eyes – Grits with Grace

Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Just Like Magic

Posted on September 7, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.” 2 Kings 6:17

Just like magic…there it was. So, a long time ago, you know, back in the mid-eighties, a “thing” was going around. The bottom line was you were supposed to look at this picture that seemed to be a picture of really nothing and if it was your lucky day, suddenly, a 3-D image would appear. It was crazy. I remember one Sunday afternoon we were at a friend’s house, and I was staring at this large picture like crazy. And then it happened. Boom. A 3-D picture just jumped off the page. I remember shouting, “I see it, I see it” and just about that time—it was gone.

A couple of days ago, I received an email, and it is generally full of interesting tidbits and the like. Well, it said that there was an arrow in the FedEx logo. Well, I certainly had never seen one, so you know I had to go and look. And…I did. I Googled FedEx and clicked on images and there were tons to see. I looked and no arrow. I looked again and still no arrow. I was just about to think that the email writer person was jerking my chain and then it happened.

Between the “E” and the “X” there was perfect, plain as the nose on your face arrow. I was and still am amazed at how I didn’t see it and then “bam” I did. And the cool part is that once you see it, you cannot “unsee” it. Trust me when I see the FedEx logo the first thing that grabs my attention is the arrow.

It made me wonder how many wonderful things surround us every day and we simply don’t see them. How many miracles has the Dearest Father placed in our world and for whatever reason, we just look right past them. The answer, of course, is to make it a point to start being intentional in our looking for them. I am sure I never would have seen the arrow if someone had told me to look.

As you journey today, let me encourage you to intentionally look for the miracles and blessings scattered around the landscape of your life. Trust me, look intentionally and you will see them. If you need a little help, just ask and the One who made it all will make them apparent. He loves it when we look, and He loves it when we know that “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

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

Contacts

Posted on August 9, 2022July 23, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

Hi Grits Family! Hey, my wife Judy and I are going to be “out of pocket” aka “not available” to write for the next couple of weeks. During that time, we decided to send out some of our past stories. I hope you enjoy the ones we selected and look forward to some “fresh Grits” in a couple of weeks. God bless. Bro. Dewayne

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

He did it again. It was a love note from my Heavenly Father and at least for me…it was a big one. It all started with a nap. You see, every day after lunch I take a short nap. I have done it for at least 45 years. It goes something like this. Eat. Nap. Back to work. It seems as soon as lunch is done so am I. (It could have something to do with my 4:30 am wakeup time.) It is my understanding that the folks who live in Japan do this, and they live longer and are healthier. So, Monday, I ate a sandwich and then went to take my nap. Generally, it is about 15 or 20 minutes and as usual, that’s what happened. However, as I woke up, I sat up, and it was then that I messed up.

You see, accidentally and totally unintentionally, I touched my right eye as I sat up. It might have been one of those getting the momentum going in the right direction kind of thing. At any rate, I touched the eye where I wear my “mono vision.” I knew right away something changed. I have a test I perform to make sure my contact is doing its thing. I simply look at my watch and if I can read it, all is well. However, when I looked that day it was way past blurry. That meant my contact was either on the bed somewhere or lost in my eye. From the way things felt—it was lost in my eye. I called my eye doctor friend.

I explained that I thought my contact was lost in my eye and she kindly agreed to meet me there. That’s the kind of person she is—kind. I was soon at her office and in her eye checking chair. She looked and looked. Nothing. Next, she put in some dye to make the contact stand out and then even rolled my eye lid up to peek there. Nothing. Despite all her best efforts—no contact was to be found. We were pretty sure it had jumped out. Only time would tell the tale.

Well, throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening, every once in a while, I knew I could feel it. It would stick its little head out and when I went and looked it had already disappeared again. This happened again and again. I went to bed that night knowing my friend was still in there. Well, the next morning, it greeted me but at the same time alluded me. It was frustrating. It was going to be one of those things that make your day a little more difficult.

And then it happened. I was chatting with my wife Judy, and I felt it. I could tell it was right near the edge of my eye lid. I rushed to the bathroom and reached in, pinched and boom—I got it. Oh, happy days were here again! Talk about a game changer…you would have thought I won the lottery and in a way, I guess I had!

Here’s the best part! I knew it was a love note from my Dearest Daddy. You say, “Really?” And I say, “Absolutely.” You see He is a good, good Father who is into the details. He cares about the biggest things, and He cares about the smallest things. Paul, the guy who wrote most of the New Testament, said that He could and would do more than we can ever imagine. Trust me, it was no accident the contact suddenly made its appearance, and it was no accident that it was right where I could grab it. Yup…it was a love note.

So, I told Him thanks about a dozen times, and I figured I had to write this story. I had to take another opportunity to tell Him thanks by telling you about Him. I just had to share this big truth—God cares about the little things. Oh, and it doesn’t happen every time or all the time—nope, and that is what makes it special.

So, today, why not look around for a special love note from your Heavenly Father. If you think about it, even the fact that we are breathing His air is amazing! Whether it is a lost contact that is found or just a beautiful day in the neighborhood, remember to say, “Thank you.” Learning to see the little things and being grateful is better…in fact, it is a lot better. And as we learn to be grateful, well, we will recognize more and more that great truth, no matter what, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

What Shall We Do?

Posted on March 29, 2022March 28, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

“You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

The last two years in too many ways was a monster—perhaps a cookie monster. It seemed to take so many of the things that were precious to us and just consumed them. One minute they were there and the next…they were gone. Like Cookie Monster it crunched and munched its way through the calendar and our lives declaring, “Me like cookies.”

As both years progressed, we struggled, pushed, and pulled, but let’s not lose sight of what we learned. We learned things about ourselves, and we learned things about God. We stopped just reading about faith or listening to preachers tell us about it and we were given opportunities to taste it, to experience it. Keep in mind that kind of learning can only happen in situations that we can’t handle. It can only happen in darkness. But it is then that we get to see the dawn coming. We get to see what he saw.

The man woke up early…just as dark was turning to dawn. He quietly stirred so as not to disturb his master, Elisha. It was then that he heard them. “Them” were masses of horses and warriors lining the surrounding hills. It wasn’t going to be a good day.

Day after day, we awoke to a world and the sounds of warriors and horses were louder and closer than the day before as COVID, politics and headlines stopped being something that was just happening on the national news. Slowly it inched its way nearer, first, in nearby counties and then even closer. Perhaps you felt the fear creeping into the pit of your stomach…again…and again. You asked, “What can I do?” Now the question is “How did we do?”

Our friend shakes his master out of a deep sleep. The Word of God records it like this in 2 Kings 6:15 “When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. What.Shall.We.Do.

Did you ask that question in 2020? Last year? Recently? This morning? Well, welcome to normal. The best part is there is a great answer coming. Elisha, in 2 Kings 6:16, says “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

“Calm down, friend” Elisha said because the odds are on our side. Well, the servant did the math and it looked like a zillion to two. Hmmm. So, do you find yourself doing the math and no matter how you rewrite the equation it doesn’t look good?

Well – get ready because something is about to change. In verse 17 the Word says, “And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

And boom, just like that everything changed. When he could see clearly it was clear that the odds were in their favor and the fear eased and the panic fled and well, it was gonna be a better day. 1 John 4:4 puts it this way, “You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

That was true then and it is true now. Yes, we had enough stuff in recent days to cause the strongest knees to knock. The enemy was and is great, but our God was and is greater. Yes, the carnage scars the landscape but the virus, the division, the economic and emotional disruption was and is no match for our God. He is bigger…by a lot. Ask God to open your eyes so you can see what the odds really were and are–and feel the fear ease and the panic flee. After all, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Contact- Lost and Found

Posted on April 21, 2021April 20, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

You see, accidentally and totally unintentionally, I touched my right eye as I set up. It might have been one of those getting the momentum going in the right direction kind of thing. At any rate, I touched the eye where I wear my “mono vision.” I knew right away something changed. I have a test I perform to make sure my contact is doing its thing. I simply look at my watch and if I can read it, all is well. However, when I looked that day it was way past blurry. That meant my contact was either on the bed somewhere or lost in my eye. From the way things felt—it was lost in my eye. I called my eye doctor friend.

I explained that I thought my contact was lost in my eye and she kindly agreed to meet me there. That’s the kind of person she is—kind. I was soon at her office and in her eye checking chair. She looked and looked. Nothing. Next, she put in some dye to make the contact stand out and then even rolled my eye lid up to peek there. Nothing. In spite of all her best efforts—no contact was to be found. We were pretty sure it had jumped out. Only time would tell the tale.

Well, throughout the rest of the afternoon and evening, every once in a while I knew I could feel it. It would stick its little head out and when I went and looked it had already disappeared again. This happened again and again. I went to bed that night knowing my friend was still in there. Well, the next morning, it greeted me but at the same time alluded me. It was frustrating. It was going to be one of those things that make your day a little more difficult.

Here’s the best part! I knew it was a love note from my Dearest Daddy. You say, “Really?” And I say, “Absolutely.” You see He is a good, good Father who is into the details. He cares about the biggest things and He cares about the smallest things. Paul, the guy who wrote most of the New Testament, said that He could and would do more than we can ever imagine. Trust me, it was no accident the contact suddenly made its appearance, and it was no accident that it was right where I could grab it. Yup…it was a love note.

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, Trials

Stinking Allergies

Posted on March 26, 2021March 25, 2021 by Dewayne Taylor

For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under the law but under grace.” Romans 6:14

It’s just about to drive me nuts. For as long as I can remember, I have had to deal with allergies. From the days of running the woods in Northeast Florida as a kid to now, stuff in the air drives me bonkers. I can well remember the days in my early twenties when the only weapon I had to fight the battle with was some nose spray. And the crazy part of that is if you use it too often and too long, it actually makes matters worse.

In the earlier days, my main issue was the fall. There is this crazy plant called ragweed and when it starts to bloom, I start to suffer. Itchy eyes, clogged nasal passages, and a sneeze that sounds like a chihuahua chasing their tail and wound way too tight. Oh, and I don’t sneeze once—try six to eight times. In this COVID mess this has been a real issue because people think I am coughing instead of sneezing, so they give you the death stare and then run.

About a zillion years ago, I discovered something called Flonase that changed my life. It is a nasal steroid that tricks your nose and eyes into believing that there is nothing in the air. It was a game changer and I have used it probably for 30 years or more. Wow, it sure made fall easier. I might still have some symptoms but at least it was tolerable. Well, about five years ago, something happened. I started having the same symptoms in the spring too. They weren’t as bad, and the Flonase keep everything in balance. All that was true until this year.

As spring began to spring, my allergies started acting up, first in a little way and then in a big way. Today they are acting in a “you’ve got to be kidding me” way. So, when I started sounding like an overactive chihuahua I just start using my medicine. For some reason, this spring, it didn’t work like before. Now for the last couple of days, I have been sneezing and my eyes have been itching like crazy. I went to the store yesterday and brought some drops but so far, well, we are still at war.

All of this is so crazy. Some stuff from some plant is doing something to the lining of my sinuses causing them to go nuts and I end up in misery. I mean, first, I did nothing to the stinking plants and second, what’s up with my hypersensitive sinuses. Something that I can’t even see is making me pretty miserable. I know, I should think positive but when you want to take your eyeballs out so you can scratch them better, it is hard to be positive. And then I know you aren’t supposed to put your fingers in your eyes, but it feels so good to scratch them. Oh, my goodness.

You know, I wonder what if sin (you know the things that God says we shouldn’t do) was as irritating as whatever it is that is driving me nuts? What if it bothered me to the point that I would do anything to stop? I do believe my life would be better…I know my life would be better. But the problem with sin is the fact we like it way too much. To many of us, it’s like the satisfaction I feel when I scratch my eyes or sneeze for the eighth time. It feels better…it feels good. But mark this down. There are consequences.

Sneeze eight times with your eyes closed while driving and you end up running a red light or running into a ditch. Bummer. Scratch your eyes too often and you end up with an eye inflection or scratching something like whatever it is that makes your eyes work in the first place. Regardless—you end up in a mess. The best thing to do is what I am going to do. I am gonna call my eye doctor friend. I’m gonna ask her if there is anything, she can prescribe for me that will stop this infernal itching. I’m gonna ask for help. If there is anything that can be done, she will know and she will help. She is my doctor, but she is also my friend.

It is the same way with this sin thing. We need to call the sin doctor and that would be Jesus. He knows all about sin—how to beat it—how to subdue it, and how to avoid all those nasty consequences. He died so that sin wouldn’t win, and He is more than willing to help us, if we ask. His death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin but He also gives us victory over the sneezing and itchy eyes part of sin—the day-to-day messiness of sin. He gives us sin relief and I love that.

Paul, one of the main writers of the New Testament part of the Bible says that sin (along with all its messy consequences) does not have to rule over us—because we are not under the “thou shalt not’s” but under grace—God’s unlimited and unmerited favor. And because of that, sin doesn’t have free-rein—so long consequences, you know, like too many sneezes and itchy eyes. That sounds like good news to me.

Just know that if you hear something that sounds like an overactive chihuahua or see some guy with red eyes, don’t worry it is probably just me going nuts. But remember, and this is the take-away, there is Someone who can handle your sin issues and that Someone is Jesus. He loves you a lot—so much He died for you. And whatever your issue is, you can take this to the bank, He’s got this, too. Bro. Dewayne