Category: Grace

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, life, priorities, Scripture, travel

Sabbatical Cruising

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the LORD your God has commanded you. You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 5:12-14a

Sea days were slow days. On our epic journey aboard the Majestic Princess we not only crossed the Atlantic Ocean but we also sailed the entire way around the British Isles. In the process we spent several days in different ports but a lot of days we just sailed…or cruised. Cruising is one of the best things in life. When we are at home, we cruise down country roads and byways in our red Mustang Convertible. Imagine a warm, sunny late afternoon watching the Southern Illinois landscape slip by at, oh, about 25 miles per hour. Imagine the landscape spotted with a couple of dozen deer. That, friends, is good stuff.

Now imagine a day at sea. You can sleep in or get up early–your call. Someone has made your coffee and it is waiting for you. You go and find a seat next to a large window and watch God’s giant swimming pool, the Atlantic, slide by.  Finally you eat breakfast, which someone cooked for you, you go and exercise in the gym and then find a lounge near the railing and just relax. We would have our quiet time, read a book or just nap. Eventually it would time to eat again…and we would…and we did. That, friends, is why sea days were slow days. And, that dear friends is a pretty good picture of something in the Bible called Sabbath rest.

While a large chunk of the world knows how to do this well, we Americans just don’t. It seems that an American that knows how to do Sabbatical rest is as rare as a unicorn. In almost every port we stopped at, street side cafes would be filled with people drinking tea, coffee or something else, chatting and relaxing. You could almost sense their stress pooling at their feet. Why is it that we Americans are so bad at Sabbatical rest? I do believe we somehow pour our value, our self worth, into a mold that requires us to always be doing something.

Well, here’s some big news. God knew exactly what He was doing when He gave us a day, a whole day, to rest. He even put it into the big ten.  Remember the one that says, “Be careful to remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy as the LORD your God has commanded you. You are to labor six days and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God.” You can read it for yourself in Deuteronomy 5:12-14a.

It seems that this command is the only one from the Big Ten that was allowed to stand in the New Testament.  Wow…it is that important. God designed us to rest, to occasionally, cruise. We need that pause button because we were designed to enjoy Sabbatical rest. Now it doesn’t have to be a particular day but it does need to happen. Not only do we physically need it, it also teaches us to depend on God.

So there you go…you need to take time to cruise…to rest. I know this sounds crazy and perhaps totally out of date but trust me…no, better…trust God. Find time, make time to enjoy a cup of coffee on the back patio, a ride around enjoying tonight’s sunset or maybe just talking with those you love the most. Oh, and be sure that includes the one who’s always got this.  Bro. Dewayne  

Posted in forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, love, Scripture

Christ the King–Christ the Bridge

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and Life and no one can come back to the Father except by Me.”

On the ninth sea day, we finally found ourselves docked in Europe. Our second port of call was Lisbon, Portugal. After so many days at sea it was good to see land for the second time in a lot of days. Lisbon is a beautiful old European city with too many hills (pant, pant) and several large and majestic cathedrals. We took a tour of the city but quite honestly it didn’t seem to leave a large impression on my wife Judy and I–that is until it was time to leave.

When you cruise, at the sail-away from each port of call, there is always a large gathering of passengers on the upper decks. There is always something special about the sail-away. Usually the captain blows the ship’s horn and often there is a gathering on the pier to see us off. It is quite stirring…especially in the case of Lisbon. As we slowly moved away from the dock, we edged our way toward the open sea via a large channel. As we sailed away, two things caught, captivated our attention. 

The first was a bridge that crossed the channel. What made this bridge so special is that it was designed exactly, well, almost exactly like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In fact, it was made by the same company that made the one there. It was, well, majestic. When we were in San Francisco, we drove over the Golden Gate and that was pretty amazing. But to sail under this bridge, its twin, was equally so. Now for the second thing.

Located on the left side of the channel on the top of a small mountain was a statue of Christ with His arms outstretched. The statue is in fact called “The Sanctuary of Christ the King.” It is a massive 360 feet tall and its outstretched arms measure 92 feet finger tip to finger tip. It appropriately commands the view of the entire area. So, imagine with me. First, you see the massive bridge spanning the great distance from shore to shore and then your eye is captured by Christ the King. And instantly the connection is made.

You see, in our human state, we are separated from God. The great divide is caused by the fact that God is holy and we are not. The Bible clearly states that all of us…all of us…have sinned and therefore separated from God. We needed a bridge, a way back to God and that way is Christ the King. Jesus said it best in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth and Life and no one can come back to the Father except by Me.” Jesus left the splendor of heaven and died on a cross so that we could come home to God. Amazing.

As we sailed out the channel, when the angle was just right, you could see both the bridge and Christ the King and that is what I most remember about Lisbon–Christ the King is the bridge–in a way they are one in the same. So as I write this, I am grateful for that sail-away on that day from that port. I am grateful for a God who loves me so much, for a Savior that loves me that much and for the precious Holy Spirit who too loves me that much. I am grateful too that no matter what–Christ the King–well, He’s got this–always.  Bro. Dewayne 

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, travel

Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

People…there were people everywhere. No matter how big the Majestic Princess might have seemed the bottom line is when you put that many people on a boat–well, two things are guaranteed. First, at times it is going to seem a bit crowded. That mainly happened at meal times. While in the evening there were several restaurants to choose from, during the day the main place to eat was the Marketplace. This was grand buffet which not only included a lot of food, it also included food from all over the world. And trust me, it was good.

The second guaranteed thing was the variety of people. You see, the crew of the ship comes from all over the world. In fact, very few of them were from the United States. And even the passengers were an amazing array of humanity. Now that I think about it that is one of the attractive things about taking a cruise. First you go to different parts of the world and different parts of the world come to you. You get to see God physical creation but you also get to see His handwork in people.

To be truthful, this was sometimes challenging. It was just amazing how different people can be. My wife Judy and I loved to sit in the various sitting areas and just “people watch.” And trust me…there was plenty to watch. Of course, keep in mind there was probably someone else doing the same thing and thinking the same about me. I realized that it was too easy to judge someone based on the “cover of their book” rather than what was on the inside. Remember, God’s Word warns us about that.

One example of this happened when I noticed a particular server who worked in the Marketplace. The first thing I happened to notice was, for whatever reason, he wore makeup. I’m not sure what the deal was but his “cover” kept me from reading his story. The bottom line was he was one of the kindest and nicest people we met on the cruise. He always called the ladies, “Mama” and I know he called me “Master.” At any rate, he was joyful and always willing to serve–looking for ways to go beyond what was expected to serve you. I know by the end of the cruise, Judy and I both didn’t see his makeup but rather saw his kindness–his heart.

So, who is it in your life that has a “cover” that keeps you from seeing the real person? In other words, what is keeping you from seeing people for who or what they really are–creations of a very loving God. We need to remember that God has not called us to judge people but to love them. That is what Jesus did…period. I’m still amazed that He called a hated tax collector to be on His team. Imagine how hard that was for Peter and boys to swallow.

Let’s be honest…we live in a pretty weird world and guess what?  We are part of that weirdness. Let’s strive to be like Jesus and His Father. Let’s look beyond the cover of a person’s book and try to read their stories. Let’s try and see what God sees in them. It’s not easy but do you know what? It is sure Jesus like. I’m sure that He would be more than willing to help us, after all, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in food, Grace, gratitude, heaven, marriage, Scripture

The Majestic Ship of Zion

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

It was a warm and sunny morning in South Florida. My wife Judy and I were in town to add another link, and a major link at that, to our chain of events celebrating 50 years of marriage. From Fort Lauderdale we were boarding a luxury cruise ship called the Majestic Princess and I must say she lived up to her name. We would be sailing across the Atlantic Ocean with stops in the Azores, Lisbon, Portugal and then to a stop that would allow us to see Normandy, site of the D-Day invasion that reclaimed most of Europe from the tyranny of Nazi Germany, and Paris. From there we were to cross the English Channel and dock for a day at South Hampton before taking a grand tour of the British Isles including England, Ireland and Scotland. It was a grand journey and it required a grand ship to carry us.

In case you have never cruised I want to share with you the big deal–or at least one of the big deals. From the moment we boarded that Friday morning, all our worries and cares were left behind. It seemed that the 1300 members of the crew were there to take care of the passengers–all of them–regardless of social status, race or creed. The ship, of course, had a captain and it was his job to carefully guide our vessel to its final destination. He ultimately was responsible for us.

You see, for the next 25 days we were totally and completely in his care. Our every need–and I do mean every need–was in his hand. We didn’t have to worry about anything. Someone made our bed and cleaned our room everyday–and then checked on it a couple of more times. Someone, or more than a few someones, cooked our food. Someone was there to plan and provide for our entertainment. So with our needs and desires taken care of and our safety safely in his hands, all we needed to do was enjoy the journey.

And that is exactly what we did…enjoyed the journey. Judy loved the fact that someone else did the cooking and cleaned “the house.” I enjoyed the fact that there were very little responsibilities…no grass to mow, no car to wash…not anything. It was pretty amazing. Wow…how would it be if life was that way…everyday? But wait, in a way, in a big way, it already is. You see, for those of us who have become Jesus followers we have the same assurances that we enjoyed on the Majestic Princess–and so, so much more.

I know He doesn’t cook supper but He sure provides for us. He plans beautiful sunrises and sunsets for us to marvel at and enjoy. We are surely in His safety and care–not for 25 days but for all eternity. He doesn’t clean house but He marvelously cleans up the messes we make in life. Amazing…Simply amazing.

Now to be clear all of that doesn’t make Him our butler and room steward but it does make Him a friend, a Good Shepherd and a Dearest Daddy that loves us enough to never stop loving us. His Word is clear that before the foundation of the world was laid, before we ever did anything right or wrong, He loved us and made a way to guide and carry us through life. And all of that is made possible by believing, by faith…nothing more and nothing less.

I hope you have made the decision to board His ship and trust Him for your life and your eternity. Trust me when I say, it is a decision that you will never regret. He promised that if we would believe, He would guide the ship of our lives safely into His eternal harbor. With Him there is never a doubt about our safe arrival because as always…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Family, food, Grace, life, school days, Scripture

Instant Grits

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 

Well, they aren’t as good as traditional–but they ain’t bad. Yup, I was raised on grits…the old fashioned kind. Momma would get a pot of hot water boiling on the stove, dump in some grits, let them simmer for a while, add salt and pepper, and let them simmer some more. Somewhere along the way, they got just the right consistency and she would put them in a bowl on the table. Then, we would scoop them up, put enough butter to form a small lake right in the middle and proceed to feast. They were delicious.

When I got older and time became a little more valuable, I started buying instant grits. These are not only quicker but easier. First you get a small bowl, open a packet of grits and pour them in the bowl. Then you add a half of cup of water, salt and pepper and a chunk of real butter (not the fake stuff), put it in the microwave for 123 seconds and bingo–instant grits. Now sometimes I would add some bacon bits and or cheese just to spice things up. Like I said, not as good as old fashioned but not too bad. Not.Too.Bad.

Well, starting tomorrow we are going into a season of instant Grits. My wife Judy and I will be celebrating our 50th anniversary this June and we are getting an early start. For the whole month of April I won’t be available to publish our traditional Grits. So rather than just put everything on hold, I will be publishing ahead of time so every day you should get a serving of Grits. Now, these won’t be traditional…but rather instant. In other words, I’ll be going back in time and snagging enough Grits to publish one a day for the whole month. You will probably remember them but let me encourage to read them like the first time.

I already rerun some stories and when I read and edit them to get them ready to publish, I always enjoy reading them again. I find myself smiling, laughing and yes, sometimes crying. It seems they never grow old. So I hope you will keep reading and keep enjoying the stories we have shared and the great truths we have learned. As you remember and perhaps reflect, one thing remains constant. No matter what we know that, “He’s got this!” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God

Singing Before Sunrise

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

It happens every year…just about this time.  One of the amazing things about God’s creation is the preciseness of it all.  You can predict the time of the sunrise a hundred years from today within seconds.  The seasons come and go with precise assuredness, and it is not an accident.  Oh no, it is by intentional design.  The Creator God of it all is the God of details and He doesn’t miss one.  Just a couple of weeks ago here in Southern Illinois we were freezing and had a dose of snow, sleet, and ice.   Monday it was just over seventy degrees, the grass is greening, and the limbs of the trees are swelling with anticipation. They all know it is time.  Even a late snow won’t upset the apple cart.

I know sometimes we worry about some things and sometimes we worry about everything, but nature just doesn’t seem to have that problem.  Sometimes I long for that.  When things around me seem so confusing and threatening, like right now, I just have a tendency to worry.  But nature doesn’t miss a beat.  This morning, I got up at my somewhat usual 5:15 am (don’t ask me why) and began my day with a cup of coffee and a time with Jesus.  It works well.  The coffee wakes me up and my time with Jesus sets me up for a brand-new day.  

At 5:15 am the sun is still sleeping so the skies and the countryside are still dark…very dark.  But something happens every year…just about this time.  Somewhere in my yard, somewhere outside my window a songbird starts to sing.  I’m sure it is a different bird every year and it might even be a different bird every day but long before daylight, he or she decides to sing.  I find it very…refreshing.  Though it is dark, the songbird sings in anticipation of what is coming.  Somehow, they know that the darkness of night is just about over, and the sun is going to rise.  They seem to know that the darkness cannot last forever…it must give way to the power of light.

By faith, the songbird sings its celebration of Spring and of a new day.  And do you know what?  Sure enough, in about thirty or forty minutes, the dawn begins to break, and God honors their faith.  Day in and day out the songbird sings and day in and day out God is faithful.  I think there is a lesson there for us. Actually, there are two.  First, is the lesson of our faith.  The songbird sings not because it sees the light but because it believes the light is coming.  Tucked away in a letter that Paul wrote to the church located in Corinth are these words, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  We.Walk.By.Faith.

The songbird sings by faith and God calls us to walk by faith.  Walking by faith believes that what God has said will come to pass.  And the second lesson?  It is the lesson of His faithfulness.  Our faith is based on a faithful One.  We have all lived long enough to know that put your faith in the wrong thing and you’re toast.  But put your faith in the One who is faithful, and it is the most sane, most logical thing that you can do.

So tomorrow morning, even if it’s out of the range of my hearing, a songbird will begin to sing in the darkness.  It will be announcing, by faith, that a new day is coming—daylight is coming. And Lord willing, most of us will awaken from a night of rest.  For some it may be dark and for others quite light, but for all of us we have the opportunity to take our first steps in the new day.  I hope they will be steps of faith…faith in a Dearest Daddy who loves us enough to guide us, to help us and to lead us.  All we have to do is believe…in Him…in who He is and what He said.  He has never failed, you know.  It is totally foreign to Him.  He can and will come through…not matter what.  So, go ahead and peer out into the darkness as the songbird sings and know, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in birthday, communication, friends, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, thankful

Happy Birthday Grits

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds.” Matthew 13:34

Well – what an adventure!  It was a Friday morning in March of 2020 and the beginning of the COVID pandemic that caused me to sit down one morning and write a short post on Facebook. I intended it to be a one and done deal and was simply meant to be an encouragement. I wrote it and posted it…and then, something happened.  For whatever reason it touched a chord with people who followed my Facebook page and many readers responded.  And, with that random act, Grits with Grace was born.

We made a permanent home for Grits in May of 2020 on WordPress with a new address, www.gritswithgrace.com . The website archives all the stories and has a great search engine if you are looking for a particular subject. It also has some valuable statistics…that remind us how the God’s Word never comes back void. As of March 2026, the WordPress website has 535 followers (people who currently follow our site), and 813 followers on Facebook. Amazingly, over 23,000 people have stopped and taken a peek at gritswithgrace.com. Wow!

We find it very exciting that some are following us in other countries, China, Singapore, India, and the Philippines.

I thought you might want to read the very first Grits again. If so, the next few paragraphs contain that first story.  If not, I’ll just meet you at the bottom of the page.  

A Word of Encouragement

The story is told of a Christian lady who had cancer.  Her pastor went to see, encourage, and pray with her.  Towards the end of the visit, her pastor asked if he could pray with and for her.  Her response was, “yes, of course.”  That wasn’t surprising.  What happened next was.

When he asked how he should pray, her response was totally unexpected.  He assumed it would be for healing but instead she said, “Pastor, pray that I would not waste this suffering.”  Waste this suffering.

She was wise enough to know that the God she believed in was sovereign, was in control and was a kind, merciful and loving God.  She also knew that He was wise and that this had been allowed into her life for a purpose–His purpose.

God’s word says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

I admit I’m baffled by a lot of what is happening around me.  Just when I think I can’t be surprised…I am.  But I’m not baffled about God.  He is working in our circumstances to bring glory to His name and strengthen our faith.

So, God has this.  He isn’t asking us to understand…He is only asking us to trust Him.  And believe me…He has a track record of always getting it right.  God bless you today…trust Him…He’s got this.

Well, that is where it all started. The last six years my wife Judy and I have been honored to share our lives and our stories with all of you.  We honestly don’t have an accurate idea of how many people take the time to read Grits each day, but we do know that we are grateful for all of them. The stories have been as varied as life itself.  We have written about everything from the “Underwear Fairy” to a mean goose in our city park we named, “Bubba.”  Hopefully, many made you smile, and some might have made you cry.  I know there were times when tears slid down my cheeks as I wrote.

You know, Jesus loved to tell stories and He told a lot of them.  Maybe that is why I love Grits so much—it teaches the way He did. All the stories for the last 2,190 days have had a truth that can be applied to life and very often that truth centered around just how much Creator God loves us, His creation.  Oh, and we have learned that no matter how big or how small the problem or the circumstance, we can know for certain that, “He’s got this.”

I’ve wondered exactly how long Grits will be around.  Well, I suppose the answer is this.  As long as there is a story to tell and a friend who enjoys reading it, I will keep pressing the keys. So, once again, thank you so much for reading and sharing Grits with your family, friends, and neighbors. And let’s always remember that no matter how difficult the circumstance, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, Grace, gratitude, life, pride, Scripture, travel

28% Irish

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” John 1:12-13

I always wanted to be Irish. There is one day a year that people who really have very little to do with the celebration celebrate. When is that?  Well Saint Patrick’s Day of course! It seems on that day everybody wants to wear the green and claim their Irish ancestors. It reminds me of when President Reagan was shot and as he lay waiting for surgery he looked up at the surgeon and said, “I hope you are a Republican.” The surgeon gave the perfect response. He said, “We are all Republicans today, Mr. President.” Well I am sure not everyone wants to claim to be Irish…but a whole bunch do.

A while back my wife gave me a DNA thingy to find out where my ancestors came from. I’ve always said I was Scot/Irish but really I had no clue. As it turned out, I was mostly from Middle England…how boring. But, gladly, I was 28% Irish. It probably isn’t enough to change my name to McTaylor but hey 28% is better than none. If you look at the immigration records you will see that especially during the great potato famine from 1845 to 1852, thousands of Irish folk left their homeland and came to America. You see, potatoes made up a large portion of their diet and when a potato fungus nearly wiped out the crop, thousands were starving so it was leave or die and many left. The Irish played a big role in building America. They were a hard working people and many fought and died in America’s wars. To be Irish was a reason to be proud.

That is probably the reason why so many who aren’t Irish celebrate St. Patricks Day. They want to party down and maybe, at least for day, claim a linage even if it really isn’t theirs. And guess what? That isn’t the only time that happens. Believe it or not it happens every Sunday as people flock to church. Many, of course, are Jesus followers but many others go for many other reasons. For some it is the right thing to do. For some it is part of their routine. For some their parents or wives (smile) make them go. And, for some it sure looks good on their resume. I know when I was in the Air Force, one of the things to check off was church attendance. 

Church is always a good thing but it is important we go for the right reason. We should go because we have chosen to follow Jesus or at least are exploring making that decision. You see, the church is not a building, it is the Jesus followers that gather there each week–to worship their God and King and to strengthen and encourage one another. It’s not a club nor is it a place to show up to show off–it is all about Him and never about us. Write that one down!

So, Happy St. Patrick’s Day…especially if you are Irish. The bottom line is you can’t really change your ancestry…you are what you are. But when it comes to your spiritual linage–well, God can and will change that. He want’s more than anything to adopt you into His family. Having Him as your Father is the best linage ever. And it is not for just one day, and you don’t have to wear green…or even your best. All you have to do is believe, trust and follow. You then can confidently say, “I know He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, life, love, patience, prayer, Scripture
Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Be joyful, pray always, be thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

They call it a z-pack.  It is called that because nobody can pronounce azithromycin.  Whatever it is called it–it works.  You know the story.  You are humming along, life is good and then you throat feels a little scratchy, your nose is a little stuffy and before long you feel awful.

Now let me explain awful.  If you are a man that means it is pretty much terminal.  It is only a matter of minutes before the end comes.  Someone call 911.  If you are a woman it means that life just became a little more challenging but hey people are counting on you, so you will push through.

Man or woman–terminal or not–you will probably call and make an appointment to see the doctor.  He will determine, much to the man’s surprise, that it is not terminal.  It is an upper respiratory infection.  Then he may prescribe our friend azithromycin or a z-pack.

A z-pack is a course of five pills, often two are taken the first day and one per day for the next three.  If you are a man, you take the first two and go to bed.  If you are woman, and in in particular a mother, you take the first two and go on with life.  The good news is everybody generally survives.

I find too often in life this happens to me on another level. I am humming along and life is good.  The mild speed bumps and occasional pot holes of life are navigated with little or no trouble.  But then it happens. The smallest of infractions and I find myself going off–losing it.  Something doesn’t go just according to plan and I am seething.  I don’t get my way and so everyone better stay out of my way.  I’ve been infected.

No doctor is needed for this one.  It is called selfish-itis.  Let me say that again…selfish–itis.  Yup…for some reason it all becomes about me–or you.  While it’s caused by several things it often find’s it source in a little virus called “why me.”  I mean I understand why the neighbor deserves bad things; he is mean as a snake.  And my brother-in-law hasn’t worked for months.  Of course, then there is cousin Eddie, never mind, we won’t even go there.

Well, the good news is there’s a z-pack for it and it is fast and effective.  Take three “pills” and before long you will be humming again.  The z-pack is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and consists of three powerful truths that will kick the “inselfishitis” bug in no time.  Here’s the z-pack. “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances.” There you go–be joyful, pray always and be thankful.”  Bye-bye blues and hello cancel the 911 call. Three simple truths, three simple practices.

A while back I got ahold of a great definition for Biblical joy.  It is “a deep sense of well-being based on my faith in God and trust in His sovereign will.”  Now that’s powerful. Boom.  It is what we close everyday with, “He’s got this.”  It’s true and He does.

Praying always is simply like breathing.  It becomes second nature and an essential part of life.  You don’t even need your knees to pray.  You don’t need to close your eyes–especially if you are driving.  It is a whisper to God as needed, when needed.  And it works.

The last one is gratitude.  It is learning to be thankful for the smallest detail in your life.  News flash–God is a God of the details.  That little deal you are concerned about is not little to Him.  He loves His kids and wants them to know He will be there.  Now that doesn’t mean you get every toy in the toy store.  It does mean that He will be there whenever, forever.

The last part of verse 18 is huge.  It says, “For this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  He wants you to do this not for three days but every day.  He wants you to be fulfilled and at rest and these simple truths will put you on the right road.

So, men, put on your big boy socks and push on.  Ladies–remember we men struggle with the small things, so be sure and show a little mercy when we are terminal–or at least think we are.  God does and He does it not only for the men but for all of us.  He invites us to crawl up in His lap and rest in Him.  And listen close, He’s whispering, “I’ve got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in food, Grace, Scripture, thankful

“Five Guys” Grace

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 Ephesians 1:7-8 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”

It was a stroke of accidental brilliance and it all started in 1986. Jerry and Janie Murrell offered some advice to Jerry’s four younger brothers. They simply said, “Go to college or start a business.”  They decided on the business route and started a restaurant in Virginia called “Five Guys Burgers and Fries.”  And like they say, “The rest is history.”  Today there are 1,500 locations and 1,500 more on the drawing board.  Their sales pitch is “nothing but fresh beef and nothing but fries cooked in 100% peanut oil.  There are no freezers in the joint only coolers.”

Well, all that is nice but that is not what I like about Five Guys.  I mean they serve one mean burger and their fries are the best of any national chain but that’s not what grabbed me.  So, here’s the deal. I walk in and order a small cheeseburger.  “What” you say?  Yup you heard right. The reason I order a small cheeseburger is because it is big…really big.  But it gets better.  The guy at the counter says, “What do you want on that cheeseburger?”  And here is when it gets really good.  I look up at the sign and there are probably 20 or 25 toppings for the burger.  And get ready.  They are all included at no additional cost.

Did I just say “included?”  Yes sir, I did.  You can have everything from a tomato to a grilled mushroom and the hits just keep on coming.  No extra charge.  Amazing.  The best part is that it is genuinely good food.  Granted burgers and fries for most men are its own food group but you gotta love one loaded beyond words.  But, wait, it is gonna get better.

The guy at the counter says, “You want fries with that burger?”  Hello? Do hens lay eggs? Do preachers eat fried chicken? Do southerners eat grits? “Yes, sir, I want fries” I answer.  So I order a small fry. “What” you say? Yup you heard right.  The reason I order a small fries is man-food heaven.  So, as you watch, they fill a small cup full of fries.  Are you listening? They put the cup in the bag and then they get this scoop the size of a small shovel and dump a full load in the bag.  Wait. Then he gets another half scoop and dumps that in.  Can someone say, “Hallelujah!” Order a small and get a “boat load” for no extra charge.  Holy moley!

But wait…the guy is saying something else.  “Hey dude, do you want a shake with that?” Ok, by now I am drooling all over my shirt.  “Well sure” I respond.  He says, “What kind?”  I look at the sign and there it is.  Heaven.  It says, “milk shakes…all mix-ins are free.” “What?” I said.  “You mean I can have a chocolate, banana, strawberry, tutti-frutti, peanut, marshmallow milkshake with sprinkles on top.” “Yup” he said “all at no extra charge.”  Oh.my.goodness!  Excuse me while I wipe my mouth.

So what amazes me about Five Guys is, are you ready, their lavishness.  Their burgers, their fries, their milkshakes are all lavishly done.  They don’t give you a little of anything.  They pour it on, dump it on and then do it again.  Just like God and His grace.  Paul talks about it in Ephesians 1:7-8.  He says we have redemption though His death, the forgiveness of all our sins (someone say hallelujah) and all because of His grace that He lavished on us.  That means He pours it on, pours it on again and then just keeps pouring.  It is amazing grace because of the quality and the quantity.

I can just imagine stepping up to God’s counter and He says, “What do you need, son?” I like it when He calls me “son.” And I explain how this world is a hot mess, how I have made a mess of everything in my life and how I am sure I can’t fix it. Then I would tell Him I could sure use a little grace.  He would smile and say, “Son, I don’t do anything little, especially grace.”  And then He would begin to pour it on. To borrow from Luke 6:38 where Jesus speaks about giving, the Book says, “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” It’s true about giving but it is also true when we need grace.  It is what lavish looks like.

So as soon as you can go to “Five Guys.” Be sure and order small because you are going to get big.  Order all the toppings you want on your burger, all the mix-ins you want in your shake and let them take care of the fries.  You will leave amazed at their lavishness.  But all that just pales to God’s amazing grace.  Just walk up to the counter and tell Him what you need and get ready.  He is going to pour—no, He is gonna dump— grace all over you.  And, like grace, you are gonna be amazed.  That’s why we can just sit back and rest in Him.  With that kind of grace, you know He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne