PJP2 PROLOG 160131 PROLOG Focus Exodus 17:14-15....

Psalm 30:4 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."Sing Praises to The Lord, O you His saints, And Give Thanks to His Holy Name."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160131 Exodus 17:14-15 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."The The Lord Said to Moses, 'Write This on a scroll As Something To Be Remembered and Make Sure that Joshua Hears It, Because I Will Completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.'  Moses Built an Altar and Called It, 'The Lord Is my Banner'.....

The Holy Spirit has brought two points of pondering to mind this morning - (1) "Write This on a scroll As Something to Be Remembered"; (2) "The Lord Is my Banner"....

(1) "Write This on a scroll As Something to Be Remembered" - According to Bible Gateway's search engine, this is God's First provision of Guidance to His servant to 'Write This'.  As I have shared in past PJP2s, Cindy and I have been working these past few years to beginning a career as Writers.  God's Order to Moses Resonates with me as well - that Writing This on a scroll As Something to Be Remembered.  Also, as I age, I am Beginning to Better Understand why folks do start writing things down to Remember.... :) Overall, my Point that I Hear The Spirit Sharing is to Say, Thanks Lord, for Your Ensuring we have Your Word to Learn and Live within Your Way and our Relationship with You.

(2) "The Lord Is my Banner" - I know y'all are aware of my fascination with Banners and Flags.  I am working on a Retirement Coin :) and as you would expect the Coin will be 'festive' bearing both Eagles and U.S. Flags.  Anyway, as a Soldier can tell you, a Units Flag/Banner is essential to the Soldier on the battlefield.  Through the fog of war, a Soldier can search the chaos for the Units Banner, and know exactly where his Comrade-in-Arms are, also rallying to The Banner in the instance of being Recalled, or Called Forward to Charge the enemy.  Thus I Hear The Spirit Sharing that in our POWS today (Exodus 17:14-15) God The Father is Clarifying for us His Soldiers of our Lord Jesus' Cross - He Is our Banner.  Our Lord Jesus, His Holy Spirit, and God The Father Himself, He Is our Banner that we can Always See, regardless of the challenges, circumstances, or 'fog' that the enemy may try to blind us with, He Is our Banner that we Will Always Be Able to Find and Run to.

Thus my Prayer for us today would be - O Lord Jesus, Help us and Inspire us to "Write" be that in our Actions or Word that You Are God's Something, God's One Thing that we Are to Remember.  Holy Spirit, Strengthen and Embolden us to Raise You as our Banner that All May See and Come to You.  Father God Thank You for Your Continuous Outpouring of Your Love, Mercy and Grace.  Lord Jesus we Lift Up our Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

Blessings....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160131 THANKS Focus - Exodus 17:6....

Psalm 86:5 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."For You, O Lord, Are Good and Forgiving, Abounding in Steadfast Love to All who Call Upon You."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160131 - Exodus 17:6 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."(And God Said)....'I Will Stand There Before you By The Rock at Horeb.  Strike The Rock, and Water Will Come Out of It For the people to Drink'"....

I am Thankful that our Lord Jesus, God's ROCK for us, Continues to Pour Out His Living Water for us.

If you Are of His Family of Faith, you too already Know of His Living Water, and That He Quenches our inner-Spiritual Thirst.  If you do not yet Know our Lord Jesus as God's ROCK, I can assure you, He Is Waiting to Pour His Love, Mercy and Grace, as well as His Living Water into, around and through you as well.

May His Love, Light and Grace be with you and yours....Blessings/jaj

PJP2 SIP 160131l SIP Focus - Exodus 18:9-11 (NIV)/(emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Come to You in Worship and Praise.  Holy, Holy, Holy, only You Are Holy.  Lord Jesus, Teach us today From Your Example You Share via Your Story with Jethro Reuel, Your Priest in Midian, and Moses Your Servant's Father-in-Law.  Thank You, Holy Spirit that Jethro was Obedient to You and Your Way.  Father God, Guide us to Be Delighted when we Witness and Observe You Working In, Around and Through us, All That You have Done and Continue to Do in Rescuing us.  Lord Jesus, May we Join with Jethro as he Proclaims, "Praise Be to The Lord, Who Rescued"....Holy Spirit, Instill us with Your Knowledge that we May Share with Confidence and Understanding that You Are Greater, and The One and Only Lord and Savior we need turn to.  Father God, Thank You for Your Mercy and Grace, and we Offer ourselves to You as our Living Sacrifice to Walk In Your Way.  Lord Jesus, we Lift Up These Prayers in Your Holy and Precious Name....Amen and Amen...jaj

God's Nod 160131 - Exodus 16:30 (NIV) (emphasis added/jaj)...."So the people Rested On The Seventh Day (God's Sabbath Day)."

PJP2 PROLOG 160117 PROLOG Focus Matthew 3:15….

Psalm 31:3 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”For You Are my ROCK and my FORTRESS; You Lead and Guide me Because of Your Name.”….

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160117 Matthew 3:15 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Jesus replied (to His cousin John the Baptist), ‘Let It Be So now; It Is Proper for us to Do This to Fulfill All Righteousness.’  Then John consented.”

I am always Amazed at The Leadership Examples our Lord Jesus Provides us.  In Matthew 3:13-17, The Holy Spirit Inspires Matthew to record The Baptism of our Lord Jesus by His cousin John the Baptist (JB).  Think about that for a moment – Here is “JB” Preaching, Teaching and Baptizing folks out by the Jordan River.  JB makes clear that The One Who comes after him will Baptize them with Fire and The Holy Spirit.  So JB’s baptism is not the final one.  Yet it is an outward expression of confession of sin and wrongdoing, and a desire to Be Reconciled to God.  Here we see Jesus, The Lamb of God; The One Who Knew NO sin, taking part in the baptism to confess sin.  Wow.  I once heard it said that as JB baptized Jesus, that also symbolized Jesus’ absorption of all our sins into Himself as He was immersed in the same water that had washed our sins off from us.  Jesus is Ever Willing to Take On our issues as His Own, a Good Quality for any Leader. 

Then consider that our Lord Jesus was Reflecting Followership.  Here He is God’s Own Son, Perfect in Every Way and Indeed One with a Perfect Relationship with God The Father. 

Did Jesus really need to be baptized?   

Well, what I Hear The Spirit Saying is, “Jeff, The Lord Jesus’ Response to JB says it all.”….‘Let It Be So now; It Is Proper for us to Do This to Fulfill All Righteousness.’

His Obedience is the Point.

Lastly, for this round, Jesus’ Example led JB to Follow in Obedience as well.

My Prayer for us, today, is simply that we too would Follow the Lord’s Example (FLEx).  Lord Jesus, Strengthen and Empower us to be Obedient to You.  Father God, Open our Eyes that we May Ever See Your Way before us.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for Ever Being With us.  May we Reflect Your Grace in all we say and do.  Lord Jesus in Your Holy Name we Pray…..Amen/Amen….jaj

Blessing/jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160117 THANKS Focus Matthew 1:17 (NIV)….

Psalm 136:3 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Give Thanks to The Lord of lords.  His Love Continues Forever!”….

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160117 – Matthew 1:17 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to The Exile to Babylon, and fourteen from The Exile to The Christ.”….

I am Thankful, as we read through The (earthly) Genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ that God The Heavenly Father Revealed that He is Ever-Present in our Family Tree, even with those ‘down-the-line’ that in our noggins’ there’s just no-way. 

I mean consider that there are five women with fascinating stories in and of themselves listed in our Lord’s Family Line.  Most of the time, during Old and New Testament Family Lineage Listings, Moms did not get mentioned.  (In no way am I saying that is correct – just pointing out the common context at that time/jaj.)  The five women – Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary (there’s a Second Account of our Lord Jesus’ Family Line recorded in Luke 3:23-37 – this one following a slightly different pathway).  The Point I Hear The Holy Spirit making, though, when we Accept God as our Eternal Father, regardless of the less-than-perfect relatives we may have (or even if we are one of those less-than-perfect relatives, which we may well be) – God takes us and Transforms us into That New Creature He Knows we can be In Him.

Thus I am Thankful for my own earthly genealogy.  I am even more Thankful, now, for my Eternal Genealogy due to our Lord Jesus’ activating our Pathway to being an Adopted child of God through His Life, Death and Resurrection.

Outstanding!

May His Amazing Grace be with you and yours…..jaj 

PJP2 SIP 160117 SIP Focus Psalm 16 (POWS)…..O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Praise You.  Father God, we Ask that You Keep us Safe, for In You, Lord Jesus, we Take Refuge.  Holy Spirit, Strengthen us and Encourage us as we say, “You Are our Lord and Savior.  Apart from You, we have no Good thing.”  Father God, Thank You for Your Family of The Faith.  Lord Jesus, in our Brothers and Sisters who Believe In You, we See Your Light in them and Know that they Reflect Your Glory to our Delight.  Father God Help us To Be Your Witnesses.  Lord Jesus May we Share Your Calling to those whose sorrows will continue to grow as they follow after other gods and idols.  You have Clearly Revealed that You and You Alone are our God and there is no other like You.  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we are Thankful that You Have and Continue to Bless us in so many ways.  Lord, You Have Assigned us our Portion and our Cup of Grace.  In You, our Lot in Life is Secure in Your Love and Light.  Because of You, the ‘boundary lines’ in our Lives have fallen in Your Pleasant Places.  Lord Jesus, Because of You, Your Life, Death and Resurrection, we have a Rich and Delightful Eternal Inheritance.  We Will Praise You, O Father God.  Holy Spirit we Will Praise You Who Counsels us.  Lord Jesus, even at night, You Still Instruct us through Your Presence in our Heart.  Father God Help us to Ever Set You Before us.  Lord Jesus Ever Be at our Right Hands, and Because You Are, we will Not be shaken.  Holy Spirit, with You in our Lives, our Heart will Ever Be Glad, and we Will Rejoice in Your Presence among us.  Thank You, Father God, for You Have Made Known to us Your Path of Life.  Lord Jesus Thank You, for You Fill us With Joy.  Holy Spirit, Father God, Lord Jesus, in Your Precious Name we Pray these Prayers….Amen and Amen/jaj

God’s Nod 160117 Romans 5:8 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”So This is Proof of God’s Love for us – That Christ died for us while we were still sinners.”….

PJP2 PROLOG 160116 PROLOG Focus Genesis 50:19-21….

Psalm 47:1-2 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Clap your hands, all you nations; Shout to God With Cries of Joy.  How Awesome is The Lord Most High, The Great King over all the earth!”….

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160116 Genesis 50:19-21 (NIV)/(emphasis & paraphrase added  / jaj)….”BUT Joseph said to them (his 11 brothers), ‘Do Not be afraid.  Am I in the Place of God?  Indeed your actions intended to harm me, BUT GOD Intended that very same situation For Good to Accomplish His Will and What Is Now Being Done, Resulting in The Saving of Many Lives.  So Then, Do Not be afraid.  As YAHWEH Has Provided for me, so I will Provide for you and your children.’  And Joseph continued to Reassure them, speaking kindly to them.”

The Holy Spirit is Guiding me towards Three Thoughts this morning –

a.     TRUTH is Indeed The Best Policy – I find it interesting that Joseph’s brothers, the other 11 sons of Jacob/Israel, once more decide to invoke the ‘family trait’, that is lying, as they send a message to Joseph (Check out Genesis 50:15-17) following their getting back to Goshen, Egypt after their journey back to Canaan to bury Dad Jacob/Israel.  Now, on the one hand I completely understand ‘the Brothers’ concerns – I mean c’mon man – these 11 dudes had attempted fratricide!  Clearly it was by God’s Grace that Joseph didn’t end up one dead Dream Weaver.  So, Jake’s 11 Boys had ever reason to consider that ‘Lil Joe might just decide, now with Dad Jake dead and gone, here was his perfect opportunity, especially since Joe’s #2 in Egypt, to deal with his contemptuous ‘Band of Brothers’ and no one would ever find the bodies.  So they once more come up with a story of what Jacob/Israel ‘instructed them’ to share with ‘Lil Joe.  Now, why do I think they are lying to Joseph?  In Genesis 50:17e we read, “When their message came to Joseph, he wept.”  I Hear The Holy Spirit saying that Joseph knew the Truth.  First he Knew there was NO WAY Jake’s Boys ever admitted to Jacob/Israel that they had been the ones responsible for tossing ‘Lil Joe down the well, then sold him off into slavery.  Nope, I just don’t see it happening.  Second, after all Joseph had done for them (- GAVE them food without payment; - Arranged a Fully Paid Permanent Change of Station; -Ensured that the Egyptians Gave them The BEST area of Egypt to be – Goshen, for the children of Israel to grow and prosper; - Arranged a Full Official State Burial for Dad Jake) Joseph is still having to ‘prove’ his love and devotion to his brothers.  ‘Lil Joe’s Response Reveals that he DOES know the TRUTH, and The TRUTH really sets them all free….

b.     God Is In CONTROL – As we see in today’s PJP2 PROLOG POST 160116 Genesis 50:19-21, even when we men think we’re pulling a fast one, or we’re the ones pulling the strings on a scenario – Nope, that ain’t the sitrep at all.  God Is In Control!  He can and does use every circumstance to Accomplish His Will of Love, Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace.  His Mission of Reconciling us to a Right Relationship with Him – He Achieves via whatever chuckle-headedness plan/scheme we concoct.  As Joseph says, what we may plan for evil, He Can and Will Bring Good, and His Will out of that situation.  FYSA – do Not Hear what I am Not Saying – not saying at all that God causes disasters, wars, famine, you name to challenge – I am Saying, Though, God Works Within those circumstances to Bring About His Love and Will towards us.

c.      God’s Word (Both Written and His Son) is God’s ‘Reassurance and Speaking Kindly towards us)….I am Always Impressed with How God The Father employs imagery of How He Himself is Working and Interacting with us via His Story being told about one of His Servants.  We see this throughout His Entire Word to us.  In Genesis 50:19-21, we see His Foreshadowing of our Lord Jesus’ Walk among us.  He both Told us and Revealed by His Life, Death and Resurrection that God’s Mercy, Love and Grace was Ever With us and though we had intended harm towards Him, God Used This for our Good, and God’s Will to be Ultimately Accomplished.

In a Word….OUTSTANDING!

Thus my Prayer for us today would be to Offer Up a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise of Genesis 50:19-21…..O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Praise You for Your Word.  Lord Jesus, Strengthen and Encourage us to Not be afraid.  Holy Spirit, Forgive us as well at those times when we do try to ‘take the place’ of God The Father.  Father God, Thank You and Guide us to Always Let You Be God in our Lives.  Lord Jesus, Help us to Come to Better Understand that even when we foolishly strive to do something that’s wrong, and can be harmful to others and ourselves, You are Ever With us, and Your Will Can and Will Be Done, even in the midst of our most challenging circumstances.  Holy Spirit, Empower us with Your Presence that we may Not be afraid.  Father God, Thank You for Your Provision of Love and Life, both during our Walk With You on earth, and Beyond to Your Eternal Kingdom.  Lord Jesus, Open our Soul’s Ears and Heart to Always Hear Your Word of Love and Kindness towards us.  We Pray all These Prayers in Your Precious and Holy Name….Amen/Amen….jaj

May He Ever Be with you and yours in All your Ways….jaj

   

PJP2 THANKS 160116 THANKS Focus Genesis 49:18….

Psalm 118:24 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”This Is The Day that The Lord Has Made; Let us Rejoice and Be Glad In It.”….

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160116 – Genesis 49:18 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”(And Jacob/Israel said to his 12 sons), ‘I Look For Your Deliverance, O Lord.’”

I am Thankful for His HOPE that we can most assuredly RELY upon.  As we ponder on Jacob/Israel’s comment in the midst of his ‘final’ blessing/prophecy to his 12 sons.  Jacob/Israel, in his 147+ years, had lived a full and indeed interesting life.  The Holy Spirit’s Inspired Word to him, as he Shares these last Revelation to his boys Reminds us that through all Jacob/Israel’s ups and downs of Life, he continued to Cling to God’s Presence in his Life. 

That is not to say Jacob/Israel did not experience doubt.  On the contrary, The Holy Spirit clearly shows us (Check out Genesis 42:36) Jacob/Israel had doubts, not wanting to send Benjamin with the other brothers as demanded by “The man who is lord over the land (Genesis 42:30; 33).  Yet, as God The Father Does for us as well, IF we will TRUST and RELY on Him, He Reassures Jacob/Israel that He is With him and All Will Be Well – Genesis 46:3-4 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”(And God Said to Jacob/Israel), ‘I AM GOD, The God of your father.  Do NOT be afraid to go down to Egypt, For I Will Make you into a Great Nation there.  I Will Go Down to Egypt With you, AND I Will Surely Bring you Back Again.  And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.’”

Thus Jacob/Israel had Every Reason to Look for YAHWEH’s Deliverance and Know that He Would Most Assuredly Deliver him.

We too can Rest Ever on the Lord YAHWEH (RELY)’s Word and Promise.  We too have our Lord Jesus.  He is Our Promise Eternal (HOPE).  May we, O Lord, Proclaim You Lord Our Only King (LOOK).

Amen and Amen/jaj

PJP2 SIP 160116 SIP Focus Psalm 15 (NKJV & NLT)/(emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)…..O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Father, we Come Before You in Humble Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, as our brother King David asked You so long ago, we ask again today – who may Abide in Your Temple?  Holy Spirit, who is it that May Dwell upon Your Holy Hill?  Father God, Thank You for Your Answer.  Help us, Lord Jesus, to Follow In Your Steps, for as You Revealed to us During Your Walk upon our earth, You Showed us that he who Walks Uprightly, and Works within Your Righteousness.  Holy Spirit, likewise it is he who Speaks Your Truth in their Heart.  Help us to Be That Way.  Father God Protect and Prevent us from being one that ‘backbites’ and speaks falsehood with our tongues.  Lord Jesus, as You Teach us, Help us to Be Good Neighbors, and Never to do evil or wrong towards our fellow man.  Holy Spirit Strengthen and Encourage us to Firmly Stand in Support and Defense of our Friends.  Father God we Know that You Despise a vile and evil person.  Thank You that You Do Indeed Favor those of the Family of Faith who Appropriately and Properly FEAR (Faithfully venerate; reflect Esteem/Exaltation; always Adore/Adulate; remember to Respect/show Reverence) You.  Lord Jesus, Continue to Teach us Your Holy Way.  Holy Spirit, Empower us that when we take an Oath, Especially to You, That we Will Fulfill our Promise, even when such an Oath hurts.  Father God Teach us Generosity – as You have Freely Given to us, May we, in Return Freely Give to others in need.  Lord Jesus Guide us and Ever Keep us from the temptation of accepting a bribe of anykind.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for Your Word and Understanding.  Father God, May we Better Come to Know That as we Walk With You In This Way, You Promise we will Never Be shaken.  In Your Precious and Holy Name, Lord Jesus, we Ask These Prayers….Amen/Amen …jaj

God’s Nod 160116 Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)/(emphasis & paraphrase added / jaj) ….”Finally, Be Strong In The Lord And In His Mighty Power.  Daily, Put On the Full Armor of God So That you Can Take your Stand against the evil one’s schemes.”….  

PJP2 PROLOG 160115 PROLOG Focus Genesis 45:5-8a….

Psalm 81:1 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Sing for Joy to God our Strength; Shout Aloud to The God of Jacob!”….

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160115 Genesis 45:5-8a (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”{Joseph said to his brothers)….’And Now, Do NOT be distressed and Do NOT be angry with yourselves for selling me here, BECAUSE It Was to SAVE That God Sent me ahead of you.  For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will not be plowing and reaping.  BUT GOD Sent me Ahead of you to Preserve for you A Remnant on earth AND To SAVE your Lives By A GREAT DELIVERANCE.  So then, It Was NOT you who sent me here, BUT GOD….

You just have to Love God’s Good Endings to His Story.  I mean, when I put myself in Joseph’s shoes, I’m not sure I would have come up with Genesis 45:5-8a.  No, I’m not sure I would have been able to See God’s Hand Working through what I had experienced the past 20 years, all because these bone-heads standing in front of me were jealous. 

Yet, this POWS is So Reflective of God’s Grace, God’s Love, God’s Being In Total Control and God’s Employment of even the worst of circumstances to Still Provide His Salvation for us. 

I can Hear The Holy Spirit Saying, “Jeff, take this same POWS and Have The Lord Jesus Say them to His disciples, or even to you”…..Ok, let’s try that…..

And The Lord Jesus Said to me, “Jeff, don’t you be distressed, or mad at yourself for your sin being The Cause for My death on the cross.  BECAUSE God The Father Used My Cross as His Means to SAVE you.  He Sent Me Ahead of you, Jeff, to Ensure His Plan of Salvation Was Secured for you before you got here.  Understand, Jeff, that this world remains in a state of famine of Spirit from not turning to God The Father.  Yet I Encourage you to Always Remember This – BUT GOD Sent Me!  He Sent Me Ahead of you To PRESERVE you for a Right Relationship with Him.  Take Heart, Jeff, God’s Remnant is Still Around you.  By His Mighty Power, My Resurrection Is your GREAT DELIVERANCE.  Never Forget Jeff, it was NOT you who sent me to the cross, BUT GOD, and I Went Freely To Pave your Way to Him.”

Thus that would be my Prayer of us today – Holy Spirit, Help us to Hear You, and to Respond in Faith to Your Calling to us to Join You.

May the Love, Light, Mercy and Grace ever be with you and yours.  Blessings!  jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160115 THANKS Focus Genesis 45:24….

Psalm 66:1-2 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Shout with Joy to God, all the earth!  Sing The Glory of His Name; Make His Praise Glorious”….

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160115 Genesis 45:24 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”Then Joseph sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving, he said to them, ‘Do NOT quarrel on the way!’”….

I am Thankful for how Very Well our Lord Knows us, and still Loves us, Even with His Knowing us.  In today’s PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160115 (Genesis 45:24) I am Thankful for the image of God’s Grace and Guidance.  Here we see Joseph, the second youngest of Israel’s 12 sons, who, By God’s Presence and Being With Joseph, has taken a scenario (Joseph tossed into a cistern – by these same brothers; Sold to a caravan of traders as a slave; Declared ‘dead’ by his beloved father; Resold a second time to an Egyptian; Thrown into prison for a crime he did NOT commit; Forgotten about, then thrust into ‘service’ as a ‘Dream Weaver’…..) AND totally transformed the Outcome.  I am Thankful that our Lord Jesus Still Shares His Loving Words and Counsel to us Based on how very well He Understands our human condition.

Lastly, I would Offer Up a Prayer of Thanks for His Amazing Love and Grace.  Lord Jesus Grant us Your Wisdom to Ever Keep our Focus on You and You Alone.  Holy Spirit, Instill in us True Thankfulness for All You Have Showered upon us.  Father God Remind us That You and Your Grace are Sufficient, and we Can Be Content with The Content You Provide for us.

In Your Precious and Holy Name….Amen/Amen…jaj

PJP2 SIP 160115 SIP Focus Psalm 14….O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God we come Before You and Raise Your Name in Worship.  Lord Jesus Guide me as I would Offer Up this Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise to You from Your Inspired Word to Your Psalmist….O Father God, Instill in us Your Word and Your Presence.  Help us, Holy Spirit to be able to Be Your Witness to those who do not yet Know You.  Lord Jesus, Give us Your Insight to Be Able to Stand and Share when we hear someone foolishly say, “There is no God.”  Lord Jesus, Encourage us when, in doubt and despair, we are distracted by the corruption, the vile and wicked deeds, and our fear that there is no one left that Does Your Good.  Heavenly Father, Remind us, Through Your Written and Living Word That You Are Still In Control.  Holy Spirit, as You Look Over us, Help us to Be Your Lights of Life and Truth.  Lord Jesus, even when, through our human eyes, it seems that no one Seeks You; that all of mankind has turned aside; corruption appears to be running rampant; that not even one, even to include ourselves, honestly Does Your Good – Forgive us and Revive us once again.  Father God, Teach us Your Way.  O, Holy Spirit, it does seem that we men will simply never Learn Your Truth.  Lord Jesus, Please, we Pray, Bring us to Your Company of Your Righteousness.  Father God Open our Heart and our Eyes to See that You are our Refuge, and That You, In Your Perfect Timing and Plan frustrate and overturn the plan of the evildoer.  Lord Jesus we Thank You that Salvation Does Indeed Come from You, the True Israel, God’s Living Mountain of Zion.  Father God, Come Soon and Restore us to You, that we May Rejoice In Your Presence and Glory.  We ask all these Prayers in Your Holy Name….Amen/Amen…jaj

God’s Nod 160115 1 John 5:3-5 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”This Is The Love of God: To Obey His Commands.  And His Commands are NOT burdensome, for everyone Born of God Overcomes the world.  This Is The Victory That Has Overcome the world, even our Faith.  Who is it That Overcomes the world?  Only he who Believes That Jesus Is The Son of God.”

PJP2 PROLOG 160114 PROLOG Focus Genesis 41:32….

Psalm 77:11 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”I Will Remember The Deeds of The Lord; Yes, I Will Remember Your Wonders of Old”….

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160114 – Genesis 41:32 (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”(The Joseph said to Pharoah)….’The Reason ‘the Dream’ was Given to Pharaoh in Two Forms IS That The Matter Has Been Firmly Decided by God, and God Will Do It Soon.”….

The Lord Jesus, His Holy Spirit and God The Father never cease to Amaze me.  Indeed we learn, as we read through His Word to us, that He is Indeed a God of Peace and of Order.  God Consistently Reveals to us His Plan, which is to Reconcile our Relationship with Him.  He not only tells us once, BUT multiple times, so we won’t miss it (though often times we do, or we may even think we can run from it…..go ask Jonah how that worked out for him….jaj).

Well, in Joseph’s case, God employs Joseph as His ‘Dream Weaver’ being able to Hear The Lord, as He Provides Joseph with His Wisdom, Insight and Discernment to Interpret Dreams.  As I have mentioned before, we also are aware that when God The Father Says something MORE than once, well, that’s a pretty good indication that What Has Been Said is a Very Important Point. 

In our PJP2 PROLOG POST 160114 Genesis 41:32, we see this Principle in Action.  Interesting to note, in Genesis 37:5-9 God Shares with us that He had Sent a younger Joseph (only 17 at the time) two similar Dreams that Provided Joseph with Intel of his future, though I am certain at that moment, the 17-year old Joseph was clueless exactly how YAHWEH was going to work that out.

The Point I Hear The Holy Spirit saying today is – LISTEN. 

I am firmly Convince God The Father is Constantly and Consistently Speaking to, through and all around us – As He Shares with us in Psalm 46:10a….”Be Still, and Know That I AM God”….

Thus my Prayer for us is two-fold – Lord Jesus, we Thank You and Praise You for Your being God’s Living Word and Reminder to us of God The Father’s Loving Mercy and Grace towards us.  Holy Spirit, Help us to Be Still in Your Presence.  Father God, Empower and Encourage us to LISTEN as You Share with us Your Will and Way.  Lord Jesus May we Ever Walk in Your Steps.  We Pray all These Prayers in Your Holy Name….Amen/Amen….jaj

Blessings/jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160113 THANKS Focus Genesis 40:23 (NIV)….

Psalm 45:17 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”I Will Cause Your Name to Be Remembered in all generations; Therefore nations Will Praise You Forever and Ever.”….

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160113 - Genesis 40:23 (NIV)/(emphasis added / jaj)….”Pharoah’s chief cupbearer, however Did Not Remember Joseph; he forgot him.”….

I am Thankful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s Faithfulness and Trustworthiness – His Word to us Consistently Reminds us that He Will Ever Remember us, even when we forget Him.  I am also Thankful that God The Father will Gently Nudge us, Calling to our Soul and Heart through many different Conduits that Indeed He is With us, and He has Not forgotten, nor forsaken us.

As we see in Genesis 40:23, Pharoah’s Cupbearer had a short memory.  Two years later (see Genesis 41:1), God The Father got the Cupbearer’s attention by sending Pharoah two similar but different troubling dreams.  In Genesis 41:9, we read that the Cupbearer finally caught on that Joseph, the ‘Hebrew Dream Weaver’ would be ‘the one’ who could tell Pharoah what was up with his dreams.

Praise God that He Never forgets us, even when we may think He has….His Timing is Perfect, and most often, when we least Expect His Intervention, or Revelation, He Will Jog our Memory that He is Indeed With us and Moving within, around and through us.

Blessings to your and yours….jaj

God’s Nod 160114 – Psalm 7:10-11a (NIV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”My Shield is God Most High, Who Saves The Upright in Heart.  God is A Righteous Judge”….

PJP2 PROLOG 160113 PROLOG Focus Genesis 39.....

Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)....{My Refuge and My Fortress}...."He who Dwells In The Shelter of The Most High Will Abide In The Shadow Of The Almighty.  I Will Say To The Lord, “My Refuge And my Fortress, my God, In Whom I Trust.”....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160113 - Genesis 39:2-4 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."The Lord Was With Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master (Potiphar, Captain of the Guard).  His master Saw That The Lord Was With Joseph And That The Lord Caused ALL That Joseph Did to Succeed in his hands.  So Joseph Found Favor/Grace in Potiphar's sight and attended him, and Potiphar made Joseph the overseer of Potiphar's house and put Joseph in charge of all that Potiphar had."....

Seven times in Genesis 39 we read "The Lord was With Joseph" and/or "The Lord Gave Joseph Success in All he Did".  As I have mentioned before, the number seven is normally assigned as 'God's Number'.  I am always amazed at how the number seven appears in God's Word to us.  Normal convention is if the same thing is said more than once, usually means that whatever was said is pretty important.  For example during our Lord Jesus' visit to Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, we find the story (Luke 10:38-42) where Martha gets all worked up about preparing a meal for our Lord Jesus, while Mary decides to take the time to listen and spend time with Him.  Martha, as I'm certain I probably would have done the same, Asks The Lord Jesus to encourage Mary to come help her with the dinner prep.  Our Lord Jesus' Answer is Classic....Luke 10:41-42 (ESV) / (emphasis added / jaj)...."BUT The Lord Answered her, 'Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, BUT One Thing Is Necessary.  Mary Has Chosen The Good Portion, Which Will Not Be taken away from her.'”

So, in today's POWS, we find seven times God The Father points out that He Was With Joseph in a Big Way!  Even Potiphar, and Pharoah's Prison Warden (check out Genesis 39:20-23) recognized God's Hand being Upon Joseph.

Thus a couple of Concepts I'm Hearing The Holy Spirit mention to me this morning - (1) Honest Integrity - As we've discussed during this round of PJP2s, Adam's sons, grandsons and beyond (starting with Cain, through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's 11 other sons) seem to easily drift toward's deception and lies.  Yet with Joseph, to a fault, he is Honest and is empicable in his Integrity.  (For examples - read Genesis 37:2; Genesis 39:8-10).  I Clearly Hear The Holy Spirit Recommending we to Follow this Example, especially Because we see the Very Same Characteristic in our Lord Jesus.  (2) Faithful and Trusting - Though God's Word does not specifically Share with us Joseph's personal Walk with The Lord, I have to Think Joseph had a very Rich and Sustaining Faith.  Through all of Joseph's Adventures you NEVER EVER hear or read that he complained.  Now again, The Word doesn't share that Joseph does or does not voice his concerns to God.  BUT, as we observe his actions, they just don't seem to read as someone who is bitter, or in despair, or who is discouraged by his circumstance.  Joseph's Faith and Trust that God is Indeed With him apparently Provide Joseph the Courage and Empowerment to Carry On - Doing The Best he can in whatever situation he finds himself in, be that at the bottom of a cistern, sold as a slave to the Ishmaelites, again to Potiphar, or in the cell of the Pharoah's Prison - God's in Control, and all Joseph needs to do is have Faith and Trust in God's Grace.

Thus my Prayer for us today would simply be - Lord Jesus, Help us to Tap Into Joseph's Integrity and His Trusting Faithfulness in You.  Holy Spirit Encourage us, like Joseph, to See You Are With us, regardless of the circumstances presently in front of us.  Father God, Thank You for Your Presence in Joseph's Life and in our own.  Lord Jesus, May we Ever Reflect Your Love, Light, Truth, Mercy and Grace.  In Your Precious Name we Pray....Amen/Amen....jaj

May His Blessings ever be with you and yours/jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160113 THANKS Focus Genesis 38:29-30 (ESV)....

Psalm 75:1 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."We Give Thanks To You, O God; we Give Thanks, For Your Name Is Near.  We Recount Your Wondrous Deeds."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160113 - Genesis 38:29-30 {The Message (MSG)} / (emphasis added / jaj) ...."When her (Tamar / Daughter-in-Law of Judah) time came to give birth, it turned out that there were twins in her womb.  As she was giving birth, one put his hand out; the midwife tied a red thread on his hand, saying, “This one came first.”  BUT then he pulled it back and his brother came out.  The midwife exclaimed, “Oh! So this is how you breakout!”  So Tamar named him Perez (Breakout). Then his brother came out with the red thread on his hand.  They named him Zerah (Bright)."

I am Thankful that Even in the Midst of what, in man's view, would be a less than positive scenario, God The Father, our Creator and Savior can Employ the negative circumstances to plant His Plan of Life, Light, Truth, Mercy and Grace.  I am Thankful that God's Plan of Redemption Rests Squarely on His Truth of Reconciliation.

I am Thankful, as well, that The Holy Spirit Inspired and Gave us His Whole Bible so we can Know that Perez "Breakout" Judahson will be a Key Part of our Lord Jesus' earthly 'heritage' as He Shares with us in Matthew 1:3.  I am Thankful that He Sees how all of our Lives will turn out, even as we may be shaking our head wondering how He is going to be able to Do what He Does time and time again.

One last Thanks for His Gift of Reconciliation.....As The Holy Spirit Guided me to today's PJP2 God's Nod, let me share that yet again.....

God’s Nod 160113 - 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (ESV) / (emphasis added/jaj)….”That Is, In Christ, God Was Reconciling the world To Himself, NOT counting their trespasses against them, And Entrusting To us The Message of Reconciliation.  Therefore, we are Ambassadors for Christ, God Making His Appeal Through us.  We Implore you On Behalf of Christ, Be Reconciled To God.”….

As our Lord Jesus' Mission is to Reconcile All men's Right Relationship with God The Father, so, likewise are we to Follow In Step with Him (FISH).

Lord Jesus, Thank You for Reconciling us to God The Father through Your Love, Sacrifice and Your Resurrection.  May we too ever be Your Ambassadors to this lost and searching world.

Blessings to you and yours/jaj

PJP2 SIP 160113 SIP Focus Psalm 12:1-8 (ESV)/(emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Heavenly Father, we Come Before You today in an Attitude of Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, Help me as I Offer Up this Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from Your Inspired Word to Your Psalmist as they write in Psalm 12:1-8....Father God, we would Pray for You to Save us, O Lord, for Indeed, as we view the world's news, it would seem that Your Godly ones are gone;  Lord Jesus, our world is fearful for it Seems Your Faithful have vanished from among the children of man.  Holy Spirit, everywhere we turn and look, it would appear that everyone utters lies to their neighbor;  Father God, Forgive us when with flattering lips and a double heart we speak falsehoods.  Lord Jesus Prevent and Protect us from the use of flattering lips, or a tongue that makes great prideful boasts.  Holy Spirit, May we never be of those who say, “With our tongue and words we will prevail, our selfish lips are with us; who is master over us?”

Father God, we Pray that You Come Soon.  Lord Jesus, May Your Second Advent Happen Now.  Holy Spirit, Revive us again.

Father God, May we Hear You Say, “Because the poor are plundered, Because the needy groan, I Will Now Arise.  I Will Place him In My Safety for which he longs.”

O Fellow man, May we Come to Know that His Words, The Word of our Lord Jesus, Are Pure Words.  Father God, Thank You that You have Given us Your Written and Living Word.  For Your Word is like Pure Silver, Refined in a furnace on the ground.  Holy Spirit, Like Silver that has bee Purified Seven Times, so Is Your Precious Word to us.  Thank You, O Lord Jesus, For You Will Keep us in Your Loving and Gracious Presence;  Thank You, Holy Spirit, for You Will Guard us from this generation Forever.  O Father God, Forgive us and Forgive those that have yet to Come to You, for on every side we see that the wicked prowl.  Everyday we see their vileness and how it seems to be exalted among the children of man.  Lord Jesus Lead us Ever Forward.  Holy Spirit Empower us to Stand Fast and Firm in Your Grace.  Father God, May we Reflect Your Love and Light to a world so desperate for Your Presence.  We Lift Up our Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

God’s Nod 160113 - 2 Corinthians 5:19-20 (ESV) / (emphasis added/jaj)….”That Is, In Christ, God Was Reconciling the world To Himself, NOT counting their trespasses against them, And Entrusting To us The Message of Reconciliation.  Therefore, we are Ambassadors for Christ, God Making His Appeal Through us.  We Implore you On Behalf of Christ, Be Reconciled To God.”….

PJP2 PROLOG 160112 PROLOG Focus Genesis 33:19-20....

Psalm 73:23-26 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."Nevertheless, I am Continually With You; You Hold my right hand.  You Guide me With Your Counsel, And Afterward You Will Receive me To Glory.  Whom Have I In Heaven But You?  And there is nothing on earth That I Desire Besides You.  My flesh and my heart may fail, BUT God Is The Strength of my Heart and my Portion Forever."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160112 - Genesis 33:19-20 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he (Jacob/Israel) bought for a hundred pieces of silver/money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.  There Jacob/Israel erected/raised An Altar and Called It 'El-Elohe-Israel'/Mighty God of Israel."....

As we read through the journeys and adventures of Jacob (Renamed Israel see Genesis 32:22-23 and Genesis 35:9-10) I am fascinated that The Holy Spirit makes a Point in regards to Jacob/Israel consistently raising a Pillar to God, or building an Altar to YAHWEH.  (In fact I may end up writing a book on "Jacob's Pillars" - I'll keep you posted on that project/jaj)....So I am Hearing The Spirit today Guiding me toward pondering over Jake's Pillar Named "El-Elohe-Israel = God; The Mighty God of Israel".

According to Bible Scholars, there are Seven Names of God (and Once They are Written, can Not be erased Because of God's Holiness).  Those Seven Names: El; Elohim; Eloah; El Shaddai; Tzevato; Jah....From what I've read in my ponderings this morning, all Seven of God's Names were summed up in YHWH, as as we have come to know that YAHWEH.  As we look over Jacob/Israel's past, he does follow in Abraham and Isaac's leading of establishing a Recognition Point for YAHWEH in their locations.  Abraham, as we read earlier in his story, was known to build an Altar to YAHWEH where-ever he needed to (see Genesis 22:1-18).  Similarly, Isaac (Jacob/Israel's dad) builds an Altar at Beersheba (see Genesis 26:25) following YAHWEH's Revelation to Isaac of God's Promise/Covenant Extension to Isaac as well.

Ok, so Here's the Pondering Point I'm sensing The Holy Spirit Laying on my Heart this morning:  The Lord Jesus surrounds us with His Presence, all we need do is Be Open to His Revelation.  When we are, I am Certain and Confident, since He Knows Well that we, His Creation, are quite visual in our connections - He Provides a Recognition Point for us, a 'Touch Stone' if you will, for us NOT to 're-live' that Revelation, or 'revive' that Mountain Top Experience, BUT to Be Encouraged and Empowered to Carry On His Mission in our Life.

I can not begin to say what El-Elohe-Israel Pillars He has Placed in your Lives.  That is honestly between you and The Lord Jesus.  I will Share with you a couple of mine - One of His 'Pillars' in my LIfe would be Eagles....each time I see an Eagle my Thoughts immediately are Drawn to Him.  Isaiah 40:28-31 is Indeed one of my all-time Favorite POWS.....

Isaiah 40:28-31 (ESV)....."Have you not known? Have you not heard?  The Lord Is The Everlasting God, The Creator of the ends of the earth.  He Does Not faint or grow weary; His Understanding Is unsearchable.  He Gives Power to the faint, And to him who has no might He Increases Strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; BUT they who Wait For The Lord Shall Renew their Strength; they Shall Mount Up With Wings Like Eagles; they Shall Run And NOT be weary; they Shall Walk And NOT faint."....

Then there's ROCKS....I know I have shared in prior PJP2s how I am drawn to ROCKS.  There's so many POWS that The Holy Spirit has Inspired with regards to God being our ROCK.  For example 1 Samuel 2:2...."There is none Holy Like The Lord; For there is none Besides You; There is no ROCK Like our God"....

Then of course there's ACRONYMS, which I know these drive Cindy bonkers.....what can I say, this is one of those Pillars That Draws me to Him....

EAGLES - Ever Abundant Grace and Love from our Eternal Savior

ROCKS - Rely On Christ our King and Savior

WORD - Work On Remembering (His WORD) Daily or (God's) Wisdom Of Revival (for each) Day

:)

So, my Prayer for us today - Lord Jesus, Call and Draw us to You.  May Your Pillars of El-Elohe-Israel ever Reminde us to Look to You and You Alone.  Holy Spirit, Help us to Reflect Your Presence in our Lives in all we Say and Do today and always.  Father God, Thank You for Your Grace and Forgiveness.  May we Be Your Witnesses, Your Pillars of Truth to a world Desperate to Hear Your Word of Love and Life.  In Your Precious Name we Pray these things....Amen/Amen...jaj

Blessings to you and yours/jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160112 THANKS Focus Genesis 35:14-15.....

Psalm 37:39-40 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."The Salvation of the righteous Is From The Lord; He Is their Stronghold in the time of trouble.  The Lord Helps them And Delivers them; He Delivers them From the wicked And Saves them, Because they Take Refuge In Him."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160112 - Genesis 35:14-15 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."And Jacob set up a Pillar In The Place Where He (The God of Abraham and Isaac) Had Spoken With him, A Pillar of Stone.  He Poured Out A Drink Offering Upon It And Poured Oil On It.  So Jacob Called the name of The Place Where God Had Spoken With him Beth El (Holy Place; House of God)."....

I am Thankful for All the Beth Els The Lord Has Given us.  I Know that The Lord Jesus Meets with me in many spots and places all around me.  Most importantly, as The Holy Spirit Reveals to us via His Inspired Word to our Brother Paul, as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj) ...."Or do you Not Know That your body Is A Temple of The Holy Spirit Within you, Whom you Have From God?  You Are Not your own, For you Were Bought With A Price.  So Glorify God In your body."....

Now, I will be the first to admit and confess, I often times am brutal and a challenge to this body The Lord's Graced me with.  I am full aware (especially when I feel the aches/pains as this body ages) that I have perhaps not been as kind to these anatomical structures as I should have been.  BUT, Praise God, I also Know that He is With Me, and I Know, even when my 'feelings' are out of whack, or my emotions are in turmoil - The Lord Jesus is Faithful and True.  His Holy Spirit Patiently awaits my Return to Him.

Thank You Lord that Your Temple is Ever With us.

IF you are of the Family of Faith, my Prayer for us is that we will Often Pause in His Temple Within us.  May you and yours ever Sense His Presence in your Daily Walk.  IF you have not yet Come to Know our Lord Jesus, I assure You He Stands Ready to Accept You as His child as well.  All that must be done is Ask Him In.

Blessings to you and yours until at last we all meet at Beth El.....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 SIP 160112 SIP Focus Genesis 35:1-5....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Come Before You in Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, Open the Eyes and Ears of our Souls to Be In Tune and In Touch with You, as You Revealed Yourself to Your servant Jacob/Israel.  Holy Spirit, When You Call to us and Provide us Guidance, such as, "Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God Who Appeared to you"....Encourage and Empower us to Obey and Respond,  Father God, Enlighten us to Follow You and You Alone.  Lord Jesus, Help us to Cast Off and Throw Away our foreign gods of today, those 'idols' that we so easily are swayed and distracted by.  Holy Spirit Open our Souls' Eyes that we can see how we begin down the pathway of idol worship when anything that comes between us and our Relationship with You has that potential to become a 'foreign god'.  Father God Thank You for Purifying us Through Your Son, our Lord Jesus and His Sacrifice and Resurrection that Cleans our slate.  May we, O Lord, "Arise and go up to Bethel" that we too may "Make There An Altar" to You, Lord Jesus.  We Thank You, Father God for Your Mercy and Grace.  For it is You and You Alone Who Answers us in the day of our distress, trial and challenge.  It is You, Holy Spirit, that Has Been with us Wherever we have gone.  Lord Jesus we Surrender our all to You.  May we, like Jacob/Israel bury our distractions Through Your Strength, and Full Heartedly Follow in Your Steps, O Lord our God.  We Lift Up our Prayers in Your Precious and Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

God’s Nod 160112 Galatians 3:26-28 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)….”For in Christ Jesus you Are All sons of God, Through faith. For as many of you as were Baptized Into Christ Have Put On Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, For you Are All One in Christ Jesus.”….

PJP2 PROLOG 160111 PROLOG Focus Genesis 32:22-32....

Psalm 67 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."May God Be Gracious To us And Bless us And Make His Face To Shine Upon us....That Your Way May Be Known on earth, Your Saving Power Among all nations.  Let the peoples Praise You, O God; Let All the peoples Praise You!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160111 - Genesis 32:22-32 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)....{Jacob Wrestles with God}...."The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. Jacob took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.  And Jacob was left alone.  And A Man Wrestled with him Until the breaking of the day.  When The Man Saw That He did not prevail against Jacob, He Touched his hip socket, And Jacob's hip was Put Out Of Joint as he Wrestled with Him.  Then He Said, 'Let Me go, For The Day has broken.'  BUT Jacob said, 'I will NOT let You go Unless You Bless me.'  And He Said to Jacob, 'What is your name?'  And he said, 'Jacob."  Then He Said, “Your name Shall No Longer be called Jacob, BUT 'Israel', for you Have Striven/Wrestled With God and with men, And Have prevailed.'  Then Jacob asked Him, 'Please tell me Your Name.'  BUT He Said, 'Why is it that you Ask My Name?'  And there He Blessed Jacob/Israel.  So Jacob Called The Name of The Place 'Peniel', saying, 'For I Have Seen God Face to face, And Yet my Life Has Been Delivered.'  The sun rose upon Jacob as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.  Therefore to this day the people of Israel Do Not Eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, Because God Touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh."....

Several of you are aware that, much to Gen Cindy's dismay, I do enjoy WWF or WWE whichever one you are more familiar with.  'Cold Stone' Steve Austin, or 'The Rock', or 'Triple H' (etc) - I can while away some hours absorbed in the soap opera that unfolds on the screen.  Ok, my point in connection with Genesis 32:22-32 - These POWS could easily be the script to a WWF/WWE episode.

However, The Point I Hear The Holy Spirit Making with me this morning....Even When our circumstances are such that we may sense we've been wrestling with God Himself....(a) He Is With us, even in our most difficult challenges; (b) He Strives With us for His Best Outcome for us....though at times we may sense we are Indeed Wrestling with Him; (c) Must Trust Him is the bottom-line/up-front; (d) Name Change - we may even find that in the end He Changes our Name - Because He Has Transformed us Through His Love and Grace.

Thus my Prayer for us today, regardless of what Challenges we may be Wrestling with.....Let us Surrender to our Lord Jesus Christ, and Know that He Too Has and Still Walks Before, With and Through us into whatever Ring we travel.  O Holy Spirit, Thank You for Your Presence.  Father God, we Praise You for Being With us and Your Transforming Love and Mercy.  Lord Jesus May we Ever Reflect Your Love and Light to those who have Yet to Come to Know You as Lord and Savior of every ring.  We Lift Up our Prayers in Your Precious Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

Blessings and Grace to you and yours....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160111 THANKS Focus Genesis 33:10....

Psalm 34:1-4 (ESV)/(emphasis added/jaj)...."I Will Bless The Lord At All Times; His Praise Shall Continually Be in my mouth.  My Soul Makes its boast In The Lord; Let the humble Hear And Be Glad.  Oh, Magnify The Lord With me, And Let us Exalt His Name together!  I Sought The Lord, And He Answered me And Delivered me From All my fears."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160111 Genesis 33:10 (ESV)/(emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)...."Jacob said (to Esau his estranged brother), 'No, please Brother Esau, IF I have found favor/grace in your sight, Then Accept my Present/my Gift from my hand.  For I have Seen your face, Which Is Like Seeing The Face of God, And you have Accepted me."....

I am Thankful for God's Grace and Presence in all of our circumstances.  In this POWS, Genesis 33:10, we can hear the Relief in Jacob's response to having finally meeting up with his older brother Esau, who, at their last encounter, was breathing 'death threats' against Jacob (check out Genesis 27:41).  It has been at least 20 years since Jacob and Esau had seen one another.  No wonder Jacob had been up all night (see Genesis 32:22-32) the night before this meeting.  What a relief it had to have been when Esau 'ran to meet Jacob AND embraced him'.

Yes, God's Grace is Indeed Reflected in the Embrace of a Brother that we sense, at one time, there has been enmity between us.

Likewise, God The Father Opens His Arms to Accept and Embrace us as His Long Lost sons and daughters - Just read Luke 15:11-32....He Tells His Story so much better than I can....

May God's Love and Grace ever be with you and yours.....Amen/Amen....jaj