Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

Is the Soil Ready?

            I can’t remember a spring when my garden was this far along so early. I normally get peas and potatoes going as early as possible, but to have tomatoes planted and my beans up already is hard for me to believe. We’ve had some warm weather despite the threat of frost earlier in the week. I am not alone in having my garden going so early.

            I had a dump truck full of new soil brought in last fall. I am growing my vegetables in raised beds and they were getting low. Soil is such an important part of growing vegetables and flowers. Even with the new soil I am planning to add some fertilizer to give my vegetables a good fighting chance. I am optimistic and excited about the new growing season.

             Working in the garden gives me such great pleasure. It is normally very peaceful. I love planting seeds and feeling the soil in my hands. The day I was planting was nice and cool and it felt great. As I was working, I thought a lot about Jesus telling the parable of the sower.

            You remember that story…the farmer goes out to sow his seed. Some seed fell on the path, some in the rocky soil, some with the weeds, and finally, some in the good soil. We know that the seed is the Word of God and that the soil is the human heart. Some people reject God’s Word, that would be the seed on the path. Some accept it initially but eventually fall away because they have no roots. Some receive it but the cares of the world choke out what God wants to produce in their lives. Finally, the seed on the good soil is the heart that accepts God’s Word and it grows in them to produce a return.

            Most of us know people who have never accepted the Word or asked Jesus into their hearts. Their hearts aren’t ready for Jesus or even the seeds that might lead them to Him. It makes me think that we need to help them work on their soil to get it ready to receive God’s love and His Word. Some people believe it is all about putting seed out there. How will that seed do any good unless it has some good soil in someone’s heart to grow?

            How can we help someone’s heart be prepared to receive the seed of God’s Word? The place to begin is in prayer. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to help make the soil of their heart fertile and ready. Our role in that process is to love and accept people where they are in life. That does not imply that we must approve of their lifestyle. There is a difference between a person and their behavior.

            A friend once explained it this way. Children will obviously do things that are wrong. As this parent explained, they discipline their children and then they sit down and play a game or do something with the child. He explained that the child needs to understand that the behavior was unacceptable but that he still loved them. I think it works the same way with people who are out of relationship with God. We can love them without condoning their lifestyle.

            People want to be loved and accepted and I think God uses us to show them His love. Our love can soften hearts that are far from God and in a way call them home. Think about the prodigal son; the father ran out and threw his arms around his smelly and dirty son. We can’t expect people to clean up their lives before they come to God because we didn’t clean up our lives. It takes the forgiveness and mercy of Jesus to clean up a life. So our love, compassion, and understanding can draw the lost back to the God. The acceptance they find in our eyes will soften their hearts and prepare them for the life-giving seeds.

            I want to encourage you to pray that the lost will come home. I also want to encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to prepare the soil of their hearts to receive God’s love. Next, ask God what role you might play in preparing their hearts to receive God’s love, forgiveness, and acceptance. Spiritual gardening involves preparing the human heart for God’s love. It’s a process that involves love, patience, grace, and mercy. There are people you know who are waiting for you to come and work in the garden of their heart and help them find their way home to God’s love.

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

By Doug Creamer

Wisdom from the Year

            I made it around the sun one more time. I turned another year older and I am okay with that. I really don’t mind adding another year to my life except for those zero years… when I change decades. I had a good birthday weekend. I appreciate all the well wishes from my family and friends.

            My brother asked me if I had gained any wisdom on this last trip around the sun. Initially, I drew a blank, but upon further reflection, maybe I did learn a few lessons on this trip. I think one of the most important things I learned was to appreciate every moment you get with those that you love. My Dad typically called me on my birthday, but this year he wasn’t here to call me. The last time I saw him in relatively good health was on July 4^th. I remember we shared a fun memory and a good laugh. We all lead busy lives, making it hard to slow down and be present. It’s important to be together and connect with those you love. Our family has suffered a number of losses in the last year and a half.

            I’ve been reminded that it is important to celebrate others’ joys. My family has grown by three nieces. It was a great blessing to get the three of them together on Easter Sunday. New babies represent new hope in families and we need an infusion of hope in our family after our losses. The babies are cute and the excitement about them is contagious. We also had a wedding in our family. That was a special day. It was also another way our family grew.

            One lesson I am struggling to learn is asking for help. I’ve had to ask for help multiple times this year and I really appreciate those who have offered their service. Lifting heavy things can cause my back some trouble. Climbing on the roof is probably off my list, too. I’ve had to ask friends for help with things around the house. I realize that as I make more trips around the sun that I am going to have to ask for help more often. That’s a tough lesson, but I hope I can bless those who offer their kindness and service to me.

            One of the tougher lessons I am still learning is that I can’t be at everything. I don’t like missing gatherings and disappointing people, but I can’t attend every gathering. A friend recently reminded me that we all need some down time. I am finding that I really enjoy days when I don’t have things on my calendar. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy gathering with friends and family tremendously, but I enjoy some quiet moments equally as well.

            Another important lesson has been learning to take care of myself. It takes longer to recover from sickness and injuries as I age. Taking walks is good for my physical body but also for my mental health. Eating good food and avoiding foods that bother me is becoming more important. Taking my vitamins and getting proper rest is very important. We have to focus on taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually as we grow older.

            Some lessons I learned in my garden. Last year I added some soil to help my vegetables grow and I worked hard at getting things planted. Even though I got a late start, I expected a nice harvest. We had a hot growing season last year which reduced my harvest. Critters also helped themselves before I could benefit from the garden. Life is like that. We can do and say all the right things but life might give us a gut punch. We can think that everything is working against us and discover rewards we never expected. Life and gardening are full of surprises, some warmly welcomed and some difficult and challenging.

            Those are some of the lessons from this journey around the sun. I want to encourage you to reflect back on your trip and consider the lessons you learned and relive the joys that brought a smile to your face. Life has many ups and downs offering us lessons each step of the way. Remember to hug those you love and let them know how much they mean to you. Embrace the challenges to grow and become a better you. Don’t forget to slow down and smell the flowers, live in the moment, and love those near and dear to your heart. Remember to never stop learning. There are many lessons ahead for each one of us.

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

By Doug Creamer

Family Gatherings

            For a number of years my brother has been hosting four holiday gatherings: Easter, July Fourth, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Eve. Everyone brings something and there is always more than enough food. These are not just family gatherings; there are many friends and neighbors who join our festivities…but they would be the first to tell you that they are welcomed as if they were family.

            This year for Easter we had three babies in attendance, all the way up to my mother who is in her nineties. The three babies were my sister’s grandchildren, and boy was she happy. The rain tried to put a damper on the fun but leave it to my brother’s son to amp it up. We had the Easter egg hunt inside. For a number of years it has not been limited to children. Everyone gets to hunt for eggs. There is nothing like seeing seniors getting excited over finding hidden Easter eggs.

            The plastic eggs contain candy and play money. The play money is used to buy prizes. The prize table included candy, golf balls, jewelry, flashlights, coloring books, Lego toys, toy planes, and more. My sister-in-law and I are always in competition for the Junior Mints. Last year she won. This year I won and I shared some with her.

            Several of the adults wondered if Easter was more fun than Christmas as we watched the little kids having a blast. I brought some plastic eggs and put some real money in them. One of the adults found one of my eggs and had more fun showing people that she had found “real” money in one of her eggs. The joy and laughter were contagious.

            As things were beginning to wind down, one of my late father’s friends who has joined us recently for our gatherings said he wanted to make an announcement. Naturally, we all suspected he was going to say something about Dad. He said he couldn’t think of a more joyful moment to do something special. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring he had “bought” from the prize table with his play money and asked his lady friend if she would marry him. He promised her a real ring if she agreed. She said “yes” and the place erupted with cheers! What a special day!

            Easter is a wonderful celebration of the resurrection of our Lord. We have to remember that the resurrection couldn’t have happened unless He died on the cross for us. Jesus paid the highest price to pay a debt we could not pay so we could be in His family. Everyone is welcome in the family of God. All you have to do is open your heart and receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

            When we accept Jesus it’s like we enter an engagement period. We wait here for Him to come back for us or we go to Him. One day our whole family will gather for a great feast and we will be together forever. I am not exactly sure what that will feel like or how it will look, but if it has any comparison to family gatherings at my brother’s house then count me in.

            The engagement time in a relationship is a special time when you get to know each other in a deeper and more meaningful way. Many churches encourage you to participate in some marriage counseling. We had a wonderful couple that spent time with us and it helped prepare us for married life. In the same way, this is our time to get to know Jesus, His Father, and the Holy Spirit. We can spend time in His word, His love letter to us, in prayer, having conversations with Him, and being connected and involved with our brothers and sisters in Christ through joining a local church. We need to prepare for the big wedding day!

            I want to encourage you to let your love grow deeper as you build your relationship with Jesus. He is working to prepare your beautiful home and a great feast for your arrival. I think that spring and the awakening of Mother Nature can be breath-taking at times, but it is nothing compared to the wonder and beauty that awaits us in heaven. Don’t miss out on the great gathering in heaven. Accept Jesus’ invitation, receive Him in your heart, and learn to walk by faith with Him. Come just as you are…He loves and accepts all who will turn to Him. Happy Belated Easter! He has risen indeed!

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

By Doug Creamer

Quiet Time

            Have you got a minute? I know you are busy, so am I. Sometimes it feels like I have a million things to get done. Even with the longer days, it doesn’t feel like there is enough time to get everything done. I love the longer days, which allow more time to get outside things done, but that leaves lots of inside things undone. I always have so much to do.

            We all lead busy lives. How do we fit quiet time into our busy lives? I talked to a young mother who told me that the only time she has to pray is when she is in the bathroom because that is the only time she gets some peace and quiet. I talked to a young father who said by the time he gets home from work, helps feed and bathe the kids, reads them a story and puts them to bed he has very little time to give his wife before collapsing in bed. Where does God fit in?

            Some people are working two jobs to make ends meet, where can they squeeze God in? Working at the community college, we have had some students who worked third shift and came straight to class. They have less than 12 hours after class to get some sleep, eat, and take care of a few things around the house before they have to be back at work. There is no time left in their day for God or anything else, for that matter.

            I was thinking about Daniel from the Old Testament. He was one of the highest government officials ruling over an area about half the size of the United States. He didn’t have cell phones, the internet, or Zoom meetings to help him run the land. I imagine he was a very busy man with plenty of demands put upon his day. Yet the Bible makes it clear that Daniel went home and prayed three times a day.   

            Daniel is a good example for us. He worked with integrity for multiple kings. He was a man after God’s heart. He was a prophet, an interpreter of dreams, and a man with uncompromising faith. Daniel had wisdom and spiritual insight because he maintained his spiritual life through prayer.

            How can we follow Daniel’s example? Daniel prayed near a window that faced Jerusalem. We all need to find a place where we can meet with God every day. That is unique for each of us. I know some people who walk and pray. I know some people who pray in a special closet in their home. I like to rock in my recliner or sit out on my front porch. Pick a place that works for you.

            Daniel prayed three times a day. We need to pick a time that works for us. Are you a night owl? Evening might work well for you. Are you alert in the morning? Then a morning quiet time might be best for you. Pick a time that fits your personality and commit to it.

            What should we do in quiet time? My pastor came up with a seven-minute plan. Take thirty seconds to praise and thank the Lord. When you begin by thanking God for your many blessings you set your mind on the positive. Next, spend four minutes reading your Bible. Start with one of the gospels, then read Acts, followed by James. After that, I recommend Psalms and Proverbs. You’ll be on your way to connecting with God.

            The final two and half minutes is devoted to prayer. Begin by expressing your love for God. Next, confess your sins and be honest about it. He already knows and loves you. After that, give thanks for His forgiveness and His many blessings. Finally, lift up your own needs and the needs of others. We know He cares deeply for us and those that we love. Remember to pray for those who don’t know Him that they might come into a relationship with their Heavenly Father.

            If everyone who reads these words would spend seven minutes with God every day, the world would be a dramatically different place. I want to encourage you to commit to spending seven minutes of your day with your creator. He wants you to experience His love and get to know His heart for you and those around you. This habit will change you and help you grow and develop your spiritual life. The enemy doesn’t want you to have a quiet time but God wants you to put down roots into the soil of His heart. The adventure begins with seven minutes a day!   Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

By Doug Creamer

Aches & Pains

            A couple of weeks ago we had a strong line of thunderstorms pass through our area. Initially, I thought we got lucky because I didn’t notice any damage. Then I saw something that didn’t look right at the edge of the woods. When I went over for a closer look I saw that a pine tree had fallen. Thankfully, it missed the house, but a branch had hit my storage building.

            The branch was leaning on the edge of the building. When I lifted the branch away from the building I noticed that the pine was pressing the branch down. I wanted to move it away from the building but everything I tried only made the pressure worse. After several attempts at moving it in different directions I ended up resting it against the side of the building.

            I decided I needed to get my chainsaw and cut off the offending branch. When I made the final cut the branch flew into the air a short distance as the pressure released. I was glad to have it done. I have to clean up the rest of the tree later. I am not in a hurry as it is out of my way.

            The next day my back was bothering me. It bothered me for several days. It took me a little while to realize what had caused my pain. I was upset with myself because I should have just cut that limb without trying to lift it off the building. It’s been over a week and my back is still bothering me, although it is feeling a little better.

            I used to tell my great aunt that I couldn’t wait until retirement (I was probably about 12 years old at the time) and she used to tell me, “Old age doesn’t come alone.” I didn’t understand. Old age comes with aches and pains and the loss of loved ones. This is NOT an admission that I am getting old! But, I am struggling with pain.

            I have noticed it takes longer to recover from things.  About a month ago, I woke up with a stiff neck and it took a couple of days to feel better versus a couple of hours. I mentioned my neck and back pain to my sister and she said, “welcome to old age!” I know my great aunt was right, but I don’t want to admit that I am getting older.

            Aches and pains are going to come and go and I guess I will experience more of them as time goes by. As I have considered my aches and pains, I have been thinking about Jesus and all that He went through during the week after Palm Sunday, which we will celebrate this week. Palm Sunday is a great celebration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. While that was a great and exciting day, it was only a few days later that Jesus was condemned to die on the cross.

            Have you ever tried to imagine the aches and pains Jesus had in the last day of His life? He was given 39 pain-filled lashings with whips. That beating was the price He paid for our healing. They gave Him a crown of thorns. Ultimately, they crucified Him. I can’t even begin to imagine the pain He felt as they drove those spikes through His hands and feet. While all that physical pain must have been unbearable, I believe the worst pain was being separated from the Father so God could pour out His wrath, the wrath we deserved, on Jesus.

            While that is very difficult to write and read…that is the high price Jesus paid so we could be saved from our sins and receive the reward of heaven. Jesus endured the cross because He knew that was the only way to bring salvation to mankind. The hope of spending an eternity with God is available to all mankind as a free gift. All we have to do is receive it.

            I want to encourage you to think about what a high price Jesus paid for your salvation and allow that to lead you to a place of thanksgiving before Him. Jesus went to hell so you wouldn’t have to go there. He paid your price in full. We know that Easter is the celebration of His resurrection from the dead. Someday, Jesus will come back for all who call upon His name. I hope you have received this gift and will be at the great reunion in heaven. Jesus endured many aches and pains so we could be with our Heavenly Father for all eternity. Thank you Jesus!

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

By Doug Creamer

Spring Break

            We had spring break last week and the weather couldn’t have been any better. I enjoyed the days off even though I kept pretty busy. I had a long list of things I wanted to get done. Have you ever noticed you can’t get everything done when you get some time off? I looked around on Sunday evening at all the things that still need my attention, but I tried to remind myself of the number of things I did accomplish.

            I started with taxes. I always dread doing my taxes and am relieved when they are finally done. Even though I collect all the documents, it still takes a while to organize them and get all the numbers in the right places on the forms. I took my car to get some maintenance done. I also had time to work on some Sunday school lessons and an upcoming sermon that I will be giving. It feels good getting things done.   

            While the weather was perfect to get peas and potatoes planted, there just wasn’t time to work in the garden. I had to rake gumballs out of my yard. I want to ask God why He made gumballs. I hate stepping on them and hearing them hit the roof and roll down into the gutters. I did get the fertilizer down and a few other things that were on my outside list. 

            I whittled away at the list as time permitted. Why does time fly so fast while we are off work? Time seems to move slowly during the work week and fly on weekends and when we get time off. I think time moves the fastest when we are on a vacation. We arrive at our destination excited to unplug and be away. We take a breath but time moves at warp speed and before you know it we are packing up to head home.

            Time keeps moving forward. Hours turn to days, days become weeks, and weeks turn quickly into years. The interesting thing about time is that we all get the same amount of it. We then make choices in how we will spend, or possibly waste, our time.

            The Bible tells us that there is a time for everything. We all experience loss, so there is a time to weep. We all find somethings funny, so there is a time to laugh. I hope that you have some things in life that makes you wonder, like the stars or the budding of spring that is happening all around us. Sadly, there are places in the world where there is a time for war. I pray often that we will find a time for peace, a true peace for our communities and for our minds.

            One of our most important choices is how much time we will spend with God every day. Some days we might find ourselves so busy that we let our time slip through our fingers and we miss our time with God. Other days we might listen to music that lifts Him up, read our Bibles, meditate on the things we have read, and talk with God in prayer. We need to remember that it is our choice how we spend our time.

            I want to encourage you to invite God into your day. Let Him and His presence invade your thoughts throughout the day. While I believe having a regular quiet time is vital to your spiritual life, don’t relegate Him to that time only. You can talk with Him whenever and wherever you are. You can read just a few verses and think about them anytime of the day. You can pray when you are waiting in line or at a light. He is with you all the time.

            I want to encourage you to consider how you use God’s gift of time. Time is precious and gets consumed by many of our daily routines. We need to eat, sleep, work, do chores at home, spend time with our families and friends, and work on reducing our “to do” lists. In the midst of daily life, we must never forget how precious time is to us. We must remember our need to rest and refresh our bodies, minds, and spirits. Spending time with God will renew your mind and refresh your spirit. Being in His presence, reading His Word, and inviting Him into your daily routines will give you guidance, impact your family, affect your career, and change your life for the better. It’s your choice. It’s your time. It will change your perspective to His perspective. It will give you His perfect peace.

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

By Doug Creamer

Be Still Peace

            I headed out for my Sunday afternoon walk. It was the first day of daylight saving time and it was nice to be out in the early evening. It was a cloudy evening and there were actually a few sprinkles at one point in my walk. My legs were complaining about the walk and my mind was in agreement with the weather – mostly cloudy.

            I started looking around at the flowers and blooming trees and enjoying their beauty. I thanked the Lord for family, friends, and for my church. I closed my eyes and allowed the slight breeze to caress my face. Other than a few birds singing, I noticed the peacefulness and quietness in my neighborhood.

            My mind has not been a peaceful place the last few months. I have been consumed by things demanding my attention. In that moment, while I was walking, my mind was peaceful. The breeze blew again and it felt like it cleared the dust and cobwebs out of my mind. There was nothing demanding my attention, just the peacefulness of the day. In the quiet, I sensed His presence.

            I waited on Him. In my spirit I felt a washing of all my worries. There was a deep sense of peace. In the quiet, in the peacefulness, there was a whisper… “I love you.” I let the words wash over me. Again, another whisper, “I am the God who made the sun, moon, and stars and I made you. I love you.” I wanted to keep walking because I felt His presence, acceptance, and His love.

            The walk ended and the evening unfolded like any other Sunday evening. I slipped out to the front porch late before bed. His peace and presence were waiting for me. I prayed and talked with Him about a few things. I really didn’t want to go in but it was time for bed.

            I have recently walked through a very stormy period. The storms raged both spiritually and mentally. I was struggling to find my next step. The more I struggled the stormier it got. My plate was way too full. If I got one thing off my plate, three more were added. Where was His presence? Where was His peace?

            The storm has finally passed. The sun is shining. I dared to ask the Lord, “Where were you when I was going through that storm?” In His grace He showed me a picture of myself drenched in the pouring rain. There He was standing right beside me. I hadn’t seen Him or felt His presence, but He was there none the less. He let me see into my soul as I stood there in the rain. There it was deep in my soul, the faith that I knew He was with me even though I couldn’t sense His presence.

            That was one of the lessons I needed to learn, that He is with me THROUGH the storms. He told me that my faith grows stronger and deeper in the midst of storms. Faith doesn’t grow when we are walking in His perfect peace. Faith grows as we face doubts, challenges, difficulties, worries, anxieties, fears, and the everyday ups and downs of life. Faith grows when we are overwhelmed by life and have to trust in Him to see us THROUGH.

            While we prefer to walk with Him in the sunshine and rainbows, He prefers to see our faith and trust grow THROUGH the storms of life. God has us in our church families so we can be there for each other. He knows we need to lean on each other to get through the many challenges that we will all face. In the midst of those times we can watch our faith and trust in Him grow. He will provide places to rest and be refreshed along the way. Ultimately, He wants us to find His peace and presence as we go THROUGH the storms of life.

            I want to encourage you whether you find yourself in a storm or a place of peace and rest to put your faith and trust in God. Remember when Jesus was with the disciples in the boat when they experienced a violent storm. What happened? He stood up and said, “Peace, Be Still.” The wind and the waves obeyed Him. The important point is that He was with them THROUGH the storm. He will be with you and me as we navigate our way through our storms. He is growing our faith and trust and He will not let us down. He will see us THROUGH!  

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

By Doug Creamer

Team Leadership

            I feel blessed that every year I am able to help supervise the officer election process for NC DECA. The DECA club is an organization for marketing students. Club members participate in fund raising and civic activities on a local level. There are also district, state, and national competitions. The competitive events include tests, role plays of real life scenarios, team events, and written projects. In my career, I was fortunate enough to go to the national conference five times.

            The election of the state officers includes an application, a knowledge test, an interview with a committee, and the election by the voting delegates. I give the test and then work in one of the committee rooms. I have to tell you that these young people make such a huge impression on me, both the candidates and the committee members. These are high school students who are dressing and acting professionally.

            The candidates are asked some tough questions by the committee and deliver great responses. Once the interview is over, I listen as the committee discusses each candidate’s qualifications and how they performed in the interview. You would be impressed if you saw how mature these students are.

            I tell candidates and the committee members why I continue to return each year. They give me hope! They are the future of our country, and if you met these individuals you would have peace about the future. I believe these young people will rise to greatness. They will become our future corporate leaders and entrepreneurs.

            As I listened to the students discussing the candidates this year, I was impressed by how they thought each one would perform as a team member. When I asked the students to explain what they were looking for in a candidate, they pointed out the importance of understanding that it is not about what one individual does but what the team does as a whole. Individual glory can reduce the overall success of the team. It’s amazing to me what wisdom these young people have and what they could teach our politicians.

            When I reflect deeper, I realize it is exactly what Jesus was trying to teach us. God is not looking for spiritual superstars; rather, He wants us to come together as a team. That’s why we are referred to as the “body” of Christ. We have many different moving parts that all come together to accomplish great things for His kingdom. Each person in the church plays an important role to fulfill God’s purposes for that church in that community.

            The people who clean the church are equally as important as the pastor of the church. If the church is dirty and messy, people will not come back. If the pastor fails to do his job, people will not come back. A warm greeting at the door makes my heart more receptive to the prayers of the elders of the church. Having good teachers in both the children’s area and the adult classes will keep people involved in the church. The people who count the money and pay the bills are just as important as the choir who lead us in worship.

            As members of a local church, we need to find our place. You don’t want me singing in the choir or no one will come! I think I can do a better job teaching Sunday school than organizing the cover dish lunch after church. God has a place for you on His team and it is not sitting in the stands. Discover your place and get involved serving others.

            There are two things everyone can do to help their church. We can all pray. Don’t put yourself down or think that your prayers aren’t doing any good. That’s a lie! Your prayers are powerful and effective. They are needed for your church’s success. You can also be a thankful encourager. When you see someone serving in your church, thank them. Offer them words of encouragement. These simple things have more power to boost morale and build unity than any program. We all benefit from encouraging each other.

            I want to encourage you to find your place and become more involved in your local church team. Remember the importance of encouraging other members and thanking them for their service. There is great power in your prayers and they make your church a better place. Serving in some capacity will make your church function better. Warmly welcoming visitors is everyone’s job. We want our churches to be beacons of hope that point people to Jesus. We are all an important part of the team.

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

By Doug Creamer

Words of Encouragement

            Our words have the power to lift people up or to crush them. The way we say our words and our facial expressions can communicate things that can affect someone’s day. Every interaction you have with someone, be it your boss, co-workers, customers, spouse, family members, service workers, or cashiers has the power to make or break someone’s day, week, month, year or even their destiny.

            As a teacher, I am keenly aware that my words carry power. I have always been aware of what I said and how I said it. Was I perfect? NO! I missed the mark more than once. I remember once coming down hard on a kid who needed discipline. After praying, I realized I came down too hard. The next day, I took the student in the hall and apologized to him. He was stunned. “What? You are apologizing to me? I never had anyone apologize to me before.” We talked for a minute, shook hands, and returned to class. It changed our relationship in a very positive way.

            I have seen how my words touched students’ lives. It isn’t always our words that make a difference. I had one student who took every class I taught. He asked me if I knew why he liked my classes, and I didn’t. He said, “I feel seen and heard in your room. You always answer my questions. You are always there if I need to talk.” In that case, it was my words and actions that made a difference in my student’s life.

            Coaches also have incredible power in their words. I have sought out students who were at practice to talk with them about their job. I told the coach I was there, took care of business, then left. I have heard coaches speak inspiring words to build up their players, pushing them to reach for their potential. Sadly, I have also heard coaches spewing out profanity and speaking down to their players like they were worthless. I have often wondered if those student athletes thrived or grew up failing to reach their potential.

            I wish we would stop teaching our children the lie that goes: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That terrible lie teaches children that their words will have no impact. We live in a society that constantly puts people down. I guess we think that our words will never hurt. Sadly, our negative and hurtful words may live in someone’s mind and heart for the rest of their lives.

            Politicians smear each other. The entertainment industry makes putting others down a sport. Comedians encourage us to laugh at others. What happens to those people? Do we care what our words do to others? The Bible tells us that we will have to give account for our words. God is telling us that the things we say and the way we say them are very important to Him!

            That’s why I want to live my life in such a way that I am building people up, not tearing them down. I love to catch my students doing something right. When I praise them, I get to watch their face light up. I see the smile of victory on their face, which encourages them and pushes me to work harder to help them grow.

            I had lunch with a friend the other day and we talked about where we are in our lives and the things we are doing. We talked about some ups and downs. When I was driving home reflecting on our conversation I thought about how our ears play such an important part of any conversation. My friend listened and offered his perspective on some things I was dealing with in life. His words brought understanding, comfort, and encouragement because he listened. It’s not just our words but our hearts and listening ears that can encourage each other.

            I want to encourage you to consider carefully the words that you say and how you say them. Your smile, your “thank you,” your “have a nice day,” your “I am here for you,” and your “I believe in you. You are going to make it,” might be the life preserver that someone needs. We all have the power to lift someone up, which in turn will help to lift us up. My pastor tells us that our words create worlds. Don’t you want to create beautiful worlds for others? Use your words wisely and be that source of encouragement that others need. Look for the good in others and help bring it out.

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