Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

God is in Control

            I have a few weather friends and we like to make amateur predictions about winter storms and hurricanes. We have fun guessing and giving each other a hard time when we miss. I send my predictions to about a dozen friends who think I am pretty accurate, but I think they are being kind because I miss it just like the professionals. I like to watch the weather models and follow the trends. There are some people putting out wild forecasts that I caution you to avoid following. Look to trusted forecasters who offer balanced forecasts.

            Some friends have asked me to post my predictions on social media. The recent storm demonstrates why I don’t. I thought we would get snow here in Salisbury but we ended up with mostly sleet and freezing rain. The professionals predicted some measurable snow all the way down to Charlotte. People on social media were cruel and hateful to social media predictors and professionals for missing the forecast. It’s a shame that the hatefulness is driving one local social media forecaster to quit following his passion and sharing his weather predictions for our area.

            I once met Ray Boylan, who used to be on Channel 9 out of Charlotte. He told me that the mountains and ocean have a huge impact on the weather here in the Piedmont. Mountains can zap storms and the ocean can feed them. I remember Eric Thomas from Channel 3 sharing one night how a wobble in a storm had ruined his forecast. That time we got more snow than he had predicted.

            Weather is something that has so many variables that can impact what we see out our windows. Brad Panovich from Channel 6 recently pointed out on a Facebook post that a tenth of a degree can change what falls from the sky. All this unpredictability fascinates me about weather. I love to watch the models every day and follow reliable social media forecasters. My Facebook feed is filled with all kinds of weather related posts.  

            The big trouble with weather forecasting is that most people forget that the forecasters are not in control. We have to remember that God is in control. He has the weather, the planets, the stars, and you and me in His hands. He is in control. I understand that sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but you can be assured that He has everything under control.

            Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand and accept that God is in control. When the doctor says cancer… When the phone rings and you receive tragic news…When circumstances at work have soured… When family drama unfolds… We have to turn to God and ask Him to intervene and trust that He will lead us and be with us because He is in control. None of this is easy. In fact, it’s hard to have faith when things feel out of control. We must turn our eyes on Jesus, asking for guidance and believing that He is in control.

            God knows everything. He knows the name of every star. He knows the exact number of hairs on every human head. He saw the beginning and He sees the end. He knows every detail of our lives. He knows each of us better than we know ourselves. He is in control in spite of what we may think in difficult moments. We have to give Him room to work all things out for our good. We have to trust and believe that He can work in and through our circumstances.

            The news is tragic…God is in control. My circumstances are hard…God is in control. I am struggling with doubt and worry…God is in control and He can do exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we can imagine. One day Joseph is lying in a dungeon, the next he is second in command of Egypt. Lazarus was dead for three days and then Jesus called him out of the tomb. Peter was locked away in a dungeon and then an angel had to wake him up to help him escape. Sometimes we have to go through things with God. He has a good plan for our lives.

            I want to encourage you to never give up because God is in control of even the craziest of circumstances. We must keep the embers of hope alive. Ask close friends to pray for and with you. You are not alone! God is with you and He will bring good out of your circumstances. He can rescue people from fiery furnaces, huge fish, sicknesses, and even the grave. He will come through for you. GOD IS IN CONTROL!

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

By Doug Creamer

A Change in Routine

            I went for a walk the other day and noticed that most of my neighbors had taken down their outside Christmas decorations. I also noticed twinkling lights coming from inside a number of homes, evidence that the Christmas tree was still up. Mine is still up and I am still enjoying it. It has been nice to just enjoy it without all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

            With the holiday season behind us, people are beginning to think about the Super Bowl and Valentine’s Day. While many might be hoping to bypass winter and move right into spring, I am looking forward to some snow. I am also looking forward to spring and a new gardening season, but I am content to look out the window for some snow for now.

            I know many people are glad to be getting back to the routines of life. The holiday season brings a welcome break from routine, but after all the travel and craziness many find themselves longing to return to the routines of life. People want their children back on school schedules and bedtime routines. People want to get back to work so they can pay all the bills from the holiday season. People want to get back to their regular routines.

            I think this is a good time to break away from the rut of our routines. If we are honest with each other, there are some routines that need to change. The trouble is that it is difficult to change our lives and routines. But after having a break from them during the holiday season, maybe now is a great time to assess and change some routines.

            What needs changing? I know that I need to work on not staying up so late at night. I did some reading before bed over the holidays and I liked that. I would like to add that routine. Maybe we need to look at what we have been eating. While the holidays lead all of us down temptation alley, there are probably some things we need to change in our regular eating habits. We probably all need to move our bodies more. Exercise is good for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

            I enjoy scrolling through social media, watching videos, especially weather videos, and watching TV. We all need down time, but can we limit that in order to do something else like reading, writing to a friend, or spending more time with our family. Speaking of the family, imagine the positive impact on your family if you chose to spend time together as a family or spending one-on-one time with your children. Pick something the two of you can do to connect.

            Simple changes do not mean we have to give up the things we enjoy. It means we might do those things less in order to do something we want to do. That was how I started writing my weekly column. I wanted to write and I decided I could give up TV one night a week in order to write. It’s been over thirty years filled with great rewards.

            One area we can all work on is spending more time with God. God wants to be invited into our lives. He wants to know that our relationship with Him is a priority. Some people like to spend time with Him at night, but sometimes He only gets a few minutes before we fall asleep. Others choose to spend time with Him in the morning, but some mornings He is squeezed out because we have a busy day scheduled. God is jealous when we ignore Him. He wants one-on-one time with us AND He wants us to invite Him into our daily routines. We often invite Him when we face a crisis but He wants to be involved in every moment of our lives. He wants to connect with every area of our lives.

            I want to encourage you to incorporate a few small changes that will allow you to connect more with God. He wants a closer and more intimate relationship with you. Pray that God will help you become more aware of His presence. Open the doors to connect with God while you are exercising, running errands, taking the kids to their activities, and while doing routine things. God wants to connect with you. He wants to speak through you. He wants to demonstrate His love for others through you. Make more room for Him in the midst of your routines. Welcome a deeper relationship with Him this year.

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

By Doug Creamer

            We have stepped into the New Year. The month of December always goes by so quickly. Here we are in a new month and a new year. We all may feel a little discomfort entering an unknown time. The truth is the future is full of many good things for us and there will also be some challenges that we will have to face. The question is which will we choose to focus on?

            Fear and anxiety love to play in our minds with the unknown future ahead. We can find ourselves worrying about what will or might happen. There is a sense that the future is out of our control and that makes us feel uncomfortable. If we rely only upon ourselves and our own abilities then these feelings would be justified. But as the people of God, we must turn our focus upon Him and trust Him with the future.

            We will face things that are challenging and difficult. What if some tragedy befalls us, what then? The place to begin is with the fact that God is in control. He may allow or even send some challenges into our lives to cause us to grow spiritually or to draw us closer to Himself. On the tragedy front, we have to remember that they do not originate in heaven. In those horrific moments we have to trust the scripture that teaches us that God can bring about something good from every situation if we will trust in Him.

            To illustrate my point, I ask you to consider the tragic flooding and destruction that occurred in our mountains from Hurricane Helene. I believe that was not from God. Now I ask you to consider all the miracles you heard about during that time. Consider all the churches, communities, businesses, organizations, and individuals that offered help to those affected by this tragedy. People have come from all over to offer their services to people in need. Neighbors helped neighbors. God has a way of counteracting and bringing hope into hopeless situations. Sometimes it takes a little time, but God is faithful. God can bring good out of the bad!

            So, I want to encourage you to take your eyes off all the things your mind has imagined that could be bad in the new year and look to your good Father who is planning GOOD things for your future. You may ask: How do you know God is planning good things for me? Jeremiah 29:11 promises us that God is actively planning good things for us and to give us hope and a good future.

            The word hope grabbed my attention. The word hope is powerful. It means that we have a feeling of optimism. We actually believe that God is good and that he is actively planning good things for us. When we live with hope it means that we are actually changing our thought processes. Instead of allowing negative thoughts to prevail we are following God and allowing Him to change our minds. God’s new way of thinking allows us to believe that no matter what situation we are facing God is going to bring a positive outcome. That’s HOPE!

            When we can live our lives with an expectant heart, expecting God to do something good, it will change the way we live our lives. We have to engage our faith and our active thoughts. When our thoughts want to run into the negative, we have to confront them with God’s promises for our lives. God is good and promises good things for our lives. Sometimes we may have to admit to our brothers and sisters that we are struggling so they can gather around us and encourage us and remind us of God’s goodness and faithfulness.

            I know what I am writing is not easy. I know that at some point this year I will need someone to encourage me. You will need someone to encourage you. We can and we will do that for each other. I want to encourage you to grab ahold of hope. Look for the good God is doing in your life now and all year. Believe that He sees you in your situation and He is actively working on your behalf. Look for His promises in the scriptures for your situation and trust Him to fulfill those promises for you. Believe that He loves you and is making good plans for your future. I believe that 2025 will be a good year. It will have its struggles but let’s let those struggles lead us to Him.  

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

By Doug Creamer

The Week Between    

            The packages have been opened. The delicious meal and the leftovers have all been consumed. All the rushing around has finally come to an end. It’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s. I have been thinking about this all day…I think this is best week of the holiday season. The pressures of getting ready for Christmas are finally gone. We can take a deep breath and actually enjoy a peaceful day.

            I admit that it is very hard to slow down and enjoy Christmas with all the demands that are put upon our lives. There is the decorating, shopping, wrapping, gatherings, cleaning, cooking, and… By the time Christmas finally arrives, we are wiped out. It’s hard to find a few quiet moments to sit by the Christmas tree and savor the moment. I have worked hard to be present at every gathering this year. I have truly enjoyed time with family and friends. These days between Christmas and New Years are a hidden treasure.

            The push, panic, anxiety, and stress are over. There is nothing to do. You can actually sit by the tree and admire the ornaments and savor the memories that go with each one. You can listen to the music and not feel pressure. You can take a nap. You can read and linger guilt free. You can sneak a few treats.

            Most of us still have some traveling and visiting with family and friends on our agendas, but somehow it’s different. Yes, I know that all travel contains some degree of stress, but it doesn’t seem as bad if we aren’t feeling the pressure to be there by Christmas day. Because families are pulled in so many directions to be “HERE” for Christmas, I have long advocated for making Christmas be the day you can be together. If you do that, the joy of the season can be spread out and the stress can be reduced.

            With the pressure value relieved, the joy of the season can flood our hearts. After Christmas, I am slow about putting Christmas away. I will get the outside all cleaned up and packed away. The knick knacks will return to their boxes. It’s the tree that will sometimes linger. Part of the reason is that it is quite a bit of work to put up and take down. I admit that. But also, it is nice to enjoy the tree, the lights, and the ornaments. It is very peaceful to sit by the tree late at night or early in the morning when I have my quiet time. It’s then that I can soak in the spirit of the season.

            Before we set our sights on the New Year, let’s take a breath and release the stress. I talk about it when I teach my Sunday school class and when I write my column, but sometimes I need to take a spoonful of my own medicine. Deep breath…release. Put the list of things to do away and just be… Maybe look at your Christmas cards again… Maybe make some popcorn and watch a movie… Maybe call an old friend and just talk… You pick! Take some YOU time.

            There will be time to think about next year later. We’ll talk about resolutions later. For now, for today, let’s just kick back and relax. Some struggle to unplug. Some feel that we must always be working, especially on our spiritual lives. I want to take this opportunity to remind you that Jesus took time away from the crowds. He sought out quiet places. He would climb a mountain to be alone. Why did He do that?

            He needed to find time and a quiet place to reconnect with His Father. We can’t be working, even for His kingdom, all the time. We need to re-charge. Be refreshed. Be renewed. Be nurtured in His presence. Be refilled with the Spirit. These things are not done while working or with crowds of people. These things are done in a quiet place. Refreshment comes from being in His Word, in prayer, and in His presence.

            It is hard to find that quiet place in the holiday season. Now in this “week between” I encourage you to find your quiet place and allow Him to touch you and prepare you for the new year ahead. You need to feed your spirit and drink from the still waters. His presence can nurture you and restore you after the craziness of the holiday season. Give yourself permission to slow down and reconnect with Him. Let His Spirit infuse you with His power and strength.  

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

By Doug Creamer

            Take a deep breath…we’re almost there! I know we all have a few last minute things to do to get ready for Christmas, but I know we will make it. Soon it will be time to eat some delicious food at a beautifully decorated table. Soon it will be time to open the Christmas packages. Soon it will be time to read the Christmas story and savor the celebration of our Savior’s birth.

            I have been reflecting back on Christmases past and thought I would share a few special memories. My Dad invited me to his apartment one year. When I arrived, he was playing “The Nutcracker” on his stereo. He had put Christmas lights and some ornaments on his Ficus tree. We had Christmas together and he had put some thought into our gifts. The memory of that day still burns bright and “The Nutcracker” music has become part of my Christmas traditions.

            My mother has always worked to make Christmas a very special time. Even into my adult life she still manages to surprise me with thoughtful gifts. We don’t get to spend Christmas day together but we pick a day and it becomes Christmas for us. We both strive to make it a very special time together. I can hardly think about Christmas without thinking about my mother. She can be more excited than a kid.

            My wife grew up getting a new Christmas ornament each year. We didn’t do that in my family. We started early in our married life giving each other Christmas ornaments. We now have quite a collection of beautiful, very special ornaments for our tree. That means that it takes quite a while to decorate and take down our tree each year.

            When my sister and I got old enough to stay up late, we started attending the 11 PM Christmas Eve candlelight service at our church. There was a woman in our church who sang, “O Holy Night” every year and when she sang, Christmas came for me. My sister told me it was when a man in our church sang, “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” that Christmas came for her. Music can touch our heart in such deep ways.

            We all know the Christmas story. The Son of God was born to a virgin whose husband believed and trusted God in the midst of unbelievable circumstances. They took a tough journey to Bethlehem right at the end of her pregnancy to obey the degree to register and pay their taxes. They arrived at Bethlehem to discover the inn was full of other travelers who had to register and pay their taxes, too. They were relegated to a cave or barn where animals took shelter, to give birth to Son of God.

            Have you ever considered how inadequate they must have felt? Can you imagine how Joseph felt not being able to provide a better place for his wife and God’s Son? They were first time parents and who do they get to learn and make mistakes with but God’s Son! While they are dealing with their internal battles of self-doubt here comes a group of shepherds talking of angels and begging to see their son. Was this really God’s plan for the birth of His Son?

            Life comes at us from so many different directions. It can seem crazy, chaotic, and out of our control. We find ourselves wondering, “Where is God? Did He forget about me?” The truth is He never forgets about us. He sees every second of every day. He knows about our troubles and has made plans to meet our needs. Mary and Joseph received incredible gifts from the Magi to meet their needs. God will come through for you because He sees and knows you!

            Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. But some people are dealing with health problems, financial issues, personal struggles, worries, and the pain of missing loved ones. I want to encourage you to remember those around you who are struggling to find the joy of this season. Pray for them. Ask God to show you how you can lift their spirits and share your joy with them. Jesus came 2000 years ago to give each one of us peace and joy. But more than that, He came to reveal to us that God loves us and cares more about us than we can understand. No matter what you are going through, heaven’s gift is available for you. All you have to do is open your heart and receive it. I wish you a very Merry Christmas and God’s love, peace, and joy in the coming year!  

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

I gave the sermon last Sunday at our church. This has the whole service, music & the message. ENJOY!!!

By Doug Creamer

            Most people put up their Christmas tree close to Thanksgiving. We have always waited until about mid-December to put ours up. I love to decorate the outside of the house and always try to have that done by Thanksgiving weekend. But the inside of our house hasn’t been transformed yet. I did bring in the tree the other day, but half the lights don’t work. I have to fix them before we decorate the tree.

            I am looking forward to getting some of the knickknacks out. We have a few nativities that I enjoy seeing. My mother painted some of special things we put out for the holidays. I have a village that I hope makes it out this year; I never got around to it last year. While I love the tree, it is time-consuming to decorate. Each of our ornaments has its own box and it takes a while to get them out and especially to put them all away.

            There is still so much to do and so little time to get it all done. I would like to blame a late Thanksgiving, but December always goes quickly. There is still some shopping to do. I need to send out Christmas cards. Few people send cards anymore, but I still want to keep in touch with friends. Somehow it will all get done before Christmas. The question that lingers is how.

            My pastor always finds interesting Christmas sermon series to do each year. This year he is using one put out by the Chosen series called, “Holy Night.” Each week focuses on a different theme and it includes video clips from the movie. He invited me to teach last week. My lesson was focused on Jesus coming for all people.

            On the surface it seems logical that Jesus came to save us all. The reality is that some churches do not open their doors to all the people. How would you feel if a prostitute came and sat on your pew with your family? Does she need God? Imagine someone reeking of marijuana coming into your church, how would you react? When Jesus says that all are welcome, would that include an alcoholic? Are people who have suffered through a divorce welcomed in your church? There are many people who have messed up lives for various reasons, was Jesus really including them when he said all are welcome?

            Back in Jesus’ day, the shepherds were considered very low class members of society. They smelled badly. They spent most of their time in solitude watching sheep. Many couldn’t attend synagogue regularly because someone had to keep watch over the sheep. Sadly, they were considered drunks and sinners and because people thought that about them they lived down to their reputation. Many of the upright and regular attenders of synagogue would turn their backs on and look down upon shepherds. They thought that even God wouldn’t notice them.

            Sadly, there are people in all our communities who might feel the same way. They haven’t attended church regularly. They have struggled with making bad choices in life that led them into bad places. They question whether God could possibly love and care about them. They aren’t shepherds but they feel like outcasts in society. Do you believe that Jesus came for the lost and the destitute? Is there a possibility that someone could be too far gone for God?

            If you asked the shepherds who were out watching their sheep close to Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born, they would tell you a different story. They were the first ones who received the news that the Messiah was born. When they heard the Good News that the angels shared they rushed into town to find the new born baby. Once they found him, they told everyone who would listen that the Messiah had come. The world may have discounted the shepherds, but when God invites all to come and seek Him, He means ALL.

            Do you feel disconnected from God? Do you feel like the shepherds, that you are on the outside? God is giving you a personal invitation to come. YOU are included when He says ALL are welcome. I want to encourage you to come; you are invited into the family of God. The Bible teaches us to come just as we are. You don’t need to clean up your life, you just need to come. He accepts everyone and welcomes ALL. You are included! Let Him help you with the messes in your life, just come. Come and receive. Come and adore Him. COME!  

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

By Doug Creamer

            I woke up to a wonderful surprise…SNOW! We haven’t had snow for over three years and it was a welcome sight. I have to admit that I was surprised that such a small amount of snow could cause such upheaval. Many school systems closed or had delays. When I saw the temperatures were in the low twenties, I knew there would be problems on the roads. I heard that there were lots of accidents, so it was good to keep the kids off the roads. I hope this is the beginning of a good snowy winter.

            Thanksgiving is over and we have entered December with a cold start. It is winter, but we aren’t used to the cold around here. It’s hard to believe that we are only a few short weeks from Christmas. The outside of my house looks like Christmas but the inside needs some work. I hope this weekend I can get the inside looking like Christmas.

            I am still full from Thanksgiving. I went to my brother’s for lunch and then we made a feast here for dinner. I think there were about forty people at my brother’s house. It is hard to have an in-depth conversation with anyone when there are so many around. I try to talk to each of my nieces and nephews for a few minutes, hoping to catch up with their lives.

            The highlight this year was that all my siblings were together. We sat around a table and talked about our family. It is rare to get us all together but when it happens we try to spend a few minutes together. While we all have different personalities, we still remain close as a family. We are always there for each other.

            I enjoy being at family gatherings because we don’t know how many more we are going to be able to enjoy. Our parents are in their nineties so I want to take advantage of being with family as often as possible. Connecting with all my extended family is enjoyable. It is interesting to catch up with my nephews and nieces.

            Moments spent together are moments that we want to treasure. We try to take some pictures to help us remember. We lie in bed at night and replay our day and the special moments so we will remember them. What do we remember? I remember things I laughed at, tender moments, and the connections shared with loved ones. I want to savor those moments.

            I know that I am lucky to have a good family. We don’t all think alike, but we are there for each other. The family connections are strong on both sides of my family. Family and laughter and knowing there is a place that you are loved and accepted are important parts of life. Again, I know that I am blessed.

            We should have the same experiences and feelings with our church families. We should be able to connect and honor our church leaders, who in turn should be good shepherds for the family for which God made them responsible. We should be able to depend on each other and be able to lean on each other during hard times. All of us will face challenging times at some point in life and it is great when we can depend on both our families and our church families.

            While everyone loves to laugh and share in the good times in our church families, it is important to remember that there are responsibilities within church families. We need to listen to each other. Listening doesn’t mean that we necessarily agree, we can agree to disagree. We need to love each other even when things might get a little messy. People’s lives are not always perfect. I think we need to learn how to extend grace to others in the same way we hope that others will extend it to us when our lives get a little messy. That’s what family does!

            I want to encourage you to connect with your imperfect brothers and sisters in your church family. It’s easy to be there on sunny days, but family means that we are there when the storms are raging. Family means that we can share the truth with each other, but we need to remember to share it with lots of love and grace. Family means that we don’t give up on each other and that we always believe the best for and in each other. During this holiday season join in your church and family gatherings, create great memories, and let your hearts be filled with love.

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

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