Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

It’s Back to School

            How can students be going back to school already? It still feels like summer. When I was a kid, school started the day after Labor Day. That changed long ago. It’s so hot students might as well be in the air conditioned classrooms. It’s not just the public schools that have started, but colleges are back, too.

            Hopefully, families enjoyed a vacation and spending some quality time together. It’s always great to get away and hard to come home and head back to work and school. One thing good about returning to school is that families can get back into their routines. Routines help us maintain our daily lives.

            It’s time to be back in school and learning. Did you take a “first day of school” picture of your kids? That was an annual event at our house when I was growing up. We got some new clothes and shoes for the new school year. You have to take a picture. I took a picture of my last first day of school the year that I retired. Then I took another picture of my very last day of work when I retired. I have a t-shirt on that says, “Retired teacher, every child left behind!”

            Hopefully, teachers are refreshed and ready to teach a new group of students. Trying to teach a post-Covid, tech-savvy group of students has got to be a challenge for even the best teachers. Teachers must learn to apply new teaching methods to reach the next generation of learners. I hope our students have a good, safe year where their minds are challenged and they create great life-long memories. 

            I am currently teaching in the high school equivalency program, which operates on a year-round schedule. We enroll new students several times a year, hoping to help them graduate. For some of our students it has been many years since they went back to school. For others it hasn’t been too long since they were in school. What we hope is to catch them on fire for learning so they can see themselves not only graduating but pursuing their dreams.  

            Sometimes the problem is that we don’t see in ourselves the ability to grow and move past the challenges to succeed. That’s why we need to go back to school. This same concept applies to our spiritual lives. We find ourselves up against a challenge that feels too daunting. We begin to believe the lies that we will never be able to overcome, never graduate from the struggles to success. That’s when we need to head back to school.

            We don’t literally need to go back to school, but we need to re-educate our minds which have convinced us that we can’t do the thing that God knows we can. How do we change our thinking when it begins to work against us? We have to head back to a spiritual school. The first stop is in The Book! We need to read The Good Book and see what God says about us. Doesn’t the Bible teach us that we are overcomers, champions, and victors? We need to dig into the scriptures and find those promises and meditate and memorize them.

            Next, we need to engage our faith. We need to tell our minds that we believe God’s words and His promises to us because the Bible is the truth. Our faith and trust in God need to educate our minds. We need to begin praying in faith the promises of God; then things are going to begin to change. When we begin to see ourselves the way God sees us, the newly educated mind will start working with us as we take steps of faith to be the overcomer God made us to be.

            All of us struggle to grow into the image that God made us, to be the men and women of faith He called us to be. I want to encourage you to go back to school and learn the things that are missing in your journey of faith. Retrain your mind to apply faith in areas where you are struggling. Don’t settle for less than God made you to be. Learning something new is going to be a fight, but I believe it is a battle worth fighting because I know you can and will win. How can I say that so confidently? I know He has called you to be an overcomer. Don’t be afraid to go back to school and learn what you need because I believe you will find the victory you desire.     

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

By Doug Creamer

Skunks and Missionaries

            We were out late the other evening, but we had our dinner planned and quickly worked to get it on the table once we got home. I got the grill hot while my wife got the chicken ready. The chicken was cooking nicely while I was leaning up against the door jamb at the garage. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little face a few inches from my leg. An animal was sitting under a plant, but I couldn’t really see it very well. I said, “Hello baby, how are you?” My voice scared the little critter. I thought it was a cat. I looked closer and decided the head was too small to be a cat. I briefly thought it was a possum looking for a nice place to sleep in the garage.          

            I realized it was a wild animal and I needed to be careful. I quickly stepped into the garage and slammed the door. It was at the moment that I wondered if the critter might be a skunk. There have been skunks in our neighborhood recently. That thought sent me running for a flashlight. When I got back and eased the door open I got a little whiff of the air. The critter left a little scent behind for me to enjoy…it was just a little puff…a skunk sent.

            I had dinner on the grill that needed attention but I didn’t want to get a skunk shower! He must have wandered away when I went to get the flashlight. The trouble is it left me hyped up. I didn’t relax until I was safely inside with our food. It took a little bit to quiet down.

            I want to ask God why He created skunks. I guess that goes for mosquitos, ticks, flies, mice, and a whole bunch of other critters. Some are meant for food for other animals but who would want to eat a skunk? I am sure that there is a purpose for all God’s creatures. It’s a lot like us. God has a purpose for each one of us. We weren’t made by accident. He created us with things for each one of us to do. Our job is to figure that out and to fulfill our purpose.

            I had lunch with a missionary the other day. He shared about life on the front lines and what his family was doing in order to share the gospel. It was interesting to listen to the daily challenges they face and how his team has to operate in the country. I asked my missionary friend about his dreams and ways he could expand his efforts in reaching out to the people. I was excited by his ideas and hopes.

            My friend will soon be returning to the missionary field and the work that God has called him to do there. I was thinking about our conversation on the way home. Each of us has a calling on our lives. We may not be called to the missionary field or to be a pastor, but we have a calling to do what God created us to do.

            Think about it. Would you like to attend your church if no one bothered to cut the grass? Would you like to use a dirty bathroom? What would happen if no one paid the church bills? It would be quite uncomfortable in our church buildings without heat and air conditioning. I have visited a church where no one greeted or welcomed me. I did not return. Imagine the chaos if we didn’t have elders or deacons in our churches. Can you imagine Sunday school without teachers? Every job makes a difference in our churches and no job is unimportant. God expects us to step up and do our part in making His church work. From the cleaners to the elders, we are all needed.

            I want to encourage you to consider what you are doing to help at your church. Every person is important to fulfilling the mission your church has been assigned in your community. Missionaries and evangelists help to win the lost, but once people are saved, they need pastors and teachers to help them grow and find their place in the body of Christ. From members of the choir to those who work with the children, God needs us all. Have you thanked those who quietly work behind the scenes to pay the bills and do the cleaning? Have you discovered your gifts and talents and found a way you can make a difference at your church? If God has a purpose for skunks, He has a purpose for you, too!   

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

By Doug Creamer

Anniversary

            We all celebrate anniversaries of various types. The most common we think about is a wedding anniversary. We celebrate the anniversary of our annual trip around the sun, which we refer to as our birthday. We recently celebrated the 250^th anniversary of our country on July 4^th. Our country commemorates the anniversaries of D-Day and Pearl Harbor day.

            The anniversary that I have been thinking about for the past week is the anniversary of my Dad’s passing, which was August the 4^th of last year. It’s hard to believe that a year slipped by so quickly. I have been thinking about the events that led up to his passing and what I was doing.

            There were a couple of occasions soon after his passing that I picked up my phone to call him. It is a strange feeling to realize that someone important in your life is no longer there. My Dad read my columns and in his younger years he was confrontational about the content. In his later years, I looked forward to his email responses because he offered more positive feedback and his questions led to more open-ended discussions.

            I find it interesting how often I think about my Dad. Unpleasant memories have softened with time. I find myself savoring the good memories. One thing I have done numerous times is wonder what Dad was doing when he was my age. Then I would think about what age I was when he was my current age. I would try to remember what was going on in my life. It is strange how our minds work.

            Some say time heals all wounds. When we lose loved ones I am learning that time doesn’t heal those wounds. Certainly, the day-to-day feelings can ease with time, but there are still unexpected moments when we remember and feel the loss. An odd one came this year around Father’s Day. I was walking through one store and they had a display in the middle of the aisle with Father’s Day gifts, which really didn’t bother me. But they had put some cards on the display and there was a perfect card sitting front and center. My Dad loved to golf and this card was one of the best golfing Father’s Day cards I have ever seen. The emotions that stirred caught me off guard.

            So anniversaries come as reminders of both wonderful things that we celebrate and sometimes painful things that we don’t want to remember. One anniversary that we all seem to enjoy celebrating each year is the coming of our Lord…Christmas. Sometime in the next two months retailers will begin stocking things to celebrate Christmas. I’m not ready for that! We also remember the anniversary of our Lord’s crucifixion on Good Friday and celebrate His resurrection on Easter Sunday. Many churches celebrate and remember the arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday.

            We celebrate our birthdays, but do you remember your spiritual birthday? Our spiritual birthday is the day we accepted Jesus as our savior. I have fond memories of the day I accepted Jesus as my savior, but I do not know the date. It was summer and I was young. I remember the church and the circumstances and can see it all in my mind. It was a special day that I enjoy reflecting on from my past.

            Our minds can work for us in both positive and negative ways. We can remember bad things that happened in our lives, moments we wish never happened. Those kinds of memories I wish would fade for all of us. We can also remember the good things, especially the spiritually good moments in our lives. Maybe we went to a conference, heard a special speaker, enjoyed some beautiful music, or had a special moment with the Lord. These are things we should reflect on, memories we should ponder and enjoy. Moments we grew or made changes in our lives are important to celebrate and remember.

            I want to encourage you to spend a few moments reflecting back on your spiritual life. Remember your growth. Remember your victories. Remember making it through the hard times. Remember the revelations. Remember the verses that are special to you. Remember your rebirth and baptism. God wants you to celebrate these anniversaries…these moments when you overcame and found victories. Why? There are still challenges ahead for all of us and we need to remember how God came through for us in the past to see ourselves overcoming our current circumstances. Remember how He came through for you in the past, He will come through for you again…trust Him!

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

Here is a picture of my Dad…..

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