Family – Page 109 – Grits with Grace

Family, fear, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

“There’s No Place Like Home”

Posted on October 14, 2020October 14, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.” Proverbs 21.31

Dorothy was right. When I was a kid one of the highlights of the year was when the Wizard of Oz would show on television. Normally I attended church on Sunday nights with my brother and his family. On that night, church took a back seat to Dorothy, the tornado and those annoying munchkins. I have to admit I was partial to the part where the wicked witch got what was coming to her. “I’m melting, I’m melting.” Too bad, wicked witch, too bad.

The whole thing started because Dorothy was driven by fear away from home. Some mean old lady was going to do away with her dog and Dorothy goes on the run taking Toto with her. The famous tornado shows up, she is knocked on the noggin and wakes up in Oz…or at least she thinks she does. To make a long story short, in the end she misses home…a lot. The good witch tells her the secret. Just tap her ruby red slippers together and repeat, “There is no place like home.” Next thing we know she is back in Kansas with all her family and friends and she tells everyone, “There is indeed no place like home.” End of story, have a nice day. Thanks for reading.

No, wait…I’m just kidding. That may be the end of that story, but it is just the beginning of this one. You see there are more than a few similarities between Dorothy’s trip to Oz and our journey in and through this COVID time. Like her, many find themselves in a place they never thought they would be…physically separated from their friends. It might be on the golf course, at the park, your favorite restaurant or maybe, and perhaps most significantly, at your church. And like her, they might not be sure exactly how to come back together…to come back home. Do you sometimes feel that way? I understand.

For Dorothy it was as simple as tapping her shoes together and whispering a few words. For some, maybe you, it just isn’t that easy. The justifiable fear might have us isolated, separated from friends. Like Dorothy you long for home, but the circumstances that we live in has you in its jaws. I stumbled onto a verse that just might help. It is tucked away in Proverbs 21:31 and it says, “A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.” Nice…very nice.

The author is saying a good soldier will train and prepare his horse for the battle. That is the common sense thing…the wise thing to do. But the author also knows a secret—and it is a big one. Ultimately the victory does not come from a well-trained horse, but rather from an incredibly powerful God. That is crucial in our return back to normalcy—including our return to church. We should use good common sense…you know, take precautions that you feel are wise. But never, ever forget that your health and safety rest in the hands of a very power, very sovereign God. You are literally sheltered in the arms of God. So, be careful, be wise, but don’t be paralyzed.

By the way, General McArthur got it right too. He was ordered from the Philippines and to Australia at the onslaught of World War II as the Japanese swept across the Pacific. He was forced to leave behind tens of thousands of troops…all about to be captured by a very fierce and merciless enemy. As he left, he made a promise. He boldly declared, “I shall return.” At that particular point, he didn’t know exactly what that looked like, but he knew what it meant. He was determined that his feet would once again walk on Philippine soil. Well, it took almost four years, but he did indeed return and when he did, he changed the “shall” to “I have…I have returned.” In the heat of the battle, he could be forced away, but nothing was going to keep him away forever. Nothing.

So, what is your “I shall return” game plan. Have you plotted your victorious return to normalcy…to worship and to church fellowship? Again, we need to be cautious but that doesn’t necessarily mean the total absence of COVID. Like McArthur it could mean that the tide of war has changed enough so that it is safe enough to return…safe enough to worship. Regardless of what church or what denomination, I hope you are plotting your return.

As you journey through your Oz, I hope, like Dorothy, that your faith in God and the hope of returning home will be greater than your fear. Can it happen? Should it happen. Absolutely is the answer to both questions. After all, the victory doesn’t rest in you, it rests in the hands of the Whisperer. Listen carefully for His soft voice and you might hear Him saying, “There’s no place like home.” Go ahead. He’s got this.

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

All That Glitters…

Posted on October 13, 2020October 12, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content.” Philippians 4:12a

I woke up to find my neighbor’s yard covered with gold. I am an early riser. Well, actually, I am a crazy, early riser. Normally, my bladder and I decide it is about time to get up at around 4:30…am. If you want to see what a quiet world looks like…try it at 4:30 in the morning. These days the sun isn’t even up yet. He won’t make his appearance for another couple of hours. I usually get up, make some coffee in my magic Keurig machine, watch the weather, and have some God time. Predictable…just the way I like it.

Part of that routine is to take a peek out one of the windows to see if the sun is peeking above the horizon. Naturally that means looking to the East. Saturday morning I did exactly that. As I looked out the window, I noticed that my neighbor’s yard was covered with gold. I couldn’t believe it. What made this even more unusual was the fact that my neighbor at the end of our alley had struck it rich too. This was incredible. And, if that wasn’t enough, when I was walking a few days earlier, one of my friend’s hit the jackpot. Gold was everywhere. Now you might think that I was jealous…but I wasn’t—not this time. You see, their yards had been “papered” as in with toilet paper. It wasn’t pretty.

Now you are wondering, “I’m just a bit confused.” You said their yards were covered with gold. That doesn’t sound like gold to me.” Well, you’ve got a point there. But let’s step back just a few months ago. COVID was all the rage. People were doing all kinds of strange things. When you went to the grocery store there were certain things, things that you would expect, out of stock. Hand sanitizer was a pipe dream. Bleach wipes were the things of legend. Certain food items were long gone from the shelves. It was a shoppers nightmare. But there was one thing that topped them all. Toilet paper.

For whatever reason, and it still remains a mystery, people began to hoard toilet paper. It was like gold. People were selling it on e-bay for unbelievable prices. There were even people on the side of the road hawking their rolls of gold for ten, even fifteen times the ordinary price. The nightly news would show people coming out of stores with rolls of the stuff. It. Was. Crazy. Then as people realized that this probably wasn’t Armageddon, two things happened. The rolled gold was back in stock and the price plummeted. People that had bought tons of this stuff as an investment of sorts were stuck holding the bag. Haha…the joke…or rolls…was on them.

Now here is what is amazing. I wake up only to discover my neighbor’s yard is covered in the very same thing that six months ago was gold. And listen, it wasn’t the cheap stuff. Since they weren’t home, Judy and I went over and picked up the mess…I know neighbor of the year right? But when we did, I realized this was “Charmin Plus” or something. If toilet paper was gold this would be 24 karat and yet there it was, lying out in the yard. Well, I guess all that glitters isn’t gold after all.

If there is one thing to take home from all of this it is the fact that if you look around you will discover pockets of hope—pockets of normalcy. Maybe, just maybe, all this will calm down and life will be somewhat like it was back in January. A few bumps, a few hiccups but basically a world where things are in stock and you don’t have to mask up to go out. But until then, what should we do?

That’s a great question and here are a couple of answers. First, don’t lose hope. If I watch too much of the evening bad news, I find myself being convinced that life as we know it is over. I just don’t believe that is the case. One day, one way or the other, Mr. COVID is going to pack up and leave town. One day it will be old news. Until then, just keep trusting…in God. One of the writers of Psalms in the Bible…someone just like you and me…wrote, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” What that means is if we are willing to delight in Him, suddenly the things we desire look a whole lot like His. And when that happens—hope explodes!

The second thing is learn, or maybe relearn, the magic of contentment. While our old way of doing life has taken a vacation somewhere, a chunk of it will be back. Just like toilet paper made a comeback—so will normalcy. Now, until that time, just sit back and be content. I like what Paul, a guy in the Bible, said, “I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content.” What makes that incredibly valuable is that he wrote that sitting in a stinking Roman prison. Amazing.

Well, all that glitters is indeed not gold, but all around us are golden nuggets from our Dearest Daddy. He whispers to us that He’s still around and still in control. Each sunrise and sunset, each new baby that bursts on the scene, each tree covered in color and glory shouts to us that we can rest in Him. Each new day is indeed a gift from Him and that is golden. Remember this…each day committed to trusting Him is a step in the right direction. Go ahead…trust Him…He’s got this.

Family, forgiveness, life, priorities, Scripture, travel, wisdom

My Clock is a Liar

Posted on October 12, 2020October 11, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

You are of your father the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

My clock lies to me. Throughout my life I have had times when I collect things. Once it was eagles. To this day I love eagles but there was a time I would go to the mall or any store that might sell them and tell Judy, “I’m going to look for eagles.” If I found one, I would buy it. Not too long ago it was BB guns. It started with a Red Ryder model (the one from the movie, “A Christmas Story”). The next thing I knew I had nine BB guns and pistols. Boom. Just like that. Over the years urges have come and gone but there is one that has kinda stuck with me. Clocks.

A long time ago (and in a galaxy far, far away…you know, like the Star Wars movies) I started collecting clocks. Unlike eagles and BB guns, this one can get rather pricy. But it started rather innocently. When Judy and I were stationed in Germany near the French border, we went to a flea market with a couple of good friends. My friend spied a German wall clock laying on the ground, halfway in a mud puddle and ended up buying it. The long story made short is that I ended up talking him out of it. It was a swap kinda thing. It is a bing-bam clock which means it strikes on the hour and half-hour. It was pretty old then, and now, 42 years later, it is like me, a lot older.

It is a special clock because of the story and all the memories but it does have a problem. It lies. You see, over the years it has developed this nasty habit of saying one thing and doing another. As I mentioned, it is designed to bing-bam on the half-hour and then on the hour it counts the time out. If it is 4:00 then it will bing-bam four times. You can hear it shouting out the time almost throughout the house. It was nostalgic and handy. And then it starting lying. It started innocently enough—at 1:00 it would sound two times instead of once. It was predictable so I just lived with it. Now, well now, it lies big time. Randomly, and throughout the day it sounds the wrong time.

Well, adjusting the clock is quite easy…or at least it is supposed to be. So, if it was showing 4:00 but counting five, I would simply stopped the clock and moved the hour hand to five. I waited an hour to restart the clock—problem solved—or not. I restarted old faithful and at 6:00 it sounded five. So, I slid the hour hand to 5:00 and waited and sure enough it chimed six. No matter what I did the clock lied. It has stubbornly developed a very bad habit. Hmmmm.

Fortunately for the old clock, I like it a lot. Its value to me goes way beyond its value as a time teller—it is part of the family. Because of that, I’m willing to tolerate its bad habit. I don’t like it. I don’t trust it. It is frustrating, but in this case, it is mostly harmless. I simply have learned to believe it when I can read the dial but not when I can only hear it. It’s a negotiated settlement. That works fine for clocks—but it is not fine for people.

When I was growing up telling the truth was a pretty big deal. Now, I would be the last to tell you that I always did it. I didn’t. But the bottom line was if you did the crime—you did the time. Lie and get caught (and invariably I did) and Alston and Leslie (that’s daddy and mama) made sure you received a refresher course on the importance of telling the truth. Whether it was a spanking or washing my mouth out with soap—I learned lying was a bad deal.

I think daddy and mama must have talked to Jesus about it, because He thought it was a big deal too. One time, there was a group of religious leaders who had a problem speaking or even liking the truth. Jesus cut loose on them and said, “You are just like your father the devil. When he lies he is just speaking his natural language. He is the father of lies and the truth is not in him.” Wow—so if you ever wonder why lying made the big ten—now you know.

Today we live in a culture of convenience and whatever works for you—you kinda go with it. If telling a lie makes things a little easier—just cut loose and worry about the consequences later. Its like the 60’s “if it feels good do it” on steroids. Just know this. No matter what culture says lying is a big deal—regardless if you are a preacher, a politician, or the guy next door. God says it so it is a nonnegotiable for His followers. Oh, and even if you’re not a God follower you will still find life has fewer consequences and less regrets when you make the truth the standard.

As I finish this story, the old clock got it right. An hour ago—it got it wrong. Good grief…I just wish it would make up its mind to tell the truth. Speaking of truth—here are two you can count on every time. First…you can always trust and rest in creator God. Second…He’s got this. And that friend—is the truth.

Family, fear, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

Seasons Come and Seasons Go

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Seasons come and seasons go. Judy’s great nephew recently posted a picture on Facebook. It showed their son, maybe five years old, walking down his driveway. On his back he carries a backpack that is just about as big as he is. He is heading to school—his first day of kindergarten. The first day of school is an event, even more so when it is kindergarten, especially for mom and dad. In the foreground of the picture, is a line of toys…I suppose some of his favorites. The message was beautifully clear. As seasons change, as great adventures come along, as each new journey starts, sometimes you must leave what you love behind. It’s part of growing up—it’s part of life. I’m sure out of camera range was mom, and dad too, who watched through teary eyes. Their little boy was growing up. Seasons come and seasons go.

It happened a couple of weeks ago as fall silently arrived. Did you feel it? Did you sense it? Probably not. For most it wasn’t even a blip on the calendar. There was no fanfare, no ticker-tape parade, no sounds trumpeting its arrival. In many ways it was just a day on the calendar that most of us probably missed. But not everyone missed it. The trees took note. Slowly and surely, their leaves began turning a beautiful yellow and red before drifting, floating to the ground. The plants took note. The shortening days began telling their leaves it was time to prepare for next spring by preparing for winter’s sleep. And oh yes, the squirrels definitely knew it. They began gathering their supply of acorns and pecans, tucking them away for the coming winter. You see, fall is a time of transition…nature’s way of letting us know that another season is soon coming…Winter. And winter, like all the seasons, is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

For me the first day of fall was an event. Every year I look forward to it. I told my wife that part of the mystery of fall is how something so beautiful prepares the way for a time of dormancy and sleep. You might think of it as a time of things dying but you would be wrong. No, it is a time of preparation and transition. Remember…seasons come and seasons go. And in the beauty of fall we see the promise of spring, of new life. It is that way for nature. It is that way for us. In the fall of our lives, things begin to change and it is God’s way of preparing us for new life, eternal life with Him. While we do have to walk through the winter of death, just on the other side is the eternal spring of heaven. It is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

So, seasons come and go. It is true in nature and it is true in life. While the changing seasons sometimes bring challenges they also bring on exciting new adventures. Changing seasons on the calendar are something to celebrate—something to embrace. It is God’s promise to us that something new is coming. The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that for everything there is a season—a time for every purpose under heaven. He’s telling us that seasons come and seasons go. There are times for living and dying, playing and harvesting, dancing and sitting still. Yes, it is something to celebrate—and something to embrace.

As we casually flip the pages of the calendar, as the clock keeps ticking, leading us toward new seasons and new adventures, don’t get stuck in the cold of winter. No, remember this—spring is on the other side. Every day is a gift from God and is a gentle nudge from our Dearest Daddy that He is preparing new seasons and new adventures for us. Like our first day of kindergarten, it might mean leaving behind some of the things we love, but we can rest in Him knowing that only the best comes from Him and He never, ever gets it wrong. Never. Sleep well tonight knowing that He who creates the days, masters the same. Rest knowing that He’s got this.

Family, fear, food, gratitude, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

God Is

Posted on October 8, 2020October 7, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?” Matthew 6:31

I am not much for going grocery shopping and that is probably a real paradox. I really like food–we are great friends–just not buying and preparing it. But the other night, Judy and I went to the park for a walk (good idea–walk with your wife…she cooks food) and then went to Wal-Mart to get a few items.

So, we get to the store and there was plenty of food there. For sure, some items were sold out (they had toilet paper) but others were plenteous. The cookie aisle was hard hit but strangely the broccoli wasn’t. So, when I got to the bread aisle it was empty…bare. For a southern boy, well, that was a little weird.

It made me think about the children of Israel and their trips to the grocery store. For forty years they would walk outside the camp and there all around them were little mounds of manna. It is described as small, round and sweet (Krispy Kreme’s?) and it was always there. Never a time did they go out when the store was open (it was closed for the Sabbath) and the shelf was bare.

God was teaching them something. They couldn’t hoard because God told them to go out every day and get one day’s supply. The only exception was the day before the Sabbath when they could get two. And every day they went and there were the “Krispy Kremes” all over the ground and they would pick them up and God was saying, “I am good, I am faithful and I can be trusted.”

Day after day, week after week, month after month–“I am good, I am faithful and I can be trusted.” Never a bare shelf, never a failure to deliver, never an oops. We may not have manna lying around today, but we do have the faithfulness of that same God. He takes care of His kids. You can bank on it.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:31-32 “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32. For the Gentiles [those who don’t trust God] eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

So, in these days–especially in these days–every time there is a need met or a blessing given, remember to say, “Thank you, Father.” And slowly but surely, we will learn the valuable lesson of God’s faithfulness. God is good. God is faithful. God can be trusted. He’s got this. Rest in Him today.

Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

Unclean, But not Unloved

Posted on October 7, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

If you love me, obey my commandments.” John 14:15

Well, it is finally over and I am glad. I recently discovered this COVID thing is a pain in the neck. I didn’t have it and I guess a metaphorical pain in the neck is not one of the official symptoms. What I did get to discover is what happens when it gets close. I also discovered that when COVID comes knocking it’s gonna mess with your normal—like it or not.

A little over a couple of weeks ago, one of our church staff members tested positive for the virus. When that was reported to the health department it messed with my normal—our normal. First, because our entire staff had been in a room with the positive case, we all were placed on quarantine. Like it or not, stomp your foot if you want—we were locked up for two weeks. Fortunately, no one else got it and today the office at church will be back open. Yay. Second, because there were several other cases spread across the church family, most not related in any way, we had to go to remote worship for a couple of weeks. This Wednesday and Sunday we should be back on campus. Yay.

If you haven’t experienced the quarantine thing…count your blessings. You might ask, “Dewayne, what was it like?” Well, I guess it depends on your perspective. I know it was personally frustrating. I found myself telling whoever would listen that I didn’t have time to be quarantined. Of course, being the creative guy that I am, I found a few ways to work around it while not being around people but that is my secret. Smile.

I think I came away with a better understanding of the impact this has on the lives of people—and not just those who test positive. The isolation and the stigma reminded me of what lepers must have gone though in the Bible. They had to live apart from everyone one else and should they encounter someone they had to holler out, “Unclean, unclean.” Well, I didn’t encounter anyone so I didn’t do much hollering, but I did wonder when I saw someone from a distance, “What if they knew I was on lock up? Would they would treat me differently?” And I decided that they would. I also decided it would hurt my heart.

I wonder how many people we encounter in our walk about world who have been beaten up and scarred by the world who feel the same way? Do our stares and our intentional avoidance cause them to hurt? I bet it does. You know, our eyes and body language sometimes speak louder than our words. I love the fact that Jesus never avoided the broken ones around Him. If they had leprosy, He would love them and touch them. If they were outcast by society because they were prostitutes or tax collectors, He would love them and touch them. If they were Romans soldiers who nailed people to crosses—even Him to His—He would love them and touch them if He could. I like that…a lot.

COVID gets all the attention now and I guess that’s to be expected. There’s a lot of positive cases going around. Businesses are hurting, families are stressing, and people are filled with fear. What should we do? What can we do? Well, if you are a Jesus follower, the answer is do what He would do. Touch them and love them. I know you can’t always physically touch them, but you can reach out with the compassion and love of Jesus. It is amazing how a kind word or gesture can bring comfort, assurance and acceptance.

Like I said, the quarantine for our staff is over and it has been a learning experience. What is not over is the virus. What is not over is the brokenness in our world—however big or small that world may be. What is not over is the need for Jesus people to be like Jesus. He said that if we really love Him, we should keep His commands. And there are two that are at the top of His list—love God and love people. One of the best ways to show our love for God is to show His love for those He created. All of them. Social status, skin color, or whatever label we tend to put on them just doesn’t matter. So, when you bump into someone today, either from a distance or up close, be sure and love them like Jesus and leave the details to God. You can rest in this one essential, nonnegotiable fact: He’s got this.

Family, food, gratitude, life, Scripture, wisdom

I’ve “Bean” Educated

Posted on October 6, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.” Galatians 6:7

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Oh wait–that opening line is already taken. Well, it was just over ten years ago now but I well remember the night. Judy was out of town and I was at the church. We were sponsoring a dinner for the football team. I wanted to help but, well, it didn’t go to well. It is a known fact that I can’t be trusted with a power tool of any sorts. It just doesn’t go well. Apparently you can add kitchen appliances to that list.

I love being a fixer. When one of my grandkid’s toys would break, they would bring it to Papa—they fixer. I love being the hero. And, I love to help. It’s in my DNA. WelI, that night I volunteered to help the head cooker person get a large pan of baked beans out of the convection oven at church. It was in one of those pans made out of formed aluminum. When I volunteered, I could see the concern in the head cooker person’s eyes—for an expert this was no deal. For a preacher who wasn’t allowed to use power tools—it was death valley.

“Dewayne”, she said, watch the bottom of the pan—it can collapse if you aren’t careful.” She went on, “You might want to put a sheet pan under it for support.” Well, Mister “I -Know-It-All” said, “No deal, I can handle it.” So, I reached up, I lifted it and in a moment of time…a moment that will live in infinity…the pan collapsed and my lower left arm was baptized in a tsunami of scalding, hot baked beans. The pain was instantaneous and it was intense. Can someone say “ouch?”

Well, I immediately used my other hand to wipe some of the beans off (not too smart since I burned that hand too) and ran to the sink and started running water over it. The bottom line is I ended up with second degree burns, a working knowledge of how not to take beans out of the oven and several other good life lessons added to my repertoire of knowledge. You might say I have “bean” educated.”

Perhaps the first lesson is this. No matter how well you do something the wrong way, it probably isn’t going to work out for your benefit. When King David and his crew were moving the ark in the Old Testament, they decided to use a cart instead of doing it God’s way. The result was the oxen stumbled and a man reached out to steady the ark and was instantly struck dead by God. Now don’t blame God—the rule was you don’t touch the ark. Period. But when you do something in a wrong way you open yourself up to a whole bunch of circumstances.

Second, listen to the experts. The head cooker person I was helping was a professional cook. She knew the danger–I didn’t. I was a he-man, bean toting pastor–that is until “I spilt the beans” (no pun intended!) I thought I could handle it—and I could not. I’m not sure why we wrestle this around but isn’t it funny how God, the ultimate expert, offers us advice–and we tend to ignore it. And the pain that it causes can rival or exceed second degree burns. Listen to God. He knows best.

Finally, get ready for the lasting effects of the consequences. I burned my arm on a Tuesday and it took days, lots of days, to even begin to feel normal. Oh, and did I mention that I didn’t go to the doctor because I was going to tough it out? You see, pride is a bad deal. I guess I was embarrassed enough and I just didn’t want to explain to the doctor about how unwise I was. So, I just dealt with it. Fortunately I did bump into him later and he saw the bandage, checked it out, asked the inevitable questions, and gave me some awesome medicine for burns. It did heal and left only minimal scarring to gently remind me to listen before I act. It taught me that whatever you sow…you reap. It taught me that—every bad choice we make carries some sort of consequences. Choose wisely, my son, choose wisely.

So, ten years later, there is still a twinge of regret over that fateful Tuesday night. I still shake my head and wonder how in the world I could do something so, so, stupid. Everyone once in a while when we are having a dinner at church, I will say, “Hey, head cooker person, do you remember…” and before I can finish the sentence we both nod knowingly. I was afraid I was going to swear off bake beans forever but that that didn’t happen but I will never look at a pan of beans the same way. And I will forever have a greater respect for a convention oven set on 350 degrees.

As you journey along and you are faced with decisions and crossroads and someone suggests maybe going this way or that or doing it this way or that—take a moment, pause and listen to their advice—especially if it involves baked beans. And if that voice is a gentle whisper from the Whisper, definitely stop and listen. He will probably be helping you avoid some needless pain or letting you know you can rest in Him. He will be whispering, “I’ve got this.”

Family, gratitude, life, prayer, sovereignty of God, travel, wisdom

Construction Zone Ahead

Posted on October 5, 2020October 4, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

It was a long time ago, but I remember it well. Way back, before I knew anything about Harrisburg or Dorrisville Baptist Church, I made a trip to this small town in Southeastern Illinois. I was pastoring in Cobden, a smaller town by far. A person associated with our church there was having some mental health issues that required admission to a clinic. Somehow, they ended up at the center located at the Harrisburg Medical Center.

I wanted to go over and visit them but had no clue how to get there. This was a time, gulp, before GPS, so I had to rely on directions and an old fashioned map. I made it to Marion and got off Interstate 57 and followed the road sign pointing to Harrisburg. Before long, I found myself on a long and winding road (wait… isn’t there a song that goes like that?). It was the kind of two-lane road that you got to play like a race car driver on. There were plenty of curves and practically no passing lanes. I remember coming upon a gigantic crane…I mean HUGE…that was abandoned by one of the coal mines.

Well, the long and winding road was about 24 or 25 miles but because I was blessed to get behind several slow, like really slow, drivers, it seemed like forever. In fact, when I got to Harrisburg, I had to stop to get a haircut. You ask, “Well, why didn’t you get one in Cobden?” The answer is “I didn’t need one then.” Smile. Anyway (I have to be careful not to get distracted.) I made my visit and then reversed the route. I remember thinking how isolated Harrisburg was. I mean you had to be going there to get there. I kinda reminded me of the wagon trains and the Oregon Trail.

Now, fast-forward years…I’m not sure how many…but lots. My daughter Jennifer was going to try out for the Illinois Baptist State Association All-State Choir and her audition was at Dorrisville Baptist Church in Harrisburg. When I heard that, I mentally blocked off two days for the trip (ok, I’m being facetious). But I still remember that long and winding road. Now, imagine my surprise when we exited off the interstate again and followed the signs for Harrisburg and there before us was a four-lane divided highway. No winding road, no 45 mph speed zones, no no-passing zones—just smooth sailing. What a change. What a blessing. What took the better part of an hour now took 25 minutes.

Obviously, barring a road building fairy, a long and complicated construction project had taken place and replaced the two-lane, long and winding road with a modern highway. I’m sure it involved multiple construction zones. I’m sure it involved inconvenience. I’m sure it involved frustration—though I’m not sure what could have been more frustrating that the original two-laner. But I bet it all was worth it when the new highway opened and the miles flew by. It had to be game changer. Yup, the construction zones had to be worth it.

Well, I was praying this morning and something like this came out of my mouth, “Lord, help me to be patient in the construction zones of my life.” I paused when I said it because it really grabbed my heart. The construction zones of my life. Hmmm. You see, it made me realize that I am like a construction project and it can be frustrating. But God is in charge of the project and He does have a plan that He is working out in my life. I know I use this a lot in my writing but it just too good. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” One day, someday, it will be worth it. It might be years down the road, or it might even be heaven, but I will see the big picture and I will know that no matter how painful or costly, it was worth it. It.Was.Worth.It.

There’s an old song (my apologies to my younger readers) that says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. One look at His dear face all sorrows will erase.” I believe that. So, as you tootle down life’s road and you hit one of those stinking construction zones—hold on and throttle back. It could be that God is working in one of His mysterious ways. It might be to bring you into His family or it might be He is just trying to make you a little bit more like Jesus. One thing I know for sure…it won’t be wasted. God doesn’t waste time and He doesn’t waste suffering. I like that. If you find yourself in stopped traffic on this road called life, just hit the pause button and breathe deeply. Then repeat this as many times as you need to, “I choose to rest in Him. He’s got this.” There you go. Now, don’t you feel better already?

Signpost photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life

A Really Bad Idea

Posted on October 2, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.” Psalm 103:8

It was just a bad idea. Each of us have times when we do something and from the get go we know it was just a bad idea. Yesterday’s story of me at age seven trying to ride a 26 inch bicycle was just one of many. And these bad ideas usually bear the fruit of bad endings.

I have a really good friend who manages a local restaurant. Before COVID, we would get together once a week and have breakfast at the restaurant. Since COVID we still try and get together for coffee and perhaps a pastry fresh out of the oven. Suffering isn’t all bad, is it? Well, I was famous for ordering different things for breakfast. One was the delicious “preacher stack.” It consisted of a slice of toast, an over-easy egg, a slice of cheese, a couple of slices of soft bacon, a small serving of hash browns (cooked crispy, of course), a second egg and finally the crowning touch, a smattering of gravy. For variety the hash browns were sometimes replaced with grits. Now, let me tell you, that was “shoot that thing” good. I do believe I might be the Rembrandt of breakfast. Sometimes.

You see, one time, about midway through the fall season, I got an idea. Unfortunately, it was a very bad idea. Now the problem with bad ideas is that sometimes they look good from one angle and horrible from the other. Well, this time I looked from the wrong angle. I told my friend, “Jeremy, I have an idea. I think I want to try chili and eggs for breakfast in the morning.” Now being the good friend that he was, he tried and tried to get me to change course. But at that time and from that angle it really sounded good. The key word there is “sounded.”

So the next morning Jeremy cooked up a batch of chili and I was served chili and eggs for breakfast. The first and second bite wasn’t too bad—weird, but not too bad. From there it went down hill and by the time I was done—I was done. I felt like I had swallowed a 12 pound bowling ball and that bowling ball stayed with me all day. In fact, it was a couple of days before I felt half normal. It was a very, very bad idea. He tried to warn me, but no. Oh boy, just the thought of chili and eggs makes my eyes cross.

Well, today I had a nice, innocent bad idea. I usually walk in the mornings but Judy and I decided to walk in the afternoon. That was ok—unusual, but ok. And that wasn’t the bad idea. We were going to walk on the bike trail so I thought I would wear an old pair of trail running shoes I had in the closet. “Why?” Well, I liked the way they looked and I liked the way they laced up (they had these cool speed laces) but that’s where the love affair ended. They weren’t very comfortable and the inside of the heel had long lost its padding. All that was left was a crater where the padding used to be surrounded by rough edges. Everything said, “Don’t wear those shoes.” Well, you know what I did. I wore the shoes anyway and it was indeed a very bad idea.

I had planned on only walking a couple of miles but ended up doing 3.6. Somebody say “wow.” Well, at about the 1.8 mile turn around point I noticed that the back of my left heel was starting to burn—to hurt. Remember the padding that was missing—well, those rough edges that remained were now slowly eating into my heel. And with every step it got worse. I was almost two miles from the car and it hurt, and it hurt, and it hurt. I found myself saying over and over again, “This was a really bad idea.” The problem was I realized it just a little too late. Well, about 10,000 steps later, I got back to the car and the shoes and I parted company—forever. Even sitting there I said it again, “That was a really bad idea.”

Well, in a while Judy got back to the car from her walk. As she came over to where I was sitting and noticed I had my shoes off. She made a comment about resting. I said, “Judy, do you remember the time I ate the chili and eggs?” She said, “Well, yes, but what has that got to do with today?” I said, “That was a really, bad idea and wearing these stinking shoes today was a really bad idea.” To make matters worse, when we had started walking I commented how much I liked the shoes and she remembered that. “But Dewayne, I thought you said you liked them?” Well, I liked the way they looked, I liked they way they laced up, but boy, I didn’t like the way they felt after walking. And trust me—that outweighed all the looks and all the cool laces.

Well, I wanted to tell you this story for a couple of reasons. First, don’t, do not, eat chili and eggs. What it does to your insides requires the intervention of the EPA. If you eat chili and eggs be prepared for a period of quarantine. Be prepared to camp in the “valley of the shadow of death.” It. Is. A. Bad. Idea. And if you are going to walk, remember to pick your shoes based on what is important not what is intriguing or flashy. At about the two mile point you will thank me. Trust me, I know.

One thing that I really like about the Bible is that it is filled with people just like me. People who didn’t always listen to God and people who ate chili and eggs and wore the wrong shoes. Real, live, people who didn’t always make the best choices. The thing I like about God is that He is so loving, patient and kind. Even when Adam and Eve ate “chili and eggs” in the garden and then wore the “wrong shoes” to cover it all up—He still loved them and still provided a way for them to be forgiven. They tried to do it their way, but God didn’t throw them under the bus and start over. And guess what? He doesn’t throw us under the bus either, and I am thankful. When we come to Him with our “chili and eggs,” “wrong shoes,” whining and complaining about how we got the “blisters” in our life, He is patiently waiting.

He is always there for us…bad ideas and all. You will find the Whisper whispering warnings, “don’t got there,” and encouraging you to “go the right way” and “do the right things”. That’s just the way He is. You know He could have carried me back to the car yesterday but I think there was a lesson that I needed to learn and a story I needed to tell. I finished the walk limping a little, but also a little wiser. As I sat there resting in Him I decided no more chili and eggs and no more worn out, flashy shoes. And the next time I find myself two miles from the car—well, I’ll just remember, He’s got this.

Family, fear, forgiveness, life, Scripture, Southern born, wisdom

“Curse God– And Die”

Posted on October 1, 2020October 1, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7

Rule number one—it is never a good time to curse God. Tonight, as I sat out by a fire crackling in our outdoor fireplace, my neighbors were teaching their young son how to ride a bike. He is a quite the young man and he did well. Judy went over to help encourage him. There were cheers and yells as he took off and rode maybe fifty yards or more before he “gently” crashed in the grass. It all took me back almost sixty years.

I was about seven years old. I’m thinking that I had already mastered the bike riding thing, though I can’t be certain. For one reason or another, I decided I wanted to ride my brother’s 26 inch Schwinn bicycle. Now, if in fact I had already learned to ride a bike and this was just a new challenge—then that’s pretty cool. If I hadn’t mastered riding any bike—well, then this was a recipe for disaster. The bike was obviously way too big for me, but I was determined.

We had a road that ran in front of our house and that was where I was going to attempt this daring feat. Unlike my little neighbor next door, mom and dad weren’t there nor were any of my brothers and sisters. It was just me—and God. So, the best I could, I straddled the mammoth bicycle and promptly fell over. I got just a little mad. I tried it once again and this time the bike rolled forward a few feet and once again—it fell over—on me. I got just a little madder. By now I am muttering to myself. I’m sure it included “stupid bike.”

The third or fourth try, by now I had lost count, resulted in just another in a series of crashes. The frustration and anger finally boiled out. I shook my fist at God and yelled something like, “God, why won’t you help me.” What followed next is blurred in my memory, but I am pretty sure it came out something like, “God, I hate you.” It was spoken—it was shouted—hurled at the God of the universe. As far as I know it was the only time I ever cursed God. Somehow, in my mind, all of this was God’s fault. It didn’t matter that the bike was way too big for me or that I lacked the experience to ride such a large bike. All that mattered was in my mind God had intentionally let me down—literally—at least four times.

It was about then that I heard a voice. It wasn’t God, but that probably would have been appropriate since I had just major offended him. It was a female voice. At first I thought it might have been Mrs. Job. If you remember the story she told her husband, “Why don’t you just curse God and die.” But it wasn’t Mrs. Job. No, it was Mrs. Taylor—Mrs. Alston Taylor to be exact and I was about to die. From behind the hedge that encircled our front yard came, “Dewayne Taylor, I heard that. Don’t you ever talk to God like that again.” When mama called you by your first and last name at the same time—you knew you were in trouble. When she was talking about disrespecting God—you knew you were in double trouble—with her and with God. I was in deep weeds.

Well, once again the end of the story fades from memory. I am sure it didn’t involve me winning the war with the bike. I am pretty sure that there was more than a verbal rebuke from mama. I am certain that I learned a big lesson about God that day. The lesson is that God demands and deserves our respect—whether we are seven or seventy. The Bible teaches us “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” The fear that the Bible talks about is not the kind of fear when you think God is about to zap you—even if you deserve it. No, it is talking about respect. God is worthy of our respect—He is deserving of our respect. Period.

The verse goes on to say that a foolish person despises wisdom and discipline. Another verse I’ve grown fond of is Psalm 14:1. It says, “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” I mean, I think it is pretty foolish to write God off, but there is something more here. The words, “there is” were added by the English translators to make the verse flow a little smoother. The verse in the Hebrew literally says, “The fool says in his heart, No, God.” Whoa. It is a bad idea to tell mama no, but it is really, a bad idea to tell God no. We need to write that one down.

When I told Judy what I was going to write about today, she asked, “So what did God have to do with you and the bike?” That’s a great question. But you know and I know we blame God for just about everything we don’t like—including when we fall off a bike, even one we had no business trying to ride. So, let’s learn a big lesson from seven year old Dewayne. One, don’t try something that is clearly a recipe for disaster. I mean trying new and adventurous things is awesome—but keep them in reason. And, never, and I mean never—curse God—especially if your mama is anywhere around. Just kidding. That is never a good idea. After my bike deal—maybe after your bike deal, when we are worn out and worn down, let’s pause and take a rest—in Him. And then let’s stop muttering and start whispering, “He’s got this.” He always does—in His way and in His time.