Columns

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