Author: Dewayne Taylor

Southern born. Love God, my wife, family, and a great adventure.
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A Good Laugh–A Great Lesson

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35

It made me laugh. I love a good joke.  But I love bad jokes even more. One day, my grandson James asked me, “Papa, what do you call a cow with no legs?” Well, I had heard this joke before but hey, why not one more time. I asked him “what?” And he said, “ground beef.” Ok, now tell me that isn’t good. Of course, I responded with, “What do you call a pig with no legs?” and he said he didn’t know.  I told him, “A ground hog.” Ok, so you are now armed with two great jokes, but this story is about another one that I read in one of my devotions.

It goes like this, “A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day when the local policeman walked in for a haircut. The barber was feeling a bit generous, so he said to him, “Since you do such a good job protecting us, today’s haircut is free.” Well, the next day when the barber showed up at his shop, there were a dozen donuts waiting for him from the grateful policeman.

That same day the local florist came in for a haircut. Again, in a generous mood, the barber said to the florist, “Since you do so much to make this town look beautiful, today’s haircut is free.” The next day when the barber arrived at his shop, he was greeted by a dozen beautiful roses.

Later that day, in walked the local preacher. The barber, once again filled with generosity, said to the minister, “Since you work so hard to care for our souls, today’s haircut is free.” Well, the next day the barber showed up to find a dozen preachers waiting for a free haircut.” That is a great story…and probably just a little bit true. I remember when I first started preaching forty years ago, I was told more than once to be on the outlook for the free perks of pastoring. I am glad to say that didn’t stick with me though I must admit I sure like a free lunch! Smile.

The big truth of this story is no joke—generosity should be a part of every believer’s DNA. Our Dearest Daddy is so, so generous to us. John 3:16 teaches us that He loved us so much He gave His only Son—to a cruel Roman cross. God is the greatest giver there is and we should strive to be just like Him. In Acts 20:35 Paul tells us, “In every way I’ve shown you that it is necessary to help the weak by laboring like this and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, because he said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” We don’t know when Jesus said these words but what we do know is that His life spoke them every day. He always gave—every day and in every way.

Let me encourage you to be generous…not just with your physical resources but with your time, abilities, and love. Let me encourage you to be just like Jesus who was so willing to give Himself away. I’ll be honest enough to tell you that sometimes this isn’t the easiest thing for me but I can always go to my Dearest Daddy who helps me learn and remember, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

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Wrong Kind of Dump

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.” James 5:12

We were just tootling along somewhere in Washington state. Not familiar with the term tootling? Well, you are probably more familiar than you think.  The word means to go or travel in a leisurely way.  For example, remember last week when you were going somewhere and the couple in front of you was driving fifteen miles an hour under the speed limit.  Yup…they were tootling.  Or maybe you were leaving a big event and the person in front of you was walking like they couldn’t? Yup…they were tootling.  Sometimes we call it being “out for a Sunday drive” or “strolling in the park” but the bottom line is, it’s tootling.

Well, we weren’t driving fifteen miles per hour under the speed limit but at the same time we weren’t in a hurry either. I was casually looking around and so was Judy. We would occasionally comment about this thing or that thing but mostly we were just enjoying the day and the drive.  We were tootling.  The area we were in had multiple campsites and RV parks.  It was a beautiful place to tootle. As we tootled, we came upon an RV camp on my side of the road. We knew it was an RV park because it had one of those two sided signs—two boards hinged together that made a sorta tent.

Here is what it said, “RV Park. Dump. $5.  Well, I didn’t think too much about it because I knew it was letting people know that it was an RV Park and if it was time to dump your sewage or grey water you could do it there for five dollars. Well, just a few seconds after we drove past the sign, Judy spoke up and said, “That must really be a poor place since they called it a dump and it only cost five dollars. Well, I let it ride for just about a minute and then I explained it wasn’t talking about the condition of the park but rather the fact that you could dump your stuff there for five bucks. And then—best as I tried to avoid it—I laughed at her misinterpretation of the sign and she laughed too.

I knew right away buried in there somewhere was a Grits story about communication. You see, I knew what they were saying but since Judy didn’t, she got a whole different meaning. To me they were advertising a service and a bargain, and she thought that the owners were so desperate they were willing to let anybody stay in their dump of a place for just five bucks. Now stop for a minute and think just how often what we say or what we do is totally misunderstood. If we are honest, it is more than we want to admit. I know during my preaching years it was common and way to easy for me to be unclear in what I was trying to say. Mostly it was just funny but a couple of times it was painful.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, said in the book he wrote in the Bible, “Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “yes” mean “yes,” and your “no” mean “no,” so that you won’t fall under judgment.” In other words, be careful what you say, when you say it, and even how you say it. If our “misspeaks” end in a laugh that isn’t too bad but when it hurts—well, it hurts. Momma always told me to mind my manners and that included what I said. Well, our Dearest Daddy wants us to mind our mouth manners. The best part is He is always willing to help us do that.  You might say, “He’s got that” and you would be right. Bro. Dewayne

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Mirrors and Bandaids

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.” James 1:24

Well, it just made me laugh.  At least for me the internet is a love, hate relationship.  There is so much good stuff out there but if you are older than two, you know there is a ton of junk too.  So, you learn to tread carefully and get the good stuff and avoid the bad like the black plague. And, if you happen to stumble into something that is poisonous, run, don’t walk to the nearest exit.  On the other side of the coin, when you find something good, apply it and share it.

Everyday I receive probably five or six devotionals in my email.  The good news is they are always safe reading.  The better news is that often they are more and this week I got something that was more.  It told a story that goes like this.  “A drunken husband snuck up the stairs quietly one evening as his wife was sleeping.  He looked in the bathroom mirror and discovered he had several bumps and bruises from a fight earlier that night.  He doctored himself up and then proceeded to climb into bed smiling at the thought that he had pulled one over on his sleeping wife.”

“When morning came, he opened his eyes and there stood his obviously unhappy wife.  While glaring, she said, “You were drunk last night, weren’t you?”  The husband said, “No honey…I wasn’t.”  “Well,” she replied, “if you weren’t, then who put all the Band-Aids on the bathroom mirror?” Boom.  Gotcha.  I hope that made you smile because it sure did me.  And as a writer, I realized this story is just stuffed with truths and lessons for us to learn.  As an example, I wonder how he expected to explain the Band-Aids that were supposed to be on his face…let alone the ones that ended up on the bathroom mirror.  The marks and scars of our misguided steps will always tell a story.  There’s a verse in the Old Testament that says we can be sure our sins will find us out.  How true.

Another great lesson from our story teaches us that we should play close attention when we look in the mirror.  In this case since the husband was drunk…well, he was also clueless.  What is amazing to me are the times when we are stone sober and take a look in the mirror, see something that isn’t right and still walk away leaving whatever it was intact and in place. There’s a verse for that one too. James, the half-brother of Jesus, says that when we know what to do and don’t do it, we are like a person who looks in a mirror, sees that something is awry and chooses to just walk away.  Remember it is better to take care of the problem and yes, it is better to not only read and discover what to do…but then…do it.  An ounce of prevention is indeed better than a pound of cure.

Oh, and then there is the lesson about self-fixing.  The man saw the mess and tried to fix it up himself.  How many times have we tried that…and failed miserably.  One of the lessons I have learned through the years is that while self-fixing is sometimes admirable, it can never do what only God can do.  There are plenty of mishaps and messes in life that we need the help of Someone bigger than us.  Enter a God who loves us so much.  Enter a God that loves us too much to leave us alone…like we are.  He is in more than the fix-it-up business…He is in the rescue; redeem and resurrect business and He can’t wait to be a part of your life.

Well, I reckon we can’t leave this story without stating the obvious.  And what is that?  The dude shouldn’t have been drunk in the first place! Whether he was seeking an escape or just stopped by the bar and stumbled into a mess… neither matters.  Remember, mess with a snake and you will eventually get bit…it is just how it goes. But regardless, accidental, or intentional, God is there not to lecture but to redeem…not to point a finger but to point the way to your rescue.  No matter what…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Christmas, Holidays, life, loving others, missions, Scripture, thankful

Missing Jesus

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

Sometimes the obvious isn’t so obvious. The other Sunday I was sitting in church. It was clearly Operation Christmas Child time. For those who don’t know, that is a ministry sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse. They encourage people to fill shoe boxes with toys and practical things that might be a blessing to some child in the world were life is a lot harder. That morning the front wall of the sanctuary was lined with red and green boxes while two small pillars of balloons framed it all. As the song says, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”

As I was looking at all the boxes neatly stacked on the stage, it caught my eye that it was an unusual pattern but that was all I saw. Judy and I even chatted how nice everything looked and began talking about our plans to be a part of this great missions opportunity. Now fast forward to Tuesday night. There happened to be another meeting that was going to be held at our church. It was technically a women’s meeting but guys were invited to tag along so…I did. One of the ladies was up on the stage and she was explaining about Operation Christmas Child. Then she said that there was a secret word spelled out in the boxes. Well, I sure hadn’t seen one so I took another look and then I saw it.

You see, the red and green boxes were arranged so that the green boxes formed a frame of sorts and the red boxes formed letters and those letters spelled out Jesus! Muttering to myself (so no one could hear) I asked myself how in the world did I miss what the words spelled out.  How in the world did I miss Jesus. And what is funny when I went back to church today I could not help but see that name above all names. What I didn’t see before was so very obvious now. How about that.

All of this and that made me wonder something. How often do we miss Jesus? How often do we go to church and sing the words to the songs and miss the one we are singing about? How often does the preacher preach and we miss the One he is preaching about? How many Sundays do we go to Bible class and listen and even discuss the lesson but not really get it? Well unfortunately I am afraid it is too, too often. And this doesn’t just happen at church. You see God is evident everywhere. You can see Him in every sunset and sunrise. He is there on every mountain peak and every valley and meadow. Those beautiful fall trees?  His handprint is on each one.

So starting today, why not look more carefully. Trust me, the secret word in those boxes is everywhere. All creation and every worship service proclaim JESUS. If you find yourself struggling to hear His voice or see His name or His handwork just ask, just whisper and He will whisper back, I’m here and I’ve got this.  Bro. Dewayne

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But the Seat Is Empty

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b

Well, that didn’t take long.  I decided to do something that is unusual for me.  I had registered my wife Judy and I for a pastor’s conference.  I was thinking one day and said to myself, “Maybe it would be good for me to just get away by myself.” Well, I talked it over with Judy and she agreed.  Of course, the fact that she was leaving right after the conference for a mission trip to Puerto Rico probably figured in.  So the decision was made…I would go, she would stay. Where to go and when to stay and where to eat and when to eat would be my call. It was a good plan.

The day came.  We had great services at church, and I had a sandwich for lunch and a quick nap before I hit the road.  With a hug and a kiss, I was off on the great adventure.  I had the satellite radio playing hits from the 60’s, the cruise was set for the speed limit, and I passed the time just enjoying the beautiful day and the slowly changing color of the trees.  And then…it began to happen. It started when I caught myself causally glancing over at the passenger seat. Normally it would have held my favorite person in the whole world.  It sat empty.  No deal…but it was a thought.  I would occasionally put my hand in the seat as if feeling to see if she was there.  She wasn’t.

After several hours, I arrived at my hotel for the night.  I had chosen well.  It was very reasonable and very nice.  I opened the door and marveled at the room.  I wanted to share the moment with her, but she wasn’t there.  I called and let her know I was there safely and then planned supper.  There was no doubt where I was going.  Fazoli’s. They had their pizza baked spaghetti back on the menu and I had been wanting to go…so I did.  This was a place Judy probably wouldn’t have chosen but tonight it was my call and honestly…it was very good. That was followed with a visit to a creamery called, “The Lazy Cow.” I picked the place and the flavor.  “Not bad,” I said to no one as a went back to my room.

The room was still nice, but it was quiet…too quiet.  I called Judy and told her about supper and the ice cream, but it wasn’t the same as experiencing it with her.  After a while we said good night and we both went to bed in different beds, different rooms, and different states.  The next morning, she said she didn’t sleep too well, and I told her the same. I told her some plans I had made, and she shared hers.  After a couple of minutes, we said goodbye.  And that is when it hit me.

It was nice picking what music I wanted to listen to as I drove.  It was nice stopping when I wanted to stop. It was nice choosing to go to Fazoli’s and later getting ice cream. All that was nice, but she wasn’t there and that made it all less nice. Oh, it is still a good plan, and I will enjoy my time away.  I’m sure the teaching is going to be great and all that, but it will be different.  It might, it probably will be less than if she was there.  Think about that.  Think about something else.

Do we ever think or maybe even act on what life would be like without God? We muse how grand it might be without the rules, to make our own choices and decisions and not have to worry about what He might think. I know for some of you that may be everyday but for a chunk of us that is far stretch and yet too often we live that very same way. We include God when it is convenient and leave Him at home when it isn’t. I’ve already discovered that while this week will be good for me…it is not something I want to do all the time.

The bottom line is Judy is just too much a part of my life…and that is how we need to make it with God.  We need to make Him so much a part of our lives, that when we look around and realize we left Him (He will never leave us) that we are wise enough to go back and join Him.  Lord willing this Thursday, I’ll be back home…and home is a good place.  God said He will never leave us or let us go and there is a lot of comfort in that.  There’s also a lot of comfort in knowing that even when we take a trip and fail to invite Him, He’s still there…He’s still got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, forgiveness, life, marriage, Scripture, Uncategorized

Lifer

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:4-6

We are “lifers.” When we were visiting in South Georgia we were having a conversation with my wife Judy’s niece. She had recently graduated from the Florida Department of Corrections Academy…no easy task. Cassie is a people person who loves to talk with people…even if they are in prison. We were talking about the length of the various sentences some of the prisoners had received. One was a young man that had received a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Prisoners like that young man are called “lifers,” a slang term for someone who is doing time for a lifetime. As we talked I realized what a hard thing that would be. It all seemed so sad…so hopeless. But like they say…you do the crime you have to do the time.

That same evening the conversation went from prison terms to marriage. How’s that for a transition? During that conversation, Judy made the comment that we are “lifers.” In the context of prison that of course was a negative thing–a hard thing–a hopeless thing. But in the context of marriage it was anything but. You see, in marriage that term speaks of two people who are committed to each other and to their marriage. It is two people who see marriage as more than a contract…they see it as a covenant.

This year, Judy and I are celebrating our 50th year together. We are “lifers” but it is not the number of years that make that term true in our marriage–it is the commitment–it is our outlook. From the beginning, we took the vows of marriage seriously. We bought into that better or worse, richer or poorer, till death do us part thing totally. We agreed a long time ago that our marriage was for life–with no jail breaks and no chance of parole. We agreed that divorce was not an option. With that said I think if I went crazy and decided to break our vows…murder would still be on the table.

The world we live in today treats marriage…and the family…as a disposable commodity. Instead of “lifers” we see marriage as a temporary thing that allows for a jail break for almost any reason. And, frankly, too often even “lifers” think they have been granted a parole and choose to walk away. Now I’m not casting rocks but I do hope to remind married Jesus followers that God gave us marriage in the first place and He sees it as a covenant for a life time.

Our marriage has been a great ride but don’t think for a minute it has always been easy without a bump or two. But we were in it for the long haul…and we still are. So if you are a married believer, remember that no one is perfect and that there is no such thing as a perfect marriage. And the best news is that when you hit those bumps you’ve got a great Counselor and Friend to help. His name is Jesus and no matter what the tale…He knows your story and as always, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

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Simply Nonstick

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Slip sliding away.  Now let’s be honest and let’s be clear.  I don’t have a clue about cooking, but I do know just a little about frying pans.  Back in the old days when it came to frying pans it was cast iron or nothing and cast iron had and has its place.  But some years ago, they started making frying pans that food stuff wouldn’t stick to.  Well about seven or eight years ago we bought a pricy set of pots that were supposed to be stick proof and I guess for the first few years they were.  Then, slowly, and as sure as a slug on a sidewalk, it stopped being non-stick.

Now my experience with frying pans is limited to frying, or maybe it is just cooking in a frying pan, eggbeaters for my breakfast and if you weren’t careful you ended up with a sticky mess.  Sometimes there was more egg left in the pan than there was on my plate.  Finally…my wife Judy said enough.  She went to the Walmart store and bought one of those pans you see advertised on television.  The ad said that “nothing would stick”. It showed eggs, burnt butter and cheese, you name it and with just a tilt of the pan—off it would go.  Turns out that was not exactly true. I told her she should take the thing back, but she said it was too late.

Well, out of frustration I decided to try something.  I sprayed the pan with some Pam…it’s like cooking oil in a spray can – I think. After spraying the pan, I poured some eggbeaters in and just like that – problem solved.  Those eggs—or eggbeaters—were sliding all over the pan just like the commercial.  It turns out all that the pan needed was a little help.  The bottom line is it is good to have a pan that doesn’t try and keep my eggs.

You know that made me think.  That pan and the spray stuff is a whole like God’s grace and our faith.  Imagine with me that the pan is the grace of God.  Grace simply means God’s unmerited favor.  Now imagine that the spray on stuff is like faith.  Faith is when we believe something that we can’t see, touch, or feel.  Put the two together and you have a combination that simply will not allow sin to stick and that is good news.  Just like the eggbeaters slid right out that pan, so sin is forgiven and won’t stick around to condemn us.  Grace and faith—what a wonderful combination.

Paul, the guy in the Bible who wrote a lot of the New Testament said this, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” “By grace through faith,” put the two together and your sin just won’t stick to your account. Gone. Forgiven. Banished. And just like the eggs, or eggbeaters, have little or nothing to do with their time in the pan so when it comes to God’s forgiveness that is true too. All we do is believe…everything else is on God. Oh, and just like the commercial…no sin and I mean no sin, is going to stick—no matter how big or bad. His grace is sufficient for the job. You gotta love it.

So, if the next time you are frying something, and it sticks to the pan—just head to the store and get one of those fancy new ones.  Oh, and don’t forget the Pam.  And the next time you get into deep weeds with your sin, just remember this story and step into God’s grace and your faith…it is a winning combo.  No matter how big the mess…His grace is enough. All you need to do is ask for His forgiveness and I can already tell you His reply—I’ve got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

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Facing Down Mortality

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

I look and see my mortality.  Now don’t think for a moment this is one of those “Debbie Downer” stories.  In fact, in a way, it might be the best news you will hear all day, all week, well, for always.  So, I am seventy-two years old.  I know, I can’t believe it either. And all around me are signs that I am mortal.  Remember that—all of us are mortal. I have stayed at my last pastorate for 24 years.  I came to that church in 2000 when I was 46 years old.  I must have dozed off because just like that 24 years of life ticked off the calendar.  My children are married, I have eight grandchildren and Judy and I have now been married 50 years.  And the best part?  It has been, and is, a great ride.

But then I did the math.  When, and if, the next 20 years tick off the clock called life, I will be 93 years old.  I find that astounding.  We Taylor boys don’t have a real good track record when it comes to longevity.  All four of my brothers, all older than me, have already moved to heaven and so has one sister.  Our clock is ticking and we don’t know when the last tick will come.  It is a sobering thought.  But stay with me.

I used to live my life by the calendar.  I spoke at my church every Sunday and some Wednesdays. It seemed I no more finished one message before it is time to deliver the next.  The weeks flew by.  Every first of the month I spoke on the radio on a local program called “The Baptist Hour.”  My tag line is, “Can you believe another month has come and gone?” And the answer each month was, “No, I really can’t.” Time flies by.  It is a sobering thought.  But stay with me.

Part of “The Baptist Hour” is the reading of the funeral arrangements of those who recently died.  Invariably there are several, often more than a few.  I’m learning that too often the names being read belong to people my age or younger.  Not long ago an acquaintance in our small town suddenly died—a massive heart attack.  He was younger than me.  That really caused me to stop and ponder.  It was a sobering thought.  But stay with me.

Here’s what I am learning.  Time is relative.  We are eternal beings made and destined to spend forever somewhere.  That destination doesn’t depend on good or bad, church or no church, religion or not.  Does that surprise you?  You see, heaven isn’t for good people and hell isn’t for bad people. No, where we spend eternity is about forgiveness of sin and that forgiveness is a free gift from God to anyone…anyone…who asks.  I believe faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven. I know that sounds narrow but when you consider that God invites everyone to the party—well, it is really pretty broad. We read in the Bible that the payment for sin is death and radically Jesus came for one purpose—to willingly die and pay that price.

So, if we are eternal beings and if we place our trust, our faith in this one of a kind, God-man named Jesus, that means that when we die we can spend eternity in this place called heaven.  When Jesus said that if anyone would believe in Him they would never die—that’s what He meant. And then He closes with that all important question, “Do you believe this?”

With Jesus in the equation, death isn’t the end, it is a beginning.  That might sound wacky to you.  However, before you chuck it out I challenge you to check it out.  Get a copy of the Bible and read the four different accounts or stories about Jesus—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You might find yourself intrigued and amazed.

I read a true story yesterday about a man’s perception of his morality. This guy happened to be a minister and he went to the doctor and got some sobering news.  He was terminally ill with no chance of recovery. The doctor told him he had about a year to live.  He left the doctor’s office and went to one of his favorite spots—you know, to kinda take it in. Now, allow me to let the man tell his story. “I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God’s own poetry to my soul. And I said, ‘I may not see you many more times, but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea.’”

Wow…what wonderfully strong words.  If this whole God story is true, and I honestly believe it is, then people who trust that Jesus is the path to God and heaven, will outlive the mountains and the rivers. We may change addresses but we will live forever.  I know this is probably a different kind of story than we usually share together, but I hope it will make us think about what happens next. For myself and so many others, it makes all the sense in the world—and beyond.  I’m grateful for the eternal part but I also love the part of the story that says He is with me now—hot mess world and all.  I can rest in Him and trust in Him because, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, gratitude, life, patience, Scripture

Near or Far–He’s the Light

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

I love a good deal. If you know me…you know I love to find a good deal. Back in the old days finding those deals involved going to a brick and mortar store and walking the aisles. These days…well things have changed. Every morning, after getting my cup of coffee and spending some time with Jesus, I check my email. I have several emails that come every morning and they tell me about deals offered by various sellers. Two of my favorites are Amazon and Walmart.

Well, the other day, Amazon was offering a way cool flashlight. It was rechargeable and insanely bright and best of all they had it on sale for $9.99–one third the regular price. What a deal. Well, I ordered one and in a few days it was delivered to my door step and guess what? It was everything they said it would be. One of the features that I really liked was you could choose between spotlight mode or wide-angle mode. The spotlight mode could light up a tree over a hundred yards away. On the other hand, the wide-angle mode was perfect for walking. The beam was at least six feet wide and made walking at night a breeze.

Yup…the choice was mine…long distance or closeup. It would seem that every flashlight would offer such a feature…but they don’t. But wait…shouldn’t, or why wouldn’t…God do the same through His Word? Well, in His wisdom God decided to let His Word light up our path only a few hours or maybe a days ahead. In Psalm 119:105 we read, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Have you ever wondered why He choose that way of doing business?

Well, I can share at least two reasons. First, it helps us to learn to depend on Him. If I am walking at night, I have to constantly redirect the beam as I walk my path. That is what God does with His Word. We have to depend on Him to light the path to keep us safe. The second reason is He knows if we know too much we will become overwhelmed. You see sometimes too much is just too much so He shows us only as much as we can handle.

So there you go! To walk physically at night…get yourself a great flashlight. But to walk the path of life, be sure and allow the Word of God and the God of the Word to light your path. Oh, and don’t get ahead of the light. Walk patiently and wait for Him to reveal the way to go. You can trust Him to reveal what needs to be revealed when it needs to be revealed. After all, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

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Show a Little Kindness Today

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Colossians 4:32

I needed to go…and she was right. I served as pastor at Cobden First Baptist Church for fourteen years.  For the first couple of years, we had someone to do the bulletin but that was about it.  After the church grew, we decided to hire a secretary and that was when Lydia came on scene.  When we hired her, she told us that she didn’t have a lot of experience but was willing to learn. Well, my twelve years in the Air Force as an Administrative Specialist made me a pretty good teacher. Before long, Lydia was up and running and she became one of the best secretaries I have ever had.

What Lydia initially lacked in practical experience she more than made up for it with her heart to help.  When someone came into the office and needed an encouraging word…Lydia was there.  When someone was struggling with life…she was there.  On any given day you could count on her to bring a little sunlight into the office. There was a time, and I don’t remember why, my wife Judy and I were the ones needing that encouragement.  It was a church thing, perhaps an unhappy member, who knows, but we needed that little ray of sunshine.

I can remember it to this day. Judy and I were sitting on the front porch watching the traffic go by. Whatever was on our hearts and mind wasn’t devastating but apparently it was difficult.  I learned a long time ago something doesn’t have to be the end of the world to feel like it.  Well, it felt like it.  It was about 4:30 or 5:00 pm…right before supper time…when a car pulled into our driveway.  It was Lydia.  She had ordered a pizza, made the trip to a nearby town, and was now delivering it…unannounced and unexpected.  Oh, and it wasn’t just any pizza…it was from our favorite place.  That’s just what she did.

One year for Boss’s Day, she called an Air Force veteran who attended our church.  She knew, of course, that I was an Air Force veteran, and she was looking for a pair of aviation sunglasses to give me as a gift. She was just checking to see if he knew where she might get a pair.  As it turned out, he had a pair, new in the box, stored away.  When it came Boss’s Day, she gave me the glasses.  When I opened them…I just couldn’t believe it!  First, it was the perfect gift.  Secondly, and she didn’t know this, nor did he, but stamped on the box was the date of manufacture which happened to be the month and year I joined the Air Force.  How about that.

There was one more thing that Lydia did that made her special.  She gracefully spoke the truth.  Occasionally I would come into the office and be just a hair grumpy.  I know that is hard to believe (smile) but trust me, it is true.  She knew I needed a little help. Her solution?  Almost without fail she would say, “Bro. Dewayne, you need to go to the nursing home.”  It wasn’t a statement about my age or future, she just knew that going to serve someone was a sure-fire fix.  And it always seemed to work.  I would go, I would come back and simply say, “Thank you.”

Judy and I are thankful for many things throughout the many years we served at Cobden.  But near the top of the list is a friend named Lydia.  She would be the first to tell you of her imperfections, but she loved people, and she loved Jesus and that was always like a fresh wind. Judy and I will never forget her kindness and the example that she set.  Paul, one of the guys who wrote a big chunk of the New Testament said, “Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  Lydia got that right.

In today’s culture if you look around you will see signs telling us to be kind.  I think that is spot on and I also believe that Christians should be leading the way…just like a Jesus follower named Lydia.  Be kind when you can and guess what?  You always can.  Need a little help? Just ask God. He would be more than happy to point you in the right direction.  You might say, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne