Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

            We only have a few more days left in this year and this decade. It is hard to believe that we are going to be in the 2020’s next week. It’s always hard for me to believe that a whole year has passed. Time seems to move faster and faster as I get older.

            My previous pastor always receives a poem from the Lord for the year. My current pastor always receives a single word that is our focus for the year. 2019 was “uncommon.” Well, I can tell you that 2019 was definitely an uncommon year for us. I retired, which was a very uncommon event. But the year was full of uncommon things. Some we hope continue to be uncommon, while others we invite and hope to make common in our lives.

            We are looking forward to 2020. I know the Lord has good things planned. One thing I am NOT looking forward to is the election. The event itself, voting, is great. My problem is the process we have to go through from here to there. There are all the political ads. Then there are the constant phone calls. If we could get more civility in our politics it might be more enjoyable, but that isn’t how elections are won or lost.

            As I reflect back on the last decade, we have experienced lots of changes, especially in technology. We went from flip phones to smart phones. Who could have imagined having the power of all that information right at your fingertips? We now have smart doorbells so we can see who is at the door and we may not even be home. My mother used to have intercoms at our doors. Times sure have changed.

            You can control so much now from your phone. You can turn your thermostat up or down. You can turn lights on and off. You can probably talk to your watch which will talk to your phone which will contact your house and make necessary changes. I imagine by the time we close out this new decade we will have cars driving themselves and many people will probably not even own cars, they will just call for a driverless car to take them where they want to go. I am not sure I am ready for that.

            Wherever technology takes us in the future, I am sure we will gradually all get used to doing things the new way. It might be nice to allow a vehicle to drive me someplace while I sleep, particularly if there is a zero percent chance of an accident. Personally, I prefer to put my life in God’s hands. He has a perfect record for helping people navigate life.

            The future can feel mystical and scary at times. No one knows what the future holds for each of us. The only way to know the future is to know Him who holds the future. He’s seen all the good things coming your way and He is not surprised when the bad things happen. He is ready to celebrate the good and comfort through the bad. The best thing is knowing we are in God’s hands when we enter the New Year.

            The secret to having peace when entering the New Year and new decade is knowing the Prince of Peace. He can help guard your mind from worry and fear as you cross into the unknown. You can know and believe that all things will work into something good for your life as long as you are trusting Him. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be sorrow or pain, it just means that He will be with you and that He can turn your sorrow into joy.

            There are parts of 2019 that I would prefer to forget, but God has used those situations to draw me closer. He felt more real to me as I walked through the fire. That gives me confidence. If He did it in 2019, then I know He will do it again in 2020.

            I want to encourage you to put your trust in God. 2020 is going to have some great days that we can celebrate. 2020 is also going to have some difficult days where it will be a struggle just to put one foot in front of the other. No matter what comes, I have faith in God that it will work for my good. We are entering a new decade and I believe that God is going to give us a good trip through this one, too. Happy New Year!

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

By Doug Creamer

            Most of you know that I am retired. I figured that since I was retired, Christmas decorating and preparations would go exceedingly smoothly this year. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I think I have been busier this year than in previous years. I look at my calendar and I have something to do or someplace to be every day this week, and that was the same for last week.

            I thought we would have our tree up early and be able to leisurely enjoy the process. I think we got a later start this year, and it isn’t quite finished yet! Even the outside decorating took longer because I had to get up the leaves and clean out the gutters. One good thing is that we have our shopping done already. We have become online shoppers. We did go to a few stores, but it is so much easier to shop online.

            With a few more days to go, I believe we will make it. We do have Jesus, Mary, and Joseph sitting out, but I need to get the snowmen that are sitting on the same table moved to a different place. There is some cleaning and straightening that needs to be done. I am also hoping to get the Christmas cards out today. And oh, it’s going to be nice day today, maybe I can get a few things done outside…. No wonder I had trouble getting to sleep last night, with my thoughts running so fast.

            We have been doing some of the traditional things to ready our hearts for Christmas. We pulled out our Christmas movies and have been watching them. I haven’t been playing Christmas music as much as I thought, but that will change; I am ready to sing along with all my favorites. I have been out a few evenings recently and have really enjoyed seeing some of the Christmas lights.

Honestly, I know things will get done and we will have a nice Christmas. There are a few gatherings to attend, and I am looking forward to our candlelight service at church. This morning I started a devotional book from my sister about Christmas, that I read every year. It tells the story mixed with poems and many of the great Christmas carols. It takes a week, but it helps to get my heart ready and my thoughts focused on the birth of our Savior.  

            Last week I was invited to speak to a book club that meets near Albemarle. We had a good group of folks and a very special time together. I really enjoyed seeing some old friends. I shared a story about how valuable we are in God’s eyes. We often think less of ourselves, but God thinks very highly of us.

            I shared with those gathered that it is hard to consider the birth of our Lord without realizing the purpose for His coming. He came to die for us. Sin had broken our relationship with God. There nothing we can do to fix it. We can’t do enough good deeds. We can’t earn God’s favor by trying to live right. The only way to restore our relationship with God is through the forgiveness that Jesus offers us at Easter. God thinks we are so valuable that He sacrificed His own Son so He could buy us back and re-establish the relationship He desired for us.

            God loves you more than you will ever understand. His gift of forgiveness is available to all who will receive it. Do you realize that the God of the whole universe wants to know you on a personal and intimate level? He wants to reveal Himself to you. Jesus came to make all that possible. He came, born in a manger, giving up all the comfort of heaven, to be with us. Jesus wanted to reveal the depth of God’s love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, and peace.

            All of this is available to you if you will open your heart to God. God’s done His part, now it’s time for us to do ours. I want to encourage you to not only receive, but also to open and experience God’s love this Christmas. He comes humbly as a baby born in a manger so we all can find access to Him. He is gentle and loving and cares deeply about everything in your life. Give God the best Christmas present He could ever receive…your heart, your life, given to Him. Merry Christmas! May God fill your heart and your home with His perfect love, His peace that goes beyond understanding, and His uncontainable joy!

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

By Doug Creamer

            It is that time of year for secrets. Boxes arrive and you are not allowed to open them or peek in. There are bags in the car that you cannot bring in or see what is inside. Packages are wrapped and hidden in places where the kids won’t look. I like the secrecy of the season. There is excitement everywhere. We are quickly closing in on the big day; I hope you are ready.

            It seems there is less secrecy as we get older. My wife and I help each other pick out what we really want so we don’t have to fight the returns. It works better that way, but there are still a few things that we keep hidden until Christmas day. We work hard to have fun and make the day a very special time together.

            I have to admit, I am much better at keeping secrets as an adult than I was as a child. I remember one year at Christmas my dad had decided to get my mom a TV for their bedroom. The night he went to pick it up he had all the kids with him. My older brother and sister were good at keeping secrets, but my dad knew that I wasn’t. After all, it was a TV.

            Dad had the guys load the TV in the truck. He turns to me and tells me that he is getting mom some bags of soil for her garden. My mother has always had the nicest flower gardens. I knew my mom would love getting the soil that my dad had picked out for her. He told me it was a secret and I couldn’t tell mom and spoil his big surprise.

            I think my dad was wise because I was able to keep the soil a secret, but a TV would never have made it to Christmas day! I remember when he gave it to her, asking him about the secret present he had. He had to explain to me that there was no soil and that I had done a good job keeping his secret. In the end, I still think he was right in not telling me.

            Keeping secrets can be fun, especially at Christmas. But the truth is that God did not keep the coming of His Son a secret. You can look all through the Old Testament and find many predictions about the coming Messiah. Moses and King David both told the people of His coming. Almost all of the Old Testament prophets spoke with anticipation of the coming Christ.

            God announced the birth of His Son to the shepherds. He placed a bright star in the sky over Bethlehem. Then He sent three wise men from a faraway land to seek and find Him. It was no secret that the Christ was born. But even God had to hide Jesus and keep His location secret when Herod decided he wanted to kill the Christ.  He secretly sent Him to Egypt.   

            His story and His life are no secret. The Bible tells us plainly about who He was and how He led His life. His mission was clear. We had messed up our connection with God through sin. Jesus had to come and repair our broken relationship. To repair the brokenness, He was destined to die. His blood offered the forgiveness that could save our souls.

            God knew we could not fix what was broken. So He did everything from His side to restore our relationship. Now the ball is in our court. It’s up to each of us to make a decision whether we want to accept God’s greatest gift of His Son.

            To open and receive the gift requires faith. Knowledge of Jesus is not good enough. Every demon in hell has knowledge about Jesus. When we exercise our faith and believe and trust God, salvation can enter our soul. That is the gift of Christmas, the hope of eternal life with God in heaven. It’s only good if we receive it. It’s up to us now, not God.

            So, what have you decided to do with the Christ of Christmas? I want to encourage you to open your hearts, exercise your faith, and receive the Lord Jesus as your personal savior. You can know right now your eternal destination if you will accept God’s gift to you. There is no other way except through faith in the greatest gift of all time, Jesus the Messiah. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, God stands with open arms waiting to receive you. 

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

By Doug Creamer

            The holiday season is officially upon us. Retailers have been pushing the holiday season for a couple of months, but I always try to hold off until it actually arrives. This year as I drove to my in-law’s for Thanksgiving I noticed that some people had their Christmas decorations up. When I drove down our street coming home from Thanksgiving I noticed almost all our neighbors had Christmas decorations up, both inside and out.

            I have to admit that it is hard to sit here and write this column as I want to be outside getting my Christmas decorations up. I am going to have to work on getting some of the leaves up before I put the decorations out. I am excited to get started decorating for Christmas.  

            At this point, I have already helped decorate two Christmas trees. I helped my brother and sister decorate my mom’s tree, and then while I was home for Thanksgiving helped my in-laws get their tree up and decorated. It’s nice to be able to help family get ready for the holidays.

            I like spending time with my family. Both of my parents have birthdays in November so we were able to gather around them and celebrate their special days. We shared meals and lots of laughs. We talked about growing up and the special times we shared as a family. It is good to see and hear how my family members are doing.

            We spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws. My father-in-law and I peeled over five pounds of potatoes, and I am not sure how many pounds of sweet potatoes. There were multiple meats to choose from, as well as five different desserts. I ate plenty of great food and got the opportunity to spend some quality time with my wife’s side of the family. I had some very interesting conversations and washed plenty of dishes.

            Many people travel long distances to be together for the holidays. We have traveled and we have stayed at home. Both have their perks. In today’s world with blended families, husband’s family here and wife’s family there, it’s almost impossible to be at every family gathering.

            I think that it is important to make the effort to be together, but why does it have to be on ONLY one specific day? Can’t we celebrate Christmas anytime we can get the family together in one place at one time? That way there is no rushing and possibly a much more relaxed atmosphere. We can visit and connect without feeling pulled in multiple directions.

            I believe it’s important to find a way to be together at some point during the holiday season. With families separated by long distances, it might be physically impossible to make the trip. That’s when we can use the power of our global communication systems to make it possible. Whether it is Facetime or through another virtual app, we can find a way to gather and spend some special moments together.

            There is no perfect “Brady” family on earth. We are all imperfect people trying to connect with each other and create memories that will last a lifetime. Some memories are tender and sweet, while others make us laugh until we hurt. We try to put our best foot forward, without tripping over it, and share the love we have for each other. We know the flaws but hope that we can look past them and share the love of the season.

            I believe God does that with each of us. We’re not perfect, yet he welcomes us into His family. He knows our weaknesses and flaws, and yet His grace covers over it all. He knows how many times we have doubted and almost given up, yet His love pours out for us. He knows how often we feel inconvenienced by Him, yet He still wants to spend time with us. He pursues us relentlessly because we are His children and He wants to have a relationship with us.

            I want to encourage you this holiday season to connect with loved ones. I know it is hard to express your love and appreciation, but take the risk and open your heart. Sometimes it won’t go well, but try. Give your pain to God. God revealed how much He loved us by sending His Son to be born in a manger, yet destined to die on a cross. He still loves us no matter what we have done. We are His children and He wants us all around Him. So in spite of everything, make the effort to connect, to love, and to be loved during this holiday season. 

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

By Doug Creamer

            I love my church. We are a close-knit family. We have people from the age of one to one hundred, and everything in between. We have people from different ethnic backgrounds. We have young families and retired older folks. It’s a good, fun mix of people.

            My pastor is a very creative person. He comes up with great objects that we can take home to remind us during the week about his sermon. For example, sitting on my night stand is a plastic cup with the phrase on it: “I’m stirred, not shaken.” It was to remind us that sometimes things come along that could shake our faith, but we are not going to be shaken. We are going to allow those things to stir our faith.

            He is also good at creating new words. I’ve lost count of how many new words he has created. Last Sunday he created a new word for Thanksgiving. His new word was Thaithfulness. He was trying to teach us to be thankful for God’s faithfulness. If we stop and think about all the ways God has been faithful to us, we would create a long list.

            All of us can point to ways He has been faithful to our churches. He has blessed us with good leaders, good worship, good Sunday school teachers…and the list goes on. We can also list the ways God has been faithful to our families. Think of the times He has protected you or a family member. He has provided for our families in many ways.

            We all know that God has helped us to grow and mature in our faith. God has helped us all with relationships, meeting our financial obligations, and providing the basics of life. I know that families aren’t perfect, but certainly there have been some family members who have stood with you and supported you through the ups and downs of life. Do you remember a time when God really came through for you in a big way? He is faithful.

            When I think about my family, I am very thankful for them. We just celebrated my mother and father’s 87^th birthdays. We are lucky and blessed to still have them with us. I have missed some of their birthday celebrations in the past, but this year I was able to participate in the fun. It’s nice to have the opportunity to be with your parents and to thank them for all they have done in your life.

            As I sit here thinking about my family, I realize one thing I am thankful for is the laughter we all share. All of us have a prankster side. None of us want to hurt anyone, but bring laughter and fun. I know that signs were put in family member’s yards for milestone birthdays. Prank calls have been made. And surprise parties have been planned. Laughter is loud and runs deep in my family.

            I know the main focus of Thanksgiving is the food. My family gathers often throughout the year and you can be sure that food is part of the gathering. Everyone brings something to a family get-together so no one has to do too much work. My brother or sister will host the event, and whatever family is in town gathers to share the food, laughter, and plenty of fun. We have created a lifetime of special memories.

            This Thanksgiving season I find myself reflecting on how blessed I am to have a good, loving, and supportive family. I am also grateful for those same qualities in my church family. I am surrounded by people who love and care about me, why wouldn’t I be thankful? Then when I look up to express that thanks I realize how absolutely thankful I am for Jesus and all He has done for me. He laid His life down so I could live free. He bought and paid for the relationship with my Father in heaven. He’s cleansed and forgiven me for everything.

            I want to encourage you to take a few minutes and reflect on your life. I know that life isn’t perfect and that we all have bad days, but if we can nurture a thankful heart I believe we can help to change our entire outlook on life. It’s easy to be thankful for the big things, but don’t forget the little things, the special people in your life, and the hope that springs from a life connected to your loving heavenly Father. Happy Thanksgiving! I pray that you and your family will be safe and blessed.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I have always had a sense that I knew where I was going in life. I remember once moving into a rented house and feeling in my spirit that we would only be there two years. Two years later we moved out. Another time, I thought we would be in an apartment for several months which turned into over a year. So everything doesn’t always go as planned.

            Even though there has been this overarching sense that I knew where I was going, there have been plenty of times when I struggled with doubt. Was I hearing God? Then there have been those times when God tested my faith. Did I really believe God was going to lead me and take care of my needs? He wants to know our heart.

            I have to confess that I have struggled with worry at different times in my life. My dad gave me this amazing math-enabled mind. My wife sometimes calls me the human calculator. We will be out shopping somewhere and she will ask, “This item is going to be 30% off, what will it cost?” I can quickly tell her. (She can figure it out too, just takes her longer.)

            This gift can sometimes be a curse. When finances start to get a little tight, I am constantly doing the math in my head. Long before I retired I had done the math over and over again. I even built a spreadsheet to confirm what I had already figured out in my head. Sometimes I will lay in bed late at night calculating and worrying about our budget.

            There is a fine line between what the Bible teaches us about being a wise builder and a worrier. The wise builder plans and calculates before beginning a building project to be sure he has enough money to complete the work. The person who worries has done all the math homework to be sure everything will work out and then proceeds to worry about everything along the way. God wants us to trust Him once we have done our math homework and we are confident that we have sought His guidance and are following it.

            In other words, God wants us to live in faith. Will there be storms, trials, and tests along the way? Naturally. When we are doing what God told us, walking in faith, then you can be sure there will be opposition. The challenge to our faith gives us the opportunity to believe and trust God. If we sought the Lord, waited for His answer, did our math, then all that is left is trusting while we move forward.

            Think about the time Jesus got in a boat with the disciples. He said, “We are going to the other side.” Then he fell asleep. We all know the storm arose in an attempt to prevent them from reaching the other side. When we are moving in the direction that God wants us to go, the enemy will come and try to prevent us from getting there.

            The disciples, in a panic, woke Jesus up and asked if He cared whether they were going to die in the storm or not. Jesus got up and commanded the storm and the sea to be still. Then guess what happened? They arrived at the other side.

            For me, I have known all along that I would need to work once I retired. I have created a resume, done some interviewing, and generally kept my eyes open for opportunities. My natural tendency is to worry about the details. Where is God leading me? What does He want me to do?

            Something different happened. I discovered peace. My future lies before me, an open slate. Some opportunities have come and gone and I am still at peace. The bank account is telling me that I will need to be working sooner rather than later, but I haven’t been worried about it. To be at peace in these circumstances is unusual. When I ask Him about it, He assures me that I am right where I am supposed to be for now.

            As you face your fork in the road, I want to encourage you to be at peace. Pray and seek His guidance. Meditate on your options and do your math. Sometimes the new path requires us to wait because God has to work out the details in the background. If that is you, live in peace, because you know He is at work. Do your part and trust Him with your destiny. God is planning a great trip for you; enjoy the ride.

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

By Doug Creamer

            With the arrival of the really cold air, the gardening season has come to a close. I had already cleaned out most of my vegetable garden before the cold arrived, but I had left a few things that were still growing. So before the cold hit, I harvested some butter beans, a cucumber, some raspberries, and some green cherry tomatoes.

            It was a real treat getting the November harvest. The deer have been trying to take my harvest from me, but a plastic fence has kept them away. My neighbor said he saw a dozen deer in his front yard the other night. Those rascals have been foraging through this area.

            The devil’s job is to find ways to keep us from getting a spiritual harvest. Like the deer, he will devour us with discouragement, disappointment, becoming offended, and distractions. He will do anything to keep you from producing fruit in your life. One tool is to convince us that we are too old or too young to be any good in God’s Kingdom.

            One of the ways that we can fight back is through the power of prayer. Our prayers are having an impact that we can’t see. When we add faith to our prayers, the impact far surpasses anything we can imagine. Prayer always precedes a harvest.

            Another example that comes to mind relates to my former pastor. He contacted me a while back and said he was working on a book and wanted some advice. We met and talked about the process several times. He sent me a few chapters along the way and I provided some feedback. He contacted me recently and said he was ready to get the book published. I have worked with him to get it ready to go to Amazon. Since I have been through the process, he was relying on my help to get it done.

            What is amazing to me is that this former pastor, who is older than me…I won’t say how much lest I get myself in serious trouble…is still working hard to have a positive impact on the body of Christ. He is retired and should be enjoying long walks on the beach and other things he enjoys, yet he is still working for the Kingdom. He is still looking for a harvest in his golden years. He hasn’t given up and won’t give up until he arrives at heaven’s door.

            God wants a harvest out of our lives. It’s not a suggestion, it doesn’t matter how we feel, it doesn’t depend on whether it is convenient or not, it is an expectation. He is looking under our leaves to see if we are producing fruit for His kingdom. He has left us here to have an impact on the world around us. We are here to carry His essence, His presence, to a lost and hurting world.

            The question becomes, what can I do to produce a harvest for His kingdom? It doesn’t matter if you are twelve or one hundred, God can still use you and your testimony about Him to help others. The older you are, the more stories you have of how God has seen you through the difficult circumstances of life. The younger you are, the more energy, enthusiasm, and passion you can bring to your walk with God.

            It is God’s heart that every person comes to know Him. He needs people to do that work. He will use each of us uniquely to reach people in our sphere of influence. People are watching us to see if Jesus makes a difference in our lives. If they can see evidence of the power of God working in our lives, they will want it. It’s our job to shine like beacons for those living in darkness. We have the hope and the joy that they need. We have the answer to the problems that they face. God is watching to see if we will give Him away thereby producing fruit for His Kingdom.

            I want to encourage you not to give up on producing fruit for His Kingdom. Don’t stop praying for loved ones, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and people you run into on a daily basis. People need the Lord, and many are just waiting on you and me to invite them into a personal relationship with a loving Heavenly Father. You don’t have to have special skills or be a specific age, just make yourself available to the leading of His Spirit within you. God is looking for a harvest. Let’s be ready every day to share our love for Him.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I had my annual physical this summer with the accompanying bloodwork. I like to look through the results of bloodwork and compare this year to previous years. There are some numbers that are close to needing medication and I want to make sure they stay in line. My brother reminded me the other day that we are getting older and that the possibility exists that we might have to start taking some medications.

            My doctor told me that one of my numbers had crossed the line. I needed to start taking some medication. He agreed to give me 3 more months before we started the medication. The caveat was that if I observed changes in several areas I would agree to take another test earlier. I agreed.

            I asked my family and several friends to pray for me. I prayed for myself numerous times. Besides all the prayers, the symptoms I was supposed to keep track of continued a downward trend. I went online to several medical websites to look for additional symptoms. Why do we ALL do that? Everything was pointing to the need for this medication.

            Several weeks ago I decided it was time for the new test and the medication. Before I took the test, I wanted to ask for prayer at church on Sunday. At the end of the service, I went up for prayer. I hate to admit this, especially in writing, but I was not stirred by great faith to ask for prayer. My attitude was, if God heals me, great. If God chooses not to heal me, then I will start the new medicine.

            While I was waiting for prayer, I overheard some of the other requests. Some of the people had huge requests which made me feel like, “God, please take care of their requests. Mine, I only have to take a pill and I will be OK.” My turn came and I expressed my desire to those praying and to God. After we prayed I didn’t feel any different. I did decide that I would push the test off for several days to see if I noticed anything different in the symptoms I was observing.

            Several days later with no observable changes, I took the new test. The next morning I woke up feeling better than I had in a while and worked most of the day outside. The following day I felt better and again worked outside most of the day. Then that afternoon I received a text from the doctor’s office. I went right away into the patient portal to see when the doctor wanted to see me and start the medicine.

            I saw a message from the nurse. I opened it and read, “Everything is fine. The doctor will see you next year.” I read the message several times. The lab results didn’t get posted until later in the evening. I read them in disbelief. My results were better than they had been for the past two years.

            My Daddy in heaven had decided to heal me. Please know that I am a strong believer in God’s healing power. I have seen it in my life and in the lives of many family and friends. I know God heals, but in this case, I thought he would just use the medicine to heal me.

            I was reminded of something so important. No matter how big or small your problem is, take it to your Heavenly Daddy. Ask Him first and see if He wants to intervene for you. In spite of the fact that my faith was not stirred, my Daddy wanted to display His great love for me.

            This is why I want to share this story with you. I want to encourage you to ask God to intervene for you. If we don’t ask, how can we ever expect that He will do anything for us? We do have to understand that sometimes we will end up taking the medicine, but let’s open the door for Him. Daddy loves us more than we can ever understand.

            So I want to encourage you again to ask your Heavenly Daddy to intervene in your situation. He loves us so much. God wants to be involved in every detail of your life. He wants to help you with your struggles and doubts. He wants to touch your life and create a testimony to His great love for you. So stir up that mustard seed of faith in your loving Heavenly Daddy and see what happens. I believe there will be many stories just like mine.

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

By Doug Creamer

            Since I retired in June I had not ventured back to East Davidson. Well, I couldn’t stay away any longer. I wanted to see my former colleagues and the students. I also wanted to see my old classroom. I was warmly greeted by everyone. It was definitely a deja vu experience.

My old classroom is being used for students who are working independently on computers. It was not set up the way I had it for most of the time I was there. There were no eagle pictures on the walls. It was a very odd feeling to step inside my former classroom.

It was so good to see my former colleagues. I was glad to hear what was happening in their lives and how things were going for them this year. Everyone wanted to know how retirement was going. “AWESOME,” was the answer they got back. I told them that I highly recommend it.

What I was not prepared for was the “rock star” status I felt from the students. Students were calling out to me from everywhere. I got hugs and handshakes galore. I had to laugh when a few students asked if they could now call me by first name. I let them know that they were still students and that “Mr. Creamer” was the proper way to address me.

            It was college application day while I was there. That gave me the opportunity to ask students about their plans beyond high school. I also got the chance to encourage them in their career choices. It was exciting to talk with the students about their future plans. I was so excited to hear from one of my students who decided that she is going to study marketing in college. I am so proud of her and excited to follow up with her as she pursues her dream.

            It was a fun day getting the chance to spend the day with people I care so much about. I miss being around my colleagues and having the opportunity to talk on a daily basis. Public school teachers make a difference. Most teachers pour their lives into the students, hoping to encourage and influence them to make good choices that will lead to a fulfilling life.

            When I think about the many different careers the students were considering, it makes me realize that God needs good Christian men and women in every career field. As a former teacher, I hope I lived my faith in the classroom. I know I wasn’t perfect, but I hope I demonstrated Godly values to them.

            When it comes to career choices God needs people to represent Him in every career area. I hope that doctors and nurses pray every day before working with their patients. I hope a firefighter and policeman turn to God before heading out the door. Imagine the difference an EMS worker could make if they offered prayers for the people they transport to the hospital.

            We have all called repair people to our homes. Wouldn’t you like to have a godly person enter your home and do their work with integrity? We have all taken our cars to repair shops. Wouldn’t it be great if the mechanics were in love with Jesus and were playing Christian music on their radios?

            My point is that we need to encourage our children to follow career paths that interest them. We all have to work, wouldn’t it be great if we loved what we do? Just because we profess faith in Jesus, it doesn’t limit our career choices to the ministry. God wants every person to be reached with the Good News. He will use us wherever we are if we will make ourselves available to Him. As we excel in our career fields, we have the opportunity to give God the glory because we know He is working through us.

            If you are in the process of choosing a career, I want to encourage you to find something you love and be the best you can at that job. If you are raising children, I want to encourage you to help them choose fields they will enjoy and where they can have a positive impact on their colleagues. If you are currently working, I want to encourage you to remember that people are watching you. They want to see if God really makes a difference in your life. God’s wants us to be light and hope, especially to those who live in darkness. I believe God wants us to give faith, hope, and love away. Look around, I imagine someone needs to hear from you today.

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

By Doug Creamer

            We took our annual trip to Asheville last week. I wasn’t expecting to see any fall colors, but we did see some up in the highest mountains. There were just a few trees up close that had color. I noticed up there what I was noticing around here, many trees are losing their leaves without changing color at all. I think that is a result of all the dry weather.

            We picked a beautiful sunny day and I still enjoyed seeing the mountains. I can understand why so many people want to live in Asheville. It is so beautiful… fall colors or not.

            Our trip to Asheville was to attend the annual Southern Highland’s Craft Guild show. This is not your grandma’s craft show; these artisans are juried members of the guild who create fine crafts. We both like to walk through the show and see all the beautiful creations.

            My wife is drawn to the jewelry and specifically to one designer who uses glass beads. Her creations, including necklaces and earrings, are all unique. She has been doing her craft for many years. While my wife looks at all her beautiful creations, I enjoy talking to the artist. I like to talk with her about the marketing of her products (surprise, since I taught marketing for 34 years.)

            I like the pottery and the woodworking. The woodworking reminds me of my friend from Sparta, whose work sits around me here at my computer. I can’t say that I like one piece better than another because each one is unique. I will admit that I am partial to the one we made together. He taught me how to use the lathe and we worked on a bowl one day when I was up in his shop. He finished the bowl after I went home and then mailed it to me with a note that says, “Sometimes the value of an object can be determined by its uniqueness.” He signed both our names and it has been on my desk for ten years.

            I also like to look at the pottery. My favorite potter no longer displays at this show. I have a number of her pieces and I miss seeing her each year. I have several of her large mugs and drink my tea from one of them each week. So I decided that I would try to find another artist whose work spoke to me this year.

            I found one who had something unique, but it was only coffee-mug size. I looked at his work several times while I was there but decided not to buy. I found another artist who had a very tall mug. I asked if they were for drinking and she said yes, holding up hers. She said she was an iced tea drinker and liked a tall mug. She had two designs and both were in colors that I like. I held both in my hands for a while.

            The one that ultimately won had a vine with leaves growing along the side. It is totally unique and I don’t have anything like it. I told the potter that I look for something that speaks to me. She said she liked watching me as I connected with her art. I don’t believe in positive energy, but I do believe that being around creative people and their created things can spur one onto creativity. When artists exercise their creative gifts, they are allowing His creative Spirit to work in and through them.

            When God, our Creator, created each one of us, He made us unique. There is no one exactly like you out there in the world. When He made you, He endowed you with a unique combination of talents, skills, and abilities. Now He wants to see what you are going to do with what you have received. When you use these gifts from God, you reflect His creativity. I told the potter I bought the mug from that I couldn’t throw pottery like her. I don’t have the skills. I create with words. That’s how I reflect my Father’s creativity.

            I want to encourage you to explore the gifts God has placed in you. Some people are great with numbers, others with words, and still others using their hands to create things. Others have gifts to repair things, and still others the gift to manage people. God gave you special abilities; how are you using those gifts to honor Him? God is powerfully creative and when we exercise the gifts He gave us, we are being like our Father in Heaven.

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