Tag: Bible

Posted in fear, food, life, money, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God

Faith and Shifting Sand

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “God is not a man, that He might lie, or a son of man, that He might change His mind.” Numbers  23:19a

Well, I just don’t understand it.  You know, there are some things in this world that just don’t make sense.  You probably have noticed that we seem to be in the middle of some kind of financial crisis.  Inflation is inflating…can someone say ouch? And then there is this whole gas thing.  As I write this gas is over three dollars a gallon and just for fun there is talk of raising the gas tax–already the second highest in the nation. Can someone say double ouch? It is hard to believe that just a few years ago when we were doing the pandemic thing gas was about $1.52 and we said we just couldn’t believe it.  Well, go figure.  And the amazing part is that we are all driving as much as we did when it was cheaper.  Those guys with the big pickup trucks with big engines are still putting the pedal all the way down. It’s like gas is free.  What?

And then of course there is the shortage thing.  They are saying it has to do with supply and demand.  Well, if that is true somebody needs to start demanding more supplies.  Things, like eggs, require a loan to get a dozen.  In a time of precedented happenings, life just seeming to be going on like before.  The restaurants are full, the some store shelves are empty, and no one seems to be in a panic.  In fact, in at least one instance they seem to be celebrating. Yup…it’s true.

I’ve just about given up watching the news, but when I do they will sometimes show this scene from Wall Street.  It occurs at the end of the day, and it shows about fifteen or so people on this platform and it is their job to ring the bell calling for an end of the trading day.  So, the other day, when the stock market had fallen nearly 1,000 points there were people there and as they rang the bell, they were cheering like madmen (or women).  They were yipping and yelling like they had just won the lottery.   Big smiles and grins filled their faces.  It’s like they didn’t even know what had just happened.

Well, it turns out no matter what happens on any given day, these folks, and it is always different folks, get up there and do this madman (or woman) celebration.  I’ve concluded it has nothing to do with the market…they are just glad to ring the bell.  Maybe it is because the day and damage is done or maybe it is because they made a ton of money.  All I know is it sure is confusing.  It sends this crazy mixed-up message and I’m left scratching my head. Good or bad? Happy or sad? Who’s knows?

So what do you do in a world that often doesn’t make a lot of sense? That’s a fair question. To be honest, there are times these days when I don’t know exactly what to do or say.  I want to complain but that isn’t going to help.  I want to whine but that doesn’t change anything.  I want to get mad sometimes but, well, what good does that do?  I think the right thing is stay the course and to believe and trust…in God.  I mean even if you aren’t a God person maybe today would be a good day to give it a try!  Everything around us is shifting and sinking—maybe we should try something different.

I’ve been on my personal Jesus journey for more than a few decades.  I’ve seen the mountain tops and I’ve trudged through my share of valleys and the one constant has been God.  I don’t always understand but I have found that even when I don’t…He is faithful. The Bible, the oldest and most reliable of sacred writings, tells us that God is not a man, that He might lie, 

or a son of man, that He might change His mind. I know that might seem a bit extreme if you are not a believer and I get that.  But don’t these extreme times call for something extreme…like faith?

I’m not sure what the price of gas will be in a week. I’m not even sure there will be eggs in the cooler but I am sure that no matter what my Dearest Daddy in heaven will be the same…good, faithful and trustworthy.  I’m sure that no matter what, He will be there, the Whisperer whispering, “Don’t worry son, I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in food, forgiveness, Grace, life, Scripture, thankful

Day Old Donuts

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

The sign said it all. “Day old donuts…half price.”  In those five words there are two things I really like.  First, donuts.  Donuts and I go way back.  In fact, food and I go way back.  I’m a southern boy and there’s just something about food that puts a smile on my face.  Donuts, well, they make me smile big. The other thing that I really like is “half price.”  I love a good deal.  I remember one time I was at a store and it was after Christmas.  They had a gift set that had a razor, some shaving cream and a few extra blades.  They were marked down from $6.99 to .79 cents. I bought all they had—about twenty of them.  Too bad I used an electric razor.  But it was such a good deal.

So we have half-price donuts. Now we have a problem. “Day old.”  Because donuts don’t have any preservatives they go stale real quick.  At day one a donut becomes not as fluffy—a little chewy.  By day two it becomes like a dried out kitchen sponge.  By day three you have yourself an oversized hockey puck.  What is a donut lover who loves good deals to do?  One word.  Microwave.

The microwave is an amazing invention…especially when it comes to donuts.  You see the microwave cook from the inside out.  So when you put a day old donut in there it begins warming from the inside and any moisture turns to steam and the steam moisturizes the bread. Let me tell you that dude will fluff right up.

I mean this is amazing.  You can even throw a three day old donut in there and depending how hungry you are, pretty much make it edible.  I know because sometimes I would wander through the church where I worked on Thursday and discover some leftovers from Sunday.  Yup.  Just chuck those things in the microwave and you’ve got yourself a semi-fresh donut. By the way, do not tell my wife Judy I’ve done this.

I wonder if David the shepherd had day old donuts and microwaves in mind when he wrote Psalm 23:3.  There we find, “He restores my soul.”  That’s just what the microwave does for the donut.  It warms it from the inside, moistening the dry, stale, bread making it soft and pliable again. In David’s way of thinking it wasn’t a microwave, it was green pastures and still waters.  If you could see it from a sheep’s perspective it would make perfect sense.

Imagine a sheep, hot, tired and hungry and the shepherd brings them to a lush green pasture and he eats his fill.  Then he waddles over to a crystal-clear brook, barely moving, and drinks till he can’t hold anymore.  That’s what David meant when He said God restored his soul.  A lot of folks wouldn’t take a chance on a day old donut.  A lot of folks would count it only worth giving to the dog or tossing in the trash.  They don’t understand the wonder of the microwave.  Do you know what? Sadly, people do people that way too.

Someone gets beat up by the world, worked over by doubt, fear and frustration and they get a little stale.  Some folks wouldn’t bother with them.  Some folks would avoid them.  But not God. He sees the broken, weary people around us and the garbage can is the furtherest from His mind.  Just like the microwave can work magic on a donut so God can work miracles in the lives of the most broken of people. And like the microwave—He does it from the inside out. Remember when Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Jesus does what nothing else, no one else, can do.  He can rescue, redeem, and make the broken whole and life fresh again.

So, let me suggest before you walk by the day old donuts at the market give them a try.  You might discover a tasty treat and a good deal.  And, before you walk by your neighbor or a stranger and you can tell they’ve been worked over by the world and circumstances, just remember what Jesus did for you.  Remember how He didn’t just see you how you were, He saw how you could be. Just a moment in time and he plumped you up with His amazing grace and kindness.

Maybe you are the one who feels pretty stale about now. Maybe your heart is as hard as a week old donut.  Well, don’t crawl in a microwave but do crawl up in the lap of Jesus.  Let him restore your soul.  Stay awhile.  Rest in Him.  He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne  

Posted in life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, spiritual battles, Trials

Adios!

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.” Romans 13:14

You know there are one or two things that are good about a really cold winter.  And number one is the fact that it kills all the bugs. As you remember, while last winter had a couple of cold spurts…overall it wasn’t a bug killing winder. I’m not sure what you thought about last winter’s weather, but apparently the local tick population thought it was just fine.  Just ask my wife Judy–she found out the hard way.

So, a couple of summers ago,  Judy and I went hiking in a wooded area.  The trail we were on was plenty wide but I guess ticks are good jumpers. Later in the week, I was working at my desk at home and I felt just a little itch on my leg.  You know, nothing major—just a “hi—I might need you to scratch me later” itch.  I ignored it.

After a bit, it developed into more.  It went from a “you might need to scratch me” to more of a “hey, now would be a good time to scratch me” itch.  So I did—and when I did, I felt a small bump.  At first I thought it was a small bite and whoever had done it had moved on to greener pastures.  I was wrong.  It was a dirty, rotten, no good, “I want you to die”… tick.  Oh, he wasn’t big—in fact he looked quite innocent. He was only the size of a writing pen head.  Well, I try to be a friendly guy—just not with ticks and especially not with one having dinner—and I’m the meal.  So we parted company and I did my best to make sure he went to the tick afterlife. So long friend…adios. No prayer, no service…just “you’re out of here.”

So, I thought it was not big deal—but I guess big is relative.  You see, by the next day that little bite site had turned red and was about twice as big as before—and it was still itching—only more.  Now fortunately it was NOT the kind of dirty rotten, no good, “I want you to die” tick that gives weird diseases. But even so, the spot where he bit me itched for several weeks.  Even a couple of months later while the itch was gone the scar remained.  Its hard to imagine that one little tick can cause so much trouble.  Write that one down:  little things can have bigger consequences.

Yep, that’s right.  Some small habit, some little action or inaction, a few seconds of a wandering mind, a few misspoken, unkind words—can have large and lasting consequences. And the worse part is that it doesn’t just affect us—it can and does affect those around us. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that because it starts small it stays small. It rarely does.  It really isn’t practical to totally avoid the outdoors so there has to be another way.  A good insect repellent is a good start.

A guy in the Bible named Paul wrote gives us some good advice on how to avoid pesky sins.  He said, “but put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.”  So Paul said the best way to avoid the aggravation and consequences of sin is to give yourself a good smattering of Jesus and then avoid sin wherever and whenever it is likely to jump on.  The truth is the more we read the Bible and apply it and the more we act like Jesus the less likely we will find ourselves infested with pesky, troublesome sin.  Trust me…life is just better.

Well, the site where the friendly little tick decided to visit is finally about gone but it was a journey to get here.  The bottom line is it would just be better to avoid it in the first place. The old saying an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure is so true.  That is true in avoiding ticks and it is also true in avoiding sin. One thing is for sure.  It is good to know that God is more than willing to help us know when there’s a pesky sin close by.  All we have to do is ask, and He will help.  Mark it down…we can rest assured with Him close by.  He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Family, life, marriage, money, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Shredding Checks–Checks Our Faith

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7

There must have been a zillion of them. While my wife Judy and I are not hoarders we do have a tendency to hang onto things.  We are kinda sentimental so things like birthday and anniversary cards tend to hang around. While that may be sweet and sticky it still doesn’t explain the fact that we have a lot of old records–lots of old records. Now for a point of clarification. I’m not talking about the kind made from vinyl that you play on a turntable or phonograph.  No, I am talking about the kind you put in boxes and filing cabinets and then forget about.

So, for the past 30 years, we would put different Taylor records in boxes and put them away on a shelf. And then it happened. On a whim, we decided it was time to do something about our mega record mess. Since all of the records were beyond the statute of limitations (in other words we were not required by law, our relatives or anyone else to keep them) we decided to buy a shredder and start shredding.  So for the last several days I would spend a couple or three hours feeding these thousands of documents to the hungry little shredder.

As I was feeding this paper monster a zillion old checks, I couldn’t help but pay attention to what some of them said.  There was a time when paper checks were the thing and the bank actually sent the cancelled checks back to you. And as I shredded them, I realized they were a snapshot of our lives together. The earliest ones were dated back to the mid-nineties and the latest were about 2014…I think. There were literally hundreds of them–all amounts and written out to all kinds of people and organizations. You name it and it was there…groceries, stuff, more groceries and more stuff. There were lots for insurance, lots for medical needs and more for insurance and more for medical needs. On and on and on it went.

I am grateful that I can tell you that there were regular checks made out to our local church and a couple of other ministries. I don’t tell you that to brag–after all they weren’t the biggest checks in the pile–but they were regular and each one wasn’t a “have too” check like our electric bill. No, each one was written voluntarily and was a love note to our Dearest Daddy. Each one was given in love and each one represented our faith in Him.  They became a testimony to the faithfulness of our Father. Some of those checks were written in times of abundance but some were written when things were pretty lean. But no matter the circumstances–our Dearest Daddy was always faithful. He never failed–no not once.

So how about you? Have you, in a practical way, discovered the faithfulness of God? Does a glance at your calendar or your bank statement tell a tale of faith? I hope so because trusting God is one of life’s greatest adventures. Check this out! Maybe today is the day when you discover the wonder of knowing that no matter what–He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, forgiveness, Grace, heaven, life, missions, prayer, Scripture, travel

Walking the Jesus Road

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on Him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13

It seemed like a waste of time.  I was part of a mission medical team in Uganda and we were working with a ministry that helped orphans and due to war, Aids, and poverty. There were many to help.  After ministering at the orphanage, we went out to local villages and into the bush to reach more of the people.  Medical care, though extremely inexpensive, was out of the reach of most of the people.  That alone clearly speaks of their poverty.  It was such an opportunity to help others.

Before we started the clinic, I would have the opportunity to speak to the people.  I would explain that there was a Man named Jesus who was like no other man.  He would go from village to village helping people—often healing them of their diseases.  I would explain that He did it because He loved them.  Then, I would tell the people that we were followers of that Man and just as He wanted to help people—we wanted to help them.  I explained that the medicine and the doctors were there at no charge to them because someone else had paid the price.  And naturally, that led to me sharing how God was offering them a way for their spiritual brokenness to be forgiven. 

Some of the people in the village had heard of this Man—many had not.  Some were Muslims and some followed whatever local religion they were familiar with.  Before they saw the doctors, we had the privilege of sharing with them more about this man Jesus.  We would ask them if they wanted to leave whatever “god” road they were on and walk the Jesus Road.  While it seems simplistic here, there it made perfect sense.  There was no pressure just an opportunity to believe.  Whether they said yes or no, the medicine, the help, was theirs for free.  That’s what Jesus would do.

It had been a long day and we had seen well over a hundred patients—maybe two hundred.  Many had said yes to the question about the Jesus Road, but some simply said no. As the day wore on, our spirits were still willing, but our bodies were growing tired.  Finally, there was just one man left and it was my turn to share with him.  He was tall and dressed in the traditional Muslin clothing.  I could tell that he was elderly, but I was surprised to learn that he was 81 years old.  Now, honestly, the chances of a Muslin man that old choosing to change roads was slim to none.  It seemed like an exercise in futility. 

I shared a Bible story with him and was surprised that he paid close attention.  At the end of the story, which spoke of a person choosing to walk the Jesus Road, through the interpreter, I asked him, “Would you like to follow this Jesus Road?”  Much to my utter surprise, he responded, “Yes, I would.”  I was certain he just didn’t understand my question, so I rephrased it and his response was the same. Amazing.  Finally, I said, “Do you understand that walking the Jesus Road requires you to leave the road you are on?”  I said, “You cannot walk two roads…only one.” His response was, “I choose the Jesus Road.”

We bowed our heads and he prayed telling Creator God that he was a sinner, but he believed that Jesus had died to pay for his sins.  He said that he was willing to leave all other roads and follow only Jesus.  And just like that, this dear old man, became a Jesus follower. Did he fully understand all the theology that was involved?  Probably not, but he did know that God loved him, that he was a sinner and Jesus would forgive him and that was enough.  What seemed like a waste of time, an exercise of futility, turned into the most amazing moment of the trip.  That day that man became a child of God.

This story never grows old—and neither does the old, old story about Jesus being born, living, dying, being buried, and coming back to life in three days—never to die again. It is a factual, amazing story.  I am always amazed that we know more about this carpenter from a small village in the middle of nowhere than we do of all the Roman emperors combined.  Do you know the reason?  Jesus is the real deal.  How about that?

You might be surprised to learn that Jesus wasn’t a big fan of religion. In fact, neither is God.  I always think of religion as man’s attempt to reach God while Jesus was God’s way to reach us.  A relationship with God is not about church, being good, or keeping rules.  It is about God’s love and our faith in what Jesus did.  It is simple, it is powerful, and it is true.

If you want a witness, you can go to Uganda and find my 81-year-old friend, but truthfully, he probably isn’t there.  By now, he has most likely followed the Jesus Road straight into heaven.  That’s where it ultimately ends.  And as much as I love the fact that the road leads there, I am also so glad that there is room for two to walk side by side—Jesus and me, Jesus and you, Jesus and us.  And as we walk, I know that I can face whatever the road holds because, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Family, food, life, Scripture, thankful

Nibbles and Noises

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, observing the wicked and the good.” Proverbs 15:3

Well, it seems like I would learn. After almost 49 years of marriage to my wife Judy there are somethings that still amaze me. There are times when I am sure that she, like me, has at least some hearing loss—that is until I am sure she doesn’t. The other day I was in the kitchen and she was in the living room with some music playing. I had just finished off a Coke Zero and I was sure something gassy was about to happen. Well, since I was in the room by myself I did. To my surprise, but not really, I heard a voice crying from the living room wilderness that said, “I heard that.” I was busted. Now how could she possibly hear that?

But wait—there is more. The other day we were attending some training sponsored by the Billy Graham Association. It started early in the morning and they had mentioned that snacks and coffee would be available. Now I had been craving a good donut and I was hoping that their interpretation of snacks was the same as mine—donuts. Well, you can probably imagine my smile when after registering we walked into the snack area and there on the table were several boxes of donuts from the Donut Bank.  Can someone say heaven?

I immediately went over and found one of my favorites—a sour cream donut. I grabbed one and poured a cup of coffee to boot. Well, about that time Judy asked me to hold her donut while she went to the ladies room. Well, of course I was more than willing. So I was standing there munching on my sour cream donut and then I looked down. She had chosen a cream filled long John with white icing. When I looked—it started calling my name. Well since she had already taken a couple of bites I decided that I might as well help myself to a couple of nibbles from her’s. So I did!

They say the grass it always greener on the other side and I was amazed at how good her long John tasted so after the first nibble—I had another and then—another. Not wanting to push my luck, I pushed the long John up in the napkin so it appeared to be just about the same size as it was before my nibbles. Well, I looked up and she was coming toward me. Now if I am lying I am dying—she took that long John from my hand and immediately knew I had been nibbling. She gave me “the look” and well, I was busted again. Once again, I was amazed that somehow she just knew I had been nibbling. How could she know that?

Now listen to this. If you think Judy is good at hearing what should be unknown and knowing the unknown—what about God? How many times have we have said something or done something that might be unknown to others but we somehow believed that we could keep it from God?  Guess what? We can’t. The Bible clearly teaches us that He hears all, knows all and sees all. So before you think or say something…even in an empty room…or before you decide to take a nibble of sin, just remember your Dearest Daddy is watching and listening. He’s not doing it so He can play policeman—no He is doing it because He loves us. You see, He just cares too much about us to let us nibble or wallow in sin. He wants to help and He always can because He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, fear, Grace, Integrity, life, Scripture, spiritual battles

Trust the Truth

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword.” Hebrews 4:12a

On your mark, get set, go. Today is Monday.  While not the first day of the week, that honor is set aside for Sunday, for many it is the first day of their work week. But wait—this week there is sometime way bigger.  Wednesday is January 1st, the start of a new month and, wait for it, the start of another New Year.

In Psalm 118:24, we are reminded that, “this is the day the Lord has made.” We are also told what we are to do with that truth, “We will rejoice and be glad in it.” He makes each day and we get to celebrate each day. So if God is the author of each day then He is also the author of each week, month, and year and we should celebrate each one.

One of the best ways to celebrate all this newness is by reading and celebrating God’s Word. I cannot, we cannot, overstate the importance of God’s Word to each and every Jesus follower. You see, reading, studying, meditating and ingesting God’s Word is vital to our intimacy with our Abba Father—our Dearest Daddy. God’s Word is our weapon to fight against our arch enemy Satan. The Word is alive, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. But wait there is more. When we hide Scripture in our heart, it helps us battle with the forces of evil. We have an enemy, and the last thing he wants us to do is trust God and His Word.

You can take this to the bank. Our spiritual enemy wants to keep us in a place of doubt, fear, guilt, shame and insecurity. But when we know who we are, children of the Most High God, we can confidently demolish every lie that distracts us. Jesus said of Satan, “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” Don’t miss that—no truth in him. Just think, whatever comes out of Satan is a lie so we must be careful to believe nothing he says.

I was reading one day and came across this list of some common lies we’ve all believed, and the truth we need to remember to overcome them. These powerful truths will help equip us  and help us to overcomer the enemy this year.

Satan Says — You are a failure, and can’t do anything right.

God Says — You may struggle, but you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. (Philippians 4:13)

Satan Says – If God cared, why would He let these hardships happen to you?  

God Says — I cause everything to work together for My glory and My good (Romans 8:28). My grace is sufficient for you, and My power is perfected through your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Satan Says — You will always be the way you are.

God Says — You can change because you belong to Christ. The old you has gone and the new you is here (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

Think through the lies you’ve believed. Unfortunately the list is probably longer than we want to admit. It’s easier to entertain lies when we allow them to become a part of us. But once you recognize the lies you’ve internalized, you’re halfway to victory. God gave us His Word so that we could know the truth …  and it’s His truth that sets us free.  As we launch into this New Year, let’s start living more like the conquerors we are, and apply the life-giving, hope-delivering truth provided to us through God’s Word. Let’s make the commitment to live and believe that, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Scripture, travel, wisdom

The Copyist

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” Ephesians 5:1

There he was in the middle of the National Art Museum. Well, my wife Judy and I recently returned from a great trip to our nation’s capital—Washington D.C. It all happened on a whim when a hotel we had stayed at in 2017, that is smack-dab in the middle of everything including the White House, Washington Moment, all the war memorials, the Smithsonian just to name a few, was on super sale. We decided to go see Washington at Christmas.  We loved it. The weather was definitely tolerable and somehow being snuggled up in a coat and hat just added to the atmosphere.

We had three and half days of sightseeing—taking in so much history and frankly it left us very proud to be citizens of this great land. One of several things we visited was the National Art Museum. We loved looking at the beautiful works of art that filled the walls of the museum. We were able to get up front and personal and just marvel at the detail of the many works of art—almost all done with oil on canvas. As I was looking at one particular piece, I was amazed. The figure, a lady, wore several rings and the detail of each one was incredible. How could any one do this? How could anyone see this and not believe in a creator God that made the makers of the masterpieces? Well, that is beyond me.

When we entered one gallery, a man was setting up and was preparing to paint, to copy one of the masterpieces. Oh don’t worry, it wasn’t illegal in fact it was encouraged. The museum has a program called, “The Copyist Program” that allows an artist to attempt to recreate a masterpiece. We struck up a conversation with this gentleman. It turned out he had retired eight years ago and only then did he take up painting. He was about halfway through copying this particular piece of art having worked thirty hours with another thirty or forty to go. Two things were clear. First, he definitely had a talent or gift for painting and second, when he was done he would have his own masterpiece.

The goal of the copyist is to as closely as possible copy the work of art. There was no place for his own interpretation…no, he was to copy the original master. Then, and only then, would he be successful. My wife Judy thought of it first. She said, “That is exactly how it should be with us and Jesus. We are to be copyist and be as much like Him as possible.” She was exactly right. The goal of every Jesus follower is to be like Jesus…not our personal interpretation of Him but rather as He is. Anything else is, well, wrong.

Paul put it this way in Ephesians 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.” In other words, in our actions, our speech, or thoughts, our beliefs we need to imitate Jesus. There is plenty of room for our personal interpretation in this world but in His world—there is no room. So, as we journey in life, let’s live like our copyist friend, let’s seek to imitate, to copy Jesus so that as far as the world can see—there simply is no difference. If it sounds challenging, that’s because it is—in fact it is beyond us but don’t worry because it is not beyond Him. He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Family, Grace, prayer, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, Trials

Be Still

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Be still, and know that I am God!” Psalm 46:10

It was a gentle reminder.  One Sunday before we chose to step back from the busy world of full-time ministry, we were driving to church and heard a soft “ding.” A quick look at the dash told us why.  Our car has a built-in thermometer and when the temperature dips to 39 degrees, it sounds a soft chime to let us know that the temperature outside has reached a point where the roads might be slippery because of ice or snow. It is a great idea because sometimes we get too busy to notice and then, well, it can lead to a mess.  I wish life sometimes had a little “ding” too. Let me explain.

A while back I had one of those crazy schedules that was just jam-packed.  I knew it was going to be busy. I knew it was going to be crazy but for some reason that didn’t make me hit the brakes and slow down.  It all started on Monday…well, make that Sunday.  Sunday for me was preaching twice Sunday morning but that particular week we also had an evening service to prepare for a special event happening at our church…which was part of the crazy.  I spent the afternoon getting Grits ready for that week and the next…so, add in a little more crazy.  Now back to Monday.  Monday, I had the privilege of officiating at the funeral service for a church member who happened to be a good friend too.  Because of that it was especially emotionally draining for me.  I felt the loss…we all did.

I returned to the office that afternoon and finished out the day and woke up early on Tuesday to speak on “The Baptist Hour,” a radio program that we sponsor on the first of every month.  Then it was off to the office to prepare for the rest of the week.  In the late afternoon, we packed our bags to attend a state meeting two and a half hours away.  We arrived that night, slept and woke up to a twelve-hour day of conferences and meetings. It was just about then I should have been listening for the little warning chime because certainly it was going off.

Thursday morning began with more meetings before leaving for home. After driving for two and a half hours, we got back in time to serve at our outreach event.  I was one of the speakers and we got to the church at about 5:00 pm and got home about 10:30 pm.  Friday, the day I usually call my day off, was filled with more study and a return trip to the church for the event. Was that a “ding” I heard?   Then Sunday…well, it was Sunday, and our first service began at 8 am.

Now all of that wasn’t written to whine about a crazy week…it was to warn you that, chime or no chime, when things get crazy…be careful you don’t. So, like the chime in my car, I needed something to let me know it was time to restock, to replenish.  While God doesn’t give out chimes, He does give us His Spirit. I love a verse tucked away in Psalm 46:10. It says, “Be still and know I am God.” Be still…literally, “stop striving” and know that He is God. He wants to be our warning chime but to hear Him we must slow down and listen.

I shared a quote a couple of weeks ago, but didn’t personally apply it. It said, “Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is take a nap,” or maybe just get away. So, after church that Sunday, we did a little more crazy. We packed our bags and headed to New Orleans for a five-day cruise. We were grateful for a time to physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually recover. This quiet time was a gift from God to us…a time to be still and know that He really is God.  I hope this story will help you stop before you reach the tipping point. But if you do, if we do, at least we know, no matter what, “He’s got this.”  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in communication, Family, fear, friends, gratitude, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, spiritual battles, thankful

Guarding the Flame

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Most mornings, I watch that little flame fade. I’m all about creating an atmosphere for my morning routine. First thing I do is I crank up the lights in my home office. I flip the switch on the wall and tell my buddy-ette Alexa to turn on the “office” lights. Boom! Instant brightness. Check.

Next up, I pop a K-cup into my Keurig and in a couple of minutes, I’ve got my coffee ready. Check. Right next to the coffee maker is a table with a three-wick candle. I light that up and settle into my chair, firing up my electric fireplace. At that point, I’m finally ready to check the weather and dive into my Jesus time. Check. Check. Check.

But eventually, I have to wrap things up, and that means turning off the lights and putting out the candle. There are a couple of ways to do it, but I always go for the easy route. I put the metal lid on the jar, and that’s when I watch the flame slowly go out. At first, it flickers, but then it weakens until it’s just gone. It’s a little sad to see it die because I know what’s happening. The lid cuts off the oxygen, and without that, the flame can’t survive.

Every time I see this, it reminds me of life. We all need to keep our hope, love, faith, and purpose alive. These are the things that give us a reason to get up in the morning and keep pushing forward. If we let them starve, it’s only a matter of time before life feels dull, and what once burned brightly is just a smoldering wick.

So, how does that happen? There are tons of reasons, and they vary for each of us, but often it feels like a lid gets clamped down on our lives, and just like that candle, the flame starts to fade. Hope turns into despair, love gets overshadowed by hurt, and fear quietly snuffs out our faith. Before we know it, we’re left wondering why we even bother. Sound familiar? It definitely has for me—too often I’ve put that “lid of limits” on my own flame.

The only way I’ve found to keep the flame alive is by nurturing a close relationship with the One who created me. The hope, love, and purpose I find through my faith in Him create an atmosphere that keeps the fire burning. Even if you’re unsure about the whole God thing, I encourage you to rethink it and spark—or reignite—a relationship with Him. Don’t just go with what society says or what your coworkers think. Check Him out for yourself. Start by diving into the Bible, the most trusted book around. Try chatting with Him; it might feel weird at first, but hey, so did your first conversation with your first love. It’s totally worth it if it means your flame starts to glow again.

Every morning, I take off that lid and light the candle, and each day it bursts back to life, bringing warmth and that satisfying aroma. Why not let this friend I call my Dearest Daddy add some light to your life? Jesus said He’s the light of the world, and anyone who follows Him won’t walk in darkness. It’s like He’s saying, “Trust me… I’ve got this.” — Bro. Dewayne