Scripture – Page 87 – Grits with Grace

Family, fear, friends, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Everyday Miracles

Posted on August 15, 2022August 14, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.” James 1:17

Boom…just like that. It was one of those mornings. I was running just a bit behind. There wasn’t a clock to punch, no was going to say anything, but the truth is I needed to get to the office. There was work to do and it seems there was more work than time. I got everything done that needed to be done…I even remembered to take my medicine. I walked out the door and felt my pocket only to realize that the familiar lump wasn’t there. I had forgotten my keys. Bummer.

So, I turned around, mumbling something about time and keys, and headed back into the house. There is a place I usually put my keys and when I got there…they weren’t. Bummer. I walked over to the other side of the kitchen and checked on the counter. Nope. Bummer. I walked back over to the other place, and they still weren’t there. Then, I decided to go upstairs and check the pockets on the pants I had worn the day before. Scratch that one too. Then I went outside and asked Judy if she had seen my keys. I think she gave me the “whose keys” look and said, “no.”

By now my frustration level was rising. I checked in the car. No. I went back into the kitchen and checked the key thingy, and they weren’t there. Bummer again. So just for the fun of it I checked it all again and realized that I just might have misplaced or lost them. It was looking grim. You see, this key wasn’t one of those go to Wal-Mart three-dollar keys. No, this was one of those three-hundred-dollar key fob things and by now I am thinking dollars. I asked Judy to keep an eye out and I used the spare key and drove to work.

As soon as I got to work, I started telling the staff of my lost key woes. I told them how I had looked everywhere all with no luck. They were sympathetic and I appreciated their shared woe but all of that didn’t help me find my keys. So, I started doing some of that work I talked about earlier and after an hour or so, I texted Judy and asked her if she had had a chance to look for the missing keys. Well, she hadn’t, so still no luck. It was just about then that it happened. She texted me and said she thought she had found the keys on the key thingy. I told her that probably wasn’t them because I checked there twice. She sent me a picture and there, in her hand, were my keys.

When I asked her where they were found and she said the key thingy, At first I was embarrassed and then amazed. Here is why. I am one hundred percent certain that I checked there twice. I would have bet my bottom dollar they were not there and yet…they were. That only leaves two options. First, I am blind and totally missed them. The second option is…God came to the rescue. Call me crazy or call me nuts but I honestly believe that option two happened. You see, given the nature of my Dearest Daddy I just wouldn’t be surprised if He didn’t reach down from heaven and placed the missing keys there. After all, why wouldn’t He?

I have had other incidents in my life when God did some crazy things and maybe that is why I’m sure He just did it again. How about you? Do you have any times when something crazy happened and looking back you realized there wasn’t an explanation? I’m one of those people that believe God is a God who is into the details, and I also believe He is not too busy to do something like replace a set of missing keys. Oh, God is a God of the big things, but He is not too busy to care about the little things too…like missing keys and wallets.

Let me encourage you to look for the small miracles around us. In fact, let me encourage you to expect the small miracles around us. James, the half-brother of Jesus wrote a short book in the Bible. In it he wrote, “Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens.” Spot on, James. The God who made the stars can also do the small stuff…stuff that matters to us matters to Him. So, as you journey today, and you hit a bump, don’t be afraid to ask for a little help from above. He might help you over the bump or at least give you the grace to endure it. Either way, you can know that “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, missions, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials

Miracles

Posted on August 12, 2022August 11, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

Well, there are miracles and then there are miracles. One of the great adventures that Judy and I have been privileged to be a part of are church mission trips. Specifically, mission trips to Africa. For the past 15 or 16 years, our church has been an active participant in mission adventures. At least once a year we try and send a team to Africa. We started in Niger and then had to move a little south to the country of Mali. We were privileged to serve there for several years.

I can’t explain how incredible it is to go on a mission adventure. I also can’t really explain the draw that so many feel to this place called Africa. Where this story begins was a pretty difficult place. We would stay in the bush often sleeping on the ground in tents. The temperature would hover over 100 degrees. I have one picture that showed a thermometer with a reading 125 degrees. The food, well, let’s just say it wasn’t McDonald’s. So, what is it that causes people to step way out of their comfort zones just to serve others. This story is part of that answer.

We were on a medical trip in Mali and the days were long and fruit was plentiful. We had a full team including two medical doctors and several nurses. They would treat the physically broken and we would try and share the truth of God’s love to the spiritually broken. We would tell stories of Jesus and how He would go and help people. We then would simply explain that we wanted to be like Him and help others. We explained that people who knew Jesus in America had bought and paid for the medicine that they were receiving. It was free to them because someone else paid the price. It was always a great lead into the gospel stories because Jesus did the same for us.

Well, it was the end of a long day. Most of us had wandered back to camp and were sitting around and chatting about the day’s activities. Suddenly someone ran into the camp and shouted that there was an emergency back at the clinic. We all rushed back over and what we found was grim…very grim. A little girl, about nine if I remember correctly, had been climbing a tree. She was about twenty-five feet up in the air when she slipped and fell—landing directly on her face. Her father had carried her on a Moto (a small motorcycle) about three or four miles. She was semi-conscious and unresponsive.

Two things happened simultaneously. First, the doctors when to work and the saints went to praying. Her pupils were unresponsive and though she was breathing, her respirations were rapid and shallow. About an hour later the doctors said it was probably only a matter of time, her brain injuries seemed very serious. I slipped into my pastor mode and wondered what an African funeral was like. The doctors took turns sitting with her through the night, and then took her to the nearest first aid station. This part is fuzzy, but it seems like at some point the father went ahead and took her back to her village.

The next day we went back to work with a somewhat heavy heart. And then something happened…we heard that the little girl had woken up. We then heard that she was speaking and walking around. We then heard that she was responding and acting almost completely normal. “What is this,” I wondered. Again, if I remember correctly either that day or the next the father brought his little girl back to the doctors and there she stood. A living, breathing, miracle. It can be described as nothing else. God had heard the prayers of His children and chosen to reach down from heaven and touch this little girl and give her back her life. It.Was.A.Miracle.

Many of us have been to Africa many times and we have seen more than one miracle. Sometimes it looked like this, sometimes it was God acting to avoid a terrible tragedy and sometimes it like a frog strangling rainstorm when it hadn’t rained for months and months. But each time it was obvious that God was still God, and He can do what He wants, when He wants. After all, He is God. For the skeptics out there, who think that God doesn’t do the miracle thing—that it died out in the old days—well, that little girl would beg to differ with you.

Tucked away in the book of Luke, incidentally, written by a physician in Jesus’ day, are some words that say it all. It says, “For nothing shall be impossible with God.” Nothing. Period. Seven words that can shake your world and this world. So, what is rocking your world today? COVID still keeping you up at night? Wondering about tomorrow or the next meal? Worried about our country? Well, I don’t know what God has planned—after all I’m in sales and not management—smile. But I do know that nothing is too big for Him to handle. Just like that little girl in Africa who discovered she could lay down and rest in Him—so can you. After all,…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

Makin’ Grits

Posted on August 11, 2022August 10, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus in John 10:10b

It was time for some grits. Well, after two weeks on the road traveling and doing God stuff it was so good to be home. Dorothy (the one from the Wizard of Oz) said it best…there is no place like home…and she was right. Over the last two weeks we did different things and slept in different beds and ate a lot of different foods. In the coming days and weeks, I will be writing about some of our adventures. But after all of that…this morning…it was time for something familiar. It was time for grits.

When I woke up and had breakfast in this place called home, I wanted something that was normal…something that would remind me I was indeed home. It shouldn’t surprise you that I turned to grits. For me, if there is something that says home, it is grits. Grits are more than a food. Grits are part of my heritage. Grits are wholesome. Grits are…grits. This morning’s grits started with a bowl of “cheater” grits cooked in the microwave. Trust me…grits on the stove or grits in the microwave are still stinking good. So, in the bowl went the grits, an amount of water that varies from day to day, a good shaking of salt and pepper, a small handful of bacon bits and finally, a wedge of Laughing Cow Light Swiss cheese. Can someone say, “Hallelujah?” Well, from the first bite till I scraped the bowl clean…it was heaven…it was good…it said, “Home.”

While I love grits, I also am honest enough to admit that just plain grits are well…plain. But when you add the good stuff, well, all I can say is “Shoot that thing.” The good stuff can make something plain…sing. It is true with grits, and it is true with life. You see, life can be just life but when you add the good stuff, life sings like a happy opera singer. What makes life sing is different for each person but for me the list is short and sweet. First, you add God to the mix and not just any god but Jehovah God…the One who made it all. The trees, the flowers, the mountains, and the rivers are just a few of His works. Look up and the stars and the planets all sing of His greatness. You know, Jesus once said that He had come to give us life and not only that but a life worth living…and I believe He did. Now don’t confuse God and religion. God is always good and religion by itself is just like plain grits…tasteless.

Another thing that makes my life sing is family and friends. You see, I don’t believe grits were made to be eaten plain. Grits is the foundation just waiting for the good stuff. We were never created to be loners on a desert island. No, we were made for each other. Again, each life is different, but each life should include others…the kind that enrich and fulfill us. For some it is a big family and for others it might be a family of one. It might be ten close friends or only one or two, but we all need others. Why not invite someone into your world today? I know for me that can sometimes be difficult, but it is worth the effort.

The third thing that we need to make our life sing is a trio of treats. They are love, gratitude, and contentment. Just like the cheese, bacon bits, and salt and pepper bring my bowl of grits to life, so do these three powerful life ingredients. Love is as essential as the air that we breathe and gratitude, being thankful for all we have instead of grumpy about what we don’t, is too. Oh, and when we are grateful…we are usually content. Throw all of this together and you have a life that sings…a life that is worth getting up to everyday.

You see, to have a full life, a life that is as sweet as the sweetest love song, doesn’t require titles, dollars, and stuff. No…a life that sings is so much more than that. All we must do is be willing to start. This morning’s breakfast of grits wasn’t hard…I mean that is one thing that even I can prepare. But it did require a start…it did require a beginning. So, today, let’s take that first step. Let’s pour in the bowl of our life a big dose of faith, love, gratitude, and contentment and then let’s sit down to the table of life and feast. Don’t know where or how to start? Why not ask God, the one many call, “Father?” You will find Him there ready and willing to help. You can rest assured that, “He’s got this.”

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Facing Down Mortality

Posted on August 10, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Hi Grits Family! Hey, my wife Judy and I are going to be “out of pocket” aka “not available” to write for the next couple of weeks. During that time, we decided to send out some of our past stories. I hope you enjoy the ones we selected and look forward to some “fresh Grits” in a couple of weeks. God bless. Bro. Dewayne

Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

I look and see my mortality. Now don’t think for a moment this is one of those “Debbie Downer” stories. In fact, in a way, it might be the best news you will hear all day, all week, well, for always. So, I am sixty-eight years old. I know, I can’t believe it either. And all around me are signs that I am mortal. Remember that—all of us are mortal. I have been at my present position as a pastor for 22 years. I came to the church I serve in 2000 when I was 46 years old. I must have dozed off because just like that, 22 years of life have ticked off the calendar. My children are married, I have eight grandchildren and Judy and I have now been married 46 years. And the best part? It has been, and is, a great ride.

But then I did the math. When, and if, the next 20 years tick off the clock called life, I will be 88 years old. I find that astounding. We Taylor boys don’t have a real good track record when it comes to longevity. Three of my four brothers, all older than me, have already moved to heaven. Our clock is ticking, and we don’t know when the last tick will come. It is a sobering thought. But stay with me.

I live my life by the calendar. I speak to my church every Sunday and some Wednesdays. It seems I no more finish one message before it is time to deliver the next. The weeks fly by. Every first of the month I speak on the radio on a local program called “The Baptist Hour.” My tag line is, “Can you believe another month has come and gone?” And the answer each month is, “No, I really can’t.” I remember on the first of February, after a speedy January, I made a joke about it being Christmas before we know it. July is past which means over half of this new year is in the rearview mirror. Time flies by. It is a sobering thought. But stay with me.

Part of “The Baptist Hour” is the reading of the funeral arrangements of those who recently died. Invariably there are several, often more than a few. I’m learning that too often the names being read belong to people my age or younger. Recently an acquaintance in our small town suddenly died—a massive heart attack. He was younger than me. That really caused me to stop and ponder. It was a sobering thought. But stay with me.

Here’s what I am learning. Time is relative. We are eternal beings made and destined to spend forever somewhere. That destination doesn’t depend on good or bad, church or no church, religion or not. Does that surprise you? You see, heaven isn’t for good people and hell isn’t for bad people. No, where we spend eternity is about forgiveness of sin and that forgiveness is a free gift from God to anyone…anyone…who asks. I believe faith in Jesus is the only way to heaven. I know that sounds narrow but when you consider that God invites everyone to the party—well, it is really pretty broad. We read in the Bible that the payment for sin is death and radically Jesus came for one purpose—to willingly die and pay that price.

So, if we are eternal beings and if we place our trust, our faith in this one of a kind, God-man named Jesus, that means that when we die we can spend eternity in this place called heaven. When Jesus said that if anyone would believe in Him, they would never die—that’s what He meant. And then He closes with that all important question, “Do you believe this?”

With Jesus in the equation, death isn’t the end, it is a beginning. That might sound wacky to you. However, before you chuck it out, I challenge you to check it out. Get a copy of the Bible and read the four different accounts or stories about Jesus—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You might find yourself intrigued and amazed.

I read a true story yesterday about a man’s perception of his morality. This guy happened to be a minister and he went to the doctor and got some sobering news. He was terminally ill with no chance of recovery. The doctor told him he had about a year to live. He left the doctor’s office and went to one of his favorite spots—you know, to kinda take it in. Now, allow me to let the man tell his story. “I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God’s own poetry to my soul. And I said, ‘I may not see you many more times, but mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and river, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea.’”

Wow…what wonderfully strong words. If this whole God story is true, and I honestly believe it is, then people who trust that Jesus is the path to God and heaven, will outlive the mountains and the rivers. We may change addresses, but we will live forever. I know this is probably a different kind of story than we usually share together, but I hope it will make us think about what happens next. For myself and so many others, it makes all the sense in the world—and beyond. I’m grateful for the eternal part but I also love the part of the story that says He is with me now—hot mess world and all. I can rest in Him and trust in Him because, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful

Contacts

Posted on August 9, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

He did it again. It was a love note from my Heavenly Father and at least for me…it was a big one. It all started with a nap. You see, every day after lunch I take a short nap. I have done it for at least 45 years. It goes something like this. Eat. Nap. Back to work. It seems as soon as lunch is done so am I. (It could have something to do with my 4:30 am wakeup time.) It is my understanding that the folks who live in Japan do this, and they live longer and are healthier. So, Monday, I ate a sandwich and then went to take my nap. Generally, it is about 15 or 20 minutes and as usual, that’s what happened. However, as I woke up, I sat up, and it was then that I messed up.

You see, accidentally and totally unintentionally, I touched my right eye as I sat up. It might have been one of those getting the momentum going in the right direction kind of thing. At any rate, I touched the eye where I wear my “mono vision.” I knew right away something changed. I have a test I perform to make sure my contact is doing its thing. I simply look at my watch and if I can read it, all is well. However, when I looked that day it was way past blurry. That meant my contact was either on the bed somewhere or lost in my eye. From the way things felt—it was lost in my eye. I called my eye doctor friend.

I explained that I thought my contact was lost in my eye and she kindly agreed to meet me there. That’s the kind of person she is—kind. I was soon at her office and in her eye checking chair. She looked and looked. Nothing. Next, she put in some dye to make the contact stand out and then even rolled my eye lid up to peek there. Nothing. Despite all her best efforts—no contact was to be found. We were pretty sure it had jumped out. Only time would tell the tale.

Well, throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening, every once in a while, I knew I could feel it. It would stick its little head out and when I went and looked it had already disappeared again. This happened again and again. I went to bed that night knowing my friend was still in there. Well, the next morning, it greeted me but at the same time alluded me. It was frustrating. It was going to be one of those things that make your day a little more difficult.

And then it happened. I was chatting with my wife Judy, and I felt it. I could tell it was right near the edge of my eye lid. I rushed to the bathroom and reached in, pinched and boom—I got it. Oh, happy days were here again! Talk about a game changer…you would have thought I won the lottery and in a way, I guess I had!

Here’s the best part! I knew it was a love note from my Dearest Daddy. You say, “Really?” And I say, “Absolutely.” You see He is a good, good Father who is into the details. He cares about the biggest things, and He cares about the smallest things. Paul, the guy who wrote most of the New Testament, said that He could and would do more than we can ever imagine. Trust me, it was no accident the contact suddenly made its appearance, and it was no accident that it was right where I could grab it. Yup…it was a love note.

So, I told Him thanks about a dozen times, and I figured I had to write this story. I had to take another opportunity to tell Him thanks by telling you about Him. I just had to share this big truth—God cares about the little things. Oh, and it doesn’t happen every time or all the time—nope, and that is what makes it special.

So, today, why not look around for a special love note from your Heavenly Father. If you think about it, even the fact that we are breathing His air is amazing! Whether it is a lost contact that is found or just a beautiful day in the neighborhood, remember to say, “Thank you.” Learning to see the little things and being grateful is better…in fact, it is a lot better. And as we learn to be grateful, well, we will recognize more and more that great truth, no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, Trials

Steel Gladiators

Posted on August 8, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.” Ecclesiastes 7:8

We were opposite each other—two fire breathing chariots just waiting. Well, that isn’t exactly how it happened but maybe it was. My wife Judy and I were returning from a trip to Kentucky where grits and a southern draw are standard issue. We were back in our town of Harrisburg and were going to swing by the church to check a couple of things for an event that evening. We were giving away some food boxes and wanted to make sure we were set to go. To get there we had to cross a busy intersection. I pulled up and that’s when I saw him sitting there. He was anxiously waiting for a break in the steady stream of cars. Even from that distance I could see his darting eyes as his sweaty palms gripped his steering wheel.

I pulled up on the opposite side of the road headed in the opposite direction. We were two men, to gladiators of automobiles, about to pass side by side. I knew he was there first, so he had the right a way…that was never in debate. I also knew there would be only a quick window to cross the road. There was no blinker on my opponent’s car—we would pass quickly like two ships in the night. I knew, too, that there was a chance that he would not follow the rules. Blinker or not, he might turn across my lane. Try as I might, I couldn’t read his mind or his intentions.

Suddenly there was a break in the traffic, my left foot moved from my brake to my accelerator, and I was sure the same was happening in the car opposite me. Like I said…two ships in the night…side by side in opposite directions. No deal. No challenge. And, then, yes, it happened.

Instead of going straight as his no blinker indicated he cut across in front of me and turned. I had fallen for the oldest trick in the book. It was the old “I’m really going to turn but I’m not going to tell you” trick! Well, I quickly hit my brakes as he quickly turned in from of my chariot. I confess. I gave him the two hands in the air, “Dude, what are you doing?” gesture and he responded with the two hands in the air, “Dude, I had the right of way” gesture. It was all over in a moment of time. Two gladiators of steel on two totally different wave lengths of communication that left both of us wondering. First, him wondering why I was upset when he clearly had the right of way and second, me wondering why he didn’t let me know he was going to turn in front of me. Hey…blinker equals turn. No blinker equals no turn. Dude.

Are you confused by now? Are you wondering what this is all about? Does any of it really matter? Probably the answer to all three of those questions is, wait for it, no. But it does show how easily it is to miscommunicate our intentions and it also shows just how easy it is for moments of waiting to escalate to moments of tension. And, amazingly, it doesn’t have to involve two gladiators of steel waiting at an intersection. It can easily be the one you are married to, or the ones you gave birth to, or the ones that you work with or, my favorite, the ones you sit next to in worship at church.

But the answer is always the same. Keep your foot on the brake till you know clearly what the other person’s intention is. Just wait, be patient, and most likely you will come out looking a little bit more like Jesus and the more gallant in the exchange. The writer of Ecclesiastes says, “Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride.” Hmmm…that’s good. We usually have more time than we think, and we all know the pleasure of letting someone go first. They smile and think, “What a nice person.” And most times, that beats beating someone across an intersection, or to a place in line or to a parking spot.

Ok, you gladiators of steel, all right you Walmart line cutters, it’s time to keep our foot on the brake and our hearts in our chest. Let’s determine that nothing is more important than for a Jesus follower to act like Jesus—at the intersection, in the line, at home or at church. Feeling challenged about now? I know, me too, that’s why it is so important to remember, “He’s got this.” So, ladies and gentlemen…start your engines. Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Out of Alignment

Posted on August 5, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Something told me I was a day late and a dollar short. A couple of years ago we bought a “new to us” car. It was a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta. I drove all the way up near St. Louis to look at their lot full of Jetta cars. Volkswagen had gotten in trouble about emissions and recalled all their diesel cars. It took them a couple of years to get them fixed and rerelease them to the market. Judy and I decided to dive into the diesel market and get one.

So, off I went to St. Louis. When I arrived, I saw dozens and dozens of VW Jettas. However, the problem was most of them were in pretty rough shape. Apparently as the owners turned them in, they decided to treat them like an unloved dog. Even after they cleaned them up it was pretty apparent, they had lived a hard-knock life. So, with my trusty salesman by my side, I went from car to car to car—with no luck. I’m particular about cars and these were not making the cut.

Finally, after checking almost every car in my price range, we found one that was not as perfect as I wanted, but it was the best one available. I drove it and liked it and before long it was ours. Driving it home I noticed that the VW emblem on the steering wheel was not pointing straight up. Hmmmm. But trying to control my perfectionism I chose to ignore it—for a while.

So, even though it was “Judy’s car”, it had to go. I asked my super mechanic, Chris, if we could pull the steering wheel and straighten it up. He said, “You don’t have a steering wheel problem, you have a front-end problem. You need a front-end alignment.” Well, what about that. I had noticed the car was not wanting to stay straight on the highway, but I didn’t think too much about it. I should have.

After we got the front end aligned and sure enough there it was—the VW emblem was straight up and down. Yay—I said. Problem solved…and it was. However, the problem was that I had waited too late. Then, a little later I was looking at my front tires and realized that the outside tread was virtually gone…outta there. My choice to ignore and live with a problem ended up costing me nearly $500.00 dollars for new tires. Bummer. Big bummer. Oftentimes, procrastination can be very expensive.

Life can be like a car out of balance. It got me thinking, what in our lives might be a little misaligned, out of balance? What habit, what misplaced priority, what sins are we hiding, ignoring, or choosing to not take care of? I know, it seems easier not to worry about it, but truth be known, the longer we wait the more it costs. The longer we wait the bigger the consequences and the greater the regrets. It has been said that if you aim for the moon and are less than one degree off you will end up somewhere, but it won’t be the moon…it might be Mars.

Solomon, one of the smartest guys in Bible, said it best. He said that we should learn to trust in the Lord with everything we’ve got, and don’t try to figure it out on our own. He goes on to say that in all our ways check with Him and He will make our paths straight. Make. Our. Paths. Straight. In other words, if the steering wheel on our life is crooked, He can give us the realignment that we need. He can make our lives straight.

Well, I don’t know about you, but I think I will save the $500.00 next time and head to the alignment place as soon as I notice something’s going wrong. I think I’m gonna do the same thing with life. When my “VW emblem” is a little crooked or I find myself pulling away from the One who loves me most—I’m gonna head to the Master mechanic and let Him check me out. I can trust Him. The Creator always knows the creation best. I’ll rest in the waiting room while He works. I know He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful

Settled

Posted on August 4, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Hi Grits Family! My wife Judy and I are going to be “out of pocket” aka “not available” to write for the next couple of weeks. During that time, we decided to send out some of our past stories. I hope you enjoy the ones we selected and look forward to some “fresh Grits” in a couple of weeks. God bless. Bro. Dewayne

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

Well, the issue is finally settled. It is really a difficult thing to be the baby of the family especially when it is obvious that after seven previous tries mom and dad finally got it right. Yup…that was me. Number eight in a litter of eight. Sometimes, because I was the baby of eight, my other brothers and sisters got a little jealous.

One of the stories that I was raised with was the fact that I really wasn’t a natural born part of the family. In fact, they told me that mama and daddy had found me in a ditch in the poor part of town and felt sorry for me and brought me home. Now I understand how that story got started. I mean I was so much cuter and smarter than my brothers and sisters it seemed pretty apparent that I was an outsider. Yup, they would rag on me big time, but it didn’t bother me. I knew I was special.

I grew up and the story about me being “found” kind of faded away. I knew it was all a joke, but every once in a while, it gives me pause. Hmmm, what if, I wonder, could it be? Naw…I was pretty sure; it was not true. As time passed and technology grew, someone started a company that would allow you to check your DNA. The results would tell you where you were from and where your ancestors lived. One of my older brothers decided to spend the money and have his checked. The results were lack luster.

I always envisioned being related to William Wallace or some other great hero. But when his results came in it turned out that we were 83% plain ole Englishmen. Yup…right there in Northern Europe. I guess my ancestors got mad at the king or queen and took a ship to America. His results did show that we were 17% Scott Irish which meant there was about a one in five chance that I had an Irish brogue hidden somewhere in me. However, it wasn’t enough for me to go buy a kilt!

But then I thought, “Well, those are his results but are they, my results?” I mean if the “we found you in a ditch story” was true then his story couldn’t be mine. So, guess what? For Father’s Day, Judy spent the money, and I was able to spit in a tube and send my DNA off in the mail. It took several weeks but guess what? Yup, you guessed it. My results were exactly-the same as my brothers. What that really means is that we had the same father and mother, and I was the best looking and smartest because mom and dad finally got it right. Smile.

I’m just pulling your leg. I knew I was part of the family, there is a whole lot of family resemblance in me. I also knew that old story was just a joke, but I always enjoyed playing along. It made me feel kinda…special. As you have heard before…my brothers and sisters called me “precious”—mainly because I was. Smile. But I want you to know that you are special too. We all are. We are all wonderful creations of God. Like someone said, “God doesn’t make junk.”

I was born into the Taylor clan by an act of God’s grace. Period. I could have been born anywhere or at any time, but by His grace I was born to Alston and Leslie back in 1954. That wasn’t the only time I experienced His grace. I was born another time too, back on October 26, 1976. That was the day I was born again and adopted into the family of God. You see, each person who trusts Christ is in the family by a new birth (that’s where we get our spiritual DNA) but also by the power of adoption (that’s where we get all the rights and privileges of a full-grown son.). From the moment I believed in Jesus, I had all the rights of a person who has known Jesus for decades. Amazing.

So, I’m a Taylor down to my core…my DNA proves it. But I am also a “tailor-made” (I couldn’t resist) child of God. Born again by His grace and adopted into the family as His son. There is no higher privilege than that. And it is an open invitation. God invites each and every person into the family if they are willing to believe and trust in His Son. It is all a matter of faith and His grace. His Book says, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”

I know I use that verse often, but it just never grows old. I am a child of God, and He is my Dearest Daddy. Not because of who I am, but because of His love for me and His amazing grace. How about that?

If you should ever wonder who you really belong to, can I make a suggestion? Why not settle the issue and become a child of His? You will never wander or wonder again. He’s just waiting for you to come to Him and rest. He wants you to know He’s got this, for now and for all eternity. Bro. Dewayne

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

Trust

Posted on August 3, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:24

It seems so easy…but it just not. In the Disney movie Aladdin, the central figure named Aladdin (bet you saw that one coming) and the beautiful young princess are in a difficult situation. Options are limited because the bad guys are just about to win the day–grab her and jail him. He reaches out his hand, looks her in the eyes and says, “Do you trust me?”

Well, you have probably seen the movie a dozen times, but the bottom line is she does, they escape, and eventually live happily ever after. But not before one more precarious situation, one more extended hand and one more time the all-important question asked, “Do you trust me?” She does. She extends her hand and well, you know.

Times like these times help us begin to understand just how difficult it might have been for these two fictitious characters. To not trust meant certain disaster. To trust meant risk. It’s a hard call–well especially in the movie because Aladdin wasn’t some dashing, super strong, super-hero but a, gulp, “street rat,” a nobody, from the wrong side of town.

But what about us–what about our plot–our uncertainty. Well, there is an extended hand and there is that all important question, “Do you trust me?” But that’s where things change. The hand extended to us doesn’t belong to a “street rat” but rather to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. It belongs to the One who speaks, and a billion stars begin to twinkle. And the one on the receiving end? Oh, that would be us–the one He calls son, daughter, child of mine.

I love Psalm 37:24. Speaking of God and us, it says, “Though they [that would be us] stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” Never fall, never perish, never. Let that soak in. The word picture is that of a person—perhaps a small child or maybe a frail senior adult—who has lost their footing and consequently is on their way down to certain pain and suffering. Then, at the last minute, the hand reaches down and takes hold, and they are saved.

That has to be what caused the prophet Habakkuk 3:17-18 to say, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18. yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

It’s not a hard call really. I mean He’s all powerful and loves us like no prince has ever loved his princess…cares for us more than any husband his bride. He has a perfect track record. Never fails…no, not once. Regardless of how scary the days were or may become, He is bigger, He is stronger, and He can be trusted. So, listen carefully today. Tune out or turn down the volume of a screeching world and you will probably hear a soft whisper saying, “Do you trust me?” And look with Spirit eyes and you might even see a hand extended. You don’t even need to try and take hold for He’s got you and yes, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, food, friends, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, Trials

Blueberry Crumble

Posted on August 2, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. 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.” Revelation 21:3-4

I love dessert. My journey with dessert goes back to my earliest memories. Whether it was a biscuit with cane syrup and butter or a cake or pie from mama’s oven—I loved dessert. Sometimes when there was nothing else, I would grab a teaspoon from the drawer and shovel in a teaspoon of sugar. Hey, when it’s all you have—it’s all that you have.

Two dessert memories spring from my earlier years. I remember my mama having to have surgery when I was about 10 years old. Two things happened during that time that were monumental. First, dad took care of us. Daddy was a bring-home-the-bacon kind of guy and Momma took care of the kids and the house. Well, with her in the hospital and daddy not cooking much—things were a bit different in the kitchen. I remember one night we were coming home from the hospital and daddy stopped at a place called Milligan’s Burgers and I had my first taste of a fast-food hamburger. It was kinda like a Krystal Burger and it was a big deal.

Something else that happened during Momma’s hospital stay showed her love for me and solidified my love for desserts. During her stay, the “three-little-ones” and my daddy made our nightly visit to the hospital. We walked into her room and there she was in her hospital bed with the tray thing (much like today) beside her bed. She said, “Dewayne, I saved you something from my supper.” There on her tray in a small bowl was a serving of “blueberry crunch.” It was like a small blueberry crunch top pie and it was delicious. To this day I never eat anything blueberry with a crunch top without thinking about my mama’s love.

Years later, my oldest brother and I were visiting another brother out in Texas. It was a man-trip that included driving all night, camping in the mountains, and eating. When we got back from the mountain part, we had a last supper of sorts, and his wife made cherry cheesecake. Well, I thought I had died and gone to heaven and ate a whole lot more than I should have. After supper we hit the road for the long drive back to Florida and before long, I wished I could die and go to heaven. All that cherry cheesecake started rolling around in my belly and we had to make more than one stop—and it wasn’t for gas.

Yup…dessert and I go way back. When we go visit someone for supper, I always enjoy the food and fellowship, but I also always hold back a little room for dessert. I know the best is yet to come. The story is told of a woman who wanted to be buried with a spoon in her casket. When asked why, she said, “Well, when I go to someone’s house for supper, the hostess will lean down and say, “Be sure and keep your spoon.” I always smile when that happens because I know that means that there is dessert, and the best is yet to come.” I like that.

In this crazy, upside-down world of the never-ending story of COVID, racial injustice, violence and crazy politics, we probably should all carry a spoon in our pocket. You ask, “Why should we do that?” Well, it would remind us that this crazy world is not all the end. It would remind us that for every person who is Christ follower, who can call God Dearest Father, there is more—much more. That beyond this life is eternal life—that the best is surely yet to come.

I am so grateful for the life that God has given me. Like a delicious meal filled with good old Southern comfort food, I enjoy each day…mostly. Honestly though, life is filled too with warts, bumps and more than a few bruises. But it seems like at the table of this banquet called life, I can hear the Whisperer lean over and say, “Be sure and keep your spoon.” When that happens, I know He is reminding me that the best is yet come. As good as life is here, it is going to be a million times better there. The Bible speaks of heaven as a place of no sickness, no pain, no sorrow, no separation and no more death. It is like dessert on steroids. I. Can’t. Wait.

Well, I know I need to keep my love affair with desserts in check. Both my doctor and my wife Judy remind me of that. But each time I get to indulge, you can take it to the bank that I’m gonna remember that there is more than this hot mess coming and it is going to be good. You know, sometimes when Judy is cooking, I go in and sneak a taste. I love to sneak a bite of cookie dough when she isn’t looking. It’s just a sample of the finished product. Take time today to crawl up with Jesus and take a rest. It will just be a taste of what is coming in eternity…just enough to keep you wanting as you wait. And then, remember this…that the Master Maker of dessert—God—has all this under control. Yup…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne