thankful – Page 103 – Grits with Grace

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

Stinky Feet

Posted on November 3, 2020November 2, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:15

I smelled it as soon as I opened the door. When God made us, He did a really good job. In one place His Word says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. In another it says that we are made just a little lower than the angels. And then at the beginning He says that we are made in His image. Wow…that is all pretty impressive. When God was working on our blueprint, He decided to give us five senses—five ways to interact with our world around us. Those five senses are touch, sight, hearing, smell, and taste. All five of them are incredible and it is almost impossible to pick one over the other. For a foodie like me, it would seem that taste would be my number one, but I’m just not sure.

If smell isn’t number one, it certainly is a close second. Smell enhances our taste and can trigger so many different emotions. Smell can change what is going on in a whole room. Many years ago, I went through a period when I had—oh, I hate to admit it—stinky feet. It was bad. We had some good friends and we were frequently at their house. To this day, I am in the habit of taking off my shoes when I am in the house. I think it is a throwback to my Southern genes. Anyway, when I got to these folks’ house, I would kick my shoes off and what was in the shoes suddenly spread throughout the room. It wasn’t pretty. I’m trying to say, it was really bad.

Within minutes, perhaps seconds, moans and groans filled the air along with the atrocious odor. There was an immediate rebellion and demands to stuff my stinky feet back into my shoes. I had no choice. The good news is that it turns out there was something about my walk-around, everyday shoes that caused the odor. When I changed shoes, the offensive odor went with them. But to this day, I (and maybe you) should be aware that certain things can cause certain reactions—and they are not always good. But, fortunately sometimes they are.

Enter Bath and Body “Leaves” candles. You probably know that Bath and Body is famous for several things but their three wick candles are—well, wicked. And one of our favorite scents is “Leaves.” It is just the essence of fall. During this time of the year I can walk into my house after a long day and as soon as I open the door a sense of calm and “all-things-good” just washes over me. I love it. Try as I may, I can’t describe it—it is just good. And then it happens.

Slowly, the longer I stay in the area where the candle is, the rich aroma of fall suddenly disappears. That smell that made me feel so relaxed seems to mysteriously disappear. But wait—don’t lose hope. If I go back outside, if I go upstairs and come back—it comes back. Once again, the rich aroma of fall invades my senses and I am changed. This cycle goes on hour after hour and day after day. In the mornings, I like another candle in my home office. It is called Teakwood Mahogany. It is a man candle. After a few minutes…I smell nothing. Judy opens the door and comes into my office and is instantly overwhelmed—almost offended—by the strong smell. Amazing.

The truth is, it can be dangerous. It isn’t dangerous if it is the scent of a candle, but what if it is the scent of love in your marriage? What if it is the scent of faith in your Dearest Daddy? What if it is the scent of contentment—in all things being well? If and when that happens—it becomes dangerous. When the aroma of life becomes like stinky feet or as bland as an unscented candle—well, it can and will lead down paths that we don’t want or need to take. Marriages go south, faith downs in fear, and discontentment creeps into every corner of our lives. At best we become unhappy, but worse, we began to throw away the things most precious to us. I am certain that in this COVID hot mess some of the things most precious to us have been cast aside like leftover food. Last night’s spaghetti becomes today’s stinky garbage. We must beware.

I think, like leaving the room refreshes the aroma, we need to keep moving. We must avoid becoming stagnate. You know what happens to a stream that stops flowing don’t you? It becomes a slimy pit. So, we need to find ways to keep our marriages, our faith, our contentment, fresh, by stirring our lives with His grace—with His presence. We have to make sure the aroma we are giving off is pleasant and not “stinky feet.”

Paul, one of the Bible writer guys, says, “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.” Well said, Paul, well said. What kind of aroma are you sharing with your family, your church, your workplace, your neighborhood? Is it the sweet smell of love, faith and contentment, or is it the atrocious odor of self and sin? I know one of the best things I ever did was ditch those shoes. Bye, bye stinky feet. What do we need to get rid of so we won’t be offensive but rather be welcoming? Nothing smells as sweet in our lives like the aroma of Jesus. So, sit down, pull off your shoes and rest with Him. He’s got this.

gratitude, life, loving others, missions, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Don’t Drink the Water

Posted on November 2, 2020November 1, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5

It was my first real mission trip. In 2003, I was given the opportunity to go on a mission trip to Bulgaria. In case you don’t know what a mission trip is, it is when you go to a different part of the world and do Jesus stuff. It might be medical, it might be teaching, it might be giving food away or most anything else that Jesus might do. Bulgaria is up by the Black Sea and snack dab in the middle of the old Soviet block. It was a different world. Imagine stepping back in time to the late fifties or early sixties and that’s where we landed.

When we arrived, it was instant culture shock. The food was different, the language was different, the people were different…everything was different. And there was one big rule—don’t ever drink the water. I was a little nervous and a whole lot excited. Get ready, boys, this is the great adventure. We were given an assignment and my new friend Mike, and I were sent to work a couple of hours from the rest of the group. We were up by the Blue Danube River and not far from the North Sea. We would be working with the Roma people. These folks, also known as Gypsies, were the outcasts of their society…the poorest of the poor and broken.

When we arrived, we were shown a nice apartment where we would stay. It was very recently remodeled and look almost American. We began working right away and starting going to remote villages. Through an interpreter we would talk to folks, I would sing and then one, or both of us, would teach about Jesus. The people were so kind. I remember I was introduced to Turkish coffee for the first time in my life. As you might know with Turkish coffee, they simply dump the grounds in the pot and boil them. They poured me a cup and I took a slug. First response—I almost choked on the grounds. Second response—I didn’t know what to do with the grounds, so I chewed them. Yup…the best part of waking up is with coffee grounds in your cup.

Later in the week, and near the end of our time with the people, we were given the opportunity to do some preaching down on the city square. It was pretty awesome. I sang a song and then preached…and let me tell you I preached. They might not have understood everything I said, but they knew I was excited about it. After I finished it was hot and I was thirsty. A nice street vendor offered me some red Kool Aid. I was so grateful. He filled up a glass and I drank the whole cup in one swig. Man, it was so good, so fruity, and so made with the water… I was not supposed to drink. I never gave it a second thought…until later that night.

After we got back to the apartment, we had supper and went to bed. About 11:00 pm we heard this awful noise and it came from the bathroom. Well, it turns out, a majority of the new plaster ceiling in the bathroom had fallen—filling the sink, the toilet and the floor with plaster pieces. We quickly decided we could clean it up in the morning. There is a great verse in the Bible that says, “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning.” Well, that verse took on new meaning for me that night.

About 2:00 am I was suddenly awakened by what can only described as the worse cramping and nausea I have ever felt. Remember the red Kool Aid? Well, it was revenge time. I quickly went to the bathroom only to rediscover the sink and toilet totally filled with fallen plaster. It wasn’t a pretty picture. I can only remember trying to clean out the sink and the toilet before the impending disaster hit. I barely made it. Long story short, I was a regular attender to the bathroom all night and into the next day. Sure enough, there was weeping thought the night and joy was scarce. The only “joy” in the morning was when the guys went to the local pharmacy and bought me a Depends. HaHa. Thanks guys.

Well, I was sick for the next day or so, but before we got on the plane for home, I was better. Someone let my wife Judy know that I was really sick and that she should look for the insurance policy. Ok, it wasn’t that bad, but I thought it was. I did learn a couple of really good lessons. One…when you do something that God wants you to do…it doesn’t mean that everything is going to be rosy. In fact, you may end up with a bouquet of weeds. But, I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Second…when the rule book says “don’t drink the water, DON’T drink the water. Write it on your hand, write it in your Bible, put duct tape over your mouth, but DON’T drink the water. And by the way, when God says don’t do something, there is also a reason why. He’s not being mean…He is being loving.

Well, we made it home and that trip led to many more…not to Bulgaria but rather to Africa. And guess what? We definitely couldn’t drink the water there either! Guess what again? I didn’t drink the water, because I remembered a lesson that I had learned a couple of years earlier. It just one way that God can take the worst things and teach us something good. Yay God. So, as we journey through these “Bulgarian” days and should we forget and “drink the water,” you will find a loving Heavenly Father who will walk you through the hardest times. He won’t walk out on you, ever. You will find that you can always rest in Him because He’s got this.

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

Nothing is Impossible

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

And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:34-35, 37

It was almost unbelievable. My wife, Judy, runs an Airbnb. Airbnb was founded in California by a couple of guys who needed to make some cash. Since there was a shortage of places to stay in the city where they lived, they decided to rent a spare space they had as a nightly rental. They threw an air mattress on the floor and ran an ad. What happened next was just amazing. The room was booked all the time and well, the rest is history. Today it is a multi-billion dollar corporation that works as a clearing house for people who have property they want to rent on a nightly basis. One of those is us.

We had a two bedroom apartment over our garage that was sitting empty. Judy researched and worked hard, and now we have a business that is a supplement to our household income. As a side benefit, we get to meet a lot of people from all over the United States and sometimes from overseas. Judy loves to host people, so it is just a win all the way around.

As I said, we get to meet some pretty wonderful people. One of our favorites bordered on almost incredible. We’ve had lots of really good people stay with us and a lot of them are Christians. But the first fall we were renting, we had a younger couple stay with us and they began to tell us a bit of their story. I was chatting with the husband while Judy was chatting with the wife. I thought I heard the word “grandfather” and the name “Kenneth Taylor.” So, I pushed pause on my conversation with her husband and said, “Excuse me, did you say that Kenneth Taylor was your grandfather?” And she replied, “Yes.” We had read his children’s story books to our girls many times, so I had to know the story.

Kenneth Taylor was a regular walk around guy who loved Jesus—a lot. He really wanted his children to know God like he did. Sadly, there wasn’t a scripture translation available that they could understand. Back in those days it was the King James Version (KJV) and it was written on a grade level way too high for kids. He got the idea to paraphrase the Bible into a language that was easy to understand. He wanted his ten kids to understand God’s Word like he did. In 1954, he had to ride a commuter train about an hour each way to work in Chicago, so he came up with a plan to paraphrase the New Testament into modern English during his commute.

For seven years—seven years, he would put his Bible on the seat next to him and put a yellow tablet on his leg and he would literally read and then write—read and then write. He started with the gospels and went from there. When he got finished he called his new paraphrase, “Living Letters” and it was released in 1962. Well, he quickly found out that the Christian world was not ready for that—they were still struggling with anything besides KJV. No one was interested in publishing Living Letters. So do you know what he did?

He and his wife took their limited savings and begin publishing Living Letters. The Living Letters would later be called “The Living Bible.” Slowly, ever so slowly, he began selling this paraphrase of the Bible and then something happened. The Billy Graham Association called and asked if they could publish a special edition to give away at their crusades. They wanted something that they could give to new Christians when they became Jesus followers and they thought the Living Bible would be just the thing. They ordered and purchased half a million copies. It was a huge success. Oh and along the way he started a new publishing company. If you follow Christian publishing you just might recognize it—Tyndale House Publishing. How amazing is that?

Just think—an ordinary, walk around guy who loved Jesus, decided to do something about something. He was very intelligent and way committed, but really, he was just an ordinary man who loved Jesus. And the paraphrase of the Bible he created on a yellow tablet strapped to his leg has helped millions get to know Jesus or know Him better. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t fast, but he stuck with it and God used him in a big way.

So, what about you? What niggle do you have? What thing is there that God is maybe, just maybe, calling you, leading you, to do? What ministry does He want you to lead or birth? What way can you bring some light into this way too dark world? One of the greatest miracles in the world involved a young Jewish girl who was maybe as young as 14 or 15 years old. God chose her to give birth to His Son. She was just an ordinary, walk around girl who said yes to God. When she said, “How can this be since I’ve never been with a man?” God just said, “Hey, with Me anything is possible.” Anything is possible. I know, in our day, everything seems impossible. We can’t seem to get anything right. But that’s only because we are excluding the One who can make it happen. Remember what God said…with Me anything is possible. When we choose to put God back in the mix of our lives, well, there’s just no telling what can happen. Hey, I’m writing stories and having the time of my life. I’ve always been too busy and God just sorta, kinda slowed the world down. There you go. I hope you will never forget Kenneth Taylor’s story and I hope you will never forget that God wants to use us to do something big for Him. Don’t let the unknown scare you—it’s just a new adventure about to start. You can rest in Him. He’s got this.

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, Southern born, thankful

Forty-Five Years Ago

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

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32

It was forty-five years ago today. My life has always been steeped in church, God, and stuff. I think my older brother had something to do with that. Dad tended to be a CEO attender—you know—Christmas and Easter only. But even with that said there were other ways that he clearly showed that he and God were on good speaking terms. Two of my favorite memories are of him praying. One time he was down on his knees leading us as a family in prayer. He never stood taller. The other happened when I came home late from a date and found him talking to our Dearest Father, hands clasped and head bowed.

Now, mama was more faithful at church except when she hit a bump or two. She liked to attend and she would take us with her. No questions asked. She sang, she led one of the girl’s classes, and she too was on good terms with Jesus. But there were a couple of times when her heart got hurt and she would sit out for a little while. It was then my oldest brother would take over the taxiing job and make sure I got to church. To this day I am grateful that he did that. Because of him habitually taking me, there has never been a time when I didn’t go to church. That was good but what happened forty-five years ago was far better.

Right out of high school I joined the Air Force and ended up stationed in Valdosta, Georgia at Moody Air Force Base. Since church was such a regular part of my calendar I made it a point to go—a lot. One Wednesday night I decided to go to one of the local churches. So I got there, opened the side door and right across the room was Judy Allen. She was beautiful and right there and then I decided I liked that church—a lot.

I started attending regularly for two reasons. It was what I was used to doing and Judy was there. We started dating right away and before too long we were engaged. She was probably too young and I was probably too old but, hey, that is sometimes the way of love. Well, in June of 1975 she met someone else—another guy. Fortunately for me it was Jesus. She, like me, was raised in church but she discovered that going to church and knowing Jesus were two entirely different things. Jesus waltzed into her life and she was like a new person—an even better person—better than I deserved for sure.

Well, a few months went by and at church one morning, October 26 to be exact, I bumped into the same Man she had met. Unexpectedly the pastor told a story about a man who had gone to church all his life and then realized he had never met Jesus. You might say he was religious, but not a Jesus follower. When I heard about him, I realized that was me—I was the same way—way too religious and way short on knowing Jesus as my best friend. That morning in Valdosta, Georgia at about 10:45 in the morning I met Jesus and my life changed forever. Jesus didn’t make me perfect that day but He sure made me forgiven. He put me on a new road and well, it has been amazing.

So, for forty-five years I have walked with Jesus and here I sit today, a pastor for thirty-eight of those years and writing stories. And Judy, well, in June of 1976, we decided to walk together and we just never stopped. Me, Judy, and Jesus—it has been quite the journey. For the past forty-five years, every year, I have celebrated two birthdays. The first is January 6, the day I was physically born. But I also celebrate October 26, the day I met Jesus and was spiritually born.

Every time I write a story I love to put a big truth in it about God. Well this story is a bit different—this time the story is Jesus and what He did for me and wants to do for you. Remember, don’t make the mistake I did—confusing religion and church with Jesus. They are not the same—He is a lot better. He said that we could know the truth and the truth would set us free. Well, the truth is He loves you, no matter what, more than you can imagine. The truth is, He wants you to trust Him, to rest in Him. The truth is He’s got this. Trust me, I know.

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel, wisdom

The Lone Ranger

Posted on October 20, 2020October 19, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.” Luke 10:33

Who was that masked man? Well, back in the old days…no wait…I mean the really old days when the first two numbers of the year were 19, there was a television show called “The Lone Ranger.” He was a really good guy and had an Indian (maybe that should be Native American) sidekick named Tonto. The Lone Ranger also had a horse named Silver. It was a great show—even in black and white. The show had two famous lines. The first was when the Lone Ranger was about to take off on his trusty horse Silver. He would command, “Hi-yo Silver, Away.” Invariably, the horse would rear up and off they would go. The second famous line occurred when the Lone Ranger did his job and did away with a bad guy. Also invariably the bad guy would say, “Who was that masked man?” It was of course…the Lone Ranger.

Well, these days, history has started repeating itself only we don’t have one masked man…we have millions. Oh but wait, we not only have masked men we have masked women…and boys…and girls…and babies. Thanks to the COVID, we have all become Lone Rangers and we find ourselves asking, “Who was the masked man?” I am absolutely certain I have ignored several church members at the store simply because I didn’t recognize them. Equally as bad I have carried on 15 minute conversations with complete strangers thinking they were someone I knew. I am totally confused.

Today though the Lone Ranger—the ultimate good guy—took on a new meaning. It wasn’t the Lone Ranger—it was the Road Ranger! We were traveling down to Gainesville, Florida to officiate at my Aunt Maryjo’s service. She was my daddy’s baby sister and the last of that generation. As we crossed into Florida, we eventually hit Interstate 10 heading East. We stopped at a rest stop because we needed to rest. It is a long way to Gainesville, Florida. My wife and I were stretching our legs and we walked by this really cool truck. It was some kind of official vehicle and had caution lights, big bumpers, a special receptacle on the front of the truck for jumping cars and all kinds of stuff in the back. It was a man truck only a man wasn’t driving it.

You see, on the side of the truck were the words, FDOT Road Ranger. Beneath that it said, “A free (did you get that FREE) service sponsored by State Farm. Standing next to the truck was a lady in a uniform. From the signage I kinda thought I knew what it they did, but I decided to ask. “Ma’am, so do you go and help people that are broken down on the road?” She replied they did. If someone has a flat tire, they will help them change it. If they have a dead battery…they will jump them. And I suppose if you run out of gas, they have some on board to get you to the next station. Well, I told her I thought that was pretty awesome and thanked her for her kindness. She once again told me it was sponsored by State Farm but I thanked her for her service to others.

I think that it is awesome that a company would sponsor a program like this. When a traveler was at great need and when a company could take advantage of that—they offer free help. Can you even imagine the comfort when “The Lone Ranger” showed up to help? Can you imagine when the driver asked, “How much?” and the answer was “no charge?” I’m telling you that is a breath of fresh air in what can be considered a pretty stale world.

Well, Judy said, “You know, I think that would make a good story.” I think she was absolutely right. I mean we live in a world where so many folks are broken down beside the road of life. They are hot, bothered, discouraged, battered and beaten. What if we were to become the Road Rangers along life’s road and began helping people…loving people. Imagine the look on their faces when they realize we helped not to get paid, but rather just to help. And, what if we were careful to make sure that they knew it was all because of what God had done for us. Can you imagine?

I think I would like to be a Road Ranger…I mean really. I don’t have the skill set but I do like helping people. Well, truthfully, I better stick to preaching but I can, I should be a Road Ranger on the road of life. We all should. You know that story in the Bible where the least likely guy helps the guy who had been beat up and robbed. Remember how he went over the top to help? Well, he was being a Road Ranger—for Jesus and that is exactly what we should do.

So keep this little fact tucked away in your travel log, if you breakdown on any major road in Florida, somewhere not too far away will be a Road Ranger to help you. It is a real comfort to know that they are close by…ready and willing to help. It’s even better knowing that Jesus is always there waiting and wanting to help all those broken down on the road of life. Go ahead and place the call—or pray the prayer. Let Him know you need Him and He will be right there. Until He arrives, just sit back and rest in the assurance that help is on the way. Remember, He’s got this.

Family, fear, Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

Master of the Winds

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

For I am the Lord, I do not change…” Micah 3:6

The winds of change are blowing. If we are totally truthful, they are howling like a category five hurricane. And trust me, that can be devastating. I was watching the Weather Channel yesterday morning and they were doing a piece on Hurricane Michael that roared ashore two years ago as a “cat five” hurricane. It struck the Florida panhandle with horrific results. Mexico Beach was ground zero and to this day that community remains changed. All the preparation in the books could not have prepared them for what happened, but the bottom line is many more lives would have been lost if they hadn’t been ready.

I enjoy…smile…watching the price of gas change in Harrisburg. For some reason we are enjoying some of the lowest gas prices in the area. But if you don’t like them…just wait…because they are going to change. Whether it be a nickel or a quarter, they go up and down. By the way, to help you with the price changes, remember this. In 2008, the gas in Harrisburg was $3.47 a gallon so we can all agree to be grateful that it has changed in a good way since then.

Now all this up and down stuff at the moment doesn’t bother me because it doesn’t affect me. Why? Well, I drive two diesel cars and at the moment those prices are nice and steady…just the way I prefer it. That might change tomorrow…but not today.

That’s one of my favorite things about God—He simply doesn’t change. With Him there’s no going up or down—ever… never. He never had a beginning and will never have an end (despite what our liberal “friends” think) and throughout all that time, He has never changed. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.” That’s good news for the reason stated in the verse—He won’t change His mind about me or you. Pretty awesome.

Because of the COVID and the zillion opinions about it and the election, and the zillion opinions about that…our whole world is in a flux, but God’s plan for redemption and how we spread His Word doesn’t change. Someone said while methods may change, the message never does. The Gospel, the Good News is still, good news. He is going to fulfill His purpose regardless. And in this crazy economy where things change in price all the time—His hasn’t changed. His gift of eternal life that cost His Son His life, still costs us nothing. Nothing. He loved us that much. He loved you that much.

A million things are going to change today but there is One that will not—Jesus. The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Period. Someone said a real friend never changes and that is so true of Jesus Christ. He is going to love me no matter what. If I’m having a bad day—He still loves me. If I fail in something today, He still loves me. If I gain weight—yup…still loves me. Like the song says, “His love never runs out on me.” He doesn’t avoid me—He seeks me out. That is pretty amazing. Well, as you drive by the gas station today be sure and check the prices. They have probably changed overnight. But if you check the Book, you will find Him and His promises are the same. Last night before you went to bed it was true that you could rest in Him…and it is true this morning. And do you know what else was true last night and still holds this morning? He’s still got this. Always has, always will. How about that?

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

Robbed by Mr. Urgency

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

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

I was robbed. This is one of those stories I really don’t want to write but I believe at the same time it’s gonna help someone…besides me. I have been writing stories five days a week now since March. It has been an incredible journey. I’ve said this before, but it all started on a whim. The COVID hot mess was just gaining steam and I felt led to write a story to encourage some folks. I am not a Facebook person but that was the only avenue I had. So, I wrote it and posted it on my page. Amazingly, more than several dozen people read it and most wrote a comment. Those comments were what stirred me on to keep writing. I decided to answer every comment.

Like utility poles whisking by on a fast moving train, the days went by. I would write, many of you would write and I would read and write back. It was so encouraging. It was like a drink of spring water on a hot day. And then it happened. In the rush to write, I forgot to take the time to read. I got busier, and busier and it seemed all I had time to do was write and then write some more. I would occasionally grab a comment here or there but that was about all I could manage. I had run smack-dab into Mr. Urgent. Judy would help out and read a couple to me, but the bottom line is I let the urgency of the moment rob me of that drink of cold water. I felt like I had failed you…but just as importantly, I had failed myself. You see, I was needing what you were saying…desperately.

A week or so ago I determined to go back a week to read what you all had said. I was gonna do better. So, I did. I read, I wrote, and I was encouraged. But then, thanks to Mr. Urgent I found myself so far behind that I said, “There’s no use trying.” The good news, and boy do I need some, the good news, is that those precious jewels are safely stored on Facebook and soon I will journey back and read your notes of encouragement and I will be refreshed. I will smile and I will remember why I do what I do.

As I am writing this, I realize that for me, and perhaps many of you, this isn’t the only time this has happened. There is something else that Mr. Urgent can keep us from reading, something else that is of even greater importance—God’s Word. I don’t know your background, but even if it doesn’t include a lot of God, this Book is nothing short of incredible. Written over several millennia by about 40 authors, this Book is God’s love letter to us. It is as multifaceted as the most brilliant diamond. It is amazing.

What I find so impressive is that when you open it at the front and till you close it at the back, it has one theme—that God so loved this broken and imperfect world that He gave His only Son that anybody—let that soak in—anybody that believes in Him can have eternal life. It really is amazing and it really is true. As you journey through it you find stories of imperfect people loved and rescued by this infinitely powerful God. And honestly, the story doesn’t always end like we would want. But it always ends with one undeniable truth: God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.

Thank you for reading and writing those encouraging comments. I may be slow getting there but I hope none of them will be wasted. And also, watch out for Mr. Urgent. His “tyranny of the urgent” can and will keep you from what really matters. Whether it is time with family or time in God’s Word, he will rob you and leave you beside the road of life wondering what happened. Be sure and take time, make time to read His amazing story. Been awhile since you’ve read? Start with the stories about Jesus found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. I am sure you will be impressed and intrigued. And shortly, you will discover that this God is the God you can trust—you can lean into—you can rest in. And yes, you will soon discover that no matter what…He’s got this.

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

“There’s No Place Like Home”

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

A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.” Proverbs 21.31

Dorothy was right. When I was a kid one of the highlights of the year was when the Wizard of Oz would show on television. Normally I attended church on Sunday nights with my brother and his family. On that night, church took a back seat to Dorothy, the tornado and those annoying munchkins. I have to admit I was partial to the part where the wicked witch got what was coming to her. “I’m melting, I’m melting.” Too bad, wicked witch, too bad.

The whole thing started because Dorothy was driven by fear away from home. Some mean old lady was going to do away with her dog and Dorothy goes on the run taking Toto with her. The famous tornado shows up, she is knocked on the noggin and wakes up in Oz…or at least she thinks she does. To make a long story short, in the end she misses home…a lot. The good witch tells her the secret. Just tap her ruby red slippers together and repeat, “There is no place like home.” Next thing we know she is back in Kansas with all her family and friends and she tells everyone, “There is indeed no place like home.” End of story, have a nice day. Thanks for reading.

No, wait…I’m just kidding. That may be the end of that story, but it is just the beginning of this one. You see there are more than a few similarities between Dorothy’s trip to Oz and our journey in and through this COVID time. Like her, many find themselves in a place they never thought they would be…physically separated from their friends. It might be on the golf course, at the park, your favorite restaurant or maybe, and perhaps most significantly, at your church. And like her, they might not be sure exactly how to come back together…to come back home. Do you sometimes feel that way? I understand.

For Dorothy it was as simple as tapping her shoes together and whispering a few words. For some, maybe you, it just isn’t that easy. The justifiable fear might have us isolated, separated from friends. Like Dorothy you long for home, but the circumstances that we live in has you in its jaws. I stumbled onto a verse that just might help. It is tucked away in Proverbs 21:31 and it says, “A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.” Nice…very nice.

The author is saying a good soldier will train and prepare his horse for the battle. That is the common sense thing…the wise thing to do. But the author also knows a secret—and it is a big one. Ultimately the victory does not come from a well-trained horse, but rather from an incredibly powerful God. That is crucial in our return back to normalcy—including our return to church. We should use good common sense…you know, take precautions that you feel are wise. But never, ever forget that your health and safety rest in the hands of a very power, very sovereign God. You are literally sheltered in the arms of God. So, be careful, be wise, but don’t be paralyzed.

By the way, General McArthur got it right too. He was ordered from the Philippines and to Australia at the onslaught of World War II as the Japanese swept across the Pacific. He was forced to leave behind tens of thousands of troops…all about to be captured by a very fierce and merciless enemy. As he left, he made a promise. He boldly declared, “I shall return.” At that particular point, he didn’t know exactly what that looked like, but he knew what it meant. He was determined that his feet would once again walk on Philippine soil. Well, it took almost four years, but he did indeed return and when he did, he changed the “shall” to “I have…I have returned.” In the heat of the battle, he could be forced away, but nothing was going to keep him away forever. Nothing.

So, what is your “I shall return” game plan. Have you plotted your victorious return to normalcy…to worship and to church fellowship? Again, we need to be cautious but that doesn’t necessarily mean the total absence of COVID. Like McArthur it could mean that the tide of war has changed enough so that it is safe enough to return…safe enough to worship. Regardless of what church or what denomination, I hope you are plotting your return.

As you journey through your Oz, I hope, like Dorothy, that your faith in God and the hope of returning home will be greater than your fear. Can it happen? Should it happen. Absolutely is the answer to both questions. After all, the victory doesn’t rest in you, it rests in the hands of the Whisperer. Listen carefully for His soft voice and you might hear Him saying, “There’s no place like home.” Go ahead. He’s got this.

Family, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

All That Glitters…

Posted on October 13, 2020October 12, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content.” Philippians 4:12a

I woke up to find my neighbor’s yard covered with gold. I am an early riser. Well, actually, I am a crazy, early riser. Normally, my bladder and I decide it is about time to get up at around 4:30…am. If you want to see what a quiet world looks like…try it at 4:30 in the morning. These days the sun isn’t even up yet. He won’t make his appearance for another couple of hours. I usually get up, make some coffee in my magic Keurig machine, watch the weather, and have some God time. Predictable…just the way I like it.

Part of that routine is to take a peek out one of the windows to see if the sun is peeking above the horizon. Naturally that means looking to the East. Saturday morning I did exactly that. As I looked out the window, I noticed that my neighbor’s yard was covered with gold. I couldn’t believe it. What made this even more unusual was the fact that my neighbor at the end of our alley had struck it rich too. This was incredible. And, if that wasn’t enough, when I was walking a few days earlier, one of my friend’s hit the jackpot. Gold was everywhere. Now you might think that I was jealous…but I wasn’t—not this time. You see, their yards had been “papered” as in with toilet paper. It wasn’t pretty.

Now you are wondering, “I’m just a bit confused.” You said their yards were covered with gold. That doesn’t sound like gold to me.” Well, you’ve got a point there. But let’s step back just a few months ago. COVID was all the rage. People were doing all kinds of strange things. When you went to the grocery store there were certain things, things that you would expect, out of stock. Hand sanitizer was a pipe dream. Bleach wipes were the things of legend. Certain food items were long gone from the shelves. It was a shoppers nightmare. But there was one thing that topped them all. Toilet paper.

For whatever reason, and it still remains a mystery, people began to hoard toilet paper. It was like gold. People were selling it on e-bay for unbelievable prices. There were even people on the side of the road hawking their rolls of gold for ten, even fifteen times the ordinary price. The nightly news would show people coming out of stores with rolls of the stuff. It. Was. Crazy. Then as people realized that this probably wasn’t Armageddon, two things happened. The rolled gold was back in stock and the price plummeted. People that had bought tons of this stuff as an investment of sorts were stuck holding the bag. Haha…the joke…or rolls…was on them.

Now here is what is amazing. I wake up only to discover my neighbor’s yard is covered in the very same thing that six months ago was gold. And listen, it wasn’t the cheap stuff. Since they weren’t home, Judy and I went over and picked up the mess…I know neighbor of the year right? But when we did, I realized this was “Charmin Plus” or something. If toilet paper was gold this would be 24 karat and yet there it was, lying out in the yard. Well, I guess all that glitters isn’t gold after all.

If there is one thing to take home from all of this it is the fact that if you look around you will discover pockets of hope—pockets of normalcy. Maybe, just maybe, all this will calm down and life will be somewhat like it was back in January. A few bumps, a few hiccups but basically a world where things are in stock and you don’t have to mask up to go out. But until then, what should we do?

That’s a great question and here are a couple of answers. First, don’t lose hope. If I watch too much of the evening bad news, I find myself being convinced that life as we know it is over. I just don’t believe that is the case. One day, one way or the other, Mr. COVID is going to pack up and leave town. One day it will be old news. Until then, just keep trusting…in God. One of the writers of Psalms in the Bible…someone just like you and me…wrote, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” What that means is if we are willing to delight in Him, suddenly the things we desire look a whole lot like His. And when that happens—hope explodes!

The second thing is learn, or maybe relearn, the magic of contentment. While our old way of doing life has taken a vacation somewhere, a chunk of it will be back. Just like toilet paper made a comeback—so will normalcy. Now, until that time, just sit back and be content. I like what Paul, a guy in the Bible, said, “I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content.” What makes that incredibly valuable is that he wrote that sitting in a stinking Roman prison. Amazing.

Well, all that glitters is indeed not gold, but all around us are golden nuggets from our Dearest Daddy. He whispers to us that He’s still around and still in control. Each sunrise and sunset, each new baby that bursts on the scene, each tree covered in color and glory shouts to us that we can rest in Him. Each new day is indeed a gift from Him and that is golden. Remember this…each day committed to trusting Him is a step in the right direction. Go ahead…trust Him…He’s got this.

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

Seasons Come and Seasons Go

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Seasons come and seasons go. Judy’s great nephew recently posted a picture on Facebook. It showed their son, maybe five years old, walking down his driveway. On his back he carries a backpack that is just about as big as he is. He is heading to school—his first day of kindergarten. The first day of school is an event, even more so when it is kindergarten, especially for mom and dad. In the foreground of the picture, is a line of toys…I suppose some of his favorites. The message was beautifully clear. As seasons change, as great adventures come along, as each new journey starts, sometimes you must leave what you love behind. It’s part of growing up—it’s part of life. I’m sure out of camera range was mom, and dad too, who watched through teary eyes. Their little boy was growing up. Seasons come and seasons go.

It happened a couple of weeks ago as fall silently arrived. Did you feel it? Did you sense it? Probably not. For most it wasn’t even a blip on the calendar. There was no fanfare, no ticker-tape parade, no sounds trumpeting its arrival. In many ways it was just a day on the calendar that most of us probably missed. But not everyone missed it. The trees took note. Slowly and surely, their leaves began turning a beautiful yellow and red before drifting, floating to the ground. The plants took note. The shortening days began telling their leaves it was time to prepare for next spring by preparing for winter’s sleep. And oh yes, the squirrels definitely knew it. They began gathering their supply of acorns and pecans, tucking them away for the coming winter. You see, fall is a time of transition…nature’s way of letting us know that another season is soon coming…Winter. And winter, like all the seasons, is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

For me the first day of fall was an event. Every year I look forward to it. I told my wife that part of the mystery of fall is how something so beautiful prepares the way for a time of dormancy and sleep. You might think of it as a time of things dying but you would be wrong. No, it is a time of preparation and transition. Remember…seasons come and seasons go. And in the beauty of fall we see the promise of spring, of new life. It is that way for nature. It is that way for us. In the fall of our lives, things begin to change and it is God’s way of preparing us for new life, eternal life with Him. While we do have to walk through the winter of death, just on the other side is the eternal spring of heaven. It is something to celebrate—something to embrace.

So, seasons come and go. It is true in nature and it is true in life. While the changing seasons sometimes bring challenges they also bring on exciting new adventures. Changing seasons on the calendar are something to celebrate—something to embrace. It is God’s promise to us that something new is coming. The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that for everything there is a season—a time for every purpose under heaven. He’s telling us that seasons come and seasons go. There are times for living and dying, playing and harvesting, dancing and sitting still. Yes, it is something to celebrate—and something to embrace.

As we casually flip the pages of the calendar, as the clock keeps ticking, leading us toward new seasons and new adventures, don’t get stuck in the cold of winter. No, remember this—spring is on the other side. Every day is a gift from God and is a gentle nudge from our Dearest Daddy that He is preparing new seasons and new adventures for us. Like our first day of kindergarten, it might mean leaving behind some of the things we love, but we can rest in Him knowing that only the best comes from Him and He never, ever gets it wrong. Never. Sleep well tonight knowing that He who creates the days, masters the same. Rest knowing that He’s got this.