Category: priorities

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Chosen

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.” Ephesians 1:4

I was as surprised as she was.  One of the wonderful things about Key Colony and the Continental Inn happens every day about twelve hours apart. The place where we stayed has a small private sand beach.  Now that doesn’t sound too impressive until you realize that sandy beaches aren’t that common in the Florida Keys.  Most often when you make it to the shore, you find it covered with large rocks.  In fact, that was our first experience many years ago.  The kids were young, and we drove down from Naples where we were staying.  When we arrived, we rushed to the “beach” only to find it covered with large rocks.  Bummer.

At the Inn there is glorious sand and an abundance of clear water.  Both are amazing.  But here is the special part.  The beach faces the east which means every morning there is a beautiful sunrise.  Every day I would go out with a cup of coffee while the water was like glass, and it was still dark.  The fingernail moon would be there offering little light but plenty of beauty and the stars glimmered in the dark night sky.  And slowly, God gave birth to a new and beautiful day.  Every morning, I would say, “This is the day the Lord has made, and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” At that point it was a blank canvas, but I knew the Maker of masterpieces would be painting that day and He works wonders…always.

So, the sun would rise and about twelve hours later it would take its bow and night, a time of rest, would come.  Everything is beautiful in its time.  Now here is the part you must love.  Every evening Judy and I would walk out of the front parking lot, go about 100 yards and there was Sunset Park.  It was a small peninsula where the community had set up benches and built a small pier, and folks gather there to watch the sunset.  Imagine that.   A place where you can watch the sunrise over the water in the morning then walk a short distance and see the sun set…again over water.  It was amazing.

On our second night, something magical happened.  Again, people gather at Sunset Park every evening to watch the sunset. This night however, I noticed, almost bumped into, a group of four young people.  I nodded and smiled, and they did the same.  Judy and I found our favorite bench and the group of four chose to stand about fifteen feet from us. They were smiling…as were we.  It was a moment to enjoy…and then it got better.

About that time, I heard laughter of joy and looked over as one of the young men slipped an engagement ring on the left hand of the “one” he had chosen.  It was a total surprise for her and for us.  I don’t know if I have ever experienced this event as a stranger looking on and in, but it was a beautiful moment.  She was laughing and jumping, and they were hugging and celebrating.  Their friends, who were in on the surprise, were beaming from ear to ear.  And all this is happening in a beautiful waterfront setting as God puts His seal of approval on another day.  It was glorious.

When it was time to go, Judy and I walked over and congratulated the young couple and told them it was their lucky day since I was a pastor, and we could seal the deal right then.  I shared about five lines from the traditional ceremony I use, and we all laughed together.  What a wonderful moment.  I think the joy of it all might be summed up in one word…chosen.  You see, the young man chose her to be his.  Out of all the girls in his world…he chose this one to spend his life with.  And…she chose him by saying, “Yes.”

It is a wonderful thing to be chosen and never is it more beautiful than when we realize that God chose to love us…He chose us to be His bride. In the New Testament letter called Ephesians, we read, “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.”  How incredible is that?  If we are willing to accept His invitation to be His, like her, our lives will never be the same.  To be loved like that is the greatest of all gifts. God didn’t have to love us…He chose to love us.  We were scarred by sin and brokenness and yet He saw in us beauty.  We weren’t worthy of His love and yet He still extended it and to Him each of us is as beautiful as a bride on her wedding day.

Being chosen is a glorious thing and I hope you have accepted God’s invitation to be His beloved.  Remember, no matter how scarred your life may seem you will always be beautiful in His eyes.  And this marriage, well, it can never go south.  Sadly, many marriages don’t end well, but He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He will be yours and you will be His…forever.  If you haven’t already, why not accept His proposal today?  He is patiently waiting for you to say, “Yes.”  And, when you do, you will find Someone who will walk by your side no matter what…One who believes in you, One who loves you, and who will whisper security and assurance with six simple words…I’ve got you and no matter what, I’ve got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, spiritual battles, thankful, travel, Trials, USA, wisdom

Flying Like One

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

They sliced through the air—four as one.  I was raised in Jacksonville, Florida.  My daddy worked as a jet engine mechanic at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. It was there by example that he taught me to work hard, to be loyal, and to love America. You see, Jacksonville was the home of three Naval bases, so the military was a big part of our lives. We were raised surrounded by men and women who were serving their country and that played a big part of who I am today. It also partly explains today’s story.

Because Jacksonville was the home to several Naval bases, it probably isn’t a surprise that we regularly had the Navy’s precision flying team, The Blue Angels, when the base where my daddy worked had an open house—which was once a year.  My Daddy made sure we went—and that we learned. One of the things I learned was to love the Blue Angels. Now as an Air Force veteran I love the Thunderbirds, but I have to admit the Blue Angels are my firs love. The speed, power and precision that they fly their massive machines just amazes me. Flying mere inches apart, they are the perfect example of teamwork. But the amazing part is it is not just the pilots who fly the planes—it is every member of the team.  They clearly let it be known that everyone one matters—everyone counts. They know and understand that the mission can’t be done without everyone.

Last Saturday and Sunday, I had the opportunity to see the Blue Angels do “their thing” and I was more than amazed. I love aviation, I love airplanes, and I love to see them working together. But do you know what? There is something else that I love more—and that is the family of God. I realize that my pastoring days are in the rearview mirror but that doesn’t taint my love for this thing called the church. Like the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, it is amazing what people, and especially God’s people, can do when they come together.

It is no accident that God calls His kids the “body of Christ.” It is no accident that when Paul wrote about believers coming together, he wrote about, “the body.” It is an amazing thing when we come together not for our glory but His.  It is then that the impossible becomes possible. But I also know and believe this—when we don’t—the impossible remains exactly that. Satan knows this and we had better not forget it. We must not let anything—generations, race, religion, politics or a few dozen other things—come between us. If we do—things will crash.

You see, the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds know this. Unity brings power and success—disunity brings disaster—failure and loss. So, children of God…followers of Christ, let’s lay aside our petty differences and come together and stay together. This is the only way we can see revival in our land. There is nothing more graceful than to see those planes streaking through the sky—four like one—committed to the task at hand—the mission. They have trained for that, and it works.  We must do the same. Let’s trust the Prince of Peace to bring His peace on us as we follow Him. It is there, it is then, that we know, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, thankful, travel, Trials

My Friend Joe

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” Psalm 90:12

“Hi.  My name is Joe.”  A couple of years ago, my wife Judy and I took a trip down to the Florida Keys and Key Colony in particular.  The place we stayed in was called the Continental Inn.  It is a bit of old Florida with twenty or so studio condos combined with a small sand beach and a couple of tiki huts.  It is not very crowded, but this was Labor Weekend, and there were more folks there than usual.  Being a small place, it seemed more like family than just a group of people on vacation.  It was there under one of the tiki huts that I met Joe.

Joe, his wife, and her sister and husband were down for a long weekend from Juniper, Florida.  It was the other couple’s anniversary, and they were there to celebrate.  They were sitting near us on the beach, and it wasn’t long before we struck up a conservation.  Day one was more like a “Hey, good to meet you and glad you are here.”  The next day, we were back on the beach and so were they and it was then that I really got to talk with Joe.

He started by introducing himself again.  And then as his story unfolded, I was fascinated.  First, I learned that Joe was a Korean War era veteran.  While he didn’t serve actively in the war, he did volunteer for service during that difficult time.  He chose the Army and proudly served his country.  Being a Korean War veteran could only mean he was up in his years…and he was.  If I remember right, he was about to turn 84.  Thanks for your service, Joe.

Joe used a large walking stick to get around.  He told me on day two, rather matter-of-factly, that he was legally blind.  That explained the stick.  Rather than a white cane he had this large walking stick that came from the Smokey Mountains.  I asked him how much he could see, and he explained that at about five feet away I was just a blob. You can imagine my surprise when he told me how he still drove a three-wheel bike around his neighborhood.  When I asked him how, he simply said he could see some of the sidewalk and most everyone knew him and kinda stayed out of his way.  A little blindness wasn’t going to stop him.  Way to go, Joe.

About then, Joe shared with me that he had stage four prostate cancer that had gone into his bones.  Almost casually, he said, “And of course, I am on chemo.”  What was amazing was that he didn’t see his cancer as a roadblock or a big deal for that matter.  It was simply something that he dealt with—no whining, no complaining.  Nope, Joe wasn’t gonna let a little cancer stop him either.  You’re amazing, Joe.

All the time we chatted (almost like we were discussing the weather and not cancer and blindness) he was constantly smiling and explaining to me how much he loved life.  These speed bumps were just that—bumps on his highway of life.  He told me how much he loved people.  That is probably why he regularly volunteers at the Veteran’s Hospital, helping guys less fortunate than him.  Less.Fortunate.Than.Him.  I think it will be a long time before I forget Joe and his big smile, big heart, and great outlook.

There’s one more part of Joe’s story.  You see, Joe was a Jesus follower…in fact, all four in the group were.  What made Joe stand out was his gratitude for each day that God gave him.  I couldn’t help but notice that his knees and elbows were covered with bandages and wounds.  I can only guess those came from the times his blindness got in the way and his stick couldn’t save him. After our hour of conversation, I noticed that not one time did he complain about his circumstances. He shared stories of his past with gratefulness and shared his present days with the gusto of a healthy 45-year-old.  And he was confident of his future too…because he was confident in his relationship with the God who made him.

I know I talk about this verse a lot but that is because it means a lot to me.  The author, who happened to be Moses (you might remember him from the time the Red Sea parted), asked God to help us number our days so that we could have a heart of wisdom.  He was saying, “God help us to appreciate every day you give us.”  It was very obvious that Joe did exactly that.  No, I don’t think he was the richest guy on the beach that day…unless you number richness not in dollars but in joy, and happiness and love. Joe bore the scars from many a fall, but he shined with the victories of never staying down.  I didn’t get around to asking but I bet Joe knew the secret to living out his faith in God.  What is that you ask?  It’s knowing and believing three small words…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, gratitude, heaven, life, loving others, Military memories, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, Trials, USA, wisdom

The Power of Remembering

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

It was a beautiful Sunday morning in December 1941…of course, almost every day in Hawaii is a beautiful day.  The skies were blue, the breeze was gentle, and it was the one day when at least some of the sailors and soldiers could sleep in.  Then, at 7:55 am Hawaii time, a swarm of Japanese aircraft attacked without warning killing 2,403 military and civilians.  In a brief moment in time the United States was at war with Japan and was thrown into World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt famously called December 7th, “a day that will live in infamy.” The battle cry throughout the Pacific War was “Remember Pearl Harbor.”

Fast forward with me sixty years.  It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in September 2001.  The sky was a deep blue without a cloud in the sky and then it happened.  Without warning, at 8:06 am EDT, a hijacked airliner crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. A short time later, at 9:03 am EDT, the South Tower was also struck.  Unbelievably, a third airliner crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 am EDT, with a final airliner, most likely destined for Washington D.C., crashed into a Pennsylvania field at 10:03 am.  In all, these attacks killed 2,977 innocent people…more than the attack on Pearl Harbor.  The cry after September 11th or 9/11, was, “We will never forget.”

Though it is hard to believe, 23 years have come and gone since that horrific morning in September.  Most can remember exactly what they were doing that day as the events unfolded on national television.  In a brief moment in time, our world was changed forever.  As we observe what is now called Patriot Day, we must renew our vow to never forget those tragic minutes and the days, weeks, months and years that followed.

I well remember how for a brief moment in time our country stood united. While it didn’t last long, only a couple of days, it showed us, it taught us, the power and beauty of unity.  But then, as always, finger pointing and blame throwing ruled the day and unity slipped through our fingers like loosely held sand. And if we are not careful, time will further rob us of the reverence owed to so many and the honor for those who gave their lives trying to save others.  And that too would be a tragedy.

On this 23rd observance of 9/11, I hope you will join millions of others and make sure we never forget.  Take time to pause and reflect and remember.  I know these are difficult days and in so many ways we are frustrated and filled with doubt and fear.  But remember two things.  First and foremost, the God who created all of this is greater than any circumstance that we may face.  He knows our past and is willing to forgive.  And He knows the future and is willing to walk with us.  Don’t lose hope and don’t lose faith.  He is able and willing.

Let me also encourage you not to lose hope in America.  With all her warts and flaws she is still the best country in the world. Having visited a couple of dozen countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, I can tell you there is no place like America.  Rare is the country where people are free to worship and live like we do. In the New Testament book called the Gospel of John, many people decided to no longer follow Jesus.  He looked at His followers and said, “Will you leave me too?”  One of them spoke up and said, “Where would we go?  You alone have the words of life.”   That is so true and before we throw America under the bus, be sure you know the answer to the question, “Where would you go.”  There is no place like home and no place like America.

So, let’s not forget.  Let’s show the world we are a people that remember so we can honor.  Let’s show the world that while we are not perfect, we do believe in our God and our country.  God made a promise to His people, and it is one that we can claim for ourselves.  He said, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins and heal their land.”  It was true for them, and it is true for any people willing to put God first.  To sum it all up, it simply means…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Just Fifteen Minutes

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20

Just fifteen minutes. I like stories…the ones I write and the ones I read. This one, or at least a part of it, fits the latter. The story tells the story of the beginning of a wildcat preacher named Billy Sunday. Now I just have to let you know I read this story several times and it wasn’t until later on that I realized it wasn’t about Billy Graham but Billy Sunday. Oh well…sometimes I amaze myself. Well, when Billy Sunday became a Christian as a young man, a fellow believer gave him some advice that he never forgot. He said, “Let God talk to you fifteen minutes a day through His Word. Talk to God fifteen minutes a day in prayer. Talk for God fifteen minutes a day.”

The other believer went on to say that if Billy would practice these things in his life as a Christian, no one would ever write the word backslider after his name. Well, it turns out that Billy Sunday followed this advice and became one of the most powerful evangelists in the history of the American church. God used his wildcat personality in his preaching but more importantly God used his heart. Those three 15-minute segments consistently used in his life changed his life for the rest of life.

So, what do you think?  How could, how would our lives change if we were to allow God the floor and microphone in our lives to talk to us? While God sometimes uses other people to speak into our lives, and sometimes He uses life circumstances, most often God whispers to us, speaks to us, through His Word. Fifteen concentrated, uninterrupted minutes in His Word is a game changer. If you are like me, you will find giving Him the floor without interruption is a challenge. After all, too often, instead of listening we are just waiting for the other person to stop talking! So, let’s give God His fifteen minutes.

The second part of the formula is important too. Imagine you had just fifteen minutes to tell God what you wanted Him to know. How would you use the time? I imagine we would not only choose our words carefully but also the topics. We would use that time wisely. I think sometimes we are afraid of prayer—afraid we will mess it up. Remember this.  Prayer is simply talking to God. You don’t need fancy words, a complicated formula or a gimmick. You just need to come to Him with an honest and sincere heart. Go ahead—He’s waiting.

The last fifteen minutes is equally important—telling others what God has done for us. I am certain we make talking about Jesus a lot harder than it should be. Often sharing is just a matter of telling our Jesus story to someone else. We share what He has done and how we are different because of Him. Just fifteen minutes times three and not only would it change us—we might just help change the world.

I think the most exciting part of all of this is the fact that we get to discover the amazing path that our amazing God has planned for us. I think Ephesians 3:20 says it best. It says, “Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Sounds to me like, “He’s got this!”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in birthday, Family, food, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, school days, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel

Cheese Grits and Turnip Greens

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

It was a good gig.  It was my daughter Jennifer’s 40th birthday and her husband Matt decided to do it right.  He booked them on a Disney cruise and then to top it off a couple of days at Disney.  They asked Judy if she could come down and stay with the kids and of course she said yes.  So, after some adjustments with her calendar and making sure everything at 217 (our Airbnb) was covered…she was on the road again.  And me…well…I stayed back, watered the plants, filled the fountains, and did work stuff.

Well, by Thursday night I was ready for a visit, so I loaded up the car and headed south to Murray.  It is funny but when you cross the bridge into Kentucky, you can tell you are in the South.  After a couple of hours of driving I found myself with my favorite big person and two of my favorite smaller people—my wife, Judy and two of my grandchildren, Ellie and James. All three of them are pretty keen on me and that always makes me feel so special. After a night of riding around the neighborhood with the windows down and the sunroof open, we headed back to the house and before too long…bed.

The next morning, after we took them to school, we eventually ended up back in Murray and it was time for lunch.  There are plenty of options in Murray, but we ended up at a place we had tried before and really enjoyed.  As we walked through the door, the sign said the special of the day, since it was Friday, was fish.  That sealed the deal.  Now the special sounded good for a couple of reasons—lots of food and a great price—$10.99.  So here is how it played out.  For my $10.99 I got four large fillets of fish.  Now, I’m pretty sure they weren’t farm raised catfish, but they were still plenty tasty.  So, plenty of fish…check.  Then it came with French fries…hot and plenty…check.  Three hushpuppies…fried golden brown and very good…check.  Three onion rings…these also were very good…lightly battered and fried just right…check. Whew. That was a lot of food…good food.  But we weren’t done.

The special also came with two more sides.  Now this place listed about twenty-two different sides, and they were not just sides…many of them were southern sides.  I won’t list them all, but I will tell you what I ordered.  First, I had a bowl full of cheese grits.  They were delicious with lots of cheddar cheese.  My final side was a bowl full of southern seasoned turnip greens.  Well, by now I am in hog heaven.  I mixed up a mound of tartar sauce and ketchup and started eating and it was just good.  Believe it or not, this food eating preacher didn’t even come close to eating it all.  I was forced to leave some it behind…too full to even think of carrying some home.

Now that you all are wanting to know the name of the place in Murray and you are drooling over yourself, here’s why I wrote this.  First, I just love a good deal.  I love it when I go to a place to eat, and it is a good value…plenty of good food for a good price and this place nailed it.  Second, it spoke to my heritage.  Everything from the hushpuppies to the cheese grits to the turnip greens just tasted southern.  And since my roots go deep in the South, all of it said one thing…home and we all know there is no place like home.

Now that I think about it that is what I like about Jesus too.  When I think of Him…when I spend time with Him, I always feel at home.  I never feel like a stranger, I never feel like a visitor.  It’s like He invites me in and tells me to sit back, relax and stay a while.  And when I am with Him, I know I am experiencing my new heritage.  Every day with Him my roots grow deeper and deeper.  On one side it is like spending time with my best friend and on the other it is like being with a special family member.  Maybe that it is…after all, when I asked Jesus to forgive me of all my sin, His Father became my Father…my Dearest Daddy and that is all so very special.

So, if you are planning a trip to Murray, Kentucky, let me know and I’ll point you in the right direction.  And if you are looking for a place that sure feels like home, well, just ask Jesus and He will invite you in to stay.  But like those southern sides…it gets better and better.  When you get Jesus…you get the Father…one that invites you to call Him Dearest Daddy.  It’s true…it’s in the Bible.  And He will be glad to help you as you do life.  Take it from me, I know, He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne 

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

More Notable than a Two-Dollar Bill

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are My disciples.” John 13:34-35

I have three. Sometimes money can be quite a rarity. In fact, when I was in the military and was paid every two weeks, sometimes it became quite rare indeed. The other day, I decided to display a couple of bills I have—one rare and one pretty rare.  The rare one is a one-hundred-dollar bill printed and hand dated from the Civil War. It is dated 1862 (which makes it 162 years old) and promises to pay the bearer $100 dollars, and 2 ½ cents per day in interest within six months of the end of the war—if the Confederate States won.  Oops. Perhaps the strangest thing is the fact that no one know where it came from. I found it in my mother’s Bible but beyond that…it seems no one knows how she acquired it.  Hmmmm.

The second bill I have is not nearly as old but still has an interesting story. It is a United States two-dollar bill. I read that while they are still printed in limited numbers, they are usually snatched up and stuck away. I have several—most of them received at a store or bank. I gave one to one of my grandsons. He spent it. Now what is most interesting about this two-dollar bill is the story of why it exists in the first place.

Here’s the story I heard. I read many years ago that the government wanted to measure the impact of a military base on the local economy and at the same time let the people see that impact. So, they would pay (keep in mind this is long before direct deposit) the soldiers, sailors and airmen in two-dollar bills. As the money entered the local economy, it was a ready reminder of the difference the base, or bases, were making there. In Jacksonville, Florida, where I was born and raised, we had four naval bases in the area so you can imagine there were quite a few of these two-dollar bills floating around. Whether it is true or not, it brings up a good point to consider.

If you think about it—it was a smart way to measure impact. It also made me wonder if there is a way we can measure another kind of impact—the impact of believers and churches in our communities. I remember being asked the following question at a pastor’s conference. The speaker said, “If your church closed tomorrow, would the people in your community even notice?” That was years ago but it still rings in my heart. In my years of pastoring, I always tried to lead our church to be a church that was active in our community. Here’s another tough question. If you stopped praying tomorrow would anyone besides you or those in your immediate circle know, notice or care? You see, sometimes we tend to pray—and live with a limited scope.

So, what do you say—let’s be Christ followers that don’t need a two-dollar bill (or a shirt, or a hat, or a bumper sticker) for people to notice that we belong to Jesus. Let’s let our presence be so impactful that the sweet aroma of Jesus goes wherever we go. Let’s let our words, actions, values and attitudes be so different they are noticed. After all, that is why we are here—to impact our world for His kingdom. Need a little help? All you have to do is ask. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Seize the Day

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Psalm 59:16

After a yearlong silence…they are singing. I stepped out into my backyard to finish my last cup of coffee…well, at least for a couple hours.  When I opened the door, my backyard, and apparently the back yards, and front yard, and side yards of my neighbors were all filled with the sound of cicadas singing their song.  What is a cicada?  Well, it is an insect, and quite honestly, an ugly insect that emerges here in late summer.  Now this isn’t the one that sleeps for 14 or 17 years.  This one emerges every year.

You’ve probably heard the song of the cicadas.  It can be loud, and it can be annoying, unless of course you are a cicada.  You see, they are not just singing, they are singing a love song.  They are letting everyone know that they are up, they are out, and they are ready to prepare for the future.  They have just a few days to sing their love song, find someone to love, start a family and, uh, die. That is one reason they are singing with such gusto. They don’t worry about annoying their neighbors…they are just looking for love.

In a few days, our yards will be a lot quieter.  The party will be over, their love song will be silenced and buried in the ground will be thousands and maybe millions of nymphs waiting for their time to sing.  The beautiful thing about us is that we don’t have to wait 13 years, or 17 years or even one year to sing.  We have the opportunity to sing every day, and it is an opportunity we should embrace.  There is a Latin saying that says “Carpe diem.” Now don’t confuse that with the surgery you have when your wrist hurts.  That is carpal tunnel and has nothing to do with singing…unless it is the blues.

No, carpe diem is a Latin phrase that means “seize the day” …to make the most of every day.  It means that we are to sing our love song clearly and loudly.  “Love song?”, you ask.  Sure.  If we look around, we have so much to sing about.  Breathing makes the list…so does seeing, hearing, and walking.  If you don’t think those things are worth singing about…ask someone who can’t. Oh, and then there are people…people like family, like friends, like the guy who rides on the back of the trash truck and once a week hauls your garbage off.  Ever thank him? Ever include him in your love song, your life song?  If not, why not?  You see the more we are grateful, the more we realize how much we have to sing about.

I know for me when I walk out in the morning and see the sun rising and the moon fading, my mind immediately goes to Creator God, my Dearest Daddy, who thought us worthy of another day.  Oh sure, it’s not gonna be perfect, in fact, it might be difficult, but it is and should be something worth singing about.  A song writer in the Bible put it this way, “But as for me, I will sing about your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress.” Well, put Mister Songwriter, well put.

So, tomorrow, step out and see who is singing in your world…and join them.  Dare to believe that you have a reason to sing…even if your world is less than you wished for. Stop, pause, listen, and believe.  There is Someone who loves you dearly, who wants to walk with you, who believes in you and that is something no circumstances can steal away. So, sing and believe “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in life, loving others, prayer, pride, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, Trials

When the Word Abides

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“Let the Word of Christ dwell richly among you.” Colossians 3:16a

It made all the difference in the world.  The other day I was reading a story, and it was one of those stories that seemed too weird to be true…but apparently it is.  The story starts in Kalinovka, Russia—more specifically at the small church in the village. To encourage the children to attend Sunday School, the priest began to hand out candy to the peasant children and not surprisingly—it worked.

One of the most faithful of the children was a pug-nosed, pugnacious boy who recited his Scriptures with proper piety, pocketed his reward, then fled into the fields to munch on it.

The priest took a liking to the boy and persuaded him to attend church school by offering other incentives. It was there that the priest managed to teach the boy the four Gospels. In fact, this little boy won a special prize for learning all four by heart and reciting them nonstop in church! It was an amazing feat back then and now.

Now, let’s fast forward the clock 60 years, and we find that the boy still loved to recite Scriptures but in a context that would horrify the old priest. You see, the prized pupil who memorized so much of the Bible was Nikita Khrushchev, the former Communist leader. The same little boy who nimbly mouthed God’s Word as a child later declared God to be nonexistent.

By now, you might be asking, “How could this be?” Well, it is not as rare as you might think.  You see, Khrushchev memorized the Scripture for the rewards rather than for the impact it could have in life. There is a truth that was true then and trust me, it is true today. You see, artificial motivation will produce artificial results. While Khrushchev heard and memorized the scripture, he never allowed it to penetrate his heart and consequently his heart was never changed.

The harsh truth then is a harsh truth now.  Ask yourself, “How many times have I gone to church and mindlessly sat through a sermon?  How many times have I read the Bible and not allowed its truth to change my life? We could go on and on, but the bottom line is this—it is not enough, in fact it is woefully short, when we merely hear or merely read the Bible. We have got to let the Word of God abide in us—to change us. It’s a good reminder that as you learn the Word of God, keep your motives pure and make it an exercise of both your heart and your mind!

Perhaps Paul, the guy in the Bible, said it best when he wrote, “Let the Word of Christ dwell richly among you.” The word “dwell” here means to allow it to be at home—to take up residence.  When we allow the Word to dwell—well, it can’t help but make a big impact. Many of us travel along on our Jesus journey and wonder why it just doesn’t seem to make a real difference. This just might be your answer. Remember John 1:14 tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Let Him and His Word in and you will quickly discover a great truth—He’s more real and powerful than you ever imagined and—He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, priorities, school days, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Be You

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

God saw all that He had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

It was a profound statement.  It was 1967, and I was in junior high.  In Jacksonville that meant grades 7-9 and it meant a whole different world from elementary school.  For the first time we went to separate classes and got to choose some of our food for lunch in the cafeteria. I remember, for a dime, you could buy a bowl of French fries. While they weren’t anything like McDonald’s, I do believe they were potatoes, and they were long and skinny.

It may have been the sixties, but there were rules. For the girls skirts and dresses had to be of a certain length. For the guys your hair could only be so long and then there were the big three: shirt tucked in, wear a belt, and socks.  Break those and you and the principal had a date.  By the time I was in the ninth grade, things were relaxing a little and that included the big three.  On Fridays, boys were allowed to untuck their shirts, not wear a belt, and not wear socks. Holy moly, what was the world coming to?  Looking back, the cool thing was to take the socks that you weren’t wearing and put them hanging out of your rear pants pocket.  Every Friday, my shirt was out, my belt stayed home, and my socks were flapping in the breeze.  Do you know why?  It was cool…and I wanted to be cool. I wanted to be in. I wanted to be accepted.

As you know, over the years the trends have changed, styles have come and gone, and so have the labels.  In high school Gold Toe socks were coveted and so were Gant shirts. We couldn’t afford it either but when I joined the Air Force and could shop at the Base Exchange, they carried both and both became part of my world.  I was cool. I was in. I was accepted. Some things never change, and this is one of those.  There was always something that someone was wearing that if you had it, you just knew you would feel cool…accepted…part of the “in” crowd.  When I came to my current church, it was shirts with ponies and shoes named “Crocs.” Whatever the newest label, and there was always one, peer pressure and the desire to be cool, accepted, and in, pushed and pulled.  It seemed I always wanted to be what someone else was.

Thankfully, some of that has changed.  Ponies and crocs aren’t really that cool anymore, and I’m starting to realize that a label doesn’t define who I am.  I.Am.Me. In fact, my four favorite shirts are from Walmart and cost a grand total of $9.88 each. There’s nothing on the pocket—they are just plain shirts which is cool, because I define them…they don’t define me.

I read something one morning that was just profound.  Here it is. Are you ready?  “Each person was born an original; no one should die a copy.” Wow.  It goes like this.  Somewhere in heaven, God came up with a design plan for me.  He wrote the design and then declared it an original, and just right. In fact, in Genesis 1:31, the Bible says, “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good indeed.” And do you know what?  That includes me and that includes you. There is not another me or you, anywhere, and that was intentional. I don’t need to be you, and you don’t need to be me. We just need to be who God made us. Sure, fashion labels are fine, and I’m even sure there is a perfect weight and height, but those don’t dictate who we are…God does.

In the years that God gives me, I hope I will remember this.  When the clock stops ticking, the heart stops beating, and you are having a chicken dinner somewhere in my honor, I hope someone will be able to say, “That Dewayne, he was an original. God broke the mold when He made him.”  I don’t want to die a copy…I want to die an original.

Given my bent to be a people pleaser and desire to be cool, accepted and in, I’m sure that will be a challenge. Gratefully, my Dearest Daddy will be with me along the way to remind me that I am a custom-made job, and you are too.  And, if I am wise enough to ask and listen, He will help me be me.  Oh, and if I struggle, and I will, and you will too, just listen as He reassures us that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne