Prayer, Protection and Salvation

 

 

Very early in 2004 our son, who was a US Army soldier found out he was being deployed to Iraq.  He was being sent to Abu Ghraib, which was a hot mess.  Being parents we put on our best brave faces, reassured him we would be praying for him and that everything would be all right.  We attended his unit send off at the state's capitol and then came the long quiet drive home.  Now it was our brave son who was being placed in harms way, but he took our hearts with him.  When a family member is deployed the whole family is affected.  To help deal with the situation Joan scrapbooked everything she could for him, a history of his service.  We started an organization called Operation Appreciation.  Our community and church family sent boxes and boxes of supplies and necessities from home to our son and his unit. We prayed and if you came into contact with us we asked you and the church you attended to pray.  These soldiers were covered in prayer.  For the fifteen months he was in Iraq there was never a real night of restful sleep for us.  We knew he was in a dangerous place, and although we trusted God we could not keep the fear away.  There came a time when he got a two week leave and he and his twin sister planned for him to come home unannounced.  It was a Sunday afternoon when Jessica snuck Jesse into the house and then called for us.  When we walked into the room we looked right at him and knew it could not possibly be him ... he was half a world away.  What a strange feeling.  We got to take him on a beach vacation with us and truly enjoyed every minute of it.  Soon we found ourselves at the airport saying goodbye and sending him back into harms way.  Strangers witnessed this emotional farewell and tried to comfort us.  We had him for two weeks and had to send him back into a dangerous situation.  He was involved in a lot of scary, ugly battles.  Some were life or death possibilities.  Back home we prayed, trusted God, prayed some more, tied yellow ribbons on our porch and prayed some more. 

Here are some of his emails to us:

* On a convoy, fuel tankers are a big target.  On the five mile stretch of road from Abu Ghraub to the Baghdad International Airport there was a battle that took place between insurgents and US troops.  Many convoys were ambushed and several trucks were blown up.  An Apache was shot down just a quarter mile from us.
* I almost paid the ultimate price today, along with a lot of other soldiers.  We share the same risks everyday. We are trying to spread democracy to a place that has been subjected to a harsh life none of us will ever be able to comprehend.  We are here to help, and no matter the resistance we have thrown upon us from Saddam's supporters, we will not give up.  Freedom will prevail.  This is my duty.  Pray for us.  I love you mom and dad.  We are ok; this is just something that happens over here.  We are lucky, and God was watching over us. 
* Sometimes after a rough day I wonder why war has to happen.  I wonder why people have to suffer so much.  I wonder why we have to make such horrific sacrifices.  I wonder why we risk our lives and put ourselves in such danger.  Then I remember, it is because I have such a love for my God, my family and my country that I will do whatever it takes to spread freedom and democracy, protect those who are defenseless and make the world a safer place for the ones I love. 

 

Bottom line is God is so GOOD!  He kept our son safe, protected and returned him home to us.  The truth is we love him with an imperfect love and were never "willing" to sacrifice him for anyone.  Our Father God who loves His Son with a perfect love not only was willing but did sacrifice His Son for us (you).  This is not just a story.  It's what He did with Jesus so we could be forgiven.  And that's what we are, we're not perfect, not special, but forgiven. 

 

Psalm 46:1
God, you're such a safe and powerful place to find refuge!  You're a proven help in time of trouble - more than enough and always available whenever I need you.
(TPT)

Romans 8:32

For God has proved His love by giving us His greatest treasure, the gift of His Son.  And since God freely offered Him up as the sacrifice for us all, He certainly won't withhold from us anything else He has to give.
(TPT)

Romans 10:9-10

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
(NIV)

If you have not yet received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do not delay.  For today is the day of salvation. 

~ Randy and Joan