Tag: retirement

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel

Truly Vast

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.” Genesis 1:31

It was amazing. The next chapter for us started on June 1st of 2024. After a slow start to the great adventure, we finally planned and went on a pretty big trip in September. We boarded a plane, climbed on a train, rented a car, and finally boarded a ferry to British Colombia. Our destination was one of our favorite places in these United States—the Pacific Northwest.  After arriving by train and renting a car we drove south to Oregon and stayed at a small hotel called “Sailor Jack’s.” This was our third time staying there and the main attraction was the view of the Pacific Ocean. The living room had a large window that filled the whole wall. Since we were right on the beach, all you could see was the ocean.

To me the Pacific Ocean is unlike any large body of water I have ever seen. In Uganda we rode in an open boat on a lake named Victoria that was so large from the middle you couldn’t see the shores. Of course, then there is the Gulf of Mexico. Stand on the west side of Florida and it seems large—and it is but not compared to the Atlantic Ocean. We have flown across the Atlantic more than a few times and it is certainly big enough, but then there is the Pacific. Strike out from the Oregon shore and for thousands and thousands of miles you will find nothing but open water and an occasional whale.  Eventually you will bump into Asia, but it is one long journey.

As I stood looking out the window from my third-floor condo, I was overcome with the wildness and vastness of this great body of water. There is a beauty in how the wind causes the water to roll onto the shore with sometimes larger than life waves. Then I realize that this huge vast body is but a “drop in the bucket” when compared to the great vastness of God. Whether you choose to think of the vastness of His love, the vastness of His grace and mercy, the vastness of His power or perhaps the vastness of His wisdom, the mighty Pacific simply seems almost insignificant. Remember that the vastness of the Creator will always vastly outweigh the things He creates.

The Bibles tells us that the heavens declare the glory of God and that is absolutely true. In fact, if you will just take a moment to look around, you will quickly see that all of nature shouts the validity of God. From the vast Pacific Ocean to the smallest yet most beautiful flower they all preach the same message: Nothing compares to our God. So, I am very grateful for all that God has created but I always remember that it is nothing compared to Him. One day all of this will be gone but He will still be there in all His magnificent splendor. So, take a moment and look and see the wonder and vastness of nature and then remember that the Creator is always so much greater than the creation. And remember that this wonderful Creator is more than capable of handling whatever comes our way.  Rest assured…He’s got this! Bro. Dewayne

Photo credit:  Judy Taylor at Sailor Jack’s, Lincoln City, Oregon

Posted in Family, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, love, loving others, Scripture, thankful

The Gift of Words

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.” Proverbs 25:11

It is a Taylor Tribe tradition.  While I know it is June, sometimes you just need to talk about Christmas. For some reason, which I will share later, it has long been a tradition that at least some of the Taylor Tribe practices. After checking out all that Santa may have dropped off during the night, we all gather around in the living room and begin to open our presents. Here’s the Taylor Tribe way. One by one, gift by gift, we hand them out, one at a time and watch and wait as the person opens their gift. And then, when the gift is opened, the person receiving the gift, there and then takes the time to say thank you—usually followed by a hug.

You might be wondering why we do it this way. Well, I’m sure there are several reasons, but the best one is this.  It makes Christmas morning last as long as possible.  We want to savor the moments for as long as we can.  Try it and you just might like it. Oh, and the other reason is that magic moment of saying, “thank you.” We love it and we do it every year. Well, what does that have to do with here and how?  Well, the answer is our next adventure.

On our last Sunday at Dorrisville Baptist, our friends and the church graciously gave us several gifts.  One of them was a “special hat box” where people over the weeks before had placed cards—lots of cards. Well, because of the passing of my sister, it was almost three weeks before we could begin to open our cards.  But even when the time came, we decided to pretend it was Christmas. We slowly began opening the cards, savoring each one. More than a few of them contained gifts—mostly money and gift cards. Amazing.  But each card, every card contained another kind of gift—the gift of words.

Every card, and we are still opening some, contained words of love, appreciation, stories, and encouragement. There aren’t words to express the joy these gifts of 26 letters brought us. There were smiles, laughter and tears.  It is safe to say our cup more than overflowed—and in fact that cup is still flowing. One card thanked Judy and me, as well as our church, for accepting them into our church family even while they were broken.  It was a very tender moment and yes, the tears flowed.

A family in the church gave me a “writing instrument.” It was a gold-plated Cross pen and therefore deserved a name a bit better than simply “ink pen.” With the “writing instrument” came a card but also a spoken comment. After I had opened the gift, the person said, “Dewayne, there is not enough ink in that pen to write how we feel about you and Judy.” It was a very tender and wonderful moment, and it is still wedged safely and securely in my heart.

So, the bottom line is simple this—words can be a wonderful gift. Both Judy and I know because we have and are experiencing them. Each card we received was carefully read and savored like the finest of pecan pies. We will soon begin writing thank you cards but I just couldn’t wait to say thank you to all you who poured into our hearts. You are a precious people indeed. The Bible says that “A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.” All I can say is amen and amen.

As precious as your words and love have been, there has been something way more precious. You see, God sent love letters through His Word and those sixty-six letters are filled with His love and affection. As we read them, we are sure of two things. First, we know He loves us without limit and second, with no conditions and no matter what—He’s got this.  Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, fear, friends, Grace, gratitude, life, loving others, missions, prayer, priorities, Scripture, sovereignty of God, thankful, travel, Trials, wisdom

Got Your Boots On?

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

Thank you, Ruby and Laura.  I was preparing for a message that I was going to share at the church I pastor.  I am always amazed how God brings to my mind different angles and ideas and illustrations to help make a truth stick.  I learned a long time ago if we can’t remember what we hear, well, it can’t help us a lot.  Stories help things to stick.  They are like “duct tape” and I’ve learned that sermons need a lot of duct tape.

The message was about being ready…ready for whatever God has next in our lives.  And for the record that can be just about anything.  My wife, Judy, and I have had several God “whatevers” through the years. Some we saw coming and some we didn’t, but it was always exciting to know that God was and is on the move.  Well, when I thought about being ready, I remembered part of a message that pastor John Piper taught.  He was speaking in the year 2000 to a huge group of young people and he was making the point that they should make their lives matter.  Well, let’s just say he did a good job.

As part of his message that day, he told the story of two women, Ruby and Laura.  Ruby was a nurse who had committed her entire life to caring for the poor and broken of the world for the cause of Christ.  She chose to remain single so she could devote everything…everything…to her mission. She was all in…one hundred percent.  Laura was a medical doctor who took “early retirement” so she could do the same thing.  She wanted to make a bigger difference, so she closed up shop and joined Ruby doing mission work.

So, they were loving God and loving people in Cameroon, East Africa.  By the time the story was told, they were, well, older.  Ruby was into her eighties and Laura was chasing her…she was in her very late seventies.  As John Piper tells the story, these two incredible ladies were driving their jeep in the mountains when, without warning, their brakes went out and they sailed over a cliff and literally into eternity.  Both ladies died in the crash and both ladies went out “with their boots on.”  At a time when most would be at home rocking grandbabies, they were still making a difference.

I know, some would say what a tragedy it was that these two ladies died that day.  Some would wonder why they just didn’t play it safe.  I have a feeling that Ruby and Laura would tell us that they were playing it safe—because their lives were not held by circumstance or chance but rather by God.  They would tell us they danced into eternity with the One they loved…Jesus and they would, of course, be right.

I find myself desiring to finish well.  I know, I will not be a Ruby or a Laura, but I do want to go out “dancing” with the One who loves me most and best.  I want to go out with my boots on.  Sometimes we see our later years as years to relax but I wonder if we aren’t missing something. Maybe our later years are our best years to serve Him and them.  Maybe our later years are intended to be the finest chapters of our lives.

Tomorrow, Judy and I will be getting on a plane and flying to Europe to minister to a group of folks from East Africa. They are in a poverty-stricken area and few, if any, know Jesus.  It is going to challenging but it also is going to be a great adventure. I won’t be driving a jeep on dangerous mountain roads, so I won’t have to worry about my brakes giving out. Smile.  But I do know that no matter what, our lives are in the hands of our Dearest Daddy and that is never a bad thing.  In fact, there is nothing better.

Paul, the guy who wrote a chunk of the New Testament, knew about dangerous mountain roads and losing your brakes.  He was an “all in” sorta guy and ultimately was martyred for his faith.  Anyway, he wrote, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” In other words, if God chose to keep him here on earth…that was good.  If God chose to call him heaven…that was good too.  All that mattered was living “all in” and going out “with his boots on.”

So, no matter what, if you are a Jesus person let me encourage you to go “all in” and leave the details to the One who loves you most.  If you haven’t discovered Jesus yet, let me encourage you to make that your pursuit starting now.  It is a journey you won’t regret.  Living “all in” and being willing to go out “with your boots on” can sound daunting. Truth is, it just doesn’t sound daunting…it is.  The good news is the One who loves you most will always be right by your side, whispering softly, “Go ahead, don’t worry, I’ve got this.” Bro. Dewayne

Posted in Family, Grace, gratitude, life, prayer, priorities, Scripture, Southern born, sovereignty of God, thankful, Trials

A Bad Idea–But God

Posted on by Dewayne Taylor

I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous abandoned or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25

It seemed like a really, bad idea.  Right after high school graduation I jumped into the Air Force, and it turned out to be a really good idea.  Back in those days, or so it seemed, college wasn’t pushed for everyone, and I was pretty uncertain about what I wanted to do.  So, through a strange set of circumstances, I found myself in the military.  I loved it.  Raised as a good southern boy, the discipline required for a life in the service came naturally.  I was taught to respect others and especially those appointed over me.  “Yes sir” and “Yes ma’am” were part of my vocabulary long before the Air Force taught me to say it.

By 1980, I had been stationed in Minot, North Dakota, Valdosta, Georgia (where I met and married the best wife a guy could ask for), spent three years in Germany and finally landed in Knob Noster, Missouri.  Like I said, I liked the Air Force, and it seemed the Air Force liked me.  I was picked for several key assignments and was on track promotion wise.  With a young family, the security the Air Force provided was an added benefit and while I wasn’t going to get rich in the Air Force, the pay provided a good life.  Yup…life was good.

Then God spoke.  No, it wasn’t an audible voice, but it was one clear enough that I knew He had a change of plans in mind.  I felt, I knew that He was calling me to become a pastor but that wasn’t all.  I also knew for me that meant leaving the Air Force.  I think that was probably for a couple of reasons.  First, I knew that as long as I was in the Air Force, I would be tempted to lean on that for security and not God.  Second, I also knew that the Air Force would be calling the shots about my future.  Well, that led up to me making one of the biggest changes in my life…after 12 years…leaving the lifestyle and security of the Air Force and jumping into the secure arms of faith and the life of a pastor.

When I went public with this it seemed that everyone had an opinion and a lot of those opinions followed one school thought—you are nuts.  Certainly, the military thought it was a bad idea. After all, they liked me, and I liked them.  I was on track for a good career and great retirement.  You see, with the military, you can retire with 20 years and draw a pension equal to half of your base pay.  You also get other benefits for the rest of your life.  All that led to the “you are nuts” thing and this is really not good idea. But then…there was God.

You see, I was, oh, somewhere beyond probably and just shy of absolutely certain that God was asking me, telling me to do this.  And somehow, some way, Judy and I with two toddlers under three were able to believe and jump.  And now, forty years later, I am able to say that God took that “really not a good idea” and turned it into a really good idea.  He has faithfully and completely cared for us over these four decades. I’m sure if I had stayed in the Air Force, I would have had a nice, secure life. I’m sure things would have turned out just fine.  But God’s idea went somewhere beyond nice and secure and somewhere beyond just fine.

If I’ve learned anything from all of this, it is that God’s ideas are always, and I do mean always, better than mine.  I have learned and I am learning that faith beats fine every time.  The adventure, the challenges, the “mysterious ways of God” that we have experienced together trumps a nice retirement and manmade security.  There’s a verse, and I’m really not sure all that it means, but it sure seems to ring true with me.  The author says that he had never seen the righteous forsaken or his family begging for bread.  Like I said, I’m not sure what that means entirely but looking back from where I sit, it says, “God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted.”

God is good, God is faithful, and God can be trusted. Period.  Your story is probably a lot different than mine but if you are a God follower let’s all agree on that part.  He really is good, He really is faithful, and yes, He can be trusted.  So, in these days of uncertainty and in these days when up is down and down is up—listen carefully for the still small voice of your Dearest Daddy.  Let Him whisper His better idea…and then trust. Don’t worry, you are not nuts—you’re a man, a woman and child of faith.  And that is always best because, “He’s got this.” Bro. Dewayne