The Least of These

They say a picture is worth a thousand words . I say a picture tells a story that has a chapter or two torn out. I was going through old photos yesterday and came across our first "Family" photo session. This first picture was taken in 2016 when Jonathan was around 3 months old. Andy & I had been married for a little over two years.  We were brand new parents. Our world had completely changed. A tiny little blessing now consumed our lives. Some of the "thousand words" you may think of when you see this first picture could be: They look so happy. In love. A new family doting over their baby. Perfect. That baby is so cute! They are so lucky! Just to name a few....... ...................................................................... Now I will really tell you what was really going on in this photo: An identity crisis (in both of us). Lack of sleep. Mom guilt. Troubled marriage. Lost (spiritually, emotionally & mentally). Mom guilt. Not eating enough. Takin...

With love , I am about to share my heart with you. I am leaving many details out because it is more of my husband's story to tell than my own. I want to talk to you about my family. Most of you are aware that my husband was deployed for 8 months. He left in November (pre COVID). He came home at the end of June. The country he came home to is not the country he left. Our culture is now extremely sensitive to everything and now lives in complete fear, anger & anxiety. We are all suspicious of one another and blame the other for why things are.  My husband, though in the Air National Guard, is very often mistaken for a Law Enforcement Officer. His head is shaved. He walks with discipline. He carries himself respectfully & he does not play when it comes to his family.  This was never a problem before.  The past couple weeks, I am starting to notice the behaviors of others. How when it is just me, they are polite. When I am with my husband, they are short with response...

The first mention of Jehovah Nissi was during a battle between the Israelites & the Amalekites beginning in Exodus 17:8. As Joshua fought the Amalekites on flat ground, Moses took Aaron & Hur to the top of a hill. There, Moses fought a spiritual battle. He lifted his hands to the heavens & raised the staff of God above his head. “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.” – Exodus 17:11 Moses held his hands & his rod high up in the air using his faith as his weapon. He knew that God would defeat their enemy. As Moses hands & arms grew tired, Aaron & Hun held his hands up for him . One friend on each side so that the hands of Moses remained steady until sunset. At this point, Joshua overcame the Amalekite army. (Exodus 17:12-13) To celebrate this huge victory, Moses built an altar & called it “ The LORD is my Banner ”. In this name, there is a promise . A promise th...