Excerpts

For a sneak preview of what you’ll find in the forthcoming release of Stories of Faith and Courage from the War in Iraq/Afghanistan, view the excerpts below:

Flight 77
Lt. Col. Brian Birdwell was watching the news of the planes crashing into the World Trade Centers with two co-workers in his office at the Pentagon, Sandi Taylor and Cheryle Sincock, when the phone interrupted them.

“Mom, get out of the building.” It was Sam, Sandi Taylor’s daughter. She had a bad feeling that the Pentagon would be a sure target for another hijacked plane. Read complete devotional.

Filling Up
March  19, 2003, Iraqi Border. It was the first day of the invasion, and Navy SEAL Cdr. Mark Waddell was outfitted in his chemical suit and armed with chemical/biological/nuclear gear in anticipation of a possible chemical attack.

“You know,” he told another officer who was with him, “today is also my birthday—“ The conversation stopped cold when the night sky lit up from a Marine Corps CH-46 helicopter exploding. The helicopter was carrying some British troops into combat, and they were all killed instantly. Read complete devotional.

Mother’s Day Gift
No sooner did my son graduate from boot camp than we were notified he would be deployed to Iraq. I knew this moment was coming, but I still wasn’t ready for this.

In early March, all the military moms and wives in our area got phone calls from our men.

“Pray for us,” said William. “I don’t know when we’ll talk again.” Read complete devotional.

“Are My Legs OK?”
This couldn’t feel more dangerous than it does right now, I thought, squinting into the desert sun. The road we were driving on was elevated and right alongside of it was an irrigation canal. We were visible for a long way, no trees or buildings obscuring the view. I didn’t like that one bit but I had to go. I felt exposed to unseen attacks—but this was the road we had to take to reach the next sheik who we hoped would give us information on Al Qaeda whereabouts. I was in front passenger seat, my driver kept driving. Read complete devotional.

“Our Most Severe Category”
It was Jan. 10, 2005. I was on my way out the door to run an errand and my mom, who had been visiting from Atlanta, was about to head home.

Then the phone rang.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Good morning ma’am, this is Captain _____from Ft. Carson. I need to inform you that your husband has been injured. I have a report to read to you.” Read complete devotional.

Blessed Be the Name of the Lord
“Mom I’m getting ready to leave the States,” Josey called to tell me.

“I’m in Germany,” was the next announcement.

And finally, “Mom, I’m in Iraq.”

With each phone call, I felt as though an elevator was slowly lowering me into the valley of the shadow of death. I would linger in that valley for many months to come. Read complete devotional.