In this latest featured video from David Brown, readers discuss their thoughts on his newest book, Lost Summer.
To view previous featured videos from David Brown please click on the This About That button below.
David Reid Brown is an artist, pastor, and retired Navy Chaplain. His first books, Spirit Soundings: A Chaplain’s Journal of Life at Sea and Lost Summer, were born out of his global experiences in the chaplaincy, spanning twenty-one years of peace, war, and three overseas deployments. He is living out his God-given passion to “build people” through teaching high school government, history, and art at Grace Christian School in Mechanicsville, VA.
David has been married to his beautiful wife, Rayna, for twenty-eight years. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Virginia State University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, and a Master of Elementary Education degree from Hawaii Pacific University.
The following articles are provided by the Author and may not represent the feelings or ideals of GetMyNewBook.
Psalms From The Sea: Vol I FAITH – The Purpose of this Book
Posted on: September 29, 2023
THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK
This book was created to develop a new habit in your devotional life with God called prayer writing. Many are accustomed to offering verbal or silent prayers to the Lord. But prayer writing provides a written record of your communication with God as well as a daily marker of your faith experience that you can repeatedly turn to for spiritual reflection. Also, it becomes a reservoir for the things you share with God; the joys, struggles, pleasures, pains, peace, and turmoil—any emotions that overflow the banks of your heart and spill into the hands of God. He desires to hear your prayers and to speak to you through them but a written record of those conversations provides you with tangible proof of your relationship with Him.
THE “EVENING PRAYER AT SEA”
Since 1775, the United States Navy has kept the seafaring tradition of permitting their chaplains to conduct an evening prayer each night at sea. I have had the privilege of offering over two hundred such prayers and I cherished every instance. In fact, I always approached the time of the evening prayer as God’s time and not my own. All the prayers I composed and delivered at sea began with a prayer that went like this:
Lord Jesus, please give me the words that you would
have to say tonight that would reach the heart of the
crew. I release my talents, gifts, and abilities for you to
use to your glory. In Jesus name, Amen.
So, every prayer that you will read in this book was inspired by the Holy Spirit and did not originate with me. Each day at sea, I didn’t have any idea what God wanted to say until I met with Him in prayer to find out. I believe that the anointing of the Holy Spirit still rests upon the words of these prayers and I pray that each one would shed the light and inspiration of God’s presence upon your life.
Take note of the date listed at the bottom of each prayer. They were delivered on different dates, locations, and circumstances across many waters around the world. They form a record of God’s faithfulness towards a crew of sailors as they served and sojourned at sea.
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECTExpect to experience God in a whole new way.
God will use each day’s poignant introduction, Spirit-inspired prayer, and the prayer that you write to provide you with a fresh revelation into the nature and character of God.
Expect the Holy Spirit to speak to you.
God will speak into your soul new insights about your relationship with Him. Be prepared to listen, meditate upon what He says, and use each day’s blank-lined journal space to express what your heart says to Him in writing. Have a Bible on hand as the Holy Spirit speaks to you so that you can research scriptures to build your faith, confidence, and trust in God.
Expect your faith to grow.
God will use this book to build your faith and bless your life! Each day of this twelve-week journey is filled with spiritual treasure that will enrich your heart and challenge you to pursue God with more passion and purpose.
David Reid Brown (Psalms From The Sea: Vol I FAITH)
Posted on: September 28, 2023
PSALMS FROM THE SEA: VOLUME I, “FAITH”OVERVIEWSINCE 1775, THE UNITED STATES NAVY has kept the seafaring tradition of permitting its chaplains to conduct an evening prayer each night at sea. DAVID REID BROWN has composed and delivered over two hundred such prayers during his twenty-one year career as a Navy Chaplain. His new book series, PSALMS FROM THE SEA, is comprised of the bulk of those prayers.
In VOLUME I, “FAITH”, readers are taught how to develop the devotional skill of prayer writing. Though many are accustomed to offering verbal or silent prayers to the Lord, prayer writing provides a written record of your communication with God as well as a daily marker of your faith experience that you can return to for spiritual reflection. Prayer writing becomes a reservoir for the things you share with God; the joys, struggles, pleasures, pains, peace, and turmoil—the very things that overflow the banks of your heart and spill into the hands of God.
EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE GOD IN A WHOLE NEW WAY!
This twelve-week devotional is filled with spiritual treasure that will enrich your heart and challenge you to pursue God with more passion and purpose. Each day’s poignant introduction, Spirit-inspired prayer, and the prayer that you write to provide you with a fresh revelation into the nature and character of God. This book will build your faith and bless your life!
In the video below David Reid Brown encourages readers to complete the self-reflection questions in each section of Lost Summer as a means of building their faith.
They're Talking About Commander Brown
“I highly recommend this book! It gave me a real sense of what life might be like at sea for our sailors and marines and most importantly, the value of faith and the power of prayer. This is a very uplifting read! This book came to me at a time in my life when I most needed to read it.”
-Cecelia Alvarado Miranda, Volcano, Hawaii
“Spirit Soundings is well written and provides you the unique opportunity to experience a journey traveled for a Navy Chaplain. It's a job like no other aboard ship. David, the author connected with the crew and provided a gateway to help endure the perils of sea duty---one evening prayer at a time.”
-Captain Derby Luckie, USN, Fort Meade, Maryland
“I found Spirit Soundings to be both a humorous and at times very serious view into the responsibilities of a US Navy Chaplain's role to minister to our Navy service men and women. Thank you Commander David Reid Brown for being there for your Shipmates and for your Service to our Country!”
-Mike Cavalla, Cranford, New Jersey
“Moved to laughter and tears by this book, which I read in one sitting, Spirit Soundings is a rare glimpse into the challenges of sea service Chaplaincy, at a moment in US history worth recording, and worth reading. Yet more broadly this journal of a Chaplain's life at sea is highly recommended to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of service to others, and Christian service and ministry more specifically. A compelling, deeply honest and wise read! It should be on every seminary's bookshelf, and the Navy's reading list at Chaplain's School.”
-Rev. Denise Mosher, Salem, Oregon
“Excellent read! Christians, Military, Historians, and American Citizens a like will truly enjoy Chaplain Dave's series! I personally used Spirit Soundings Volume I: Sailing Into A Hazardous World as a daily Bible study and reflection upon the years prior to the events of 9/11; fantastic way to push the "reset" button to give you inspiration regarding the future.”
-Greg and Kelly Keeney, Alexandria, Virginia
“I read all three volumes and many times had tears in my eyes. However, in Volume III Chaplain Brown writes about planning their homecoming and the Tiger Cruise. By the time I read this section I was bawling because it brought back memories of my own son coming back from Afghanistan. This whole series is well written & definitely a must have. Thank you to Chaplain Brown for sharing his journey with us!”
-Karen Weiderman Sutliff, Endicott, New York
“I am certain that Spirit Soundings is going to challenge each person to a renewed sense of openness to the voice of God. Spirit Soundings will show you that God is always speaking and directing by his Spirit and it will challenge you to expect to hear from Him.”
-Rev. Andy Casper Lead Pastor, South County Church Lorton, Virginia
