About the Book

Book: Psalms from the Sea, Volume IV: OPERATIONS Author: David Reid Brown Genre: Christian Devotional Release Date: October, 2025

DID YOU KNOW? YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK HAS A LOT IN COMMON WITH THE LIFE OF A NAVY SAILOR! Yes! It seems too hard to believe but it is true. Sailors experience hardship, trust, fatigue, worry, disappointment, joy–and so do you! A sailor’s life is filled with the common experiences you have every day of your Christian walk. OPERATIONS is a compilation of over fifty devotional stories composed by DAVID REID BROWN while he served at sea. These stories present the life of sailors in a way that touches on topics that mirror your daily Christian walk. Each story concludes with a practical application section, relevant scripture, and prayer. DAVID REID BROWN has first-hand knowledge in understanding the life of a Sailor because he lived it. As former Navy Chaplain, he also understands Biblical truth and how to identify spiritual principles and experiences that Christians and sailors share. In this book, readers will be:

Surprised to learn the daily lives of Christians and Sailors are quite similar.
Inspired by sea stories that connect with Biblical truths.
Amazed by the selfless sacrifice of Sailors, Marines, and their families.

Still curious? Read this book and find out how God will meet your curiosity with a stronger faith in Him and a deeper admiration for the service of military members and their families.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

David Reid Brown is a retired Navy Chaplain and currently serves as a high school Government, Bible, and Art teacher at Grace Christian School in Mechanicsville, VA. He has authored nine books: Spirit Soundings: A Chaplain’s Journal of Life at Sea (three volumes), Lost Summer, and Psalms from The Sea (four volumes), and a book of poetry, Sophia’s Songs. These inspirational stories were born out of his global seafaring experiences, spanning twenty-one years of peace, war, and three overseas deployments as well as his service as a Christian educator.

More from David

Did you know? The art on the front cover of my book, OPERATIONS, was designed and created by one of my Ninth Grade Art Students. Yes, it’s true. I recognized that this young artist had the technical skill and artistic flair to create the unique cover art required for this book when he was just in the sixth grade! FOR OVER TWENTY-ONE YEARS, I have had the distinct privilege of serving thousands of sailors, Marines, and their families across the nation, upon every major ocean, as well as overseas. I am most proud to have shared a common bond of service, sacrifice, and devotion. OPERATIONS is my patriotic tribute to them.

Interview with Author

Why do you think the topic of your book is important?

First, thank you for allowing me to share my insights on your blog.

The topic and theme of my book are important for two reasons: First, it is a Christian devotional; second, it is dedicated to the sailors and families to whom I served as a U.S. Navy Chaplain. The former reason is important because we should always strive to improve our relationship with God. A regular devotional practice during the week plays an important part in this endeavor. The latter reason pays tribute to thousands of sailors and their families and gives them thanks for their tremendous sacrifice in service to our great nation.

What did you learn from writing this book?

I learned that there are very clear correlations between the daily life of U.S. Navy sailors and the triumphs and challenges that Christians face every day. So, even though the book was written in a way that sailors and their families would immediately understand, it has faith benefits for every Christian reader.

What is your favorite hymn and why?

“Fairest Lord Jesus” is my favorite hymn. I love the lyrics and their meaning, and the tune is so pure and honorable that I can’t help but be attracted to it.

What is one thing readers would be surprised to learn about you?

I think that readers might be surprised to know that I never planned to become a writer. In fact, I didn’t publish my first book until I was fifty-four years old.

Throughout grade, middle, and high school, I studied to become a visual artist. Fine Arts was even my major in college. But felt a call to ministry just before I graduated, so I made a career shift to full-time pastoral ministry. After two years as a pastor, I met a Navy Recruiter who told me that I could be a minister in the Navy, called a Chaplain. I joined the reserves for a year and was so interested in the unique ministry opportunities it afforded that I requested my Church to be released so that I could serve on active duty. I spent the next twenty-one years serving God and country in peace, war, and three overseas deployments. As my career in the Navy was winding down, I felt led to become a schoolteacher. I began studies for my final graduate degree and was hired as a part-time teacher as soon as I retired from the Navy. It was only then that I felt the call to begin writing, a craft that has now turned into a profession.

What is one question you would like readers to ask you? What would be your answer?

The one question that I would like readers to ask me is: “Why have the genres in your writing changed from non-fiction to devotionals, and finally poetry?”

I would say I never planned on switching. I try to tell the stories that God places on my heart. For instance, my first book series, Spirit Soundings: A Chaplain’s Journal of Life at Sea, is a non-fiction account of my first shipboard experience that provides a snapshot of America before, during, and after 9/11. From my shipboard experiences, I composed over two hundred written prayers that eventually became my devotional series, Psalms From the Sea (four volumes). Lost Summer is a devotional inspired by my experiences during Hurricane Katrina, which reflects on handling loss and recovery. Writing poetry was a complete surprise. In fact, on TikTok, my username is “The Accidental Poet”. Anyway, I have published two books of poetry thus far: Sophia’s Songs and Relatables. Again, I never had a plan for these changes, but I am certain that God did.