Journal entry, Sunday, 11 March 2007:
1800, Prayer time. “Lover of my soul . . . Jesus . . . I come here today with a heavy heart of love, of compassion for the Iraqi Forces E is serving with . . . those resisting the followers of Islam . . . suffering horribly from them. I dedicate this hour to Em, and to them.
I feel it so pressing, right up front, right up front, I ask you, Jesus . . . take what is in this prayer room this hour, hours before this, those to follow, place inside our boy where he is, in a world ruled by the forces of darkness, cause him to shine.
(Your Spirit) inside of him, reaching out even when E is unaware it is happening (a city set on a hill cannot be hid; a candle set on table lights up whatever room it is in), touching live[s] around him, In Jesus Name.
I cannot fathom such darkness . . . Be there, there in Hope. In Grace. In light that reveals darkness. Jesus, my child is rubbing shoulders with people who have long [ed] for freedom. We are failing them . . . Please, somehow, take from here, Imbue into Em, and from him, proceed. Glow. Lover of my soul . . . be a witness in him . . ..
I know you see right where he is. You see the tears he’d like to shed . . . those he does shed in silence . . . Holy God, Lover of my soul, let the light of your love hover over what [ever] humvee and convoy . . . E and his are traveling in . . . Let it follow, escort them, proceed them, cover each flank . . . .
I know he is not a choirboy . . . Neither do I expect him to be. I do know, what happens here in this room transfers to Iraq . . . I do know, our boy in that Dark country is filled with Light of Man . . .. Shine through him . . .. Make E a glowing light . . .. Let his life leave a fragrance of all you are . . ..
Keep E . . . Pick him up in your strong arms, Good Shepherd, Do the same for Deb . . .. Grant E . . . to somehow . . . share the hope that is in him . . . Keep him from all harm . . .
There is a reason you have allowed him to be where he is . . . use him . . . use Deb. Hold [them] close in your embrace . . .. Pick them up, Abba Father . . . Take them to your side . . . . Heal all wounds . . . Brush and dry all tears . . . calm all Fears . . . Steady him and make him strong.
But more than that, allow the Light of Your love to shine forth freely from him . . . Let it glow . . .. Grant his life to generate life and light . . .. There is a reason . . . he is in that horrible dark nation . . . seeing the macabre he’s seeing . . .. The agony he feels, the overwhelming sorrow, for those Iraqis . . ..
I thank you for Deb. For her, for Skyler, draw that young man to yourself . . . . Deliver that home, that family from evil—every trace and speck of it . . . . Use Emerson’s and Deb . . . use their days for [Calvary’s] purpose.
These times they are enduring, you have a reason for . . ..
Love my Boy . . . you saw him, before he was conceived . . . all his days were before you . . . so too, Deb’s . . . and those of her children and ours too . . . Hold Em . . . Be the light walking or driving [with him] through that Iraqi . . .. Neighborhood.
Keep him and those near him . . . from every weapon formed against them . . . . Fill the Humvee E travels in, the sidewalk or street he walks on . . . whisper his name. Let him know, you are there with him. Shine through him . . . Let your name be praised and exalted through his life—“you are close to all who call on you out of sincerity”-- . . . .
“You hear their cries for help and you rescue them.”
Then, Monday, 11 March 2007:
Troubling news out of Iraq—al-Qaeda reportedly claims to have devices to short circuit our IED finding devices . . . “Jesus . . . protect your own . . ..”
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Journal Of Debi Lynn Brand
IN MEMORY OF SGT. EMERSON NOAH BRAND
January 22, 1978 - March 15, 2007
