Category: wisdom

Posted in Grace, life, pride, Scripture, travel, Trials, wisdom

Falling For Indian Point

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds him with His hand.” Psalm 37:23-24

 I fell and I fell hard.  It was a Sunday afternoon a few years ago.  I had the opportunity to speak a couple of times at the church where I pastored and it was, as always, one of the things I just enjoy.  I love sharing and watching truth come alive in people.  It was a great day to be at church too because every Sunday someone new came back from the COVID blip.  Each Sunday was like Christmas morning and a family reunion all rolled into one.  After church there was lunch with a couple of friends and family and then…wait for it…the nap.

There is something about a Sunday afternoon nap that is almost sacred.  After speaking and eating, napping is just a natural.  Well, after all the essentials were done, I decided to…take a hike.  My wife Judy was down south visiting family so I had some time to myself.  I really enjoy hiking with her but second best is just taking a hike.  It was a beautiful day and Judy and I had talked several times about trying a trail called Indian Point.  That was my destination. So after a short drive,  I arrived and was glad to find it wasn’t too crowded

So, I hopped out of the car and off I went.  I forgot my hiking stick in the trunk until I was about ten minutes in and I would regret that a little later but hey.  The first part of the trail was like a nice walk in the woods.  There were plenty of rocks and roots to avoid but not enough to distract from the beauty around me.  I slowly ascended and soon, off to my right, I began noticing spurs off the trail that led to various lookouts.  They were amazing.  Atop large rock formations, the valley below spread out like a beautiful quilt in various shades of green.  God impressed me…again.

Soon I was back on the trail, still amazed and still climbing up.  Before long, I could see what had to be the trail’s name sake…Indian Point.  It was a large rock outcropping many, many yards wide and it just invited you to come and see.  So, I stepped up the pace in anticipation of what was coming.  I should have been a little more careful.  On my way to the point, I suddenly had an unexpected experience.  As I was walking and as I was looking ahead, the toe of my boot caught a small root knob and, well, it wasn’t pretty.

I’m not sure if my hiking stick would have saved me or not but since it was back in the car that didn’t matter.  I stumbled for one step and then just fell. There was no time to break the fall, no time to put my hand out—I fell and I fell hard.  I landed on my left side and frankly for the first few seconds I was just stunned.  And then, in a moment of brilliance, I said, out loud, “That hurt.” And it did.  In my pride, I was immediately glad that no one was around to see my descent and painful crash landing.

I slowly, ever so slowly, stood up and accessed the damages.  First, thankfully, it involved no blood but it did include a large knot on my left forearm, a banged-up knee and a rib cage that said, “Ouch.”  Ok, so, I proceeded to the lookout, determined not to let what had happened rob me of the moment—and it didn’t.  I continued on the trail and what lay before me was just amazing.  The incredible rock bluffs, caves and flowering trees were amazing.  I was blown away. God was obviously showing off when He made this part of Southern Illinois.

So, I made it back to the car and, yes, there were definitely some sore body parts.  A few minutes later, I had to cough and I quickly found out just how sore my ribcage was.  When I got home, I found out I couldn’t even bend over to get my boots off.  The good news is that after taking too much Ibuprofen, I could. For the record, I wouldn’t have missed the hike for anything.  I can’t wait to take Judy with me.

My big take away wasn’t the fact that I fell, or that I was going too fast, or that I should have been paying closer attention—though all those are valid.  My big take away—and don’t miss this—was how something so small could cause me to fall so hard.  The root knob was probably two inches high but it was all that was needed to bring me down. For all my trails in my future, at least as long as I remember how bad this hurt, I will probably be a little more careful.  I know I was a bit sloppy in my walking but it’s hard to look down when things above are so beautiful. There’s a lot of truth in that one!

My Dearest Daddy, of course, knew all about all of this and you might want to debate His goodness.  If He is so good why this and why that but you would be missing the point.  The fact is…I walked away.  The fact is…this morning, I can move.  The fact is…I was able to enjoy the rest of the hike.  The fact is…He is a good, good Father.  One of my favorite Bible verses says that He directs my steps and even if I do fall, He is there to pick me up.  I like that…a lot and He was there to pick me up.  And, He will be there to pick you up.

So, if you have some time and enjoy hiking, take a hike on Indian Point trail in Southern Illinois and be prepared to be impressed. Watch for the rocks and the roots and don’t get too much in a hurry.  You might take a tumble or miss something spectacular.  And don’t be afraid because whether it is a trail or day at the office, or no matter what, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, thankful, Thanksgiving, travel, wisdom

Mash the Panic Button

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.” Psalm 18:6

 We lost our car in a sea of cars. Friday after Thanksgiving, the whole Taylor tribe decided to drive to Nashville and see all the Christmas decorations at the Opryland Hotel. You may or may not know but this place is massive and magnificent. We actually went Friday night to the mall there and then walked over to the hotel. When we got there we found out that we couldn’t get in due to crowd restrictions. So most of the tribe went back to the mall and my wife Judy and I went back to our hotel. Apparently we were the only ones with any common sense. I mean, you can imagine how many people were there. Remember it was Black Friday—enough said.

Well, the next day we had breakfast at our hotel and then loaded up to try our luck again with the Opryland Hotel decorations. So we got there about 10:30 in the morning so there was a whole lot less people and even in the daylight the decorations were still impressive. As an added bonus, we were able to park our car without much fanfare. In fact, it was so easy that we kinda forgot to notice where we parked. Well, have you ever noticed those people wandering around the parking lot looking for their car.  Judy and I decided to join that club. Here’s how it went.

After awhile, all the Taylor tribe but us left for home. We decided to hang around till dusk to see the lights when it was at least partially dark. We wandered around, drank hot chocolate, watched all the people and listened to all the music. Finally, we decided it was time to go back to our hotel. We began our journey to the parking lot and when we got out there, two things were obvious. First, it was dark. Second, those few hundred cars had turned into a few thousand cars. It was just about then that we realized we really had no idea where we had parked.

Well, we waded out into the fray, determined to find our car. We headed in the general direction we thought we had parked and of course mashed the lock and unlock button hoping to see our lights flash. That turned out to be a negative, nope, nada. Then I got another idea. I decided to mash the panic button—which by the way pretty much described the atmosphere at that time. So, I hit the button and way off in the distance, I thought I heard the frantic beep of a Volkswagen.  I waited a minute or two until the distant beeping stopped and repeated the button mashing thing—just to make sure it was ours. Sure enough—it started beeping again.

Well, to make a long story shorter in just a few minutes we stumbled onto the beeping Volkswagen and we were safe at last. Tada! So, there were two important lessons. First, always, always make a note of where you park your car. Second, if you do lose your car, mash the panic button and listen for the frantic sound of your horn beeping away. Oh, and when you do find it, act like you knew where it was all the time.

By the way, did you know all of that works in life too? Sure does. First, always know where you are—not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Second, remember you can always mash the panic button—not on your car remote but the one that connects you to your Dearest Daddy. Like panic it starts with a “p” but instead it is called prayer. If you call out, He will answer—maybe not in your way or time but always in His way and His time. So don’t panic. Remember, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, Scripture, Southern born, Trials, wisdom

Time for a Switch

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  Hebrews 12:11

 I guess I just got bored.  When I was growing up in North Florida it was just easy to get bored.  It was a different time.  There was no internet, no satellite or cable television, and no electronic games.  Then, you have to add to that there just weren’t a lot of toys to play with.  While Daddy and Momma loaded us up at Christmas, by summer a lot of them had suffered from rough play. So, you had to get a little creative!  And that’s when I got into trouble.

One of my favorite things was to make rubber band guns.  It was really quite easy.  They were building houses across the street from where we lived (slowly our place in the country was becoming suburban). Like at any construction site there were lots of wedge shaped sticks sticking out of the ground.  I later learned they were surveyor sticks.  Oops. Anyway, they had lots and I needed one, every once in a while, so I would, uh, borrow one…or two.  Well, Momma had the local newspaper delivered to our house so we got a paper every day and it came wrapped with a rubber band.  You simply collect a few rubber bands (they were discarded in the yard), drive a nail in your stick and tada…you had a rubber band gun.  See…creative.

Well, that was bound to get old, so I came up with another idea.  In North Florida, the soil (at least where we lived) was very sandy.  I discovered that if you take a water hose and start forcing it against the sandy soil it will act like a drill.  As the water forced the sand away, the hose would slowly sink into the sand.  Well, it was fun. Before I knew it, the hose was a foot in the ground, then it was two, and then it was three and it was just about then I wondered how I would get it out.  So, I gave it a tug.  It didn’t budge.  I gave it a pull—nope, it didn’t give an inch.  I was in trouble.

What happened next is lost to time and history, but one of two things happened.  Number one.  I left the hose stuck in the ground.  Daddy came home and wanted to water his rose bushes.  He found the hose stuck in the ground, asked me and I told the truth, and I was sent to the bamboo bushes to get my own instrument of correction.  Think a thin bamboo switch.  It was effective…every time.  Number two.  I realized that the hose was stuck in the ground and I realized that Daddy would be coming home soon, and he would water his rose bushes.  So, I went in the house and got a knife and cut off the hose.  The end result was the same. He asked, I told, bamboo switch. By the way…another sign that times have changed.  I looked up switch and was told it turned electricity off and on and was an electronic game that kids play.  Mine was neither.

You know, I really didn’t intend to mess up the construction site across from my house and I really didn’t mean to get my Daddy’s hose stuck in the sand.  The truth was I was just naive.  But there is another truth.  My being naive didn’t change the fact that I shouldn’t have done what I did and in the case of my Daddy’s hose—it didn’t change the consequences.  You might be asking, “Did your Daddy really give you a “switching?”  And the answer is yes.  You might ask, “Do you think you deserved the “switching?”  The answer is yes.  Finally, you might ask, “Did you learn anything from the “switching?” And the answer is yes.

You see, I never, ever again, turned on the water and let the water hose get stuck in the ground.  I don’t believe I was ever even tempted to let the water hose get stuck in the ground. You see, the “switching” was not an act of anger or meanness, it was an act of love.  Daddy was teaching me about right and wrong and I am grateful for that.  Daddy had several ways to discipline and they were generally fair and not too harsh.  And I believe they worked because I’ve never been arrested or spent a night in jail—yet. Overall I am a compliant person but part of that might be because my Daddy (and Momma) cared enough to help me learn.

I never really bought into the thought that the “switching” hurt my Daddy more than me because I know it hurt pretty bad.  But I do know he didn’t enjoy it.  My Heavenly Father doesn’t enjoy it either and He loves me even more than my earthly Daddy. God’s Book, the Bible, says that no discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Well, that is the truth. But is also says that later on it yields a kind of fruit—the kind that teaches us right from wrong.  And that is profitable.

So, the lessons for today?  Don’t pull up surveyor sticks and don’t stick your Daddy’s hose in the dirt and above all…remember that your Father up in heaven loves you. In fact, He loves you enough to allow hard things in your life to help you learn right from wrong…to make better decisions with fewer consequences and regrets.  And don’t worry…He is loving and patient.  He never over reacts but rather responds in just the right way.  And as always, He’s got even this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Military memories, Scripture, sovereignty of God, USA, wisdom

December 7th–Never Forget

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Mark 3:25

 This past Saturday was December 7th.  The battle cry after that day was, “Remember Pearl Harbor.” This year, as I checked my email, not one ministry or devotion mentioned Pearl Harbor. It made me afraid that we are allowing this important date to fade from our memories. So, every year, on or very near this date, I intentionally publish this story.  We must never forget what happened that day, the ones who gave their lives nor the powerful truths that still speak to us.  I hope you will read it again, with fresh eyes and an open heart. 

“December 7th.  A day that will live in infamy.” Though it was before my time I know the story well. It was a beautiful morning in Pearl Harbor.  Those who weren’t painting the ships or swabbing the decks of the powerful U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet were home enjoying a round of golf or a tropical breakfast.  And then, at 7:55 in the morning local time, without warning or provocation, bombers, fighters and torpedo bombers of the Imperial Japanese Navy swept in.  They began to systematically destroy the American fleet and its supporting aircraft.  That morning thousands of sailors and civilians lost their lives and thousands more were wounded.  Over eleven hundred sailors died instantly when a single bomb hit the ammunition magazine on the battleship Arizona.

In an  hour and fifteen minutes the attack was over and the United States was drawn into a global war.  The nation had long been divided over what role the United States should take in the war that raged in Europe.  That was all settled when, after the attack, Japan declared war on America and Hitler as an ally of Japan did the same.  Like it or not, the United States was embroiled in a war that would last for almost four years and cost the lives of 407,316 Americans with another 671,278 wounded.  But by the grace of Almighty God, in the end, America and her Allies were victorious in defeating the tyranny of the fascist governments.

Thirty-eight percent of those who served were volunteers and sixty-one percent were drafted.  The average enlisted person was paid $71.00 per month while the average officer was paid $203.  Drafted or volunteer, officer or enlisted, they were all willing to put their lives on the line for the cause of freedom and the cause of defeating countries bent on oppressing those weaker than they.  Many valuable lessons were learned during that time—lessons that we must not forget.

First, is the power of unity.  Before the Pearl Harbor attack the nation was clearly divided over the war.  After the attack, the nation pulled together on a unified front to protect and defend—first the United States, and second, the millions of innocent people being oppressed by Germany, Japan, and Italy.  It is tragic that it took a Pearl Harbor to bring the nation together but if America had entered the war divided, the outcome would have been much different.  Today, we need to understand that it is time to come together again. Jesus said that a house divided against itself cannot stand.  Neither can families.  Neither can churches.  We must come together, or we will fall together.

Second, is the power of owning it.  As in any national tragedy, the event happens and almost immediately the finger pointing begins.  Pick the historical event and the pattern is sadly the name.  Political parties and even ordinary, everyday people will use a tragedy to promote their cause.  We have seen it on the national front.  We have seen it on the local front.  We have seen it in the churches.  It is never a time for blaming but rather a time to rise to help solve what is broken.  Eighty-three years ago today, December 7, America rose to the challenge.  I wonder if we will have the wisdom to do the same today.

Last, is the power of wisdom.  There is not much debate that storm clouds were gathering in the days leading up to December 7th.  Some would say that there was blatant evidence that an attack was coming.  Sadly, those warning signs were largely ignored, and the cost was horrendous.  Today, right now, there is something we need to remember.  There is one enemy, and it is not our neighbor, not our brother or sister in church, and not even the person who belongs to another political party.  The enemy is Satan, who wants nothing more than to destroy us. Jesus said, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.”  It was true when He said it…it is true today.  The second part of that verse is filled with hope. Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly.”

You see, God is for us.  He is very aware of Satan’s tricks and schemes, and He wants us to be victorious over him.  That is what Christmas and Easter were all about.  God became flesh and lived among us and then ultimately and deliberately died on a Roman cross that all people, regardless of nationality, race, or economic station, could be forgiven and have eternal life.  With the wisdom of God, we don’t have to have a “spiritual” Pearl Harbor. With God’s help we can come together.  With God’s help we can be victorious.

You see, it’s not about religion.  It is about a relationship with the God who made it all. And with the relationship comes hope, comes peace, comes forgiveness, comes unity.  If we are wise enough to believe what God says, and act on what He teaches, our best days won’t be in the rearview mirror but rather ahead.  So, this Christmas season, let the Prince of Peace bring His peace into your world.  Rest in Him.  He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne.

Posted in Family, gratitude, priorities, Southern born, travel, wisdom

Watch Your Step

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” – Ephesians 5:16

 There are times in life when you really need to watch your step—like when you’re walking through a cow pasture. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, here are two things to keep in mind. First, make sure it’s actually a cow pasture and not a bull pasture. If you see bulls, head for the fence immediately. Bulls are called bulls for a reason—they can be real bullies. Second, watch out for cow patties. Trust me, they’re everywhere, and stepping in one is never fun.

But there are plenty of other situations where it’s important to watch where you step. I had one of those moments one time while hiking at Bell Smith Springs. My wife, Judy, and I love hiking. It’s great exercise, and a perfect way to get outdoors and enjoy nature. So one day we set out for the Sentry Ridge Trail, a beautiful three-mile loop that follows a ridge and looks down on a canyon with a creek. The views are amazing, but that’s also the problem.

You see, parts of the trail are rocky. Some sections are paved with large stone slabs, but other parts are just a jumbled mess of rocks scattered all over the place. Most of them are firmly embedded in the ground, but they’re still uneven, which means you’ve got to watch where you’re stepping. Otherwise, one of three things will happen: 1) you’ll twist an ankle, 2) you’ll fall and hurt yourself, or 3) you might find yourself sliding down a steep cliff.

Now, here’s where things get interesting. As we were hiking, Judy and I had a bit of a difference in our approach. You see, one of us is all about reaching the destination—getting it done, checking off the box. The other one is all about enjoying the journey. Guess who’s who? Yep, I’m the one focused on finishing the hike and moving on to the next thing. Judy, on the other hand, stops to take pictures of every tree, every rock, and sometimes, even every bug. She’s constantly saying, “Look, Dewayne…” And as a “conqueror,” I’m more like, “Let’s just get this done already.”

But here’s the problem I’ve realized: When you’re focused on the destination, you miss the beauty around you. You can’t be looking up at the trees and down at the rocks at the same time. So, even though I’m in “conqueror mode,” I’m learning to slow down and appreciate the journey—and the scenery. Judy’s got the right idea. The joy is in the journey, not just the finish line.

That doesn’t mean I need to take a picture of every single rock or tree, but I do need to pause and appreciate what’s around me. I mean, who am I to rush through the amazing world God created? We all need to hit pause every once in a while and take in the view—then hit play and keep going.

If you don’t, you’re going to miss out on some of the best parts of life. Take the full moon a couple of nights ago.  It’s was called a “Beaver Moon” (not sure why, but hey, sounds cool). Earlier, while driving, Judy said, “Dewayne, look…” And I actually listened this time. I sneaked a glance at the moon, and it was magnificent. I could’ve made an excuse about driving, but you can actually sneak a quick look at the moon and keep your eyes on the road. The same goes for life—you can enjoy the sights around you and keep moving forward.

Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, told us to make the most of our time. That means working hard and doing life, but it also means taking time to enjoy the journey. And I’m really glad I’m married to someone who knows how to do that. Does it drive me a little nuts sometimes? Sure. But that’s part of the fun. So, be careful where you step, but don’t forget to take a few moments to enjoy life around you. You can do it. With God’s help, we all can. He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Christmas, communication, Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, Holidays, life, Military memories, prayer, Scripture, thankful, Thanksgiving, travel, Trials, wisdom

Black Friday Sale

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him.” Psalm 62:5

We stumbled into Black Friday.  It was 1980.  We had just returned from a three-year tour in Germany while serving in the United States Air Force.  It is amazing how things can change in three short years.  We enjoyed our time in Germany immensely, but it was so good to get back to the greatest country in the world…the USA. We were assigned to Whiteman Air Force Base in Knob Noster, Missouri.  No, I am not kidding.  We quickly settled into this new chapter of our life excited to see what was next!

We arrived back in the USA in August and before we knew it, Thanksgiving was just around the corner.  I don’t remember anything about Thanksgiving Day, but I do remember the day after.  I was off on Friday and since Kansas City was only about 45 minutes away, we decided to drive into the city and go shopping.  It sounded like a great idea.  It probably was a great idea before we left for Germany in 1977, but things had changed.  There was a new normal that we were totally unaware of.

We got up on Friday, ate, and headed into the city.  Visions of good deals and the excitement of the Christmas season were dancing in our heads.  We picked our mall—there were several to choose from—and off we went.  As we drove down the highway and neared the exit and the mall, much to our surprise there was heavy traffic…everywhere.  The exit was jam-packed and once we got into the parking lot, we realized it was stuffed to the gills.  We kept saying over and over again, “What in the world is going on?”

Well, I can’t remember if we gave up on that mall or not.  I don’t remember finding a parking spot, but I may have blocked it from my memory.  We tend to do that with nightmares!  Anyway, we headed to mall number two.  It was much larger, with a large parking lot and by now the initial rush was slowing down some.  After circling the area several times, we did manage to find a parking spot.  Hey, what if it was ten miles from the mall?  Smile.

We hiked to the mall and joined a sea of people as they weaved through the stores.  About that time, we finally asked someone, “So what is the deal (no pun intended) with all the people?  Why is everyone here?”  It sounds almost humorous now, but we were sincerely in the dark.  The clerk looked at us like we had just returned from the moon or something and I guess in that instance, we had.  While we were in Germany this thing called “Black Friday” was either born or exploded.  We had walked into a feeding frenzy of holiday madness. Since that time, it has taken on a life of its own.  Stores open at crazy hours and people storm the doors and fight for the right to get a good deal.

But now it is a bit different. One of the good things (and there are only a few) that came from the COVID era was a new approach to Thanksgiving shopping. You see, many stores that were open on Thanksgiving in the past are now closed.  Employees who in years past had to work will now have time with their families.  Now, in the days and weeks leading up to Black Friday, stores are promising and offering their Black Friday pricing. Perhaps todays Black Friday morning will look more humane and not so much like the Allied troops storming the beaches at Normandy.

I know it is hard to find good things in bad days but maybe just maybe, if we look hard enough, we might find good in the bad. I know that whole COVID thing was kinda like a forced Sabbath. God tells us in His Word to rest in Him alone because all our hope should come from Him. It was like He said, “Enough is enough of this madness we call life. Slow down, already.”  And, we did…and to some degree…we have.  Maybe now we will rediscover the blessings all around us. Maybe, we will rediscover the wonder of a Baby born in a feeding trough to save the world from the madness of sin.  Maybe we will rediscover the value of family, of others, of generosity, of love.  I hope so.

After my initial baptism into the fires of Black Friday, I have not been much of a fan.  I’ve never stood in line at the door, I’ve never fought someone for a deal, and I’ve never gotten up at 2:00 am to go shopping. But I have rushed through the holidays like a bull running the streets of Spain.  Maybe it is time for all of us just to slow down and enjoy the holidays. Sound challenging?  It is.  But pressing the pause button is not a bad idea…especially if it causes us to rest next to our Dearest Daddy.  And especially if it causes us to realize…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, thankful, Trials, wisdom

Don’t Be a Worrywart

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” Philippians 4:6

She comes by it naturally. My wife Judy and I have three daughters. One of my great pleasures in life was to watch them grow into beautiful young women—both inside and out. I told them the other day that they should be very grateful to us—and especially their mother Judy—because they are each so attractive. In each one of them, you can see things that they have picked up from either me or Judy.  I have one daughter who is a natural born worrywart. She manages to worry about just about everything.  I wonder who she got that from? Well, let me just say it was not her mother. While I am not a worry wart, I could probably qualify as a worry something.

In a culture that is obsessed with appearance, guess what? I’m certain that a lot of those lines that people get Botox treatments for come from worrying. Wait…that isn’t all. Surely a lot of those gray hairs the ladies (and some men) try to hide also come from worrying. Now that I think about it, that might be why so many pastors have gray or white hair. It isn’t about worrying as much as it is trying to care for all the members that do.

It has been reported that 90% of the things that we worry about never even happen. Think about that. I was reading a devotion the other day and it included this very insightful quote by some unknown author.  It said, “Worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change. Prayer is a conversation you have with God about things He can change.” Isn’t that awesome. We worry about things that are usually totally out of our control.  Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying?” Now how is that for irony.  Obviously, Jesus knew that the opposite was true.  Worrying never adds—it always subtracts.

 For years I have had plenty of long conversations with myself and they were often about things that I couldn’t change. Let’s read the first part of that quote again—“worry is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change.”  Check—been there—done that. Now let’s focus on part two. It says, “Prayer is a conservation you have with God about things He can change.” Wow—how powerful. It looks like it boils down to four simple words—worry less, pray more.

Paul gave us something better than anxiety pills and Botox.  Here is what he said in Philippians 4:6, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.” So, we need to discipline ourselves to worrying less and also pray more. Simple and powerful. There is one more element.  Did you see it? Paul also said for us to adapt an attitude of gratitude—let Him know what is messing with us and then be sure and thank Him for all that He has done. Now there is one more thing we should do.  We need to be sure and believe that our God is a “I’ve got this” kind of God. Do you know why?  Because He is.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, wisdom

His Day, Your Day

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

This is the day the Lord has made; let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

25,860. You know we ought to be grateful for each day we have because one of these days we just might not wake up. In the morning, I wake up, get up, make a cup of coffee, get the weather report and settle in for some time with my Dearest Daddy. That almost always includes several devotions from different people and sometime in prayer. I’ve learned that one of the easiest ways to pray is to pray some scriptures back to God. I might personalize and pray Psalm 37:23-24 this way, “Lord, I know my steps today are ordered by you and in fact my path is something you delight in. I also know that if I stumble and fall, that you are not going to leave me there. You love me too much to do that, so you promise to pick me up. Thank You, Father.”

I also like to pray Proverbs 3:5-6. When I do, it might go like this, “Lord, You tell me to trust in You with all of my heart and that I should not trust in my way of doing and understanding things. You tell me, in all my ways, that I am to acknowledge You, to respect You, to revere You, to declare the fact that You are God, and I am not. When I am willing to do that, You promise to make my paths straight—to give me the best path for me life.  Thank You, Father for that.”

I love those two scriptures but there is one that I love just about as much. It is found in Psalm 118, verse 24, and I might pray it like this, “Lord, thank You for this new day that You have given me—a day that You have designed and made. I know it is Your will that I should rejoice and be glad in this gift You have given me. Help me today to do that. Amen” This is a good prayer but also a challenging one. As you know, and I know, because of circumstances and life, it is not always easy to rejoice in the day that God gives us.

The other day I was thinking about Psalm 139:16a that says, “All my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.” Wow! How amazing is that. Equally amazing is the impact this verse has on Psalm 118:24—that not only is it the day He made—He made it with me in mind. You see, for me today is day 25,860 of all the days of my life thus far. Now get this…each one, including this one, God made and planned with me in mind. And what is true for me is also true for you and that means we can live in His peace and the confident assurance that He has us in His heart and in His mind. So, no matter what number day this is for you—enjoy it because—He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Military memories, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, spiritual battles, thankful, travel, Trials, USA, wisdom

Flying Like One

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 12:12

They sliced through the air—four as one.  I was raised in Jacksonville, Florida.  My daddy worked as a jet engine mechanic at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. It was there by example that he taught me to work hard, to be loyal, and to love America. You see, Jacksonville was the home of three Naval bases, so the military was a big part of our lives. We were raised surrounded by men and women who were serving their country and that played a big part of who I am today. It also partly explains today’s story.

Because Jacksonville was the home to several Naval bases, it probably isn’t a surprise that we regularly had the Navy’s precision flying team, The Blue Angels, when the base where my daddy worked had an open house—which was once a year.  My Daddy made sure we went—and that we learned. One of the things I learned was to love the Blue Angels. Now as an Air Force veteran I love the Thunderbirds, but I have to admit the Blue Angels are my firs love. The speed, power and precision that they fly their massive machines just amazes me. Flying mere inches apart, they are the perfect example of teamwork. But the amazing part is it is not just the pilots who fly the planes—it is every member of the team.  They clearly let it be known that everyone one matters—everyone counts. They know and understand that the mission can’t be done without everyone.

Last Saturday and Sunday, I had the opportunity to see the Blue Angels do “their thing” and I was more than amazed. I love aviation, I love airplanes, and I love to see them working together. But do you know what? There is something else that I love more—and that is the family of God. I realize that my pastoring days are in the rearview mirror but that doesn’t taint my love for this thing called the church. Like the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, it is amazing what people, and especially God’s people, can do when they come together.

It is no accident that God calls His kids the “body of Christ.” It is no accident that when Paul wrote about believers coming together, he wrote about, “the body.” It is an amazing thing when we come together not for our glory but His.  It is then that the impossible becomes possible. But I also know and believe this—when we don’t—the impossible remains exactly that. Satan knows this and we had better not forget it. We must not let anything—generations, race, religion, politics or a few dozen other things—come between us. If we do—things will crash.

You see, the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds know this. Unity brings power and success—disunity brings disaster—failure and loss. So, children of God…followers of Christ, let’s lay aside our petty differences and come together and stay together. This is the only way we can see revival in our land. There is nothing more graceful than to see those planes streaking through the sky—four like one—committed to the task at hand—the mission. They have trained for that, and it works.  We must do the same. Let’s trust the Prince of Peace to bring His peace on us as we follow Him. It is there, it is then, that we know, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, gratitude, heaven, life, loving others, Military memories, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, Trials, USA, wisdom

The Power of Remembering

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Then if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

It was a beautiful Sunday morning in December 1941…of course, almost every day in Hawaii is a beautiful day.  The skies were blue, the breeze was gentle, and it was the one day when at least some of the sailors and soldiers could sleep in.  Then, at 7:55 am Hawaii time, a swarm of Japanese aircraft attacked without warning killing 2,403 military and civilians.  In a brief moment in time the United States was at war with Japan and was thrown into World War II. President Franklin Roosevelt famously called December 7th, “a day that will live in infamy.” The battle cry throughout the Pacific War was “Remember Pearl Harbor.”

Fast forward with me sixty years.  It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in September 2001.  The sky was a deep blue without a cloud in the sky and then it happened.  Without warning, at 8:06 am EDT, a hijacked airliner crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. A short time later, at 9:03 am EDT, the South Tower was also struck.  Unbelievably, a third airliner crashed into the Pentagon at 9:37 am EDT, with a final airliner, most likely destined for Washington D.C., crashed into a Pennsylvania field at 10:03 am.  In all, these attacks killed 2,977 innocent people…more than the attack on Pearl Harbor.  The cry after September 11th or 9/11, was, “We will never forget.”

Though it is hard to believe, 23 years have come and gone since that horrific morning in September.  Most can remember exactly what they were doing that day as the events unfolded on national television.  In a brief moment in time, our world was changed forever.  As we observe what is now called Patriot Day, we must renew our vow to never forget those tragic minutes and the days, weeks, months and years that followed.

I well remember how for a brief moment in time our country stood united. While it didn’t last long, only a couple of days, it showed us, it taught us, the power and beauty of unity.  But then, as always, finger pointing and blame throwing ruled the day and unity slipped through our fingers like loosely held sand. And if we are not careful, time will further rob us of the reverence owed to so many and the honor for those who gave their lives trying to save others.  And that too would be a tragedy.

On this 23rd observance of 9/11, I hope you will join millions of others and make sure we never forget.  Take time to pause and reflect and remember.  I know these are difficult days and in so many ways we are frustrated and filled with doubt and fear.  But remember two things.  First and foremost, the God who created all of this is greater than any circumstance that we may face.  He knows our past and is willing to forgive.  And He knows the future and is willing to walk with us.  Don’t lose hope and don’t lose faith.  He is able and willing.

Let me also encourage you not to lose hope in America.  With all her warts and flaws she is still the best country in the world. Having visited a couple of dozen countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, I can tell you there is no place like America.  Rare is the country where people are free to worship and live like we do. In the New Testament book called the Gospel of John, many people decided to no longer follow Jesus.  He looked at His followers and said, “Will you leave me too?”  One of them spoke up and said, “Where would we go?  You alone have the words of life.”   That is so true and before we throw America under the bus, be sure you know the answer to the question, “Where would you go.”  There is no place like home and no place like America.

So, let’s not forget.  Let’s show the world we are a people that remember so we can honor.  Let’s show the world that while we are not perfect, we do believe in our God and our country.  God made a promise to His people, and it is one that we can claim for ourselves.  He said, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sins and heal their land.”  It was true for them, and it is true for any people willing to put God first.  To sum it all up, it simply means…He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne