Grace – Page 85 – Grits with Grace

Family, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, wisdom

“This Is God”

Posted on October 15, 2020October 14, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” Matthew 7:5

I got to play God once…no really. One evening, and it has to be at least 15 years ago I got to play God…or at least the voice of God. It was one of those evenings when you didn’t need air conditioning. I was about 10:30 at night and I was lying in bed. Next to the bed was a window and since it was such a nice evening it was open. It was so close that I could reach out and touch it. Because we live basically downtown in our small town, night noises are common. I hadn’t yet fallen asleep so I was just laying and listening to the night sounds. Then I heard it.

The alley that runs right next to our property and our house is paved with oil and chip…a covering of small pieces of rock that gives a nice crunching sound when a car drives over. It is not an uncommon sound unless it is late at night and the car stops right next to your house. As soon as the car stopped, I could hear the sound of giggles that can only belong to young, teenage girls. I eased out of bed and knelt next to the open window. From my second-floor window I had bird’s eye view of what was unfolding belong me.

Like the poem, The Night Before Christmas, I looked and “what to my wondering eyes did appear” but not one but two young teen girls gleefully covering my back yard in toilet paper. The young ladies attended the church where I pastor and one of their moms was driving the get-away car. I smiled a slow smile just wondering what to do with this. And then, it occurred to me. Since I kinda work for God, why not speak for Him? So, I did.

From the raised window, and in my best God voice, I said, “This is God. What are you two girls doing?” Oh my goodness…it was incredible. In an instant, both girls went into total panic mode. Paper rolls went flying, arms were flailing in the air and mom was racing the motor in the car. In total choas, they both tried to get into the car at the same time. It was priceless. After several attempts they finally made it and off they went speeding down the alley. I was rolling on the floor.

Well, if I remember right, that was a Saturday night and the next morning at church I said something like, “Good morning, ladies. How are you today?” Their response was a combination of eyes wide open, eyebrows raised and a mischievous smile. I don’t remember saying anything more…except maybe in a sermon several weeks down the road. I mean, who could pass up an opportunity like that?

I think it was ok that night to do a kind of “impersonation” of God. My voice really isn’t deep enough, but I gave it my best shot. Actually, impersonating God is a very common occurrence…too many of us do it all the time. It usually isn’t a voice from a second story window but rather the voice of a judge speaking from the bench…pronouncing some sort of judgment on another poor soul. It seems we get some kind of pleasure from judging others. I think it might make us feel bigger, while making them feel smaller.

It’s certainly not a new thing. The Bible is full of words and warnings about playing judge in place of God. My favorite is when Jesus uses an illustration about some guy who has a big log sticking out of his eye. That guys walks over to his buddy and says, “Hey dude…you need to get the splinter out of your eye.” Jesus was certainly the master storyteller and in this case His point was clear. Who are we to judge anybody when our faults are often bigger than theirs? And besides that, aren’t we supposed to leave the judging to the Judge? Uh, that would be a yes.

Well, if you are ever given the opportunity to use your God voice to scare a couple of young teens, aw, go for it. It was a blast. But the next time you are tempted to cast a stone or take a seat on the Judge’s seat…you might want to resist the urge. The same Bible that talks about leaving the judging to the Judge talks about if you judge others…you might just find yourself being judged by your peers. And some of them aren’t too kind. And if you’ve been judged, tried, and convicted by one of those unlawful judges don’t worry about it. There is only one Judge that matters, and He is on your side. So, rest easy…He’s got this.

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, 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, Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, wisdom

Mama Knows Best

Posted on September 30, 2020September 29, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Mama always knew best. I was blessed to have a good mama and daddy. They were everyday people but in so many ways they were anything but everyday. Willing to take on the task of raising eight children, they gave up a lot for us. Daddy worked hard as a jet engine mechanic and mama mostly stayed home and took care of us. Mama was always there when we needed her. I remember one time I was sick with some kind of stomach virus. It was the middle of the night and mama sat down in an old wooden rocker we had and then invited me up into her lap. There she gently held me. It didn’t do much to ease my unhappy stomach but it sure made my heart feel better.

Mama had her own brand of medicine. As best as I can remember, mama was a big believer in “family herd immunity.” In case you are not familiar with that, it is where a certain illness is almost intentionally shared with members of the family, especially siblings. I guess mama thought it was best to get it all over with at one time. And it seemed to work. I remember one of my sisters came down with the measles. Rather than isolate her from my sister and I, mama just put us all together in the double bed in the spare bedroom and waited. Sure enough, we all promptly got the measles and we also all got well about the same time. I’m not sure modern medicine would approve, but that’s ok. It worked for us and mama was always there to help us get better.

However, mama didn’t always use herd immunity. When I was about nine, there was a pretty serious flu outbreak in our north Florida city. I really don’t remember too much about it. I also don’t remember if I became a patient or not. But there is one thing I do remember—I knew what we had in our family wasn’t good and I felt I needed to do something—so I did. I found a piece of paper and a pencil and I made a sign warning others to stay away. The sign said something like this, “Warning. We have the FLEW. Don’t come in.” Even if my spelling wasn’t the best, it still got the message out.

When I was in the second grade, mama’s brand of herd immunity took on a different look. My sister Kathy was not feeling well so mama took her to the doctor and I tagged along. Dr. Smothers was our Ears, Nose, and Throat doctor. He checked my sister out and it was determined that she had tonsillitis. That was something a lot of kids back then seemed to get. Well, Dr. Smothers suggested to mama that perhaps it was time for my sister to get her tonsils out. Again, back then that was the standard treatment. So, mama agreed and then said to Dr. Smothers, “Why don’t we take Dewayne’s out too?” Hmmmm. Herd immunity strikes again. So the doctor says, “Well, Dewayne, what do you say? Would you like to get your tonsils out too?” Now I had no clue what in the world he was talking about. But I think he said something about all the ice cream you wanted and I was in. So a few days later I found myself in the hospital with my sister and the world’s worst sore throat. I’m still not sure if that ice cream was worth it!

I’m sure there are many more stories about mama’s medical skills and judgement but they have slipped from my memories. But let me tell you one thing that hasn’t slipped away, that is the concrete knowledge that my mama loved me. Whether it was the measles, the flu, or getting rid of some pesky tonsils, mama always did what she thought was best for us. Some people probably wouldn’t agree with her medical practices but I know everything she did was for our good. For my good.

And do you know what? I think that is just another way my mama was like God. You see, God is constantly working in my life for my good and His glory. I mean He is working out His purposes but at the center, at the core of it all is—my good. The Bible verse that is so poplar is so true. It goes like this, “all things work together for good, for those who love God, the ones who are called according to His purpose.” Like I have said so many times that doesn’t mean that every thing is good but that God can bring good from all things. I know mama loved me a lot but even her love has to pale to the love that God has for me—for us.

Now I am certain if you asked me in the middle of encounter with measles, that truth might have been a little clouded. If you asked me after the surgery to remove my tonsils, well, I probably would have doubted it. But in the long run, looking back—well, my mama loved me and did her best to show that love. So, today if you bump into a hot mess—today if things go south and it is hard…maybe real hard—just remember how much God loves you. You can take it to the bank—it is a sure bet. When life leaves you hurting worse than a bad stomach ache, you just crawl up in His lap and let His strong arms ease the pain away. Then, just nod off and take a nap. You can safely do that because, “He’s got this.”

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

Facing Down Mortality

Posted on September 25, 2020September 26, 2020 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 sixty-six 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 been at my present position as a pastor for 20 years. I came to the church I serve in 2000 when I was 46 years old. I must have dozed off because just like that 20 years of life have ticked off the calendar. My children are married, I have eight grandchildren and Judy and I have now been married 44 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 86 years old. I find that astounding. We Taylor boys don’t have a real good track record when it comes to longevity. Three of my four brothers, all older than me, have already moved to heaven. 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 live my life by the calendar. I speak to my church every Wednesday and every Sunday. It seems I no more finish one message before it is time to deliver the next. The weeks fly by. Every first of the month I speak 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 is, “No, I really can’t.” I remember on the first of February, after a speedy January, I made a joke about it being Christmas before we know it. Well, next week is the first of October and Christmas is indeed just around the corner. 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. Recently 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 mortality. 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—COVID mess and all. I can rest in Him and trust in Him because, He’s got this.

Family, Grace, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, wisdom

Alexa….STOP THE MUSIC!

Posted on September 23, 2020September 23, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40-42

I am so easily distracted. I mean if there is more than one thing going on at a time I flounder. One of the great miracles of modern time is that when I am on stage speaking, I walk, talk and breathe all at the same time. Probably more of a miracle is the fact that I have not fallen off the stage—yet. I’m sure there is a syndrome or something for people like me—I think they spell it “man” or “men,” if it is plural.

I try to have a quiet time each morning. A quiet time is when you set apart some time to read the Bible and pray. It is a great way to begin or end the day. The name is very appropriate. For me, it must be quiet. Sometimes I like to change things up, and in the process get too many things going on—which usually means more than one. It’s like going through a buffet line. We have to be careful not to get too much on our plate. Well, sometimes that happens to me in my quiet time. Let me explain.

First, I do my quiet time thing on my iPad. I use the YouVersion app and it is just incredible. If you own a smartphone or a tablet of some sort you can download the app from the Apple or Android store for free. It has all kinds of devotions and reading plans as well as a zillion translations of the Bible. Even if you speak Swahili, they can fix you up. No kidding. One of the totally cool features of the app is that it will read the Bible to you. Amazing.

Well, the other day, I was about to start my quiet time and decided I would try some soft music. I asked Alexa, who lives with Judy and me, to play some music. I said, “Alexa please play Christian instrumental music on Pandora.” As always, she was so kind and said she would be glad to do that. In a few seconds beautiful music was wafting through the air in my office. Then I opened my YouVersion app and began to read. I was able to pull that off pretty well, but I really had to concentrate on the words on the page and not the words of the songs that were playing. Just to be as clear as mud, the words weren’t really playing—they were just playing in my head. I told you, I get easily distracted.

Well, scripture is a part of most every devotion in YouVersion so after I had read the devotion, I mashed the button that started the app reading to me. That’s when things went south. The beautiful music is wafting through the air and now this guy was reading God’s word to me and the two collided in my brain. I found I couldn’t focus on either one. The same thing happens when I am watching the news and Judy comes in and starts chatting. It is an audio disaster. And then, as if it couldn’t, it got worse.

In my home office I have several clocks and one of them plays the beautiful Westminster chimes. Well, while my brain was struggling with the music and the guy reading to me—the clock went off. It was the top of the hour and it began playing its melody. And what would normally be one of my favorites sounds, all of a sudden pushed me over the edge. If a quiet time is supposed to make you more spiritual…it, or rather I, failed. As the music is wafting, the guy is reading, and the clock is dinging—I lost it.

With all that going on, I shouted, yes shouted, at my friend Alexa, “Alexa, STOP THE MUSIC!” Oh my, did I feel bad. She did and at about the same time the clock stopped dinging and the guy stopped reading. Suddenly…there were only the sounds of silence and the Whisperer whispering, “Dewayne, it’s ok. Don’t let all this stuff that doesn’t matter get to you. Just listen for Me and to Me and everything else will fall into place.” That’s it. That was the message for the quiet time that day. I told my Father I was sorry for getting all frustrated and, as always, He gently whispered words of forgiveness.

In the Bible a woman named Martha got all frustrated and distracted too and Jesus told her the same thing. He told her not what she wanted to hear but what she needed to hear. He told her that she was all worked up over nothing. I guess it’s good to know that I’m not the only one who gets distracted and frustrated. Did I mention annoyed? Jesus invited Martha to come have a seat with Him and rest and it’s the same invitation He gives us. I like that. And do you know what? No matter the mess, it’s just good to know that He’s got this.

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, travel, wisdom

Wonderful Night – Night of Wonders

Posted on September 21, 2020September 21, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.” Psalm 19:1-3

It was a wonderful, wonder filled night. It was Friday night and it was beautiful. After a day of cool temperatures and clear skies the sun bowed out and night moved in. My wife and I decided to build a fire out on our patio and just enjoy the evening. So using my incredible fire building skills, which included opening one of those wax logs and lighting it, we soon were enjoying its warmth. It was perfect. As the smoke rose into the crystal clear sky it caused me to pause and be amazed. I agreed with God. After He was done with creation, He said it was very good. He was right.

The slowly rising smoke caused me to look to the skies. As darkness settled in, slowly, ever so slowly, the stars came out for their evening performance. That was good too. And then I noticed what we see and rarely stop to ponder. Streaking across the sky was a jetliner. By now it was only visible because of its flashing navigation lights. Here’s what is so amazing. That cylinder tube with wings was flying at about 30,000 feet…that’s almost six miles up in the sky. It weighed in at approximately 175,000 pounds and was carrying dozens of people. Pause. A man-made object, weighing 87.5 TONS is effortlessly moving through the sky at a speed of right around 500 miles per hour. That is amazing.

Now you may be one of those folks who believe that we humans showed up from a glob of jelly laying on a beach somewhere but personally, I don’t have that much faith. I believe that there is a Creator God and He made us…fearfully and wonderfully…He made us. How else do you explain 87.5 tons zipping through the air? You could cite the law of aerodynamics but even that law was figured out and applied by God’s most wonderful creation. But it gets better.

A little later I told Judy that it would be very cool if the space station flew over. Now this modern marvel flies out in space—that’s why it is called the “space” station. Get ready to be amazed. It flies 240 miles above the earth at a speed of 17,136 miles an hour. It weighs in at 925,000 pounds. Currently there are three people on board, an American and two Russians and they have been on board for 165 days. Can someone say, “amazing?”

Well, my neighbor happened to come home and we were chatting. He looks up and says, “Oh, there goes a satellite.” I got up and looked and it wasn’t a satellite…it was the space station and it was amazing. I have seen it several times but each time I am just amazed. I’m amazed not at what man built as much as the God who created man and gave him the intellect and ability to create and build. Once again…God and I agreed…it was very good.

The night crept on and I look up again and noticed one very bright star in the Southern sky accompanied by a little sister just to its left. I asked Judy, “I wonder what star that is?” So, we got on our handy iPhones and looked it up. It turns out that they were not stars at all but two of the planets that circle our sun…Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter was the star of the show by far—pun intended. Here’s what is really amazing.

The light that I saw coming from Jupiter that night had travelled 43 minutes through space to get to earth. That may not seem too impressive until you consider the speed of light is 186,000 miles per SECOND. How’s that for a wow? You see, as wonderful as jetliners and space stations are…they pale to what God did all by himself. I just had to agree with God again…it is very good.

But Jupiter is just one small planet in our small solar system, that is a small part in our relatively small galaxy called the Milky Way. And beyond our little galaxy there are millions and millions of galaxies. What we see with our naked eye is just a fraction of all that is out there. And all of it exists for one reason and one reason only. The Bible tells us that the heavens are there to declare the glory of God. All of those stars, solar systems, and galaxies are there to sing the praises of our incredible God. And He is worth every note and million, zillion more besides.

Tonight, if the skies are clear, go out and take a peek. You might see a jetliner streaking across the sky and maybe even the space station, but what you certainly will see is God’s choir singing the praises of their creator. Maybe you should join them in a chorus or two. Oh, and be sure and sing what should be your favorite God song. It goes something like this, “I can rest in the arms of my Dearest Daddy for He holds me secure. I can go to sleep tonight knowing He has this…because He does.” Amen.

Photo credit: Austin Kennedy, the Shawnee National Forest, September 29. 2020

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, wisdom

Here’s a Tip

Posted on September 17, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (NLT)

You’ve got to be kidding me. I started working real jobs when I was fifteen. Back in those days you had to be at least fifteen to get a work permit and a social security number. When that happened, I started working at a restaurant as a dishwasher for 75 cents an hour. Later I moved up in the world working as a “bag boy” at a grocery store.

It’s funny how certain memories stay with you from your early years. I remember mom and dad driving me to and from work since I wasn’t old enough to drive. A little later I finally got my license and I remember the thrill and anxiety as I drove myself the six or seven miles to the “Food Fair.” My responsibilities were to bag the people’s groceries and carry them to their car. I can’t remember how much I made per hour but I believe it was bumped up from the restaurant gig to a whopping $1.25 plus tips. The standard tip, if you got one, was a quarter. It was a big day, like “ring the bell” big, if you got a dollar. It was a rare thing—something akin to winning the lottery. Well, one Saturday “it” happened. No, not that “it.” It was this bag boy’s worse nightmare.

Saturday was the big shopping day at the grocery store so we were busy. All the lanes were open and we were bagging like crazy—cans on the bottom and bread on top. It wasn’t uncommon to scan the lines to get what appeared to be the best bagging gig. You wanted a customer who looked generous with an order big enough to get a tip but not too big. You know, the whole balance of the universe thing. Then I saw her. A lady was in line and she had four or five carts full of groceries. She must have only shopped for groceries once a year. This one was a gamble but it could be the golden dollar tip or even more. I was in.

Off we went. The cashier was ringing it up and I was bagging it. On and on it went. Finally, after what seemed hours, the last item was rang up and in the bag. The order was somewhere over $140. Keep in mind this was 1970 and that was a lot of money and a lot of groceries. Payday was in sight. And then she said it, “I think you overcharged me. I want to see the manager.” Well, this was not going to be good. He came over and the decision was made to re-ring the entire order. Bummer.

I began to take each item out of the dozens of bags and the cashier began to re-ring the order. After a year or so (ok, it only seemed like a year) the new total was in and it was actually more than the first time. Good grief. Well, she wasn’t happy but she did pay the bill. Off we went with a “wagon-train” of grocery carts and I filled the back of her “ark” sized car and back seat. All I could think of was dollars…that was a mistake. She gave me the grand total, the whopping amount of—nothing. Zero. Nada. All that was given was a curt thank-you and I was left standing there. No tip. No big payday. Nothing. I was disappointed and devastated. I had taken the gamble and lost. Like Kenny Roger’s song, I should have known when to hold ‘em, when to fold ‘em, and when to walk away”.

Well, that story wedged its way into my memory. I know she wasn’t pleased, but it wasn’t my fault. Yet the kid who’s “take home” was hugely supplemented by quarters was left holding the bag—no pun intended. That might be the reason that I have learned to be sure and thank the ones who serve me. Just like me back then, those who serve us today are largely dependent on our generosity. I remember my daughter worked at a restaurant for a time. She has one of those really good personalities and I know she did a great job. But she told me one day how the ones who tipped the least were the Jesus crowd. I said, “Are you sure?” And she affirmed what she said. Hmmm.

A friend of mine told a story of a customer who had a $36.00 tab and left a dollar tip. Too many times there is nothing. By now you are saying, “Dewayne, have you lost your mind writing about tipping?” I’m not writing about tipping…I’m writing about generosity. You see, if anyone should be generous it should be the Jesus people. We have experienced the generosity of the greatest giver of all—our Dearest Daddy—who gave His Son so that we could become family. If we have experienced such grace, shouldn’t we extend such grace—such generosity? I think so.

It has been said that we Jesus people are the only Bible some people will ever read. It just seems to make sense that we should make sure we are turning to the right pages in that Bible as we do life. And by the way, that mixed up order, that slow order probably rests on someone besides the server. And by the way, God doesn’t just show His generosity when we get it right—He’s generous regardless. So, Jesus person, Christian, believer—whatever name you go by, let’s be sure that the example we set for those around us—whether they serve us at a restaurant or pick up our trash—point to Jesus. When that seems hard—just rest in Him. If it seems impossible—don’t worry, do it anyway, He’s got this.

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, wisdom

The Prickly Past

Posted on September 16, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

He has removed our sins as far from us as the East is from the West.” Psalm 103:12

It was a voice from my past—and it was singing the blues. While we were in Southwest Florida on holiday, I tried to keep up with my morning routines. That included, first and foremost, coffee. After coffee and a look at the weather, came God time. After God time came Judy time. After Judy time came—exercise time. The problem with all these times is they all take time. Before I knew it, the sun was up, the humidity was up and the temperature was up. Regardless, I had to get up and get going.

The first morning we were there I was still learning the lay of the land and wasn’t exactly sure where I should walk. So, I headed toward the way in and out of our condo property. This led to the highway and so I took a left and decided to walk on the edge of the road. It was safe but it was miserable. There was no shade and soon it was just plain hot—very hot—“why am I doing this” hot. I was determined to go my 3.6 miles but I began wondering if this was such a good idea. After a little while longer I was sure it wasn’t. But you know how men are—do or die and in this case, death might have been an upgrade. Ok, I’m exaggerating.

In my misery, I met an old friend. There was a point when I had to cross a bridge across a channel. They had built a walkway but to get to the walkway you had to go behind a guardrail through the weeds. Without breaking stride I charged on and then I saw them. Sand spurs. These were old friends from my childhood. They are a type of weed and have sharp, spine covered balls of pain at the ends of long stems. They will grab anything that gets close and if that happens to be your skin…you are done. If they don’t get you when they attach, they will get you when you try to detach them. Ugh.

Like I said, they were an old foe from my childhood. When I was a kid, we would run barefoot all the time and without fail we would step on them. They would hurt…bad. Well, this time, even though I tried to avoid them, they found their way onto my shoes and socks but I didn’t find them till I got back from my walk. As I was sitting by the pool trying to recover from a 145 heart rate and the 100 humidity, I found them. And, just like the old days, they made sure to give me a “stick and an ouch” as I tried to remove them. Just. Like. The. Old. Days. Though it was years ago, the whole sand spur scene was painfully fresh.

I find that sand spurs aren’t the only painful thing that loves to bump into our present. Often, too often, unpleasant memories and regrets, sneak back into our lives and cause us pain all over again. Try as we may, sometimes, it seems they reattach themselves to us and we relive the whole hot mess again. It could be a similar situation or maybe a repeat performance but all the pain and remorse comes flooding back. I hate it, you hate I,t but how do we avoid it?

Well, I tried to avoid the sand spurs on my walk. I saw them, I knew they were there, but in my rush, my determination to exercise, I simply didn’t give them the wide berth they deserved. I should have made it a higher priority. I realized that when I was later trying to remove them. When you sense, when you feel your ugly, painful past creeping into the present, do whatever it takes to change the scenario. Don’t allow yourself to pull to the “sand spurs” of past failures. Trust me—they will attach themselves to your present with all their former pain.

There is one more thing that is even more important than that. Should you find yourself reliving that regret, run straight into the arms of grace. Remember, relive the forgiveness that came after the failure. The Bible tells us that God casts our failures as far as the East is from the West. I love that because it doesn’t say as far as the North is from the South. You see if you go North long enough you will find the South. But not so with East from the West. You can travel East forever and never find the West. And that dear friend, is what God does with our failures and sin if we ask Him for forgiveness and help. It is gone—outta here and that is real good news.

Well, I couldn’t wait to show Judy my sand spurs, not because I liked them but because they reminded me of an important part of my past—the fact that I knew they were not going to be a permanent part of my future. I may have bumped into them, but I wasn’t going to live with them again. And that is a good thing. So as you are speed walking though life, remember to give your painful past a wide berth and keep Jesus close by your side. You’ll find Him a mobile “rest stop,” there to make every step, every day survivable and “thrive-able.” And never forget, He’s got this.

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, travel, wisdom

Dog Beach

Posted on September 14, 2020September 13, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

So God created human beings in His own image. In the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27

Southwest Florida has gotta be a great place to live. For the first time in a long time, Judy and I headed back to Southwest Florida for a visit. I am a Florida boy—born and raised in the Northeast corner of Florida in Jacksonville. Judy is a Georgia peach raised in Valdosta. If you’ve driven to Florida down I-75 you have been through Valdosta. So being from Florida and close to Florida, it is naturally a place we like to visit.

We spent the week down in Fort Myers Beach and had a great time. With the exception of Labor Day weekend it wasn’t too crowded and even then we were able to find space to avoid the crowds. Several times we hopped in our rented Mustang Convertible and drove around. Fort Myers Beach is built on a narrow strip of land and there is only one main road that runs through it. We would turn out of our condo and either go left or right—there were no other options.

On Saturday of Labor Day weekend, we would see these places where dozens of cars would be parked beside the road and of course that peaked our curiosity. We just had to know what all those people were doing. Did they know something that we needed to know—to see? Well, that Saturday evening we decided to drive down to one of those spots. Earlier that day it was just packed with cars and we imagined it had to be a beautifully secluded beach. It might even be worth exploring the next day. So off we went. It was lightly raining and when we neared the spot where there had been dozens of cars and now there were only a few. Paradise was within our grasp.

We parked in the small sand parking lot and noticed there was a sign that said Dog Beach. We figured that was the name of the beach. Maybe it was shaped like a dog or dog’s leg or something. Even without an umbrella we started walking. It was a rather small path, wet from the rain. Then we came to an opening to what appeared to be a large bay. We met some folks who were heading back to their car and we asked where the beach was.

They told us we would have to wade through the water, follow a small path and then go around a small peninsula and there would be a beautiful beach. So…off we went wading through water, carrying our shoes, and walking a path through the woods. Along the way, we came upon a few folks heading to their cars and they all had dogs. How about that? We normally aren’t slow to figure things out but today wasn’t one of our better days. We kept walking till finally we came upon a small, not particularly beautiful beach. It wasn’t on the Gulf but rather on the bay. There was a person with, you guessed it, a dog. There was also a couple out in the water with, you guessed it, a dog. Hmmmm…I was starting to connect the dots.

I asked the couple with the dog if they were from there and they said no. And I asked them about what was so special about this place—that we had seen dozens of cars here and thought it must be special. And it was…if you owned a dog. You see, it was in fact a dog beach. All those dozens of cars with many more dozens of people were there for one reason—it was a place where their dogs could be dogs. That was it. It was only paradise if you had a dog that enjoyed playing in the water. And, for a lot of people, that hit the spot.

I left that day only a little impressed with the beach and more than a little wet and that was ok. What made that beach special wasn’t for me, but it was for a lot of other people. It taught me fresh and anew that the beauty of something really is in the eyes of the beholder. With that came the renewed lesson that I should be slow, real slow, to judge another person’s opinion. Hmmm…that just might be a game changer.

I know now that when I go by the Dog Beach and see all those cars that there are a whole lot of people just beyond the tree line that love their pups. And being a dog lover who just happens to be dog-less for now, that is pretty awesome. Instead of going by and thinking “Look at all those beach lovers,” I will go by and say, “Look at all those dog lovers.” Maybe before we assume or think we know all about a circumstance or relationship, we need to explore and figure it out and we may come to a whole different conclusion.

Need some help? Well, the One who made us all has it all figured out. In fact, He reminds us in the Bible that every person is made in His image and He wants each of them to come be a part of His family. And then, He made that possible by sending His Son Jesus to pay for our sins. When you find yourself befuddled with someone or a particular situation, just check with your Dearest Daddy…leave it resting with Him. You can, because He has this.