1 Corinthians 2:9 – Grits with Grace

Christmas, Family, gratitude, life, Scripture, thankful

Wish Book

Posted on December 17, 2025December 13, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Maria had it right. One of my favorite movies is the Sound of Music. In the movie, the kids are scared to death and Maria says that when she is afraid she thinks about some of her favorite things. Her list, though different from mine, was pretty impressive. It was a different time and a different country, but I could still identify with several things. Remember her list? It had things like raindrops on roses; whiskers on kittens; bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens; brown paper packages tied up with strings; cream-colored ponies and finally something I really like—crisp apple strudel. Like I said, a different time and different place.

But she was right—when the dog bit, when the bee stung, or when she was feeling sad, she simply remembered a few of her favorite things. Which brings me to one of my favorite things and like her list—this favorite thing is gone. The world when I was growing up was so different from today. No cell phones, no internet, no cable television, or satellite television—it was a smaller world. Things moved slower, more gently. The saying, “You are slower than Christmas” was born in those days. It seemed like Christmas simply took forever to come around. Christmas was a time for wishing…a time for dreaming…about favorite things.

There were several big department stores back then. Names like Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney’s, and Spiegel were as common as Walmart is today. If you lived in a larger city, you could actually go to the big stores. If you didn’t, every Christmas, the store would come to you. It was called the Christmas Wish Book and every one of the big stores had one. It would arrive late in the fall and was well over an inch thick and everything you could imagine, or wish for, was there in full living color. I really can’t describe what it was like when this dream-world arrived in our mailbox.

I would sit down and slowly go through the pages and pages of the toy section. It was amazing. Eventually I might make it through the other stuff, but it was the bright shiny toys that really caught my eye. Some things were so amazing they were beyond my ability to even wish for. But I would go through the pages and slowly make a list of my favorite toys…my favorite things. Sometimes I sent the list directly to Santa, but I also dropped hints to his secret agents—Momma and Daddy. This one thing I know. Christmas morning never grew old. I couldn’t wait to see what dream or what wish had come true.

When the Wish Book came, I knew that everything I wished for wouldn’t happen, but it was the Wish Book that kept the magic, the hope of Christmas alive. It was the list of favorite things that made my small world on the corner of Carlton and Wheat Roads seem bigger, more hopeful. Sadly, now with the exception of a smaller version of Penney’s, those stores are gone—victims of online shopping. And with them the Wish Book disappeared. I can still remember when it made the news that Sears and Roebuck was going to discontinue their Christmas Wish Book. It was a favorite thing that all the websites in the world can’t replace.

A good friend of my gave me a copy of the 1992 (the last year they published one) Sears Wish Book. It is now one of my very special treasures. But there is a Wish Book I treasure even more–it is the ageless, timeless Word of God. We call it the Bible. Now it is not a Wish Book like the stores put out. It’s not a matter of flipping through the pages and making a list that God has to fulfill to prove He is God. No, this Wish Book is much bigger and grander than that. This Wish Book is a book of hope, a book of grace, a book of love. In fact, it says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

From the beginning to the end, it tells one continuous story—God loves us enough to provide a way to bring His beloved human race back into relationship—to fellowship with Him. The Wish Book from the stores was filled with toys and prices even Santa couldn’t afford. But not God’s. His greatest gift comes prepaid. The price was the birth, (we call it Christmas), and death, (we call that Easter), of His Son. And the best part—when He died, He didn’t stay dead. And all we have to do is believe and trust in Him and He will give us the greatest gift ever—eternal life.

But wait—it doesn’t stop there. Every page is not only filled with the hope of a future with Him—it is the promise of today, and tomorrow, filled with Him, too. When we trust Him and believe—He promises that He will never, ever leave us. Every day we can have the assurance that He will walk with us. While that is always meaningful, these days it is priceless. In our turbulent, upside-down, uncertain world—He is rock steady. He is good, He is faithful, and He can be trusted.

So, each fall I would patiently wait—ok, impatiently wait—for the Wish Book to come so I could dream of Christmas morning. Well, the wait is over, and the dream is past. Why not spend sometime today in the Wish Book of Wish Books—the Bible? Be assured and warmed by the promises of His love and peace. Be assured of the fact that we can rest knowing that an uncertain future is in the hands of a certain God. Be assured that no matter what, we know that He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, gratitude, heaven, life, Military memories, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, USA

Is This Heaven?

Posted on September 17, 2024September 16, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

He asked, “Is this heaven?” The other night I was sitting around and accidentally caught the tail end of the movie, “Field of Dreams.” It is a fantasy movie about a guy who builds a baseball field, and a voice tells him that if he builds it—they will come. Well, he builds it and players from baseball past suddenly start appearing. It is a fun, feel-good movie—especially if you like baseball.

Well, amid all this feel-good stuff, a couple of the players from the past ask, “Is this heaven?” He assures them it is not but rather it is Iowa. To them the ability to play ball again well just felt like heaven. Obviously, they had never been because heaven is way beyond words. With all that said, the other night I fell into food heaven. Let me explain. Twenty years ago, some friends invited my wife Judy and I to go to Owensboro, Kentucky to have supper at a place called Moonlight BBQ. As my memory serves me it was somewhere before incredible and heavenly. We enjoyed the food and the company and promised ourselves we would have to make the journey again. Well…we never did.

Now, fast forward twenty years. On my retirement bucket list was to attend an airshow with the Blue Angels and/or the Thunderbirds. On a whim, I searched recently searched airshows only to discover that there was going to be one in Owensboro, Kentucky—just 89 miles from Harrisburg. What is even more amazing is that Owensboro is a small town to be hosting such a major event. Well, I told Judy we had to go so we booked a room and made our plans.

It turned out that the airshow, which is on Saturday and Sunday, had a Friday night deal too. At the airport they had several aircraft on display, and you could meet some of the pilots so with Judy’s blessing, I decided I would go to that part too. I went ahead and booked a hotel by the airport and off I went. Well, it turned out rain trashed a major part of the night, so I went ahead to the hotel. I saw a McDonald’s down the road but asked the clerk, “Are there any other restaurants nearby?” He said, “Do you like BBQ?” I said I sure did, and he told me there was a place down the road called…get ready…Moonlight BBQ.

Inadvertently I stumbled into food heaven again. So off I went and what happened next really was a foodie’s paradise. It was a mega BBQ buffet, and everything was just good. There was chopped brisket, ribs, BBQ chicken, pulled pork, fried fish all with all the trimmings you could imagine. Dessert? Yes sir—seven different kinds of pie with two kinds of cobbler and all with ice cream. It was just about then the analogy from “Field of Dreams” came to mind. Is this heaven?

Well, of course I know that there is no way anything on this earth can compare to what God has in store for us. But I also know this. Isn’t it awesome that God created this earth for His creation to enjoy. Take a joy ride though the galaxies and you won’t find anything like what He has prepared here for us. And all of this is just a teaser for the big show He has planned for us in eternity. So, enjoy this but also remember that the best is yet to come. He is the author of all things good because He is good. And because He is good, well, we know, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Christmas, Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, Holidays, life, love, loving others, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

Post-Christmas Blues

Posted on December 28, 2023December 26, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

There is a blue Christmas and then there are the post-Christmas blues. Elvis made the first one famous with his smooth, crooning voice. It spoke of someone who had lost their sweetie and all the lights, music, and decorations in the world couldn’t overcome their blue world. In reality, there are lots of things that can make Christmas a little blue, in fact just a glance at the calendar can bring on the post-Christmas blues. This is a real deal. It is that feeling that you have when you wake up the day after Christmas and realize the thing you had looked forward to for weeks is fading fast in the rearview mirror.

I was sitting on the couch with one of my grandsons and he made a comment about the fact that he was going to be sad tomorrow (the day after Christmas). So, of course, I had to ask him why. He told me it was because it was going to be such a long time till Christmas came back again. Well, with all my Papa wisdom, I tried to explain how time seemed to go by faster when you get older, so it seemed that Christmas came all the time. I’m pretty sure he gave me one of those, “you’ve got to be kidding me” looks. At any rate, I know one thing. The post-Christmas blues aren’t as severe the older you get.

I can well remember when I was younger, and our kids were younger and the hype for Christmas was somewhere off the scale and the day after Christmas was almost tragic. Well, actually it probably didn’t kick in for a day or two later because you had the excitement of returning all the things that “didn’t work.” That usually included clothes from loved ones who obviously didn’t know how much you weigh. But sooner or later, the blues would come.

One of the newest rages in outdoor Christmas decorating says it best. You have probably seen the giant blowup characters that people put in their yards these days. There is every kind of blowup you can imagine. Giant Santas, reindeer, elves, candy canes, snow globes, and everything in between will fill the yards in the neighborhood. But have you ever noticed those same decorations in the daylight? To save energy and extend the life of the decorations, most of them are on a timer. So, what is so brightly lit and full of life (ok, air) during the night is deflated and lying on the ground. Deflated and flat.

Well, that is sometimes how the post-Christmas blues feel. But there is an answer. So, what if we concentrate on what Christmas is really about? What if instead of focusing on what is going to the attic, we focus on what doesn’t? Things like family. The same family you loved on December 24th or 25th will still need your love in the days that follow. The same things that made you smile before Christmas may give you a reason to smile later. The beautiful lights may be gone but what about that beautiful sunset last night? Sounds like a fair trade to me! In fact, God says in His Book, “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Sounds good to me.

And, if you just happen to be a Jesus follower, well, the same Jesus that you celebrated Christmas Day is still going to be there. The same church service that made you feel so warm on Christmas Eve will happen in one form or another in the weeks to come. You see, if you think about it, the parts we love best about Christmas don’t need to go to the attic. They can live on in our lives today and every day. It all has to do with perspective. As we journey in the days to come, make it a point to look and to see, for so many of the things all around us seem to say, “Joy to the world, the Lord has some.” Oh, to be sure, there are plenty of things around that can deflate you faster than pulling the plug on one of those yard decorations. But we get to choose what we focus on.

One year, at our Christmas Eve service, I said that we get to choose which bells we are going to listen to—the tolling bells of despair or the pealing bells of joy. While we don’t get to choose our circumstances, we do get to choose how we respond to them. As we leave this Christmas in the rearview mirror, let’s get ready for the hope of what’s ahead. Like William Carey said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” After all, He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Christmas, Family, Grace, gratitude, Holidays, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, thankful, wisdom

Wish Book

Posted on December 9, 2021December 6, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Maria had it right. One of my favorite movies is the Sound of Music. In the movie, the kids are scared to death and Maria says that when she is afraid, she thinks about some of her favorite things. Her list, though different from mine, was impressive. It was a different time and a different country, but I could still identify with several things. Remember her list? It had things like raindrops on roses; whiskers on kittens; bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens; brown paper packages tied up with strings; cream-colored ponies and finally something I really like—crisp apple strudel. Like I said, a different time and different place.

But she was right—when the dog bites, when the bee stung, or when she was feeling sad, she simply remembered a few of her favorite things. Which brings me to one of my favorite things and like her list—this favorite thing is gone. The world when I was growing up was so different from today. No cell phones, no internet, no cable television, or satellite television—it was a smaller world. Things moved slower, more gently. The saying, “You are slower than Christmas” was born in those days. It seemed like Christmas simply took forever to come around. Christmas was a time for wishing…a time for dreaming…about favorite things.

There were several big department stores back then. Names like Sears and Roebuck, Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney’s, and Spiegel were as common as Walmart is today. If you lived in a larger city, you could go to the big stores. If you didn’t, every Christmas, the store would come to you. It was called the Christmas Wish Book and every one of the big stores had one. It would arrive late in the fall and was well over an inch thick and everything you could imagine, or wish for, was there in full living color. I really can’t describe what it was like when this dream-world arrived in our mailbox.

When the Wish Book came, I knew that everything I wished for wouldn’t happen, but it was the Wish Book that kept the magic, the hope of Christmas alive. It was the list of favorite things that made my small world on the corner of Carlton and Wheat Roads seem bigger, more hopeful. Sadly, now with the exception of a smaller version of Penney’s, those stores are gone, victims of online shopping. And with them the Wish Book disappeared. I can still remember when it made the news that Sears and Roebuck was going to discontinue their Christmas Wish Book. It was a favorite thing that all the websites in the world can’t replace.

But there is one Wish Book that just endures and endures—it is the ageless, timeless Word of God. We call it the Bible. Now it is not a Wish Book like the stores put out. It’s not a matter of flipping through the pages and making a list that God must fulfill to prove He is God. No, this Wish Book is much bigger and grander than that. This Wish Book is a book of hope, a book of grace, a book of love. In fact, it says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

From the beginning to the end, it tells one continuous story—God loves us enough to provide a way to bring His beloved human race back into relationship—to fellowship with Him. The Wish Book from the stores was filled with toys and prices even Santa couldn’t afford. But not God’s. His greatest gift comes prepaid. The price was the birth, (we call it Christmas), and death, (we call that Easter), of His Son. And the best part—when He died, He didn’t stay dead. And all we must do is believe and trust in Him and He will give us the greatest gift ever—eternal life.

Family, food, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, thankful, wisdom

Counting Blessings!

Posted on November 8, 2021November 7, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

I looked in the rearview mirror of time and waved goodbye. Yup…another month had come and gone. I am simply amazed how quickly the days of the calendar have flown by this year. I know the old adage that the older you get the faster time goes by but this is getting ridiculous. I was joking a couple of several months ago on a radio program that I do on the first of every month and wished the audience a, “Merry Christmas” and just like that well it is almost time. In fact, if you go to a store…the decorations are out.

So, before I knew it, October was in the rearview mirror. Some of you who regularly read Grits know that I am a pastor and you might even know that October is Pastor Appreciation Month. I’m not sure who came up with the idea, it was probably Hallmark trying to sell a few more cards, but anyway, “thanks.” This year for whatever reason was a pretty low key event. Like everything else I am sure it had something to do with COVID. I am blessed to serve at a great church so I’m sure it wasn’t on them…in fact, I think it was on me.

The way that I am wired if something doesn’t meet my expectation then I tend to whine (just a little) and shift from grateful to ungrateful. I think this is a carryover from my days as a kid. If the birthday wasn’t exactly perfect, if I didn’t get the Christmas present I had begged Santa for, well, you get the idea. And with ingratitude comes selfishness. Bummer. Now that I am older, much older, I just happen to know the answer to this wart on my soul. The answer is, get ready, wait for it, counting your blessings. Boom!

So the other day when I was thinking about what I saw as a lackluster October, well, I just started counting my blessings. Want the short list? Though you would never ask. Here you go: a homemade raisin pie, a fabulous pumpkin gooey butter cake, a bag full of all kinds of goodies, two dozen donuts from Krispy Kreme (those were delivered to the office to share), a dozen big chocolate chip cookies (also at the office), several cards and a couple of gift cards, pizza…also at the office. Oh and there is meat in my freezer and one of our Sunday school dumped a great card with a generous gift inside. Also, and I’m not sure if this was a pastor thing or just a friend thing, one of my buds at church, who knew I loved historical items, especially from World War II, gave me four slugs that he had dug from a Japanese bunker on Iwo Jima. Holy Moley. And, of course, who could forget a couple of dozen hugs. Sounds like the twelve days of Christmas, doesn’t it?

So do you see the power of gratitude and the power of counting blessings? It is a game changing, in your face ingratitude, overcoming, “shoot that thang” weapon that can change your day or maybe your life. I know I (and probably you too) sometimes feel like God doesn’t deliver like we think He should. You know, we prayed and He not only didn’t deliver what we wanted…He was late in doing it. I know. But if there is a place this gratitude thing works…it is with God.

You see, those Christmases when I didn’t get exactly what I wanted, well, often I got something even better. Oh, and those birthdays, yup, the same. Well, with God He often has something better than we could ever dream about…something so good that we look back and go, “wow.” Paul, the guy who wrote a large part of the New Testament in the Bible, said, “However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” And I think Paul was perfectly right.

So today, as you start the day, or end the day, take the time to do a little blessing counting. Be sure you have your shoes off because you are going to need all your fingers and toes and a few more. Remember, God loves you and He is not one to withhold…He is one to be generous. You can count one Him…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne