January 2026 – EncouragingU

God’s Got it All in Control

by dcreamer January 31, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

God’s Got it All in Control

Did anyone else struggle with anxiety over last week’s ice storm? I follow storms, especially winter storms and hurricanes, very closely. I try to keep up on the trends and what is expected. I follow trusted meteorologists as well as studying the models personally and try to understand the guidance the meteorologists give related to the storms.

Honestly, I am not sure how meteorologists do their jobs because the models come in with such conflicting information. One predicts snow, another ice, another rain, and still another a dry day. How do they develop their forecasts from that information? I have great empathy for them as they strive to inform us. As one meteorologist recently pointed out, only God knows the future and they are trying to guess what God is doing.

The anxiety I was struggling with wasn’t solely centered around the potential ice storm and the worry over the loss of power and the many inconveniences that we would all encounter as a result. There are other worries going on in our family that are out of my control. All this was distracting me and keeping my mind focused elsewhere rather than on God, who has us all in His hands.

When we take our eyes off of God and put them on our circumstances then our circumstances feel bigger than God. In a way, I think that is what happened to Peter when he was walking on the water. Jesus told Peter he could come out of the boat and walk on the water to Him. Peter stepped out in faith and had his eyes focused on Jesus. The trouble was that as Peter was successfully walking on the water towards Jesus he somehow took his eyes off Jesus. That’s when his mind took over and told Peter he couldn’t walk on water. Peter looked at the storm and the big waves and he believed his circumstances instead of trusting what Jesus told him. He started to sink because his eyes were on the wrong things.

We all face stressful circumstances. We all have things we can worry about. We all have things that can make us anxious. We all have things that are beyond our control. Where are our eyes in those moments? Are we focusing on the things and circumstances or on God? We choose where we focus.

Sometimes things work out and all our worry, stress, and anxiety were unnecessary. What do we do when things don’t work out? The ice storm hits and we lose power. We get in a car accident. We get hurt while working. Our bills are greater than our income. We have to go to the hospital. What do we do in those moments when things feel out of control? We are looking for God, but like Peter, find ourselves sinking.

I believe that Peter was completely immersed in the water but Jesus reached down and pulled him up. I also believe that Peter walked on the water back to the boat. His eyes were back on Jesus and His faith restored. I believe the same thing applies to us. We take our eyes off Jesus and things around us seem to fall apart. The circumstances overwhelm us. Then along comes Jesus, who was there all the time, and He picks us up.

When everything seems to be going wrong… When life comes at us from every direction… When we feel overwhelmed… What do we do? Where are our eyes? This is hard. This is when our faith gets tested. Do we believe God is in control when circumstances look different than we expect? King David writes over and over about very similar circumstances. He looks around at his circumstances and cries out to God, “Where are you?” But then, and this is very important, he takes his eyes off the circumstances and puts them back on God. He declares the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God, the mercy of God, the kindness of God, and the love of God. He reminds himself of God’s faithfulness in the past and tells himself that God will come through for him again in his present circumstances.

I want to encourage you to remind yourself that God is in control. I know, sometimes it doesn’t look that way. We don’t understand. But we, like David, have to remind ourselves of God’s goodness and faithfulness. God promises to never leave us or forsake us. There will be moments when we have to trust Him. I want to assure you God’s got it all in control. Rest in Him. Trust in Him. And let His peace guard your heart and mind.

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

A Frozen Week

by dcreamer January 30, 2026 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

For the past week I have been housebound because the heavy snow storm and its wind left a pile of snow on the back ramp, which I use to enter and exit our house. Over the past eight days of freezing temperatures the pile became a large ice mass. But my friend Shawn came yesterday and cut it into pieces that now jam an unused corner of our yard. This morning the sun shines on our back garden across a bright winter-blue sky, and when the warmth of day increases just a bit, I will venture out with Nick the beagle and ramble about the garden.

It may seem odd to think of warm weather when ice blocks occupy one part of my world, but I saw a reminder of it yesterday out a back window—a pair of doves sat together on a limb of the center dogwood tree before one mounted the other. It’s the middle of January, so I don’t know for sure about their act, but it is a fresh reminder that, yes, the days are getting longer and warmer. But I remind myself that, no matter what the doves were doing, Shawn’s labor freed me from my housebound sentence, so Nick and I will shortly roam about our back garden.

Even in morning cold, the garden is busy with bird life. A blue bird inspects the entry hole of the birdbox on the center dogwood tree before realizing that the hole is too small, and a brown headed nuthatch moves about the tree trunk looking for day’s first offering. On a high branch a Carolina chickadee basks in morning’s sunlight filtering through the pine canopy.

However, my “play date” with Nick did not materialize because Mary Ann and I decided to get out of the house and go to a favorite flea market. We enjoyed the shared outing and returned in time to take a long walk with Nick on which he met and impressed some neighbors we did not know.

The day did not go as I had planned; but it proved to be an adventure of sorts and that is what matters at its end. That is one of the many sweet spots of life—there are the possibilities for the coming day and for tomorrow and for the next day and so on. After all, Mary Ann, Nick, and I shared parts of the day and we will tomorrow. It’s the way our days go since we were adopted by this beagle. And in the sharing is the joy.

Charlotte Corriher Comes Home

by dcreamer January 29, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Charlotte Corriher Comes Home as Winter Flight Pasta Dinner Keynote Speaker

Charlotte Corriher wasn’t much of a runner when she was a full-time Landis resident or during her time at South Rowan High School. But she has become celebrated as an ultra-marathoner throughout the southeast. Ultras are any distance more than a marathon, 26.2 miles, and Charlotte has taken that to the extreme. No other area runners and few in the southeast are on par with the distances that Charlotte runs. She is always looking for her next race, and she loves those with mega miles.

Charlotte loves the atmosphere of the ultras since they are more relaxed than other races. Now in the ninth year of her ultra journey to run the year in miles, Charlotte looks to complete at least 2026 total miles by the end of this year. She doesn’t train specifically; she just finds energy and desire to do another race after recovering early in the week from her last ultra.

Just last weekend, Charlotte did the “Goofy” at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. On consecutive days, she ran the 13.1 mile half marathon and the 26.2 mile marathon. Prior to that she completed the 200 Across Florida event, doing 200 miles over 3 days plus. And now she is searching for another 200-miler. Charlotte said, “That was definitely an adventure. This was the inaugural year of the race on the road since it had only been virtual before. There were definitely some logistical hiccups. Luckily, I had a wonderful support crew. I’m glad the issues of the race have not scared me away from the distance, I just need to find another one with a generous time cut- off time. But 200 milers are popping up all over now, and there are also multi-day races like 6 Days at the Fair in New Jersey.”

While her running resume is very impressive, Charlotte adds unique personality to her races by almost always wearing a costume. Her mom, Kay, is the chief costume maker. Charlotte’s motto is “If you can’t be Fast, be Festive!” She said, “The salmon in Alaska was a family project, as mom and I designed it, mom made it, and my sister Susan painted it. My Space Shuttle from the Space Coast Marathon 2017 even got the attention and approval of a NASA rocket scientist at the finish line. Since my favorite movie is The Wizard of Oz, my 50 states finish at the 2018 Land of Oz Marathon in Kansas included six different costumes of the characters. Mom drove along and we met at pre-determined places for my costume changes. My costume during the 2022 A Race for The Ages was a tribute to my mom as I dressed as the different life phases of the Monarch Butterfly, since she raises and releases them every year. My 2023 Strolling Jim 42 miler was a tribute to my dad who had just passed, as I was dressed as Floyd Carruthers riding Strolling Jim, the first Tennessee Walking Horse National Champion. My grandfather and father both rode walking horses, and my family attended the National Championship in Shelbyville, Tennessee for many decades.

Overall, Charlotte has completed 182 marathons, 132 ultras, 35 100 milers and one 200 miler. She has marathon finishes in all 50 states. Those are very impressive numbers!

Charlotte works from her laptop and makes visits to customers in several states which often lets her get a start toward the next weekend’s ultra. But later this month on Saturday evening, January 31^st, Charlotte will take the podium as keynote speaker at the Forum Fitness Winter Flight pasta dinner and Salisbury Rowan Runners annual celebration of the past year of local running at City Park Recreation Center. The public is invited to a fantastic pasta meal prepared by Debbie Suggs Catering. We will also have plenty of desserts from Abigail’s. There will be door prizes throughout the evening and a last chance to register for the races at non race day prices. Anyone registering that evening or already registered will be able to pick up their race bib and goody bag, along with their commemorative hoodie from 6-8pm at the City Park Recreation Center, 316 Lake Drive, Salisbury.

Look for more about Winter Flight and the pasta dinner at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org, or call 704-310-6741.

Gotta’ Run: Charlotte Corriher comes home as Winter Flight pasta dinner keynote speaker

The Rest of the Story

by dcreamer January 28, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

It was the first day of Spring. We had just received the terrible cancer diagnosis for my beloved mom-in-law Nina. The first surgeon she visited spoke words we were not prepared to hear. “I can’t do surgery because if I were to take all of the cancer out I would not even be able to close you back up.”

I began gathering photos of Nina in preparation for… I cannot even speak the word.

Anyone who knows her also knows that she hates having her picture taken. Therefore the task would not be easy. Oh we had plenty of pictures, but nearly all of them have her wagging a finger in the direction of the photographer with a death threat hanging in mid-air. This woman is not to be trifled with. I joked with her one happy day that if she didn’t stop putting the stink-eye on those trying to capture her pretty image we’d have to resort to using all those ugly photos at her memorial. That would teach her!

Beautiful silver hair frames her lovely face. Her skin is smooth and nearly wrinkle-free. She and her son joke that all the butter they consume keeps the wrinkles pushed out from the inside. She was able to attend the graduation of her granddaughter Desani where someone snapped a gorgeous picture of the two of them. She showed it to me and said, “When I die just Photoshop my head onto all those other bad pictures.” Note to self: Never try to teach Nina a lesson.

For those of us who live in Salisbury, Dr. Black is a household name. He and Nina go way back. He’s treated many members of her family for cancer starting with her husband. Even now while Dr. Black is in the midst of trying to retire he’s committed to treating Nina’s sister until the end. The only criticism I’ve ever heard her speak of him is that she cannot understand why he doesn’t wear socks. Something about his naked ankles has always been a little disconcerting to her. Nina has baked him and his staff many a pan of brownies. She was saddened to hear of Dr. Black’s retirement, but took right up with his associate Dr. Brinkley. Perhaps the fact that he wears socks gives him cred. She loved him immediately because he joked with her and understood her sense of humor. The three of them have a running disagreement on whether brownies should contain nuts or not. Dr. Black poked his head into her exam room one day and said, “Don’t you let him talk you out of putting nuts in the brownies!”

What will Salisbury do without Dr. Black?

What will we do without our beloved Nina? My heart grieves at the thought.

Last Spring I wrote a story called Daffodils of Hope which ended with a request that you pray for her. Here’s the rest of the story. Dr. Brinkley immediately started breast cancer treatment which has shrunk the tumors so much that everyone is amazed. Nina has had no terrible side effects, has not had to endure chemo or radiation. We had no idea such a hormone therapy existed. At this point it’s looking like she may not even require surgery. God willing, Nina will be celebrating her ninetieth birthday on Christmas day.

Never once did Dr. Brinkley treat her as though she were too old to hope. With each visit he listened intently as she and her children asked questions and relayed symptoms. In fact he listened so well that at times there was actual silence in the room as he processed our concerns. How rare is that? If you know the Clark clan you’ll certainly appreciate that abnormality.

Thank you doctors Black and Brinkley for treating her and many others so well. Thank you to all who prayed for our beloved Nina.

And thank You Lord that I won’t have to be learning how to use Photoshop anytime soon.

A New Home

by dcreamer January 27, 2026 with No Comments

Steve Hartman tells the story of how a widow found a new home and a new least on life through the kindness of a police officer… a story we need now! ENJOY!

Am I Still A Child?

by dcreamer January 26, 2026 with No Comments

By Susan Berry

Am I Still a Child?

As a person who was raised in a dysfunctional family and then, as a young adult, married a person from a dysfunctional family, I understand trauma.

I hesitate to use the word “abusive” as I feel it plays the victim card and leans on blame too much.

Dysfunction births dysfunction.

When I got saved at the age of 24, one of the first things God did in me was begin the healing process to free me of the damage caused by growing up in an unhealthy home. Seeing the damage childhood trauma had caused was painful. But not as painful as living in the midst of the trauma.

Before I knew my Lord Jesus Christ I ran from my dysfunctional family and married as an escape. My marriage was also dysfunctional and traumatic. My children were then raised in a very unhealthy environment that resulted in childhood trauma for them.

It took many years for me to allow God to heal me of the damage and deliver me to a healthy soul, emotions and thought patterns.

Now as I approach my senior years I see the growth God has graced me with. As we heal and mature in our soul we are able to mature in our walk with Christ and live not as children, but as disciples.

Peter had to come to the revelation of his own insecurities and immaturity as we see by his life. The truth of the Lord brings healing. It brings us not to ourselves but to Himself and that in reality, is our maturity.

Think about all of the people who encountered Jesus in the Bible. I cannot think of one who in one way or another didn’t need healing to help them come to the revelation of who Jesus was. Whether it was physical blindness or spiritual blindness, once they received healing they received freedom.

Childhood trauma, relational trauma, marital trauma…seeing it, surrendering it to God and asking His healing love to cleanse us will bring deliverance. And deliverance brings freedom from chains that bind. And freedom brings maturity.

I pray for anyone who reads this and needs healing that Father God will touch your heart and soul to bring peace and fullness of healing to you.

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”

1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV

Embracing your “Granny Era”

by dcreamer January 25, 2026 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

Does the weekend weather have you bundled and boarded up for maybe the next few days? It may be the perfect time to recalibrate a slow restart for 2026 and embrace your “Granny Era.” In case you haven’t heard the term on TikTok or from GenZers the last few years, it is embracing the crafts and hobbies of our grandmothers – think crocheting, painting, making things you could easily buy (like candles and soaps), and completing puzzles (hence, last week’s piece I wrote).

I embarked on an embroidery journey last year thanks to a Facebook stitch-along called Abide Embroidery and some sampler sets I found on Amazon. I continue to write in a journal with an ink pen instead of an iPhone app and began copying parts of the Bible in my handwriting. Time will tell if I prioritize and stick with these projects, but they have done a lot for my daily disposition as I incorporate my day with these slow endeavors.

Why are so many embracing handicrafts and hobbies of yesteryear? One need not be enlightened to realize why, when everything is fast (fashion, food, and even answers and counterfeit relationships). We crave stillness, rest, being fully present and undistracted, and dare I say a chance to develop patience and steadfastness. There is much to learn in the deliberate and steady acts that accompany the crafts and activities my grandmothers embraced.

Winter presents us with its occasional gifts of long, quiet evenings. I do believe each week in January has had at least 10 days in it! While the trees and plants are in their dormant state, not resisting their rest, we can ask: how are those around me affected when I resist seasons of rest, refreshment, and renewal? Do I journey through the rest of the year with a depleted disposition?

I consider Jesus during His time on earth: He walked everywhere, would withdraw from crowds after a gathering to spend time in conversation with His Father, but would be fully present when the crowds gathered, or the individual sought Him. He was at least a second-generation carpenter. He may not have had to take the time to measure twice and cut once, but surely He did not rush the process. Though we read the word “immediately” often in the New Testament, especially in the gospel of Mark, to convey the sense of urgency and limitations of time of Christ’s time on earth, it is clear that He was deliberate with His time.

In our highly productive world, there is the ever-present pressure to focus on multitasking towards many accomplishments. What if we turned our attention to being, well, attentive? Noticing things. Training our mind and perhaps even our fingers to be intentional in not laziness and idleness, but in activities that invite our full presence and solidarity of focus on a simple task. To breathe, enjoy, rest, and allow quiet growth.

Maybe this weekend of the unknown weather results, some canceled plans, and possibly being homebound will provide us all with opportunities to embrace our own “Granny era” and maybe invite a young person finding their own into our circle.

Now, where did I set that pin cushion?

The Power of Music

by dcreamer January 24, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

The Power of Music

When I stumble out of bed I follow a routine. I look outside for a weather check and then amble into the kitchen to get my breakfast. I have some quiet time in His word and in prayer. I get myself ready to meet the world. I take care of any last minute things and then I am out the door. The routine is similar on days that I work and days that I am off.

Since the fall of last year, there have been quite a few things going on in our family. The cares and concerns have muddied my prayers and filled my mind with fog. Most of the things are beyond my control. I try to handle the things to the best of my ability that are within the scope of my responsibilities. The rest are left for me to ponder. There are too many things to ponder and my thoughts have been muddled.

I generally like the house to be quiet when I get up in the morning. Some of the mornings over the Christmas break I found myself listening to some instrumental music while I went about my morning routine. I liked how the music ministered to me. Since the holidays I have found myself gravitating towards other instrumental music. It has a way of soothing me.

Music has the power to touch our minds, hearts, and spirits. I was reading recently that King David had music playing in his palace. Sometimes we use music to sooth babies. Moms will sing sweet lullabies to their crying babies to quiet them down. Music can calm us down but it can also pep us up. I can’t imagine a party without some music.

When I was a youth, I didn’t start my car without turning on the music. I find it interesting that if I hear the music from my teens I can still remember all the words. Music has the power to impact our moods and emotions. It can stimulate our memories, helping us remember days gone by. Music has the power to help us find our way through the challenges of life by encouraging and lifting us up.

Our pastor gives our congregation a word for each year. We focus on it for January and revisit it throughout the year. Sometimes the Lord will also give our pastor a theme song to go along with the word of the year. This year we have John Reddick’s song, “Don’t Fight Alone.” The words are powerful. The song reminds us that no matter what it looks like in the natural, we are not fighting the battles of life alone.

This song has really ministered to me as I realize that I am not fighting my battles alone. We are all going through our own things and it is comforting to know that we are not going through them alone. We are blessed to have our church families standing with us in prayer.

When people come up front for prayer at our church, the pastor and elders stand with the person in need. We assure them that they are not fighting their battle alone. We are standing and fighting with them. We believe our Father loves us and cares deeply about the things that are on our hearts. We also believe that He is working and intervening in situations. Sometimes He is working behind the scenes, but we believe that God is always working things out for our best.

When we praise and worship God through music it helps to remind us and assure us that God loves and cares about our situation. The worship can help our eyes focus on a great big God who will help us take care of the problems we face. God is fighting for us just like our brothers and sisters in Christ. We never fight alone! No matter how dark it looks, God’s light can and will dispel the darkness. We have to remind ourselves to take courage because we don’t fight alone.

I want to encourage you to remind yourself that you are not fighting your battles alone. Your family is with you. Your friends are with you. Your church family is with you. The angels are with you. There is a great cloud of witnesses in heaven, including the heroes of the faith, who are with you. Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit are with you. You are not in your fight alone! Reach out and gather others around you. I believe your battle is going to be won…because I believe you are not alone… you will overcome.

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

All Welcome

by dcreamer January 23, 2026 with No Comments

By Ed Traut

Mark 11:17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ?

Prayer is the basis of all spiritual life. We participate in God’s spiritual ecology through prayer.
Where people come together (in church – God’s house) it is a place that we pray and call upon God as a collective body.
God made His house a place for anybody, everybody, every nation, every walk of life, there is no one that is not welcome there. Let us always have that outlook.

Prayer: Holy Spirit, please raise me up in a power of prayer on a continual daily basis that I will be a person of prayer. Let me always regard Gods home, Gods church and Gods people as a place of prayer and to have a heart for anyone who wants to pray and not have any judgements against people who are seemingly, possibly less spiritual. Teach me Holy Spirit I pray. Amen.

Ed Traut
Prophetic Life

Pansies in the Dark

by dcreamer January 21, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

My mom-in-law Nina gave us a little scare last week. She’s 86 and one of the sharpest funniest people I know. Her heart got out of rhythm and she had to go to the hospital. I told her she had been eating too many Javi’s Duros De Harina [chili and lime seasoned wheat chips]. She loves those things and stocked up when she found them on sale for a dollar a bag. No wonder her heart was doing the cha-cha!

Her nurse’s name was on the white board. What a beautiful young lady with a Jamaican accent, and she was very sweet to Nina. As she left the room, we asked Nina how to say her name. She said “It’s Hawa, as in Hawa ya?” Leave it to Nina to entertain us while she’s sick. Thankfully her hospital stay was short.

Lately she has also developed a painful knee. It sometimes gives out and causes her to lose balance. So she keeps her cane handy. I walked over to see her and she asked me to look for it. “I know I haven’t been outside today, so it’s got to be here somewhere!” She had hobbled all over the house looking.

After checking in all the obvious spots, then under furniture, and the places we’ve found it hanging before [on the back of chairs, kitchen cabinet handles, bathroom towel racks, etc.] I finally gave up.

The next day, her daughters came over to clean house for her since she’s still not feeling well, and they are giving Amanda a baby shower. Jo called. “You’ll never guess where we found mama’s cane. Gail found it in the refrigerator.”

Bless her heart. Nina had been cleaning out her fridge and had hung it there while she worked. Then it just blended in with the metal racks.

I love this woman.

As bad as she feels, she is determined to host the shower. In her thinking that includes waaayyy more than one might think. She’ll make about 50 tiny bows to pin on guests for a game. She will wrap small gifts for prizes and a blue hydrangea must be purchased for the guest of honor. Doilies will line the plates. Flower pots need to be painted. Blue sheets must be ironed so white lace can cover them and the tables. She is also hoping her blue and purple irises open in time for the guests to enjoy them. What a production.

David couldn’t get her on the phone the other night so he decided to walk over to check on her. There she was outside planting pansies in the dark.

I can’t imagine life without her.

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Monthly Archives: January 2026