotions to qualify 23^rd. His race was cut short when the engine let go. Jimmy drove John’s Sunoco Modified that was renumbered and adjusted to meet WMT rules. Continue to keep the Blewett family in your prayer.

Another racing family needs our prayers. Linda Brady finds herself in a Boston Hospital waiting a liver transplant. I alos received word late Friday that Joe was admitted to the hospital for unknown reasons. Keep the entire Brady Bunch in your thoughts and prayers.

Also, keep the crew of #46, Dick Houlihan in your prayers, Crew member Melissa Constantine received a cal that her nephew Doug Jones was killed in a car accident.

Donny Lia continued his fantastic season by winning the pole and the race. Donny was pretty choked up as the victory represented another milestone with his career. This was victory number six this year and to get this one he had to hold off a hard charging Ted Christopher. Not an easy task. Former northern driver, L.W. Miller came home third.

We will be back at Thompson this week for Modified Mania. Make your plans to come out and join us. Have a great week, Rev. Don.

Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and apparel. See them at the Online Apparel Store at www.RWJM.org. Call us with your prayer and counseling needs and list all your prayer needs, no matter what part of our racing family you are in, with the Racing Family Prayer Request Page www.rwjm.org/page/prayers.php also send your prayer request by mail. Until next time, remember that God loves you, we love you and

Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.

Mail reaches us at Racing with Jesus Ministries, PO Box 586, Tolland, CT 06084. Check our weekly printed pages in “Area Auto Racing News”, the East Coast’s largest weekly racing paper” See our on-line Apparel Store for subscription information. Check our home page www.rwjm.org for past articles. We invite you to input your thoughts as you sign our Guest Book. Please remember, we can only do what we do because of your prayerful financial support.

Numbers 6:24-26 “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”

May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don

CHECKERED CHEERS

***WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES***

September 7

BOBBY & SUSAN SILAPIGNI- Sheba Racing NASCAR WMT team crewman and wife have their anniversary.

RICH & MARY PAWLICH- These Rocky Hill, CT NASCAR WMT fans have their 14th anniversary.

September 10

LARRY AND CARLENE SHIVERS- This Mom and Pop team for #23 WMT driver Gregg celebrate 47 years on the road.

September 11

BOB & PEGGY KARBONIC- This CT Mod driver and wife have their 13th anniversary.

***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***

September 5

DICK HOULIHAN- Massachusetts ProStock/ WMT driver.

BILL TANNER- Newtown, PA Bridgeport Modified driver.

KELLY TANNER- Woodinville, WA NASCAR West driver. (no relation to Bill)

GEORGE WINGATE- Former Bridgeport Speedway Promoter.

JEFF GREEN- Owensboro, KY NNC driver.

KENNY BERNSTEIN- NHRA Funny Car driver.

DOROTHY “PETE” BLACKADAR- West Danville, VT NASCAR Registra.

DONNA WEARING- Wife of Western PA dirt big block LM driver Bob, Jr.

DAN AYOTTE- Waterville, ME racing writer.

GREG GODEK- Windsor Locks, CT Mini Sprint driver at Whip City.

JULIE STEFANIK- The Manager of Koszella Speed Warehouse in Rhode Island and the supportive wife of past NASCAR Busch East Series Grand National Series and Whelen Modified Tour champion, Mike.

September 7

ANDY SANTERRE- Cherryfield, ME, now Mooresville, NC, 4-time BES Champion now is guiding the carrer of Sean Caisse for ASM.

JOHN PRESTON- Wyalusing, PA NASCAR WMT/NASCAR BES driver.

TOM FEARN- Feeding Hills, MA Late Model driver.

PEGGY HEEG- Sponsor of Mark Lento’s Riverhead Raceway Firgure Eight team.

September 8

MARTY RADEWICK- Almost Retired Riverside Park Speedway Modified driver.

September 9

JEFF HAMMOND- Former NNC/BGN Crew Chief now TV commentator.

AUDREY STEVENS MOCKOVAK- This Calremont, NH Speedway Modified driver is also the lovely wife of Mark Mockovak.

FRED VORDEMEIER, SR.- The father of NASCAR WMT driver, Fred, JR; “The Big Apple Kid” from West Hempstead, NY.

LARRY NICEWICZ- Vernon, CT retired racing writer.

CHAD MILLER- Son of NY photographer Chuck.

BILL CHANNELL- Proprietor of Epping, NH’s Channell 1 Video who has now gone digital.

ARLEEN SUKUP- Wife of Schodack Landing, NY former Midget owner Joe.

BILL WOODWARD- Former Flemington driver and Dale Jr. fan.

September 10

ROBERT JEFFREYS- NC Modified driver.

RALPH SOLHEM- Owner of the NASCAR WMT No. 0.

BILL CHRISTOPHER- In Plainville, CT, the father of well-known racing twins Mike and Ted.

PHIL SMITH- Veteran racing writer from Westerly, RI.

CARRIE KILCOLLINS- Sturbridge, MA fan of CT Mod driver Willie Hardee and her dad Wendell is Hardee’s Crew Chief.

AL HANSEN- Green Lane, PA former Modified team owner at Grandview and Bridgeport Speedways.

September 11

TERRORISTS STRIKE USA- It was not the first time, but on September 11, 2001, our country changed forever after 3,000 people were killed by terrorists.

GEORGE KENT- The veteran Tioga Speedway and NASCAR WMT driver from Horseheads, NY

LARRY CARON- Williston, VT LM driver.

DEBBIE VECCHIO- Wife of Syracuse, NY NASCAR BES chassis specialist, Tony.

STEPHEN “GOODYEAR” BELLEROSE- NASCAR WMT crewman and Dave Lind Goodyear Tire technician.

CHERIE BEERS- Wife of Northampton, PA aspahlt NASCAR WMT driver, Eric.

SHARE YOUR SPECIAL OCCASIONS WITH YOUR RACING FAMILY. SEND THEM TO RACING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES AT PO BOX 586, Tolland, CT, 06084.

Sources: Rev. Don Rivers/RWJM

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