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Devotional Thoughts

 Devotional Thoughts
 The Spiritual Side of Our Website

This part of the site features monthly devotional thoughts by the Association's Chaplain, with the goal of encouraging Signal Corps OCS Graduates to be exceptional in their lives and to live life at a higher level. Our current Chaplain is of the Christian faith, so naturally, his devotionals are fashioned around his Christian beliefs. Your comments and suggestions are welcome and can be offered directly to the Chaplain by eMail at: MaxHolt@ArmySignalOCS.com


by LTC (R) Max Holt, Class 02-67

February 2014

ARE YOU FEELING CRABBY?

You must be in the basket!

LTC (R) Max Holt - TodayLTC (R) Max Holt

Dr. John C. Maxwell was the founder of the INJOY Life Club, a leadership and mentoring organization I used in my personal growth plan for years. He tells the story of a friend who was vacationing on the North East coast of the U.S. and was invited to go crabbing on the beach. He was handed a basket in which to carry the crabs as he picked them up off the sand. He asked his host how he was supposed to keep the crabs in the basket, since it had no top. The host said that a crab basket didn’t need a top; it only needs two crabs. He went on to explain that crabs in the basket would not let any other crab climb out. As one tries to escape, the others will reach up and pull it back into the basket rather than help it get out. So, with two or more crabs you don’t need a top; the selfishness of the crabs will do the job for you. But, that’s the way crabs are!            

I know some people who are just like the crabs. It seems that their mission in life is to ensure that others do not succeed.  Usually, they have experienced some significant failure themselves and just can’t seem to do what is necessary to recover and move forward. So, like the crabs in the basket, they make a point to discourage others, to pull them down to their level.  I’ve even seen people pull their friends down spiritually, especially when their friend begins to grow deeper in God’s Word and their life begins to be more of a reflection of Christ. People like that are spiritual crabs; they don’t want anyone to grow above them.            

The Old Testament warned about them, even back then. Deuteronomy 11:16 says, “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them.” In the New Testament Paul cautions against them in I Corinthians 10:12, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” In Hebrews 2:1 you’ll find these words, “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” In a more modern setting Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” All of these warnings make two things clear; first, others will try to pull you down and second, the choice is yours, you can stay up spiritually of allow others to pull you down. I encourage you to do the daily work of maintaining a close relationship with God, regardless of what the world around you says or does. 

 Common Sense Application

1.  Revisit who you are spiritually. Write out your the spiritual experience that brought you into a living relationship with God.  Thank God for that relationship.

2.  Rehearse how you will respond to others who may tempt you to lower your spiritual standards by going places, doing things or making decisions that contradict your standards.

3.  Make a personal commitment to put people and circumstances in your life that build you up rather than tear you down.

4.  Make a commitment to find ways to lift up those who would try pull you down. But, be careful. If you start to waiver, abandon that effort! 



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Devotional song: In many Ozark mountain communities it was traditional for a fiddler to play an upbeat tune as people left the church or chapel after Sunday service. This tune, Wildwood Flower, played by Sally Goodin of the Gaither Homecoming band is one of the songs that was often played.


Prior Month Devotionals
May '11 Jun '11 Jul '11 Aug '11 Sep '11 Oct '11 Nov '11 Dec '11 Jan '12 Feb '12 Mar '12 Apr '12
May '12 Jun '12 Jul '12 Aug '12 Sep '12 Oct '12 Nov '12 Dec '12 Jan '13 Feb '13 Mar '13 Apr '13
May '13 Jun '13 Jul '13 Aug '13 Sep '13 Oct '13 Nov '13 Dec '13 Jan '14 Feb '14 May 14 Apr 14


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