Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

Fighting Back!

            Last week I got out in the garden and harvested some rewards for my hard work. We dug up some nice potatoes, enjoyed some corn, and savored fresh tomatoes. I had space to plant some new crops so I put out some more corn, string beans, butter beans, and some sunflowers. I hope to plant a cherry tomato and maybe some squash this weekend.

I wrote about how the weeds were winning in my garden last week. The cooler temperatures last weekend gave me a chance to fight back. I pulled countless weeds, wheelbarrows full of them, out of my garden. I worked in both the vegetable and flower beds to clean those weeds out. Please don’t check behind me, there are still plenty more out there, but parts of the garden are looking better. 

            I feel good about the progress and look forward to attacking them even more this upcoming weekend. Weeds are a constant battle. If you don’t stay on them they will win and overtake any garden space. I pull weeds, spray them, and try to use mulch to keep them down. But no matter how hard I try, they seem to find a way to sneak in.

            There are many weeds that creep into our lives. Often they are small and we barely notice them. A little doubt. Fear and worry. A small habit. A bit of laziness. Things that may seem inconsequential. Skipping prayer or reading the Bible…just for today. Allowing that negative thought an opportunity to stew. Weeds! We should stop them. Nip them in the bud, as Barney Fife would tell us. But we overlook or ignore them. We hope they won’t take root and find a home in our lives. But…they do.

            I think the real problem is that they require effort to remove. We are tired. We’ve had a busy day. We’ll work on that tomorrow. We know better. Tomorrow will be another busy day. Pulling that weed, changing a negative habit, building good habits all require work, more effort, and I am already tired. We know we shouldn’t just let it go, but then we have to summon the energy to pull that little weed out of our life.

            If we aren’t careful, the little weed will find a home. Removing it requires ME to change. I really don’t like change. Now the little weed begins to grow. It’s not so bad, right? Wrong! The little things that grab our attention can lead us away from the things that God has for us. God has great plans for our lives that will require us to be focused. Those weeds have distracted us and kept us from God’s best for our lives.  

            Let’s be honest… It’s hard to stop bad habits. It’s hard to build and maintain good habits. We simply do not like change. There is a part of us that wants to change. Consider all the diet and self-help books on the market. They work sometimes for some people. Why don’t they work all the time for all of us? I think it comes back to our desire to fight.

            We need to look at the things in our life that need to change as weeds. We have to decide that we want to remove the weeds. It’s a fight to tell your flesh NO! Our spirit has to tell our flesh that the weeds have to go. We have to rise up and fight for the change. We have to decide. The decision is not easy because our flesh will fight back.

We have to remember that we have a great cloud of witnesses that are cheering us on. We may need help from friends, family, pastors, and even doctors to finally pull the weeds out of our lives. We will certainly need to pray, be in the Word of God, and depend on the power of the Spirit of God to help us succeed. We might fall down in the process, but we will learn to lean on those around us until we finally overcome!

            I want to encourage you to fight back, to take those weeds out of your life. Whether they are little or big God wants you to get the weeds out of your spiritual gardens. He has things that He wants to grow in you but He needs the space to make them grow. It will take prayer, faith, and the power of the Spirit, but I believe you will see the victory. I don’t want you to miss one thing God has for you. Get ready to fight back and discover the great things He has for you.

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

By Doug Creamer

What Are You Growing?

            A friend asked me the other day, “How are the weeds growing in your garden this year?” I was a little surprised by the question but then I laughed and said, “The weed crop is doing wonderful. I have lots of varieties growing and they are producing copious amounts of seeds.” My garden is actually growing well this year and we are enjoying some tasty treats.

            There are problems in the garden every year. This year it has been so hot that I don’t want to go out there and work on the weeds. The dry weather hasn’t helped either. I have watered my garden but that didn’t help the corn. I pulled some the other day and the ears were small but the corn looked pretty. When I tried to eat it off the cob it was dry and not very tasty. We creamed some of that corn and that was better.

            Weeds can be a problem in both the vegetable and flower gardens. I have sprayed some of the weeds and others I have pulled, but when the weather gets so hot I want to stay inside. Weeds need constant attention and they seem to grow and flourish under all kinds of conditions. The vegetables and flowers that I want to grow are struggling with the hot and dry conditions. I wonder why the things I want take so much effort and the things I don’t want seem to do well even when neglected.

            When you stop and think about it this applies to many areas of our lives. Staying physically fit takes time and effort. We have to be diligent to get out there and exercise because if we choose to stay in the nice cool air conditioning lots of lazy bad habits will develop. I haven’t been out walking as often with the high heat and humidity, and it’s easy to talk myself out of going out for walks, which I know are good for me.

            It applies in similar ways to our food intake. Summertime is a great time for salads with all the fresh stuff around. With the news of a parasite on the loose I have been a little cautious of eating salads until they figure it out. Eating the things that are healthy becomes challenging. A cookie sounds better than an apple, right? Things out of our gardens should be safe, let’s eat those good things while we wait for the parasite problems to go away.

            These same things apply to our spiritual lives. It is easy to skip reading the scripture or to decide to pray on the go. Our spirits need the intake of reading the Bible and the connection with God through prayer. When we choose to skip quiet time with God we will grow a little weaker and become more disconnected.

            Time is a precious gift from God. We need to think about how we use this gift. We can fill our time with all kinds of unspiritual things quickly. There is nothing wrong with enjoying watching TV or scrolling social media, but if we do that instead of spending time with God then we are starving our spirits. Like the weeds, it is easier to spend time with the TV, social media, or texting with friends. Our spirits need connection with God, and that happens best in a quiet place where we can hear His still, quiet voice.

            I want to choose to grow spiritually and pull the time-wasting weeds out of my life. I am not suggesting that I am going to stop being on social media or give up TV, but I want to make choices about how I use my time. Saying no to the easy things, the weeds, will help me make a better connection with my Father. I want to hear His voice and let His love and peace permeate my life. Then I want to listen to His voice and do the things He wants me to do.

            I want to encourage you to look at your life as a garden. Now consider what you are growing. When God walks through the garden, what will He find? Will there be fruit and vegetables, or will He discover weeds? Don’t feel guilty; we all have weeds that need attention. We all can work on cultivating a closer walk with Him. He loves spending time with each one of us because He loves us and He likes us. Take small steps and find little ways to connect deeper with God then watch how it grows. Happy spiritual gardening!    Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

Moving Forward

            The older I get the more I realize the human body is miraculous. We can feed it all kinds of things and it does amazing things. The deeper revelation with our bodies is that as we age there are more opportunities for things to go wrong. Doing a simple task such as washing your hands can make your back hurt. Age steals your endurance. Our tolerance for heat and cold is reduced. The systems of our body can easily be upset and it takes a while to restore them.

            The other day I hurt my back and it is taking a while to feel better. In fact, I told my Sunday school class that I was going to start a new cologne trend for older people called, “Icy Hot.” That earned me a good laugh and the realization that many in the class had tried that same brand of cologne. I am grateful for over the counter pain relievers and creams.

            Those don’t work for all the various pains we face as we age. Sometimes the hurt is in our hearts for loved ones who have gone home. That’s a whole different kind of pain that no pain reliever will help. We have to be understanding of others because that pain takes a long time to heal. It takes family, friends, and the body of Christ to help us move forward in those difficult times.

            We have to learn to walk through those times with God’s help. Grief is a process that we have to work through, but the good news is that God promises that we don’t have to do it alone. The first stage of grief is denial. How can this tragedy be true? The second stage is anger. There is a strong sense of helplessness because we can’t change the situation. The third stage is bargaining. If only I had been there! What if things had been different? The fourth stage is one that catches a whole lot of people for a long period of time…depression. When we face losses it is natural to be down and discouraged, but we can’t stay there. We have to learn to move on, and we move on into the final stage, which is acceptance. This isn’t to imply that we forget the person who is gone or that we stop missing them. This means that we come to the realization that they are gone and we begin to take steps to move forward in life.

            The grief process is mainly applied to the loss of our loved ones, but it is not excusive to those losses. We may have to work through the grief process over the loss of a job, divorce, loss of a friendship or romantic relationship, personal failures, facing serious surgeries or life threating health issues, moving because of a job change even if it’s one you desire, and moving into a retirement or nursing home. All of these traumatic events in our lives could trigger us to have to walk through the stages of grief.

            Some people might think you could escape having to work through the grief process through faith in God. While I believe God can circumvent our necessity to work through the process, I believe He is much more interested in walking with us through the process. He wants to build our faith and trust in Him. He wants to reveal His strength in our weakness. He wants us to know that He is sufficient for our needs.

            I want you to know that God sees you if you are struggling with this process. God is with you as you walk through this process. It’s not easy, but walking by faith is never easy. I think it is vital to know that you are not alone. You aren’t the only one who is going through a difficult time. Find others and share each other’s burdens. It’s strange how two people going through a difficult time in life can bring encouragement to each other.

            I want to encourage you to trust in God to help you put the pieces back together. He is willing to work with you at whatever pace works for you. He wants to help you move forward. Moving forward doesn’t mean you forget, it means that you live, bloom, grow, and become a stronger you. I believe that as God helps you through your pain He will use you to help others who face similar circumstances. God is good and His love for you is beyond what you can imagine. He is intimately involved in your situation and wants to help you move forward.  

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

By Doug Creamer

Celebrating and Struggling

            I hope you had some good food and some great fellowship over the 4^th of July weekend. It is a special time to gather together and celebrate our great nation. It is good to slow down and connect with those who mean so much to us.

            Our family gathered at my brother’s house, where you don’t have to be family to come and enjoy. One thing that came to mind while I was enjoying our gathering was that some of our family wasn’t present. I am not talking about those who live long distances away who were unable to travel and join the festivities. I was thinking about those who are no longer with us.

            Holidays are great gathering times. We get to be together and enjoy eating great food. It can be difficult to know the family is gathering but some will not be there. We miss those who have gone ahead. There is a little hole in our hearts as we celebrate each holiday. It should remind us to hug those we have a little tighter and cause us to be more present with those who are still with us. We don’t know the future so we need to learn to appreciate the present and the gift that each person is to our gatherings.

            I wrote a column recently about celebrating good news from people who had successful surgeries. A reader wrote to remind me that not everyone has successful surgeries or receives healing. She wanted me to acknowledge that even if we bathe people in prayer, sometimes things do not turn out the way we are hoping. She is correct. Some who seek healing from God may end up facing long surgeries and painful recoveries. Others may not survive even though many have prayed for them.

            Through the difficulties and challenges we have to understand that God is sovereign and that He can do the amazing and the miraculous. Sometimes He chooses not to do it and that is something that we don’t understand. I believe sometimes God chooses to walk with us through the trials and difficulties. I think His reason is that He wants to reveal more of Himself to us. We know and understand so little about our infinite God.

            I also believe when things are going great in life very few of us seek to know God better. We don’t NEED Him because at the moment we can make it through the challenges we face without His help. It seems like it takes something big to make us realize that we really do need Him. If we experience the miraculous we will celebrate and then often return to depending on ourselves. We will often not press in to know Him in a deeper way.

            I have learned through many dark and difficult times in my life that faith in God and trusting in Him has been the only thing that has helped me make it through. Sometimes I feel His presence strongly. Other times God has sent me a good friend who has stood with me and helped me back to my feet. These friends have spoken words of life and hope and given me the courage to keep moving forward. Someone put it to me this way once. We must have God to make it through the dark and difficult times in life but sometimes we need someone with skin to help and hold us.

            I think when it comes to praying for healing, we have to determine no matter what the outcome, we land on Jesus. If He heals, praise God! If He doesn’t heal, praise God! This will ultimately teach us to live in the moment, to love and appreciate each other deeply. We will learn to express our love and appreciation for each other. We will understand that tomorrow is not guaranteed and that we need to learn to live in the moment.

            I want to encourage you to trust God in every situation. No matter what the outcome, God is in control and He has His eye on you. He has not forgotten you. He is present with you as you walk through the challenges and difficulties. He wants you to know Him in a deeper and more profound way. Some things in life are tragic and leave us broken, but He is a God who tenderly and patiently puts the pieces of our lives back together. We each play an important role in this process. Our job is to love, care for, sit with, listen, try to understand, be compassionate, and to help the person take steps to move forward. In that way we become His hands and His feet.

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

By Doug Creamer

Unity

                It’s time to fire up the grill and get ready for all our Fourth of July favorites. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs and all the trimmings. Then there will be the heavy-laden dessert table filled with tempting treats. After all our stomachs are stuffed we will sit back and enjoy a grand fireworks display. My mouth is already watering and I am ready for the big day.

                My brother hosts our family gathering at his house. He has joked in recent years that he and his wife can’t downsize on their house because where would our family gather for all the major holidays? You never know who is going to be in town and who you might see at these gatherings. Sometimes neighbors and friends join the fun. Whoever is there feels like they are part of our family because we all make them feel welcome.

                This is a special year as our country celebrates 250 years. It is hard to believe that our democratic experiment has lasted for 250 years. 250 sounds old but when compared to other nations we are young. When you study our history you realize that many things have evolved over time. We have been through hard times and survived.

                One of the things one must consider on such a momentous occasion is all the men and women who have fought and given their lives so we could live in freedom. Our nation was birthed and has maintained its identity at a very high cost to so many. On this day we must stop and reflect on the high price many have paid for this great nation and have thankful hearts for their sacrifice.

                One thing that gives me pause as I consider this great nation is the media reports of polls that show a majority of us believe we are a divided nation. I have heard my own mouth say it and the thought troubles me. I do not want to believe that we are a divided nation and I want to encourage you to grab ahold of that belief. Do we all think alike? No. Do we all want the same things for our country? No. Do we have problems? Yes. Do we have differences? Yes. But I would argue these are the things that make us so great. We are a diverse and wonderful people who see our differences as strength, as something we should celebrate.

                Our diversity is what gives us the creativity that we all enjoy in the arts, theater, and music. Seeing life from different angles opens the doors to entrepreneurship. If we all thought and acted the same where would new product ideas develop? It would be a very boring existence if we were all the same. A simple example that comes to mind is in all the different foods we enjoy because people bring their culture and different traditions to our tables.

                These differences can and should be celebrated in the body of Christ. Paul writes and compares us to the various parts of the human body. He asks, can we all be an eye? Then where would hearing or smelling take place? Can the hand say to the foot, I don’t need you? How would the hand get around? We should be the example to the world around us on how we encourage and celebrate each person’s uniqueness and service in the body of Christ.

                The only caution I would suggest is that we can’t allow our diversity to diminish our unity. We are the representation of Jesus here on earth. We are His ambassadors. We need to work to present the body as one: united, standing together, fighting for each other not with each other, and believing our diversity is designed to help us fulfill our destiny. God created us to be unique but not to allow that uniqueness to separate us.

                I want to encourage you to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of this great nation. Reflect on how our differences have made us a stronger and better nation. I also want to encourage you to consider the diversity you find at your local church. Celebrate how God has brought you together to serve your community in a way that will glorify Him. Consider the important part that you play in your church, your roles and responsibilities. God placed you in your congregation. He needs your uniqueness to shine brightly. He also needs you to display the unity of the fellowship of believers gathered together to bring glory to Him. Happy Birthday America! Here’s hoping you will enjoy your 4^th of July celebration.

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

By Doug Creamer

I Love…

            I love my church. We have a great family atmosphere at my church. People check on each other and are there for each other, just like family. We have lots of ways to connect and get involved. The worship is sweet on Sunday morning and the messages challenge us to grow and mature in our Christian walk. Our pastor has a real shepherd’s heart for the people.

            I love my Father in heaven. He cares for me and watches over me. He provides for all my needs. He has great plans for my future…things that I can’t even imagine. He thinks about me. He wants to spend time with me. God not only loves me but He likes me, too! He is a good, good Father.

            We all know that God protects us in many ways. Many times, His protection is unseen, but sometimes His protection can be seen right before our eyes. Take last Friday evening when I was out cutting the grass. It was a warm evening with little if any breeze. I was cutting along and enjoying the shade of the trees. I have a self-propelled walk behind lawn mower. I was at the end of the row getting ready to turn around and walk back. For some reason, I let go of the lawn mower and stepped back. When I did, several large limbs fell on the lawn mower and the place where I should have been standing. I exclaimed in shock at the sight of the limbs. Then I yelled out, “Thank you, Jesus, for protecting me!” My neighbor heard both the loud crash and my yelling and came running to see if I was all right. We stood there and looked at the mess for a moment. Then my neighbor and I hauled the limbs off into the woods and I returned to mowing the yard, very thankful that I wasn’t heading for the emergency room.

            I know many of you, if not all of you, have similar stories where God protected you from some type of harm. I know of numerous examples where He protected me in my car from all kinds of accidents. There have been plenty of incidences around the house where I know He or an angel stepped in to keep me safe. I don’t know how you would react, but I worshipped with a little extra gratefulness on Sunday. I am thankful that He keeps a close eye on me.

            I believe God helps us in more ways than we can imagine. I remember once my allergies had gone absolutely crazy. I normally tough it out with allergies but that time must have been really bad because I went to the doctor. I saw a random doctor at my practice that day who helped me develop a plan to deal with my seasonal allergies and helped to diagnose an allergic asthma. Between my regular doctor and this other doctor, I have been able to navigate seasonal allergies better for a number of years.

            I deeply believe that prayer makes a big difference for anything we are facing. Prayer can provide guidance, wisdom, and the peace we need to make it through whatever challenge lies before us. Since challenges contain many unknowns, seeking God’s divine help and wisdom can alter the outcome of the situations we find ourselves facing.

            I know of two individuals who recently faced long, serious surgeries. Both were bathed in prayer from family, friends, and neighbors. Both came through their surgeries with great success. God is good and I believe prayer makes a huge difference.

            I love Jesus not just because He paid for all my sins and set me free. I love Jesus because He is my friend. He knows me better than I know myself and He always wants what is best for me. He walks with me through every circumstance and guides me in my daily life. His presence gives me hope and peace. He never gives up on me.

            I want to encourage you to put your faith and hope in Jesus and our Heavenly Father. They love you more than you can believe. Jesus gave His life for you! There isn’t a higher price He could pay. They care about you and have made great plans for your future. The old hymn tells us, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.” You can trust Him to walk with you through whatever life throws at you because He promises to never leave you or forsake you. Invite Him into your heart and let Him lead you into the good things He has planned for you.  

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

By Doug Creamer

The God of Through

            There is always something to do if you love gardening. You never get it all done. There are projects waiting to be tackled. There are ALWAYS weeds that need to be pulled. There are always new flowers, shrubs, and plants that need a new home. Gardening is a fun adventure with plenty of rewards for all the hard work.

            Speaking of rewards, we ate fresh green beans from the garden tonight. I have enjoyed some blueberries. My brother gave me a tomato plant for my birthday and I have eaten several tomato sandwiches off that plant with more to come. It’s not even July 4^th. Our flowers are putting on a show, too. We have flowers in containers in various places around the house. We are also enjoying the daylilies blooming.

            I am not sure I mentioned the adventure of putting up a fence around the garden. I had a friend come who did most of the work installing my fence. The fence has been doing its job keeping the deer out of the garden. We will get to enjoy more of the daylilies because of the fence. I am afraid the rabbits, squirrels, and turtles will still be enjoying the garden.

            The other problem gardeners are facing is the lack of rain. We have had a dry spring and early summer. The hot spells are not helping either. A few lucky ones have enjoyed some thunderstorms, but at my house we have remained dry. Trying to get the flowers and vegetables through the dry weather is a challenge. Some plants have wilted in the heat while others have had their leaves turn brown. Gardening is full of challenges.

            It’s not just gardening that is challenging; life is full of trials and difficulties. Here is just a short list of health-related issues from people that I know: bronchitis, neck and back surgeries, a broken wrist, ear surgery, heart issues including circulation and fainting spells, and someone facing open heart surgery. It’s hard to deal with all the ways our bodies are not cooperating. All these situations require people to make it through to the other side. I am praying for all of them to have a full recovery.

            Getting through something is always challenging. If someone else is struggling to make it through it doesn’t seem as bad. We believe they can make it through and sometimes we find ways to encourage them along the way. However, when we have to find a way to make it through, that is a totally different story. We want to see the Lord move in the miraculous and bring us instant relief. But the more I observe life I am beginning to understand that God is very interested in walking us through the trials and difficulties to build our faith and trust in Him.

            I have seen God move in miraculous ways and it is very exciting. I pray, hope, and believe God can and will move in the miraculous to bring healing. But I have also watched friends and loved ones being put in the position where they have to walk through the fire of difficulties so they can see firsthand that we really do have a loving and compassionate God who never leaves or forsakes us.

            In my life, I have experienced God’s miraculous touch, but more often I have learned to walk through the challenges and learned to lean on Him. Each trial I have walked through has built my faith and deepened my trust in Him. I would rather have avoided the challenge altogether and seen God move miraculously, but knowing He has helped me reach the other side is important for my spiritual growth. It helps me understand and have compassion for others. Making it through builds endurance, perseverance, and faith.

            Are you walking through something? Are you struggling to have faith in the midst of your circumstances? Don’t be discouraged, because we all struggle when we walk through difficult times. I want to encourage you to trust God to help you and to believe He will see you through to the other side. You become the winner! You become stronger! You become a mighty warrior in prayer! You become the overcomer! You develop a testimony to others who find themselves facing similar circumstances. You become a blessing because you have endured and made it to the other side. Hang in there…God is going to see you through your circumstances and you will be a stronger person with a deeper faith! Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

In a Moment, Everything Changes

            You know what I am talking about…life is going along at a normal pace. There are the daily hiccups, the usual hassles, the slow drivers, and that crazy person at work. You are home and glad to be in your refuge. Then your phone rings and everything changes…

            Last week in Salisbury at an apartment complex everything was fine one moment and then the next moment a fire broke out, leaving a number of families homeless. One moment you are doing something normal and routine like eating dinner or maybe watching TV with your family and then something happens.

            Most of us can remember a time when life was normal and then our phone rang. We answer and receive news we don’t want to hear. There has been an accident and a loved one is in the hospital. I received a text like that last evening. My mom fell and went to the ER. It leaves us feeling helpless. We pray and watch the clock. I’ve been at the ER with people before; time moves slowly while you are waiting for answers. You sit. You pace. News comes slowly.

            In our case, my Mom waited a long time before they sent her home. She should make a full recovery. The news is not always that good for some folks. For some, the news goes from bad to worse. A hospital stay is followed by a long recovery, or maybe the loved one continues to decline. That phone call or text that interrupted your normal day changed everything.

            Phone calls and texts don’t always bring bad news. Sometimes our lives change for the better. Your child calls to tell you that they are engaged and you burst at the seams for joy. The phone rings and you find out that you are a grandparent! You find out that your child got a big promotion at work. Maybe you are the one spreading good news and a family celebration ensues. You got the dream beach house and you couldn’t be happier. These are moments when we welcome life’s changes with open arms. We are excited and filled with joy and can’t wait to let the world know our great news.

            Whether your phone call or text was bad or good your world changed in a moment. One moment everything seems normal and then the next moment everything changes. Your world is different and it may never return to the normal that you used to know. Your life has changed for the better, or maybe for worse.

            I believe that the idea that everything can change in a moment needs to be carried with us when we go to prayer. We need to enter God’s presence knowing that everything can and might change in just one moment. I believe that God is still in the healing business. I believe and have seen with my own eyes the Lord touch and bring healing. Everything changes in a moment.

            I believe that God is still in the business of changing lives. He can take a broken sinner and restore them. He can take impossible situations and make them right again. He can heal broken relationships. He can deliver a person who is addicted. He can set people free from brokenness, bitterness, and anger. He can heal someone struggling with anxiety or depression. In a moment He can change everything!

            I believe that nothing is impossible with God. He can change financial situations. In the Bible, one day Joseph is sleeping in a dungeon and the next he is second in command to Pharaoh and sleeping in a palace. God rescued Daniel from hungry lions. He saved three men who refused to bow to an idol from burning in a fiery furnace. Nothing is too difficult for Him. No one has strayed too far from His love. In a moment, everything can change!

            I want to encourage you to believe in a God who still does impossible things. He sees you and He knows everything about you…even the number of hairs on your head. He loves you and is pursuing you, wanting your heart and a deeper more intimate relationship with YOU! There is nothing too difficult for Him. There is no sin He won’t forgive. There is no pain He can’t heal. There is nothing you are worried about that He can’t fix. He can do it in a moment or sometimes He moves more slowly, building your faith and trust in Him along the way. Bring your situation to Him because I still believe that in a moment everything can change!

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

By Doug Creamer

To the Class of 2026

            It’s graduation season and young people are spreading their wings and flying off on new adventures. With optimism and hope they are leaving behind the familiar to fly into the unknown. High school students are heading off to careers, the military, or college educations. The excitement is bubbling over from both parents and students as graduations are occurring around the country.

            I attended graduation each year of my career. I can’t believe that it has been seven years since I last attended a graduation. Retirement from full-time teaching has been great but I still enjoy the blessing of teaching part-time. I am helping students earn their high school equivalency. It is so rewarding to help students achieve this goal.  

            I don’t remember every gradation I attended because the ceremony is pretty similar from year to year. I do remember looking at the list of graduates and putting a little mark beside the students that I had. I was always amazed at how many of the graduates I knew as my students. What I enjoyed the most about the ceremony was seeing my students afterwards and congratulating them. The students who were actively involved in my DECA club always held a special place in my heart.

            I enjoyed listening to the speeches at graduation. Some were given by students, others by the principals. I always took notes on those speeches and used them as the catalyst for a column. There were always special gems in those speeches that encouraged and challenged me. While I am definitely not interested in giving a graduation speech, I have often wondered what my message would be if I was in that situation. Here are a few thoughts that I would like to offer to the class of 2026.

            Congratulations to the Class of 2026. You grew up during the pandemic and you saw firsthand that life can be crazy. I hope you also saw that things will get better. Life is full of ups and downs. The ups never seem to last as long as you hope and the downs do not last forever. When you find yourself knocked down in life remember the pandemic; you have to learn to get yourself back up, brush yourself off, and start moving forward once again.

            You have already learned about one of the keys that make life better: friendship. You and your high school friends are all about to travel different roads that will take you away from each other. You will make new friends in college, in your places of work, in your communities, and in the social circles you will choose in life. Friendships are important and they will cost you time and commitment to maintain. I encourage you to work at them because they will sustain you when you go through troubled waters and you will sustain others during their troubled times. We need each other to make it through the journey of life.

            Look back at your life and find something that you enjoyed doing. Can you find a career that encompasses that activity? Cooking. Playing sports. Reading. Math. Science. Collecting. Showing others how to do something. If you can find a job or career doing something you enjoy, a way you can pursue your passion, you will never have to go to work. You will enjoy your job. You will look forward to going to work. Please know that there will be problems, every job has them, but you will figure it out and enjoy yourself through the process.

            I want to encourage you not to neglect your spiritual life. Your job will provide for your physical needs and hopefully bring fulfillment. Your friendships will meet your emotional and social needs. Often people forget that we have a spirit and it has needs too. Find a church where you can connect with other believers, where you can discover more about yourself and God. Jesus wants to be in a personal relationship with you and He has provided a way for you to connect with the Father, Himself, and the Holy Spirit.

            Class of 2026, I encourage and challenge you to build strong friendships, discover your passions and pursue them, and most importantly develop deep spiritual roots that will sustain you through the ups and downs of life. God loves you. He’s offered a way for you to be forgiven. He will guide you to fulfill your God ordained purpose. He will help you and never leave your side through the good times and the bad. God has a wonderful adventure planned for your life. Take His hand and fly into your destiny.

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

By Doug Creamer

They Gave Everything

            I took advantage of the long weekend to paint our hall bathroom. It needed a good refresh. I had forgotten how long all the prep takes for painting. I washed the walls and had to take everything out of my way. I also taped along the edges, which takes time initially but saves time in the cleanup. The paint companies promote “one coat coverage,” but I like to put two coats on for a better outcome and appearance. I finished the second coat on Monday afternoon. I am waiting for it to dry so I can start putting the bathroom back together.

My mother loves to paint. I think it is work and it involves bending and getting up and down off the floor. I am not as young as I used to be and it takes a little more effort to get up and down. I haven’t painted the woodwork yet. The freshly painted walls are making it look like it needs paint, too.

            I am planning to paint the main bathroom the next time I have a day off. Our main bathroom is larger and I probably need the time to recover before I tackle it. While I do not think I am getting older, my body tells me a different story when I get involved in projects.

            The reason I decided to work on this project was because of the long weekend. Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kickoff of summer. The weather has been up and down but in a few more weeks we will be wishing for some cooler weather. Summer is a great season as we will soon be enjoying all the treats from our vegetable gardens. It won’t be long now. Good things are on the way.

            Memorial Day can sometimes get lost in the rush into summer. Memorial Day is a special day that we set aside to remember those who gave their lives in sacrifice for our country. They lost their lives while fighting for and defending our great nation. We get to live with all the rights and freedoms that our nation provides because they were willing to stand up for us.

            We have some veterans in my family line, but I am unaware of any who died while serving our nation. That is not the case for many of my readers. Many have loved ones who have paid the highest price for our country and I want to thank you and your family. Losing a loved one anytime is difficult, but losing them while they are serving our country must create a pain that is hard to endure, and again I thank you!

            Currently it is a choice to serve our country through one of the military branches. A number of my students have graduated and gone into the service and I respect their choice. We had JROTC at some of the schools where I taught and I always enjoyed seeing the students grow and mature in that program.

We need to honor all who serve our country, but we must never forget those who paid the ultimate price for our nation. We must also remember the suffering their families have endured for us. We are truly blessed by their sacrifice. We are also blessed by the sacrifice some have made to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ten of the twelve disciples were martyred for trying to spread the Good News. Their only crime was trying to tell people that Jesus and God the Father love, accept, and forgive them and how to find salvation through faith in Jesus.

            In the 2000 years since Jesus was here, there have been many others who have died because they wanted to help people find the way to salvation. Jesus came so we could be in a right relationship with God. Sin separates us from the goodness of God. Jesus made a way through His death on a cross. Now anyone who repents and asks Jesus into their hearts can have peace with God and know they will spend eternity with Him in heaven.

            If you have never received Jesus as your savior, then I want to encourage you to open your heart to Him. If you have received Jesus, then I want to encourage you to share the Good News with the people in your life. The Good News is that Jesus fixed our broken relationship with God and offers us the gift of eternity with God in heaven. That’s Good News for each of us and Good News that we can and should share with others.

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