1 John 3:1 – Grits with Grace

Unclaimed and Expired

Posted on December 10, 2025December 9, 2025 by Dewayne Taylor

“See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1

First it was the scale…today something else. One Tuesday I wrote a story about a dusty scale and a season of regret. Strangely, today, I find myself writing a story that is a little similar but totally different. It is a story about neglect and loss. You see, I have always been a frugal fellow. Some would say I am a little tight, but I prefer frugal. What is frugal? Well, according to the Oxford Dictionary when someone is frugal it means that they are sparing or economical regarding money or food and I guess that describes me.

Let me explain. When we go to a restaurant and look at the menu, my wife Judy is totally motivated by what sounds good. I, on the other hand, am motivated by the value of the menu. In other words, I want good value for my money. Someone (my wife) has taught me a lesson about money (by the way, not the most important one but a good lesson). She told me, more than once, remember you can only spend it once. Good advice and so I make my choice carefully.

Now would be a good time to remember that money is neutral (not good or bad) and that it is just a tool. It must never become an idol and must never be more important that a whole lot of other things like, God, family, and people. Its ok if money is your friend but don’t make it your best friend…reserve that spot to the three I just listed. Now, with all that said, the Bible tells us that we are to be good stewards of the things that God places in our hands. So being frugal is not only ok…it’s Biblical.

So, what is this story all about? Well, it is sitting on my desk staring at me while I write. It is a red Visa gift/debit card. I’ve had it for quite a while…in fact too much of a while. At one time it had a value of $25 but today it is worth the grand total of zero. What happened? Well, when I received it, either as a gift or for going to some conference, I filed it away for another time and well…that time never came. The expiration date said it all—08/21. Expired. Over. Finished. Oh, I went to the website just to check. I mean surely there was an exception. There wasn’t.

Turns out I’m in good company since nearly half (47 percent) of U.S. adults have at least one unused gift card, gift voucher or store credit, according to a new Bankrate study. And those gift cards aren’t small change, the average is $187 a person—a total value of $23 billion nationwide.

I think the thing I hate the worst about all of this is the fact that whether it was a gift or something I got at a conference—it was wasted. The only one who benefitted was the company that issued it and they didn’t even send me a letter thanking me for the contribution. And as we just read a sizable portion of gift cards are never redeemed. How crazy is that? The only thing I can think of that is crazier than that is how many people never redeem the greatest gift ever—God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

I can’t do a thing about that little red card laying on my desk, but it is not too late for you to do something with God’s great, big Christmas gift—eternal life through His Son. If you never have, while not receive that gift today? With open hands and heart, He is just waiting to give it to you. And with that gift comes the confident assurance that your days of facing life alone are over. From now on, you can believe and know that no matter what—He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture

When Bad News Meets Good News

Posted on August 19, 2024August 17, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Some things were just better in the old days…like the weather report. Back when the local weather was sponsored by one of the local oil brands and the weatherman wore a service station (that is a gas place where they pumped your gas, checked your oil and cleaned your windshield) uniform, things were so much simpler. He would get his magic marker out and draw some symbols on his paper map and forecast the weather. It was easy. If it was going to be hot…he would say it was going to be hot. If it was going to be cold…he would say it was going to be cold. If it was going to rain…he just laid it out in simple terms. Yup…those were the days.

It kinda reminds me of my visit to a gift shop in the Smokey Mountains. They had what they called a “Hillbilly Weather Station.” It was a rock attached to a string. It also had a card that went with it that said if the rock was hot, it was hot. If the rock was cold, it was cold. If the rock was wet, it was raining and finally, if the rock was swinging on the string, it was windy. I like that and I think it’s probably accurate! But today, they must give us a lot more information and most of the time I am grateful, except for this.

This is this. Instead of simply saying it is going to be hot they must go a step further and give us what they call the “feel like temperature.” In other words, if the temperature is going to be 90 degrees and there happens to be a bunch of humidity in the air, well, they let us know it is going to feel like 100 degrees and we are going to be extra miserable. And, if it is cold and there is a wind, well, just to make sure we know how miserable we really are, we have wind chill. Now I know their intent is good, but I just wish they wouldn’t go the extra mile in defining and describing my misery.

If that isn’t enough, the news folks seem to feel like they must top the weather folks. They scrap up every bit of bad, discouraging, and disgusting news they can find and then read it to us with passion and glee. It is almost like they want to say, “You only thought things were bad…just listen to this”. And “this” is always about the awfulness of our broken world. Yup, I think the weather and news people are in cahoots with one another to make sure we are miserable.

Well, if that isn’t enough, then there are some folks that we bump into in our world, and it seems they just can’t wait to slosh their negativity on someone else. Like Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh stories, theirs is a “woe is me” world. Eeyore once said, “I wish I could say yes…but I can’t.” Well, the truth is we can. In a world where some choices are limited, the choice of how we act, and think, is all ours. We get to choose what stories our “newscast” is going to cast and what report our “weather reporter” is going to report.

One of the reasons I love God is that He is a positive thinker. His book, the Bible, is a reality check but it is also a book of good news. In fact, when describing the story of how much God loves us and how He sent His son into this broken world to pay the price for our sin…it is called “the” Good News or Gospel. And if you allow that Good News to be your good news—well it changes everything. So, if you need a change, if you need some Good News, why not try the Bible. It will tell you the truth, but that truth includes God’s incredible love for me and for you.

In a part of the Bible called the New Testament, John, one of Jesus’ closest followers wrote, “See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!” Wow…the God who made it all loves us enough to call us His own. Now that is worth hearing about and the place to go to hear it is His Word. So, when you are feeling down and things look hopeless, why not look up…to the God who wants to be your Dearest Daddy. Imagine a world of Good News…with Someone who is waiting to whisper to you, “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, thankful

Trash Day

Posted on July 31, 2024July 27, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1

So long trash. Some years ago, a friend introduced me to the Gmail calendar. It was a game changer and life saver. Back in the day most pastors carried a little pocket calendar wherever they went. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t my thing. And, invariably, someone would tell me something and I would not have a calendar, nor a piece of paper nor a pen or pencil. I would really try to remember all this important stuff but well it just didn’t work.

Well, one day my friend told me about the Gmail calendar. I already had a smartphone, but I just hadn’t been introduced to the Gmail calendar app. Then, one we met, and it was love at first sight. With the Gmail calendar I can instantly add things to my calendar. Joe is having surgery. Check. Personnel meeting Tuesday at 6pm. Check. Don’t forget Judy’s birthday. Double check. On and on the list goes and while the system isn’t perfect…it works so much better. All that important stuff has a much better chance of not being forgotten. Thank you, Gmail.

Another cool feature of this calendar is that you can set a reminder for something every day, week, or month. You can even schedule things for next year. One of the things that I have set up on my calendar is the reminder to carry the trash to the curb. You see, our trash guy comes early Monday morning, so we really need to set it out early…like the night before early. Well, every Sunday evening I get a reminder to put the trash out. More than once that reminder has saved us from a week of too much stinky trash.

Speaking of trash…isn’t it amazing just how much trash we generate? I know for two people we seem to make a lot. Several times a week I must take the trash out of the kitchen and to the big trash and then out to the curb on Sunday nights. Usually, of course, the trash is just trash. Potato chip bags, coke cans, plastic water bottles…you know…trash. Of course, there is the stinky stuff too. Meat wrappers, old veggies, scraps…you know…stinky stuff. It is never hard to throw any of that away…it has to go.

Sometimes, when we are cleaning out this or that, we toss out sorta-kinda, good stuff. An old glass or two, a figurine with a chip or two, or maybe a slightly broken lamp…you know…semi-good stuff. It might be useful to someone but not to us so out it goes. As I cruise around town, I am amazed at the stuff people throw away. They are often things people paid a lot of money and they are discarded…no longer wanted or needed. Like I said, sometimes it is amazing. You wonder, what caused the discard? Outta space. Taste changed. Leftover from the last move.

Well, I don’t always get it but there is one thing I do get, and I am grateful. I am so glad that God doesn’t have a trash day. And more than that…I am glad that He will never, ever throw me away like so much discarded trash. You see, every one of His kids are valuable to Him. He doesn’t just value the ones who always seem to get it right…He values all of them. More amazing than that is the fact He is just waiting to add to His family. And, once you’re in…you’re in. There is a cool verse in the Bible that says, “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so, we are.” Wow. How awesome is that?

If you are a Jesus follower, a person who said, “yes” and asked and received God’s forgiveness by believing in His Son, you never have to worry about trash day. He will not, and I repeat, will not, kick you to the curb. If you haven’t made that decision yet, what are you waiting for? God loves you and can’t wait for you to join the family. You don’t need to get better, you just need to come and when you do…well, welcome home.

So, you might want to check out the Gmail calendar…it sure helped me. And be sure and check out God…He loves you a lot and won’t let you go. Oh, and as you do life, you will find Him always there for you just waiting to let you know that…He’s got this. Bro. Dewayne

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

Unclaimed and Expired

Posted on December 14, 2023December 13, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1

So, what is this story all about? Well, it is sitting on my desk staring at me while I write. It is a red Visa gift/debit card. I’ve had it for quite a while…in fact too much of a while. At one time it had a value of $25 but today it is worth the grand total of zero. What happened? Well, when I received it, either as a gift or for going to some conference, I filed it away for another time and well…that time never came. The expiration date says it all—08/21. Since I am writing this on 12/23—well, you can see the problem. Expired. Over. Finished. Oh, I went to the website just to check. I mean surely there was an exception. There wasn’t.

I think the thing I hate the worst about all of this is the fact that whether it was a gift or something I got at a conference—it was wasted. The only one who benefitted was the company that issued it and they didn’t even send me a letter thanking me for the contribution. And as we just read is that a sizable portion of gift cards are never redeemed. How crazy is that? The only thing I can think of that is crazier than that is how many people never redeem the greatest gift ever—God’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life.

Family, food, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Change or Not?

Posted on August 4, 2023August 3, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1

It was a food adventure. Judy and I love adventures. Sometimes that means a new place to visit, or it might be as simple as a new place to eat. Well, 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 regularly. We have our favorite here 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 while back 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 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.

There is one thing that gives me a confident assurance 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—He never changes. 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 sameness, 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.

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, it’s 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. Bro. Dewayne

fear, friends, gratitude, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, Trials

When Bad News Meets Good News

Posted on August 31, 2022August 30, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

It kinda reminds me of my visit to a gift shop in the Smokey Mountains. They had what they called a “Hillbilly Weather Station.” It was a rock attached to a string. It also had a card that went with it that said if the rock was hot, it was hot. If the rock was cold, it was cold. If the rock is wet, it was raining and finally, if the rock was swinging on the string, it was windy. My simple sense of humor likes that even now. But today, they have to give us a lot more information and most the time I am grateful, except for this.

Well, if that isn’t enough, then there are some folks that we bump into in our world and it seems they just can’t wait to slosh their negativity on someone else. Like Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh stories, theirs is a “woe is me” world. Eeyore once said, “I wish I could say yes…but I can’t.” Well, the truth is we can. In a world where some choices are limited, the choice of how we act and think is all ours. We get to choose to be what stories our “newscast” is going to cast and what report our “weather reporter” is going to report.

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, prayer, Scripture, thankful

Trash Day

Posted on July 20, 2022July 19, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1

So long trash. Some years ago, my friend David introduced me to the Gmail calendar. It was a game changer and life saver. Back in the day most pastors carried a little pocket calendar wherever they went. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t my thing. And, invariably, someone would tell me something and I would not have a calendar, nor a piece of paper nor a pen or pencil. I would really try to remember all this important stuff but well it just didn’t work.

Well, one day my friend David told me about the Gmail calendar. I already had a smartphone, but I just hadn’t been introduced to the Gmail calendar app. Then, one day, we met, and it was love at first sight. With the Gmail calendar I can instantly add things to my calendar. Joe is having surgery. Check. Personnel meeting Tuesday at 6pm. Check. Don’t forget Judy’s birthday. Double check. On and on the list goes and while the system isn’t perfect…it works so much better. All that important stuff has a much better chance of not being forgotten. Thank you, Gmail and David.

Another cool feature of this calendar is that you can set a reminder for something every day, week, or month. You can even schedule things next year. One of the things that I have set up on my calendar is the reminder to carry the trash to the curb. You see, our trash guy comes early Monday morning so we really need to set it out early…like the night before early. Well, every Sunday evening I get a reminder to put the trash out. More than once that reminder has saved us from a week of too much stinky trash.

If you are a Jesus follower, a person who said, “yes” and asked and received God’s forgiveness by believing in His Son, you never have to worry about trash day. He will not, and I repeat, will not, kick you to the curb. How about that? And if you haven’t made that decision yet, what are you waiting for? God loves you and can’t wait for you to join the family. You don’t need to get better, you just need to come and when you do…well, welcome home.

Family, food, Grace, gratitude, life, love, Scripture, thankful

Change or Not?

Posted on September 23, 2021September 22, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are!” 1 John 3:1

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.