It’s Not Too Late to Make a ‘Mark’ With Your Life!

July 7, 2015April 13, 2020 / Andy R Taylor / Leave a comment

We’re all born with an inherent need to make a difference with our life. There really is something resident deep down inside us that makes us want our lives to ‘count’. I believe it’s the work of the Lord, without a doubt. Not many people would argue that the Father has an intricate, detailed plan for their life. But when it comes right down to it many of those same people would be hard-pressed to confess that His plan was being adequately worked out in their life at the moment.

Well I, for one, think we need to think about doing something about that. Fulfilling our destiny is a serious thing to consider. The worst thing that could happen to us in our lifetime is to ignore or reject the Holy spirit’s attempts to draw us to the Lord. For us to miss salvation would be a tragedy almost beyond comprehension. But to miss our destiny (the God-ordained plan He has for our life) would be the ‘second’ worst thing that could happen to us. To be on the planet for our allotted time and miss the reason why….would be a ‘miss’ of epic proportions! There’s really no sense in letting that happen.

If you’re going to fulfill your destiny and make a mark with your life I wouldn’t piddle around too long, ……’cause the clock’s ticking, so to speak. Here’s what to do:

1) Renew your relationship with the Father.

2) Communicate with Him; Talk to him, listen, be aware of how He wants to move in your life.

3) Be obedient; It’s going to take faith for you to proceed. The good news is, you already have adequate faith!

4) Commit to the long-haul. * It’s a lifelong endeavor!

5) Expect some obstacles; There’ll be plenty….but you’re an overcomer.

6) Pay close attention to the people in your path; They’re a ‘key’ to your destiny!

7) Enjoy the trip!

It’s not too late to make a mark with your life!

Are You A ‘Kingdom’ Person? Part 7 – Committed to Relationships

July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / Leave a comment

‘Kingdom’ people are different, as I see it. They live and move and think on a higher plane than the ‘going through the motions’, bored, ‘waiting on Jesus to return’, kind of person. I sincerely hope that doesn’t hurt your feelings but if it does….maybe it would serve you well to read all the posts in this series and see if you need to make some adjustments.

Kingdom people are committed to relationships. In real estate it’s ‘location, location, location’. But in the kingdom of God it’s relationship, relationship, relationship’! Of course, our first…and most important relationship is the one we have with the Father. That’s the relationship that sets the tone for all our other relationships….and the one that gives us the validation that we all have need of. But after that all our relationships are important….probably more important than we understand. We might achieve fame and fortune; we might make a lot of money but at the end of our life we’re going to realize that what’s made our lives rich….are the relationships we’ve experienced. So, I’m sayin’ we need to adjust right now and give the value to our relationships that they deserve. Kingdom people do that!

Committing to relationships is a great idea but there’s no way around it….relationships are hard…they’re work. The greatest joy in life comes through our relationships, but some of the greatest frustrations are assured, as well. So, what do we do?? Since we’re committing to our relationships we must also resolve to work through the difficulties when they arise. We’ve gotta make the relationship more important than the problem. When we do that….the relationship will survive. And the real payoff is that the Lord will restore the relationship and make it stronger than it was before the offense.

If you’re a ‘kingdom’ person, you’re committed to relationships!

“Keith” – It Was a Short Friendship….But a Good One!

June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / 14 Comments

Sitting in a local truck-stop about midnight with some friends when a guy from another table came over to ours’. Keith was a truck driver from a town about an hour away. He said, “I could tell from overhearing you guys that you believe in God.” He went on to say, “I’m in a bad way, I need help.” He then began to pour his heart out to us. Turned out that his wife had left him for his best friend and he was about a low as a man could be. We talked with him for an hour or so, then prayed with him to receive Jesus.

I made it a point to call Keith at least once a week, which I did for a couple of months. He’d have a lot of bad days and a good one here and there. Then one week he called me. I vividly remember the call. He said, “You know you’re always calling me to check in and cheer me up, but today I’m having a really good day….and I just wanted to call and say thank you. I think I’m going to be OK.”

Tried to call him a couple weeks later, but no answer. I tried to call him at least a dozen times over the next month. I bumped into a longtime friend from Keith’s hometown and asked him if he knew Keith. He said that he did and then told me that Keith had been found dead in his truck about a month before of an apparent heart attack. My friend told me about his funeral and said that Keith’s folks had no idea of his decision to receive Jesus.

It was really rewarding to be able to call Keith’s mom and tell her about our midnight truck-stop meeting. You can imagine the peace that it gave her. I also got the opportunity to meet his son a few months later and tell him that his Dad belonged to the Lord….and would be waiting for him in heaven. I think of Keith often and how blessed I was to know him….even if it was just for a short time.

A Father’s Day Reflection

June 22, 2015June 22, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / 2 Comments

Father’s Day, it’s nice to be honored for being a Dad! As I thought about what I’d teach on Father’s Day (which was yesterday), it became apparent to me that as dads go….I’ve had it pretty good. And while we didn’t grow up going to church, Cliff Taylor really had it together in how to be a great dad. So, in preparing my message for yesterday I wanted to approach it with three emphases. 1) A day to honor The Father. 2) Encourage dads to become ‘spiritual’ fathers. 3) Practical tips for being a great dad. As I remembered the extremely positive things Cliff Taylor (and Charlene Taylor too!!) did in raising my brother, Monty and me….it seemed that these traits would be pertinent for spiritual fathers as well…..and traits that God, our Father, possesses as well.

1) He took us; My dad took us with him anytime it was possible. *We learned a lot just be ‘being with’ him

2) He helped us do things; He made the things that were important to us….important to him…even when he couldn’t really afford it!

3) He taught us; We grew up on a ranch. We learned all kinds of things. We could do things at 10 or 11 that most men couldn’t

4) He was an example; Cliff Taylor was a great example of a man. The most important thing was in how he treated people.

5) He corrected us; He believed in correction! We’re better men, by far, because of it.

6) He believed in us; Somehow he imparted to us that ‘we could do it’

7) He was there; Well, he was literally ‘there’, but he was and still is ( at 86 yrs old) here when we need someone

8) He loved my mom; One of the best things a dad can do for his kids. Good job, Dad!

9) He protected us; There was never a time that we felt in danger when dad was around. Nobody messed with us.

10) He loved us; There was never a question. He said it…..and he showed it!

*God, the Father, is like that too!

Apply these principles with your natural children, and apply them with your ‘spiritual’ children and you’ll be way ahead of the game!

Oh, and incidentally, my Father’s Day was totally off the charts! My youngest son, Clay and his pretty wife, Chelsea announced to us that they’re going to have a baby in January!! What a Father’s Day!!

Are You A ‘Kingdom’ Person? Part 3 – How To Communicate With the Father

June 19, 2015June 20, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / Leave a comment

Kingdom people communicate with the Father! They realize that He has the ‘secrets’ and ‘mysteries’ of their lives. I’ll bet there are some really good parents reading this blog….but as good as you are….you aren’t as good as He is! That being said, it just makes sense that God wants to talk to you.…probably even more than you think you need to hear Him! Father’s want to communicate with their children.

Now, this’ll stir up the religious folk but, the Bible doesn’t have all your answers. It has a bunch of ’em but it doesn’t have ’em all. It can’t tell you who to marry, what job to take, what city to live in or who you should pray for. The list could go on and on. Now don’t misquote me here; I’m not saying that you shouldn’t read your Bible. In fact I think you should. But I must tell you, as important as the Bible is, it’s not a substitute for your relationship with God! My experience in 30+ years of ministry is that there’s a lot of people out there whose relationship is with the Book……rather than with the Author! It was a problem even in Jesus’ day; “You search the scriptures for in ‘them’ you think you have eternal life….but you’re not willing to come to me that you might have life.” From God’s perspective, it’s always been about His encounter with you…..and the ensuing relationship that He desperately longs for with you!

So, how do we communicate with the Father? Don’t complicate it!! Talk to Him like you’d talk to the person you’re the very closest with. Pour your heart out to Him; Let your requests be made known to Him. Tell Him when you’re happy or sad. Ask Him all the who’s, the what’s, the when’s….and the where’s! And remember….God’s not limited to speaking with an audible voice. He speaks in a myriad of ways. And, yes He does speak through His Word, the Bible. He speaks through dreams and visions and prophetic words. He speaks through the ‘still small voice’. He speaks through our circumstances and through people who come in and out of our lives. You have His Spirit living in you to help you discern the voice of ‘your’ Father.

Kingdom people take full advantage of that!

PS-It’s my opinion that He didn’t have all the details of your life recorded in a book on purpose! It’s because He wants you to come to Him…..and there He’ll reveal Himself to you!

VIP # 5 & 6 – Edith Yowell & Nellie Millar

June 11, 2015June 11, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / 2 Comments

Definitely VIP’s! Edith Yowell was my first-grade teacher and Nellie Millar, my second-grade teacher. No kindergarten for me…in fact I don’t think they even had kindergarten in Reydon, Oklahoma in 1958. I mean, it was in the day of outhouses (fortunately we had indoor plumbing!). We did, however, have some neighbors who still had a dirt floor in their house.

My first day of school was a memorable one; I can remember the excitement of being a little kid embarking on some kind of great adventure. I met a bunch of new friends and some of them are still friends today. I’m pretty sure on the first day of school we got handed the book, “Tip”. It was a story about a dog. When we finished that one it was “Tip & Mitten”; a dog and a cat this time. Then not long after those it was “Fun With Dick and Jane”. Still remember those vividly.

My Mom and Dad already had me in the mode to read so I just devoured “Tip”, and “Tip & Mitten”. “Fun With Dick and Jane” was a little more challenging, of course, but I was really learning to read now. As I look back, and think back, it seems apparent that these two teachers had an incredible impression on me. I think there are several things that they taught and imparted but the most important thing I got from them was the desire to be a ‘reader’. Somehow they instilled in me the desire to read and that reading was fun, enjoyable and, almost always, productive. It’s a desire that I still have today! I’d definitely advise parents to instill the need to read in their kids. They’re going to have to be reading their whole lives. And to be a good reader just does nothing but good!

Writing is something that I really enjoy these days. I think I’ll be doing it for a long, long time. I can’t help but think how valuable to me Mrs Yowell and Mrs. Millar were to this process. I can’t say enough good about good teachers; they’re not paid enough in my books and their job isn’t easy. They have a tremendous responsibility….and opportunity, for that matter. I had some really good ones….maybe I’ll write something about them later. But, I’m extremely grateful for Edith Yowell and Nellie Millar! They got me headed in the right direction. They were some great ones!!

It Ain’t Grace’s Fault!

April 21, 2015April 21, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / 1 Comment

I’ve heard several definitions of grace; ‘God’s ‘unmerited’ favor’, seems to be the one most often heard. I guess I agree with that except for the fact that it just seems to come up short. When you’ve actually experienced the Father’s grace it’s hard to find enough words in our vocabulary to adequately define it. All I know is, grace is GOOD! It’s a huge part of the nature of God….and if He has His way it’ll be a huge part of our nature as well!

Grace has recently become an extremely controversial subject.…and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out why! The accusations fly toward those who talk grace from those who say that us ‘grace people’ are saying that you can just go out and sin all you want. Never said that; never even thought it! Accusations fly from those who want to stay connected to the ‘law’, indicating that we need to do something to complete the work that Jesus Himself said was “finished’!

Most believers want to keep us ‘tethered’ to the Law but those who teach/preach a ‘mixture’ of law and grace….aren’t preaching grace at all! The ‘religious’ people in Jesus’ day couldn’t receive grace; “too good to be true” they contended. And it’s the same argument today. An accurate understanding of grace always leads to less sin, it never leads to more sin! The subject of grace is having a ‘polarizing’ effect in the church today. And it’s very critical as to which side you find yourself on?

You can blame it on the person who uses grace as an opportunity to sin; you can blame it on a ‘skewed’ understanding of what grace really is; you can even blame it on the selfish person who just wants to ‘use’ the Lord to further his own cause, you can argue that it’s too good to be true. But whatever you do, don’t blame grace! It ain’t grace’s fault!

It Feels Good To Be “Believed In”!!

April 17, 2015April 17, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / 8 Comments

Looking back over my life it becomes clear that people who have ‘believed’ in me, and told me so, have made a huge difference in my life. I think that it probably raised my level of productivity and performance quite a bit, to tell the truth. Beginning with school and sports when I was a kid, there were those along the way who just seemed to have a knack at bringing me up a notch with their encouragement. There’s no way I could forget my Mom and Dad in talking about this subject. They, somehow, imparted the mindset that my brother, Monty and I, could do ‘anything’ that we set out to do! That has served to be invaluable in my life and I think he’d say the same thing too.

I often tell people who are in places of influence, whether they’re a school teacher, soccer coach for 4 year olds or they pastor a church, that they have an extremely important responsibility and opportunity. I’m afraid there’s millions of little kids out there who are not getting much encouragement at all. That really bothers me! We all are born with unlimited potential but many go through their life without ever hearing it. We can make a difference.

It surely starts with children but our need to be validated and believed in doesn’t stop there. We may not ‘need’ it as much as when we’re adults….but it still feels good and I think, still, raises us up to another level. You know, the Father’s very good at this thing we’re talking about! That’s just another reason we should be engaged relationally, and interacting with Him!

When you believe in someone, tell them! …….and even if you’re not overly convinced of the success of their future…..tell them anyway! It might just make all the difference in their life!!

Last Week’s Posts

April 12, 2015April 12, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / Leave a comment

Here’s last week’s “The Way I See It” Posts! Check ’em out, you might find some that’ll bless you! If you do, “Share” them. Thanks for joining me on the journey!

*Click the link:

“Who Owns Who?”

Extraordinary People

“Thank You, Mother Teresa!”

VIP #3 – Ronnie Chadwick

Who Owns Who??

April 7, 2015April 7, 2015 / Andy R Taylor / 6 Comments

I got saved in ’74. I was at a Countywide Crusade in Wheeler, Texas sitting on the back row. When it came invitation time I knew I was supposed to go forward and give my life to the Lord….so I did. There was definitely something different. Julie had a little paperback “Living Bible” and I started reading it. I started on page 1, and got over in the book of Leviticus and got all bogged down in all those “begats” and put it down and didn’t pick it up much for the next ten years. I didn’t have any Christian friends and I drifted way off from the Lord. Nobody’s fault….it just happened.

For the next ten years when I’d get in a jam in my life, I’d run to the Lord. When that set of unpleasant circumstances was over I was back to my own way again. I did that over and over for ten years. Looking back I call that a ‘disposable relationship’ with the Lord. I think a lot of people have that kind of on-again, off-again relationship with Him. In that sense He was just a possession of mine that I’d use when I needed Him and then return to my own way, never having any real, ongoing relationship with Him.

A lot of people are like I was…..just ‘using’ the Lord for our own benefit. But later on in ’84 when my life made an abrupt turn I started having an, altogether, different perspective. I began to understand that I was His possession! “We were bought at a price, we should glorify God in our body, which is His”. We’re not just His possession…..we’re His most prized possession! From Mt. Everest to the Sahara Desert, to the redwoods in California and the Amazon River….all those things that He created and that the world recognizes as the handiwork of God…..they all dim in monumental insignificance in the light of how much He loves you and I!

Going forward….let’s come to the realization that we belong to Him….we’re His possession. It’ll change our entire perspective on our lives!