Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

            Last weekend the temperatures dropped below freezing, thus ending my gardening season. I worked to pick the remaining treats and clean out the garden. I got some green tomatoes that I hope will ripen up. I picked a bunch of butterbeans. I dug my sweet potatoes. I got a pretty good return on them except a few were chewed on. I am not sure who is responsible for the half-eaten sweet potatoes but I would sure like to get my hands on them.

            That is probably the latest I’ve ever had a garden. We normally get a frost or freeze earlier that ends the growing season. Many of us gardeners like to try and cheat Mother Nature by starting early with our gardens or pushing it as late as possible. I have some more cleanup to do in the garden to finish the season. I want to get that done before the cold weather settles in.

            Gardening is always filled with challenges. It might be too hot or dry. We can get early or late freezes. Then there are bug problems and diseases that can affect a harvest. Finally, there are those critters that want to help themselves to my harvest. Despite the challenges I want to press on with gardening. I need to work on better defenses so I can enjoy the fruits of my labors.

            I imagine the early settlers had plenty of challenges with their gardens, too. Despite the differences in soil and climate, they kept trying and learning until they were successful. In their case it was a life and death matter, in mine it is a matter of enjoying my fresh vegetables or those that others grow.

            The Pilgrims celebrated the first Thanksgiving in 1621. They celebrated despite the loss of almost half the people who came over to the new land. The first winter was brutal, between the cold and sickness. The first Thanksgiving was a three-day eating celebration shared with the Wampanoag Indians. The Wampanoag Indians helped the Pilgrims learn about the new land and the first Thanksgiving began a more than fifty year good relationship between the two peoples.

            In Sunday school last week, I taught my class that thanks means to show gratitude and appreciation. It is easy to show gratitude to the people at work. Saying thank you, whether to a subordinate or to a supervisor can mean more than you imagine. Showing appreciation to your customers can build repeat business. It’s not hard to say, “thank you” to the people around you and letting them know you appreciate them. This works well in families, too!

            Sometimes we get focused on the things that have gone wrong in life or our aches and pains and we forget to be thankful for the many ways God blesses us. It’s easy to get distracted and to forget all the ways God has met our needs. Most of us have plenty of food to eat, many nice clothes to wear, a warm place to lay our head at night, and we feel relatively safe…we aren’t living in a war zone. When we focus on the blessings, it’s easy to be thankful.

            I encouraged my class to write down a list of their spiritual blessings. We have been forgiven for our sins. We have a place waiting for us in heaven. We have talents, skills, and abilities. Next we made a list of special events or days. Consider your wedding day, the birth of a child, or getting a job. Think about the blessings of family and friends, especially during the holiday season.

            We wrote down a list of our material blessings. We are blessed with homes, cars, and all the things in our homes. That can be a long list. Next, I encouraged my class to list books, music, or movies that really touched them. I listed my favorite authors and some great movies. We all know that music can touch and minister to our soul.

            I want to encourage you to take a minute each day this week to thank God for your many blessings. In addition to all the things we’ve already listed, don’t forget all the great people in your life. Those who gave you second chances, those who believe in you, those who love you, and both your natural and spiritual families. I believe that reflecting and thanking God for your many blessings will change your perspective and your heart. We are all blessed, even if we are facing challenges, we are blessed. Let us turn our eyes toward heaven and thank God. Happy Thanksgiving!

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

By Doug Creamer

Go Slow

            I woke up last weekend with nothing on my agenda. I had nowhere to go and nothing to do. There were things I could do, but nothing was pressing. It was a great feeling. I was enjoying some quiet time on the porch and considering my options. That’s when I heard His whisper, “Go slow.” What does that mean? 

            Slow down means you are going too fast, but slowing down means you will still be going fast. Go slow means something different. People drive slowly when they pass a wreck in the road. We are all rubber-necking. People go slow when they are looking at Christmas lights or the fall leaves in the mountains.

            I was trying to understand what God was telling me. I walked around the outside of the house and saw lots of things that need attention. I decided I would do one of those things and that I wouldn’t work fast. I would take my time and enjoy the day. I went slow. It was nice. I noticed the blue skies and the birds singing. I made progress on my task, but it was slow progress.

            I came in around dark and saw an email from my co-Sunday School teacher. We share the responsibility for our adult Sunday school class. She was feeling under the weather and wondered if I could teach the class on Sunday. There went that slow paced, peaceful feeling. What should I teach? The Lord was faithful as I sought His direction. He simply said, “You already know.”  

            Go slow. Have you ever felt like God was moving slowly answering your prayer requests? Me too! I believe God is in the testing business. He wants to see if we will trust Him. Do we have faith that He will come through for us? Are we struggling with doubt? Will we be obedient to what He tells us to do? I recently read the story of the Jericho walls coming down. I imagine it was difficult to believe that city walls would come down and to trust God. I think God was testing Israel’s obedience in that situation. Would they follow His instructions? Will we follow His instructions and live obediently?

            Many times when we pray, we hope God will come through for us in a miraculous way and save us. Take medical issues. We pray and hope that God will deliver us from things, but sometimes God wants to walk with us through the tests and procedures. If we have a test done or endure a medical procedure and we experience God’s presence with us as we go through the situation, then we will have a testimony about His goodness. Our faith will grow stronger and we will develop a deeper trust in God.

            We have to believe that God is at work, especially in those times when we can’t see Him working. Often God is working behind the scenes to bring about His will and blessing for our lives. It is hard to see when we are stuck in the waiting mode, but God is working things out. I can look back on my life and see times where God was opening doors for a better job for me. It felt like He wasn’t working or was moving slowly, but I had to learn to trust Him. At just the right moment the door of opportunity opened.

            I think another reason God was whispering, “Go slow” to me was because my body needed me to slow down. Things have been very busy and I needed to go slow and rest. The fourth commandment is about keeping the Sabbath rest. God tells us that we are to work for six days but that we are to rest on the seventh. Many of us run at full throttle seven days a week and rarely allow ourselves some down time. We maintain the pace through our addiction to caffeine to fuel us. Our body needs us to “go slow” so we can recover. God tells us to slow down. Don’t miss the special moments. Don’t rush through family times. Don’t over commit. Don’t go so fast. Go slow!

            We are on the threshold of the holiday season. I want to encourage you to GO SLOW and enjoy the special moments. GO SLOW and enjoy the special people in your life. GO SLOW and reconnect with family and friends. GO SLOW and be intimate with God. He loves you and wants a deeper relationship with you. GO SLOW and be thankful. GO SLOW and welcome Him into your crazy life. GO SLOW…Breathe…Enjoy this special time of year.

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

By Doug Creamer

Old Friends

            I graduated from James Madison University many years ago. I transferred there as a sophomore, which meant that JMU did not have to provide housing. I rented a room off campus with eight other guys. It was not a good situation. The guys drank and used drugs constantly. I needed to get away from that environment.

            During this time I attended two churches. One had many college students and the other was predominately an older congregation. I struggle with the use of the word “older” as I am currently the age of many of the members at that time. I told the church that I needed to get out of the bad situation. One couple decided they would help me. They rented me a room in their home. I am not sure if they adopted my future wife and me or we adopted them, but we became family. 

            We have stayed in contact with them since we were in college. He has passed away but she is now living in a retirement center. Last weekend we went to visit our dear friend and surrogate mother. It was a bittersweet time. It was great to see her and to share with her our special memories of time we spent together through the years. It was sad because time and age have stolen many of those sweet memories from our dear friend.

            While we were in town, I went to church in hopes of seeing someone I knew in college. One guy roomed with me during my first year of teaching. He and his wife are still teaching high school. They are considering retirement, which I highly recommended. We shared our teaching, life, and spiritual journeys. It was so good to see him and to catch up with him. We shared some great laughs and memories of our year teaching together.

            I also ran into another friend, a guy who was in my wedding. I used to stay with this friend’s family on some weekends. I became close with his whole family during the time out on their dairy farm. His dad told me I was welcome at their home any time and I could come in at any hour. But…I was getting up with the entire family at some ungodly hour to help bring in the cows for milking. I also had to help with other chores when I was out there.  

            I listened carefully as this friend shared his journey through life. He had been through some difficult times. He talked with me about how he had persevered through the tough times to develop his faith. He shared how the Lord had told him that he had to trust God with the difficult circumstances and not allow worry or fear to capture him. He shared how God was faithful in each situation. The joy in his heart and spirit could not be hidden.

            I exchanged contact information with both of these guys and look forward to renewing our friendships. Both friends have done great things for the kingdom and have plans to continue pouring into the next generations. Spending time with these guys stirred my faith and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. Hearing their stories of faith and perseverance challenges and spurs me to press on.

            I am glad for these two men and this sweet older lady in my life. They strengthen my resolve to continue persevering in my own life. Their fellowship and friendship are more precious than gold to me. Their stories illustrate God’s faithfulness through the challenges and difficulties in life. We need to share our stories with each other so we can spur each other on to greater things in the Lord. We need to share our faith journeys with each other so we can remind ourselves and each other of God’s faithfulness through the ups and downs of life. Sharing our stories helps to build faith, hope, and courage to press on, especially when we may feel like giving up. God will not fail us, leave us, or reject us because He loves us so very much!

            I want to encourage you to connect with your old friends. Let them know how much they mean to you. Share with them how God has seen you through the challenges of life. Each of us has a unique perspective and experience with God and sharing those experiences can be encouraging and life changing. Old friends are treasures that need to be savored. I thank God for my old friends, for their spiritual battle scars, their testimonies, and their commitment to God and our friendship.

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

By Doug Creamer

            October is traditionally Pastor Appreciation month. At our church we tend to run a little late celebrating our pastor. The reason for that can be found by looking in the mirror. I take on the responsibility of organizing and orchestrating our event. Every year October sneaks up on me and then I have to try to figure out how we are going to honor our pastor. I like to create a mixture of fun and laughter followed by some heart-felt thanks and appreciation for all that our pastor and his wife do for us as a church family.

            I am lucky because our pastor’s kids, who are all adults, always have great ideas for what we can do to honor their parents. They suggest ways we can incorporate some funny moments into our special presentation. His kids, their spouses, and a handful of others who are willing to participate in some fun have worked together to create some memorable pastor appreciation events.

            This year ranks among my favorites. The pastor’s wife read a book to their kids called Flat Stanley. Stanley accidently gets flattened to paper thin and goes on many adventures that continue through a series of books. His kids thought it would be fun if we took a picture of the pastor and then have members of our congregation take him on adventures. It was a great idea which our congregation embraced. Our members took Flat Pastor on many wonderful and memorable adventures. I created a slideshow that had everyone, including the pastor, laughing with delight.

            We then had some members share heart-warming tributes for both our pastor and his wife. When you follow that with a delicious covered dish lunch, it made for a wonderful day. I wanted to be sure our pastor and his wife knew how much we love and appreciate them. We shared many laughs, great food, and wonderful fellowship, all while honoring and blessing our pastor and his wife.

            I have been lucky in my spiritual life. I have had a number of great pastors who invested in my life and helped me become the man of God that I am today. I have also been fortunate enough to become friends with several pastors and assistant pastors. Those are treasured friendships. It is nice to share a meal with the pastor and just talk about everyday life. It has also been both an honor and a privilege to listen to them when they needed to talk.

            Pastors are there for each of us as we go through the ups and downs of life. If I am celebrating some great news, my pastors have always celebrated with me. When I have found myself struggling with making decisions, self-doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, or whatever else was standing in my way, my pastors have always been there to gently guide me through the storms.

            Our pastors are called upon to be there for births, weddings, sicknesses, hospital stays, funerals, and whatever challenge or disaster comes our way. They show up for us. They are there for us. They speak words of comfort. They pray for us. They counsel us. They encourage us. They challenge us to live up to our best selves. They know our sins and secrets and still love us. They come after us if we wander away from the church. We are all lucky and blessed to have our pastors in our lives.

            I think sometimes we forget that they are people just like us. They have to bury their loved ones. They have to go to hospitals for themselves and their family. They have worries, fears, and doubts. They suffer from rejection when people walk away. They have bad days because they are worried about us. Their kids struggle with life and growing up. Their kids stumble and fall. They are sometimes overloaded with our burdens.

            I want to encourage you to take a few minutes to let your pastors know how much you love and appreciate them. Pray for them like you want them to pray for you. Send them a card that includes a gift card for something they will enjoy. See if there is something you can do to help them at church or at home just to bless them. Is there something you can do for their spouse to bless and encourage them? Do it! Surprise them. Bless them. Encourage them. Find something you can do, whether it’s through words, deeds, or financially, to show them how much you love and care for them and their families. Let’s be a blessing and show appreciation to our pastors.

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

By Doug Creamer

            If congress decides to keep us on daylight savings time I would be in favor of that decision. I am not a fan of moving the clocks back in the fall. I like it to stay light as late as possible. Part of the reason for that is that I take my walks late in the evening, especially in the summer months. Many times when I get back from my walk in the winter it is dark.

            The fall colors were beautiful as I walked today. There was a little nip in the air. We have been very lucky with the beautiful weather this fall. I think spring and fall are my favorite times of the year because the days are warm and the nights are cool. I was thinking while I was walking today how quickly time passes. The holiday season is almost here and before we know it another year will be over.  

            I heard an ad on TV the other day that proclaimed that as we age time becomes a more precious commodity. Naturally, the company wanted the consumer to spend their time and money on their products. Their point is true. Our time here is limited and we need to make conscious choices on how we use this scarce resource. We are all given a certain amount of time and the way we use or waste it will affect how we reflect back on it when we are older.

            We all spend time working when we are young. We make money to pay for food, clothing, and shelter. I was a teacher and I spent many more hours than the school day doing my job. I spent many hours working, but learned late in my career how to balance my work and personal time better. I don’t know anyone who is retired that wishes they had worked longer hours during their career.

             I am partially retired and enjoying the extra time that affords me. I was reading in Genesis recently that some of the first people lived multiple hundreds of years. God decided to shorten our lifespan. I also read that when Caleb was 85 he was a valiant warrior who fought for his territory in the Promised Land. Joshua lived to be 110. Regardless of our health and the many blessings of God, we all have a limited amount of time here.

            Life has a way of getting busy in the limited time we are granted. I find that time flies during the holiday season. There are too many places to be and too many things to do. In recent years, I have made a conscious choice to be present in special moments when I am spending time with family and friends. I have a deep desire to connect with those I love and create memories that will last a lifetime. I want to invest my time in my family and friends.

Since we know that time is moving along quickly we should be motivated to connect with God. His invitation to spend eternity with Him has to be accepted before we depart from this world. It’s our decision and He wants us to choose Him. After choosing Him, we need to invest time praying, reading His Word, and talking with Him. It is the most valuable investment of our time. It will pay us dividends throughout eternity.

Time’s limitations will not exist in eternity, but they exist here. If you have accepted your gift of salvation and your reservation in heaven, then I want to remind you of the importance of extending that invitation to your family and friends. We don’t want them to miss out on an eternity with God because they didn’t make the most important decision of their lives. God wants a relationship with every person, but He leaves that choice up to us. That’s why I think it is critical that we take time to share our faith, our story, with those who don’t know God so they can develop a relationship with Him.

            I want to encourage you to use the limited time you have to invite family and friends into a relationship with God. The Bible makes it clear that time will run out and that decision has to be made before time ends or our individual time comes to an end. I think it’s also important that we pray for those who don’t have that relationship that their hearts will be tender and open to God so they can accept his invitation. Time is marching on and we don’t want time to run out for anyone.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I ate lunch on my front porch today. It was a comfortably warm afternoon after a cool start to the day. I enjoyed reading a good book by one of my favorite authors. The story was moving at a nice, leisurely pace. My lunch was over but I didn’t want to stop reading so I continued on for a little while longer.

            I started to get up and head in the house when I stopped myself. I had things to do. Instead, I settled into my chair. I took a deep breath. What a perfect day. The leaves rustled when a slight breeze blew. The sun’s golden rays reflected off the changing leaves. It was peaceful and quiet; I heard some birds singing and crickets calling through the quiet afternoon air. The breeze stirred and brought some leaves tumbling onto the grass.

            I breathed in the peacefulness and breathed out the worries and expectations of an afternoon filled with things to do. A cardinal flew over, giving a chirp. I admired my neighbors fall decorations. I resisted the tug to get up and go. I took another quiet breath. I sipped my tea and allowed my eyes and thoughts to wonder. The fall sun hangs lower in the sky, thus allowing longer shadows to dance across the lawn. The cloudless Carolina blue sky radiated beauty. How do we miss such wonders as we meander through our day?

            Eventually my body left the front porch but my mind continued to linger. My thoughts remained peaceful. I pondered the experience as I sat down to begin my column. My prayer for His guidance was birthed not in a panic for lack of an idea but rather in the comfort of His peaceful presence.

            Slow down… Breathe… Turn off the noise of this world… He is waiting and wanting to be discovered. God wants us to find Him… God wants us to connect with Him… The problem is not on His side, but rather ours. He waits for us to enter His presence. He desires for us to draw close. He longs for us to turn our eyes toward heaven. He wants to refresh us in His presence.

            Can you feel the Spirit drawing you? He isn’t asking for your time. He is asking for YOU! God wants to draw close to YOU! He is not too busy…YOU are. He is not distant…YOU are. His presence is not chaotic…YOURS is. His presence is filled with love, joy, peace, and hope. He longs to share the peace that your soul deeply desires. His peace is available for YOU if you will only slow down. Breathe. He IS with YOU!

            We can find all we need to live in HIS presence. In HIS presence is fullness of joy. In HIS presence is wisdom for every situation. In HIS presence is provision. In HIS presence is healing and restoration. In HIS presence is love and acceptance. In HIS presence is protection because He will fight for us. In HIS presence is peace that will quiet worry and anxiety. In HIS presence we can slow down. In HIS presence we can breathe.

            The world around us will continue to grow more and more chaotic as we draw closer to His return. The Bible makes it clear that it will be incredibly stressful in the end. We have a choice, we can allow the craziness of life to press in and push us out of His presence or we can let His presence push out the craziness of the world. His presence is with us right now. He wants to lift the burdens of this life off our shoulders. He wants to calm our nerves. We have to open the door and let Him in. We have to choose to slow down…to breathe.

            I want to encourage you to find a quiet place and invite Him in. All my life I have referred to the time that I spend with Him as my “quiet time.” I have learned that He will visit me during quiet time and while I am sitting on the porch, walking, resting, working, or driving my car. I have to invite Him in. I have to open the door. He wants to connect with you. He wants to lift your burdens and give you His perfect peace. He wants to provide for all your needs as your Heavenly Father. It’s up to you! You have to slow down and open the door for Him. I encourage you to slow down, breathe, and open the door of your heart to Him.

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

By Doug Creamer

A Funeral & A Wedding

            Have you ever wanted to be in two places at one time? That was my situation last weekend. My brother’s father-in-law passed away, and naturally, I wanted to be with him and his family as they dealt with the loss of their family patriarch. On the other hand, my pastor’s daughter was getting married at the same time. I am very close with the pastor and his family and I am also close with the groom and his family. I wanted to be with their families as they celebrated the union of these beautiful souls.

            I chose to be with my brother and his family. I wanted to be with them as a source of encouragement and love in their moment of grief. I know my sister-in-law’s family as we have spent many family gatherings together. My brother and his wife host many family gatherings at their home, including Easter, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Those gatherings will include members of our family as well as my sister-in-law’s family. Those gatherings always included her parents.

            I always enjoyed the opportunity to see her parents. They are both loving, kind, and welcoming. Mr. Sherrick always had a great story of some adventure to share. He and his wife were world travelers. You can hardly name a part of the world they haven’t been to in their travels. He could tell you about the places and the people. He was also a good listener as I shared my own stories with him.

            Mr. Sherrick and I had one big thing in common. We were both Boy Scouts. We shared a love for hiking, backpacking, and camping. I was a little jealous of Mr. Sherrick as he had been to Philmont Boy Scout Ranch four times. I always dreamed of going out there for a great adventure. He had some wonderful stories of the boys he led on his trips. Mr. Sherrick served the Boy Scouts in various positions for over forty years.

            I drove home from the funeral reflecting on my day with our combined families. I wasn’t far from home when my thoughts turned to the wedding I had missed. I was thinking about their special day. I looked at the clock and figured everyone would have departed. This little voice encouraged me to drop by the church. I decided to listen and could hardly believe my eyes when I pulled up to a packed parking lot.

            I slipped into the room just in time to witness the first dance of the bride and groom. This was followed by the cutting of the cake and the toasts offered for the bride and groom. The toasts were heart-felt and warmly received. The reception room was fairytale in its beauty. The bride was both stunning and glowing. I was over-the-moon excited to see and congratulate the bride and groom on their special day.

            I left thanking the Lord that He had allowed me to be in two places at once. I got to be with both families. I was able to celebrate the life and the departure of a family patriarch to his heavenly home and the joy of two hearts joining as one as they begin a new adventure together. It was a day filled with diverse emotions, family gatherings, and the love that binds us all together. The day included reflections on a 70-year marriage and the first day of a new one.

            To say that my heart was full is an understatement. The day reminded me that the marriage supper of Jesus and us, the bride, will be happening very soon. We have all been invited to attend, but sadly, so many have not sent in their RSVP. Our admission is simply accepting Jesus as our savior. That makes us the bride of Christ. We will be a part of that great celebration, which is going to be a seven-year feast.

            I want to encourage you to make the decision to accept Jesus as your savior so you can attend this great wedding banquet. Some may travel early as Mr. Sherrick did, while others will arrive at the final trumpet call. Either way, I hope you will be there for the most fantastic wedding in all of history. The joy on that day will be like that of my pastor’s daughter as she begins the magical journey of being a new wife. Oh, what a happy day that will be, please send in your RSVP!

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

I gave the sermon at our church last week. I taught about change. You can listen to our worship and enjoy the whole service or you can jump ahead to about 1 hour and 5 minutes…that’s when I begin my sermon. I hope you will listen and I hope it encourages you! Have a great day!

By Doug Creamer

            It is unbelievable that our country has been hit by two major hurricanes in less than two weeks. The paths of destruction are unimaginable. The pictures and videos are hard to watch and comprehend. There are so many lives that have been impacted by both of these storms. I have been checking up on friends and family who have been impacted. I want to help and have done some things but it all feels so inadequate.

            I have been teaching Sunday school lessons the last couple of weeks on being prepared. I have been reflecting on my Boy Scout years…which were many years ago. The Boy Scout Motto is to Be Prepared! A Boy Scout is always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do his duty. A Boy Scout puts aside his own comfort and concerns for self to be of service to others.

            There are countless stories of people who are doing just that to help the victims of these hurricanes. There are many people who are working tirelessly to help others who have suffered a terrible loss. They are driving supplies into the affected areas. They are helping people clean up downed trees. They are helping people repair their homes and businesses. Some people have created small bridges that will allow ATVs across rivers to bring supplies to people.

            Mountain folks are so resilient. Many who are struggling are out there helping others who are in need. I was trying to imagine what it must be like to not be able to do simple things like take a shower or brush your teeth. Most of us have experienced power outages for short periods of time; imagine what they are facing in these hurricane ravaged areas. I know that there have been organizations going into the affected areas and making meals for people. People are helping and donating things for complete strangers. Some people have spent their weekend working hard to ease the suffering of others.

            Disasters have this way of bringing out our best. We are Americans! We come together to help each other in times of need. No one asks what you think about controversial issues. It doesn’t matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican. When people are suffering Americans rise to the challenge; we help each other.

            I have heard of stories of high school coaches getting their teams together to go and help people who have been affected by the storms. Teachers are always looking for ways to teach their students important life lessons. These young people will grow up knowing how important it is to give back to others.

            I also heard stories of churches in unaffected areas sending supplies and manpower to the churches in the affected areas. Churches are coordinating and being THE CHURCH in order to help those who are suffering. Churches can help others physically, practically, and spiritually to meet the needs of others.

            I showed my Sunday school class images of people sitting on their roofs waiting to be rescued. I asked them to consider those people to be like those who are lost and do not have a savior. They are waiting for someone to come along and give them a helping hand. Christians have the answers they need and can help guide them to spiritual safety. Jesus is the answer! We are called to be beacons of hope to those entangled in sin. We are called to release those who are trapped in the prison of addiction. We have the faith, hope, and love they need to be set free and live purpose filled lives for God.

            I want to encourage you to be prepared to share your faith, hope, and love with those who are disconnected from God. Tell them about your best friend Jesus. We all know that time is running out and people need a relationship with the living God. God loves and cares about them and is calling them up and out of the darkness. Trust God and allow Him to lead you and give you the words. Your obedience could have a profound impact on others. Also, please remember that those who are suffering from these hurricanes are not going to recover in a week or even a month. They are going to need your help and prayer for a long time. Seek ways you can make a difference for both your local neighbors and those distant neighbors who are struggling to recover from the hurricanes.

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

By Doug Creamer

            Most of you know that I am a weather fanatic. I am watching storms days before weathermen on TV mention them. I watch the long-term models and keep track of current developments. My parents thought that I might pursue becoming a meteorologist, but for me it is more of an obsession.

            I was watching Helene when it was just a cluster of thunderstorms down in the Caribbean. I was amazed at how consistent models were with the path of the storm and how the storm followed the predicted path. Very few storms show such consistency between model runs and between the various models.

            The suffering that people are enduring from this storm is unimaginable. They desperately need more than our prayers. People need physical assistance to help them recover. The recovery effort will take months. For some roads and many bridges it could take years. The mental and emotional anguish the victims are experiencing is incomprehensible.  

            The damage from this one storm runs through multiple states. Helene is not a name that many people will soon forget. Some of my readers have suffered from this storm, whether it was the loss of power or trees down in your yard. We all probably know people who are going through some very rough times right now.

            I woke up Friday morning to the strongest winds and the heaviest rains. I watched out my windows as the storm raged. In the end, we had standing water in our yard and the cable and internet were out. We were among the lucky ones. The lack of news and internet kept us unaware of the devastation that others were enduring.

            When our services returned, we were stunned by the pictures and videos of all the damage in the mountains, especially in the Asheville area. I reached out to family and friends and was relieved to know that while they may be struggling, they are okay. The images I have seen have kept me praying late at night and very early in the morning.

            While those who suffered the huge losses need to be a priority in our prayers, we also need to remember to pray for the front line workers, utility workers, rescue workers, emergency and firefighter workers, and now the organizations who going in to offer aid and support. Pray for the supply chains to get resources into these hard hit communities. People need the basics of life. They also need a loving and caring shoulder to cry on.

            If you are planning to offer help, please research and make sure you are supporting reputable organizations. Sadly, there will be many scammers out there trying to take advantage of people who are already suffering. There are many ways you can help people you have never met through churches and other aid organizations who are on the ground helping in practical ways. Don’t forget that there may be neighbors or people in your own community who are also suffering and in need of your help.

            The people who are suffering right now need faith, hope, and love. Jesus is broken-hearted over the loss, pain, and suffering of the people who have been affected by this storm. This is an opportunity for THE CHURCH to rise up and show those who have been affected that God cares deeply about what they are experiencing. We get to be His hands, feet, and mouth to the broken and wounded. We need to bring the light of hope to their dark world. We need to let them know that they are loved by coming alongside them in their hour of need. They need an impartation of our faith that will help them endure and make it through this tragedy.

            I want to encourage you to do your part, whether it is prayer, buying and sending supplies, donating money, or finding another way to help show the love of God to those in need. Helping a neighbor in need is just as important as sending aid to an unknown victim. Listening to someone’s story and offering words of love, compassion, and encouragement can be just as valuable as sending aid. Both can change the life of another person and demonstrate to them that they are not alone in their hour of deepest need. Many people who are suffering wonder, “Where is God in the midst of my suffering?” The answer can be in the eyes of His people. We have the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love by both our words and actions. Be light in the darkness. Show love through your deeds. Share your faith and hope. Be THE CHURCH. Pray!  

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