Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

            The other day we were so busy inside the house, we hadn’t been outside all day. My wife called me and asked if I had been in the garage. I told her no. She told me I had better go out there and take a look around.

            When I stepped out the door, I saw the problem immediately. Stuff was scattered all over the floor. I knew instantly we had an animal hidden in the garage. I opened the doors, hoping something would run out. All remained quiet. I backed the cars out to provide optimal escape routes. This animal was definitely bigger than a mouse!

            I cautiously went around the garage, tapping and poking with a broom. I picked up all the fallen objects and swept the garage out. I left the garage open for a few hours, hoping whatever had found its way in would find its way out.

            I quietly eased my way out into the garage about ten o’clock that evening. I looked around, and there sitting on a table in the back of my garage sat a cute little possum. He must have sensed my presence, and crawled back behind some things on the table. I opened the back door, hoping he might sense his access to freedom.

            At eleven o’clock, I quietly eased my way out there again. I knew his hiding place now and could see his tail and nose. I didn’t want to go to bed with the back door open. I was afraid he might go get some buddies and decide he found the perfect winter home. I decided the best thing to do was leave the garage door opened just enough for him to sneak out after we had gone to bed. It worked and the garage is now possum-free!

            My possum adventure reminded me of a story I wrote nearly thirty years ago. One of my colleagues from North Stanly had a couple of daughters and a son. One day while they were out, they discovered a mother possum that had been killed, but her babies were still clinging to her. The family rescued the baby possums and took them home.

            I went over to their house to see them. I wrote a story about the girls, who are now grown and married. The newspaper sent over a photographer, who took some pictures of the girls wearing the possums as earrings. The picture and my story made the front page of the paper. When the possums were big enough to survive on their own, the family set them free.

            I know that many of my readers care deeply about animals. Most of you have a furry friend who lives in your house. We have always had a cat. I know that many people love and care for their cats and dogs like they were children. A good pet is a member of the family.

            Many of us also care for the wildlife that lives around us. We have bird feeders and love to see the customers come. We love watching the hummingbirds at our feeders, too. I miss them in winter. I like watching the squirrels play and I think deer look beautiful. I just don’t care for them eating my vegetables. We also have turtles, frogs, and toads around our house. Don’t care for the snakes too much.

            God created all the animals and I believe He finds pleasure in them as well. Animals and birds can be so beautiful and entertaining to watch. God must be keeping a close eye on the animals too, because He said that every time a sparrow falls, He notices. Many people think that God must be so busy with all the crazy things going on in the world, how can He possibly find time to help or even care about minor things that occur in our lives? But God is omnipresent. That means that God can be watching some birds play in a field, and sitting with a sick person in the hospital, while He is keeping a close eye on a soldier who is away from home.

            I want to encourage you to remember that God is right there with you in every situation that you find yourself in. He is not too busy to care about your minor or major needs. In fact, He is planning out in detail every aspect of your life. He cares more about you and your situation than you care yourself. God keeps a close eye on all the animals of the world, but He is keeping a closer eye on you, because you are the apple of His eye.

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

By Doug Creamer

Old Times

            I opened Facebook the other day and saw a post about homecoming from a former colleague at East Davidson. The memories began to flood back of all the homecomings over the years: the dressing up, the overly-excited students, the pep rally, and of course, the pizza sale. What a full day, and then there was the football game that night. Some of the pictures she posted were inside the halls that I walked for many years. The memories!

            Ironically, my alma mater had a posting about homecoming: the Kempsville Chiefs from Virginia Beach. I started to hear more about Kempsville High School because I joined their reunion page. The committee was planning the 40^th class reunion. I can’t believe I graduated 40 years ago. I decided not to go the reunion. Some of my high school friends decided we would get together once the pandemic quiets down.

            My memories were stirred even further by an email from a reader in High Point. The reader wanted to touch base with me and the name was so familiar. I placed the call, and after a few pleasantries I asked if he attended Grace Church in High Point, my former church from 20-plus years ago.

            He was indeed a member of that church. We shared our stories since last we had seen each other. Since he still lived in the area, he knew what had happened to most of the people I knew from my days there. Sadly or happily, depending how you look at the situation, many of them were home with the Lord. The former pastor and his wife, Art and Claudia Carlson, have both passed. Some of the members are still alive and serving the Lord.

            The conversation turned to some of the children that I taught in children’s church or in the youth group. Many of them are parents themselves now and still actively serving the Lord. There are a couple of those kids that I follow on Facebook. I actually follow a few of my former students on Facebook. It is so interesting to see what my past students are doing. I have run into a few students through the years, and it is so fun to hear what they are up to now. One proud mother told me that her son was playing football at her alma mater. I got to see one former student watch her son graduate from her alma mater, a memory I will treasure the rest of my life.

When memories are good, it’s good to reflect on them, to remember the good times in our lives. Whether it is friends, experiences, or special moments, good memories can help us when life challenges us with difficult moments. Memories can warm the heart. They can be a source of encouragement and strength.

I believe that God wants us to remember our experiences with Him from the past because they become our testimonies. Our testimonies can be a great source of encouragement as we face today’s challenges. If we remember how the Lord came through for us in the past, then we can be assured that He will come through for us now.

Our testimonies are also important for others. When someone is going through what you have been through, they can see how God came through for you. It can encourage and strengthen their spirit so they can press on. The truth is God wants to use your testimony to help others endure and know that they are not alone. The enemy keeps telling you no one has ever been through what you are going through…you are all alone.

The truth is God is on our side. We are NEVER alone. That’s why God sends us people with testimonies of His goodness. He wants us to know that He worked things out in the past for them, so He will certainly do it again for us. He may do it a little differently this time because He is a creative God, BUT He will come through for us.

I want to encourage you to stir up your memories of how God worked in the past. Allow them to encourage you and others. A walk down memory lane can really help someone who is discouraged. While sharing a laugh can often help lighten a load, your testimony can be the wind beneath someone’s wings. God is good and He always comes through for us. No matter how dark the skies look at the moment, know that the Son will break through for you.

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

By Doug Creamer

One Step at a Time

            I had the privilege of having lunch with my niece and her husband last week. They have been married for a couple of years and are forging a new life together. They met and married out west. They moved east to be closer to her parents and to work for my nephew in High Point. They are in the process of buying a new home together and are expecting their first baby before Christmas. What an exciting time in their lives.

            Most people don’t like change and I can’t imagine all the change the two of them are experiencing. Moving anywhere is challenging; I can’t imagine moving across the country. The challenge of settling in, starting a new job and looking for a new church can easily become overwhelming.

            I have seen pictures of the house they are buying. It reminds me of our first home. They are excited to get moved in. He is already planning his garden, which I hope to give him a hand in starting. He wants to build a shop out back down the road. They are at the end of a quiet street like we are now…they are going to love it.

            He is working for my nephew, who has developed a gourmet freeze dried food company called Pinnacle Foods. They ship food around the globe. When you read the description of the meal in the pouch it sounds like you should be in a fine dining restaurant with cloth napkins, not out in the wilderness. It is a growing company and I wish them much success.

            On top of all these changes in their lives, they are expecting their first child. They are both so excited to bring the bundle of joy into this world. My niece has a beautiful glow on her face as she considers the treasure God is sending her way. They are going to make great parents.

            As I look at the two of them, I reflected back on our beginnings. I remember our moves, our homes along the way, the job changes, and now my wife is retired and I am semi-retired. There were many steps along the way. We often found ourselves crying out to God for His wisdom as we made major life changes.

            I continue to seek God’s direction as opportunities present themselves. Some opportunities seem perfect for me and yet the Lord closes the doors. While I don’t understand, later I can look back and see His hand guiding us. Each step requires faith.

            Each day requires that I seek His face to determine if I am where He needs me to be. It’s not easy because I want to honor and please my Father in Heaven. He has given me peace that I will not miss His plans for my life. I just have to knock at every door that comes my way and trust Him to open the right one for me.

            There have been times in my life where I had a sense of God’s two, five, and even ten year plan for my life. I liked the sense of knowing, but struggled when those times were coming to an end. In recent years, God has not revealed long-term plans. It has been more week-to-week or even day-to-day plans. I want to see the bigger picture, but I have to trust Him with those plans.

            When I wake up most days I have a plan, a list of things I need to accomplish before bed. It’s good to guide me, but I can’t allow my plans to trump God’s. Sometimes God needs me to set aside my plans in order to fulfill His purposes. Laundry can be pushed off to another day if a friend needs to talk. Gardening may need to wait if difficulties strike and my help is needed to let another know that God loves and cares for them.

            I want to encourage you to allow God to order your steps whether we are talking long-term or what you think you need to do today. God sees a bigger picture and He may need to send you to someone who is going through a difficult time. Can He depend on you? The truth is each of us will find ourselves in need one day, so let’s make ourselves available to Him each day. Today it might be your physical strength, tomorrow it might be your ears. Whatever He needs, let’s be ready and willing to serve. If we allow Him to order our steps we will walk in His peace and be a blessing.

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

            My Chinese students had a holiday from school this week. It is their Autumn Festival. It is a family gathering time, and they celebrate by eating special foods. The most popular thing they enjoy is Mooncakes. My students tell me it is a cake that is stuffed with either fruits or nuts.

            I checked my calendar and noticed that Autumn arrived on Wednesday. After the long, hot, and dry summer, I am ready for the refreshing change that fall brings. Fall is my second favorite season of the year, behind spring.

            Spring is a season of hope and renewal. I am always so excited to begin the gardening season. I love watching everything emerge from winter’s slumber. Spring green has got to be one of my favorite seasonal colors. Spring is a wonderful time of the year.

            Fall has many appeals as well. The cooler weather means that I can be outside more. I can’t stand the heat and humidity of August. I like pushing the limits of the growing season, and ultimately, cleaning out the garden. I like sitting outside or going for long walks, and the opportunity of doing some physical work.

            The downside for me is the watering eyes, runny nose, and sneezing of the allergy season… I take a break during the summer from my allergy medicine, and I know that will soon come to an end.

            The arrival of fall also alerts me to the upcoming winter season. I love to look at the long-term forecasts as weather enthusiasts make their winter predictions. I find it fun to note that the two almanacs are calling for completely different winter conditions for our area. One is calling for mild and wet, while the other is calling for cold and dry. I believe we are in for an overall mild winter with a couple of shots of cold weather. I am hoping the cold collides with some Gulf moisture to give us a couple of good snows, but I always hope for that.

            Winter will arrive all in good time. Right now I want to focus on and enjoy the cooler weather of fall. There are many chores that will demand my attention as we go through this season of change. I am ready to get started on all the tasks calling my name.

            I believe the Lord gives us seasons for our enjoyment. Each season has its beauty and wonder, but they also have trials and challenges. There are storms and dry spells, scorching heat and freezing cold. Each challenge helps us to appreciate the good days.

            I think the Lord wants us to see in the natural what happens in the spiritual. We all have seasons of growth in our lives. Usually that is followed by a season of fruitfulness. As the fruit wanes we discover a quieter season where we have to dig our roots deeper.

            In every season of our lives we will encounter storms. We have to remind ourselves that we will get through each storm that comes our way because God will be with us. He sees the storm coming and He sees us on the other side. Sometimes we will need friends and family to lean on, but we will survive and overcome.

            Sometimes things in our lives change, like the seasons. They aren’t tragedies or victories; they are times when things are different. We move or change jobs. We get married and have children. We send the kids to college and have an empty nest. Our parents move in with us. The kids move back home. Life feels like it is in upheaval; it’s changing, it’s different, and we have to learn to trust God in new ways for His new adventure.

            In every season of life God is always with us, never leaving us. He wants to walk with us through the changes, through the ups and downs of life. These are opportunities for us to draw closer to God. He wants us to lean on Him, to depend on Him. His grace, power, and mercy are enough to see us through the dark and difficult times. His love will encompass us.

            Whatever season you find yourself in, I want to encourage you to strengthen your relationship with the Lord. If things are good now, draw closer, because trials and storms are going to eventually come. If you are feeling overwhelmed by life, run to God and hide in His robes. Let Him help guide you through to the other side. God loves you more than you can imagine, and is waiting for your invitation so He can come and rescue you.

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

Our Story

            We all have a story. We have unique experiences that make us who we are today. Those experiences, combined with our perception of how we see God interacting with our lives, creates our testimony. Our testimony is our “God story.” Do we see God as close and intimate with us, or a more distant God who watches over us?

            You know that I believe that God is close and intimate with us. The Bible teaches us that He created us for fellowship. The Bible also teaches us that God knows the number of hairs on our heads. In my case, he is going to have to count daily, if not hourly, to keep up with that information. If He saw me in my mother’s womb, He must be keeping a much closer watch on us than any of us imagine.

            We all go through difficult times, and how we see God interacting with us during those times helps to create a story, our story. It’s that story of how we got through the trials of life that God wants us to tell others who find themselves stuck in the hurricanes of life. Difficult times can feel like hurricanes, snowstorms, or earthquakes, when everything that we consider solid gets shaken up. It’s in those moments that we often turn to God for help, when we find ourselves dependent upon Him.

            I remember a number of years ago that a friend’s wife got cancer. Instead of announcing it at church, they found a dozen people who believed in God’s power to heal and they surrounded themselves with those people. They saturated her life with prayer and support. While I don’t remember all the details of her treatment, I do remember them announcing to the church that she was cancer free. I also remember that anyone they knew after that who received a cancer diagnosis also received a visit from this couple. They wanted to share their story.

            In the middle of difficult or even tragic times, we need the hope that others who have sailed those seas and survived those storms can bring us. We need to know that we are not alone, that others have felt our pain and hopelessness. We need people with similar experiences to show us the way to the other side. That’s why your story, your experiences, are so vital to the Kingdom of God.

            Recently, I found myself sitting in a doctor’s office hearing the news that I had what looked like a cancerous growth on my arm. I remembered a former pastor telling us about hearing similar news. I called him after I left the doctor’s office. I needed to hear the story again, how he got through it. Thankfully my pathology report came back “no cancer” and my arm is healing up well. But I needed my former pastor’s story and his prayers to see me through.

            Many of you have stories that others need to hear. I know they are painful, but the hope you found could help others who might drown. I can’t tell you how many students I helped whose parents had separated or divorced. Seeing that I made it through helped them take steps and move forward in their lives. I didn’t want to expose that pain in my life, but because I was willing, it helped so many students who needed to hear my story.

            Your story might be about COVID survival. Maybe you or your child has been through the torture of drug addiction. You may have a story of surviving an abusive relationship. There are so many of you who have dealt with sudden medical emergencies like heart attacks that can share some comforting words with others. Maybe your story is about the tragic loss of a loved one and how He helped you pick up the pieces of your life. Whatever your story, there are others in your life who need to hear it so they can find their path to survival.

            I want to encourage you to consider your story and be willing to share it with others who are facing similar circumstances. One of the most powerful stories you can share with someone is how you came to faith in Jesus. Many people are struggling with doubts, fears, shame, and other things that are holding them back from God. Your story might free them and open their hearts to a personal relationship with their loving Heavenly Father. We never really know the power of our words to bring hope in the middle of storms unless we share them. Be willing to share your story.

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

            When my wife and I worked full-time, we rarely called each other. I remember calling her on 9/11. Phone calls to each other didn’t require something that big, but until our last couple of years, we just didn’t call each other much while we were working. So, when she called me one winter afternoon about fourteen years ago, I knew something was up.

            I could tell by her voice that nothing was wrong. She told me that there was a kitten hanging around the library where she worked. Someone had obviously dumped her and she wanted to know what I thought about adopting a new baby. She was concerned for the kitten because it was going to be a very cold night that night. I couldn’t say no.

            She brought the kitten home and we agreed that she wouldn’t come in the house until we had her checked out by a vet. She lived in the garage for several days. We fed her and went out and played with her. She was glad to see us. She seemed friendly and wanted in the house.

            We already had a cat and it took a while for the two of them to learn to get along. Once she made it in the house, we discovered that her personality was true cat. What I mean is that she acted like she could take us or leave us. If you tried to pet her, she only allowed three or four strokes before she would try to nip you.

            When our other cat passed away, she acted a little less aloof. I remember the first time she jumped into my lap. I wasn’t sure what to think. She settled down and I was allowed to pet her seven or eight times before she tried to nip me. As time went on, she would jump into my lap and stay about a minute, during which time I was allowed to pet her. No nipping. She always liked to be in the same room as us, just to see what we were doing.

            When I retired and started to teach the Chinese students something changed. She became my teaching buddy. I introduced her to the students and they fell in love with her. They asked to see her. She would walk between me and the camera and the kids would always laugh. She became a star. “What is Kimble doing?” “Where is Kimble?”

            She sat with me while I was teaching. She became increasingly more affectionate. I didn’t realize that we were getting closer. She would join me at the computer when I prepared for classes and help me do the evaluations after classes. If she wasn’t sitting beside me, she was in my lap. The nipping was long gone and she stayed in my lap for long periods of time.

            Since I am up long before the crack of dawn to teach, I often take an afternoon nap. She would always join me. In the cold months, she would lay right up against me. In the warm months, she would lie beside me or down near my feet. She always wanted me to pet her for a long time before I fell asleep. She would purr loudly.

            She suddenly and unexpectedly passed away last week. Until she was gone, I didn’t realize how attached I had become to her. She entertained my Chinese kids and helped to keep them focused. She was my little buddy, always close by, and always hungry for attention, especially in these last couple of years. My routines have changed since her departure. She left a furry hole in my heart.

            As I reflect on her departure I realize that none of us knows how much time we have left. The “suddenly” can come at any moment. Do you think you are ready to meet your maker? Have you made peace with Him? Have you invited Jesus to be your Savior? We need to make that decision before we take our final breath. All eternity is dependent on that decision. I want to see you in heaven and the only way there is through Jesus.

            I want to encourage you to make the most important decision of your life. Decide to believe and trust in Jesus. You don’t need to clean up your life or have all your questions answered, you just need to invite Him into your heart. He’ll forgive all your sins and welcome you home. No one knows when their time will come. I want to encourage you to be ready. Leave all doubts about your eternal destination behind. As for Kimble, I believe there are pets in heaven. I also believe she is waiting there to take a nap with me. 

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

            I am a weather fanatic. For the last couple of days I have been watching the model updates on Hurricane Ida. Every model predicts a different scenario of strength, size, impacts, and paths. I am completely fascinated and can spend hours on the internet watching storms. Most of you know that my biggest fascination is with winter storms.

            The amazing thing to me has been how similar the models were running for this storm. Normally, three-to-five-day forecasts change wildly as the storm approaches. This one stayed focused and veered very little off the track. I rarely watch weather on TV any more. There is so much information available to weather nuts like me that I go straight to the sources.

            In following the sources of weather information, I make my own deductions on what I think will happen. If storms, like Hurricane Ida, are not directly impacting my area, I tend to keep my thoughts to myself. If weather, especially winter weather, is coming our way, you can be sure I am not only watching but putting my thoughts out there, too. One friend thinks that my forecasts are more accurate than local weathermen. I think his opinion is a little high of my abilities. But sometimes my “guesses” are just as good as the local weathermen.

            Local government officials warned people to get out of the way of Hurricane Ida. That’s their job. Government officials’ jobs are to keep the public as safe as they can in whatever situation the people they govern are facing. They have to make the wisest and best decisions. My prayer is that God will raise up Daniels and Esthers to give government leaders godly advice. The trouble, we can all see from scripture, is that they don’t always follow godly wisdom.

            You and I are no different than government leaders. We need wisdom from heaven as we make daily choices that affect our families. My father-in-law, who lives near the coast of Virginia said that if a hurricane was less than 100 miles an hour he would stay home. If it reached over 110 miles an hour, he was getting out. He did exactly that for the hurricanes that hit his area. He had lived through some hurricanes as a kid and knew his limits.

            Faith plays a very important part of wisdom in our lives. I have some friends who occasionally enjoy a glass of wine or a beer with their meals. Notice I didn’t say they drink to excess. For them, their faith allows it. I have other friends whose parents were alcoholics and they don’t think you should allow any alcohol in your body, even communion wine. Their personal experiences have affected their faith.

            Is either of my friends wrong? I don’t think so. What I believe could be wrong is if one of my friends became intolerant of the other. If those who didn’t drink condemned those who did, that would be wrong. If those who did drink were insensitive and drank alcohol in front of those who are opposed to alcohol, that would be wrong. We have to allow room for different beliefs and different levels of faith.

            These very same principles apply to what we are facing as a country and the world relating to COVID. We have become very strongly polarized as a nation regarding the vaccinations and masking. We have to stop and ask; what would Jesus do? He would pray and ask His Father what He should do.

            I believe God would tell Jesus to honor and respect people. If He came to my house and we were wearing masks, He would honor us and put one on. If He came to your house and you were comfortable without a mask, He would not stand up in any public forum and condemn you because you had a different viewpoint. Yet this is exactly what we see happening among fellow believers.

            To be honest with you, I don’t believe Jesus would be very proud of people who are behaving intolerantly towards others. I want to encourage you to be careful what you say publicly regarding masking and vaccinations. Jesus is listening. I realize as Christians that we must speak out against sin, but even then we need to extend grace and mercy, because I don’t know about you, but I need plenty of it myself. Let’s speak God’s language towards each other which is always filled with love, acceptance, joy, and peace.   Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

Love thy Neighbors

            I live in a good community. Recently, several neighbors wanted to meet with our town mayor and police chief to discuss how to keep our neighborhood safe and outside solicitors out. It was a good meeting that I hope will result in some positive steps being taken to accomplish that goal.

            I am fortunate to live in a good community with people who look out for each other. If the power goes out, we check on each other. If an emergency vehicle comes into our community, you can be certain that neighbors are there to check on each other.

            I don’t know every neighbor’s name, but we all wave as we pass each other. Several of my neighbors enjoy walking and we have a great place for that. I enjoy walking, but not in this summer heat. I will resume walking once the weather cools down.

            One thing I have noticed the longer I live is that we all go through times when we need someone to give us a hand. We certainly go through times when prayers are desperately appreciated. Several of my neighbors have had extended hospital stays and much prayer has brought them safely home to us. Others have faced loss and needed not only our prayers but help in practical ways, too.

            Sometimes prayers are needed for matters that are not life and death. Some of my neighbors have elderly parents. Some of my neighbors have sent their children back to school. Please take time to pray for our schools as COVID is making it difficult to have in-person class instruction, which I can assure you is far better than online learning.

            Other neighbors have taken their children back to colleges or universities. Their once bustling nests are all too quiet. My sister took her daughter back to my old alma mater, where she hopes to enjoy her junior year. She has also taken her second child off to Virginia Military Institute, where he will face many challenges to see if he is ready to rise and become a strong military leader. He has my prayers, but I know he will do great.

            Every person faces their own struggles, their own need for prayer. Some are willing to share, while others bear their pain and needs privately. While it is not appropriate to share all your private struggles, it’s okay to acknowledge your need for prayer or to ask a neighbor for a helping hand. I feel in my neighborhood people would be standing in line to give another a helping hand.

            As I write this, I realize that neighbors are not just the people who live around you. In my case, my neighbors are members of my church family. If I were to mention a need at my church, there would several guys over here the next day willing to help me out. If someone in my church is hurting, you can be sure that someone will be there to bring comfort and an encouraging word.

            I actually think neighbors go beyond the people in your community and church. I remember when Hurricane Andrew left destruction in Florida, a retired friend joined a group of guys and went down to help repair people’s homes. I remember similar things after Hugo went through our area.

            Jesus taught us to love our neighbors. I think loving and caring for them is an important witness to our lives. In Jesus’ day the Jews hated the Samaritans, so the parable of the good Samaritan was probably hard for His Jewish followers to swallow. The woman at the well was from Samaria. It was in Samaria that Jesus revealed to the people that He was the messiah. So maybe our neighbors reach beyond our communities to our neighbors around the world.

            I believe it is important that we be careful and vigilant for our safety around strangers because we know that evil exists in our world. But we can’t allow that to stop us from reaching out if we exercise wisdom. Ask for God’s guidance as you help those in need.

            I want to encourage you to consider how you can help a neighbor. What can you do to physically help or how can you pray for them? Sometimes a simple pat on the back or a word of encouragement can be a lifesaver. I believe when we help someone the door is open to share our faith, the reason for our hope. Your helping hand might open their heart to God’s love.  

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

            When I opened my eyes this morning I thought, “Well, I better get moving, it’s Monday.” I have to admit, I wanted to roll over and keep sleeping. I got myself up and started to get ready. I teach classes online. It’s a great job; I only have to get the top half of me ready. I usually wear sweats and slippers on the bottom and a shirt and tie on top. If my wife sees me dressed like that she gets a good laugh for the day.

            This morning as I started to set up my online classroom, I noticed that the internet wasn’t working. It went out last night but I thought surely it would be working by the morning. I had five classes and I wasn’t going to miss them. My option at this point was to drive to church and teach on my laptop.

            I had to get fully dressed, pack up my things, and drive as quickly as I could to church in hopes that I could make it for my first class. The clock was ticking. I was a few minutes late and the company locked me out of my first class. I wasn’t terribly shocked and thought that I would have more time to set up everything for my next class.

            I logged in and started to set everything up, only to discover that I didn’t have my camera with me. My laptop doesn’t have a camera. I jumped back in the car and drove back home to get the camera and return to the church in time to have my second class of the day. I made it. My classes went smoothly.

            When I finished my classes I was emotionally and mentally drained. I had to run an errand while I was out. My stomach was complaining about when breakfast would arrive. While I was driving I thought to myself what a crazy and stressful way to begin the week. I took a deep breath and decided I wasn’t going to allow one missed class to ruin a good day.

            As I was making my way home I noticed trees and limbs down. A little farther down, I saw utility trucks parked and men working. Then there were cable and AT&T trucks. There were people dragging limbs out to the road. Then I saw a house where a tree had fallen right through the middle of it. A once beautiful two-story home, now demolished.

            I knew we had severe storms in the area the night before, which was why the cable was out. I didn’t know so many other people were dealing with such terrible problems. I saw the man surveying his once beautiful home. My heart sank for him and his family. I heard from a neighbor that there was quite a bit of damage in another neighborhood not too far from mine.

            I sat quietly on my porch this morning having my quiet time. I realized that my little hiccup was nothing compared to what some people were facing on this Monday morning. I prayed for the family that lost their home. Here are some other people I prayed for this morning: some friends who are fighting COVID, some friends who are fighting to keep their marriage alive, all the students and teachers heading back to their classrooms not knowing what kind of year they will have with this virus, the people who are in the path of the tropical storm that was coming ashore, the people living in Afghanistan, some people who have never believed in Jesus as their savior, and others who have walked away from their faith.

            Losing my internet and missing a class seemed so unimportant compared to what others were facing. I texted my pastor about my morning, and he texted back that Psalms 145 was a part of his scripture reading for the day. I read it twice. There was so much there to meditate on. God’s love, His protection, His worthiness to receive our praise, and His abundant provision were just a few of them.

            No matter what kind of day you’ve had, I want to encourage you to remember that God loves you and has His eye on you and your situation. He is with you and He will see you through whatever you face. He loves you profoundly. If you have walked away from Him, He is waiting for your return. He will quiet your fears, take away your doubts, and forgive all your sins and failures. God promises to be with you today, tomorrow, and every day if you will put your faith in Him.

Doug Creamer has a new book at Amazon: EncouragingU: Summer Stories. Contact him at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com