Doug’s Columns
My pastor asked if I would like to speak during the holiday season. Naturally, I said yes! He gave me the topic and said GO! The topic was the Glory of God! I shared an encouraging word about the Glory of God and I invite you to listen. ENJOY!!!
By Doug Creamer
Being Present is your Present
We are now in the heart of the holiday season. We have consumed the big Thanksgiving meal and our taste buds are excited about the coming spread of food for Christmas and New Year’s. There will be cakes, pies, and cookies calling our names. There will be parties and family gatherings that will bring more delectable treats our way. It’s the season of eating!
Thanksgiving begins the season of great food. My taste buds were delighted with my choices this year. I had to pick and choose what I ate at my brother’s because there was more to taste than the crowd that gathered could eat. I am not sure how many people made it to my brother’s house for Thanksgiving but it was quite a crowd and quite a feast.
The crowd included my family and extended family. There were some guests but we make them feel like family. Who wouldn’t want to be at a place filled with love, laughter, and great food? There were many conversations occurring inside and outside the house. Our family is close-knit but everyone is welcome to join.
I was glad to see and hug my mom…but felt a little pang at the thought that Dad wasn’t there. I enjoyed catching up with my brother and sister. We’ve been together a little more this year and I am thankful for that. I always enjoy chatting with my nieces and nephews. There were some that didn’t make it this year, but I enjoyed talking with those that did. They are young and their lives are full working and raising their families. I always want to hear the latest from each household. My side of the family is now up to sixteen grandnieces and grandnephews with one more on the way. It’s hard to keep up.
There are more holiday gatherings scheduled for my family on both sides and I look forward to each one. While there will be plenty of good food consumed at these gatherings, I look forward to spending some quality time with my family. That’s what is great about the holidays, we get the chance to unplug from the routines and reconnect with those we love. It’s hard to connect when we all lead such busy lives.
I have been wondering; how do we slow life down so we can truly reconnect? There are so many demands placed on our lives, with endless expectations to be here and go there, how do we quiet our minds enough to be present in any situation? Our minds race almost as fast as our schedules, thinking about the next thing we have to do and missing the thing we are doing at the moment. At the end of the holiday season we are so frazzled that we welcome the routines of daily life with open arms.
I don’t want the holidays to be that way. I think the best way to begin the process is by learning to say no. No, I can’t make it to that event or gathering. We have to give ourselves permission to say no. Then we have to keep ourselves from feeling guilty. It’s okay to not attend everything that is available to you. By saying no to some things it allows you to say yes to what’s important to you. It also allows you to be present at the things you have chosen. You can breathe. You can take in the event and the people and really connect.
Being present at the things you have chosen can be one of the best presents to others and to yourself. The gift of you! Not a frazzled you who is thinking about all that has yet to get done, but the you that those who gathered came to see. Don’t allow yourself to be over-booked, rather, choose to be under-booked. Allow for some uncommitted down time. This will help you to be present each time you gather at the events and places you have chosen to enjoy.
I want to encourage you to give your family and friends the best present you can give, you! Be present because you have chosen to be present. Focus your mind on the people you are with and enjoy their company. Let the joy of this season rise up in your spirit because you have chosen the places you are going this year. Let your love for your family and friends shine through you because you have chosen to be present. Let’s enjoy the food, family, and friends this season and be present, filled with the love, peace, and joy of the holiday season.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
Birthday Celebrations
November is a busy month for celebrating birthdays in my family. My mother-in-law turned 100 at the beginning of the month. My parents were born one day a part in the latter part of the month. My Dad passed away at 92 and my Mom celebrated her 93rd birthday.
For over ten years we have celebrated my parents’ birthdays on the weekend closest to their birthdays. We gather the kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids at my mother’s house for lunch and put up her Christmas tree. This year we had 18 people in her small place, decorating, eating, and having a great time together. When we left Mom’s house it looked like Christmas. We had a great time.
I store Mom’s Christmas decorations at my house. They stay out in my storage building and sometimes we find evidence of mice in some of the boxes. We have discovered nests and other gifts that caused some decorations to be tossed. My brother and I set up her tree and get the lights on. Then we step back and allow the great-grandchildren to decorate the tree. They were so excited and very well-behaved. They did a great job and my Mom was pleased.
We all took a little break and then my siblings and their spouses met for dinner to celebrate my Dad’s birthday. This year we met at my brother’s house instead of our normal restaurant. We raised a toast to my Dad and then we shared stories, laughs, and some memories. One of the best memories was the Honor Flight that he participated in a few years ago. Local people raise money to send veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit the memorials. The whole experience was very moving and touched my Dad and my brother. The best part was when they got home and about 1000 people were in the airport to meet them and give them a hero’s welcome home. If you are a vet, I hope you get to take such a trip.
I am glad we got together to remember my Dad. It made for a full day. The holidays will be different without him this year. There will be an empty seat at the table as we gather to give thanks this year. Many others will experience the absence of loved ones from their Thanksgiving tables. I pray that it serves as a reminder to give thanks for our loved ones. When you gather around your table this year remember to be thankful for your family, even those that can drive you crazy. We all have some of them in our families.
I am thankful for my family. We have always been a close family, but I think that my Father’s passing has brought us all a little closer. I am thankful for my brother, who has worked tirelessly to settle Dad’s estate. I am thankful for my sisters who have shared some laughs, support, and encouragement as we have worked through the loss of our Dad. We have shared our journey throughout this new process and been there for each other. I am thankful that my Mom has been here for all of us as we have experienced our loss together as a family.
I am thankful for my wife, our home, our cars, the flower and vegetable gardens, our relative good health, and the many, many, many other ways God has blessed us. This has been a really crazy year filled with many changes – some good and some tough – but God has been with us through all of them. He has carried us at times or simply held our hands at other times. His presence has been a comfort and the source of our strength. He has been everything He promised He would be in the scriptures.
By the time you read this the Thanksgiving meal will have been consumed and we will be running full speed towards Christmas. I want to encourage you to slow down and really connect with the special people in your life. Connect with whatever family you have here with you. Connect with your church family, your brothers and sisters in Christ who will stand with you. Connect with your friends and neighbors and let them know how much they mean to you. Don’t forget to let your work friends know how much you appreciate their support and comradery. Share some laughs, eat some great food, and enjoy each special moment…time moves so fast. It’s the holiday season…a time for joy, experiencing His great love, and allowing His perfect peace to invade your heart and mind.
By Doug Creamer
Thankful
Fall chores can sure keep me busy. I worked on getting up the leaves in my yard over the weekend, but by Monday afternoon you would never know it. I know it will soon come to an end, but it can sure be frustrating to not feel any sense of accomplishment. There are still a number of other chores that need to be done before winter sets in. On top of that, it’s time to start decorating for Christmas.
I was talking with a group of friends about when they begin decorating for the holidays and there is no consensus. While many people wait to put their tree up until after Thanksgiving, there are some who have their tree up and decorated already. My neighbors and I try to have our outside decorations up by the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I won’t start putting up our tree until at least the first weekend in December.
This hectic rush towards Christmas bothers me because it feels like we are skipping Thanksgiving. There are Christmas movies playing on TV. There is Christmas music playing in the stores. Many people are laser focused on Christmas. I think it is important for us to slow down and give thanks to God for the many blessings in our lives.
I’m thankful for the beautiful fall that we have enjoyed this year. We had that one cold shot that netted us a few snow flurries. Other than that, we have enjoyed some wonderful fall weather. The good weather has allowed me to get quite a bit of work done outside, which always feels great. I have also really enjoyed the beautiful fall foliage.
Giving thanks for the everyday stuff can help improve your outlook on life. Sometimes life gets hard and we lose focus on the good things that are happening around us every day. It’s easy to get distracted by the news or the political backbiting. Take a moment and look around you at all the ways God has blessed you. A thankful heart can change your perspective, especially in challenging times.
Have you got a roof over your head? Do you have a bed to sleep in? Do you have food on your table? Do you have nice clothes to wear? There are people in Ukraine, Palestine, and Jamaica, just to name a few places, who don’t have these simple basics for life. Turn your heart to God right now and let him know how grateful you are for life’s basics.
Have you thanked God for the people in your life? We never know how long anyone has on this earth. This is the first year we will celebrate Thanksgiving without my Dad. It gives me a deeper appreciation for my family. We should be thankful when we get the opportunity to spend time with the people who mean so much to us. It doesn’t matter if it’s family, neighbors, or friends. We should engage and enjoy every chance we get to be together.
Have you thanked God for your church family? I have been fortunate to have good church families all through my life. I love my church family. We have a great men’s group at my church. My church family has been and will be there for me when I face difficult times and I will be there for them too. We are blessed with a good pastor who truly shepherds our church family.
While good food it is not the most important part of Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the many delicious treats that I will be enjoying this Thanksgiving. The good food often stirs great memories of years gone by. I remember other gatherings and the efforts people made to come together through rain, snow, and ice to celebrate and share special times together. Holiday food traditions stir the warmth and the love that should fill our hearts with thanks.
I want to encourage you to steal a few moments of quiet and thank the Lord for your many blessings. Good food, family, friends, a place to call home, and good health are all great places to begin your thanksgiving prayers. A thankful heart will change your perspective on whatever situation you find yourself in this year. Remember God is good in spite of your circumstances and that He has blessed you in so many ways. God painted me a beautiful sunset this evening that took my breath away while I was walking. Don’t let the world push you around. Take time to notice God’s goodness and faithfulness in your life and give Him thanks. Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to you and your family!
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
Turning 100
We took a trip home to see my mother-in-law over the weekend. We had a nice drive up. While I was up there I got the chance to see my sister and her family. We enjoyed a long walk on a warm afternoon, which included a few moments standing out by the Chesapeake Bay. The water was almost like glass and the beauty of the day was captivating. The drive back to North Carolina was cold and windy and included snow flurries as we arrived home. It was a full weekend.
If you met my mother-in-law you would never know she was 100. Her mother lived to be 107, so her genes must be good. The only hint of age comes from her using a walker, which only serves to steady her on her feet. In the kitchen, her favorite place, she doesn’t use the walker. Her face is smooth and free of wrinkles, though her eyes are a little weak after a hundred years of service. Conversations are pleasant when she wears her hearing aids, and her outlook on life seems positive, even though she worries about her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
I asked about her childhood and she told me that she lived through the Great Depression and World War II. She talked about the rationing and its impact on daily life. She grew up in Georgia where people like their tea to be sweet. The sugar rationing had a big impact on the sweet tea. She talked about growing up in a large family and the rationing of shoes meant that her father had to re-sole their shoes because they couldn’t get new pairs.
I asked about food during those difficult times. She said she grew up on a farm where they always had enough food to eat. She said they had chickens, cows, hogs, sheep, and goats. She remembered sheering the sheep and preparing an animal for a meal. Animals were not thought of as pets, they were food. She talked about all the work that had to be done on the farm and how each family member had chores to do. She told me that her dad, who was also a blacksmith, had a big farm and had to hire men to help get all the work done.
She told me that her dad’s farm came from her grandfather. She had aunts and uncles who also had farms around them. They would help each other get the work done when it was sheep shearing time or when the corn harvest was ready. It took everyone working together to get all the work done. It brought a smile to her face to remember how people came together to help each other out.
She told me about graduating from high school in a class of twelve. She remembered that most of the people she knew graduated from high school in her community. After high school she went to work for the telephone company in Savannah. She was young and the supervisors were strict. She worked at the phone company for more than 15 years and had several promotions.
She reflected on other areas of her life, including stories of her children. There were hard times and good times. She has told me a couple of times how she met my father-in-law, who passed a few years ago. It is a great story filled with love. She told me that she strongly believes that her faith in God throughout her life has made all the difference.
She told me that everyone needs to repent of their sins and turn to the Father for grace, mercy, and love. She believes in the power of prayer and she firmly believes that we can hear the voice of God in our spirits to help guide us through life. She shared some specific examples of how God spoke to her, guiding her through her choices. She wants everyone to have a relationship with Jesus so they can go to heaven.
At 100 years old, she is excited to go to her heavenly home. She knows there are streets of gold and beauty beyond compare. She knows her family is waiting for her to complete her journey and join them for a glorious family reunion. We have had many conversations in recent years about what heaven will be like when we get there someday. She is at peace about her final destination and prays fervently that all will join her.
I want to encourage you to turn your hearts over to Jesus. Trust Him. This world and all its craziness will one day pass away and we will be with our Savior and Heavenly Father for all eternity. No one knows their day or hour; my mother-in-law just wants everyone to be ready. Between now and then, she hopes people can learn to work together, much like her family did on their farm.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
Fall 2025
I love watching the trees turn beautiful fall colors. I have stopped on more than one occasion to take pictures of trees in their glory. Their beauty fades when they fall and need to be raked up. However, there are some great videos online of dogs running and jumping into piles of leaves. They will bring a smile to your face.
I also appreciate the cooler fall weather. I am always glad to see the oppressive heat of summer lose its grip as the crisp air of fall takes over. I enjoy each season, but I like the spring and fall the best. The fall temperatures have been very kind to us this year.
I have enjoyed a few garden treats this week. I have one tomato vine that is still producing tomatoes for me. I ate a juicy, fresh tomato sandwich the other night. This was probably the worst year for tomatoes for me. If it hadn’t been for some friends and local farmer I wouldn’t have enjoyed many tomatoes. This vine has been generous. I have also enjoyed some fall lettuce that I planted. The other day I walked through the yard and found a few raspberries. They tasted great on my cereal. I wonder what will become of a potato plant I discovered had seeded itself in the garden.
I did my least favorite fall task last weekend. I brought my tropical plants in for the winter. The plants go in the garage but the problem is the garage needed to be cleaned out in preparation for the plants to come in. Things need to be put away to make room for the plants. Carrying all the plants into the garage is getting harder as the plants are getting bigger and bigger each year.
There is still so much to do outside. I need to clean up the back porch and weed the plants that do not come into the garage. Those plants will need to move close to the house for the winter. I need to trim a few trees so they will be ready for next spring. I also need to put away the hoses. I would like to put some mulch down and clean out the gutters once the trees finish dropping their leaves.
The thing that is causing my mind to spin is that in a few weeks I will be busy outside putting up the Christmas decorations. If you go to any retail store you might think it is too late to start doing that because for them, Christmas has already arrived. I walked through Lowes the weekend before Halloween and they had put all the Halloween decorations away and Christmas was out in full force. A friend of mine is a professional Santa Claus in High Point and I imagine his schedule is already getting booked. He is a great Santa who always points to Jesus as being the real reason for Christmas.
I know that Christmas is just around the corner and it will get here faster than I can imagine, but I want to caution us not to skip right over Thanksgiving. Fall is a great time to reflect on being thankful. We have enjoyed another gardening season and hopefully had some successes. We have enjoyed another summer season that hopefully included some travel to our favorite places. We are enjoying the beauty of the changing season and the nice reprieve from summer’s heat before the cold of winter sets in.
There is so much to be thankful for that we should not reserve it for one day. We are blessed to have family and friends in our lives who care about us and are there for us as we go through the ups and downs of life. We have roofs over our heads and food on our tables, something that is missing for many living in war torn nations or those who have endured Hurricane Melissa.
It is easy to allow the rush towards Christmas to push you right past Thanksgiving and being thankful, but I want to encourage you to purposefully take some time over the next couple of weeks to focus on being thankful. In your prayers, purposefully thank God for your many blessings. In your interactions with co-workers and family, express thanks to them for their help and support. In the weeks to come, express an attitude of gratitude. Learn to express your thanks every day, not just on one day of the year. Having a heart filled with thanks will change the way you see the world and the way the world sees you.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
A Different Road
I wrote about my nephew’s wedding last week. It was great to see my family. It’s hard to get our whole family together because we are really spread out across the country. I have nieces and nephews that live in Montana and Idaho. I have a nephew in Puerto Rico and another in Oklahoma. A number of them live in Virginia. The ones in the Carolinas I get to see for holiday gatherings.
I have noticed that like me, they are getting older. Many of my nieces and nephews are in their thirties, with one hitting forty. Several are going through big life changes like expecting a child, changing jobs, and changing life direction. Listening to them reminded me that life is full of changes, some good and pleasant, others hard and challenging. I remember in my own life how critical faith was to help navigate those changes, believing that God would see us through.
My nephew’s wedding was a few miles past the end of civilization. I left early to get there on time. I am glad I did because I had a little trouble finding the place. I wrote the directions out and had a printout of the directions, but I still struggled. In the directions there was a road that I was supposed to be on for only a short distance. I was cruising along and out of the corner of my eye I saw the name of the road. I turned around and went back to that road without checking my directions.
This road took me on a beautiful adventure out into the country. It was a twisty, peaceful road. I was enjoying the views and taking in fall’s beauty. After driving for quite a while, I began to think about those directions sitting on my seat. Something felt wrong. I was still on this road but failed to realize this was supposed to be the road that only required a short distance. The peace began to evaporate as I began to think I was going the wrong way.
That’s when I spotted a fire station. Firemen know their way around. I told the guy where I was going, and he said I was just a few miles from a critical intersection. My peace returned and I began to enjoy the sights once again. When I finally arrived at the intersection, I discovered that I was supposed to be on the road I was crossing, not the one I was on. I made the turn and was back on track. I later realized that I had been on a long journey on a country road that just happened to loop me back around to my destination.
I believe that life is much like my mistaken turn. We believe we know where we are going but sometimes we get off the road God intended for us. The journey ends up being a pleasant diversion. We are not where God intended but we are also not in danger. God is keeping a close eye on us. We have wandered. He has a plan to get us back on track but it requires that we seek wise counsel and be willing to follow it.
We all come to forks in the road in our lives. Several of my nieces and nephews are sitting there right now. We can choose which road to go down. One is the way the Lord is calling us and the other may lead us away from His blessing. How do we know which way to go?
I believe it requires prayer. Prayer should include trusted brothers and sisters in the Lord and our pastors. Seeking wise counsel from people who have your best interests at heart is also a good idea. Be careful of paths that look easy and good. Sometimes God’s path is more challenging, but those challenges will build godly character and lead you into a far better place. I believe God will guide you if you are willing to wait and pray.
Do you know that God wants you to have a good trip through life? An old pastor friend has worked hard to drill that into my head. I want to encourage you if you are at a crossroads in life…God is with you…wait, pray, and listen for His voice to guide you. God’s way is often not the easy way. God’s way is not the shortcut. God’s path often involves training and developing your personal strengths and character. His path is not about instant success but long-term success. Don’t be in a rush to move forward. God is at work behind the scenes for you, preparing the way for you, wanting to bless you.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
An Interesting Conversation
My nephew got married over the weekend in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect if we had ordered it. The setting was beautiful. The sun peeked through the leaves to catch glimpses of the bride and groom. I saw a swarm of honeybees and a flock of birds fly over. All of nature was straining to get a glimpse of the bride and groom.
The ceremony honored both their faith and their devotion to each other. They composed their own vows in which they shared the depth of their love and commitment to each other. Then they exchanged the traditional vows before sharing the anxiously awaited kiss. It was a wonderful afternoon watching my sister’s youngest son begin his life’s journey together with his new bride. Almost my entire family was present and it was great to see my siblings and their families all together.
The reception that followed was filled with all the traditional activities: the first dance, cutting the cake, and speeches. The food was very good and the place was packed with warmth and good cheer. Everyone had a great time in what was a well-choreographed wedding ceremony. I am so happy for the bride and groom and their respective families.
While we were waiting to eat, I was sitting at a table with my brother-in-law, another nephew, who was visiting from Puerto Rico, and a great-niece. My brother-in-law was asking questions for each of us to answer. My great-niece was enjoying the interaction. At one point he asked her, “If you could have dinner with two people, living or dead, who would they be and why?” My niece responded, “Monet.” The three of us were blown away with her response since she is a young child. Then she added Vincent van Gogh and she had us all reeling. How could such a young child pick such great people? Obviously, she is interested in art. We all thought she would pick some movie or TV star or a young heart throb.
When asked the same question, my brother-in-law, who is English, chose Winston Churchill and one of the Queens from British history. We discussed several influential people in British history that would be fascinating to meet. I told the group that I would like to meet Paul who wrote most of the New Testament. As a writer, I would like to learn what I could from the expert. Everyone liked that answer. When asked who my second choice would be, I mentioned a few movie stars. This earned me some well-intentioned teasing from the guys. We all got a good laugh from the suggested stars. To be honest, I would really like to meet several contemporary Christian writers such as Davis Bunn, Frank Peretti, or Max Lucado. I once met Og Mandino, who had a huge impact on my life. But that is a story for another day.
The question fell to my nephew. Without hesitation he said he would like to meet Jesus. He said he had lots of questions that he would like to discuss with Jesus. We all liked his choice. We discussed a few of his questions and we enjoyed the interaction. A little later, my brother-in-law left the table and I pursued his choice a little deeper. I told my nephew that I would enjoy hearing his questions and discussing them with him. I told him that my father often liked to discuss such things and it would remind me of him in a pleasant way. We decided that we would continue our discussion through email.
I am looking forward to this exchange with my nephew as we discuss the things he would like to learn from Jesus. I hope that I will be able to answer some questions which I think will help deepen my own faith as I grapple with the things that are on his mind. Talking about Jesus is one of my favorite topics. I imagine my dad would have loved to be a part of this exchange, adding plenty of his own questions.
I want to encourage you to explore opportunities that present themselves to you to discuss and share your faith with others. Many people you know have questions that you could answer and help them to understand. My nephew and I have agreed that this is not to be a debate but rather an opportunity to learn and grow in our understanding. I hope we grow closer through this exchange. Sharing our faith and why we believe in a non-judgmental way can be a real blessing. Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
Needing Help
There is one thing that most people do not want to admit: I need help. We all want to be able to take care of our own needs. We will work hard to figure out how we can do a task all by ourselves. If we can’t see the solution immediately, we will keep thinking about how we can do it on our own. We struggle to accept help in order to get things done.
The trouble is, especially as we age, that sometimes we need help to do a task. The question becomes, who do we ask for help? What kind of relationship do we have with a neighbor or co-worker? Can we ask them for help? What will they think? Will we feel like a burden to them? Do they feel obligated to help or are they helping out of kindness?
I find it easier to offer help than to receive it. If a neighbor or co-worker needs help with something I will be there to give them a hand. Sometimes I will do something to help a neighbor without being asked; that’s what good neighbors do. We look out for each other and we care about each other. So why is it difficult to receive that same kind of help?
I had some tasks that I needed to do outside that twenty years ago I would done without asking for help. I might have had some sore muscles, but it would have felt good to have the tasks done. After hurting my back in the spring, I am a little more cautious. While I feel like I have fully recovered, I decided it would be nice to have a little help to get these things done.
A friend from church was willing to come give me a hand. In just under four hours we were able to knock out my list. It felt great to get those things done. As a bonus, we got to enjoy some good fellowship and share some great laughs. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know my friend a little better.
I will ask the question again, why do we struggle so much with asking for help? Could it be a matter of pride? No one wants to admit that we are getting older or need help. I know I sit down to rest more often when I am working outside. I also make sure I am using my legs to lift and not my back. Regardless, I still want to do things on my own and not have to ask for help.
Imagine how this translates to our spiritual lives. We want to be spiritually strong and independent. But the Body of Christ is designed so we are dependent on each other. We are the family of God and we will have to lean upon each other from time to time. God designed us with strengths and weaknesses. Each of us has different talents, skills, and abilities. No one can do it all. We need each other for support and encouragement.
If the Body of Christ was dependent on me for singing, we would be in terrible trouble. I love to sing, but I know that I do not have a good singing voice. God has given me the gifts of teaching, writing, and encouraging. I am good at these things and people need me to use my gifts and talents to build up and encourage the Body of Christ.
We will all find ourselves going through difficult times at some point. Maybe you are going through the loss of a loved one, maybe you are facing financial struggles, or maybe you have recently given your life to God and you need help growing in your faith. Whatever you are struggling with, especially if it’s medical stuff, there is someone in the family of God who made it through that same situation who can pray with and for you as you walk on your journey. God wants us to help each other and to accept help from each other.
I want to encourage you to be willing to accept a helping hand when you find yourself in the place of need. I know you might prefer to be the helper instead of the one receiving help, but it is God’s design that you need to learn to receive as easily as you give. We need to let someone else use their gifts and abilities to be a blessing and learn to receive that blessing from them. I know it is a hard lesson. I have much to learn. It is part of the beauty of the Body of Christ, blessing and being blessed.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
By Doug Creamer
Testing Us
I enjoy my job at the community college where I am helping students earn their high school equivalency. There are four tests students must pass in order to earn their diploma. Students have to become proficient in language arts, math, science, and social studies. We have daytime classes in person and online. There is also an online evening program. We push the students to grow in their knowledge and skills so they can pass the tests and graduate.
We have some practice tests to help students prepare for their testing experience. Nerves can get in the way. Sometimes students struggle with the tests. We are there to encourage and support them through the process. It is so exciting to see our students pass tests and achieve success.
Despite all the instruction and preparation, sometimes our students come up a little short on the tests. It’s hard for them and we feel it too. We sit down with them and work on areas that need reinforcing. We have been seeing some great success with our students. It is very rewarding when students pass their tests. The excitement spreads like wildfire to the other students.
When it comes down to it, most of us don’t like tests, especially medical tests. The reality is that we will all face a variety of different tests in life. Some will come out good while others will prove to be challenging. It’s okay to admit that you are scared or don’t like change. We have to own up to our weaknesses and develop strategies for improvement. With faith, grace, and change we will push through and overcome.
Tests and changes reach beyond the classroom to our professional lives. Teachers and doctors take tests to maintain their licenses. Most professionals that require state licenses will require professional development and often tests. It’s hard to avoid being tested.
I believe that God is in the testing business, too. God wants to know if we trust Him. The best way for Him to figure that out is to put us in situations where we have to trust Him. When we can lean on Him and believe that He has our best interests at heart, He knows that we trust Him. Can we walk through difficult circumstances while trusting God?
One specific way is to see if we believe God is our provider. He will allow circumstances in our lives that will test us to see if we believe that God will provide for us. Our bank accounts may not sustain us through a financial crisis, but will we trust God or lean on our own understanding? I have seen God come through for us so many times and provide in what seemed to me to be miraculous ways. Don’t think that I didn’t struggle with doubt and worry…I failed those tests…but I have seen God’s faithfulness time after time.
God also wants to know if we will be obedient when we are facing odds that are against us. In the Bible, we are told of huge armies that came against Israel. God would tell the people what to do if they wanted to see victory. One time, they sent the musicians in front of the army. Another time, they marched around Jericho for seven days and then God made the city walls come crashing down. And a young boy named David defeated a giant with a small stone. Have you ever faced insurmountable odds and seen God come through for you?
God knows that the only way to grow your faith muscles is to test them and stretch them. He has to give you chances to trust and lean on Him in order for you to turn to Him in your challenging moments. He wants to come through for you and confirm in you the depth of His love for you. He wants to prove to you that He has an eye on your situation and that He knows every detail. There is no need to worry or live in fear because He’s got you.
I want to encourage you to trust in God with every circumstance or situation you are facing. He has a plan that is unique for you. He sees you on the other side. He knows how you will find victory and build a deeper faith and trust in Him. He hasn’t forsaken you. He is walking with you through your situation. There is nothing too difficult for Him. You will overcome because He made you to be an overcomer. He wants to build a testimony in your life to His goodness. So let the tests come, you will pass them one by one.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com