The Devotional

Papa “J” says

More about the fool. You know the one who believes he or she is what they are by their own achievements. Awe, go ahead and transgress the truth and miss the better blessing! Proverbs 26:11

On a day of training the submarine was inching it's way to the surface using a device called the “EPM”. We were running a loss of power drill and at less than one hundred feet from the surface. Anytime a submarine surfaces in open waters there is danger and adding the simulation of a crippled sub to the event naturally adds more danger. It is similar to changing lanes on the highway without looking to see if another car is passing you. One of the pre-cautions is for the officer of the deck to raise the periscope and look for “shapes or shadows” As he turns the periscope a full 360 degrees several times, he is to report loudly the words; “no shapes, no shadows”. We were at this stage of the operation, when the OOD froze. He stopped reporting and did not move. Our captain, immediately took over and commanded the diving officer for an emergency deep procedure. Along with the chief of the watch we began filling our ballast tanks with water and ordering maneuvering to give us speed. The freighter past over the sub with only a few feet to spare, we could hear the screw making that familiar chopping sound very loudly over our head. Once again, God allowed us to live for another day! Even though one was slothful others reacted wisely. Proverbs 26:13-16.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23:2-3 From the early stages of life a child can learn this Psalm, the truth is that this is an easy Psalm to memorize. But I believe that this could lead us to rote repetition, where the words just roll off our lips and we fail to hear God speak to us. This has been true in all of us to some extent and we miss the blessings that God has. In this short Psalm, God, through the pen of David speaks blessings that provide avenues for trust and participation with God in life.

I would like to think that all of us enjoy the opportunity to lay in the warm grass of spring or summer, also to feel the cool breezes blowing over our face and the warmth of the grass on our backside. Also there is nothing more satisfying then to experience this near the still cool waters of a pond. At early ages of life, this is being alive. At a later age in life, it is the joy of having lived. Anticipation for the young and the experience of the elderly come together and merge as one.

There is another dimension to this. As a saint of God, through Christ the LORD, spiritual refreshment and rest come from abiding, in Christ. Allowing the Holy Spirit to lay us down in those pastures of tender lawn of heaven. Also, we must be willing to let Him refresh us with the refreshment of His quiet cool waters. It is God who restores our soul, it is God who leads, it is God who provides righteousness and He does it all, for His name sake. What an awesome blessing. There is more in these to verses, allow yourself to dwell in them for the rest of the day.