Month: August 2023

Posted in Family, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful

The Best Deal Ever

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins.” Ephesians 1:7

Who needs three weed-eaters? So, for a while I have been wanting a good battery powered weed-eater.  Now, first, I need to tell you that thing that cuts your weeds is not a weed-eater…it is a string trimmer. Weed-eater is a name brand…not the name of a tool.  So, with that settled, I really was intrigued with the idea of a string trimmer that didn’t need to be cranked.  Imagine just mashing a button…and away you go. Wack, wack, wack.

Being rather frugal, I just wasn’t really to lay down the big bucks, so my wish remained just that…a wish.  And then it happened.  I got an email that said Home Depot had a collection of tools battery tools and several of them were on super-duper sale—75% off. Well, I headed over to their site and got a chainsaw and a blower.  Awesome.  When I finally got to the weed wackers…they were sold out. Bummer.

Well, for the next several days, I would check to see if they had any more in stock.  On Saturday morning, I got up and, on a whim, checked and they had fifteen in stock.  Now these babies had a straight shaft, all kinds of cool features and were powered by a 62-volt, four amp hour battery.  We are talking about major power.  And this is the best part…there were two models—one with an aluminum shaft and one with a carbon fiber shaft and they were selling for $39.00 for the aluminum one and $47.00 for the carbon fiber shaft.  This was amazing.

I thought about it for just about one second and bought…three…two carbon fiber and one aluminum. Yup…that’s right.  I figured I might as well be weed wacker fixed for the rest of my life.  When they were delivered…they were amazing.  In fact, I still can’t believe what a deal it was. I mean, the chainsaw was great, the blower was great, but the string trimmers were amazing.  As advertised, squeeze the trigger and wack, wack, wack.

Now I don’t think I was being greedy, and I don’t think I was being selfish…at least not much. I’ve learned that when an opportunity arises…especially one that costs under fifty bucks and is 75% off…you need to jump and jump fast. But wait…all of that pales when you think about the best deal ever—the one that gives you eternal life.  God offers all of us “whosoever wills” His forgiveness and love and all we have to do is a “life 360” and believe in His Son.  Now that is not only a deal…it is the best deal ever.  Need more info? Just read His Book, the Bible, and then take some time to talk with Him—that’s called prayer. What you will discover is just like everything else…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Rooms

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask Him!” Matthew 6:8

I read it…and I just didn’t like it.  We live in a house with what seems like a lot of rooms.  I heard Pastor Andy Stanley say that we know we are blessed because we even have rooms for our cars.  They are called garages.  I suppose my favorite room is the kitchen because that is where my wife Judy cooks our delicious meals.  She is a very good cook, and I am a very good eater!  My second favorite room is my home office or, you could say my, “Man Cave.”

While it is true that it is where I do a lot of my studying and writing, its walls are full of memories.  The walls are filled with different things and all of them spark different emotions and memories.  Over here is a map with red pins that shows all the places where Judy and I have travelled. Over there is a shotgun that belonged to my Daddy. On another wall is a picture of me and group of friends praying for a man in Africa.  And finally, on two other walls are two large pictures—one is a print of a family in their southern yard just living—playing and working. The other is a beautiful mountain scene that we purchased during our time in Germany so many years ago.

Rooms can be very special for various reasons.  I was reading this week and by way of illustration a writer told a story of a young boy who had a dream that he was in heaven.  Someone showed him a room filled with cars, boats and other toys but piled on the other side of the room were arms and legs and other body parts.  I know…it sounds gruesome. When the boy asked his guide what it meant he was told that they were answers to prayers that people never prayed.  I guess it makes for a good story but honestly—I didn’t like it.

“Why” you ask?  Well, the idea that the God that loves me and cares for me would let me walk around blind or crippled only because I didn’t ask just doesn’t work for me.  I mean He loved me enough to send His Son to die for me…for the whole world…and then would allow His kids to remain broken and lame only because they didn’t ask just doesn’t work.  Oh, and then, Jesus said that He knows what we need even before we ask.  No, I think God is an opened handed, loving Father who cares for us.

Of course, I also believe that prayer is far more than a wish list.  I believe the scriptures teach about prayer being more about fellowship and an intimate relationship between God and His children.  Prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind or persuading Him to do this or that.  No, prayer is about changing us…to believe…to trust…to love the One who made us.  I know there are a lot of scriptures in the Bible about prayer, but we only get a clear picture when we put them together. Like a giant jigsaw puzzle comes to life when all the pieces are in place…so it is with prayer.

Well, I don’t think there will be those kind of rooms in heaven but if there were…I know one I do think would be there.  And that room would be a gallery of pictures of all the things our Dearest Daddy did for us that we never even knew about.  It would be a room filled with unnoticed miracles, love notes, and blessings and it would have to be a big room because He is a busy God…loving, blessing, and caring…for each of us.

I’m grateful for the open-handed love of our great God.  If we take the time to pause and look, we will see more and more of what He does for us every day.  Judy and I are learning that so often joy is in the journey, and do you know what?  I am learning that the power of prayer is in the intimacy, the relationship that can only come from time spend together with the One who made me…made us.  Oh, and when we are talking, and I’m sharing my concerns, I just know He is there listening and sometimes whispering…telling me not to worry because, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Indispensable Volunteers

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.”1 Corinthians 12:21-22

Who really is most important? In March of 1981, President Ronald Reagan was shot as he was walking toward the presidential limousine. The President spent several weeks in the hospital recovering from the injuries he sustained in the shooting. And although he was the nation’s chief executive, his hospitalization had very little impact on the daily lives of Americans.

Now consider this. Not too long ago, garbage collectors in a major city went on a three-week strike.  Within a matter of days, the city was a mess, causing a major health hazard for the citizens, and bringing the city to a near halt. Think about it.

Weeks without a president…and weeks without garbage collectors. Which of these had more impact upon the functioning of our nation? Though it is hard to grasp clearly, the absence of the garbage collectors had a larger impact—at least in that city.

This valuable lesson is something that we need to remember in church.  All too often we think that just because a person has a title such as pastor, deacon or perhaps trustee, that they are the most important.  In reality, it is the everyday member who volunteers and serves week in and week out that makes the biggest difference.

This past Sunday, after speaking, I headed to the doors to shake hands and greet the folks.  I opened the doors to the foyer and was greeted with a room full of children…thirty-four to be exact, waiting for their parents.  With them was a couple of our faithful volunteers who had spent the last 45 minutes loving on them and teaching them about Jesus.  I was both impressed and blessed—grateful for their service.

Our church, and yours, needs people who will volunteer for seemingly insignificant jobs that are almost always behind the scenes. The truth is that these jobs are not insignificant at all…they are vitally important. So be sure and thank them because we can’t do the work without them. Oh, and be sure and thank the Lord too and while you are talking with Him, ask Him is there any area you need to be helping with.  Sound frightening?  Don’t worry…as always…He’s got that. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials, wisdom

Locks

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Well, that didn’t do a lot of good.  A while back my wife Judy and I attended a pastor’s conference at the Billy Graham Training Center in North Carolina.  It was so refreshing to get away and as always, we were treated like royalty.  The teaching, the facilities, and the food were all top notch.  It was like an oasis where we could pause and refill—to drink deeply from His well of living water.

So, too soon, it was time to head back home and because the conference was over in the middle of the day, it just made sense to stop about halfway and spend the night. Cookeville, Tennessee is just about the midway point, so we booked an Airbnb. It was a nice place and we unloaded and then went to get a bite to eat. In the meantime, it decided to rain.  Now let me explain this was one of those rains that could drown a fish.  It rained, rained hard and it rained a long time. I was about to check the price on gopher wood.  Anyway, when we got back to our home for the evening, I jumped out of the car and unlocked the door and Judy followed.

Well, it continued to rain and several times I went outside to see what was happening.  You could hear the rain from inside the apartment and you could just tell it was coming down in buckets.  Of course, there was the occasional lightning followed by a good, ole thunderclap.  Each time I went out I was careful to lock the door back.  You know, the neighborhood looked safe, but you can never tell.  Finally, it was time to head to bed and I checked the door, and it was locked.  We were safe and sound.

Well, sometime in the night, I woke up to rollover and I thought I heard something.  Now don’t panic…it was nothing, but I thought it might be something.  And then, something occurred to me, a question really.  I asked myself, “Did you leave the key in the lock on the door?”  Well, that made me wonder…and for good reason.  So, in the middle of the night I got up and turned on the lights.  I looked on the counter and guess what?  The key was nowhere to be seen.  I had a sneaking suspicion I knew just where to find it.

I walked over to the door, unlocked the deadbolt, and opened the door and there for everyone and anyone to see and find…was the key.  Well, I obviously took it out of the lock and gratefully locked the door back, put the key on the counter and went back to bed.  After a short prayer thanking God for keeping us safe, I drifted back off to sleep…no harm and no foul.  But it did make me think.

You see the door had two locks…one on the doorknob and one a deadbolt.  Those together would certainly keep out any bad guys.  But with the key right there…well, those locks weren’t going to keep anyone out.  With the key in the lock, it was like hanging out a “Y’all come on in!” sign. As I mentioned, no one tried to come in, but I had rendered the locks useless by leaving the key there.

It made me wonder how often do we leave the keys in the locks that guard our heart, our mind, our character, our marriage, our anything?  You see, God watched out for Judy and me that night and gratefully, He also watches out for us in life.  But as sure as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, it is better to remove the key and lock the lock.  Wouldn’t it have been crazy, though, for me to leave the key in the lock because, after all, no one tried to come in…yet?  And just because nothing has gone amiss in our lives yet doesn’t mean that it can’t, and it won’t.

The Bible tells us in the Book of Smart Living, aka Proverbs, to guard our hearts because out of it comes the wellspring of our lives. In other words, we need to lock the door of our hearts and put the key safely away. If you are wondering the best way to guard your heart, to lock the door to your heart, I believe the Bible is the answer.  It is just jam-packed with help from the One who made us.  And remember, the Bible isn’t just a book of rules…it is a book for living well. Like guardrails on a curvy road, it keeps us from big regrets and consequences.  Written on the pages and in between the lines is His calm assurance that we don’t have to worry because He is with us and yes, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, food, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Habits and Me

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7a

I am a creature of habit.  I love a good adventure but also love routines.  You know, like this morning and every morning. I wake up (that one is definitely essential), head to my man cave office, have a cup of coffee, and take a glance at the weather on a local channel. Then comes more coffee, my time with God, then time with my wife Judy, exercise (well, most of the time), breakfast, shower/dress and start the day.  Any change in my routine has the domino effect and the whole morning can get off course.

Habits can be really good or really bad.  If it is a good habit, it keeps us on course doing the right thing.  However, if it is a bad habit, it can lead to everything from a bad day to a bad life filled with consequences and regrets. One of the things most of us can identify with is our eating habits.  If we have a lifetime of poor eating habits, it can have dire consequences as we age.  Smoking, drinking and drug abuse all are habits that can wreak havoc with our lives—and that is just the short list.

Habits can be changed. They say when you do something consecutively for 30 days it becomes a habit.  In other words, if you start to exercise and can make it 30 days; it should be ingrained in you enough that you will continue it.  If you start eating less sweets and hang with it for 30 days or so, well, they say it just might stick. I’m sure there is some truth to the 30-day thing, but I also know that habits have to be maintained or else they can go to “habit” heaven.

The best way to maintain a habit is to do it.  Sometimes, though, it seems nothing works. Let me tell you about something that I have been battling for years…and still don’t have a solution.  Now, hang with me! First, I spend a lot of time at the keyboard.  Between writing sermons and writing blogs…I type a lot. So, as you probably know, when a person types a scripture reference it looks something like this–John 3:16.  Well, I do all my sermons in Pages—a word processing program for Apple computers.  When I save the file, it asks me to name it. So, by habit, I always name the file with the word Sermon followed by the reference–so it might look like this:  Sermon – John 3:16.

And that, dear friends, is the problem. You see, Pages will absolutely not allow you to use a colon as part of the file name.  Every time it slaps my hand and replaces the colon with a dash.  So, the name becomes Sermon – John 3-16. As hard as I try, I just can’t accept the change. No, No, and No.  So, Pages and I are at an impasse.  I forget the colon thing and I do not like the dash thing.  It is habitual battle that I fight every time I write a sermon. Try as I may…I can’t seem to break the habit.

The cause of this madness is simple and revealing.  You see, all the other times I write a scripture reference I always use a colon.  Consequently, it is reinforced in my brain to do the wrong thing when I save a file.  Now in this case, I’m not sure what the answer is–do I keep beating my head against the wall when I save a file or learn to write the scripture reference in a new way.  Who knows?

While this one is annoying, there are other habits in our lives that are destructive or at least unproductive?  Is there a bad habit either consciously or subconsciously that you are consistently reenforcing?  Are you finding yourself unable to get up early for exercise or quiet time because of late night television viewing?  Are destructive habits being fed by destructive reading or viewing habits?  Hmmmm.

One thing remains sure–if we sow corn–we will reap corn.  There is a small part of a verse from a very wise man that has a big truth.  It says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” In other words, as long as we are feeding our brains the same thoughts and arguments—we will get the same results.  If we want different results–we must do something different.  They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results–it just doesn’t work.

Well, the really good news is God wants to give us a hand.  His Word is a great handbook for life and if we will read and heed—we can, with His help, change. Remember those signs on the road that warn you of a sharp curve?  They really can help us have a better day.  So, dive into His Book and watch as things change.  It may not happen overnight, and you might be tempted to throw in the towel but before you do remember two things.  One, why you started in the first place and two, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Stop and Look…Twice

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will grant you His blessing.” 1 Peter 3:9

It happened in a flash. Several years ago, well, actually more than several, I had to leave the office and run home to get something. I made it there fine and was on my way back to the office when it happened. I had to cross a street, not an overly busy one but not deserted either. I pulled up to a stop sign, stopped, looked both ways, and then proceeded to pull right out in front of another car.

In a flash it was over and done. There was no time to avert the crash…it was game over. The other driver was piloting a small import and I was driving a much larger Grand Prix. She drove away and I was totaled. What? How can that be? How could any of this be? Well, honestly, I don’t know how it happen…but it did.

Think about it. I did stop…totally and completely. I did look…once and most likely twice and yet I still managed to cause the accident. Now in my defense, there were several large trees and bushes planted in such a way that they blocked my view…but it was still my fault. The police officer even said that one of their officers had a wreck at the very same spot…but none of that changed anything. I received a ticket for failing to yield and my nice shiny, almost new Grand Prix ended up in the junk heap. Oh, and for the record, within a couple of weeks all the trees and bushes were gone courtesy of our local city.

For years, and even now, whenever I pull up to that intersection, I still have flash back memories of that day. With the trees and bushes gone, I can clearly see and trust me I certainly check twice before pulling out, but all my carefulness now can change what happened. I am certain that day is not the only day I wish I could have a second shot at. How many times have I said something or did something and wished I had another go around at it. How about you? Any memories still cause you to cringe? Don’t worry…I feel your pain.

Theologian Tryon Edwards said something that really resonated with me. He said, “Right actions for the future are the best apologies for wrong ones in the past.” In other words, the best evidence that you truly were sorry is not to do it again. While I’m just not sure what I could have done to have prevented that accident, I do know I never approached that intersection the same way. Once was enough thank you.

As you journey along today and, in the days, to come, let’s try to avoid the bumps and bruises of life by trying harder than ever to do the right thing, the best thing. And remember, our right actions in the future really are the best apologies for the past. Oh, and when, despite our best efforts we still fumble the ball, don’t worry, your Dearest Daddy is ready to help you out of the mess. Remember, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Unexpected Gratitude

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

I made a random turn…into the cemetery.  One evening my wife Judy and I were out on a mission.  One of our ladies had given us some homemade ice cream and we were returning the container.  Oh, in case you are wondering, it was way beyond delicious.  It was peach and it was just peachy.  I’ve already put in a request for strawberry next.  We returned the container and just kinda started driving randomly.  As we went down the street the entrance to the cemetery came up on the right—and I turned right in.

Slowly we started driving down the lanes and just as slowly I started reading some of the headstones there.  First, though, on the left was Harrisburg’s “Little Arlington.”  It was dusk and the lights were on, and I was so impressed with all the work that went into honoring those who had served their country. It represented sacrifice. For some the ultimate sacrifice…the kind of sacrifice that means you don’t get to come home from the war.  I love what is often said, “All gave some, but some gave all.” For that, I was moved, and I was grateful.

Just down the lane was a grave that caught my attention.  It was a young soldier who went to Korea to fight for his country in what has been called “the forgotten war.”  He was 27 years old when he died on some battlefield, on some hill in a country for away.  He was fighting and ultimately died for the cause of freedom.  I was moved and I was grateful.

In several places, Judy and I would stop as we saw a headstone that was personal because we knew, we loved, the ones buried there.  Sometimes both of the names were etched there in the stone, and it symbolized two lives joined into one story.  And for both the story had concluded.  Sometimes though only one name had the start and finish dates. The other story was still being written and there was a heart longing for heaven and a long-awaited reunion.  One stone declared and celebrated 72 years of marriage.  So many of those story writers had touched our lives.  I was moved and I was grateful.

There were also stones of tragedy.  There stood the stone marking the grave of two brothers tragically killed one night by a drunk driver.  Several other stones showed lives cut short by a tragic accident.  Over there was the headstone of one of the victims from the 2012 tornado.  Everywhere were stories of people who touched the lives of others. One stone showed an American flag engraved in full color—the grave of a proud veteran.  One grave was that of a pastor and a veteran of World War II.  So many stories, so many lives, so many contributions.  I was moved and I was grateful.

As we continued around the lanes inside the hallowed grounds, we noticed there were places where whole families were buried together.  Generations of fathers and mothers, sons and daughters lay in eternal rest together.  The stones often bore nicknames and tag lines of the one who lay there.  On one grave was a tattered flag that said, “#1 Dad.” Some graves though were barely marked.  The only indication that someone lay there was a rock or a stone.  In another part of the cemetery were the pauper graves.  I have been at the graves of some where there were only two people, me, and the funeral director. No one else came. I was moved and I was grateful.

“Wait,” you say.  “How can you be grateful?”  Well, the reason is simple.  Whether it was a family plot of many generations or a solitary grave of a person when no one came—Jesus was still there.  He is the unseen attendee of every funeral.  For many He is there as Savior and Lord. For others He is there as the Sovereign Lord who wishes all to believe but knows not all will.  But He is there.  He is always there.  When we need Him, when we want Him and yes, even when we ignore Him.  I am moved and I am grateful.

When you get some time, take a slow drive through the cemetery.  It is anything but morbid…it is in fact one of the most meaningful things we can do.  You will be touched, you will be moved, and yes, somewhere along the way you will be grateful.  Let each headstone with a start and finish date be a reminder that for you there is still time.  Still time to make a difference, still time to mend a relationship, still time to finish well.  But most importantly…there is still time to believe and trust in Him.  The Book says that if anyone will call on His name…they will be saved—forgiven—rescued. No story is so bad that He can’t change the end.  Once again, I am moved, and I am grateful.

Many see the cemetery and think death.  For those who truly understand grace and Jesus they know the cemetery isn’t about death it is about life.  You learned it in Sunday School but now hear it again…like the first time.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (that is you and me) calls on His name will not perish but have everlasting life.”  So, trust in Him and rest in Him.  For He has all of this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, thankful, travel

Safe…Again

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13

I did it once…so why not twice?  So, a couple of years ago I manned up and did something I was very uneasy about doing. So, what was it?  Well, I agreed to go with my wife Judy on the annual youth canoe trip.  The reason I was so uneasy with this thing was the fact that there was at least a reasonable probability that Judy and I would get caught in the current and end up in the drink (aka in the water).  And that—would mean two things.  First, a quick and shockingly cold bath in the spring fed river and second, the task of getting back into the canoe without totally embarrassing myself.

Well, it turns out that Judy and I were able to avoid the drink which means I avoided the shockingly cold bath and the difficult task of trying to get back into the canoe.  Of course, as it turned out, the water was often only a foot and a half deep so that wasn’t going to be an issue anyway!  The bottom line is we had a great time and while I certainly didn’t commit to ever going again…I realized it was a possibility.

Last year, we went on a mission trip to England to minister to some Africans who had migrated there and honestly, I was not too disappointed that it just happened to hit at the same time as the canoe trip. While I enjoyed the first trip and escaped certain death and danger by going in the frigid drink, I was hesitant to go again.  England saved my life.  And, then it happened…another opportunity.

Well, just like clockwork August rolled around again and again we had an opportunity to go.  After hem and hawing around, I finally left the decision up to Judy.  Bad idea—we were soon booked…and here is the funny part. Even though I knew what to expect, my old fears kept me from looking forward to the trip.  But…I manned up—we went…and get ready…had a great time.

Yup, we had a great time of fellowship and fun and the food was great too.  And guess what?  We made it again without going into the drink…but Judy came very, very close. Smile. I rediscovered that nothing makes you feel young like hanging around with a gaggle of teenagers enjoying life!  Then add to that I was in the boat with Judy and on their first canoeing outing was one of our daughters, her husband, and their tribe and it was just good.

The truth is though, given half a minute I would have missed it all…held back by a little fear and some very cold water.  So, I write all of this to tell you sometimes you just need to go with it.  Lay your fear down and enjoy the journey. The regret of saying no and not going would have been so much greater than going in the drink. I’m learning that my Dearest Daddy really is for me, really is there to help and really, always, has everything under control.  He can be trusted. He’s got this…period.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, food, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, loving others, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Root Canal Joy

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

He looked at her and said, “Root canal.” Before God took him to heaven, my dentist was my friend.  For 22 years he took care of my family.  He was a good man and a man of integrity.  But with all that said, one day, he uttered the words that sends fear into every rational, sane person.  Root canal.  It all started on a Thursday. We were out of town and my wife Judy was munching on some pork rinds.  For those not familiar with this example of fine southern cuisine, it is fried pork skin.  Yes, I know and understand.  Well, she finished her snack and put the bag away.  Just about then it happened.

Without warning and really for no apparent reason unless you count the pork rinds, one of her teeth broke in half.  We both couldn’t believe it but apparently this tooth was one she had had filled a long, long time ago and over time the filling had deteriorated, weakening the tooth.  Now, hang on.  From the get-go this thing was a God thing…you just had to look a little closer.  We called our friend the dentist and made an appointment for when we got back in town.  But here is the amazing part.  She had absolutely no pain.  The rule book says if you break a tooth, you hurt but God blessed and for the entire weekend, she had no pain whatsoever.  Thank you, Lord.

Well, we got back into town, and she went to see our friend the dentist on Tuesday morning.  At first it looked like a standard put a cap on it thing but then he took a closer look and realized that there was a pretty good chance that the repair would abscess and if it did…well, it wouldn’t be pretty.  And that is when our friend the dentist said the words, “root canal.”  Judy had had one of those when she was about ten and it was not a good experience.  Root canals rank up there with being drawn and quartered. My friend the dentist used to always tease me when I went to get my teeth cleaned.  He would smile and ask, “Need a root canal today?”

Anyway, his office referred us to a place in Paducah, Kentucky and believe it or not they had an opening that very day.  Obviously, someone had chickened out.  We made the appointment and then made our way to Paducah.  She got there and of course was just a little apprehensive, but the bottom line is this…in an hour they were done.  She said, “Dewayne, it was easier than getting a filling.”  Well, she was amazed, I was amazed, and it was just about that very moment that we figured out it was just another love note from our Dearest Daddy.

I know what you are thinking.  The words love note, and root canal can’t go in the same sentence but indeed then can and did.  When you combine a good God and a good dentist like my friend…well, we almost shouldn’t be surprised. But the truth is this whole deal was incredibly different from what it could have been from start to finish.  I mean no one prays for a root canal, in fact, no one would dare want a root canal, but this is just a good example of God saying, “You are going to have to walk this path, but I want you to know I am here to walk with you.”  And He did.

The “root canals” of life can be far more difficult than this experience and honestly not all of life’s difficulties go as smoothly as this.  But here’s the deal.  This one will serve as a gentle remind for Judy and me that God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.  His faithfulness is not dependent on the outcome or the circumstances.  His faithfulness is defined by His presence, and He is always there, always watching and always caring.

So, as you journey, maybe munching on a bag of pork rinds or maybe not and you hit a bump, try and make your first response to be looking, sensing His presence.  Try not to panic but rather try to rest in His peace. Remember what He said, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” In other words, regardless of how the story ends, His gentle whisper remains the same, “I’ve got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, food, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Change or Not?

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1

It was a food adventure.  Judy and I love adventures.  Sometimes that means a new place to visit, or it might be as simple as a new place to eat.  Well, one of the things that Judy and I enjoy doing together is dining out at a restaurant. We have several favorites that we go to regularly.  We have our favorite here in the ‘burg, favorites in Marion, favorites in Paducah and even a couple in Evansville.  Then we have favorite meals at each place.  At one we have a steak, at another grilled shrimp, at another a hamburger–and that is a seafood place…go figure.

But do you know what happens occasionally?  We decide to go “rogue.”  We decide to go to a new place or try something new at a familiar place. That is how we discovered the “Pork Belly, Pimento Cheese, Fried Green Tomato, wonder of wonders”.  It still makes me drool. Regardless, the new adventure is always refreshing and usually quite good.  Every once in a while, it flops, —every once in a while, we leave saying, “well, that didn’t work.”

A while back we were in Paducah and on a whim tried a Chinese place.  Everything said, “don’t” but we did.  Weeds in the parking lot, trash in the parking lot and a front door that looked like a herd of kids with dirty hands had just passed through all said, “get back in the car.”  Well, we didn’t, and boy was it a bad experience.  But even so here’s what we have discovered—the sense of change—the sense of adventure is worth the risk of the occasional failure. Change can be challenging but it is also refreshing.

Someone once said that a rut is a grave with the ends knocked out.  By and large, I am a creature of habit.  I have the same thing for breakfast almost every day.  I drive the same way to work every day. But even if I like sameness, I also like change.  Isn’t that weird?  There is a reason. We need change to keep life fresh.   We need variety to make life interesting. I think that is one of the things the pandemic forced our hand on.  We have to do some things differently—willing or not. While that is true in our personal journey, it is also true in our spiritual journey.

There is one thing that gives me a confident assurance that nothing is new to God.  He is never surprised and never caught off guard.  He never says, “Boy, I sure didn’t see that one coming!” It is great to belong to a God who is big enough to have everything under control. I love that in this world of constant change, He is a constant—He never changes.  That means no matter where you go in the past—He was there, and He was the same.  That means no matter where you go today—He is there, and He is the same.  And that means no matter where the future takes you and no matter what it holds—He will be there, and He will be the same.  He.Is.The.Same.

Like I said, I enjoy a little variety—a little change adds spice to life.  But when it comes to my Dearest Father, well, I like the sameness that He brings.  My circumstances, my mess-ups, even my fickleness doesn’t faze Him.  He is always the same.  And that sameness, well, it is just the best.  A guy named John in the New Testament wrote and said that it is just amazing, this love that God has for us…a love that extends out and allows us to be called His.

Let me suggest you occasionally try a new restaurant and or a new item on the menu. And if it has pork belly and pimento cheese on it—well, it’s got to be a winner.  But when it comes to choosing what god you will serve—there’s only one choice and that is Creator God.  Bigger than it all—ready and willing to handle our biggest problems and always ready to extend His grace our way—there’s no need to look any further.  Oh, and of course, as always, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne