Volume One, Issue 20 November 29, 2021

We desire to see everyone living in a healthy relationship with the Lord.

Joanna Snow Ministries is located in Downtown Mobile, and we love it!

This ornate skylight does not rest atop a church or cathedral. Instead, it crowns the Grand Lobby of the Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel and Spa on Royal Street in Downtown Mobile.

The Battle family built the first Battle House on a spot that was once the site of General Andrew Jackson’s military headquarters during the War of 1812. Two other hotels had been built on the site, and both burned. The first Battle House was a four-story building that hosted guests like Stephen A. Douglas, Henry Clay, Jefferson Davis, and Oscar Wilde. It was equipped with electricity in 1884. Then, on February 12, 1905, the hotel was destroyed by fire like its two predecessors on the same spot.

The new eight-story Battle House opened in 1908 and welcomed, among other guests, President Woodrow Wilson. It was completely airconditioned in 1949. The building survived the years to come, but the business did not. Several companies tried to make the hotel prosperous, but it was difficult as much of Downtown fled to the malls in the early 1970s. As a result, the Battle House Hotel closed in 1974.

The building sat empty until, after a massive two-year-long renovation, The Retirement Systems of Alabama reopened it in 2007.

As mentioned above, the beautiful Grand Lobby features a domed skylight original from the opening of this building in 1908. On the four corners of the room are painted portraits of Louis XIV of France, George III of the United Kingdom, Ferdinand V of Castile, and George Washington. Why these men? They each represent times of rule in Mobile government.

So, why did Washington make the wall instead of President James Madison? It could be to honor his being the first American President, or it could just be that he has better name recognition. Whatever the final decision, poor President Madison was decidedly ignored.

Biblical hero David was the youngest in his family. God sent Samuel to David's family home to anoint the next king of Israel. The father, Jesse, was very excited that God had chosen one of his sons to rule! So he lined up his sons in order, starting with the oldest and going to the youngest. None of these young men was God's choice. Samuel had to ask Jesse if there were more sons somewhere. Of course, there was one more. Jesse hadn't overlooked David; he had ignored him, discounting the fact that God could choose him for anything. Samuel had to send for David, and God finally gave the go-ahead for the anointing. The smallest, youngest, most forgotten son would one day be the King of Israel and be an ancestor of Jesus himself.

It doesn't feel good to be overlooked or ignored. It makes us feel rejected, underappreciated, lonely. It can also wear on us, tearing down our confidence and even our hopes. It stinks. Now is when you think I will say to smile and be encouraged, for your day will come! Put on "Don't Worry, be Happy" and sing your way better!

Well, I could. And you may be in that spot, ready to get your second wind and plow ahead. If so, go for it! But you may not be there yet. You may be stinging, hurting, wanting to lash out. Those are awful feelings, but if you are feeling those things, you need to own them. Explore them. Think about them. Work through them. In short, don't ignore the hurt that comes when you feel ignored. Take some time for yourself. You may want to pray through the issues with God. Tell Him how you feel and ask Him for direction. Write things out, listing why you were overlooked or ignored. Is it really rejection, or is it a misunderstanding? Should you continue to pursue the situation, or should you move on to something else?

I don’t know your situation, but I do know that God doesn’t overlook you. He doesn’t ignore you, either. Work with Him, even when you don’t feel that you have his attention. You always do.

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.”

1 Samuel 16:11