Final Turn
L
ast week we chased a rabbit of sorts, doubt. Doubt is one of those things we can live without. Once we clear out the doubt we can finish the race. As we get back to our study passage we will learn about the provision God makes for us and the blessings He has for us in this life and the next. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
No doubt about it, God is true to His Word. That Word doesn’t change, it is and always will be the same, you can depend on it. There are not many things in life that are stable and sure like the promise that God made to us. We search for them only to find that we are let down. Things are not what they seem to be. So as we take the final turn coming to the checkered flag, what does God have in store for us?
Psalm 23:5-6
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
To the victor go the spoils. When we receive Christ we are victorious. We can live life knowing the outcome, we will win, our sins are forgiven and we will dwell with God forever.
Take a look at these verses; in the midst of difficulty and strife in our lives God prepares a place for us, a place to feed us and revive us. Do you remember the first televised Daytona 500? Who won? The third place car when the white flag flew. He finished the race. The two in front of him fought for the prize but neither were able to finish. Like the seas parting, Richard Petty drove from third to first in the final turn.
Even when it looks bleak and life is crushing in all around you, God is there to prepare a place for you. He sets each one of us apart as His children, anoints us with His blessing and provides each of us with an abundance of blessings. So many blessings that our cup overflows.
I am sure Richard Petty saw that victory as a blessing from God and the 200 total victories in his career as an overflowing abundance of God in his life.
God’s blessing is not only for today, it is for everyday. His goodness and mercy will follow us. We need only to trust Him and let Him guide us. When we surrender to Him and turn our lives over to Him, He promises to hold a place for us with Him for eternity. God desires us to live life to the fullest. For that to be possible we feel we need to know how it will all work out. God said to trust in Him and you will be victorious, you will win.
Now how many of us are living like that? How many of us are living like we know that no matter what happens in this life we are covered? That is why we covered doubt. When we doubt God’s Word, we doubt God. When we doubt we don’t trust. If we don’t trust God who do we trust? The only one left to trust is ourselves. If we look honestly at our lives and the decisions we have made we know we can’t be trusted. We change with the wind, whatever everyone else is doing we want to do it also. We don’t have the discipline to make it through.
Take a look back through the entire passage of Psalm 23 and see how it fits together. Take the final turn in your life and surrender over to God for guidance and direction. Let Him show you the tremendous blessings he has for you. Have a great week.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ROAD
MICHAEL, JAWS JR, JAWORECKI JR. FINISHES LATEST PRACTICE SESSION WITH GOOD RESULTS- At the track we face many challenges to put the best racecar on the track for the main event. Away from the track life presents us many challenges, some far greater than making a Modified turn left. He is known to many of us as Jaws Jr., but he is Michael to his mom and dad. He is eleven years old and although it is a short time he has endured challenges that would make most of us give up.
Michael was diagnosed with Autism when he was three and since that time it has been a never ending search for the right combination of medication that will allow him to live as normal a life as possible. Autism isn’t an exact science, the treatments developed are individual and need to be refined as time goes on. Michael Sr. shared with me “Over the last 7-8 years we have been to many doctors all with some sort of plan to help my son, so far all have pretty much failed.”
Think of it like dialing in a racecar. You are constantly adjusting on it until it is right. As we all know right is a moving target, most of the time we settle for a car we can deal with and hope for the best. Autism has the same characteristics, you may never get the treatment right, but the hope is you can get a treatment stable enough to live with. And like a racecar, what works today may not work tomorrow. Michael and his family face that reality every day.
Michael has spent some time in the pits recently, about forty days over the last year. He has spent much of the time adjusting medications and running practice laps to see what works. Just like practice at the racetrack, you may think you found something that works only to find out what you started out with was better than where you ended up. This is a difficult, frustrating and stressful time on the family and the patient. Michael’s latest stint seems to have gone well, time will tell. His dad added, “This is not the end of the road; Michael will need ongoing therapy and special schooling for months and maybe years to come.” Michael should be home from his recent stint in the hospital as you read this and he is expected to go back to school next week.
An additional challenge of Autism is that autistic children are often obsessed with things, but their attention span is short. A couple of Michael’s obsessions fit right in with the racing family. Michael is obsessed with travel and racecars among other things. Michael Sr., Michael Jr. and brother Christopher have traveled to many tour races. They have enjoyed many special times together. They don’t always get to stay for the whole show as Michael’s attention span can be short, but they enjoy racing together. That is what makes us family, we enjoy life together.
Autism can make life difficult for a family. There is never an off-season. Michael Sr. added, “Michael can make life tough on the whole family, any given day he can be a total joy or a very moody young man for no particular reason. But, either way (his mom, Rose and I) still love him very much.” Michael is also appreciative of Rose’s mom Josephine who is there to help.
I think there might be something we can do to encourage both Michael and his family. Winter can be long and cold. Without any racing going on I am sure Michael misses it just like we do. What do you say we send Michael some encouragement? Send him a card, maybe a photo of a racecar, something that he can focus on until he gets to travel to the racetrack. And while we’re at it let’s not forget to encourage mom and dad. Please remember to lift the entire Jaworecki Family up in your prayers. Your encouragement can be sent to: Michael Jaworecki Jr. & Family,
Michael, hang in there and we will see you this summer at the racetrack. God Bless.
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***
February 27
DENNIS & ELLEN MURRAY- This Mike Weeden LM fans from NH have their 42nd.
March 2
BILL & SUZANNE STIVASON- These fans from Kittinang, PA share their 17th anniversary.
March 3
TIM & BRENDA STEELE- The Coopersville, MI ARCA top driver and wife share their 15th anniversary.
March 4
VIC & SANDY KANGAS- The WC/BGN Crew Chief and wife have their 45th.
***HAPPY BIRTHDAYS***
February 27
GARY GOLLUB- Mohnton, PA Mod/Sprint driver.
DENNIS SETZER- Newton, NC NNS/CTS driver.
TODD BODINE- Chemung, NY CTS Champion driver.
GEORGE INGOLE- Lakeland, FL All Pro driver.
TY DILLON- A son of Welcome, NC NNS driver/ Crew Chief Mike and wife Tina is 16, Richard Childress’ grandson.
February 28
MARIO ANDRETTI- This Nazareth, PA World Class retired driver really does think he’s Mario Andretti.
JAY HEDGECOCK- High Point, NC WC fabricator and LMSC builder; Modified driver.
JOE GAERTE- WoO sprint driver.
BUTCH LEITZINGER- State College, PA NASCAR CWES and World Class driver.
RICH GARDNER- Late Model Stock Car driver from Waterford, PA; “Eriez Speedway” 5-time Dirt Late Model champion.
LIZ STRICKLER- Susquehanna Sportsman driver Randy’s wife.
JUDY MANIX- The sister of Plainville, CT drivers Ted and Mike Christopher.
February 29
BRIAN HOAR- His day is really February 29, but we can’t have this Goss Dodge driver miss his day.
March 1
DAVE MARCIS- Skyland, NC Retired NSC driver/RCR research driver.
BILLY PAUCH- Frenchtown, NJ driver of the Williams Grove based Zemco Sprint.
RANDY HEDGER- Nextel Cup official from Williamson, NY.
TIM STEELE- Coopersville, MI ARCA driver.
JERRY CAMINITO- Jackson, NJ NHRA Funny Car driver.
GLENN FRYE, JR- Grandson of Warren “Jeep” Frye and 1/4 Midget driver of Blackbird, Deleware.
DONNA KOCHER- Bethlehem, PA AMRA Microstock member.
KATHY TEMCHAK- Wife of Canterbury, NH NHIS victory Lane Staff Member John.
March 2
TAMMY SUE WOODS- The wife of New Jersey born Steve “Woody” Woods on the R&D staff at Evernham NNC racing.
LAURIE UDES- Wife of Morris Plains, NJ asphalt Modified driver John.
March 3
FRED RAHMER- Pennsy based international Sprint car driver.
DANNY JOHNSON- Phelps,NY D.I.R.T. Modified champion.
CHARLIE SAVAGE- From Portland, CT now driving a Modified at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, FL.
MELANIE DEWARE- From Easton, MA, the bubbly wife of Mosler Automotive/Jilbrit Wheels GT Team driver Scott.
MARY LOUISE HODGE- Racing photographer from Manchester, CT; photographer Howie’s wife.
MARGARET DAVIS- Manassas, VA writer.
GREG RHEN- Sinking Spring, PA dirt catcher and fan of Kenny Brighbill.
JAY MILLER- Son of retired modified driver Ray and Sk Mod driver at SMS and Waterford.
March 4
RICK MAST- Virginia NNC retired driver.
GARY MYERS- NC Modified driver.
BILL GREENE- Ellington, CT crewman of the Bobby Georgiades CT Modified team.
NANCY LaBONNE- East Hartford, CT wife of Stafford LM crewman Rich Caouette.
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