Category: Man Your Stations

Good morning. Felicitations and blessings to you as we begin a new week given by our Good God!

Read Rom 15:1 – 13

In these verses taken from what some refer to as “The Gospel of Paul”, we are provided with some valuable instructions and insights:

We bear with and consider our neighbors. Our desire is that they are lifted up (edified); and as we become stronger in our faith, we are to have even more regard for others.

The SCRIPTURES are patience and comfort.

GOD is patience and comfort.

Unity (like-mindedness) is pleasing to the LORD, and provides us all with a platform to better glorify God for His mercy towards us.

And here is my prayer over you as you start this new week (vv 13): “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”.  Amen!

Brother, it is Friday morning, and we praise our LORD for helping us and guiding us through this week!

Read Psalm 148.

The earth, and everything in it; weather and wind; highest mountains and deepest depths; every creature, swimming, creeping, or flying; and every person, from the lowly to the king – all of creation is instructed to praise the name of the LORD.

In these extraordinary times in which we live, it is easy to get distracted, but always remember that one of reasons you were created is to give praise to the One who worthy of all of our praise!

And as we head into the weekend, I want to close by quoting 2 verses from Romans 1 that express my heart towards you, as my brother in Christ: “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”.

Encouraged together – Amen!

Thursday morning, and may our Good God bless you and all you undertake today!

Read 2 Peter 1:1 – 11.

According to this portion of Peter’s second letter, our journey through this life on our way to the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord Jesus is to be one of active and purposeful growth.

Isaiah 28 says “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.”. In like manner, Peter tells us here that our spiritual growth is a building process, starting on the firm foundation of our faith. Upon that foundation, through the abundance of Jesus, we add “bricks” consisting of virtue, knowledge, self-control, and so forth.

Peter instructs us to be diligent in this building process, this spiritual growth he is calling us to – “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (vv 8); and, “if you do these things you will never stumble;” (vv 10b).

Brother, let’s get to work! Amen!

Mid-week greetings to you, brother!

As you read today’s passage, first prepare your heart – these words given to us by our Good God comprise a powerful declaration that you can make over yourself; as well as all of the loved ones around you.

Read Psalm 20. Selah.

He has already saved us; as His people, we…

…petition the LORD.

…raise up banners in His mighty Name.

…rejoice in His salvation.

…remember the Name of the LORD.

…rise up and stand upright.

…know that He answers us.

Amen!

Tuesday morning greetings to you, friend!

Read Philippians 3:20 – 4:9

Many of us are familiar with these portions of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. Even so, as you read this passage this morning, take note that the words of encouragement Paul was conveying to these believers centuries ago are just as applicable to us today.

For example, this scripture reminds us that we are “just passing through” this world, that our true citizenship is in heaven; we are exhorted to stand fast in the Lord; and we are promised that God’s unfathomable peace will serve to guard our hearts and minds.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Amen!

Good Monday morning to you, my friend. I pray that the blessings of our LORD will be upon you during this new week.

Read Jonah 2.

This is the prayer offered up by the disobedient prophet after he had been in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights. And this specific petition before God serves to instruct us in a number of ways:

1 – even if we are facing the most dire circumstances, our Good God is still (always) crafting His Kingdom story in each of our lives

2 – no matter where we are, our LORD hears our prayers

3 – we pray with confidence, looking forward to the deliverance that God will provide

4 – His name is MERCY

5 – we thank Him in the midst of trials, recognizing that He, and He alone, is our salvation

No matter what you are facing today, take heart – remember Jonah’s prayer, and be confident that He hears your pleas and knows your situation. Pray!

Read 1 Cor 2

In this portion of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, we are reminded of several key tenants of our walk and our faith:

We put our trust in the power of God and not in men.

God’s Spirit has been given to us as believers.

His Spirit reveals to us the deep things of God.

We are to use His Spirit to discern between man’s wisdom and God’s will.

We have the mind of Christ!

This world was both confused and confusing before the current crisis began; the level of turmoil that we have seen develop as the crisis has advanced and evolved is unparalleled. Now, more than ever, each of us need to be filled with His Spirit so that we can discern His truth and His will.

And as you start this day, be encouraged, because as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” Amen!

Our Good God’s amazing blessings to you on this Wednesday morning, brother!

Read 2 Tim 2:11 – 26.

Our LORD has appointed us to walk out a high standard before Him and before those around us. Among other things, this passage instructs us to be diligent in pursuing God’s approval; to seek out the truth of the word; to depart from iniquity and flee from lusts; and to chase righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Through these specific Kingdom pursuits, an incredible transformation occurs: we all, every one of us, can be made into a vessel of honor, suitable for use by the Master. This is indeed a high calling, and a wonderful promise from God.

LORD, make me into one of Your vessels of honor! Use me for Your good purposes, Master! Amen!

“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.” – Jesus

“What has been seen cannot be unseen…” – C.A. Woolf

I have since ascertained that there were at least two significant benefits for me because I lived through the Eyes In The Boat experience.

I discovered the first practical benefit during my second year at the Academy, when I was assigned to a Coast Guard High Endurance Cutter (USCGC Ingham).  While standing a lookout watch at night in the north Atlantic, I found out that my peripheral vision had been trained to such a degree that I could use the rods in my eyes to actually see in almost pitch-darkness.  The rods are the low-light photoreceptors in our eyes, and they are generally located around the outer edges of the retina.  In order to most effectively use the rods to see in low-light conditions, it is best not gaze directly at an object, but instead look slightly away from the object, and employ peripheral vision to focus on the object.  Eyes In The Boat had trained my ability to see in this manner!  Because of Eyes In The Boat, I was able to actually focus on and discern objects in my peripheral vision, and I was better equipped for one of the Coast Guard’s primary missions of search and rescue as a result.   Over forty years later, I still use this training when I need to see in low light conditions.

But it is the second dividend that I use every day – day in, day out, and constantly.  Through the Eyes In The Boat experience, my eyes have been trained to stay focused on what is directly ahead.  Because of the discipline that was imposed while I was at the Academy, no matter how silly and worthless I thought it was at the time, I am able to prevent my eyes from wondering to images that I don’t have any desire to see.  The discipline instilled in me through Eyes In The Boat helps me every day by keeping me from gazing on pictures that I know would not be beneficial to me as a man who fears God.  My relationship with my wife is improved as well, because my vision doesn’t have a tendency to wander.

Brothers, we do indeed face an enemy that seeks to destroy us.  And this enemy is aware that we were created with good desires that a good God instilled in each of us.  But this enemy seeks to distort the good and healthy desires placed within us by God; and he seeks to divert our eyes from the path and the high calling that God has for each of us.  In this modern and “culturally progressive” era, when each of us are just one or two clicks away from entering into a world of lust; when it seems that almost every movie or television show contains graphic images; when we drive down our highways and view billboards that would have been considered vile just a few decades ago – in these days, we must ensure that we discipline everything that we allow to pass through our eyes.  Everything!  And everything runs the gamut from every site we visit to every movie we watch to every post we read to every magazine or catalog we persue to every online ad that pops up to…well, you get the picture (pun intended)!

What we face as Christian men today living in our current culture in indeed unparalleled in terms of visual temptation.  But be encouraged, we served an unparalleled God!  And I am convinced that He will help us overcome, if we will simply begin to discipline ourselves, and consistently ask in prayer for His help in those areas of temptation that seem to be too big for us to handle on our own.  Seeking inspiration and guidance from His Word will always help us to stand strong; and we can seek out brothers who will pray with us and encourage us as they also bring accountability.

1 Cor 10:13 (ESV)

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Prayer:  God, I thank You that Your word tells me that You are my very present help in times of trouble.  I ask You, Lord, to be close to me as I discipline my eyes away from those things, those images, that are not pleasing to You.  Thank You, God, for helping me to be an overcomer in this area of my life, in Jesus Name, Amen!

“The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.” – Jesus

“What has been seen cannot be unseen…” – C.A. Woolf

I graduated from high school at the end of May in 1975.  Just a few days following graduation (almost as if I was beamed across the country by the famous Star Trek technology), my comfortable life in an extremely small New Mexico mountain village was completely transformed, and I found that I had landed in a completely alien world.  I was a new Cadet at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut!

In 1975, the nation’s service academies were still all-male institutions and the rites of hazing the new Cadets continued – although perhaps some of the most severe indoctrination rituals had been moderated somewhat in the years before I arrived, thank God!  Nevertheless, all of us freshly-minted Cadets were expected to strictly follow many bizarre and challenging edicts, including the idea of keeping our “Eyes In The Boat”.

Eyes In The Boat meant that no matter where the new Cadets were (outside of our own rooms or while engaged in training and athletics), we were expected to have our eyes focused straight ahead.  Eyes In The Boat applied while we were moving double-time and at attention through the hallways of the barracks; it was Eyes In The Boat when we were marching or in formation; we had better have our Eyes In The Boat whenever we were addressed by an officer or an upperclassman.

And in what was perhaps the biggest challenge, Eyes In The Boat was strictly imposed on the new Cadets in the mess hall.

The punishment for letting eyes stray even slightly could be extremely severe.  So, I learned to keep my Eyes In The Boat.

Eyes In The Boat while eating is a huge challenge, especially when food favorites like spaghetti or chili or roast beef with gravy is served – and for the bulk of the fourth-class Cadets, Eyes In The Boat meant that each of us were shedding weight like crazy, struggling to consume enough calories while staring straight into the eyes of the Cadet across the table, while at the same time burning vast amounts of energy during week after week after week of military basic training.

For my classmates and I, Eyes In The Boat lasted for much of our first year at the Academy.  From time to time, some gracious upperclassman would relent and command “Carry On!” during meals.  We would be relieved of the need to sit at attention with our gaze fixed firmly ahead, the worry about soiling our uniforms with sauce or salad dressing (and the resulting punishment when an upperclassman invariably spotted the flaw in what was required to be a perfect uniform appearance) would be removed, and we would be able to dine and relax and actually converse with the others at the table.  And finally, at the end of the first full academic year, we became third-class Cadets, and Eyes In The Boat was no longer an integral part of our lives.

So, why was this such a big deal, what were we learning? Was this just some silly and outdated tradition?  A imposition of dominance and control by the upperclassmen?  Why “Eyes In The Boat”?

Alas, there was never going to be an answer given to these questions.

TO BE CONTINUED

Proverbs 4:20-27 (HCSB)

My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them depart from your sight;

Keep them in the midst of your heart.

For they are life to those who find them

And health to all their body.

Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

Put away from you a deceitful mouth

And put devious speech far from you.

Let your eyes look directly ahead

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.

Watch the path of your feet

And all your ways will be established.

Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil.

Prayer:  Lord, your Word says that I should keep my eyes focused on Your straight path for my life.  Help me, God, to always see Your direction for me; and help me to keep my gaze fixed firmly on You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ mighty Name!  Amen!