Psalm 19:1 – Grits with Grace

birthday, Christmas, Family, friends, gratitude, Holidays, life, New Year, Scripture

Happy Birthday!

Posted on January 6, 2025December 31, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1

Here we are again. It seems like yesterday I was celebrating my 70th birthday and today…well it’s number 71st! It’s funny how quickly these things sneak up, right? They say age is just a number, and a birthday is just a date on the calendar, but the number keeps getting bigger, and that date seems to come around way too fast.

I’ve always thought birthdays were cool, even though mine’s right after Christmas. Growing up, it was always special when friends and family remembered it. I mean, it’s easy to forget when everyone’s still in Christmas mode.

Turns out, my birthday actually falls on a pretty special day. Way back in the day (like, really back), January 6th was when people celebrated Christmas. So technically, I was born on Christmas Day! Then, a pope came along and decided to change it, so… goodbye Christmas. But hey, I still get to claim that cool little connection. Also, January 6th is known as Epiphany, when the three wise men, led by a brilliant star, supposedly visited Jesus. Honestly, we’re not even sure there were three of them, and the Bible hints that they didn’t show up until a couple of years later. But whatever—it still makes my birthday feel extra special!

So, we just wrapped up Christmas—the time time when we celebrate Jesus’ birth. But here’s the thing—sometimes, even His birthday gets lost in the shuffle. With all the hustle, the shopping, the family gatherings, and traditions (which I do love, by the way), it’s easy to forget the real reason we’re celebrating. Same thing happens at Easter, too. And honestly, in a world moving at “500 mph,” we can easily let this happen every day. As Jesus followers, we’ve got to make sure He stays front and center, not just at Christmas, but all year long.

Anyway, this isn’t really about my birthday. (Okay, maybe a little bit, but not really.) It’s more about remembering Jesus—keeping Him at the forefront of our minds and hearts. It’s about making sure He gets the attention He deserves, Christmas or not. So next time you look up at the stars, think about that bright one that announced His birth over 2,000 years ago. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

Sure, we put candles on a cake, but God lit up the whole sky with stars, and created everything we see. Pretty amazing, huh? So even though Christmas is behind us, let’s keep Jesus at the front of everything. No matter what we face, it’s great to know that “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Good Job, Mr. Sun

Posted on July 22, 2024July 17, 2024 by Dewayne Taylor

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1

Good job, Mister Sun. I love beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Everyone talks about the beautiful ones down on the Gulf of Mexico but hey…save the gas and enjoy the ones right here in Southern Illinois. It is common here in our neck of the woods to have both sunrises and sunsets that are just awesome. These masterpieces are enhanced by different things in the atmosphere but are created by the Masterpiece Maker…the God who made it all.

Well, on some mornings it just seems the Masterpiece Maker decides to show off. Let me explain. I get up long before sunrise but by the time I drink a couple of cups of coffee and have some time with Jesus, the sun is just about ready to say good morning. So a while back, I opened the door of my office at home and paused at a table we have in our hallway. It has a window that faces east and that is where and when I saw it. There, peeking through the trees, was the most magnificent sunrise I have seen in years. The sun was just above the horizon, and it was a flaming ball of color…a combination of intense red and orange.

Try as I might, I can’t think of anything to compare it too. It simply took my breath away. I immediately went downstairs and spoke to my wife Judy through an open window. I told her, “You need to go and look at the sunrise. It is incredible.” She mentioned something about getting a camera and I told her, “No, go right now.” Well, she did, and she too was rewarded with this masterpiece. We could only see it in one particular spot and through the trees, but it was sweet…very sweet. And it didn’t last too long. In just a few minutes the color was not as intense, and it went from beyond words to just plain old beautiful. The truth is God had chosen that morning and that place to show off and we got to see it.

Well, in a few minutes, I had slipped on my walking clothes and headed to the cemetery for my morning walk. By now the sun was up higher in the sky…still beautiful and still magnificent in its everyday glory. But all that paled now because of what I had seen that morning. And that morning, that early morning, I knew I had discovered perhaps the true purpose of the sun.

I know no sun would mean no life. We would be a planet of cold and darkness like so many others, so I get the importance of the sun and its light. So, while all that is so very important, is that the true purpose of this heavenly light we call the sun? Maybe not. You see in the Old Testament part of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, there is a verse that says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” When I think of that verse and remember that sunrise, I think I know the true purpose of the sun…to declare the glory of God.

You see, God is so great, so good, so loving, so kind, so caring, so holy, so magnificent that He is really beyond words. So maybe, just maybe, He gives us sunrises like the one I saw that morning to help me, to help us understand just how awesome He is. The truth is there is no doubt in my mind that the God who made all of us and all of this is one incredible God. So beyond words He gives us sunrises, and full moons and a sky filled with stars just to declare His glory and to let us know just how great He is.

I’ve shared many times that I believe God sends us love notes every single day. Often those love notes tell us how much He loves us and cares for us. That includes sunrises and sunsets and beautiful mountains and flowers and even a precious newborn’s face. Common? Not hardly. Each one is a love note from the Father. So today take a moment and look at the splendor of creation. Go ahead and dare to be amazed at this God who loves us so much. And then marvel at the thought that as we journey, as we do this thing called life, He loves us and gently whisperers, “I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, forgiveness, friends, Grace, gratitude, heaven, life, love, loving others, prayer, priorities, Scripture, thankful, travel

The End Isn’t the End

Posted on June 1, 2023May 31, 2023 by Dewayne Taylor

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1

It seemed like the end of the road…but it wasn’t. My wife Judy and I live in Southern Illinois. I know, when you think of Illinois you think about Abraham Lincoln and Chicago but believe me there is a whole lot more to Illinois than that. The part of Illinois that we call home is south, way south. Our nook and cranny of Illinois, which is right at the Shawnee National Forest, is crammed full of natural beauty. Lush forests, rock bluffs, waterfalls, and hiking trails galore are but a few of our treasures.

Often Judy and I will get in our car and just drive. One of our favorite drives takes us up to U.S. Highway 1 heading east. The area is pure country with plenty of green scenery and rolling hills. The road ends in a small town called Cave-In-Rock. There are a few stores, a couple of restaurants and, you guessed it, a large cave in a rock. The story goes that the cave was used by river pirates. Fess Parker’s movie, “The River Pirates” was filmed there. It is worth seeing. But there is one more thing that grabs my attention.

You see, U.S. Highway 1 ends at Cave-In-Rock and it ends by running right into the Ohio River. You are traveling down on this really, nice road and all of a sudden…boom…you’re done…no more road. The end. But guess what? It’s not really the end because right there in town where the road ends, is an old-fashioned, but fully functioning, ferry. It is provided free of charge for those who need to keep going to the other side…to Kentucky. It turns out, about every 15 or 20 minutes the ferry makes a run carrying people to the other side. So, what you thought was the end…wasn’t.

A while back I did a funeral for a real nice lady and told the crowd gathered there that it seems when we go to cemeteries that all the headstones seem to say, “The end” but I told them that isn’t necessarily so. I told them that the end didn’t have to be the end, but rather a new beginning. I also told them about how a man, a man we shouldn’t know anything about, changed everything by dying and then coming back to life. I told them that He promised that if we would believe in Him and what He did, that He would give us life eternal, too. That means that death isn’t a dead end, but a way for us to get from here, where things are broken, to a place called heaven where they aren’t.

I know, I know. Sounds a little old fashioned? Sounds a little archaic? But maybe it should sound like something else…like hopeful. Maybe, just maybe it is worth checking out. Some people think things like God, heaven and hope are just crutches to lean on, but I think something different. I think they are a reality…something that each of us need to investigate. When I look around at all this beauty in my part of the world, I just get the sneaking suspicion that it is too grand to be an accident. When I look up and see a zillion stars, they all seem to be saying, “Hey, God created us.” Yup, I have a feeling that it was created by Someone. Amazingly a whole chunk of the world agrees.

I hope this Grits might at least stir your interest in the hope that Jesus can give. I mean it is worth checking out since 100% of us are going to come to an end out there somewhere. Why not check it out? God can handle our doubts and accusations so don’t worry about offending Him. Go to Him with your questions and listen carefully. You might just hear a gentle whisper as He tells you He loves you and yes, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Family, gratitude, life, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful

Good Job, Mister Sun

Posted on July 22, 2022July 21, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1

Well, yesterday morning, this Masterpiece Maker decided to show off. Let me explain. I get up long before sunrise but by the time I drink a couple of cups of coffee and have some time with Jesus, the sun is just about ready to say good morning. So yesterday, I opened the door of my office at home and paused at a table we have in our hallway. It has a window that faces east and that is where and when I saw it. There, peeking through the trees, was the most magnificent sunrise I have seen in years. The sun was just above the horizon, and it was a flaming ball of color…a combination of intense red and orange.

Try as I might, I can’t think of anything to compare it too. It simply took my breath away. I immediately went downstairs and spoke to Judy through an open the window. I told her, “You need to go and look at the sunrise. It is incredible.” She mentioned something about getting a camera and I told her, “No, go right now.” Well, she did, and she too was rewarded with this masterpiece. We could only see it in one particular spot and through the trees, but it was sweet…very sweet. And it didn’t last too long. In just a few minutes the color was not as intense, and it went from beyond words to just plain old beautiful. The truth is God had chosen that morning and that place to show off and we got to see it.

I know no sun would mean no life. We would be a planet of cold and darkness like so many others, so I get the importance of the sun and its light. So, while all that is so very important, is it the true purpose of this heavenly light we call the sun? Maybe not. You see in the Old Testament part of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, there is a verse that says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of His hands.” When I think of that verse and remember that sunrise, I think I know the true purpose of the sun…to declare the glory of God.

Christmas, Family, gratitude, Holidays, life, priorities, Scripture, thankful

Happy Birthday?

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Dewayne Taylor

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1

Happy birthday…I think. Well, tomorrow, for the 68th time I am going to have a birthday. They sure seem to roll around quickly these days. They say that age is just a number, and a birthday is just a date on the calendar, but the bottom line is the number gets bigger and that date rolls around way too fast…or so it seems. Ever since I was a kid, I thought birthdays were cool. Mine happens to fall right after Christmas but it was always special when family and friends remembered it. And, January 6th, is a special day…or at least it was.

You see, back in the old days and I mean the way-back old days, January 6th was when they celebrated Christmas. So, as it turns out, I was born on Christmas Day. And then, one of the Popes decided to change it and well, so long Christmas. Also, January 6th was also known as Epiphany or the day that the three wise men showed up to see the baby Jesus. Well, no one really knows if there were three or not and no one knows when they really showed up. The Bible seems to say that it was a couple of years before they finally arrived. Oh well, at least it was still my birthday and in my small world that was something…until last year.

I’m not a big news watcher so it is no surprise that I didn’t know what happened last January 6th until it was over. That was the day that whatever happened at the Capital building happened. The bottom line is that it will be known as a tragic day in American history. Already, people are talking, and news conferences are being planned and I’m sure there will be a lot of press that day. Chances are, even in my little world, some of the happy birthdays will be traded for, “Do you remember?” And all of that is fine…I’m not whining, I’m just amazed how one thing affects another. After all I’m not the only one who kind of lost His birthday.

Just a couple of weeks ago we celebrated Christmas and as most everyone knows it is when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. But guess what? It seems that somewhere along that road His birthday got lost too. It was almost swallowed up with busy calendars and dozens of traditions…which is all fine. In fact, I love most of them. But the problem comes when we allow all of that to smother what it is all about—Jesus. And I think it happens at Easter too. In fact, in our world at “500 mph,” it can and does happen every day. What all that means is that we Jesus followers will need to work hard to keep Him at the forefront of not just Christmas…but every single day.

Well, that’s it. Today’s Grits isn’t really about my birthday, but you have to admit it is cool that it used to be Christmas and is remembered as “Three Kings Day.” No, today’s Grits is all about remembering Jesus and making sure He gets the preeminence that He deserves. Maybe we can make a point that every time we look up at the stars, we remember the bright one that declared His birth two thousand years ago. The Bible declares in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” We put candles on a cake, but He just out did us. He lights up the sky with the stars and created everything else and that is awesome. So even though Christmas is in the rearview mirror, let’s kept Jesus right up front with us. After all, no matter what we face, it’s good to know that “He’s got this.” Happy birthday, Jesus! Bro. Dewayne.

Family, Grace, gratitude, life, love, prayer, thankful, travel

The End Isn’t the End

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

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.” Psalm 19:1

Often Judy and I will get in our car and just drive. One of our favorite drives takes us up to U.S. Highway 1 heading east. The area is pure country with plenty of green scenery and rolling hills. The road ends in a small town called Cave-In-Rock. There are a few stores, a couple of restaurants and, you guessed it, a large cave in a rock. The story goes that the cave was used by river pirates. Fess Parker’s movie, “The River Pirates” was filmed there. It is really worth seeing. But there is one more thing that grabs my attention.

You see, U.S. Highway 1 ends at Cave-In-Rock and it ends by running right into the Ohio River. You are traveling down this really, nice road and all of a sudden…boom…you’re done…no more road. The end. But guess what? It’s not really the end because right there in town where the road ends, is an old fashioned, but fully functioning, ferry. It is provided free of charge for those who need to keep going to the other side…to Kentucky. It turns out, about every 15 or 20 minutes the ferry makes a run carrying people to the other side. So, what you thought was the end…wasn’t.

Today I did a funeral for a real nice lady and told the crowd gathered there that it seems when we go to cemeteries that all the headstones seem to say, “The end” but I told them that isn’t necessarily so. I told them that the end didn’t have to be the end, but rather a new beginning. I also told them about how a man, a man we shouldn’t know anything about, changed everything by dying and then coming back to life. I told them that He promised that if we would believe in Him and what He did, that He would give us life eternal, too. That means that death isn’t a dead end, but a way for us to get from here, where things are broken, to a place called heaven where they aren’t.

I know, I know. Sound a little old fashioned? Sound a little archaic? But maybe it should sound like something else…like hopeful. Maybe, just maybe it is worth checking out. Some people think things like God, heaven and hope are just crutches to lean on, but I think something different. I think they are a reality…something that each of us need to look into. When I look around at all this beauty in my part of the world, I just get the sneaking suspicion that it is too grand to be an accident. When I look up and see a zillion stars, they all seem to be saying, “Hey, God created us.” Yup, I have a feeling that it was created by Someone. Amazingly a whole chunk of the world agrees.