priorities – Page 46 – Grits with Grace

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Mother's Day, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, wisdom

Mama and Her Day

Posted on May 7, 2021May 6, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

The older I get the more precious the memories become. This Sunday homes across America will be observing Mother’s Day. While I always assumed that Hallmark or Russell Stover’s came up with the idea, apparently, I was wrong. It turns out that Mother’s Day as we know it, began in the early 1900s. A woman named Anna Jarvis started a campaign for an official holiday honoring mothers in 1905, the year her own mother died. The first larger-scale celebration of the holiday was in 1908, when Jarvis held a public memorial for her mother in her hometown of Grafton, West Virginia.

Over the next few years, Jarvis pushed to have the holiday officially recognized as it was celebrated in more and more states across America. Finally, in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation making Mother’s Day an official holiday, to take place the second Sunday of May. Well, whether it was Hallmark’s idea or Anna Jarvis, it certainly was a winner. The bottom line is when God gave the childbearing and a chunk of childrearing to Eve instead of Adam, He did a good thing. If it had been left up to the guys, the population of the world would probably be 53 and without a mother’s love and influence…things just wouldn’t be the same. Mothers are change makers.

Something that I have come to realize is that Mother’s Day is bigger than those who give physical birth to someone. While that is so important, let’s not stop there. It is even bigger than those who welcomed a child through adoption, and it exceeds those who foster children. Mothering includes all the women who have poured their lives into the lives of others. It could be a caring school teacher, a loving church member, or the neighbor down the street who cares. Mother’s Day is a big deal and rightfully so.

And then of course, and guys this is for you, don’t forget to honor the mother of your children. She deserves a prize for marrying and living with you. I know in my life, as much as my Daddy played a role in raising me, Mama outshined him. In so many ways, she was my hero. I only wish I could have seen it more clearly then. Time and again she was there to nurse, guide, prod, and yes- admonish me, on my journey to becoming a man.

I remember the time I was so sick, and she held me gently in her lap, in the middle of the night, till my fever broke or my tummy settled, and I could fall to sleep. I remember the time that a couple of bullies from junior high were going to plummet me. I was outgunned and outnumbered until Mama stepped up and stepped in. I remember in second grade I forgot an important assignment and Mrs. Webb had everyone convinced that they would stay in second grade forever it they didn’t turn it in. Yup, it was Mama who stopped her world to save mine.

I remember when I had a new pair of jeans, a rare gift, and while I was horseback riding, I was shoved into a tree by the horse and ripped a huge hole in one leg. Now days it would be fashionable—then it was an embarrassment. Somehow, someway, she managed to fix it. Oh, and I remember hundreds of suppers and dozens of pies and homemade fruitcake with grandma’s recipe. And on and on it would go. Everyday something said, “I love you.” Oh, and for the record, just like your mama, my Mama wasn’t perfect, but she sure had a way of saying, “I love you.” She raised eight kids and I got the privilege of being last and, though no one would admit it, her favorite.

The Bible says that if all the things that Jesus did were written down the whole world couldn’t hold the books. Well, that would be an exaggeration for any mama, but I do know this. If I could remember just half of all that my Mama did for me, for our family, well this story would be a whole lot longer. Mama went to heaven when I was only 24 years old and she never met any of my children but hopefully as we trust Jesus, like she did, God will remedy that…one day. Until then, I want to say, “Thank you, Mama” for always being there. Thank you Judy, for being an incredible wife, mother to our children, and MaMa to our grandchildren. And finally, to all you ladies who have poured your lives into the lives of others, thanks for making a difference. Thanks for never giving up and always believing, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials, wisdom

Rocking on Lake Victoria

Posted on May 6, 2021May 5, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

It was like something out of National Geographic. I was on a vision trip to Uganda several years ago and it was one adventure after another. I was working with a missionary who had a ministry to the people living on the islands of Lake Victoria. This massive lake is the second largest in the world and is more like an inland sea than a lake. There are places that you can lose sight of the shoreline and you feel very much like you are out on the ocean.

Our vessel was anything but an ocean liner. It was a handcrafted open vessel that was about twenty-five feet long and powered by a fire breathing dragon of a motor with a whopping ten horsepower. We would tear across the lake at a heart stopping ten miles an hour. Ok, there really wasn’t a fire breathing dragon effect, nor were we tearing across the lake, but it was a great adventure! Usually.

One day, after a long day of preaching and teaching, it was time to head back to our home island. We were a little late leaving and night was coming soon, so it was imperative that we begin heading back. Our boat was parked in a small, secluded harbor and from there we all loaded up. There were only about six of us in the boat and the small engine started and off we went. As soon as we left the harbor we were greeted by some rough water. The waves were large enough to be “white caps” and I gave the missionary a glance but he assured me that these were not big waves. Well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so is wave size. These were boat swallowing monsters. And then, after a few minutes, it happened.

As the pilot guided the boat and tried to determine just how to navigate the large waves…the motor quit. I mean, it just stopped. Suddenly, at least in my eyes, things got a bit more interesting. We could no longer navigate the waves, rather, we were at their mercy and no matter how hard the pilot pulled, the engine wouldn’t start. About then I began a worship service of sorts, part music, part prayer and part personal eulogy. You know, “Friends we are gathered here to honor the life of…” Meanwhile the pilot is still pulling on the motor and I kept praying.

Finally, one of the guys in the boat named Joseph went to work on the motor. Joseph is a young man that can do just about anything—from preaching to apparently fixing motors. The shorter version of a long story is that He proceeded to take the carburetor apart and “blow it out.” Now keep in mind we are still rocking like crazy…and I still am praying and preparing to die. But I had planned my funeral just a little too soon. Before long, Jospeh had the carburetor reassembled and back on the motor. Three or four quick pulls later and we were back “on the road.” The waves were still big (at least to me) but we were underway and eventually we arrived back at the other island. Safe—if not too sound.

It really was one of those times that I wished I had paid more attention at swimming lessons because I wasn’t totally sure of the outcome. But thankfully I did remember one thing. I remembered that whether I am rocking in a boat on the world’s second largest lake in East Africa or driving down the Interstate at 70 miles-per-hour surrounded by people looking at their cellphones or doing life in a tumultuous point in history, my Father, my Dearest Daddy, is in control. Fate and circumstances are not calling the shots—He is. And if that isn’t enough, we have the promise that the Lord will personally go ahead of us. He will be with us; He will neither fail us, nor will He abandon us.

Now to be clear that doesn’t mean that everything is going to turn out exactly as I would like. It doesn’t mean that I get to write the script and He has to follow it. Quite the contrary, He is writing the script and He invites me to trust Him and to believe that ultimately the end of the story is for my good and His glory. I’m learning that the story never ends here—it ends there. For the person who decides to trust Him there is always a surprise ending and that is—the end is not the end. We may change locations, but the story continues. How about that?

So, I survived that day on the lake and now have returned many times…each time taking others with me including the one that I love most on this earth—my wife, Judy. I do so knowing, that while there are risks, ultimately the pilot of the boat doesn’t sit at the back but up in heaven and He’s got his eye on us and everything we do. It’s true in East Africa and its true where you and I live. We can say with certainty that if we belong to Him, we don’t have to worry because, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, love, Military memories, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, USA, wisdom

Home is Better

Posted on May 5, 2021May 4, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” Revelation 21:4-5

Who would have known? In 1977, my wife and I packed up our stuff and moved to Germany. It wasn’t a sudden urge we had—it was courtesy of the Air Force. When we had been married about seven months, we received an assignment to move to Europe. We were excited about moving there, but also realized Germany was 4,657 miles from everything that was familiar to us. We were off on a great adventure, without cell phones or internet!

We loved it. Our part of Germany was filled with history and beautiful landscapes. Rich forests and small hills and mountains framed every view. And honestly, it was a little like home. While it was true that the local folks spoke a different language, there was enough English sprinkled around that we were able to get by. We even learned a little (and I do mean a little) German to help. We drove our cars on the right side of the road, just like home (unlike the Brits), we could drink the water just like home, we had stores kinda like home, and we even had a church…just like home. But it wasn’t…home.

Throughout the three years we were there, we would celebrate when it came time for friends to “ship” back to the United States. Our church even had a special song titled, “Goodbye, World, Goodbye” that we sang every time someone left to go back to the states. They were bitter-sweet moments. We would miss them, but we knew where they were going. They were going home.

There was one thing that we would do, every once in a while, to remind us of home. It might seem strange, but it wasn’t to us. Germany was a place of great food but once again…it wasn’t home. I found out that not many Germans eat grits. Imagine that. But they did share one thing that was purely American—McDonald’s. Located downtown in a large city, not too far from where we lived, was a McDonald’s very much like ours back home. And when we could afford it, which wasn’t often, we would go and have a taste of home. Each bite of the burgers and fries said, “Remember home.” Each bite said, “This place is good but remember, it’s not home.”

Well, one day it was our turn to go…home. It was our turn to hear, “Goodbye, World, Goodbye” and know it was for us. It was our turn to leave there and go home and as soon as we were home, we knew instantly that while “there” was very good—it wasn’t home. Home was better. Home was home.

Jesus followers need to remember that very important truth—Home is better—Home is home. This world is good. We enjoy life with friends and family, and there is a McDonald’s on every corner. But what used to remind us of home now reminds us that we are not there…yet. Even with all its warts and imperfections, God has done a great job providing us a temporary location to live out our days, but remember, Home is going to be—better. The Bible tells me that Heaven is a place where there is no more pain, suffering, sickness or sorrow. No hospitals, no nursing homes, and no funeral homes. Simply put—the former things are gone, and everything will be new. Home will be better.

I know I speak for Judy too when I say that our time in Germany was three of our favorite years together. I also know I speak for her when I say home was, and home is, better. Life here is good but one day, it will be my turn, your turn, to find out that Home is better. When it came time to leave Germany and go home, the Air Force paid for our ticket and I am glad to let you know that our ticket to Home is paid for too—by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept it and when we do—life here gets better and Home is thrown in. When we accept it, we find out that God loves to give us a “McDonald’s” or two, here and there, just to remind us of Home…to remind us that till we get there, He is with us and that at every turn, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

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

Yes and No

Posted on April 23, 2021April 22, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

“

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

2020 was a year to remember or maybe, to forget. Years from now, when I think of that particular year, I will remember it as the “Year of No”. You see, to me it seemed every time I turned around someone was telling me no. I couldn’t do this and I couldn’t do that. Included in that batch of “noes” were trips to conferences and vacations. I remember a particular task I just didn’t want to do. I had put it off for several weeks. It wasn’t that I was procrastinating–I was just hoping. Maybe something would change. Maybe what appeared to be a new normalcy was a bad dream and I would wake up, stretch and yawn, make a cup of coffee and get ready to go. Instead…I cancelled the reservation. As it turned out I wouldn’t be needing a rental car for a week in California. Not now.

You see, my wife Judy and I love to travel—to take adventures. Last spring our adventure was a rerun of sorts. Catch the train to Chicago, spend the night there and enjoy the Chicago skyline, wake up and board the train for California. For two days America would fly by our windows–farmlands, plains, mountains. Once in California we would see some of the most incredible scenery you could imagine. It was going to be a great trip and then the pandemic and its buddies said, “no.”

Actually, that was just one of several “noes” We were going to a pastor’s retreat in North Carolina to get recharged. No. We were going to the Southern Baptist Convention–something we do every year. No. I had a doctor’s appointment in Paducah. I’m not usually a fan of doctor appointments–you know, “Step right here on the scale.” You know the drill. But I was excited—at least I was going somewhere, anywhere. No. No. No. No.

In the midst of the flurry of “noes” something happened. Judy reminded me of a song by Michelle Williams, “Say Yes,” that we had enjoyed many times before . It had slipped from my playlist. Maybe it shouldn’t have. The words go something like this, “When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no. When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no. When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no. When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no.”

The song continues, “I’m not worried ’bout a thing, ’cause, I know You are guiding me. Where You lead me, Lord, I will go. I have no fear ‘cause, I know Who’s in control. There’s no limit to what You can do ’cause it all belongs to You–Yes, it all belongs to You. You’re Almighty and all powerful and it all belongs to You. Yes, it all belongs to You. When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no.”

Ok, it rocked me good—in fact, it changed my outlook. It helped me see, again, that life is filled with yes and “noes.” You know, that’s just life. Trips get cancelled, schools get closed, schedules get train wrecked (no pun intended), and kids drive parents crazy, and parents drive kids crazy. Circumstances seem to drown us, and life sometimes just scares us. And then, if we are Jesus followers, we simply pause and remember,“When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no.”

Well, here we are a year later and while there is still an occasional “no,” the truth is, “yes” is coming back in vogue. We can go and eat at most restaurants. We can plan vacations–at least in most parts of America. We can ride the train or take a plane. We are even talking about a mission trip to Africa sometime this summer. “When Jesus say yes, nobody can say no.”

I hope I am wise enough to learn from all of this. “Learn what” you ask? That God is running this show. He says “yes” and He says “no.” He opens and closes doors. And you need to know something. He doesn’t seek nor need my permission or approval–or yours. After all, get ready, He is God and well, we are not. Now all that would be scary except for one thing.

James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Our Father is not a “bad news, I’m gonna deprive you just because I can” God. Nope. He is an “I love you and I’m going to watch over you” God. And what are we supposed to do? Just listen as He whispers, “Trust me.” In a month or so, Judy and I are heading to Colorado and the Badlands of South Dakota. Eventually, we will probably make it to California. If not, well, I bet He’s got one whale of a better idea. Regardless, I’m learning to rest in Him. After all, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel, Trials, wisdom

Tripped Up by Life

Posted on April 20, 2021April 19, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

Well, it’s a week later. If you are a regular Grits reader you might remember that a week ago, I wrote about my grand adventure as I hiked a local trail called, “Indian Point.” It is an incredible trail and a hike that I will remember for quite a while. Whenever I do something for the first time it kinda hangs in my memory. For instance, this time I remember the first quarter or third of a mile up the hill that the trail was more roots than dirt. I remember after a while there were several short trails leading to some large rock outcrops. I took a detour down one and stood amazed as I surveyed the valley below. I also remember what happened next.

Next was my boot caught a root. In a split second I tripped and landed flat on my face. I told you last week that I fell very hard and it hurt. I haven’t changed my mind. I banged up my left arm and side and well, let’s just say all week the pain just kept right on coming. Finally, on Saturday, almost a week later, I could cough and bend over without my side not so gently reminding me of the fall. My arm, on the other hand, is still plenty sore and I am sporting a really, ugly bruise. It isn’t one of those wimp bruises either. It covers most of my elbow and upper forearm and is a nice purple and yellow color. It’s the kinda bruise when people see it, they say “ouch.”

This past Sunday I returned to Indian Point. My wife Judy was back from her journey to the “Southland” and I wanted to share the trail with her. I narrated the way along the trail and finally we came to the place where I fell. Right in the middle of the trail was the root…the only one, but then it only takes one. I told her, “This is where it happened.” I think maybe she then had a better understanding of my fall and a new appreciation for the bruise that I am still sporting. Perhaps, that experience made my experience better because it became her experience too. I know this is true because right there she gave me a sermon about hiking alone and being careful.

So, do you know someone that is pretty bruised up over life? Has someone shown you their “bruise” recently? No, I’m not talking about the kind that comes from tripping over a root, but the kind that comes from tripping over something in life. An unkind word. An unnecessarily sharp criticism. A sarcastic zinger. The loss of a friend or a job or a marriage? You see, there are a lot of bruised folks around us, and it is important that we stop long enough to feel their hurt and pain. Jesus did that so well. It didn’t matter what, it seemed He always had the time to hurt with someone.

Whether it was a leper, a woman with a bad reputation, or a tax collector hated and disowned by everyone, He always took the time to stop, take a look at their bruised life, and hurt with them. One time He came ashore from a boat ride across the lake and there was a gaggle of people bruised and banged up by their broken world. The Bible tells us that He saw them and then He had compassion on them. He.Saw.Them. In other words, He saw their bruises and then loved them.

So, if you bump into me this week, no pun intended, ask and I will show you my bruised arm. It should be good for at least five or six more days. We can laugh together because of the story, but at the same time it will be a good reminder for both of us to be like Jesus and share another’s hurt and pain. Oh, and be sure and watch out for those roots…remember it only takes one. But if you do fall, I know someone who can pick you up. And if you listen carefully, you will hear Him whisper, “Don’t worry…I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

Learning to Speak Love

Posted on April 6, 2021April 5, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35b

It was, well, amazing. I like to receive presents. I love to receive presents. Some guy wrote a book about the five love languages and basically, he said that everyone has at least one love language. If you want to “ring someone’s bell” or “top off their love tank”, you do it by speaking their love language. Well, my two primary love languages are gifts and words of affirmation. Every time one of you leaves a kind comment about Grits, the nozzle goes in my love tank and fills it up. How about that?

Well, my other love language is this gift thing. When someone gives me something, it just rings my bell. Several years ago, a friend visited Gettysburg and brought me back a set of coasters. It was totally unexpected, and it just rang my bell. He probably thought, “What’s the deal, dude? It is only a set of coasters.” But no, it was more. It said, “I thought of you.” And, several years later it still brings a smile to my face. We have a couple of good friends that like to travel and they often bring me a souvenir of their travels and it is always blesses me. Boom—a full love tank.

Well, something happened recently that was pretty awesome. We have a family who is part of our church family and they are just a special group of people. It is hard to put a finger on it but words like authentic and caring come to mind. Well, a couple of weeks ago after our morning service, the mom in this family came up to me and was just beaming—and I mean beaming with joy and excitement. Her entire countenance said, “Something good had happened.” I wasn’t sure what it was, but I couldn’t wait to hear what it was. I was in for a surprise.

Here is what tumbled out of her mouth. “We bought you something and I couldn’t wait to tell you. I know I was supposed to wait but I just couldn’t. I saw this on Facebook and said, “We have to buy this for Bro. Dewayne.” She bubbled and bubbled, and I was in awe. The gift was the “Fingerprint” of God. It was a print in the shape of a fingerprint and the fingerprint was made from a scripture from each book in the Bible. It sounded amazing and when it came in and they gave it to me, it was. It will soon have a home in my church office, and it will have a story…this story.

You see, the gift really was amazing, but the unseen gift was equally so. What was the unseen gift? It was their—her—unbridled, unlimited joy and enthusiasm in not “getting” a gift but “giving” one. Her joy in giving this special print to me, her friend, and her pastor, touched me and taught me. It touched me that this special family made a sacrifice and bought me this gift. It taught me that just like Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” I have heard that verse for many, many years and have seen it on display at different levels. But this time…this act of love taught me what it really means.

I have to wonder if this is what it is like when a person comes to follow Jesus for the first time. I mean the Bible says God throws a party. The Bible says that all heaven breaks loose when someone comes home. I can just imagine the smile on Jesus’ face when a person He loves and died for finally gets it and trusts Him. I bet it looks at least something like the face of this family and especially my friend who shared the news with me, “We bought you something.” We want to..wait for it…not get, but give. Amazing.

Though I love to travel and try and go to Africa once a year, I have always struggled with learning a new language. But I wonder if that might need to change? Maybe today, maybe this week, maybe I, maybe you, need to learn a new language. No, I’m not talking Swahili—I’m talking about someone’s love language. Someone in your world, your spouse, your kids, your neighbor ,or maybe someone else. Learn what tops their love tank and do it.

The guy who wrote the book says the love languages are gifts, words of affirmation, acts of service, physical touch, and quality time. Why not learn and practice someone’s love language today? If you are like me and struggle with learning (I can barely speak English), just ask the Father for a little help. He will be more than glad to help you. He loves it when His kids can speak love. Yup…He’s got that too. Bro. Dewayne

Easter, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Hard Day–Good Friday

Posted on April 2, 2021April 1, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Jesus knew that His mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture He said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to His lips. When Jesus had tasted it, He said, “It is finished!” Then He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” John 19:28-30

Good Friday. What an unusual name for such a hard, hard day. Imagine with me as slowly the light increased over Jerusalem. It was another early morning in spring and men were going to die. The Romans regularly crucified criminals–it was business as usual for them. But this day, well this day, would be different. Three men would die on crosses–two criminals and one perfect human being. His name was Jesus.

As the light increased so did the sounds. If you had been there you would have heard the sounds of a crowd–a mob really. Some were crying, some shouting, some angry, some broken. You would have heard the sounds of struggle–anguish as a man carried a cross too big for even the healthiest of men. At the top of a stark hill the sounds intensified.

You could hear without trying the sound of metal on metal as hammer meets nail. Cries of humanity suffering as three crosses are lifted skyward. The message was clear. You don’t mess with Rome. Scattered around are the sounds of women crying and men in anguish. Stares of disbelief filled the eyes of many. Listen now–there are words.

The Man in the middle–the perfect One–is speaking and what He says is almost beyond belief. “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they are doing.” Forgive them? —Forgive the very ones who passed the judgement–who drove the nails–who lifted the cross? Wait, for there is more. One of the criminals is mocking Him but the other is begging Him. “Remember me,” he says. And Jesus responds “Today, you will be with Me in paradise.”

There are more words. Lean in–strain to hear. The Man in the middle–the perfect One–is asking His friend John to take care of His mother. And then there is the cry of brokenness as He cries, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” He knows why. The Man in the middle–the perfect One–has become sin and His Father can’t look on sin. There’s a price being paid, and it involves wrath and death. And He is willingly paying it.

As His end draws near a silence begins to fall over the hill. The women are cried out, the soldiers are bored, and the crowd confused. And then they all hear it. “Tetelestai.” It’s a common word really. It means finished. An artist would say it when the last stroke is applied to a masterpiece. A carpenter would say it when the last peg is driven in a newly built table. A farmer would say it when the last sheave of wheat is harvested. But when the Man in the middle–the perfect One–says those words, everything changes.

“It is finished.” The mission is accomplished. The price for sin has been paid and atoned for. The wrath of God for sin is satisfied. What justice demanded He has paid. And what He promised the criminal becomes a reality for any person. My sins, your sins, our sins, can be forgiven and you can be with me in heaven.

So, then He dies. Actually, He wills himself to die for no one could take the life of the Man in the middle–the perfect One. He could give it, but they could not take it. Rocks crack, thunder rolls and then in the distance a tearing, ripping sound is heard as the massive curtain separating man from Holy God is torn from top to bottom and God–God hangs out the welcome sign for the first time ever. And it’s all because of the Man in the middle–the perfect One.

In any other story that would be the end, but you see it’s only Friday. The final act is coming on Sunday. Friday ended with His followers discouraged, defeated, and afraid. Maybe like some of us. But if you lean in again…if you listen closely…you can hear the Father saying, “Rest in Me. Wait till Sunday. I’ve got this.” And…He does. Bro. Dewayne

Easter, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, Holidays, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Thursday To-Do List

Posted on April 1, 2021March 31, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

“As you go into the city,” He told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with My disciples at your house.’ ” Matthew 26:18

Well, it is Thursday. Several years ago, something happened that changed the way I do business—do life. I’ve done the pastor thing now for almost four decades. Even as I write that, it seems hard to believe. Anyway, there were a couple of things that pastors do that I never quite got the hang of. First, they always carried a little calendar. You would ask them a question and they would say, “Let me check my calendar.” You would tell them you were having open heart surgery a week from next Friday and they would say, “Let me put that on my calendar.” There was a problem. Try as I may I never could get into the calendar thing. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to remember important dates—I just couldn’t remember to grab the thing when I left the house in the morning. And honestly, I didn’t like having it stuffed into my pocket.

I hate to admit this, but it was the same deal with a pocket Bible. Every pastor seemed to always have a little Bible stuck in their pocket. Not me. It just didn’t work. I mean I loved the Bible, but it just didn’t work. Well, the solution for both of these lapses occurred kinda together. First, along came the smart phone. The smart phone is a little computer that you can easily carry. Nice and flat, it can be stuffed to the gills with information, but it never feels bulky. It wasn’t long after the advent of the smart phone that you could read the Bible on the thing. Boom! Just like that I had a Bible when I needed it. It got better.

A couple of years later a friend introduced me to my new best friend—gmail and their calendar. All of a sudden, I could pull out my trusty phone and not only check my calendar but quickly add things to my calendar. It was a big deal. It was a game changer deal. Now I am not one of those folks who are “married” to their phone—in other words there are times when I forget it. If I do, I kindly ask the person to shoot me a text and when I get to my phone there is a reminder to add what I needed to add.

So, being somewhat of an organized person, these tools were a great help. I like knowing where I am going and when I am supposed to be there. Somethings I don’t need to put on the calendar…I just know to do them. They become part of my “to-do” list. Thursdays are study days for the next week’s message, finalizing the worship event in the YouVersion Bible app, making some visits and a host of other small administrative details. It is a catchup day. As days of the week go…Thursday is usually a lighter day but of course as a pastor that can change quickly—very quickly.

I wonder if Jesus kept a “to-do” list. I know—probably not. But if He did, I wonder what it would look like. In one sense it would be short—love God—love people. But in another sense, it would be long as He was always doing something, and it was always what His Father wanted. Thursdays might have been one of His lighter days too. But not this Thursday—not the Thursday before He died on a Roman cross on Friday. That Thursday, the Thursday we celebrate today, was jam packed with incredible things.

His list would include celebrating Passover, His last Passover, with His closest friends in an upper room. That was a must. He also designed and planned an event that we call “The Last Supper,” “The Lord’s Supper,” or “Communion.” He needed to give His followers something to help them understand what was about to happen and then remember it—forever. Oh, and then He did something kinda unusual—He washed everyone’s feet. Boy, that was a big one. He did it to teach them, and us, about humility and service. He wasn’t done yet. In fact, there wasn’t an end to Thursday—it just bled over into Friday.

There was an important prayer meeting in a garden where only a few were invited. He needed to talk to His Father about Friday. He invited His friends along to help, but they were tired so He had to go it alone. That would happen a lot as Thursday became Friday. His “to-do” list also included healing someone’s whacked off ear and being arrested. It also included that awful feeling of desertion when all of His friends left Him. And then, somewhere in the darkness, Thursday became Friday.

I know it isn’t possible for us to fully understand what those days were like for Jesus. We do need to remember, though, that He experienced them as God but also as a man—a man who knew spiritually, emotionally, and physically where it was going. And, amazingly, He did it willingly and He did it knowing the cost. So today, as we walk our Thursday, let’s remember His Thursday and be grateful. He was a Man of details—of destiny. He told them, “As you go into the city, you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with My disciples at your house.’ ” Yes, a Man of destiny—a Man of details. A God-Man who had that—and who’s got this—no matter what that may be. Bro. Dewayne

Easter, Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Rubicon

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not Mine.” Luke 22:42

It was a Saturday morning, and it was my rubicon. I was reading an email this morning and it used this word—rubicon. I had seen the word many times plastered on the side of a special edition Jeep and that is why the email and this word grabbed my attention. I wondered, “What does it mean?” Well, as it turns out there are two definitions but the one that mattered to me was this: a point of no return.” I guess for the Jeep owners it means that their Jeep is designed to go to and past that point. In the email it meant more. It meant that Jesus was willing to go past His rubicon—His point of no return—even though He knew what that meant.

Back in 2018, I had a rubicon of another sort. Back in those days, I was walking 5.25 miles a day at a pretty brisk clip. It really was quite an accomplishment as I had been doing it for many months. But something was happening. In October of that year, it was just getting harder. I had put on a few pounds and I was sure that was the reason. Each day I would arrive back to the house exhausted, my heart rate a bit higher than it had been running and worse—it wasn’t coming down. I would walk five days a week and each day was the same—hard. Then came Saturday.

Saturday, October 6th, I reached my rubicon…my point of no return. After my walk I literally collapsed in a chair in my backyard. A guest staying in our Airbnb, who happened to be a resident medical student, asked what I was doing. I told him I was trying to breath and then humorously added that he might want to stick around as I might need him. Turned out I was a prophet. That day, I ended up in the hospital and it turned out the following Tuesday, I had a heart cath where they discovered a 90% blockage in one of the arteries of my heart. All of a sudden, things began to make sense.

You see, the high heart rate and the shortness of breath were symptoms that something was wrong. Each morning, my body was sending me a message—something is wrong—something is coming—-do something. I am sure the Tuesday before my rubicon was like this Tuesday morning, a normal day. I am sure that day I got the warning message and that day I excused it away. But what if I had known? What if I had known that Saturday, I would reach a point where going was not an option. Would it have changed things? Honesty, it probably would have…but I ignored the warnings.

This week, as we look forward to Easter, the resurrection of Jesus, think about the fact that all the signs were there. Jesus, as the Son of God, knew His rubicon had come. It was time to fulfill the mission for which He was sent. It was time for Him to suffer and to die. Unlike me, He knew what was coming and pressed on. The reason was simple. It wasn’t that He loved the thought of enduring the abuse and suffering of the cross and the events leading up to it—no not at all. But He was in love with something else—us.

Jesus knew full well all of the details of His rubicon and went on because He loved us. It was love that led Him to cross—it was love that caused Him to place one foot in front of the other—each one leading to a Roman execution. It was love that caused Him to go all the way. Growing up, when I did something that had difficult consequences, my mama would tell me that I should have known better. Jesus knew better—and went anyway.

This week, ponder and think about the days leading to the day when Jesus died—His rubicon. Remember that He did it for me and He did it for you. When He prayed in the garden Thursday night that if there was any way this thing might pass—He knew full well it couldn’t. That is the reason He kept on praying, “nevertheless, not My will Your will be done.” In other words, He would say, “bring on the rubicon because that is why I came.”

If your week, this week has any unpleasantness or difficulties, just remember the week when He marched forward knowing full well what lay ahead—and remember He did it just so you and I could call God, Abba Father or Dearest Daddy. How amazing is that? He was able to do it because He trusted and loved His Father. And we can do it for the same reason. No matter what, we have the confident assurance that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Stinking Allergies

Posted on March 26, 2021March 25, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.” Romans 6:14

It’s just about to drive me nuts. For as long as I can remember, I have had to deal with allergies. From the days of running the woods in Northeast Florida as a kid to now, stuff in the air drives me bonkers. I can well remember the days in my early twenties when the only weapon I had to fight the battle with was some nose spray. And the crazy part of that is if you use it too often and too long, it actually makes matters worse.

In the earlier days, my main issue was the fall. There is this crazy plant called ragweed and when it starts to bloom, I start to suffer. Itchy eyes, clogged nasal passages, and a sneeze that sounds like a chihuahua chasing their tail and wound way too tight. Oh, and I don’t sneeze once—try six to eight times. In this COVID mess this has been a real issue because people think I am coughing instead of sneezing, so they give you the death stare and then run.

About a zillion years ago, I discovered something called Flonase that changed my life. It is a nasal steroid that tricks your nose and eyes into believing that there is nothing in the air. It was a game changer and I have used it probably for 30 years or more. Wow, it sure made fall easier. I might still have some symptoms but at least it was tolerable. Well, about five years ago, something happened. I started having the same symptoms in the spring too. They weren’t as bad, and the Flonase keep everything in balance. All that was true until this year.

As spring began to spring, my allergies started acting up, first in a little way and then in a big way. Today they are acting in a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way. So, when I started sounding like an overactive chihuahua I just start using my medicine. For some reason, this spring, it didn’t work like before. Now for the last couple of days, I have been sneezing and my eyes have been itching like crazy. I went to the store yesterday and brought some drops but so far, well, we are still at war.

All of this is so crazy. Some stuff from some plant is doing something to the lining of my sinuses causing them to go nuts and I end up in misery. I mean, first, I did nothing to the stinking plants and second, what’s up with my hypersensitive sinuses. Something that I can’t even see is making me pretty miserable. I know, I should think positive but when you want to take your eyeballs out so you can scratch them better, it is hard to be positive. And then I know you aren’t supposed to put your fingers in your eyes, but it feels so good to scratch them. Oh, my goodness.

You know, I wonder what if sin (you know the things that God says we shouldn’t do) was as irritating as whatever it is that is driving me nuts? What if it bothered me to the point that I would do anything to stop? I do believe my life would be better…I know my life would be better. But the problem with sin is the fact we like it way too much. To many of us, it’s like the satisfaction I feel when I scratch my eyes or sneeze for the eighth time. It feels better…it feels good. But mark this down. There are consequences.

Sneeze eight times with your eyes closed while driving and you end up running a red light or running into a ditch. Bummer. Scratch your eyes too often and you end up with an eye inflection or scratching something like whatever it is that makes your eyes work in the first place. Regardless—you end up in a mess. The best thing to do is what I am going to do. I am gonna call my eye doctor friend. I’m gonna ask her if there is anything, she can prescribe for me that will stop this infernal itching. I’m gonna ask for help. If there is anything that can be done, she will know and she will help. She is my doctor, but she is also my friend.

It is the same way with this sin thing. We need to call the sin doctor and that would be Jesus. He knows all about sin—how to beat it—how to subdue it, and how to avoid all those nasty consequences. He died so that sin wouldn’t win, and He is more than willing to help us, if we ask. His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin but He also gives us victory over the sneezing and itchy eyes part of sin—the day-to-day messiness of sin. He gives us sin relief and I love that.

Paul, one of the main writers of the New Testament part of the Bible says that sin (along with all its messy consequences) does not have to rule over us—because we are not under the “thou shalt not’s” but under grace—God’s unlimited and unmerited favor. And because of that, sin doesn’t have free-rein—so long consequences, you know, like too many sneezes and itchy eyes. That sounds like good news to me.

Just know that if you hear something that sounds like an overactive chihuahua or see some guy with red eyes, don’t worry it is probably just me going nuts. But remember, and this is the take-away, there is Someone who can handle your sin issues and that Someone is Jesus. He loves you a lot—so much He died for you. And whatever your issue is, you can take this to the bank, He’s got this, too. Bro. Dewayne