book report: "A Table in the Presence"

I just finished reading this book by Lt. Carey H. Cash, Chaplain with the U.S. Marines. It was excellent! It detailed the experience of a battalion of Marines as they went into Iraq at the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They faced extremely difficult battles with very few casualties. It was amazing to see how God's hand was with them every step of the way, protecting them from the evil one. This is a passage that gave me goose bumps.

"For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11) - that has breathed courage and faith into warriors for thousands of years. I could never have imagined how many men had been clinging to that promise when the rounds started flying on April 10, 2003. But they believe it. And the angels were there. All day I listened to the stories...countless others recalled that they saw waves of RPGs screaming straight for them, shot from point-blank range. Yet, at the last second, the missiles curved wildly, as if they had been batted away in midair. Sailing completely around the AAV's, the RPGs struck buildings that were teeming with enemy gunmen. PFC Timothy Pawloski recalled an RPG that was heading straight for him. The missile was coming so fast that Pawloski didn't even have time to close him eyes or duck for cover. At the last second, when it was only feet from where he was standing, it suddenly jerked upward and to the left. As if it were being pulled by an unseen rope, it split a tree wide open instead of striking the frightened young man".

Can I just say that the visual I get from this passage are angels surrounding these vehicles. I can envision the angels stopping the RPGs in midair and throwing them elsewhere to protect these Marines. It's quite a visual! As Christians we know there is a great spiritual battle that surrounds us every day. Satan and his demons want to kill and destroy as many as they can and they do; however, in the end, God will be victorious over all! The group of Marines in this book saw that there was a "greater power", "God", "someone watching out for them"...many believed in Christ after their lives were saved from terrible battles. There was only one explanation why they were still alive...God!