Month: December 2024

Posted in communication, Grace, life, Scripture, spiritual battles

No Hoops–Just Believe

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 

 How can something so simple be so complicated. I don’t really do Facebook but my wife Judy told me I needed to check in and see if there are any comments from our faithful Grits readers. So I sat down at my computer…determined to check in on Facebook. Gathering my courage, I gave it a shot. I started with the usual process: username, password, the whole nine yards. But what I didn’t expect was the complexity of hoops Facebook was about to make me jump through.

I clicked on the Facebook icon, ready to breeze through the login page. But no, it wasn’t going to be that simple. The first hurdle appeared: “We need to confirm your identity.” Oh, great. Apparently, Facebook didn’t trust that I was really me. I mean, I get it; security is important, especially with all the hacks and data breaches that have made us all a little more paranoid. But still, this was a little over the top.

I was prompted to enter my phone number to receive a code via text. Fine, no problem, I thought. I punched in my digits, waited for the text, and then typed in the verification code. But that wasn’t the end of it. I’ve even heard sometimes they want a photo to verify your identity. The mere thought of that caused me to get even more frustrated. A photo? Seriously? I couldn’t help but think, “when did logging into a social media site become such a high-stakes, high-tech operation?”

But wait—there was more! I could choose to answer security questions. One of them was, “What is the name of your first pet?” I typed in the answer, hit the key, and waited. No dice. The system still wasn’t convinced. I felt like I was trying to crack a vault, not just get into Facebook. I eventually gave up, deciding to log in later, but the whole experience left me exasperated. I just wanted to read some of the comments some of you left on our Grits page. That’s it. Instead, I was stuck feeling like I was a thief trying to break into my own account.

Then, as I sat there fuming, it hit me. All of this made me so grateful that there is no login process like this for God. You don’t have to jump through hoops or submit forms to get His attention or talk with Him. No selfies, no verification codes, no waiting for a text message. All you need to do is believe that His Son Jesus is who He said He was and that He did what He said He did. No hurdles to clear, no forms to fill out. Just simple faith in Him, and that’s enough. How about that!

So now you know why I rarely comment on your comments on Facebook. While logging into Facebook had become a frustrating ordeal I am so grateful my relationship with God isn’t bound by any complicated process—never was and never will be. It is simple—believe and you are known. No hoops to jump through, just grace to receive. I am so glad that my Dearest Daddy knows me and tells me that no matter what—He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, gratitude, priorities, Southern born, travel, wisdom

Watch Your Step

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” – Ephesians 5:16

 There are times in life when you really need to watch your step—like when you’re walking through a cow pasture. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, here are two things to keep in mind. First, make sure it’s actually a cow pasture and not a bull pasture. If you see bulls, head for the fence immediately. Bulls are called bulls for a reason—they can be real bullies. Second, watch out for cow patties. Trust me, they’re everywhere, and stepping in one is never fun.

But there are plenty of other situations where it’s important to watch where you step. I had one of those moments one time while hiking at Bell Smith Springs. My wife, Judy, and I love hiking. It’s great exercise, and a perfect way to get outdoors and enjoy nature. So one day we set out for the Sentry Ridge Trail, a beautiful three-mile loop that follows a ridge and looks down on a canyon with a creek. The views are amazing, but that’s also the problem.

You see, parts of the trail are rocky. Some sections are paved with large stone slabs, but other parts are just a jumbled mess of rocks scattered all over the place. Most of them are firmly embedded in the ground, but they’re still uneven, which means you’ve got to watch where you’re stepping. Otherwise, one of three things will happen: 1) you’ll twist an ankle, 2) you’ll fall and hurt yourself, or 3) you might find yourself sliding down a steep cliff.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. As we were hiking, Judy and I had a bit of a difference in our approach. You see, one of us is all about reaching the destination—getting it done, checking off the box. The other one is all about enjoying the journey. Guess who’s who? Yep, I’m the one focused on finishing the hike and moving on to the next thing. Judy, on the other hand, stops to take pictures of every tree, every rock, and sometimes, even every bug. She’s constantly saying, “Look, Dewayne…” And as a “conqueror,” I’m more like, “Let’s just get this done already.”

But here’s the problem I’ve realized: When you’re focused on the destination, you miss the beauty around you. You can’t be looking up at the trees and down at the rocks at the same time. So, even though I’m in “conqueror mode,” I’m learning to slow down and appreciate the journey—and the scenery. Judy’s got the right idea. The joy is in the journey, not just the finish line.

That doesn’t mean I need to take a picture of every single rock or tree, but I do need to pause and appreciate what’s around me. I mean, who am I to rush through the amazing world God created? We all need to hit pause every once in a while and take in the view—then hit play and keep going.

If you don’t, you’re going to miss out on some of the best parts of life. Take the full moon a couple of nights ago.  It’s was called a “Beaver Moon” (not sure why, but hey, sounds cool). Earlier, while driving, Judy said, “Dewayne, look…” And I actually listened this time. I sneaked a glance at the moon, and it was magnificent. I could’ve made an excuse about driving, but you can actually sneak a quick look at the moon and keep your eyes on the road. The same goes for life—you can enjoy the sights around you and keep moving forward.

Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, told us to make the most of our time. That means working hard and doing life, but it also means taking time to enjoy the journey. And I’m really glad I’m married to someone who knows how to do that. Does it drive me a little nuts sometimes? Sure. But that’s part of the fun. So, be careful where you step, but don’t forget to take a few moments to enjoy life around you. You can do it. With God’s help, we all can. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne