common for a Muslim to pray with a Christian, but his driver and assistant held hands with Brandt as he prayed, thanking God for His protection. Once in the office Brandt turned on the computer. An email had just arrived. One of the Christians praying for Brandt and his family had been awakened in their sleep with the sense that God wanted them to pray for Brandt. The email said, “I was just awakened to pray for you. I don’t know what is going on in your day today, but I wanted you to know that I am praying.”
We may never know why our heart is burdened to pray, but we must pray nonetheless. He is drawing us to himself co-laboring with him in his work, his will.
Father God, show me your heart and awaken me from my sleep to pray. I long to co-labor with you. May your compassion be my compassion, may my heart break for what breaks your heart. Thank you God for awakening me.
“Morning by morning He awakens me.” (Isaiah 50:4b)
September 24
WHY ARE WE HERE?
It was nighttime. It was also the end of the fourth day of the curfew that kept them prisoners in their home. The heat of the day would never fully dissipate. Without the comfort that they were so accustomed to before coming to Iraq, Brandt’s wife leaned over and asked, “What are we doing here?” Brandt would answer, “Well, we are following Jesus.” She would reply with an affirming, “I know, but man…”
His wife would not be the only one to bear the strain, the hardship. Brandt waded through confusion. “Why are we here? Why did God ask us to be at this place at this time.” Brandt and his wife, Gail, would sit together and read in Luke 9 where Jesus was speaking to his disciples and to the people. Luke 9:23 says, “If anyone wishes to come after me let him deny himself.”
When you cannot do your own shopping; when you do not have freedom of movement, and you know there are evil people that would like to see you dead; you get a sense of what it means to deny yourself.
Jesus also said, “Take up your cross daily and follow me.” On some days, Brandt would just ask, “Lord, how much do I need to deny myself? How heavy must my cross be? How far do I have to follow you?” The answer would come quietly and with clarity, “All the way.” There it was; Brandt was the one who had bent his knee to God, God simply said, “This is what I am asking of you at this time in your life.”
For Brandt, that was sufficient. It was a reminder that following him wasn’t necessarily the easiest path but it was the best path.
Whether in Baghdad or any other city in the world, we must ask if we are on his path. Complicated by personal sacrifice, discomfort and the constant threat of violence, Brandt found the sufficiency of Christ. Soldiers and missionaries alike find themselves denying their own personal comfort and desires. For them, life holds a far more significant purpose.
Father, teach me to deny myself and follow after you. Save my life, let my gain be you and not this world.
Then he said to them all:
“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:23–25)
September 25
LIVING IN A BESIEGED CITY
Who are the Iraqi people? How are they alike or different from us?
Like us, they want stability in their nation and to raise their families in peace. They want to be recognized legitimately as a people that contribute to the world. They have a sense of humor not much unlike our own. They laugh at things we laugh at and cry at the things that cause us to cry. What sets them apart is that they have endured three wars in their homeland, leaving their self-esteem torn and battered. Naturally, their emotional stability has become destabilized.
There were days that Brandt felt he was in a bad place. Violence and crime are a gnarly combination that can sour anyone’s view of a location. But there were other days when Brandt would realize, “good grief I am stuck in traffic just like they are.” They were both suffering. It is hot; engines are overheating. They are just trying to get home too; they were all in the same boat. There is something about the camaraderie of mutual suffering that levels the playing field.
Being stuck in traffic for hours at a time was not an uncommon experience. He would roll his window down and turn the car off. It was easy to carry on conversations with those stuck in traffic next to him. Inevitably his Arabic would run out, and others would ask, “Are you an American?” Brandt would say, “Yes, I am,” and they would go on to tell him, “Oh, thank you for being in our country. We love America. Thank you so much. We love you. We love George Bush.” They love freedom.
The violence, the mundane hardship of traffic jams, the lack of electricity all define the unsettled city of Baghdad, a city at war. God knew exactly where Brandt was. God led him there. And throughout all the trials that he and his family contended with, God showed his wonderful love to them.
Father, while our friends and family are in war torn cities in foreign lands, show them your wonderful love.
“Praise be to the LORD, for he showed his wonderful love to me when I was in a besieged city.” (Psalm 31:21)
September 26
INTO THE CITY OF MOSUL
We flew in low over the northern city of Mosul. Forward Operating Base (FOB) Freedom was just over four miles north of the downtown city center. Our southeastern approach would take us over the ancient gates of Nineveh, the city that Jonah traveled to around 760 BC. The ruins were spread out all over Mosul.
At fifty feet above the ground the Iraqis could see our faces and we could see theirs. But traveling at a speed of 120 knots it did not give you much time to focus on anyone. Nonetheless, it was a peaceful flight in. We landed on the pad, shut down and walked to the dining facility while our helicopters were refueled.
FOB Freedom was set among several palaces. Their ornate beauty and landscaped lawns were in stark contrast to the poverty we flew over to get there. We entered the dining facility (DFAC) and enjoyed the hot meal.
