wisdom – Page 32 – Grits with Grace

Family, food, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, wisdom

Salty Watermelon and Sweet Grits

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

Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:4-5

It just doesn’t make any sense. I am from the South and we know how to do food. There are two foods that are mainstays. They are grits and watermelon. From my perspective you don’t mess with Texas and you don’t mess with grits and you don’t mess with watermelon. Yet, there it is as plain as day. And, for goodness sake, it is in my family.

My wife Judy, has long been a fan of watermelon. I mean she isn’t friends with watermelon, she loves it. And just like me, she loves a sweet watermelon. When we were growing up, watermelons were just about the size of a small blimp, weighing up to 30 and 40 pounds. Most of them were as sweet as sugar water. There was not a question if a melon was going to be sweet, it was just a matter of how sweet it was going to be! Those were the days.

However, somewhere along the way watermelons changed. Most of them are now the size of basketballs and weigh-in at a feather weight of 12-15 pounds. And it seems the only way to get a sweet watermelon is to inject it with sugar water. Perhaps that might be the reason Judy has gotten confused about how to make a melon taste sweeter. Someone has cast an evil spell upon her. For many years now, she has been convinced that putting salt—that’s right salt—on watermelon somehow makes it sweeter. What? Listen, I’ve tried this, and the only thing salt does to watermelon is make it salty.

I’ve tried to remove this evil spell but to no avail. And she even uses it against me. She will sometimes cut up a watermelon and then sprinkle…or dump…salt all over it. She knows then that the melon is all hers. It is a devious plan indeed. But that is what happens when you mess with melons.

Now the second problem is as bad. Everyone knows that grits are not cream of wheat and not oatmeal …so you do not…and I repeat DO NOT…put sugar on grits. It is a travesty of justice and some would say very close to a sin. If God had wanted grits to be sweet, He would have made them that way. I have a very good friend who has been mesmerized with a spell and he is convinced that sugar goes on grits. It is a sad tale indeed. And the crazy part is, he is wonderful cook. I think it just goes to show that even the best cooks can be deceived.

You might ask, “Well, what goes on grits?” That would be salt, pepper, and butter and lots of all three. A good bowl of grits should slide down your throat like shoes on melting ice, raise your blood pressure by 10 points, and have a nice pepper burn. But they should not be sweet…ever…never. Now there are other acceptable variations such as cheese (oh, yes) bacon bits (I can taste it now!) and of course shrimp. If you have never had cheese grits or shrimp and grits, you need to repent right away and go try it. You won’t regret it. It is as fine as frog hair…and that is pretty fine.

Now I have learned (actually, I am still learning) that someone can believe that you need to put salt on watermelon and sugar on grits and still be your friend. That becomes really important if you happen to be married to them. You see, we need to learn that we don’t need to agree on everything. If we would practice that, the world would be a better place for sure. Now, not that I have ever had this problem, but sometimes people tend to get a little stubborn. We tend to think that there is only one way and that is our way. You know, kinda like when you think you don’t put salt on watermelon or, gulp, sugar on grits. Oops, I think I just shot myself in the foot. I knew if I wrote long enough it would happen.

The Book tell us, “Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function, in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.” In other words, it is ok if Judy likes salt on her watermelon, as long as she keeps the salt on her side of the plate. And my friend who likes sugar on his grits may need to go to rehab, but he can still be my friend. Let’s not make mountains out of molehills, especially in these difficult days.

I’m probably gonna have to try this salt and sugar thing at least one more time. If nothing else it will show that I am trying to understand. That’s what Jesus would want me to do and that’s what He does for me. When I come up with some strange combinations in life, well, He just smiles and tries to show me the right way. He keeps me from doing something too crazy…like eating chili and eggs. It’s good to know that if I do, He’s got that too.

Family, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

I Was Moved, I Was Grateful

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

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

I made a random turn…into the cemetery. The other evening Judy and I were out on a mission. One of our ladies had given us some homemade ice cream and we were returning the container. Oh, in case you are wondering, it was way beyond delicious. It was peach and it was peachy. I’ve already put in a request for strawberry next. So we returned the container and just kinda started driving randomly. As we went down the street the entrance to the cemetery came up on the right—and I turned right in.

Slowly we started driving down the lanes and just as slowly I started reading some of the headstones there. First, though, on the left was the newly rededicated “Little Arlington.” It was dusk and the lights were on and I was so impressed with the great work the crew had done. One of those was our own Jacob Palmer. Great job, Jacob. But I was also impressed with what it represented. Sacrifice. Ultimate sacrifice. The kind of sacrifice that means you don’t get to come home from the war. I love what is often said, “All gave some but some gave all.” For that, I was moved and I was grateful.

Just down the lane was a grave that caught my attention. It was a young soldier who went to Korea to fight for his country in what has been called “the forgotten war.” He was 27 years old when he died on some battlefield, some hill in a country for away. He was fighting and ultimately died for the cause of freedom. I was moved and I was grateful.

In several places, Judy and I would stop as we saw a headstone that was personal because we knew, we loved, the ones buried there. Sometimes both of the names were etched there in the stone and it symbolized two lives joined into one with one story. And for both the story was concluded. Sometimes though only one name had the start and finish dates. The other story was still being written and there was a heart longing for heaven and a long awaited reunion. One stone declared and celebrated 72 years of marriage. So many of those story writers had touched our lives. I was moved and I was grateful.

There were also stones of tragedy. There stood the stone marking the grave of two brothers tragically killed one night by a drunk driver. Several of stones showed lives cut short by a tragic accident. Over there was the headstone of one of the victims from the 2012 tornado. Everywhere were stories of people who touched the lives of others. One stone showed an American flag engraved in full color—the grave of a proud veteran. One grave was that of a pastor and a veteran of World War II. So many stories, so many lives, so many contributions. I was moved and I was grateful.

As we continued around the lanes inside the hallowed grounds we noticed there were places where whole families were buried together. Generations of fathers and mothers, sons and daughters lay in eternal rest together. The stones often bore nicknames and tag lines of the one who lay there. On one grave was a tattered flag that said, “#1 Dad.” Some graves though were barely marked. The only indication that someone lay there was a rock or a stone. In another part of the cemetery were the pauper graves. I have stood at some of those graves as we laid to rest someone that almost no one knew. Once it was the funeral director and me. No one else came. I was moved and I was grateful.

“Wait,” you say. “How can you be grateful?” Well the reason is simple. Whether it was a family plot of many generations or a solitary grave of a person when no one came—Jesus was still there. He is the unseen attendee of every funeral. For many He is there as Savior and Lord. For others He is there as the Sovereign Lord Who wishes all to believe but knows not all will. But He is there. He is always there. When we need Him, when we want Him and yes, even when we ignore Him. I am moved and I am grateful.

When you get some time, take a slow drive through the cemetery. It is anything but morbid…it is in fact one of the most meaningful things we can do. You will be touched, you will be moved, and yes, somewhere along the way you will be grateful. Let each headstone with a start and finish date be a reminder that for you there is still time. Still time to make a difference, still time to mend a relationship, still time to finish well. But most importantly…there is still time to believe and trust in Him. The Book says that if anyone will call on His name…they will be saved—forgiven—rescued. No story is so bad that He can’t change the end. Once again I am moved and I am grateful.

Many see the cemetery and think death. For those who truly understand grace and Jesus they know the cemetery isn’t about death it is about life. You learned it in Sunday School but now hear it again…like the first time. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (that is you and me) calls on His name will not perish but have everlasting life. So trust in Him and rest in Him. For He has all of this.

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

Night and Day

Posted on August 31, 2020August 30, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

One man’s way of packing is another woman’s dump, stuff and close. Judy and I have been married for 44 years, 2 months and 5 days. In case you are wondering that is 530 months (give or take a few days) and 16,137 sunrises and sunsets. It has been an incredible journey that has been marked by a few bumps and a whole lot of good times. You might ask, “So what’s the secret?” Well, I am sure there are several. We both are Jesus followers though she is a lot better at it than I am. We are both committed to our marriage—she would kill me if I even thought of leaving. And, honesty, she is a really, classy lady. With that being said, I can tell you one reason that didn’t make the list. We are alike.

Nope, ain’t gonna happen, you gotta be kidding me.” In fact, we are pretty “unalike” in several ways. She is definitely more optimistic. In fact, she is so optimistic that for her it’s not a matter of the glass being half-full or empty—she doesn’t even need a glass. Me, well, not so much. I need to analyze and rationalize. Judy thrives around people. Put her a room of strangers and she is a like a pinball game going from person to person—sharing, chatting, and laughing. Me, well, I head to the nearest wall and lean. If I can find one person to talk with—I’m good.

On the other side of the coin, I am organized. Go to my office, either at home or work, and you will find a neat and tidy desk. A place for everything and everything it is place. Go into Judy’s office and you might have a difficult time finding the desk. I am generally a pretty focused person. If there is a task to do, I sit down and get it done. If the house is on fire, that will have to wait until I am done. Judy would probably not notice the house was on fire and if she did notice, she would immediately begin visiting with the firemen.

Now you probably need to know that Judy suggested this story. We are leaving for vacation soon. Can someone say “YAY”? That foray will cause us to have to pack our luggage. Now given what you know, here’s how it will go. I will take my suitcase, lay everything out on the bed, carefully fold and sort each item, and then assign them a specific place in the luggage. I will overpack because you never know what you might need. When I get done the suitcase will look like a clothing file cabinet—neatly packed.

Judy, on the other hand, has a different technique. She, too, will place her luggage either on the bed or floor. She too will probably overpack because you never know what you will need, however, that’s where the similarity ends. She will then proceed to dump her clothes, shoes, etc., in the bag, on the bag, and anywhere near the bag. Then she will begin to heap and pile the clothes in the hopes that the thing will close when she is done. It’s a fifty-fifty chance. She may call in reinforcements (me) if needed but that is always a last resort.

Like I said, in many ways we are not alike. But, with that said, that is not a weakness, it is a strength. Where I am weak, she is strong and vice versa. We have learned (and are still learning) that the power of a team lies in loving, sharing, working together and yes, forgiving. Oh, and I also have learned the power of two incredibly powerful words, “Yes, dear.” No, that would be “I’m sorry.” In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 it says, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” You can take that to the bank.

There’s one more thing that is quite interesting. In our 16,137 days of marriage, we have shared 14,018 of those as a team working together in vocational ministry. I am certain that without Judy, and all the ways we are different, we would not have seen all the amazing things God has done. It is a story of love, grace, loyalty, and friendship. Now before you gag yourself and throw up, know that we definitely don’t always get it right. But there is one thing you can take it to the bank. The Bible says that we are fearful and wonderfully [and let me add differently] made. Someone once said if you and your spouse are alike then one of you isn’t necessary. Hmmm.

So, there you go. I hope today’s big truth, that it is more than ok to be different, will strengthen your resolve and commitment in your marriage. But I think it works at work, at church, and even with your neighbors. And when the frustration begins to build, like the next time he or she doesn’t pack the way you do, remember this—hang tight because both of you will get to the same place in the end. And if it gets really hard—just go and sit with your Dearest Father and rest. He’ll whisper some things like “let it go—it doesn’t matter how they pack it just matters that you keep traveling together.” And you will say, “Oh yeah…that’s right.” And He will remind you once again that, it’s ok because…He’s got this.

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

“A Broken What?”

Posted on August 27, 2020August 26, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” Number 32:23

It didn’t sound good and sure enough it wasn’t. There are a couple of things that are for certain and one of them is if you have a car it will eventually let you down. It doesn’t matter the make or model, eventually, if you own it long enough, its gonna happen.

I remember more than a few years ago Judy and I headed over to Ridgecrest, North Carolina. She was the Illinois Trustee to LifeWay which is an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention. She loved serving and I loved tagging along every once in a while. On Tuesday night while she was in a meeting I decided to take a trip to Wal-Mart which was about 10 miles away. Without any warning, without even a hint of impending disaster, the van’s engine began to misfire and the dreaded check engine light began flashing. I started praying and confessing every sin I could think of cause 10 miles was a long way to walk.

Well, I made it back to Ridgecrest and the next morning told one of the folks I had engine trouble and they found a good local mechanic. Seven hours later he calls and tells me he can’t get it to stop—he was at his wits end and thought it had to be the computer. He towed it to the Ford dealer in Asheville and we waited. Hmmmm.

They called two hours later and gave us the news—they were pretty sure it was a broken valve spring. My response was, “A broken what?” Well, in fact, that turned out to be the problem. And it turned out that it was an unusual problem that rarely happens. You know what happens when something is rare don’t you? That’s right…it is expensive and hard to find.

That actually turned out the sorta, kinda true. More on that in a minute. So this rather rare thing, of course, wasn’t in stock anywhere in the area and it had to be ordered. So we waited patiently—ok, sorta patiently—and Friday morning—actually a little earlier than expected—the car was finally ready. We took off and got home Friday night around 9:00 pm. So you know there is a lesson in all of this, right?

Ok, so the bill for the repair was somewhere over $400. Hello? That would be four portraits of Benjamin Franklin. And even though this was years ago…I am still grateful that we had the funds to cover it. But here is the crazy part. The part that had actually broken cost a whopping, hang on to your hat, $8.89 and all the rest was labor. Turns out you have to take a chunk of the engine apart to get to this thing. Now, I don’t tell you that for your sympathy—oh no, God was very gracious in all of this. I’m sharing because there’s a lesson to be learned.

You see, the cost for the part was low—the labor to install the part was not. Labor often costs more than the part. That is true in car repairs and it is definitely true in Kingdom work. The actual cost of ministry, while not cheap is doable. The most important part of serving God is not the dollars but the man-hours—the doers. If we had just bought the part, the car wouldn’t have worked. Somebody had to sweat to get it installed and make a difference. Kingdom dollars are important, but getting our hands dirty, sweating some sweat, shedding some tears is where the real cost is—and where the real reward is.

It’s not only true about Kingdom work it is also true when we decide to do the opposite—to sin. The sin itself may seem like a bargain—bringing perhaps a little pleasure or a little satisfaction. But rarely is that the whole cost. In fact, I’m not sure it ever is. The Book says we can take it to the bank that our sin will find us out. That is found way back in the Old Testament in a story where some folks were making a commitment to do something and Moses just let them know if they didn’t keep their word it would come back and bite them.

How many times have we thought we could get away with something? You know, a little lie, a little lust, a little anger or jealousy and boom we find out that the little sin (which by the way is like a unicorn—it doesn’t exist) caused more damage that we ever imagined. And then we get the bill and ouch. Just remember this. Sin is never, ever, a bargain. I don’t care how attractive the package, it is a bad deal. Don’t walk—run away. The good news is the Book also says there is always a way to get away. Take it.

Well, an investment in Kingdom work is always a great thing. It is worth every cent and every drop of sweat. But sin—well, it is sure fire loser every time. And like the bill for the repair, the initial cost is just a drop in the bucket compared to the fallout. Now there is some good news. We have a God who not only can diagnose the problem—He can take care of it. There might still be consequences but He will never stop loving us because of it. His grace really is sufficient. So if you find yourself stranded beside the road of sin and consequences, give Jesus a call. He’s better than any roadside service. You rest in that. He’s got this.

Family, fear, forgiveness, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

Big Truths from a Hard Story

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

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

Well, not all stories end well…and this one didn’t. Friday morning Judy left for Oklahoma to visit with Sarah, Blake and the boys. Saturday morning I got up early as usual, had some time with God and then went for my morning exercise. When I came back, by our backdoor, was a little baby squirrel. Now I don’t know a thing about baby squirrels, so I can’t tell you how old he was. I can tell you that something just didn’t seem right. He had all of his fur but you could tell he was not very strong and oddly, his head seemed just too big for his tiny body.

He was in the grass, but not far from the flower bed which is next to our backdoor. He seemed to be eating grass but I suspect he was actually getting the water off the dew soaked grass. He was moving pretty good but again, strangely, I’m not sure where he came from since there was not a squirrel nest to be seen. I went on into the house and when I came back out he scurried into the flower bed. I put out some bird food for him to eat. I knew he would like that because all of his big brothers do their best to empty our bird feeders.

Well, he made himself at home. He was definitely eating some of the bird food and I believe having some of the water. He soon made himself a place to sleep there in the flower bed. I was hoping, just hoping that my little friend was a big enough fighter to pull this thing off. I would check on him each day and give him food and water. I was doing everything I could for him. But today, when I came home from work, well he had died. I wasn’t surprised because I really think something was wrong—something more than food or water could fix—something more than ending up at the wrong place at the wrong time. So I wasn’t surprised, but I was genuinely sad. I wanted him to live and I wanted to be his hero—his savior. Neither happened.

Now I’m not sharing this so we can all have a Debbie downer day…not at all. I’m learning that so many things have a story and can teach us big truths. I think this is one of those times. The first thing that came to mind was that sometimes we can do everything right—everything—and still not get the result that we want. We can be the best husband, the best wife, the best parent, the best employee or the best owner and sometimes the story just doesn’t end well. It doesn’t mean we failed. It doesn’t mean we were somehow to blame. Sometimes, it is just part of this thing called life. And while the story doesn’t always end well—we never have to face that difficult ending alone. Our Dearest Daddy is always there. The Whisperer is always close by and whispers the assurance of His love and His compassion. No matter what—Jesus will still be there.

The other big truth from this is that God really does care about the smallest things. If I told you that God knew today that this little creation died, would you believe me? If I told you that even the smallest detail of your life never passes Him unnoticed, would you believe it? If I told you He never grows weary of our worries and fears and unsettled hearts would you have the courage to believe? Well you can, because Jesus said that not even a sparrow can fall to the earth unnoticed by the Father. He even went on to say that if that is true, how much more do you think He cares about you? How. Much. More?

I know and you know that these are just puzzling times. Everything seems so uncertain. It seems as if we spend our days walking on quicksand—our feet unsteadily walking on shifting ground. But don’t be shaken. The God of the universe who cares when a little squirrel dies cares infinitely more about you. Jesus knows and feels your hurts and pains…and He cares.

So all you tendered hearted readers, please forgive me for sharing a hard story. I hope, though, that the big truths made it worth the read. Why not take a moment and sit with the One who loves you so? Why not get close enough to hear His whispers of love and assurance. I hope you will because when our hearts are heavy and a little frightened—we need to know that He’s got this. And He does.

Family, Grace, life, loving others, Scripture, travel, wisdom

The Thumb

Posted on August 25, 2020August 24, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.” Ephesians 5:1

He gave me the thumb and I’m not sure I liked it. Last Saturday afternoon I decided to take a trip to Marion. With Judy out in Oklahoma doing family mission work I was a little bored. I wasn’t heading to anyplace in particular just getting out of the ‘burg. As many of you know the road to Marion is a nice four lane highway with a speed limit of 65 mph. I was hitting that right on the nose. Now, frankly, most of the time I am like most of the people and do a couple of miles over the limit. But today I was a law-abiding citizen. And then I saw him.

Up ahead some distance was a guy and his lady friend on a Harley. He was doing probably about 62 mph…just enough so I was either going to have to slow down or get into the left lane and pass him. As I got closer I could see him. He had three or four days of stubble covering his face, a bandana held his hair down, his jeans were worn, and a few tats and some sort of leather vest finished his look. His lady friend also sported a bandana and was dressed in black. She reminded me of a female version of Johnny Cash.

So, giving the biker dude plenty of girth, I moved over into the left lane, cruise still set to 65. Just before I got even with the guy on the bike he nudged the throttle on his Harley and soon was about 40 yards ahead of me. I thought, “Well, ok, maybe Harley’s don’t have cruise and he realized he was doing under the speed limit. But wait…now he’s slowing down again. Strange. I went back into the left lane and when we were about even—he throttled up again. Well, back into the right lane I went. As I did, he did his slow down thing again. I got back into the left lane and when I did his lady friend turned around and gave me “the look.”

I can’t really explain the look. I know when Judy gives it to me it never ends well. So, I filed that away. Soon I was even again with my friend on the Harley and he looks over at me. I give him a shrug of the shoulders, the kind that says, “Hey dude, what’s up?” And that’s when he gave me the thumb. Now I don’t speak sign language at all. I do know when some people do certain things with their fingers it can be pretty ugly. I’ve had that happen before. But no one has ever given me the thumb.

He simply held up his hand, fingers tucked in and his thumb sticking out—kinda like a hitch-hiker would do when thumbing for a ride. His thumb pointing to the rear of his bike, he gave it a jerk—pointing behind him—and throttled big and shot off into the distance. Just like that, he and she were gone. And not speaking fluent biker hand signs, I was left trying to figure out if I should be glad or mad or offended or off-ended. I need to tell you that I’m not sure off-ended is a real word but it sounded good.

So as the biker dude took off, several scenarios kinda played through my mind. I mean if he was being a jerk, I could play like Clint Eastwood, reach under my seat and draw out my 45 magnum and say, “Go ahead…make my day.” But the only thing under my seat was an umbrella and it wasn’t a 45 magnum anyway. And maybe he wasn’t being a jerk after all. He might have been saying, “Hey, the girl on the back is my wife Sally. I just wanted to introduce her to you.” It could have been the he wanted me to fall in behind him so he could break the wind for me like one of those Nascar drivers.

Truth is—I don’t have a clue. So I pulled back into the right lane and kept on driving. I even notched it down a couple of miles per hour to give the biker dude plenty of room. He turned right heading toward Pittsburg and I will probably never see him again. But one thing is sure. If he should happen to walk into church this Sunday, unless I violated some sort of biker code I don’t know about, I won’t have to be embarrassed. I played it cool and hopefully acted like Jesus wanted me too. And that is what matters.

Paul told some folks at Ephesus who were Jesus followers that they should imitate God in everything they do. It not only applies to them—it applies to us. In other words, if we are Jesus followers, we should speak, act, think and respond like Him because we are His dear children. Now, I don’t always get it right. In fact, too often I get it wrong. But that day…it felt pretty good that I didn’t do something to embarrass myself or my Dearest Father. So, if someone gives you the thumb, or worse, just hit the pause button. Pull back into the right lane, bump your cruise down a couple of mph and rest. You know why, don’t you? That’s right…He’s got this.

Family, food, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, wisdom

Food Fix

Posted on August 20, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

What do you mean food doesn’t fix everything? Well, I don’t know if it is because I am from the South or because I am a Baptist but I just know food makes everything better. There is nothing like a healthy (uh, perhaps unhealthy) dose of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, well seasoned {hog jowl or some other appropriate grease source} green beans, and a large portion of bread) to make everything better. And, of course, don’t forget dessert.

The other evening I came home from a rather difficult meeting. I walked in the door and my wife Judy, who can read me like a book, instantly said, “do you need to self-medicate?” I love her…she knows. Off to the Dairy Barn we went and in just a few minutes I was feeling better thanks to a salted-caramel concrete. Yup, the saying used to be “take two aspirins and call me in the morning.” Now it is, “eat two chocolate cookies with a glass of cold milk and call me in the morning.” Oh the joy.

We have this rose bush in our incredibly beautiful yard—which by the way is also due to Judy and her green thumb. This rose bush is on an arbor by our back door which used to be a great spot. It bloomed and as you walked through the arbor you were immersed in their sweet, lush smell. It was good. But over time the bush has grown not as healthy and doesn’t bloom nearly as much.

Judy and I were sitting in the yard yesterday morning and she made the comment that the rose bush had a single bloom. So I casually mentioned that maybe she should feed it. Remember, that fixes everything. A good shot of rose bush food and bam here come the blooms. But she told me I was wrong. The problem wasn’t that the rose bush was starving for food—it was starving for light. Here’s what has happened.

Just to the east of the rose bush where the morning sun comes in, two trees have grown—a dogwood and a redbud. Both are great trees and they seem to be real happy. But in the process of growing they have shut off a lot of the morning sunshine from the rose bush and it is suffering. Judy said that the rose bush can survive the way it is but without enough sunlight it won’t and can’t bloom. What we end up with is a rose bush that is just getting by and that will never really be what it was intended to be—a source of beauty with the sweet aroma of a new day.

So, somewhere in the future there is a good chance that the rose bush will probably have to be moved to a place where it can thrive and that means more sun. It will be a dramatic change and it might even be difficult but unless we do something the rose will never be and do what it was meant to be and do. Hmmmm.

I wonder if that is the problem with me—with you. I wonder if we are growing in a place where the soil might be right but there just isn’t enough light. I wonder if we need more Sonshine. You see, we might believe that if our lives just had more stuff, more toys, more of this or more of that, we would be happy. But the truth of the matter—we just need more of Jesus.

Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” Wow. First, He affirms He is the light we are looking for. It might seem easier, even logical to just put a light bulb out by the rose bush, but that light would be insufficient and could never replace the light of the sun. And trust me, the light we need in our lives can never come from religion, denomination or some other “self medication.” We need the true light that can only come from Him.

But He says something else. He declares that if we walk with Him two things will happen. We won’t have to just survive in the darkness, or starve for light and in fact we will have the light that brings life. Bam…just what we need…just what the doctor ordered. And if that isn’t enough, since we walk with Him there will never be the need for a transplant because we walk with the Light—we move with the Light. Because of that, no circumstances will ever be able to hurt us.

Well, it’s just a matter of time but we will have to move our friend to a sunnier place in our yard. And I will feel sorry for the bush as we dig him up and prune him back but it will be for his good. After the initial pain he will bloom again and that will make it worth while. So, what do you need to do in your life to once again walk with the Son? What things need to be pruned back or what needs to be given up so you will be free to walk with Him again? Yup, it might be painful but just imagine your life as you are blooming once again. Imagine the fragrant smell of life with Him. Make that decision today. Go ahead and rest in Him. He’s got this.

Family, life, priorities, Scripture, wisdom

Out of Alignment

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

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

What’s next? It’s a question that I find myself asking just about everyday as I prepare to write and share with you a short story with a big truth. As I was sharing yesterday at church, to introduce the message I used an illustration. After I had written Monday’s story, Judy told me, “when you told that story in the sermon I said to myself, that is tomorrow’s story.” Well, my wife is rarely wrong so here we go a day late, but hopefully not a dollar short.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Family, food, gratitude, life, Scripture, wisdom

Judy’s “S” Words

Posted on August 17, 2020August 16, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

So it is sin to know to do good and yet not do it.” James 4:17

I said the “S” word. Oh, no—not that one. You see we have some pretty strict standards with language in our house. My wife, Judy, taught our children, and me, that there are certain words we just don’t say. One is “shut-up.” That is just too rude. I remember a couple of years back when she was teaching ReFit. She was using a pop song called, “Shut-up and Dance with Me.” Oh my—I had a fit. I tried to explain to her how that was against our standards. She gently, well, somewhat gently, explained to me that it was a love song and the words were spoken in that context. “Oh.” I said, I was always kind of cut and dried.

But that is not the word that came out of my mouth the other day. It was the other “S” word that is banned from our family. So, I had just finished my morning walk. I went 3.6 miles at an average pace of 13.20 minutes per mile. Most folks would tell you for walking that is a pretty fast pace. I got back to the house and I was drenched with sweat…hot and tired. But there was this kinda feeling of satisfaction at the same time. And then I got to thinking.

You see five or six times a week I do this exercise thing and it is good thing to do. It is the right thing to do. It’s the kinda thing that you tell your doctor you are doing and they pat you on the head and say how well you are doing. I even have a healthy breakfast—lots of protein and very little carbs or fat. I feel another pat on the head coming on. And then it happens. Someone brings donuts to the office and those sweet round things whisper my name. Sometimes it is cookies and they whisper a little louder. Through the day the whispers get louder and louder and by the time evening coming I am eating anything and everything with sugar in it. And that’s when I said it.

Sitting outside, drenched in sweat, proud of exercising, I said it, “Dewayne, you’re stupid (that’s the other “S” word). You work so hard to exercise and then turn around and make a series of unwise and unhealthy decisions. And it occurs to me that those bad decisions totally negate the good ones of the morning. In other words, I am shooting myself in the foot. At best I am breaking even for the day. I think I am learning the good doesn’t outweigh (no pun intended) the bad. I need to cut back, perhaps way back, on the sweet stuff to really gain the benefit of the exercise.

We do the exact same thing with our spiritual disciplines. Do we understand that even if we get up in the morning and have a time with God—even if we read His Word, read a couple of devotional thoughts and even pray, the unwise decisions we make during the rest of the day rob us of our victory? We need to learn to do the good and at the same time stop the bad. We need to carefully weigh each decision we make. Often, I visit our pantry and will find myself trying different things just to satisfy that itch I have. In the process I consume a bunch of empty, non-satisfying calories. I end the day wondering why and how that happened. I then start the next day with a commitment to do better.

I think the secret must be to constantly remember through the day the cost of making unwise decisions—whether they be calories or sins. And then in the case of the pantry, turn out the light and walk out—empty handed. It may be difficult at that moment but the win is about two minutes later when you realize you made a right decision. And that’s another secret—make one wise decision and then wait to make the next one. Before long—you wait—and things will begin to change.

There’s a verse tucked away in the Book that James the half-brother of Jesus wrote in the Bible. It says that when we know to do good and then choose not to do it—well, that becomes a sin. And if we see it though that lens it starts to make sense. Now most of my nighttime grazing for sweets occurs when Judy isn’t around. It’s just easier to make unwise choices when the one who loves me most isn’t there. The idea is to stay out of the kitchen when she isn’t around.

It’s the same with our Dearest Father. If we can get it into our heads that He is always there to help us make wise choices—well, we will make wiser choices. He wants us to sin less because when we do—we bring glory to His name and we are happier. So, the next time you’re tempted to make a bad or unwise decision, look around and He will be there for you. Just turn out the light and walk out empty-handed. Just put your hand in His. Just lay it to rest. He’s got this.

Family, food, gratitude, life, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, travel, wisdom

Change…or Not?

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Dewayne Taylor

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

It was like I had lost a good friend. When this pandemic thing came up it messed with my life. Needless to say…it is still messing. It’s getting better but its not even close to normal. You see, one of the things that Judy and I enjoy doing together is dining out at a restaurant. We have several favorites that we go to pretty regularly. We have our favorite in the burg, favorites in Marion, favorites in Paducah and even a couple in Evansville. Then we have favorite meals at each place. At one we have a steak, at another grilled shrimp, at another a hamburger–and that is a seafood place…go figure.

But do you know what happens occasionally? We decide to go “rogue.” We decide to go to a new place or try something new at a familiar place. That is how we discovered the “Pork Belly, Pimento Cheese, Fried Green Tomato wonder of wonders”. It still makes me drool. Regardless, the new adventure is always refreshing and usually quite good. Every once in a while it flops—every once in a while we leave saying, “well, that didn’t work.”

A couple of years ago we were in Paducah and on a whim tried a Chinese place. Everything said, “don’t” but we did. Weeds in the parking lot, trash in the parking lot and a front door that looked like a herd of kids with dirty hands had just passed through all said, “get back in the car.” Well, we didn’t and boy was it a bad experience. But even so here’s what we have discovered—the sense of change—the sense of adventure is worth the risk of the occasional failure. Change can be challenging but it is also refreshing.

Someone once said that a rut is a grave with the ends knocked out. By and large, I am a creature of habit. I have the same thing for breakfast almost every day. I drive the same way to work every day. But even if I like sameness, I also like change. Isn’t that weird? There is a reason. We need change to keep life fresh. We need variety to make life interesting. I think that is one of the things the pandemic has forced our hand on. We have to do some things differently—willing or not. While that is true in our personal journey, it is also true in our spiritual journey.

The one thing that gives me a confident assurance is that nothing is new to God. He is never surprised and never caught off guard. He never says, “Boy, I sure didn’t see that one coming!” It is great to belong to a God who is big enough to have everything under control. I love that in this world of constant change, He is a constant. The writer of Hebrews said it best, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” That means no matter where you go in the past—He was there and He was the same. That means no matter where you go today—He is there and He is the same. And that means no matter where the future takes you and no matter what it holds—He will be there and He will be the same. He. Is. The. Same.

Like I said, I enjoy a little variety—a little change adds spice to life. But when it comes to my Dearest Father, well, I like the sameness that He brings. My circumstances, my mess-ups, even my fickleness doesn’t faze Him. He is always the same. And that same—well, it is just the best. A guy named John in the New Testament wrote and said that it is just amazing, this love that God has for us…a love that extends out and allows us to be called His. Yup…you gotta love that.

Let me suggest you occasionally try a new restaurant and or a new item on the menu. And if it has pork belly and pimento cheese on it—well, its got to be a winner. But when it comes to choosing what god you will serve—there’s only one choice and that is Creator God. Bigger than it all—ready and willing to handle our biggest problems and always ready to extend His grace our way—there’s no need to look any further. Oh, and of course, as always, He’s got this.