Doug Creamer: Fulfilling Our Call

Published 12:00 am Saturday, October 28, 2017

            Last weekend my wife and I made our annual trek up to Asheville for the Southern Highlands Craft Guild show. The craftsmen who participate in this show are outstanding in their field of work. I enjoy looking at the various types of crafts. Through the years I have collected pottery from several creators.

I have oil lamps from my early collecting days, and now I have a pretty big collection of large mugs. I don’t drink coffee so I want bigger mugs to hold my sweet tea. My favorite potter wasn’t there this year. She had warned me in advance, so I picked out two of her mugs last year. Actually, I have a variety of her work, including mugs, small bowls, and a clay vase that sits where I write.

I like keeping these special handcrafted items close as I write. I have several baskets from my mother, some special gifts from a few students, and some wood bowls that were turned by my good friend up in Sparta. I often pause as I am writing and just look at these beautiful things that surround me. They make me feel good.

            It was a nice warm day to drive up to Asheville. I was hoping to see some beautiful leaf color, but there was little fall color up in Asheville. I wasn’t terribly surprised. With all the warm weather we have been enjoying, I imagined that Mother Nature might be running a little behind.

            Enjoying the incredible talents of the crafters made up for the lack of fall color. Since the lady whose work I love was not there, I was on a hunt to find a mug. I went to the booths of other potters, but nothing jumped out at me. In the end, I chose a mug from a potter who is new to me. Her colors and style are unique in my collection and I will follow her work in the years to come.

            My wife and I both follow different crafters and we enjoy watching their talent and skill as they develop over the years. I look forward to going to this show every year because there is such a wide variety of incredible talent and ability. Each crafter focuses on their unique craft and hones their skill to produce outstanding pieces of art.

            This makes me think about our talents and abilities and the way we serve in the body of Christ. There are so many different jobs that need to be done to make a church function. I am not good at evangelism. I am better suited to be a teacher. I can serve the body of Christ by studying and preparing a lesson while others are stronger at reaching out to the lost.

            I am convinced that each one of us has skills and abilities that can be honed and used to bring glory to God. I know several painters who have painted beautiful creations that can reach out and touch the soul. A musical instrument in my hand can create sounds, but in the hands of the right person it can create melodies that will lift your spirit to the throne of God.

            I know some people who are natural greeters. I know others who are gifted with numbers and their talents are used to craft church budgets. Don’t put those same men in the kitchen on potluck Sunday or you will have a disaster on your hands. We have some men at church who can grill any type meat, especially BBQ chicken or venison.

            My point is that there is a place for you in God’s house. He needs every talent to make the church work properly. Thankfully, we are not all equipped with the same skills; we need good teachers as well as greeters and cooks. The evangelist needs the church to train the converts he wins. The pastor needs the accountant to make sure all the bills are paid, including his salary. The church needs you to bring your gifts so we can all be blessed by what you have to offer.

            I want to encourage you to consider how God can use you to impact others for His kingdom. Every job has to be done, from cleaning the church and cutting the grass to preaching the word on Sunday morning. You don’t have to be an awesome teacher to lead a Sunday school class, just willing and able to put the time in. God needs you to do your part for His kingdom. If you don’t know what to do, just ask, there is a perfect position just waiting for you.