travel – Page 31 – Grits with Grace

Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, wisdom

The Rain Maker

Posted on January 4, 2021January 3, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

It was drier than two-month-old bread. It’s been several years now, but the story is as fresh as today’s bread. We were on our second trip to Niger, West Africa. We would fly forever and finally arrive in the capital city of Niamey. There were two things that were always the same. It was always very late at night and we were always totally exhausted. After a day getting acclimated, we would load up and drive all day on one of the few paved roads in the entire country.

Niger is a sub-Saharan country in West Africa. It was on the edge of the Saharan Desert—hot, dry, and dusty. Our journey would take us to a small city in the middle of nowhere. We would stay with a family there who were kind and filled with hospitality. As is customary, we would settle in and then go see the “chief” of the village. We would meet, greet, and thank him for allowing us to come and stay in the village. On this particular trip we were distributing food to several dozen families in the area. Because of the extreme dryness, food was always in short supply and because of a few years of drought—it was life-threatening.

As we met with the chief, we told him we were servants of the Creator God and asked him if there was anything that we could pray for. Without hesitation, he said, “I want you to pray for rain. It hasn’t rained here in a very long time and we are desperate. We have prayed but no rain has come.” We prayed there and then and told him we would pray more—even asking people in America to pray. And we did, both.

What happened next is a thing of legends—except it is not a legend—it is truth. After immediately contacting some of our folks back in America, and praying ourselves…again…we went to sleep. Sometime in the middle of the night, the wind began to blow, and the temperature began to fall. Soon, there was the sound of a distant thunder. Then, as we stood in our doorway and watched, a heavy rain began to fall. David, one of our team members, was soon out dancing in the rain. All of us were dancing in our hearts.

We would later learn that our friends in America, watching the radar online, saw a storm develop from nothing and move across our area. As we danced in Africa—they were dancing in America. That very night, right at three inches of rain fell in that village on the edge of the desert. It was unbelievable. It rained for several hours and fell so hard that several walls, made of mud, straw, and manure, collapsed. A couple of storage buildings lost walls too. When light finally came, literally, small lakes of water were everywhere. We would be using the four-wheel drive feature on our trucks for several days.

I can’t remember if the chief came to us or summoned us to go to him, but that day we had another conversation. He thanked us for praying and said that our God did what their god did not do. He was grateful for us coming to the village and invited us to stay as long we wanted—and to return as often as we wanted. Such are the wonders and miracles of the One True God. This would not be the last or only miracle we would witness in West Africa. It is amazing what God can and will do if the primary focus is to glorify His name. I sometimes wonder if the people there still speak of the night of the rain. I know we do.

There is an intriguing scripture in the Psalms—a collection of Hebrew hymns in the Jewish and Christian Bibles. It is found in Psalm 37:4. It says that if we are willing to delight ourselves in God, He will give us the desires of our heart. At first that sounds like a “rub the bottle and a genie pops out” story. Trust me…it is not. You see the first part is key—when we delight ourselves in God—then our desires align with His desires and when that happens—miracles do too.

This year, let me encourage you in a couple of areas. First, if you haven’t thought much about Creator God—Jehovah God—in a while—why not revisit Him? I believe you will come to the same conclusion I did years ago. He is amazing. And then, as we journey through this New Year, let’s commit to making His desires, our desires. Let’s get on the same page with Him and watch, in wonder, what He can and will do. It may not be exactly what we want but it will be what is exactly right. He doesn’t make mistakes. Wrapped up in all of this is that powerful truth we end each story with. It is good news for this day and every day. We can have the confidence assurance that, “He’s got this” and He does.

Family, food, Grace, gratitude, Holidays, life, loving others, New Year, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel, wisdom

Ralph’s

Posted on January 1, 2021December 31, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

It was donut heaven. Judy and I took a trip to middle Tennessee to do some hiking and be amazed all over again at the wonder of God’s creation. We stayed in the small city of Cookeville which is about an hour east of Nashville. We had driven by there many times on our way to Pigeon Forge and points east but never stopped. And for some reason…this time it was our destination. It was wonderful.

Within a few minutes driving time were some of the most beautiful waterfalls I have ever seen. One, Fall Creek Falls, is the tallest falls east of the Rockies—256 feet of free falling water. Then there was Burgess Falls which had not one, but three separate falls…each one more spectacular than the one before. Finally we drove over to Rock Island State Park and were amazed by a river that fell and fell and fell—each time creating a beautiful waterfall. Then, coming out of caves in a huge, high bluff was a massive waterfall falling into the river. Unbelievable. I would think God would get a 10 for all the beauty that we have seen. And then…there was Ralph’s.

When we stay at an Airbnb, we always check out all the literature that the host leaves to make the visit more enjoyable. We also check out comments in the guest book for tidbits of information. That is where we heard about Ralph’s. Three different previous guests mentioned this mom and pop donut shop in downtown Cookeville. We had to visit. To not do so would have been a travesty of donut-ism. So we were on our way on Monday morning when Judy checked their website. Oh no…closed on Mondays. We had to wait another day.

Tuesday morning after planning our hikes for the day, we headed to Ralph’s Donut Shop to ensure we had plenty of calories on hand for our journey. When we arrived it was indeed an ordinary mom and pop donut shop. But trust me…it was anything but ordinary. The first thing I noticed was the sign stating that they had been open since 1962. Do the math and you will find out that they have been making donuts for 58 years—in the donut world that’s like forever. And then—we opened the door.

It was donut heaven. I know that to be true because so many things in the case were “holey.” Get it? Anyway, to my left was a horseshoe shaped counter with almost every stool filled with locals enjoying coffee and pastries. There was a long glass case and a whole wall filled with pastries and donuts. And there to greet us was the best donut salesman in the world. You could tell this guy loved his job and was “in the right seat on the bus.” Judy and I use that phrase to describe someone who is doing what they were meant to do. This guy was meant to work at Ralph’s. The first thing my eye spotted was the royalty of pastries—the fried apple fritter. It was massive, fried crispy, covered with glaze with the middle stuffed with apple filling. One please.

Then the sales guy told us the fritter was their best seller until the butter twist came along. It was a fried donut but the twist was they brushed it with butter before cooking. He said it was voted the number one donut in the entire state of Tennessee. I’m sure he was telling the truth. Two please. Judy wanted something chocolate. No problem—a butter twist with chocolate frosting should do the trick. One please. Then I asked about this chocolate creation on the top shelf. It was a devil’s food mix and saturated with chocolate. He said it was diabetes on a plate and should come with a shot of insulin. We passed on that one. His final gift was a spice bar that was broken in two, so it was free. He said it was as if Little Debbie married gingerbread and had a baby. I loved it.

Judy and I had read that they closed at 11:30 so we assumed 11:30 am but we asked anyway. Oh no…they have three shifts of bakers and are open from 5:00 am till 11:30 pm. Now who has ever heard of a donut shop staying open that long—and they are doing quite well, thank you. Oh, and did I mention that they are listed in the top 20 donut bakeries in the entire United States? Oh, yes…it was donut heaven and it was “holey” ground.

Well, there is one thing that was obvious at Ralph’s—they were all in. They knew their product, they believed in their product and they wanted to share their product. Even if you didn’t like donuts, you wanted to buy one by the time you left. You wanted what they had because it had to be worth having. I have a feeling that we as Jesus followers should take a lesson from Ralph’s. We know we have the best thing in all of creation to offer those in our world—the good news of Jesus Christ. Donuts may be “holey” but Jesus can make us holy—holy enough to call God, Father—holy enough to go to heaven. And Ralph’s may have been making donuts for 58 years but God has been loving us since before the foundation of the world. He wants to walk with us through this New Year and every year. He is a beyond amazing God.

Since He is so incredible—if we love Him, if we believe in Him—we should be all in too. We should live like we believe and share the Word about Him like we believe it. I left Ralph’s wanting to tell people about this amazing place. I think we need to get up every morning wanting to tell everyone the great Good News. On this first day of this great New Year let’s figuratively get behind the counter—not to sell donuts but to share the Good News. And what is that? It is that God, Creator God, so loved this world that gave His Son to a Roman cross that anyone who believes in Him and what He did—can have everlasting life. And that is the best news ever. Oh and then there is more. No matter what today or this year sends our way, we have the assurance that He’s got this.

Christmas, Family, Grace, life, loving others, missions, travel, wisdom

Oops

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

We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” Hebrews 2:1

I should have paid closer attention. This past week our church took its annual trip to Atlanta to work at the Operation Christmas Child distribution center. Samaritan’s Purse heads up this amazing ministry that encourages people to pack a shoebox with toys, toiletries, and the like. The boxes are then collected and shipped around the world to kids everywhere…last year 10 million of them! To the kids it is the greatest gift ever. But the best part is that each box contains the story of Jesus and how much He loves them. Every child loves the gifts but many also hear about Jesus for the first time and love Him too.

So, we take a day and travel on our church bus from Southern Illinois down to Atlanta. We work a full day at the processing center preparing the boxes to be shipped and then the next day we travel home. It is a busy three days and frankly the day we work at the processing center is a long, but wonderful, day. The travel days are easy thanks to our great bus driver Brent. Brent is on staff at our church and He loves people, loves Jesus, and loves to drive!

Well, we left early, really early, Tuesday morning and travelled all day before arriving in Atlanta in the late afternoon. After we checked into our hotel rooms we loaded back up on the bus and went to a mall that was close to the hotel to get supper. We went our separate ways but several of us ended up at a Greek restaurant. It was good. We took our time enjoying the meal and soon it was time for us to leave. My wife Judy was going to pay our bill and I told her I was going to go to the restroom. Having not been there before I looked for the sign and headed in that direction. It was down a small hallway. I only saw one sign and it said men, so in I went.

No one else was in the restroom and in just a minute I was ready to leave. When I opened the door, a lady from our team was just about to push the door open. I looked at her and she looked at me…something wasn’t right. My first thought was that she obviously was confused and was going into the wrong restroom. But then I had a thought. It was odd that the restroom didn’t have the usual equipment you find in a men’s restroom. And then it hit me. Oh no!

Well, I blurted out to her, “Am I in the wrong restroom?” And she confirmed my worst nightmare…I was. Fortunately, I knew her and fortunately no one else was in there, I began to I apologize all over myself. Crazily, in my 66 years of life, this had happened two other times—both years ago. Each time, I wanted to die. This case was no different. I swore her to secrecy but then realized this was too good of a story to pass by. The big question is how in the world do you end up where you don’t belong? That’s a great question. In my case the signage just wasn’t clear, and I was tired, and I just wasn’t paying attention. Put those three together and know that social disaster is right around the corner.

Maybe you have never gone in the wrong restroom, but perhaps you’ve headed the wrong way on a one way street. It’s frightening when you’re seeing headlights and you’re supposed to be seeing taillights. It is one thing when we accidentally go in the wrong direction, but too many times we find ourselves in the wrong place—by choice. The wrong movie, the wrong relationship, the wrong side of the law, or more importantly, on the wrong side of God’s Word. Truth be known it happens way too often. And it usually happens when we get tired, or busy, or sloppy, in our faith. In my case there really were no consequences besides my being incredibly embarrassed, but that is not always the case. Too often our sloppiness ends up in broken lives, broken marriages, and broken hearts.

The Bible has a lot to say about wisdom and staying on the right path. It says, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” If I had been paying careful attention, I would have noticed that the sign was intended for the other door…not the one I took. If I hadn’t been sloppy, I could have passed on a very embarrassing moment. Well, they say that hindsight is 20/20. So, what about it? Are we willing to watch where we go and where we step? I think you will find that it is just the wise thing to do. And, by the way, when we do mess up, well, it’s good to know that His grace really is sufficient and to know that always, He’s got this.

Christmas, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel

Chilled to the Bone

Posted on December 9, 2020December 8, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

If it wasn’t the coldest night of my life…it was close. Back in 2008 we began a journey of doing mission work in West Africa. While I had traveled to several, and some would say many, countries nothing compared to West Africa. Even a trip to the third world part of Bulgaria with the Roma people couldn’t compare. When we arrived in Niamey, Niger late one night, I thought I and my teammates had landed on the far side of the moon. It was that different. Rarely am I had a loss for words, but that trip like no other caused me to appreciate my home country but also the people and places on a continent called Africa.

Niger is in what is called Sub-Saharan Africa. The Sahara Desert is a stone’s throw from Niger’s capital city. After we had taken a day to acclimate, we headed north into the desert to a small town literally in the middle of nowhere. We were visiting with a couple of single guys who were living there and doing some work with the local people. The goal was to share with the people about someone many of them had never heard about. That someone was Jesus. We were really limited to what we could do, but we did prayer walking and would try and talk with some of the folks through an interpreter. It was incredible.

On the eight-hour drive into the desert (and keep in mind we flew for hours and hours to even get to Niger) our missionary casually mentioned that we would need to buy some blankets because it was likely to be cold at night. I laughed. If you are like me you think Africa and the Sahara and then you think hot, dry and then hot again. I told her I doubted very seriously that I would get cold. She just smiled. Late in the afternoon we arrived at Tchin-Tabaraden. In case you are wondering I am pretty sure we could see the end of the world just outside of town. Smile.

We had a great time talking with the two guys that lived there and before long it was time to set up our sleeping arrangements. We were going to sleep out in the courtyard. There was a small house, but we chose to sleep under the stars. We set our cots up and each one of us had a blanket. I was sure I wouldn’t need mine, but being the team player I hung on to it. Before long, it was dark…really dark. There was no running water and no electricity. After a while we decided it was time to settle down for our long winter’s nap. It seemed just a bit cooler.

Soon the stars were simply brilliant. I am sure there are places in America without light pollution that really shows off the stars. With that said, there is simply nothing as beautiful as the stars above Africa. Then, slowly a huge full moon came up over the horizon. If you can imagine it, it was almost too bright to sleep, and I am not kidding. Then it happened.

It? What was it? It was the desert cold. Slowly, almost without warning, the dry “winter” air settled in. In just a few minutes I had spread the blanket lightly over me. In another few minutes, I had tucked the blanket around me. A little later I was trying to figure out how to put the blanket under me and over me. Apparently, there was too much of me and too little blanket. Then, well then, I just got bone chilling, you’ve got to be kidding me, am I really in Africa, COLD. Let me just say, I spent a large part of that night wishing for daylight. Oh, how I couldn’t wait to see my old friend the sun. It was the coldest night I have ever spent.

Finally, at about the 4:30 in the morning the mosque right across the street began the first call of prayer for the day. Of course, I had long beaten them to the punch. I had been praying since about midnight for the sun to come up. I figured if Joshua could pray for the sun to stand still, maybe I could pull off it coming up early. Nope. When the sun did come up and began to warm the compound, the first thing I did was apologize to the missionary for doubting her forecast of a chilly night.

Ironically, that wasn’t quite the end of the story. For our second night at the compound, we decided we would cram into the little house where certainly it would at least be warmer. Well, the joke was on us. Just like that, the weather turned and that night in the little house, no one used a blanket. In fact…it was downright warm…too warm. After the freezing night and then the too warm night, back-to-back, you might be wondering would I go back? Well, the answer is absolutely. Over the years, it has been my privilege to return time and again and each time the blessings far outweigh the hardships. No contest. I long for the day when my feet will be on African soil once again, sharing the Good News.

We have made wonderful friendships, experienced many diversified cultures, and seen countless people come to know Christ as Savior. We have seen more than a few miracles and watched as God changed lives—most notably the fair skinned men and women from America. I am sure it is impossible to go on a trip like this and not be changed. It has a tendency to put things like we have experienced recently in perspective. We whine because bathroom tissue is out of stock. Go to West Africa…they don’t even have bathrooms. Smile.

Well, there you go. As we enter this most wonderful time of the year, be sure and be thankful for all the blessings you have. Paul, a guy who wrote a bunch of the New Testament in the Bible said, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” That’s right, Paul. You see, many of those people who lived in Tchin-Tabaraden didn’t face one cold night, or warm night, they experienced them all and without a blanket or the air conditioning humming quietly. We are indeed blessed. The old hymn says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” That is good advice and there is nothing like a trip to a third-world country to help you do it. I am grateful that we never travel alone. Our Dearest Daddy goes with us each time. He provides rest in the midst of restless nights and no matter the obstacle or hardship, we know, “He’s got this.”

Family, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, USA, wisdom

Black Friday

Posted on November 27, 2020November 26, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5

We stumbled into Black Friday. It was 1980. We had just returned from a three year tour in Germany while serving in the United States Air Force. It is amazing how things can change in three short years. We enjoyed our time in Germany immensely but it was so good to get back to the greatest country in the world…the USA. We were being assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri. No, I am not kidding. We quickly settled into the new version of our old life. See, you only thought “new normalcy” was something new!

We got back in the country in August and before we knew it, Thanksgiving was right around the corner. I don’t remember anything about Thanksgiving Day, but I sure do remember the day after. I was off on Friday and since Kansas City was only about 45 minutes away, we decided to drive into the city and go shopping. It sounded like a great idea. It probably was a great idea before we left for Germany in 1977, but things had changed. It was a new normal.

We got up on Friday, ate and headed into town. Visions of good deals and the excitement of the Christmas season were dancing in our heads. We picked our mall—there were several to choose from—and off we went. As we drove down the highway and neared the exit and the mall, much to our surprise there was traffic everywhere. The exit was jam packed and once we got into the parking lot we realized it was stuffed to the gills. We kept saying over and over again, “What in the world is going on?”

Well, I can’t remember if we gave up on that mall or not. I don’t remember finding a parking spot but I may have blocked it from my memory. We tend to do that with nightmares! Anyway, we headed to mall number two. It was much larger, with a very, large parking lot and plus by now the initial rush was slowing down some. After circling the area several times, we did manage to find a parking spot. Hey, what if it was ten miles from the mall? Smile.

We hiked to the mall and joined a sea of people as they weaved their way through the stores. It was about that time we finally asked someone, “So what is the deal with all the people? Why is everyone here?” It sounds almost humorous now, but we were sincerely in the dark. The clerk looked at us like we had just returned from the moon or something and I guess in that instance, we had. Apparently while we were in Germany this thing called “Black Friday” was either born or exploded. We had walked into a feeding frenzy of holiday madness. Since that time, it has taken on a life of its own. Stores that opened at crazy hours were now opening on Thanksgiving Day itself. People would storm the doors and fight for the right to get a good deal. But.Not.This.Year.

This year it is going to be different. Because of this year’s new normalcy, many stores that were open on Thanksgiving last year will be closed. Employees who last year had to work will now have time with their families. In the recent weeks leading up to Black Friday, stores have been offering, promising, Black Friday pricing for weeks and not for a day. That might just save someone’s life. Perhaps Friday morning will look more humane and not so much like the Allied troops storming the beaches at Normandy.

I know it is hard to find good things in bad days but maybe, just maybe, if we look hard enough, we might find that parts of the new normalcy will be a better normalcy. It seemed from the beginning that part of this COVID thing was a forced Sabbath. God tells us in His Word to rest in Him alone because all our hope should come from Him. It was like He said, “Enough is enough of this madness we call life. Slow down, already.” And, we have. Maybe this holiday season we will rediscover the blessings all around us. Maybe we will rediscover the wonder of a little Baby born in a feeding trough to save the world from the madness of sin. Maybe we will rediscover the value of family, of others, of generosity, of love. I hope so.

After my initial baptism into the fires of Black Friday I have not been much of a fan. I’ve never stood in line at the door, I’ve never fought someone for a deal, and I’ve never gotten up at 2:00 am to go shopping. But I have rushed through the holidays like a bull running the streets of Spain. Maybe this year I will slow down. Maybe you will too. Sound challenging? It is. But pressing the pause button is not a bad idea…especially if it causes us to rest next to our Dearest Daddy. And, especially if it causes me to realize…He’s got this.

Family, fear, food, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Thanksgiving, travel, wisdom

A Thanksgiving to Remember

Posted on November 26, 2020November 25, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead…” Philippians 3:13

It was a Thanksgiving to remember. Throughout the years, Thanksgiving has been a big deal in our family. Growing up, it was a time when Mama would buy a huge turkey and cook it all night in the roaster oven that set by the stove for such an occasion. It was a time when pies were cooked, ambrosia was made, and giblet gravy simmered on the stove. It was a time for two kinds of dressing—cornbread and cornbread with oysters. I’m not sure where that came from, but it was pretty popular. Then, of course, it was a time when most everyone would come home, and we would feast—on good food and enjoy family.

When I graduated from high school and enlisted in the Air Force things had to change. My first duty station was about an hour from the Canadian border in a town called Minot—Minot, North Dakota. I arrived there in October and it was already too cold for a Florida boy. The holidays were looming ahead and it looked like Thanksgiving was going to be a solo flight. But then something happened. Somehow, remember this is long before cellphones, my brother Jimmy, who lived in Amarillo, Texas, called and invited me to his house for Thanksgiving.

Again, somehow, someway, it happened. My base pay of $320 per month didn’t allow for plane tickets, so it meant a trip to the credit union to see if I could get a loan. They granted it and I bought the ticket, got my leave approved and had someone haul me to the airport. So, like the song says, over the river and through the woods, I was on my way, not to grandmother’s house but my brother’s. I can remember flying down to Amarillo in that two engine, piston driven, plane feeling excited and afraid all at the same time. What in the world was I doing?

Soon enough, I was on the ground and there was my big brother and a couple of his kids waiting for me. The best I can remember he worked, maybe managed, a ranch of sorts. It seemed we drove a long way out into the Texas countryside before finally arriving at his house. The next day was Thanksgiving and it was so much like the one at home. We ate well and enjoyed good family fellowship. The thing that was so different was that in the past I was treated as the baby of the family—which I was. But that day—I was his peer. I was a man.

As much as I enjoyed Thanksgiving Day, the next couple of days were also awesome. We went jackrabbit hunting. It was cold with snow covering the ground, and we would jolt and bounce through the fields in his old Willis Jeep. Back at the house we drank hot coffee as he would spin tales about his time in the Air Force. Jimmy was always bigger than life and he was that day too. We also put up the Christmas tree while I was there. One of his favorite Christmas songs was Charlie Pride’s “Christmas in My Home Town.” We played it over and over again while I was there. To this day it is still one of my favorites.

Soon it was time for me to head back to the far north. We headed back to the airport and soon those piston engines were shaking and vibrating the old plane again as I flew back to Minot. I’ve had many good Thanksgivings over the years but that one stands out for me. It was a time when my brother made sure I wasn’t alone at a time when too many were. That was back in 1972 so a lot of water has flowed beneath the bridge. I’m decades older and he is now in heaven. But I am left with the memories…memories that still refresh my soul and make me smile.

To be honest, there are other Thanksgivings that were not so easy…times when another brother and his family were not on speaking terms with the family, times when Daddy was sick and times when the family went separate ways. But I have grown to realize that each of us have a choice. We can choose to remember and relish the good times, or we can remember and dwell on the hard times. The choice is ours. Paul, the guy who wrote about two-thirds of the New Testament in the Bible had plenty of hard memories. He was a pretty bad guy before he met Jesus. After Jesus, he began to write some new stories in his life and he made the decision to leave the past in the past. We should too.

I know holidays can be hard because of the past, or maybe the present. Let me encourage you to choose to remember the good and let go of the rest. It’s not easy but it is possible—with a little help from God. I know these days He’s getting a lot of bad press, but trust me, if you don’t know Him you should get acquainted. He loves you more than you know and He wants to help you do life here. He can even help with those difficult memories.

One of the things that is a staple of mine in life is to eat and nap. Today, Lord willing, I will eat a very good meal, and I will take a very nice nap. Try it—you’ll like it. Also today, I’m going to take a nap of sorts with my best friend Jesus. I’m going to pull aside, rest, and just chat about all the ways He has blessed me. It might take a while because I’m pretty blessed—and so are you. We also will probably talk about some of the hard things going on now. He won’t judge me—He will just love me. You know, that Thanksgiving so many years ago my brother treated me as his peer. Today Jesus treats me as a friend—a friend closer than a brother. He’s a friend that can handle my past and my future. A friend I can trust. That’s why I know…He’s got this.

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

Life from Ashes

Posted on November 19, 2020November 18, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

The Lord Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14

It was a night that will not be forgotten. For many years, my family has visited the Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, area for vacation. It has not been an every year deal but occasionally. We love the trails and the mountains and, of course, all the places to eat. In some ways it is like a county fair because fair food and rides are everywhere. Several years ago we began joining my daughter and son-in-law with the grandkids in the fall…usually in November. In a word, it is fun.

In 2016 something happened that changed that area forever. A fire started by human hands near Chimney Tops on November 28th of that year quickly spread through the dry, tinder forests. The results were catastrophic and have been cited as the worst natural disaster in Tennessee history. Before it was all said and done, 14 people lost their lives, 2,460 buildings were destroyed, and 17,900 acres were burned. We watched on the news as it happened but also saw from a distance some of the devastation years later when we visited. There was safety in that, on television and from a distance, but what happens when the tragedy gets more personal?

This year we once again returned to the Gatlinburg area. Rebecca, my daughter, always makes the reservation, and she did again this time. As we were driving to the cabin, we passed through an area that had obviously been damaged by the wildfire. Judy made the comment that according to the GPS we were not too far from our cabin. We could look up on the ridge and see many cabins far above the valley floor. What we could not see was a lot of trees. Apparently, the fire had destroyed them.

As we made our turn on the road that would lead to our cabin, it soon became apparent that we would see the power of the fire from the night up close. The higher we climbed, the more we saw. There were trees scarred by the flames and only the foundations remaining where cabins worth hundreds of thousands of dollars had once stood. Some cabins had been rebuilt, some were being rebuilt, and some, well, stood as silent witnesses of destruction. It was harsh, it was sad, it was awakening. Suddenly the memories of what I saw on the news four years ago came to life like the dry bones Ezekiel saw in the Bible.

After an almost two mile trip up the mountain, we came to our cabin. There it stood, looking strangely new in one of Gatlinburg’s esteemed older rental areas. It was indeed new because it, like almost every house in the area, had been destroyed by the fire that week. In front of the house was a twenty foot section of tree that, while not alive, still sends a message. Carved into the massive trunk were the words “Smoky Strong.” I’m sure the tree was alive and well the night the fire swept the mountain, but even today it sends a message…we are not done.

All around the area were signs of destruction…of what used to be. But wait…don’t miss this. Also all around the area were signs of new life, of renewal, of rebirth. New trees are replacing those lost, new homes are replacing the damaged, and foundations will one day bear a new building. The pain and suffering of that night is being replaced by the hope of the future. I think we all can learn a lesson from Gatlinburg. It was about eight months ago that a fire of sorts began to sweep our nation. Its name was COVID, and its flames were the flames of fear. The question is what will we do with this hot mess? That is a question we have been asking for months.

I’m sure many have come to the conclusion that life will never be the same, and that is probably true. But why do we have to assume that this also means it won’t be better? Why do we have to assume that our best days are behind us? I know this. God is still God, and the last time I checked, He has not given up control to His enemy the Devil, or fear, or COVID. Moses, speaking for God, said, “The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” You see, He still reigns ,and as long as that is true then the best is yet to come. The.Best.Is.Yet.To.Come.

I’m sure the house that once stood here was beautiful in its own rights. I never saw it, but I sit in its successor, and it is beautiful. I stand on the deck and have a clear view of the mountains and the valley below—a view that may have been obscured by the trees of the old normalcy. Perhaps the ability to see clearer is a gift. Perhaps the ability to trust God deeper during these days is a gift from our Heavenly Father. No, as I have said before, COVID is not good, but God can and will bring good from it. For some of us, that means a deeper trust in Him. For some, it means a clearer view of what really matters in life. For some, it will be the realization that it is good to have a Dearest Daddy we can rest in—knowing He’s got this.

*Chimney Tops 2 Fire. Incident Management Team photo

Family, fear, life, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Incognito

Posted on November 17, 2020November 16, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:5

I could relate to King David. Judy and I decided to make a return visit to North Georgia recently. We discovered this gem of a place in July on our way to spend a few days with our family in Florida. We picked this area as a stopover on the way and it was just a tremendous area to explore. We enjoyed some great hiking, waterfalls, and other beautiful places where God just showed off His creation. It was so good…we decided on a return visit. We made reservations for November because we knew we would be spending some time with family again—this time in Pigeon Forge. Toccoa, the town where we stay, was just three hours south of there so it was a great opportunity to return.

Once again we found the area just full of great places to visit. Incredible trails and waterfalls seemed to be around every curve. Amazing. Another novelty of the area is the fact that it is close to a couple of other states. It is very close to one in particular. That would be South Carolina. In fact, it wasn’t just close to South Carolina, it just happened to be very close to Clemson…home of, you guessed it, Clemson University.

To most, Clemson is just another fine southern university. But for me, and for many, it is something else. Clemson is famous for its football team, famous for winning the national championship (January 2020) and finally, famous for beginning and remaining number one in the national ranks for the 20-21 football season. That is, until they met Notre Dame. If you read my stories, you probably know that this is one Baptist preacher who likes, no, loves Notre Dame football. Some things transcend denominations!

A couple of weeks before our trip to North Georgia, Notre Dame and Clemson collided on the gridiron. After two overtimes the game ended with the Fighting Irish defeating Clemson. How sweet it was. So, when I found myself right next door to South Carolina, and despite the fact that it was close to the home of Clemson University, we decided it would be a great place to take a hike. I did however decide it wouldn’t be wise to wear my Notre Dame hoodie. You know, just to be safe. Wisdom. We went hiking in a place called Brasstown Falls and the falls were amazing. How can something that beautiful be so close to Clemson?

Since it was past lunch time, we decided to go ahead and eat while we were in the area. We drove a little closer and found ourselves about ten minutes from their campus. We were literally in their backyard. I was incognito—you know, undercover, but I wanted so bad to tell our server that I was a Notre Dame fan. I wanted to kinda, sorta, pour some salt in her football wound but I did resist. I wasn’t being humble, I was just afraid she might sabotage my food. You see, football is serious business in this neck of the woods. Turns out, she was a great server and we had a delicious meal, which, in spite of the “danger” of being in enemy territory, we greatly enjoyed. We finished and then we escaped back across the border.

So, that’s why I kinda felt like King David in the Bible. You see, he was the arch enemy of the guy who was currently king, and who wanted to do him in. The deal was that God had anointed David to be King while Saul, the other guy, was still in office. It was pretty dicey. But David knew one thing…God was greater than Saul or anyone else for that matter. He was so sure of it he would later write something that became pretty famous—the 23rd Psalm. In that Psalm, David talked about how God had prepared a table for him to eat right in the presence of his enemies. How could that be? I mean I would have indigestion knowing my enemy was right there. But not David. Do you know why? The bottom line is that David was sure that he was safe anywhere because God was in control. God.Was.In.Control.

Now I know I was in absolutely no danger in Clemson’s backyard, but I am also sure I would have gotten some stares if I had worn my Notre Dame colors. But what about other times? What about unemployment times? What about COVID times? What about high stress times? What about “I’m sorry to tell you but…” times? Well, let me tell you what I know. God would be there and God will be there. We don’t have to worry—we don’t have to fret.

I don’t know if God prefers Notre Dame over Clemson or if He even likes football, but I do know that He loves me and He loves you. He has this incredible plan for His kids and when we are within the will of His plan…well, it is a great, safe place to be. We can sit down in the presence of those who would harm us or things that could destroy us and rest and know that He watches over us. I like that. I know that whatever tomorrow holds, He is already there. I can sit down and eat a big old meal right across from the Clemson football team in my blue and gold and rest in Him because I know, “He’s got this.”

Family, food, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, travel

Taters

Posted on November 16, 2020November 15, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:33

It was a sight for sore eyes. A while back when my aunt died, I went down to be a part of her memorial service. It was a special time for me since it was my Daddy’s baby sister. Though he has been gone since 1974 it was an opportunity to honor him. The funeral was in Gainesville, Florida and the return trip gave my wife and I an opportunity to travel some Southern back roads. We chose to travel north through Alabama and it turned out to be a real treasure.

Judy and I are both from the South. She is from Valdosta, Georgia and I am from Jacksonville, Florida. There are just certain things about living in the South that are special. You will find things run just a bit slower there. It’s not uncommon to find an older gentleman in an old pickup truck going nowhere in a hurry. It is a Southern thing. It’s not uncommon to see homesteads with old tin roofs often tinted with a rich red rust. It is a Southern thing. It’s not uncommon to see old groves of giant pecan trees ready for a rich harvest of nuts. It is a Southern thing. It’s not uncommon to see old tobacco barns with smoke slowly drifting skyward as the brown leaves dry. It is a Southern thing.

There are many things like that in the South and each one is a treasure to those who recognize them. But if there is one thing that marks the South, if there is one treasure above the rest, it is good Southern cooking. You can find it in most kitchens in those older homes. Mamas are teaching their daughters (and sometimes their sons) how to season green beans and fry chicken or mash potatoes. If you’ve never eaten Southern comfort food…well, you’ve never eaten well!

As we were traveling North through rural Alabama we were seeing all these things and reliving our roots. It was time (actually past time) for breakfast so we began looking for a place to eat. We found ourselves in Luverne, Alabama. It is a small town which happens to be one of the treks to the beaches in Florida…so it gets a fair amount of traffic. We had traveled through before for that very reason. We were looking for a “mom and pop” place and we found Taters. It was a small restaurant in Luverne and it looked like just the spot. “Taters” was in yellow on the front of the barn red building. It had a “Jesus 2020” sign planted by the entrance. Things were looking promising.

We went in and immediately noticed the decor. It was, shall we say, “Southern Jesus.” Hand lettered Scriptures filled the walls. The napkin holders had the same. Back by the restrooms was a big sign about God. The server came as friendly as a Chick-fil-A employee on steroids. We ordered our food and waited. Soon, sitting in front of us was one of the most delicious breakfast meals I have tasted in years. There were three eggs sunny-side up (that means the yokes were sitting there like two small suns), a side of hash browns cooked nice and crispy, three strips of thick cut bacon cooked like it should be—limp. And then there it was.

“It” was a real big spoon full of Southern cooked grits. These weren’t the instant variety—they were the slow cooked kind. And right in the middle of that pile of grits was a puddle of melted butter. It was Southern manna—it was heaven. And trust me—everything was as good as it looked. Now, no lectures about heart attacks, I don’t eat like that all the time, but that time—I did so with no regrets—not even one. But here’s the surprise—that wasn’t the most important thing. The thing that mattered most was the Jesus part. You see this was a restaurant that served up Jesus first and just happened to also serve good food. Their mission was Jesus and their food was a side dish. I was real glad they could cook, but I was blessed by their Jesus boldness. I walked out with a full tummy, a full heart, and a life lesson.

You see, if we follow Jesus, He has to be the center of our universe. Our sign at church says, “Jesus First. Before. Anything. Else. Period.” That is what Taters in Luverne, Alabama is doing. Food is second to Jesus. So, what about you? What about us? Are you a teacher first and then a Jesus follower? Are you a CEO first and then a Jesus follower? Are you a coal miner first and then a Jesus follower? Are you a preacher first and then a Jesus follower? What about this? What if we starting reversing that? How about a Jesus follower who happens to be a teacher; a Jesus follower who happens to be a CEO; a Jesus follower who happens to be a coal miner or, yes, a Jesus follower who happens to be a preacher.

Jesus First. Before. Anything. Else. Period. That would be a game changer. Jesus said if we would “seek His Father first and live for Him, He would give us everything you need.” We need that today. These chaos infested days we are living in are golden opportunities to be a light in a dark world. But we can only do that effectively if Jesus stops being an add on to our lives and becomes our lives.

The next time I am driving through Luverne, you can bet I will stop for some good food and a good helping of “Southern Jesus.” They might not be there because “Jesus first” can be risky. In their case it might cost them business. If you do “Jesus first” it may cost you a friend or two or maybe a promotion, or maybe your popularity. Regardless, it is worth it. One more piece of travel advice. As you travel life’s hectic highway, stop and take a rest with Jesus. And go ahead and be sure and put Him first. Risky? Yup. But, hey, remember, He’s got this.

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel, USA, Veteran's Day, wisdom

A Penny and a Nickel

Posted on November 11, 2020November 11, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

I had never noticed it before. A couple of weeks ago my wife Judy and I visited the national battlefield at Dover, Tennessee. I was so impressed. Fort Donelson National Battlefield is a Civil War battle site sandwiched between the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. The South had built two forts there for the purpose of controlling those two rivers. It was a major supply line for the South. Many of the original earthworks are still there. You can imagine the Union and Southern soldiers huddling down rising only to fire at one another.

One spot on the tour showed where the big Southern guns were mounted. In fact, many of them were still there. There were three on one side and seven on the other. The guns could hurl a 30 pound shell over a mile and were some of the deadliest weapons of the war. At that spot, an American Bald Eagle was perched in a large oak tree right on the bluff. It was as if he was watching over the sacredness of this hallowed ground. Men—both Union and Southern, shed their blood on these grounds. One side dying to preserve the Union and the other dying to tear it apart. After more than a few minutes the eagle took his leave and so did we.

The car tour then took us out of the park and down the road a mile or so. There we found more earthworks, more cannon and more ground stained with blood. Leaving there we headed down the road to the National Cemetery established after the battle. The Union soldiers won the day but the cost was high on both sides. Judy and I parked the car and walked around the cemetery. There were hundreds of graves…all men who had fought for the Union. Sadly, the Confederate dead where dumped into mass graves and covered over. They remain that way today.

At the cemetery, there were many graves from the Civil War era but since it is still an active military cemetery, warriors from virtually all the wars are buried there. Judy and I saw graves from the World War I, World War 2, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars. We even saw one grave from what was called the Second Seminole War or the Florida War. Row upon row of graves, some older ones with only a last name and their assigned unit, lay silently giving testimony to their last full measure of devotion to their country. There was one more thing.

We noticed that laying on top of many of the headstones there were coins. They were mostly pennies with a sprinkling of silver coins also. I didn’t really know what they meant but I had an idea and I was right. There is a tradition that honors men and women who served their country. You mainly see it in national cemeteries but also at others scattered throughout our Land. When you see a penny on top of the headstone of a veteran, it means that someone stopped and reflected on the soldier’s life and service. It is a form of remembrance. And, when a family member returns to the grave, they have the assurance that someone remembered and honored their loved one’s sacrifice and service.

If there was a silver coin, and back in the old days a nickel in particular, it meant the person who stopped by had a special relationship with the fallen soldier. They may have gone through basic training together or were assigned to the same unit. There has always been a special bond with men and women who fought together…who perhaps died together. It is a bond that lives on beyond death and those silver coins honored that bond.

The Bible is full of renowned, well known, verses but one that stands out is where Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” That is what those silver coins were saying. It was a silent testimony of loyalty one for another. This band of brothers were willing to die for the other…and many did. What an amazing story of love and commitment.

Today we honor the men and women of our great country who served or are actively serving in it’s armed forces. For 244 years brave soldiers have put their lives on the line. As the saying goes, “All who served gave some but some gave all.” We should be incredibly grateful for both. As you journey through life today and you recognize a man or woman who was or is member of the armed forces, take the time to thank them for their service. The freedoms we enjoy came at great cost whether it was the ultimate sacrifice or the daily sacrifice of hardship or separation from family. Be sure and let them know you appreciate it. It is just the right thing to do. Oh, and don’t forget to thank the One who provides the ultimate freedom…Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we can rest…because of Him we can have the peace of knowing…He’s got this.