Trials – Page 58 – Grits with Grace

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, Trials, wisdom

Nice Landing…But

Posted on October 15, 2021October 13, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25

What? Really? You’re kidding? Several years ago, something happened that made the national news and caused quite a stir for a particular airline. It seems that a Southwest Airlines flight was on its way to Branson, Missouri. It was dark and for a lot of us even driving a car in the dark is a deal but that’s nothing for professional pilots. Anyway, as they made their approach to the airport, they saw lights and a runway and performed a perfect landing–at the wrong airport. How in the world did that happen?

Well, when asked, it turns out the pilots were a little confused. They saw the lights and assumed that it was the Branson airport which of course, it wasn’t. Now all that might seem somewhat forgivable…I mean everyone makes a mistake. But one small factor makes forgiveness a little more difficult: electronics. Now I am not a pilot, but I do know that modern avionics do an amazing job helping the pilot fly the plane. My nephew and brother-on-law fly professionally, and they sometimes share with me about the amazing aircraft they fly.

There was a story on the news that expressed concern that the aircraft and all its electronics perhaps do too much of the flying of the aircraft. In the case of the mistaken airport, we can only presume that the avionics were doing their job and had the plane headed in the right direction. At some point, the pilots took over, ignored all that the electronics were telling them and made a big and potentially disastrous mistake. I can just hear their GPS saying, “Turn around when possible.” Ok, that’s stretching it but the bottom line remains–the instruments were telling them the truth, but they did what they thought was right. Oops.

We have such a terrible tendency to do the same. God gave us His Word not as a bunch of do’s and don’ts but rather as a guidebook, a GPS, if you will, to get us through life. It gives us good solid advice and points us in the way we should go. If we choose to ignore it, well, we can metaphorically end up at the “wrong airport” or worse than that in a devastating fiery crash with equally disastrous consequences. Either because of circumstances or our stubborn pride, we sometimes just insist on doing what we think is right—even when we know better.

The Bible speaks of this in Judges 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” In other words, in the vacuum of leadership, the people did whatever they wanted. Does that somehow sound familiar? Growing up in the sixties I thought we did a pretty good job of doing our own thing, but I do believe that culture today is showing us up. It’s not that we don’t know better. It’s not that we don’t have something to guide us. It’s not that we don’t have a king—no, there is a King–we just tend to ignore Him when it gets too uncomfortable or goes against our grain.

In the case of the Southwest pilots, they were very fortunate because the consequences were smaller than they could have been. They had to answer for their actions and I’m sure they either lost their jobs or were sent back to “driver’s education.” But let’s be honest. Sometimes what was true for them is also true for us. We just get sloppy in our living and well, that leads down a path we just need to avoid.

A lot of the “rough air” and “pilot error” we experience in life can be avoided if we will take the time to read the Book, trust the Book, and apply the Book. But even then, we won’t always get it right. No one, including pilots, are perfect. The good news is that when we fail and even when we crash there is grace. The One who made us all is ready and willing to forgive us of all our errors and sins. We just need to ask. And if we will, and when we do, we can rest assured that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, Integrity, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Trials

Shock Factor

Posted on October 13, 2021October 12, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” Proverbs 14:12

I call it the “shock factor” and I am not a fan. One of the things that I love about deep South Florida and the Keys is the water temperature. I mean it is perfect. When you wade into the water there is no gasping or shuddering. There is no “shock factor.” On the other hand, I have been to the Florida panhandle many times, often in the dead of summer, and it always seems the water is cold. It probably isn’t but it sure seems that way.

Several years ago, we were down with the family. We had a place on the beach and soon there was a clamor of “let’s go to the beach.” Well, I am not a fan of the beach, but I am a fan of my family so off we went. We got there and it was time to take the plunge. So, I put my little toes in the water and was shocked at how cold the water seemed. Holy moley…I thought this was the Gulf not the North Sea! Well, I inched a little more trying my best not to act like a girl—sorry ladies. As I waded out, the water got higher and higher until finally it was time to go all in. Yep, I finally just bent my legs, and the water came up to my neck. Holy moley, for the second time!

Well, for about four or five minutes it was just cold—I swore I saw penguins walking on the beach. Hot temperature or not…sun or not—it was cold. Then gradually I realized, it wasn’t cold anymore. In fact after a bit, it actually felt pretty warm. Had my body temperature changed? Nope. Had the water warmed up? Nope. Fact was I just acclimated to the water. In other words, I just got used to the water and when I did, the shock factor was gone. I found out you could even get out of the water for a couple of minutes and return without shouting, “holy moley!”

I find this whole hot/cold water thing kinda interesting. You have probably heard about how a frog can be put into a pot of water. As heat is applied to the pot the ole frog just sits there and until the water is boiling and he is cooked. He doesn’t sense the temperature change because his body temp is controlled by his environment. And then I realized that is exactly how it is with us and sin. The longer we stay in a certain sin–and the more often we visit there–the lower the shock factor. In fact, it sounds crazy but it explains what is happening all around us today. It probably explains why so many “Christians” can live in sin and feel quite comfortable there. They have lost the “shock factor.”

When it comes to water temperature, God gives us the shock factor to physically warn our bodies that something is different–perhaps dangerous. He does the same for us morally and spiritually. When we are walking down a path with big regrets and bigger consequences, He sometimes sends the “shock factor” to wake us up. That “Oh my, what am I doing?” thing is from God, and He is warning us to get out—fast. In the Old Testament part of the Bible, there is a verse in the book of Proverbs that says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” That is so true…just ask the frog.

So unlike Mister Frog, we can physically “feel the heat” but morally and spiritually we aren’t much different. We need to be wise enough to jump out while we can. Many a good frog has waited to late…and so has many a person. That uncomfortable feeling is there for a reason…jump while you can. Like a good lifeguard, God is waiting for us to call for help. You can trust Him…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials, Uncategorized

What’s Your Worth?

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

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

Well, this week was the week we got to pay the first installment on our property taxes. There is a first installment because there is a second installment and there is a second installment because tax are well, really steep. All this reminds me of something that came in the mail last year and it was from the tax guy—the assessor to be specific.

They told me they had driven by my house and they really liked it—a lot. And, since they liked it so much, they thought it was worth a lot more than they had previously thought. A whole lot more. They blessed me with a reassessment and the grand prize was I got to pay more property taxes. Yay. Well, not really but it did give me a great opportunity to learn about how much God loves me. Here’s what happened.

If you have been here before you probably know my day job is being a pastor. It is something that I really enjoy. My favorite thing is sharing THE story but also sharing stories. I love to take big truths and present them in a way that anyone can grasp them. I think that is what Jesus did and I figure if He did it I should too.

So a while back I was sharing the story from the Bible how four guys take this paralyzed guy to see Jesus. When they got there, the house was stuffed with people. There was no way they were going to get in. So they decided to take this guy up on the roof, dig a hole in the roof and then lower him right in front of Jesus. It was crazy, it was radical, and it was different, but they believed two things. They believe that Jesus could heal their friend and that the friend was worth the effort. We all could use friends like that.

They began to haul this guy up the ladder to the roof. Can you even imagine how difficult and challenging that was? I mean how do you keep a paralyzed guy from falling off his mat while climbing a ladder? Well, somehow they pulled it off. When they got to the top they began to remove the thatch first and then break apart the mud and tiles. After they had made a hole big enough to get this guy through—they lowered him down and He landed right in front of Jesus. I bet there were more than one person who wondered what in the world was going on. I bet too some people were grumbling about tearing up a perfectly good roof to get some poor, paralyzed guy in front of Jesus. I mean if he had been some rich guy maybe but a nobody? And that’s what rung my bell.

You see to those four guys and to Jesus—this guy wasn’t a nobody—he was a somebody. He was worth way more than a hole in the roof. In fact, through the eyes of Jesus every soul if incredibly valuable—including yours. And that’s when the reassessment thing came into focus. Remember, when the tax folks drove by my house they liked what they saw and they increased my assessment. Their assessment really only means I get to pay more taxes. It really doesn’t tell me what my house is really worth.

You see, I learned a while back that anything you or I own—our house, our car, is worth only what someone is willing to pay for it. That’s the bottom line. So here’s the deal. God drove by your soul, my soul and assigned a value to it—what it was worth to Him and what He was willing to pay to redeem it. Do you know what that was? Well, we find it in the Bible. It says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Get that—everlasting (as in eternal) life. God’s assessment of our value to Him was the life of His very own Son. He allowed His Son to die on a Roman cross because He counted us as somehow worth it. He just loved us that much.

Well, the end of the story for the paralyzed guy was pretty amazing too. Jesus first calls him Son—not worthless, not broken, but Son. Then He forgives the guy’s sin—not what he wanted but what he needed—and finally, He tells him to stand up, take his mat, and go home. Three seemingly impossible things but with Jesus, as you can probably guess, nothing is really impossible when He shows up. The guy jumps up, takes his mat and leaves as the crowd is standing in disbelief. They said they have never seen anything like that—and they hadn’t. The key thing is that the guy had to not only believe but also act on what he believed and each one of us must do the same. We have to believe that Jesus is Who He says He is and can do what He says He can do. When we believe that—we are forgiven and God becomes our Father.

Truth be known, I wasn’t too happy about my reassessment but I was glad it taught me a new way to look at how much God loves me…and you. When we are down on ourselves, when all I can see are failures and warts, when I want to give up and quit, I remind myself that my Heavenly Father thinks I am worth a lot. You see, I’m also learning that His opinion is the only one that matters. So why not take a rest in Him today. Because you know—He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, life, love, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials, wisdom

It’s Time to Remember

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

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Proverbs 13:4

I remember…in fact, I don’t think I can forget. This past spring, I spend a long day working in the yard. Generally speaking, I enjoy working in the yard…just not overwhelmed and all day. Let me just say that I am not as young as I used to be…and probably not as healthy as I ought to be. At any rate there was a job to be done so I jumped in. There were two things that needed to be done.

The first thing I did was to “deadhead.” Now you may already know what that means but just in case, here you go. In the fall, when all the green stuff dies it leaves this brown stuff. The green stuff is pretty—the brown stuff is not. You are supposed to cut the brown stuff in the fall, so it looks better all winter. The other reason for cutting it in the fall is that you don’t have to do it in the spring. Well, we were busy, we were lazy, we ignored it—it doesn’t matter—the bottom line was we had a bunch of deadheading to do. Bummer.

So that Saturday I deadheaded. Here’s the lesson—don’t put off today what you need to do till tomorrow. The problem or task may be even bigger, and it can even be more difficult. And frankly, tomorrow may never come. Every person gets 1440 minutes a day and if we are wise, we will use them wisely. Proverbs 13:4 says, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” Ouch. Thanks Solomon! So, in a week or two or three, there will be deadheading to do. I need to remember last spring because this fall can make next spring—better. Remember each day is a gift…work for the kingdom, love someone—but do it now.

Now the other thing I did that Saturday was rake leaves—didn’t do that either last fall—see paragraph two above. But here’s the weird part. With the exception of a medium size maple tree and several crepe myrtles, I don’t have any trees. What? I’m raking leaves and I don’t have any trees—what kind of deal is that? Well, you see, my neighbors do. I get to rake their leaves every year. Now listen, I don’t mean just a few—I mean a lot. Not fair? Doesn’t matter—I still must deal with the leaves.

Lesson two is to remember that your “messy” will always end up in someone else’s life. Just as those leaves blow my way—so our “messy” finds its way into the lives of those around us. Remember that your sin is never just your sin. Also, instead of being bitter about someone’s “messy,” do the Jesus thing and forgive. After all, none of us are perfect and forgiveness just makes our life better.

So, I was tired—real tired—that spring Saturday but here it is fall again and I am faced with a decision. Will I make the most of these days so those spring days will be a little easier or will I procrastinate and pay the price next spring? I am hoping that I will be wise enough not to put off till tomorrow what needs to be done today. I hope I will remember that if I am wise next spring can l be—better. Oh, there was something good that came from that long Saturday, there was a good sense of accomplishment as I made up for last fall’s indiscretion. Well, you know what they say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” And that is true. And you know they also say, “He’s got this” and that is definitely true. Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, Trials

Conversations

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

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” Colossians 4:6

It was just a little misunderstanding. The story is told of a pastor who visited a man in the hospital. As he stood by the bed, the man began to be in deep distress. Unable to speak, he quickly wrote the pastor a note, handed it to him and then just died. In all the confusion of the moment, the pastor slid the note into his pocket and forgot about it. Several days later the pastor was conducting the memorial service for the man. The pastor was describing the man…his life, his good heart, and his service for others. Then it happened.

The pastor suddenly remembered that he had the note in his suit pocket. He told the audience, “I have just remembered the day Joe died, I was visiting him in the hospital, and he slipped me a note right before he passed away. I failed to read it and have just now remembered it is in my pocket. How special it would be if we can share his last thoughts together now. So, the pastor reached into his pocket, pulled out the note and read, “You’re standing on my oxygen hose.” Smile.

As a pastor you can bet, I have some crazy stories and a lot of them revolve around little misunderstandings and lack of communication. Recently I told the story of how I was visiting one of our members in the hospital and she was quite ill. When I make a visit, I naturally slip into my “let me help you feel better mode.” For me there are two great fix-all’s—humor and food. But sometimes, many times, a person just needs compassion and kindness. This was one of those times.

I walked into the hospital room, and she was lying in the bed softly moaning. I moved over by the bed and whispered her name. She opened her eyes, slightly smiled, and said, “Pastor, thank you for coming by.” We shared for just a few minutes, and it was obvious she was extremely sick. And then she said, “I just want to go home.” I softly said, “I know.” And she said it again and then another time. Each time I responded with some simple words of understanding. After the third time I upped my game. I said, “I know you want to go home and when God is ready, He will take you.”

Well, imagine my surprise, and embarrassment, when she said, “NOT that home, pastor, my home.” Oh…oops. I was ready to ship her off to heaven and she was just wanting to go back to her house. Like I said, sometimes there is just a lack of understanding and communication. When that happens, we need to admit that we missed it and if necessary, ask for a little grace or give a little grace. I quickly apologized for the misunderstanding, she did get better and indeed went to her home. We even had the chance to laugh about it later.

In the world we find ourselves these days there are multiple opportunities for misunderstandings. When we find ourselves in too close of quarters for too long, when we have differing opinions about everything from the corona virus to what is wrong with our country—misunderstandings are bound to happen. In the regular world the normal response would be to get mad and often get even. In the regular world the normal response would be more anger and more division. But for Jesus followers that is just not an option.

The Bible tells us over and again that if we follow Jesus we are to act like Jesus. We often get that when it comes to moral responses—and rightfully so. But we too often miss the biggest application—how we respond when we bump into other people…or they bump into us. Paul, one of the major writers in the Bible says, “Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.” I like that. Gracious and attractive. Momma used to say, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything. I wonder if Momma knew Paul?

Well, the bottom line is there will always be plenty of opportunities to bump into people. There will always be plenty of opportunities to respond in a “not so Jesus way.” But what if we hit the pause button before we speak and ask ourselves, “Is this gracious or attractive? Is this nice?” I wonder how things would change. In these days, the world needs “Jesus lights.” It needs us to shine for Him even when we get a little tired and a little weary. We need to recognize when we are set up for regretful words. Let’s choose option “B.” Let’s rest in Him and choose to think before we speak. After all, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

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

He’s Got This

Posted on September 30, 2021September 29, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

I like love notes. My wife Judy and I have been married for a long, long time. Sometimes people ask how it is that we have stayed married to each other for forty-five years. It could be that I am an incredible husband, but the truth is Judy is an incredible wife. She is pretty patient with me when I mess up and well, that’s quite frequently. She also has a great servant’s heart. She is constantly doing the small things that just say, “I love you.” In that way she is a lot like God.

It always impresses me when God does something really big in my world. It causes me to just stop and be amazed. Our lives are filled with stories that show the handiwork of God. Each one is a love note and each one bears His signature. Whether it is getting though a particularly hard time or fulfilling a dream, He is always there. The trick is learning to see it.

Back in 1981, Judy and I were living in Warrensburg, Missouri. We were attending the First Baptist Church there and having the time of our lives. God had blessed us with a wonderful group of friends, and we were serving in several ministries there. Two of those involved music. We were teaching preschool choir (those songs still roll around in my head) and both of us were in the adult choir. Our worship leader, Dan Tracy, was a great guy and great leader. Every choir practice and performance were spiritually magical.

One of the things that Dan did was lead a choir tour every spring. The church would rent a bus for the weekend and our choir would sing at several churches. In the spring of 1981, Judy and I were brand new parents. Our first daughter Rebecca had been born that January. She was obviously too young to leave with a sitter so Judy and I agreed she would stay home, and I would go with the choir. So, on a Thursday afternoon, she took me to church to leave with the choir. We were all excited, but I kinda felt bad leaving Judy behind.

Finally, just about everyone was on the bus and it was time to go. Someone, it may have been Dan, was locking the church door when he happened to hear the phone ringing. For some reason, he stopped and went back inside to answer it. It really didn’t make a lot of since because it was after hours, and it was a larger church, so people called all the time. Regardless, he answered the call. It was for me.

Now before the story goes any further you need to understand that most of our family had no clue what state we lived in. Most of them probably didn’t know where Missouri was on the map. Certainly, no one knew we were attending First Baptist and certainly no one knew I was there late on a Thursday afternoon leaving on a choir tour. Yet the call was for me. It was Judy’s brother…her father had died suddenly of a heart attack, and we needed to go home immediately to Georgia.

Now pause just a moment and be amazed. No one knew what church we were attending; it was after hours, and I was moments away from leaving for the tour and someone just happened to hear the phone and answer it. Amazing. It was obviously very hard news but to this day Judy and I both marvel at how our Father orchestrated this. It was as if He said, “Judy, you have a difficult journey ahead of you but I am putting this together so you will know that I love you and I will walk with you.” And yes, it was as if He signed it, “Love, Dearest Daddy.”

It was a difficult journey that left us both shocked and surprised. Judy’s daddy had just been with us for Rebecca’s birth and suddenly, he moved to heaven. But even in those sad, heartbroken moments, we knew God was not leaving us to walk through this hard time alone. We trusted that He would show us the way as we walked this new, unplanned path. And He never left us to walk alone.

How about you? First, I hope you have made the decision to ask God to forgive your sins and be your Father. It is the greatest and best decision ever. Again, it has nothing to do with religion or church. It has everything to do with a relationship with the Creator of everything. Second, if you have done that, I hope you will make it a habit to look and see the handiwork of your Father in everyday life. He is constantly at work—in the good times and hard times. He is at work when it is obvious and when it is not.

It is one of those verses that a lot of people throw around, but it is just packed with truth. It says, “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Now, it doesn’t say that everything is good, but that God can bring good from all circumstances. God in fact did get us safely through a twenty-three-hour drive to South Georgia with a six-week-old baby girl in the back seat. God did show us His love through an amazing phone call. And the best part—He does it for each of His kids. So, snuggle up and rest in Him. He loves you and He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

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

No-See-Um

Posted on September 29, 2021September 28, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

I slapped my arm but didn’t see a thing. About thirty years ago we were visiting in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It was a beautiful area, and it was almost like being in another part of the world. There were rich woodlands, new foods to enjoy and the crystal-clear water of Lake Michigan. It reminded me of some of the places I have visited in Europe. With all its wonders there was one thing that I didn’t like…no-see-ums.

Most of us are familiar with the various biting pests we find flying and crawling around. There is the bomber-size horsefly. You can usually hear them coming…even before you see them coming and their bite is horrendous. Then there is the yellow fly and that pesky one that hovers around when you are sitting on the patio. They seem particularly innocent and that’s when they get you. And the king of biting insects is, of course, the mosquito. Some people wonder why God created the mosquito. I think it is one of the great mysteries of the universe.

While not too common around here, the no-see-um that I encountered in Michigan was a flat-out, no doubt about it, pain in the neck—or else wherever those chose it bite you. They are very small…in fact…smaller than a flea. Because of that you will feel the bite and go to swat at the culprit but see nothing to hit. They are a neutral color and manage to just “blend in.” Their bite is painful and can take hours or even days before a welt shows up on your skin. Well, since I don’t make too many trips to the Upper Peninsula, it wasn’t too big a deal…until I found out they like South Florida.

When my wife Judy and I checked into the place we were staying in Fort Myers one of the first things we did was go and sit on the balcony that overlooked Estero Bay. It was beautiful. From our fourth-floor vantage point, we could see for miles and saw dolphins, manatees, fish, birds and even an alligator. However, it wasn’t what we saw that soon grabbed our attention…it’s what we didn’t. Soon, too soon, we were slapping and scratching but not seeing. We soon realized that no-see-ums love South Florida as much as they loved the Upper Peninsula.

Well, we retreated inside until we could find something that would discourage them from making us lunch. A day later we were eating at a local restaurant and there on the table was “No-See-Um” spray. It was all natural and Judy tried some and thankfully it worked. Not all but most of the misery caused by these almost invisible, blood sucking, stinking, pain-in-the-neck (you can tell I’m a little bitter) insects was finally over. And, for the ones who managed to escape the spray, I learned to spot them and eliminate them. And yes, there was pleasure in revenge.

No-see-um bites are painful and adding to the pain is the fact that you don’t see it coming. I mean a horsefly is big enough to spot and sounds like a small helicopter coming in for a landing. Even a pesky mosquito buzzes if it’s close to your ear. But the no-see-um is a sneaky one at best. And do you know what? Some of the most irritating and painful things in life are too. How many times have you been just having the best day and some circumstance comes along and changes everything? The truth is it happens too often. But there is good news.

While we sometimes can’t change our circumstances and sometimes all the wisdom in the world won’t change an outcome, there is hope. And that hope is found in a relationship with a God who will not leave us or forsake us and is wiser, bigger, and stronger than anything we will face. I know you hear that from me a lot but there is a reason…I believe it. I’ve been a Jesus follower for several decades and while there have been plenty of pesky and painful things along the way—He has been faithful—even when I wasn’t. I love what the writer of Hebrews said in the Bible, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Period. Big or small, visible or not, there’s just comfort in knowing that no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Giants Among Us

Posted on September 28, 2021September 27, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

There are giants among us…we saw them. These giants were the massive redwoods of California, and they are the tallest and perhaps the largest trees on earth. They can grow up to 380 feet in height and up to 26 feet in diameter. Not only that, they can live up to 2,200 years. The giant redwoods are an evergreen tree only found in a narrow strip of coastal California and just north of the Oregon border.

The redwoods seem larger than life and that’s because they are. They are not the only giants around though. There are the humankind, but I’m not talking about their height or weight. I am talking about heroes—people with big hearts and brave souls. These amazing people do the most amazing things. They lay their lives on the line for their country, they put on a badge and go into dangerous situations for a few dollars a week. They charge into burning buildings when everyone else is trying to get out.

That is just a few for the list goes on and on. There are also other kinds of giants—larger in life in the quest for excellence, to change the world or perhaps, to be like Jesus. These are some of the people I admire the most—true spiritual giants. Over a couple of years ago I met one. I was amazed by her story.

It all started when we were invited over to a friend’s house for supper. When we arrived, we had the opportunity to meet her mother who lives with her. That is when I realized it probably wouldn’t be a normal evening. When her mom spoke to us you could tell she was struggling with her voice. Before long, she explained and that was the beginning of an incredible story.

She explained in 1950 when she was 19 years old, she was diagnosed with polio. If you know a little about those times, there was an epidemic of this terrible, dreaded disease. It struck without warning and without rhythm and that was the case here. It left this dear saint partially paralyzed and affected her vocal cords. I was enthralled with her story as she shared, they said she would never walk—but they were wrong.

Then she shared more and more of her story. When she was born (and remember this is around 1930) there were twins and she weighed less than two pounds. She was a fighter from the beginning and fight she did. Later, when she was eleven, she basically was put out to fend for herself and she did. She had a strong constitution and work ethic. I was amazed.

She married and had three miscarriages before giving birth to her daughter. She would end up having 21 surgeries for various reasons and lives with a colostomy. She has been told that she has cancer though they really can’t pinpoint the source. I know there are several things that I am leaving out but that is enough for you to get the picture. Her life has been difficult from the get-go but that is not the main story.

The most amazing story is her faith. Receiving Christ at a young age, her journey of faith has been strong and steady. Like Job, her love for God only grew deeper and stronger. She shared that evening how blessed she was that God had entrusted her with this suffering. From her lips poured words of praise for her Savior. Then came stories of incredible generosity to those in need—both physically and spiritually.

Judy and I both left that night refreshed as if we had drunk deeply from a cool spring. We were blessed, encouraged, and challenged by a saint who had given more than she took. She isn’t the only one. Over my almost four decades of pastoring, I have bumped into so many spiritual heroes. You had to bump into them because like most heroes, they don’t brag about their lives and stories.

When I left that night, I also left strengthened. It is instances like this that solidify my own faith. When I see and hear stories such as this one, it shouts to me, “God is real.” It also does one more thing. It causes me to examine the life story I am writing. When people read my life, what does it say about me…and about the God I serve?

Each one of us are writing a story and during this hot mess called life, we all have special opportunities to write a saga. The way we live, act, and speak will tell a tale. Hopefully it will be one of grace and kindness. Paul wrote in the Bible that we should be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

That is a tall order, but God is in the business of filling tall orders. Why not take a moment and ask your Heavenly Father for a little, or maybe a lot, of help? Let Him know you’ve been treading water a lot these days and you could use a little rest. Don’t worry—He is ready and willing to help. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

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

Ordinary Things

Posted on September 24, 2021September 23, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20

It was one strange bouquet of emotions. It was the end of good Sunday. We had a great day at church and after a good nap we headed down to Paducah to return a lawn mower. We had ordered the mower online and when it arrived it was damaged…of course. Well, that meant borrowing something big enough to haul it back to the store. About that time our Paducah tribe came to the rescue with their SUV. They hauled it there and we drove down to finish the return and of course see the family.

We headed to the store that we had ordered it from, returned it, and then celebrated with a trip to Cold Stone. It was awesome and of course, Papa had to taste the flavors the three grandsons had ordered…as well my daughter’s. After all the eating and sampling, we headed on back to Harrisburg. Judy, my wife, was a little hungry so I told her we would whip in and buy some diesel and then swing into McDonald’s. It was a plan. When we got back in town, I pulled into the station and began to fill up the Jetta. It was just about then that things went…south.

I decided to clean the windshield since we were there and there must have been something in the water because it was a mess. Usually, they use plain water but there was nothing plain about this stuff. While I was trying to get that off the windshield, a man at the other side of pump started talking to me. Well, between his not too clear speech and my not too good hearing, there was a lot of nodding and agreeing to things that I probably didn’t agree with. Well, honestly after a while, it was time to draw this conversation to a close. So, with a bit of frustration about the stuff on the windshield and the too long conversation with my friend, I finally said, “See you later.”

I walked back to the driver’s side, opened the door, cranked the engine, and proceeded to drive off. About 1.5 seconds after the car started moving there was a very discomforting noise from the back of the car. I can’t describe it, but I knew exactly what had happened. I had totally forgotten the nozzle was still in the car and as I drove off…it didn’t come with me. Well, I immediately stopped and then circled back around not knowing what to expect. Had the nozzle ripped part of the car off? Was fuel spilling on the ground? Had the fuel hose been torn from the pump? It was not a good moment and there were plenty of emotions rolling around in my mind.

The short list included being frustrated that the guy had distracted me, anger at myself for forgetting that the nozzle was still attached to the car, and a big dose of embarrassment. Oh, and there was one more big emotion…gratitude. It was like a bouquet of weeds and a rose. You see, amazingly, while the hose was laying on the ground, it was not spewing fuel nor was it broken. Also, the car really had no damage to speak of. There were no dents, no dings, and not even a scratch. One small part of the filler thing was pulled loose but that really wasn’t important. Amazing.

First, I know I probably need to turn in my “man card” for having done this. If I have said it once, I have said it twenty-five times, “I can’t believe I did that.” And honestly, it is all on me. My long-winded friend was not to blame, and I had no right to be frustrated about the windshield either. Nope…it was my fault. But here is the part I love. This is the part that forced me to write this story when I would have much more rather kept it off the page. What forced me to write was my overwhelming sense of gratitude for my Dearest Daddy watching out for His child. I mean this could have been nasty, but He had it all under control. I can even say “thank-you” for this because I would have missed the blessing of His kindness if it hadn’t had happened.

Well, like the song says, “He is a good, good Father.” Hans Christian Andersen said, “The whole world is a series of miracles, but we’re so used to them we call them ordinary things.” He is so right. Our world is filled with love notes from a God that loves His creation dearly. How incredible is that? Paul wrote in the New Testament part of the Bible, “Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, whatever we do, whatever happens, believe He is in control and be sure and give Him thanks. I know more than ever that whatever it is, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, thankful, travel, Trials, wisdom

Dangerous Currents

Posted on September 22, 2021September 21, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

For the first time in a long time, I was genuinely frightened, in fact, I was afraid. One of the things we enjoyed about our getaway at Key Colony is the fact that we can snorkel right there. At each end of the beach, two small jetties have been built. They extend out into the water for about 75 feet and keep the waves from passing boats and storms from creating waves that might take away the sandy shore. Fish like reefs and in a way that is what the jetties are—the underwater nooks and crannies make great places for the small fish to eat and hide.

While only a few of the fish have brilliant colors, there are literally hundreds of them. It is fascinating to watch them as they swim in large spools or dart in and out of the rocks…looking for food and making sure they don’t become lunch themselves. One morning, I was heading out for a swim with my mask to see what I could see. A guy who had been spear fishing earlier said that if I would go out to the point on the west jetty, I would see some large angel fish. So, without much thought, I headed out. Maybe I should have thought.

You see, on the other side of the jetty is a large channel that went to the other side of the island. It is a major thoroughfare for all the fishing boats going in and out so naturally the water was much choppier there. I began to swim out making sure my breathing tube from my face mask stayed above the water. As I swam, I looked for fish but really the water was too murky to see. It was also too murky for me to realize that I couldn’t see the rocks in the jetty either. I lifted my face out of the water and saw that I was being carried by the strong current out into the channel. I was concerned.

I immediately turned around and began to swim back toward the jetty and the relative safety and calm it provided. I had my face in the water and through the murkiness could occasionally see the bottom. What I saw wasn’t good. As I took a stroke forward, I was being carried back more than I was moving forward. I picked up the pace and intensified my efforts and slowly, too slowly, began to make some progress but swimming against the current was very difficult. In a short period of time, I was gasping for breath through my breathing tube and my arms were very tired. The outcome was in the balance.

Well, somehow, someway, I was able to keep going and after several minutes that seemed like several hours, I could feel the protective calm of the jetty as the current let go of me. I was safe. I was tired, and I was exhausted, but thankfully I was safe. When I could finally touch sand, I stood up and saw Judy coming. I quickly waved her off. I knew I didn’t want her to experience what I just did. And not only did I not see the angel fish I felt like I could almost see the angels, “comin’ after me.”

I was amazed how strong that current was that wanted to pull me out into the channel. If it had been obvious from the surface…if I had known, I wouldn’t have gone. My friend who told me about the angel fish didn’t mention the current—either it wasn’t an issue earlier or he had fins that helped him fight the unseen force. Regardless, I was once again grateful that God gave me the strength to overcome. Strength.To.Overcome. There are many things about this whole God thing that make me glad that I am a believer and on that list is the ability to be an overcomer.

My friend Jesus said in His Word, the Bible, that we would have troubles in this world, and He told the truth, times two. But He didn’t stop there. He went on to say that we should “be of good cheer” because He had “overcome the world.” In other words, we can face the storms of life and the currents that threaten to pull us out to sea, because He is there with us and for us. We can be overcomers because He is an overcomer. I like that…a lot.

I will probably remember my encounter at the point of the jetty for a while…and I want to remember. You might ask, “Why?” Well, it was such a good reminder that as I do life, I need to pay attention, I need to be prepared, and I need to trust—not in a pair of flippers or better swimming skills. No, it will remind me that there are dangerous waters in life to navigate and I need to trust in my Heavenly Father, my Dearest Daddy to help me through it all. It’s just good to know that He is there and, no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne