Doug’s Columns

By Doug Creamer

A Second Harvest

            How are you holding up with all this heat? Maybe by the time you read my column the heat wave will have broken. It’s so hot! Where I live, we have had very little rain to help trees, plants, and gardens. I have been watering regularly trying to keep everything alive. It’s been an uphill battle.

            I looked out the window at the vegetable garden and realized that I had an empty bed. I had harvested my potatoes – a good crop this year – and that space was available to plant. I didn’t want to go out and do it in the heat. BUT I do want a fall harvest. The only way to get a fall harvest is to plant things now. I made myself go out and get the bed ready for planting one evening and then went out another evening and planted some seeds.

            Another area of the garden will finish up in a couple of weeks and I am planning what I will put in that spot, too. Most people work to get their first tomatoes in by the 4^th of July, but I was running late with my garden this year. I am hoping for my first tomato soon. I have eaten a few cherry tomatoes, but I can’t wait for a real one. I have enjoyed some tomatoes from a local farmer, but there is nothing like growing your own.

            We’ve had some successes and struggles with the garden this year. I am hoping for a second harvest. It is hard to imagine that the first frost will arrive in about 12 weeks, especially when we will probably hit 100 today. Picking the right vegetables and getting them started soon is critical if I want to get more from my garden.

            Last year we had a big harvest of green beans and butter beans in the fall. This year I haven’t had a green bean yet. Last year I got some late cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and squash. I am going to keep trying, keep pushing my luck against Mother Nature. It seems our first frost has been running later and later the last few years, so I am hopeful that I will get a harvest this year, too. I remember having to take some sheets out to cover things last year to protect my vegetables from frost.

            A second harvest requires hot, sweaty work. I have been sharing my harvest with the critters, but I believe I have gotten a bigger portion this year. In order to continue our harvest into the fall, I have to get out there in the heat and do the necessary work of cleaning out the weeds, preparing the seed bed, and planting the seeds.

            If we want to see the harvest of souls, it is going to require the same type of effort. Think of the world or those who have no relationship with God as an untamed garden bed. Someone has to clear out the weeds. Many people live in the world and pay no attention to spiritual matters. Their guide is worldly standards. Their measure of success comes from the value of the bank account. They look to social media for approval. These weeds need to be cleared away. We have to help them see their need for God and biblical standards.

            We help to prepare their hearts by expressing God’s love for them. We help them see that God has a purpose and a plan for their lives. We also help them see the error of their ways. But more than our words, we live our lives in front of them as an example. We show them by our choices, faith, and hope that there is a better way to live their lives. Once their hearts are ready, we can share the love of Jesus with them.

            Do you have family, friends, and neighbors who are lost and in need of a savior? I want to encourage you to ask God to help you be a weed puller, soil prepper, seed planter, the one who waters, or the one who harvests the lost soul. He will show you how. He can and will use you to share your faith in Christ with them. We never know how much time we have here on earth, but when that time is up we will have to stand before God. Make yourself available to share the Good News. The goal is make a way for them to hear what we all want to hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant. Enter your master’s rest.” Pray and do what he tells you.

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

By Doug Creamer

A New Beginning

            We are quickly approaching the time when students will be returning to the classroom. It is hard to imagine that summer vacation is coming to a close. Please pray for teachers and all the staff that work at the schools. They care for and nurture our children. Ask God to work through them as they raise up the next generation.

            A new school year means it is a new beginning. Last year’s successes and failures are gone and students begin with a clean slate. Teachers have had time to rest and recuperate and the challenge of a new year with a new group of students is set before them. Pray that our schools will be safe for the children and that they will have the equipment and supplies they need to grow and expand their minds.

            Today was my first day with new students at the community college. It is always exciting to meet my new students and begin to help them discover their potential. We had a good first day meeting each other and starting to get their minds working and thinking. Hope and optimism are at their brightest as we begin our new journey together. I can’t wait to see what my new students will accomplish and help them take steps to success.

            The reality is that new beginnings require work for both the students and the teachers. There is lots of planning that goes into student success. It doesn’t just happen. Creating the right environment and encouraging the right attitudes are big contributors to success. But all the planning and enthusiasm on the teachers’ side is not enough for success. Students need to bring the right attitude and effort to the table. They also need a good support system at home to help them take the necessary steps.   

            The same thing is required to help a believer begin their walk with Christ. They need help. Someone has to teach them and help them develop the spiritual disciplines that are needed to grow and mature in Christ. Some may say that those are the pastor’s responsibilities. That’s not entirely true. It takes all of us working together to help new believers begin their journey. Those of us who have been around for a while are called to encourage and support the new believers.

            Some people think that discipleship and training falls to the Sunday school teachers. While Sunday school classes can help with the basics of our faith, they can’t keep going over the basics every time a new believer comes along. Mature believers need to be encouraged and challenged in Sunday school classes, too.

            The problem with faith is that it is not a once and done thing. Faith is constantly evolving as we grow and mature in the Lord. In the beginning, new believers need spiritual milk. As we grow we need to move on to solid foods that help us grow and develop deep roots that will help us through the dry and challenging times.

            There is no retirement plans in the Kingdom of God. We are all expected to keep working at both growing and helping the younger ones in the faith. Older believers can bring wisdom and guidance to younger believers. This happens in many ways beyond Sunday school and church.  We need to be ready in season and out of season to help younger believers grow and develop their faith.  

            We are constantly encouraged in the Bible to pass on our faith. One of the effective ways of doing that is through building relationships, which takes time. We can do that through sharing meals, working on projects, or participating in small groups. Developing connections with other believers builds a deeper commitment to each other, the church, and the Lord. These opportunities open doors for us to speak into each other’s lives. 

            We all find ourselves in different places in our spiritual journeys. Sometimes we need to be encouraged and challenged, and other times we need to be the encourager and challenger. I want to encourage you to be in relationship with other believers, especially those who are new to the faith. If you are new to the faith, find some older believers that you can connect with and receive from to help you along on your new spiritual journey. If you are an older and experienced believer I encourage you to share your stories, your testimonies, with younger believers so they can develop strong roots that will help them through the storms of life. When you think about it, we are all in school, learning spiritual lessons that will help us grow and mature in Christ.

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

By Doug Creamer

            I looked out the window one morning thinking a squirrel was under the bird feeders. I pulled the curtain back for a closer look and discovered that it was not a squirrel but a raccoon. He was chowing down on the seeds that were on the ground but he had obviously been in the feeders, too. Both feeders were empty and I had recently filled them. I took a few pictures as proof of our morning visitor.

            My wife reminded me that we had raccoon problems many years ago. She described how the raccoons had learned to open a feeder with a pretty tough latch to get to the food. I didn’t remember the intruder from years ago. But the longer I thought about it, I do remember that we took that feeder down to get one that was more secure. It took a little more effort to jog the memory. There are many things that are tucked away up there.

            My parents both have good memories and can remember things from many years ago, but they will also tell you that some of the details are getting a little fuzzy. What they both have told me is that new memories are really difficult to remember. They can forget what they ate for dinner a few nights ago or if they have taken their medicine. It’s tough when their memory slips, but most of the time with a little prompt the memory will return.

            My wife and I have taken to writing notes for ourselves and each other. Honey do lists are helpful so I won’t forget what needs to get done. Keeping appointments and meetings written on calendars helps to keep us both straight. The side of my computer is covered in Post It notes to help me remember important things.

            I started to wonder how easy it might be to lose stories that are a part of our testimony. I believe there are certain encounters and experiences with God that will never fade away, but I wonder if others have slipped away unnoticed. What might seem significant in the moment could escape into the darkness of forgotten events.

            How do we keep from losing something significant in our lives? I think it is important that we share our stories. “I remember when God did this in my life.” “I remember a time when it looked like all was lost and then God came through for me.” God gives us these experiences not just to help us in the moment but to create in us a testimony to His goodness. It’s those testimonies that when shared with others can build faith that God will come through for us. It can also ignite a new faith and bring people into a relationship with God.

            When we are going through a tough time, it is important for us to review how God has come through for us in the past. By reminding ourselves we end up building our own faith. It reminds us that we can trust God in the hard times. It is easy to have faith in God when everything is going well; it is during the hard times that we need reminding.

             Most of us who attend church have taken communion. We eat the bread and drink the wine. Jesus told us to do it in remembrance of Him. We need to remind ourselves of the high price Jesus paid for us. He gave His life so we can have a relationship with God, our good, good Father. Jesus’ blood removes the stain of sin in our lives. God promises to forget ALL our sins. His body was whipped so our bodies can be made new. He paid for our healing. We must never forget what it cost Jesus and the Father for our salvation, forgiveness, healing, and deliverance.

            It is easy to forget things, especially as we grow older. I want to encourage you to remember all the ways God has blessed you. Think about the many times you felt Him close when you desperately needed Him. Remember the way the scriptures have come alive at critical moments and guided you through circumstances. Remember the price Jesus paid for YOU! God the Father and Jesus love you far more than you will ever believe. They want a relationship with you. It’s ALL up to you. You have to open your heart to them. It’s not too late! Today is the day of salvation. You will never forget the day you let them into your heart.

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

By Doug Creamer

Rescue Mission

            We’ve all seen the pictures and videos coming out of Texas of the flooding they have endured. It brings back memories of what the folks in our mountains went through last year. I have watched videos where people were miraculously saved and others that left me wondering if the people survived. In one, the house is picked up off its foundation and begins floating down the river and flashlights can be seen inside the moving house.

            The Piedmont of North Carolina experienced some flooding over the weekend due to the remnants of a tropical storm. I saw stories of many road closures and even the interstate was closed due to flooding. I saw pictures from that area that showed businesses and people’s homes under water.

            I watched some videos of swift water rescues. It is amazing to see those guys work together to reach someone who is trapped in a car or clinging to a tree. They work cautiously, deliberately, and bravely to help stranded people. I find myself cheering when I see them complete their mission.

            People aren’t the only ones being rescued; I have also seen pet rescues. I have the upmost respect for those who run towards danger in hopes of saving both people and pets. Swift water rescues look so dangerous.

            Some videos show guys going into flooded areas to rescue people who are trapped on the roofs of their homes. Some rescues look like they are being done by average guys, not the professionals. That made me think of some of the guys at my church who love to fish. Several of them own boats and I can easily imagine them using their boats to go rescue people who are sitting on their roofs. They would be out there helping in any way they could if we were in situations like those in Texas and the Piedmont of North Carolina.

            That got me to thinking about people who are in trouble spiritually. Some people have found themselves trapped in the middle of the storms of life and they are sitting on the roofs of their spiritual homes needing someone to rescue them. Some people are trapped by drugs or alcohol. They are looking for an escape because they are overwhelmed by life.  Others are trying to ease some pain in their lives.

            People who are trapped in drug and alcohol abuse are calling out to be rescued. They need someone who can lead them to Jesus so they can discover the healing, forgiveness, and restoration that only He can provide. The question becomes who is brave enough to share their faith with the people who are stuck living in the darkness.

            All of us know people who are lost spiritually. They don’t believe in God and only use His name in a profane way. When we die there are only two options: heaven or hell. If we understood what hell is going to be like with no love and eternal suffering, then we would be eager to reach out to the lost. If someone still has breath in their body, there is still hope. Can we find the bravery needed to share the love of God with the lost?

            I know and understand that reaching out to broken and lost people is difficult. Some will reject you. Some will curse you. Some will stop being your friend. The risk and price are high. But sometimes reaching out can be as simple as being kind. Can we love those who feel unlovable? I don’t think we have to shove the gospel down someone’s throat. We can live the gospel and be lights in the darkness. Allow them to be attracted to us and see that there is something different about us. It will require words, but it might begin with a warm smile, a helping hand, something good to eat, or just hanging out and listening.

            We all know people who need rescuing, so I want to encourage you to take the first step towards winning them to faith: pray for them. Pray and ask God what you can do to help win those who are lost. God knows what they need and He can reveal it to you. Be obedient to what God shows you even though it might be scary. Be kind; kindness is often irresistible. Imagine it this way: you own a boat and there are people sitting on the roofs of their houses crying out for someone to come and help them. Will you be brave enough to help? They will be eternally grateful for your courage. 

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

By Doug Creamer

Traveling

            We went to visit my wife’s family last week. Traveling has become increasingly more challenging. It seems harder to get ready to go anywhere. The excitement of going someplace doesn’t seem to counteract the hurdles required to get there. I used to enjoy the drive, but now there are some people who drive excessively fast with no regard for others. Defensive driving is a must if you hope to arrive safely.

            Being with my wife’s family always involves eating plenty of good food. I helped to wash the dishes while we were there. It seemed only fair after they worked hard to put nice meals on the table. There were lots of laughs and the sharing of our lives. It was nice to take life at a slower pace for a few days.

            While we were there, I was able to spend an afternoon at the beach with my sister. There was a storm close by that we thought might ruin our time together, but it rained itself out before getting to us. We talked for a couple of hours and caught up on our lives while sitting near and wading in the cooling water. I didn’t want to leave. She sent me off refreshed by our time together and time sitting on the beach.

            We arrived home late the other night, glad to see our own home and to sleep in our own bed. I like traveling and getting away from the routines of our daily lives. But I also like coming home to our house and enjoying the comforts of being in our space.

            Traveling can be a fun and enjoyable activity. It can also be challenging if you run into trouble. Storms, broken down cars, and accidents can all lead to traveling nightmares. No one wants those kinds of problems. I am always thankful when we arrive home safely.

In a spiritual sense, we are all on journeys that we hope will lead us safely to our eternal home in heaven. Our spiritual journey is not taken on a highway. I prefer to be on a multi-lane highway when I am traveling, that way I have options if things go wrong. If we hope to find an eternity with God at the end of our journey then we are going to have to travel on paths, not highways.

            The Bible clearly tells us that the way to heaven is found on a difficult path. The road to destruction and an eternity separated from God is wide and easy to travel. Most people find themselves on that road mainly because it is easy. You do what want and live the way you want. The path to heaven is filled with difficult choices living by biblical standards, which are contrary to the world standards. God expects us to live up to His ways.

            Your journey on this path begins by making the choice to ask Jesus to be your savior. It is the best decision you will ever make, but it is also a challenging choice. You are choosing to leave your old life behind and agreeing to go on an adventure with God. While it will be difficult, God will take you on a wonderful, unforgettable journey. You will find forgiveness, healing for your brokenness, restoration of your self-esteem, and fulfillment.

            God’s paths take you to places you never imagined. God will give you dreams and then the ability to fulfill those dreams. God will give you gifts and talents that will help to build His kingdom. He will show you the purpose for which you were created. Then you will need to apply faith to fulfill that purpose. He will change your destiny and make you a new person on both the inside and the outside. You will become the apple of His eye.

            It doesn’t matter if you are ten or a hundred; God has a plan, purpose, and destiny in mind for you. I want to encourage you to take the first step and invite Jesus into your life. Put your hand in God’s hand and let Him take you on an unbelievable journey that might seem impossible to you today. Get on God’s path. It’s tough, but oh, so worth it. He sees you. He loves you. He sees what you can and will become. He is excited to take you to your destiny. This world has nothing to offer compared to eternity with God in heaven. You can do it! It’s not too late! Come join me on the path that leads to the heart of God.

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

By Doug Creamer

Heat Wave!

            Do you like going to the beach? I do! I like walking the beach and allowing the waves to wash up around my feet. I also enjoy sitting close to the water and allowing the waves to rush up under my chair. The sound of the waves crashing onto the beach in such a rhythmic way helps to erase stress and clear the mind.

            Those are waves I like. I don’t like heat waves like the one we are enduring now. I think it is unusual to have a heat wave this early in the year. I have a few days off and was planning to get some work done outside. That’s not happening in this heat. My new plan is to enjoy plenty of ice cold drinks and the air conditioning. 

            What concerns me about this early heat wave is its impact on local farmers and small gardeners like me. How do we keep the fruits and vegetables alive in the extreme heat? I know we need to water, but the heat is hard on all the plants. I need to do some weeding in the garden but it’s too hot for that.

            The heat and humidity is draining on us. I was hoping to do some reading on my front porch, but that is not going to happen, either. I went for my walk the other day in the early evening. It was still warm but we have lots of trees in our neighborhood, which helped.

            We all know this will not be the only heat wave of the summer. I am hoping for a little cooler weather for our Fourth of July celebration. I guess summer heat is here to stay. The air temperature is not the only challenge we face in our lives. Many of us are feeling the heat in other ways, like struggles with relationships, finances, broken down cars, air conditioner repairs, health issues…and the list goes on. This kind of heat can challenge our faith.

            God wants our faith to grow and become strong. The only way for that to happen is for us to face challenges where we find ourselves dependent upon God to come through for us. I am not suggesting we purposefully put ourselves in difficult places to make God come through for us. Life will deliver plenty of challenges that will make us run to God to help us through our situation.

            The key word that I have been thinking about is the word through. We serve a God who wants to see us through life’s challenges. Naturally, we would all prefer God to move quickly and instantly. Who wouldn’t be excited when God heals someone? We all would love to see our problems instantly solved. Simple solutions. Easy every time!

            When we see God move in the miraculous it builds our faith in His mighty power. It builds our faith to go back the next time with an expectant heart that God will come through miraculously again. There are miracles that happen around us all the time and we need to tell those stories to build each other’s faith. We need to believe in His goodness and kindness for us and in His miraculous power.

The problem with the instant results is that there is no opportunity for our faith to grow through perseverance. Do you remember the parable about the widow who wearied the judge with her request? The judge gave in because of her perseverance. God wants to see us persevere in the same manner.

I believe that God sometimes chooses not to move miraculously because He wants to walk with us through our circumstance. He is the God who sees us through the fiery trial. He is the God who brings light into our darkest moments. He is the God of hope that can help us endure. He wants us to learn more about His character. He wants us to learn to trust Him when we can’t see our next step. He wants to build that child-like faith in us.

I want to encourage you in two ways today. First, I want to encourage you to believe in God’s miraculous power. He still does miracles and we need to pray and believe for them. Second, if you feel yourself struggling because God didn’t move miraculously for you, then know that God is going to see you through. He wants to take you into a deeper relationship with Him. He is drawing you closer. Challenges are opportunities to get to know God better. Heat in our lives gives us the opportunity to build faith in an awesome God. 

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

By Doug Creamer

Peace & Rest

            Is it just me or does the world seem to be a scary place? I watched the volcano erupt in Hawaii, which was cool and scary. Did you see the images from the recent plane crash in India? Last year we had terrible flooding in western North Carolina, and we are now starting a new hurricane season; do we need to be concerned?

            There are a number of wars going on around the world that are scary. The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on for three years. Few people realize that India and Pakistan are fighting each other. Israel has been fighting with the Palestinians and now they are engaging in a war with Iran. I would hate to live in a war zone. 

            The humanitarian needs are growing daily around the world with many people unable to find food and shelter. Did you hear about the assignations and the attempted assignations up in Minnesota?  I am beginning to wonder if the whole world has gone crazy! We are lucky and blessed to be living in America where most of us can meet our daily needs for food, shelter, and have a general sense that we are safe.  

            Yet many of us fail to live with a sense of peace. It is hard to feel peace when so many in our world are suffering. I believe most people want to get up and go to work, come home and have dinner, watch some TV with their family, and go to sleep in their own beds. People crave the routines that many of us want to escape when we take our summer vacations to the beach or the mountains.

            I know we need to be aware of things that are happening in our world today. We need to be up on the news, but we need to learn to limit our intake of news and breathe. Feeding our minds all that bad news is going to give all of us anxiety and fill us with depression. Awareness is one thing but allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed is something entirely different.

            I have been encouraging my Sunday school class to turn off their TV. There are some great and wonderful things happening all the time that the news will not tell you. For example, last year after the terrible floods in the mountains I know relatives and neighbors who went up and helped people who were suffering. No one knows when someone reaches out to help a neighbor or elderly person. People like you and me do kind and nice things to help others all the time, but there aren’t reporters out there putting that on the evening news.

            Jesus tells us that if we are feeling overwhelmed by our circumstances or the world around us to come to Him and He will give us rest. Philippians 4 tells us not to be anxious about anything but to pray to God with thanksgiving. If we do that, He promises to give us His perfect peace. We are further challenged to consider our meditations and to think about good and beautiful things. God will help us, but we have to do our part.

            God’s peace is available to all of us. We have to read and meditate on His word. We also have to go to Him in our prayers and lay our burdens down. The trouble is we want to pick those burdens up when we leave His presence. We have trust Him with our problems, our families, our jobs, our homes, our cars, our communities, our nation, and our world. We need to look for the good and beauty around us. We need to seek Him with our hearts and minds. We have to make room in our minds for His peace.

            I want to encourage you to be aware of what is going on in the world but not to let it overwhelm you. We serve a great big God who remains in control in spite of what things may look like to us. Release your burdens to Him and accept the gift of His perfect peace. No matter what is troubling you, He can and will help if you let Him. It may not work out the way we think it should but we have to trust Him with all the details. When we can take the steps of trusting Him and believing in His goodness, we can find the peace that we all need. I speak the PEACE of Christ to you…to your heart, to your mind, and to your spirit. Receive it! Now rest in it!

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

By Doug Creamer

Father’s Day

            When I was growing up, I had everything I needed. I look around the world today and I see stories of so many who lack their daily needs or live in a war zone. We are so blessed to be living in America. My parents made sure I had everything I needed for a successful launch in life and for that I am so grateful.

            We weren’t wealthy but we had everything we needed as kids because our parents sacrificed for us. They put aside their wants so we could have the things that we needed. They provided a safe place for us to grow up and they provided a safety net for us as we spread our wings and learned to fly. They caught each of us and helped us to learn from our mistakes. That means they gave us room and grace to make those mistakes without making us feel like failures.  

            My parents did a good job raising us. I would not say our home was perfect…no one has a perfect home. The TV examples of “Leave it to Beaver” or “The Brady Bunch” are idyllic places that we loved to watch as kids but were not reality for any of us. The single father household of “Andy Griffith” who was tasked with raising Opie with the help of Aunt Bee presents an unobtainable dream home where everything seems perfect.

            These TV shows set a standard for dads that is impossible. No dad could ever be that perfect, but we love to watch and dream. My Dad liked to have a catch, shoot some basketball, play a game of pool, and take us golfing. My Dad, who is over 90, still loves to play golf. He and I played in a father-son golf tournament when I was young and won second place, a trophy I still have to this day.

            My Dad admits that he wasn’t a perfect dad. Sometimes he fell asleep on the couch instead of coming outside to shoot some hoops with his sons. Other times he would send us outside to “warm up” while he stayed inside and snuck a few extra cookies while no one was watching. Yeah Dad, I caught you more than once on that one. He also got upset and yelled at us kids, but sometimes we deserved it, like the time my hamster escaped and got into the wall of our house. My brother helped me retrieve it.     

My Dad also took us on adventures. One time we were driving through a tunnel with no lights and he turned off the car lights. Several times he took us out to the airport and we sat near the end of the runway watching the planes take off or land. He took us to see a ship that had been raised from the bottom of the ocean and was being restored. We explored castle ruins. He took us to a presidential debate when we were kids.  

            One advantage of being married is that you gain a whole new family, including another father. My father-in-law welcomed me to his family as a son. He taught me how to fix things. We did a couple of home repairs together. He shared some wisdom with me about marriage, work, and life in general. I think what I miss the most about my father-in-law are his stories. I would love to hear another of his stories of the fascinating people he knew growing up on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

            Whether all your stories about your earthly father are good ones or they are mixed, as most people’s stories are, you can be sure that your Heavenly Father is perfect. He also loves you unconditionally. He sees the best in you. He has great plans for your future. He is closer to you than your breath. He will never leave you or forsake you. You can run to Him for wisdom and guidance. You can call Him 24/7. He will ALWAYS answer.

            I want to encourage you to remember the good things about your father. Forgive and forget all the ways he may have fallen short. Turn to your Heavenly Father and ask Him to heal any of the brokenness in your life left by your earthly father. Connect with your Father through His Word and prayer. Allow His love to wash over you and fill you to overflowing. Dad, thanks for all you did for me – Happy Father’s Day! Heavenly Father thank you for your love and forgiveness and for being a good, good Father!

By Doug Creamer

What is Faith?

            How can it be June already? I have so much I still want to do outside before it becomes too hot to get it done. Most of my garden is planted. A local farmer is advertising that he will have corn this weekend and mine just got planted. I need to replant my beans for a third time, not because of the rabbits that love to eat them, but because the seeds did not germinate. I am also hoping to put out some sweet potatoes.

            Gardening has a lot to do with faith. We put things out in the ground with faith that we will get a harvest from our labors. The reality is, things happen. One year we got so much rain that my potatoes rotted. We fight pests that require us to spray pesticides. Then we have the rabbits, and this year we have quite a few. The squirrels beat me to my corn the last couple of years. Then the deer have learned to jump my fences so they can enjoy my vegetables, too. If I can outwit all these challenges, I might get a harvest.

            That is where faith comes into the equation. Gardeners have faith that our work will give us the harvest we are working to achieve. Faith is believing and trusting that God will reward your hard work. Here is the part that some people forget. I can’t just plant seeds; I have to do many other things if I want to see the harvest. I have to water my seeds. I have to weed the garden. I also have to do the work of preventing all the above named pests from getting my harvest. Even then things like weather conditions can ruin a harvest. It requires faith!

            If gardening requires all that faith and hard work to achieve any level of success, then why do we believe that our spiritual journey will be an easy one? The idea that I can walk the aisle and ask Jesus into my life and then expect I will live on easy street is crazy. It requires faith to ask Jesus into our lives, but if we believe the hard work is over we are sadly mistaken. We have to work to protect this seed of a new life in Jesus so it can grow and produce a harvest for His kingdom.

            The enemy is like a squirrel which will come and dig the seeds up and eat them before they can germinate. If the squirrels miss out, then when the first leaves of our faith emerge the rabbits will be waiting to eat them and keep us from growing. If we keep them out, the weeds of distraction will grow up and choke our seeds. If we get past that we have to watch out for the deer of doubt, fear, and worry that will try and steal our harvest from us. Yes, spiritual gardening requires faith and hard work.

            If we can manage to defeat all the critters that want to steal our harvest, we still have to do the hard work of growing roots. Our roots will grow as we read God’s word. Here is the important part about reading the Bible: we have to do more than just read it. We have to add faith and then apply it to our lives. Some people can quote the Bible but they have never applied any of it to their lives. Knowledge without faith and application will not produce a spiritual harvest. Faith in God’s word requires application.

            Another important part of growing faith is having a conversation with God. Some people believe that prayer is talking at God. Prayer is a two-way conversation. We need to listen for God’s voice in our lives. He can speak to us through the Bible, but He also wants to speak to us in our spirit. He will nudge you, guide you, and give you thoughts. Naturally, we need to carefully weigh what we hear and make sure it lines up with God’s word. Hearing from God requires faith!

            I want to encourage you to grow your faith. Growing faith requires hard work. It requires daily maintenance. The enemy wants to distract you, separate you from other believers, and keep you in a state of doubt, fear, and discouragement. God is with us. He is fighting for us. He wants to see us grow a strong faith that will endure the many tests we must face in our spiritual journey. Having faith is not easy, but the reward is great because we will get to spend eternity with Him in heaven.

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

By Doug Creamer

Remembering

            I slept in this morning and it sure felt nice. When I woke up, I lay in bed and enjoyed the peacefulness. I didn’t have to rush anywhere. I ate a leisurely breakfast and then sat quietly on my front porch. It was a cool morning with a light drizzle. My prayers were lazy but filled with thanksgiving. I started to think about what I was going to write, but was not in a hurry to start.

            Why was I afforded such a wonderful morning? Today, as I write, it is Memorial Day. I know that I only work part-time now, but it is still nice to have a day off. The reason I was given this opportunity is because today is a day that we remember those who sacrificed their lives to give us the chance to live in this great land. America is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and many around the world wish they could live here.

            As I spent time reflecting on those who gave their lives, I began to think about those who were left behind. When someone in our military dies while on active duty, they leave behind loved ones who must deal with the tragic loss. There are children whose parent is not returning. There is the spouse who must pick up the pieces. There are siblings with holes in their hearts. There are parents who must face burying their children. The pain and grief these families must bear so we can live in a land of freedom must never be forgotten.

            I did a Google search this morning on the number of military deaths that have occurred. These numbers include deaths from battle, infections, and diseases while in service. These numbers are estimates, and in most cases I took the lower end of the estimates. Over 25,000 from the Revolutionary War. Over 620,000 from the Civil War. Over 116,000 from World War I. Over 407,000 from World War II. That is over one million people who died while serving our country. That’s a lot of families who sacrificed greatly so we could live in this great land of ours. We owe a great debt of gratitude to these families.

            When it comes down to it, freedom really isn’t free. Those families paid the highest price so we can live in America. We all come from different backgrounds, have varying political stances, and even different religious beliefs, but on this one thing we can be united. We must honor those who paid with their lives or their loved ones lives so we can live free in America.

            When it comes to those who gave their lives for us, we as Christians owe a debt to those who paid with their lives so we can have the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that most of the disciples were martyred for their faith. Peter was crucified upside down. Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded. Some early Christians were imprisoned, tortured, or fed to the lions.

            There are many people throughout history who were mistreated in order to spread the Good News. These people gave everything to give us the opportunity to have a relationship with God through Jesus. Jesus paid the highest price to repair our broken relationship with God. Jesus was beaten with 39 lashings so we could be healed from all our emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual brokenness. His blood bought our forgiveness. He made a way for us to walk into the Father’s presence without fear, worry, guilt, or shame.

            It is hard to believe that there are still places in our world today where believing in Jesus could cost you your life. There are places where the Bible is a banned book. There are places where if you are caught together with other believers worshipping Jesus you could be imprisoned. We must remember the missionaries who are still putting their lives on the line to share the hope of Jesus with a lost world.

            Memorial Day should remind us to pray for the families of those who gave their lives for our country. I also want to encourage you to pray for missionaries from your church and others who are out there on the front lines sharing Jesus with the lost. They need the Holy Spirit’s help and guidance if they hope to make a difference. I hope their sacrifice will embolden us to share our faith with those who are living in darkness. People need the Lord. We are the light of the world…let’s let our lights shine in our little corner of the world.  

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