Doug’s Columns

Last Tuesday was my last day of my last year as a full-time school teacher. That’s right, I am officially retired. It is hard to believe, but it’s true. People keep asking me how it feels, and I have to admit, no different than any other school year ending. I think I will really begin to feel it when I don’t have to go back in the fall.

I will admit it was difficult getting out of school this year. I threw away so much stuff. I just kept filling trash cans for days. I found curriculum guides that were over 15 years old. At the end, it became a blur of just getting rid of stuff. I wanted to get out of there on time.

I was determined not to bring tons of stuff home. I brought home plenty, and hope to look through it and get rid of more stuff. Thankfully, I could put much of what I want to keep on a flash drive. The boxes are stacked out of the way, and when we get those hot summer days when I don’t want to be outside, I will go through them.

The faculty at East gave me and another teacher a royal send off. We were roasted, which was great fun, and honored for all we have done. It was a bittersweet time with the faculty. Then they gave us both some very nice gifts. There was cake and lots of hugs and handshakes.

We were given an opportunity to say a few words; you know I wasn’t going to pass that up. I started with the young teachers. I challenged them to find people in their field who were passionate about teaching, people who love their jobs. I encouraged them to draw from them and “steal” their good ideas. Good teachers borrow from those who are better. I reminded them to always keep learning. And then after they had rested, because all teachers are tired in June, to find something to help rekindle the fire to teach next year.

Then I told the whole faculty it was important to laugh at work. We need to have fun while we are teaching. I shared with them a list of things I would not miss about teaching. Then I shared a list of things I would miss. I think the thing I will miss most is having the opportunity to walk down the hall and have a conversation with one of my colleagues. There are some great people at East Davidson, and I will miss them.

I reminded the faculty that we all have to work together to get the job done. There are some students that I can’t reach but others in the faculty can, and vice versa. Students need all the different areas of curriculum if they hope to have a successful life.

I was asked by a colleague how I could boil down 34 years of teaching into one concise statement. It was a challenge but it came to me: I believe it’s all about the students. What I want and think is not important. I might be inconvenienced, but that’s OK. I will be required to go the extra mile. I believe schools exist for the students, not the teachers. In business terms, I would put it this way; schools exist for our customers, not for the employees.

I will miss teaching. It was and is my calling. The public schools were for me a mission field. It was the place God put me to be a light in the darkness. Through the years God give me the opportunity to touch many lives. I believe God puts us where He wants His light to shine. That means I believe God has you where you are to be a beacon of hope to the people around you. He sees you as the best way to reach them. He also needs us to be an encouragement to each other. God needs us; all we have to be is willing and available if we want to be used by God.

I want to encourage you to see yourself as God’s missionary. If you are retired, like me, you still have a sphere of influence, and God can use you. If you are still working, open your eyes to the people around you, many are waiting and hoping God will intervene in their lives. God is planning to use you. We don’t have to travel to be missionaries; there are people around us every day who need the Lord. Make yourself available and see what God can do.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

I went to my 34th graduation as a teacher. In the 18 years I have been at East Davidson we have had all our graduations outside on the football field, except this year. After days of rain, the field was too wet for graduation, so we held the ceremony in the gym.

Leading up to graduation, I encouraged administration to pursue some way to stream the ceremony. I am not sure how it all worked out, but in the end we offered a live stream. So after the seniors headed down to the gym, I headed to my air-conditioned classroom to watch the festivities. It was great to have a front row seat in a comfortable chair, watching the senior Golden Eagles soar.

In our technology driven society, we need to find ways to provide more things like that for our students and their families. My mother watched her grandchild graduate from the comfort of her home. It allows people to participate who may struggle to physically be there. I am glad to have been able to attend several of my nieces and nephews weddings virtually.

One of my favorite parts of graduation is listening to the inspiring speeches. Two of the seniors gave speeches. The first young lady reminded the seniors that today one door was closing and another one was opening. It is the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

I liked that she talked about the various destinies that each of them faces. Our destiny is often determined by our career choices. Some of the students will be putting on military uniforms and defending our country…to those, I salute you. Some will pursue careers in the arts or sciences. Some will go to the community college, while others will attend universities.

The second young lady reminded the seniors that there were parents and teachers who want to see them succeed. She talked about walking through the trials of life and maintaining a positive attitude. She told the students to surround themselves with extraordinary people who will push them to higher levels of success.

One other thing she talked about is being a hero. She defined that as someone who helps at least one other person. She thus challenged the students to lead a life of helping others. She told the students to make wise choices so they could lead a life they would be proud of…which would bring them joy and happiness.

I love to listen to the students and reflect on what I would say to a graduating class if given the chance. Here are a few thoughts from a teacher with 34 years’ experience:

Try to find something that you enjoy doing that someone will pay you a living wage to do. Many people hate their jobs. You are young and now is the time to make some good choices so you will enjoy your career. If you love what you do, you will never have to work a day in your life. I have loved being a teacher…most days.

Choose your mate wisely. Life is more fun when you can spend it with someone you love and who loves you. Work at the relationship. That means you still need to go on dates even after you have been married for many years. Staying connected is vital to a fulfilling relationship.

Choose those you call friend wisely. The people in your life will either build you up or tear you down. We are all destined to walk through difficult times in life, and having a friend who will lift you up, or even carry you, can make all the difference.

Finally, and probably most importantly, connect with your Father in Heaven. I know that many people carry a bad image of a father because theirs wasn’t there, or was a poor example of a godly man. Your Heavenly Father is perfect. He loves you with agape love. He is always on your side and wants the very best for you. He is not a Santa Claus who grants wishes, but a loving Father who will stand with you through the good times, and especially, the bad times.

I want to encourage you to connect with God. Connecting with Him implies that you will read the Bible. Start with Matthew and read Jesus’ words. Pray and talk with your Father in Heaven. He will hear you and talk with you if you are willing to listen. Make wise choices and commit your ways into His hands. He will never leave you or forsake you. Good luck, graduating seniors…go out and soar.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

We are entering exam week at school, that final push to finish up another year. It is hard to get students focused on doing well on their exams because they are already thinking about summer vacation. Well, the truth is that teachers are thinking about summer vacation, too. I am ready to send the students home to their parents so I can get some rest and relaxation.

We had a crazy school year. We started off with two hurricanes affecting our area. We were out for a couple of days for each one. Then we missed a week for that big snowstorm. I thought we were going to get a snowy winter, but thankfully Mother Nature backed off and we didn’t miss any more school.

I think I am a little more excited for this school year ending because I am retiring. I have been trying to clean things out as I find a little time here and there. I have found things stuffed away in my file cabinets that are really old. One thing I found was something I bought when I was student teaching.

The decision about what to keep and what to toss is challenging. The school system has decided not to replace me, so most everything I leave behind will probably be tossed when I walk out the door. I have worked hard to organize my files so it is hard to just leave them. But I got some advice from a former principal this week, and it was to toss it all. I really don’t need any more clutter around the house so she is probably right.

I contacted my former principal a few weeks ago and asked if we could meet before I retire, as she was such an inspiration in my career. She was gracious to come pay me a visit. We shared plenty of laughs and lots of memories. We also talked about how things have changed since we both began our careers. We both strongly believe…it’s all about the students.

Students come from incredibly diverse backgrounds and many do not have what we would consider a traditional home life. Some of the students come from troubled homes, and our job was to help them achieve success in spite of their circumstances. My former principal and I agreed that there were students that gave us grey hair and tried our patience, but to see them graduate gave us great satisfaction. We both know that without our help some of the students would not have made it.

I have always tried to keep an open door for students if they needed someone to listen. It is hard to gauge the impact of those conversations. One student came while I was super busy and wanted some advice about choosing a college. We talked and I offered some techniques on how to make important decisions. Knowing she was a Christian, I told her to pray and ask God to guide her. Years later I heard from a sibling what a powerful impact those few moments had on her life.

I will never know the impact that a few minutes of my time had upon my students. That is what I try to remind myself every day, that if I will make myself available to God, He can use me. He knows where I am and He will put people in my path. We need to have sensitive spirits so we can hear and obey the leading of God.

I am convinced that there are people in your life who need to hear from heaven. You may be the only conduit that God has available to reach them. He wants to use you but you have to be available to Him. Someplace a parent or relative is praying for someone like you to come into their family member’s life and offer them hope and guidance. The keys are to be ready, available, and willing to give out of what you have received. Hope, forgiveness, peace, direction, and love are truly wonderful gifts that you have and God wants you to share.

I want to encourage you to be willing to share out of the abundance God has given you. It isn’t always money others need. People need time, consideration, love, support, care, and possibly a helping hand. You see, the biggest need most people have is you. They need you to be Jesus to them. They need you to be His hands, His feet, His words, His arms around them. Any one of us can do that…we just have to be willing to give of ourselves.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

I went to my last State DECA Competition as a teacher last week. DECA is an organization for Marketing students. I have been an active sponsor for the club for my entire career. DECA allows the students to compete, develop leadership skills, become more civically minded, and have social interactions not only with their peers, but with professionals as well.

DECA members compete on the district, state, and international levels. In my career, I have been able to take students to the international DECA conference five times. We qualified a number of other times but were unable to attend for various reasons. It’s exciting to see your students make it up on the big stage at the state conference. This year two students made it on the stage, and they came off with the biggest smiles.

DECA trips give me and my students an opportunity to get to know each other in a greater way. This year I took my students to Olive Garden, where we shared a great meal and lots of laughs. We played some games and asked each other some questions. It is interesting to listen and learn about what the next generation thinks. I enjoy spending time with my students.

For a number of years I have worked with the state officer election process. I give the candidates a test and then help the screening and nominating committee as they interview the candidates. The committee does a great job assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the various candidates. Each year as I listen to these young people I find renewed hope for the next generation.

Each year I get a few moments alone with all the candidates right before they take their test. I tell them they have succeeded no matter whether they win or lose. They put themselves on the line. I also tell them about the time I ran a state officer. It was a close race that year. I might embellish the story just a little each year as I tell it. Several current and past state officers told me how much they enjoyed the story, so I told it again.

I cherished and enjoyed this year’s DECA conference. I took a great group of students who made me proud to be an East Davidson Golden Eagle. It was fun to go and see some old DECA friends. As I looked around I realized that I have become one of the older ones. How did that happen? I don’t feel older, but maybe just a little bit wiser.

I want to be a wise person not only in my professional life, but also in my spiritual life. As I consider how I got wiser professionally, I realize that I always found people who were better than me and hung around them. I tried to glean…OK, steal, any good idea I could from them. I wanted to take advantage of their experience. I realize that if I want to grow spiritually, I am going to have to do the same thing.

I know we can all grow on our own. I believe great growth can come when we are willing to submit and get under some great teachers. I have been fortunate to have some great pastors who shared their personal experiences. If we can acquire their experiences, we can save ourselves from having to learn the tough lessons they learned. If we will listen and apply the scriptures in the way they teach us, we can become wise.

Wisdom doesn’t always come with age. We have to glean it by listening and applying the lessons presented to us. The Bible is full of wisdom, but unless we apply it to our lives it is useless. God wants us to succeed and to have a good trip through life. But there is much we have to learn. I want to surround myself with friends who push me to live up, and to reach my highest potential. I want to garner the wisdom from those who have the scars of experience. I want to choose to grow in wisdom, knowledge and insight.

I want to encourage you to consider carefully who surrounds you. Do the people you call friends have your back? Do they want the best for you? Do they see your potential and try to draw it out of you? Do they encourage you and lift you up when you are down? Are they wise and are they willing to share their wisdom and insight? The choice is yours to reach your greatest potential.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041 or doug@dougcreamer.com

The weather is beginning to change. Many trees are blooming. Even though we haven’t seen Mr. Sunshine very much this year, it almost feels like spring. I walked around the yard the other day and there is plenty of work that needs to be done outside already. The problem is all the rain. I don’t want to complain though, because summer is coming and we will be begging to get a shower.

I kept busy doing some things inside last weekend, even though I wanted to do some outside tasks. I woke up Saturday with my back feeling a little tight. All the things I did that required bending over or doing some lifting all included some grunting. You know that sound that we all make when we are lifting.

By late in the evening I noticed the tightness in my back wasn’t going away even if I rubbed it a little. My Mom used to always tell me, “Just rub it,” about any part of my body that wasn’t feeling just right. I was rubbing it and it wasn’t feeling any better. Then, without provocation, I felt a stabbing pain in the back.

I was hurting pretty bad and not sure why. I hadn’t done anything. I asked some of the guys at work on Monday if any of them had similar events. All the older ones knew exactly what I was talking about, only one younger one did. That prompted me to wonder if I was of a certain age. My pastor, bless his soul, assures me that I am not of a certain age.

The pain humbled me enough that I sought some prayer. My wife began the process and I asked the elders and pastor to pray for me on Sunday. God in His love and grace took most of the pain away so I could function better, but left the edge of a reminder that I need to be careful with this temple I reside in and take care of it.

I don’t know why, but it seems that I have had to ask for prayer quite a bit this year. I’m not very good about asking for prayer. I have a tendency to fight my own battles. I am good about pulling myself up by my own boot straps. I like being the encourager, not the one needing encouraging. I like being strong. I like being the friend you can depend on. I like being the prayer warrior, the one who intercedes for others, not the one needing the intercession.

I can hear my mother now, “God is teaching you a lesson.” What does He want me to learn? First, I think He wants me to be careful with this temple. I am willing to work hard, but maybe I need to learn to work smarter. I am not twenty-five any more.

Second, I think God wants me to watch what I am putting in this temple. I am not just talking about food and drink, but vitamins and medicine, too. I also need to guard my ears from certain conversations, music, and news. I also need to watch what I am seeing. There is so much beauty we can enjoy, and many things we need to avoid.

I think I need to be careful what’s inside, in my thoughts. Philippians 4:8 gives a great list of things we should think about. I don’t know about you, but sometimes my thoughts can be negative and discouraging. God wants me to keep my thoughts positive and focused on Him.

There is a lot more to worry about with this temple…see right there…worrying! It’s so easy to head down the wrong path. God knows we all need each other. I need you to walk beside me, to encourage, challenge, and lift me up, but you need me to do the same. We all need to draw closer to God, spend some more time in His word, and learn that it is OK to lean on each other.

I want to encourage you to open up and allow someone lift you up when you are down. It’s hard, I know, but you might just discover how much you are loved. The Bible says we are supposed to encourage each other and to challenge each other to a deeper walk with God. So the next time you see someone a little down, reach out a hand and lift them up. Share one of your beautiful smiles with them and brighten their day. Remember, it’s OK to accept one, too.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Last fall, when all the winter forecasts started to post on the internet, everyone said it was going to be a cold and snowy winter. December made me a believer, with the heavy snowfall we received. I thought we were on the way to a winter wonderland. The Gulf of Mexico kept its end of the bargain and sent up copious amounts of water, there just wasn’t enough cold air around to make the snow. We do live here in the Carolinas; March can sometimes surprise us around here.

I walked out in my yard the other day and all I could find was soggy soil. There is no way I am going to be getting the tiller out in the garden anytime soon. Even though I have raised beds the ground is way too wet. With the arrival of daylight savings time, I am anxiously waiting to get started on my garden.

One of the secrets to a good garden is good soil. I have brought truckloads of soil into this yard since I moved here. I also put the leaves in my garden to help build up the soil. I have lots of worms in my soil which I know helps to create the perfect place to gets things growing. I know it’s early, but I am getting excited about the upcoming season.

Most gardeners know it takes the right amount of sunshine, water, and some good soil to make things grow well. So what conditions do we need for some good spiritual growth? Jesus taught us in the parable of the sower that the right soil conditions are critical for a good harvest. So what do we need if we really want to grow spiritually strong?

Someone pointed out to me recently that mountain-top experiences with God do not create good spiritual growth. I wanted to strongly object. When I experience God in a close, personal, and intimate way it spurs me on to growth. The person pointed out that mountain tops are covered in rocks. There isn’t the good soil required for growth.

Rich soil exists in the valleys. Our emotions enjoy the highs we experience on the mountain tops, but real growth occurs in the valleys. The valleys of life are filled with trials, difficulties, and challenges. Every step requires great effort. How can we experience growth when things are so hard?

Most gardeners know that adding cow manure to your soil will help things grow. So that means that we will grow better and stronger spiritually when we are faced with rough times. When we are walking through the manure of life our spirits grow stronger as our faith is stretched and we find ourselves leaning heavily on God.

When we are called upon to trust God, especially when we can’t see our next step, that’s when our faith will grow. When the doctor gives us news we don’t want to hear. When our finances turn into a big mess. When we open our paycheck and find a pink slip. When we watch our loved ones struggling with health issues. When the storms of life are howling. Those are the kinds of things that cause us to fall on our knees and cry out to God. It’s in those unbearable moments that our faith and trust in God is forced to grow.

When the strong winds are blowing and the waves seem higher than buildings, we cling to a God who will not let us go. Whether the miracle comes or not, we believe in a God who will not fail or reject us. We know that He is the rock on whom we stand. He will not falter, nor will He allow us to be overcome. Sometimes I think God has way too much faith in me, but then I realize that He is right there walking with me, and if necessary, carrying me through the storm. He promises never to leave us.

I sense that some of you are walking through the storms of life. I want to encourage you to press on, to hold on to God. God will not let you down. He is with you. He will never leave you. You will come out of this stronger, better, and victorious. And when you do, you will have another testimony to the goodness and greatness of our God. You will be stronger because your roots have grown deep in the soil of your faith. You are a fighter who never gives up. Let the storms rage, you WILL overcome.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Storm Watcher

            I am known around school for my weather forecasts. While I have always been fascinated by the weather, I am afraid that it has become an obsession. I look at the data, study the models, and apply what I know about how weather works in our area.

            Over time I have become pretty good at predicting what is coming. I also predict the number of days we will be out or if we are going to have a delay. The truth is that I miss the forecast just like the weathermen. Last week one of my colleagues left me a note on my classroom board that I was 100% wrong. I laughed.

            The focus of my weather fascination is with storms. I follow them all. If there is a mass of clouds lurking in the Atlantic, I am watching for tropical storm formation and predicted paths. If there is a strong cold front passing, I am watching the line of thunderstorms as they march my way. My greatest addiction is with snow. I am watching storms that are a week or two out there. I am looking at every piece of data I can find and am always on the lookout for another source of up-to-date information.

            The irony is that I often don’t know what is going on with the weather on a day-to-day basis unless there is a storm coming our way. Last Sunday when the sun broke out and we had a nice afternoon, I was unaware that we were expecting such a nice afternoon. Summer weather in the Carolinas: hazy, hot, humid, with scattered afternoon thunderstorms…what is exciting about that? It takes exciting weather to catch my attention.

            Nevertheless, there is always something down the road that will have my attention, and it is back to running the models and making my predictions. I will study the weather models and apply what I know from past experience to develop my predictions. If you want to become proficient at something you will have to study. You can’t expect to become good at doing something unless you spend time working at it.

            The same principles can be applied to our Christian walk. So many people want to find the easy way to following God. True followers know it is an all-or-nothing process. You can’t follow God halfheartedly unless you want to be miserable. With God it is an all-or-nothing adventure. Walking with God involves choosing the narrow path.

            The place to start is by reading His word. The Bible isn’t meant to be non-fiction that we read and just know the facts. As a matter of fact, the devil knows the Bible. He quoted it to Jesus when he tempted Him. So just knowing the Bible enough to quote it isn’t enough. Almost every pastor in my life has told me that I have to learn to apply the Bible to my situation.

            I want to apply the principles and promises to my life so I can achieve an overcoming Christian life. I have to apply what I know and believe if I want to experience a difference. This is the first step toward building a relationship with God.

            God wants us to know Him, which requires that we spend time with Him. This doesn’t mean that we just go to Him with our list of demands. While He wants to hear our prayer requests, He has a deeper desire to share Himself with us. He wants to reveal Himself through His word and through personal revelation to us. The only way for that to happen is when we spend time in His presence. Prayer is a two-way conversation with God.

            The secret to a deeper, richer, spiritual life is a combination of allowing God’s word to come alive in you and allowing your spirit to come alive in His presence. It’s true that God wants all of you so He can deposit more of Himself in you. He wants to work in you and through you. He wants you to live a full life through the good and the bad. He will give you the strength and He will show you the way.

            I want to encourage you to study and apply God’s word to your life. It will change you and make you more like Him. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. He wants to reveal Himself to you, so open the doors of your heart. He will bring peace, joy, wisdom, direction, mercy and forgiveness. Who doesn’t need more of those things in their lives? He’s waiting on you…

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

Thank You

            Do you remember television’s Golden Girls? They were four women who, for various reasons, found themselves to be single. They lived together in sunny Florida and they were funny. They lived full and interesting lives. They pushed boundaries and challenged our thinking about growing old. We tuned in because we knew we were going to laugh.

            How four single women could live in one house always astounded me. Each of the characters went through various difficult things. Sometimes they faced personal crisis and other times they struggled with their relationships to each other. But no matter what they were dealing with or going through, by the end of the thirty minute episode they were hugging, and found a way to maintain their friendships in spite of their differences.

            The theme song to the show included the line, “Thank you for being a friend.” I imagine all of you who have ever seen the show can sing that little song right now…and you would do it with a smile on your face. That show had a way of making us laugh. Naturally, it was the highly talented writers, but those four women made it all believable. So we tuned in because we knew we were going to laugh and watch four women who maintained deep friendships.

            A true friend is someone who is there for you through the good times and the bad times. My parents taught me how to be a good friend. If you want a friend, you have to be a friend. A true friend listens and keeps, as one advertisement says, “a judgement free zone.” A true friend comes to celebrate good news and sits with you and sustains you when you are faced with hardship and news you can’t endure alone.

            We all expect pastors to be our friends. We expect them to be there at the birth of a child and to be there when a loved one departs. Somehow we hope they will have the right words as we struggle with grief and sorrow. We also have to remember that pastors walk through difficult times just like we do. They need us just like we need them.

            Recently, I have found myself walking through a difficult personal challenge. I have been put into a place where I have had to lean on my family and several very good friends. Let me be clear about this, I am not comfortable leaning so heavily on others. I found the situation humbling.

            You know what happened? My family and friends came and built spiritual walls around me. They stood for me and with me. They gave me the space and time to deal with things. They loved me and figuratively carried me when I needed them. They listened and understood. They carried on the silent battle of prayer for me.

            I learned so much about myself, my family, and my friends recently. It is amazing how close I have felt to the Lord through this time. I know it is because of all the prayer, but His presence has been tangible and sweet. He has whispered things to me that I might have missed at another time in my life. He has helped me understand that it is OK to lay my sword down and rest. I am not very good at that because I like to fight for others. I am always looking for ways to encourage and build others up. I had to learn that scripture that says, “be still and know that I am God.” He has and will continue to see me through it.

            I believe that God expects us to be valiant fighters and good friends. He wants us to do this for our Christian friends AND for those who are lost. Everyone needs someone to lean on at different times in our lives. Those that are lost need to see the hope in our eyes that will lead them to Christ. The saved need our love, support, and encouragement, when they find themselves fighting life’s battles.

            I want to encourage you to be a good friend. We all need each other as we walk through life. My sword still feels a little heavy, but it feels good to be getting back on my feet. It’s not easy to let others fight for me, but it sure has made me thankful. I am thankful for the love, the support, the listening ears, the laughter, and the prayers. I think the Golden Girls song had it right; I want to thank you for being a friend.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

What is Normal?

            Have you ever found yourself going through something and wondering what “normal” is supposed to feel like? Well, “normal” is…but now it’s not normal anymore. Maybe your routine got turned upside down by something like a big snowstorm, or an unplanned trip to the hospital. When things are not normal or your normal has somehow changed, how do you find your way back to normal?

            Let’s take Valentine’s Day, which is coming up soon. We normally do…and you can easily fill in that blank. Then something happens and you have to do something different. Maybe you find that exciting and it makes life fun. But maybe normal has somehow changed for you and you aren’t quite sure what to do about it.

            My pastor has been talking to our congregation about expecting an uncommon year. and maybe he is implying an uncommon life. I have found myself pondering his messages in some deep and personal ways. I have had an uncommon and very un-normal beginning of this year. As I look down the road, I believe that my normal routines in life are about to change. I am thinking about retiring from teaching, so the things that I have done for over 34 years will change.

            I am beginning to wonder what normal will look like next fall. The routines that I have lived my life by are going to change. I was thinking about a friend of mine whose home was damaged in Hurricane Florence; she is living an uncommon life and wishing she could find normal again. I know a few people who lost loved ones recently. They will never have normal the way it used to be.

            I was thinking about Jesus who grew up as the carpenter’s son. For thirty years he lived a normal life, apprenticing under his father Joseph. He got up and worked hard with his hands to build and create whatever the customer needed. I have to imagine that Jesus was a good carpenter, that he made some beautiful things for people. Then one day he gets baptized and goes to a wedding. Everything changed. He never knew a normal day again. He lived uncommonly from that day until his last.

            There are so many people in the Bible who lived normal everyday lives. Then they had an encounter with God and life as they knew it changed. Abraham and Sarah became parents when they should have been great grandparents. David, a shepherd boy, kills Goliath and later becomes king. Daniel does what is right and seeks God for wisdom. Because he prayed he was thrown into the lion’s den, but God did something uncommon and kept those hungry lions away.

            The list of people who have lived uncommon or un-normal lives goes way beyond the Bible. So it is not beyond belief that God could help us live lives that go beyond normal to a level that most would say is uncommon. We know we can’t do it alone. No one in the Bible lived uncommon lives without faith in God. They depended and leaned on God. They couldn’t see tomorrow so they focused on God.

            Normally, it takes me a little longer than a year to read through the Bible reading a chapter every day. My normal routine has changed. I am reading the same book of the Bible over and over again, studying different translations. I am amazed by all that I am discovering as I approach my scripture reading in an uncommon way.

            I have moved myself to the front row at church for the worship and singing portion of the service. I am hungry for more of God and want to experience His presence in a new and uncommon way. I do slip back to my “normal” seat for the message. If I want a new and deeper adventure with God, I am going to have to do somethings differently. Since life gave me a nudge out of the normal routines, why not discover some other uncommon things about God, my loving Heavenly Father?

            A little over a month into the New Year I have decided that I don’t want a normal year with God and I want to encourage you to desire an uncommon year with God. I am not sure where the year will go, but I have put my hand in God’s and I am ready (I think) for a new adventure with Him. God promises that if we draw closer to Him, He will draw closer to us. Closer to God has got to be a good thing. Who wants normal? I want God!

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

I am not a good reader. I rarely accept recommendations for new books because I read so slowly. That is not to say that I don’t want to hear about your favorite book, I might want to give that author a try. I have a few favorite authors and have some books I would highly recommend. I love a good fictional story, especially one that is fast-paced and has a few twists.

My reading stays mainly in the Christian fiction, although I have strayed a few times with especially good authors or stories. I have also taken to listening to books while traveling. My wife has gotten me to listen to some authors I may never have considered, but whose stories I have thoroughly enjoyed. I have even listened to several popular fiction writers while driving back and forth to work. If the story is really engaging, I have stayed in the car listening long after I arrive home.

While I prefer fiction, I will read non-fiction. One friend encouraged me to read a gripping book about people who survived unimaginable situations. Naturally, I have read some devotional books through the years. There are a few popular non-fiction authors whose books I have enjoyed.

I am always on the lookout for a new book. I always try to find three or four books to read when school lets out. I normally can’t wait to dive into a good book once the kids have gone home for summer. We recently visited Barnes & Noble, where I thoroughly enjoy walking the aisles looking for something good to read. There was a book in the discount section that grabbed my attention. I picked it up several times because of its catchy title, “God Winks.”

I left the store without the book but couldn’t get the title out of my head. The next day I was looking around Amazon and found the book again. I read a little bit about it, but just couldn’t resist the title. I decided this might make some good lunchtime reading, and I was right. The book contains short stories about people who are going through rough moments, who receive a sign from heaven that God is with them. Some may want to write these moments off as coincidence, but the author strongly disagrees.

The author contends that God is watching over us, and when we are in a very difficult moment or struggling with a loss in our life, God will send us a reassurance from heaven that we are not alone. The stories are short, fun, and enjoyable, making for great lunchtime reading. I believe that God is actively involved in our lives, and have received many winks from heaven to let me know that He is right here beside me.

I have also had the high privilege and honor of being the one to give others an encouraging word from heaven. I believe God whispers a name in our spirit so we can pray for those who are struggling. I also believe He will encourage us to call or write a note to someone who is in the heat of the battle and needing to know they are not alone. A simple word from heaven can lift our burdens and give us the courage to carry on.

Life is not easy. Each of us has a story filled with difficult moments, ones that might cause us to want to give up. That’s when that encouraging word is critical to our survival. God knows how to stir people up to pray, call, or just happen by at just the right moment. We all need to know we are not alone, because the devil is working overtime trying to convince us we are.

I believe God wants to use you to encourage others. There is someone you know who needs you. They are struggling and God is putting them on your heart. He wants to use you to give them hope. Hope is one of God’s most powerful weapons, that can help us overcome insurmountable odds. Faith, hope, and love can sustain a weary spirit through the most difficult times.

I want to encourage you to take action on being an encourager for God. If you are willing, God will open doors that you never imagined. You might be surprised who might need that little boost from you today. The simple acknowledgement that you are standing with someone may be all they need to get back up and fight. We all fight seemingly overwhelming battles; you might be just the one to help someone be the overcomer they were meant to be.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com