PJP2 PROLOG 160531 PROLOG Focus - 1 Kings 4:29-30....

Psalm 47:6 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Sing Praises To God, Sing Praises!  Sing Praises To our King, Sing Praises!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160531 - 1 Kings 4:29-30 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....."And God Gave Solomon Wisdom And Understanding Beyond Measure, And Breadth of Mind Like The Sand on the Seashore, So That Solomon's Wisdom Surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt."....

I don't know how well you know King Solomon's story - In 1 Kings Chapters 1 through 10, Solomon's Walk With YAHWEH is a Positive, Focused on God Experience.  Solomon has Focus and Drive to Obey and Follow his father David's God.  (As we'll see in upcoming PJP2 PROLOGs from 1 Kings Chapter 11 on....Solomon's downward spiral caused by his disobedience and distractions is not a pretty demise.....)

BUT at this point in time (1 Kings 4:29-30) King Solomon is ROCKING!

That's The Point I am Hearing The Holy Spirit Make this morning - When our Focus remains Locked Onto God The Father, His Son, our Lord Jesus, and His Son's Holy Spirit Within us (Which By The Way, He, The Holy Spirit, when we Open Up to Him, He Will Facilitate our Keeping our Focus Locked On.....), This Supports our Lord's Working Within, Around and Through us.

The reverse is True as well - as we will see.

However, The Encouragement we Are Being Given Today (and every day when we Surrender to Him) is.....Patiently (Pray, Listen, Obey, Wait) and Walk (PLOW) with our Lord AND He Will Take Care of the rest, well beyond our wildest dreams.

Thus our Prayer for today is a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise from His Holy Spirit's Inspired Writing by Paul, found in Ephesians 3:14-21 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Raise Your Name in Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, For the Reason of Your Mercy and Grace upon us, we bow to our knees Before You.  O Father God, From Whom every family in heaven and on earth Is Named, That According To The Riches of Your Glory, Please, we Pray, Grant us To Be Strengthened With Power Through Your Son's Holy  Spirit Within our Inner Being.  Holy Spirit, Come, So That our Lord Jesus Christ May Dwell In our Hearts Through Your Gift of FAITH In us.  Lord Jesus, Help us and Teach us That we May Be Rooted And Grounded In Your LOVE.  Holy Spirit, Give us Your Strength To Comprehend With All Your saints What IS The Breadth And Length And Height And Depth of Your Presence in us.  Father God, Open our Inner Eyes to See and to Know The LOVE of our Lord Jesus Christ That Surpasses all Knowledge.  Lord Jesus, Open our Inner Minds That Helps us to Know That Through You, we May Be Filled With All The Fullness of God The Father.  Now, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, To You, Who's Able To Do FAR More Abundantly Than ALL That we ASK or THINKG, According To Your Power At Work Within us....To You Be ALL The Glory.  We Praise You and Worship You In Your Holy Church.  Lord Jesus, In Your Holy Name, Throughout All generations, Forever And Ever we Pray.....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160531 THANKS Focus - 1 Kings 5:12....

Psalm 118:1 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Oh Give Thanks To The Lord, For He IS Good; For His Steadfast LOVE Endures Forever!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160531 - 1 Kings 5:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And The Lord Gave Solomon Wisdom, As He Promised him.  And there was Peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a treaty."....

I am Thankful for All our Lord Freely Gives us.  I am Thankful that He Answers our Prayers, always Above and Beyond what we pray for.  I am Thankful for the people our Lord Crosses our Paths with - for Through them, our Lord Reminds us He Is With us, and Has our Lives Connected to Him.

My Prayer of Thanks today would be, Thank You Lord Jesus, for Ever Being Present in our Lives.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for Working In, Around, and Through those whom You Bring to Intersect our Lives.  Father God, Help us and Strengthen us to Be Bold and Reflect You In all we say and do.  In Your Precious Name, O Lord Jesus, we Ask These Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160531 - Proverbs 15:30 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The LIGHT Of The Eyes Rejoices The Heart, And GOOD NEWS Refreshes the bones."....

PJP2 RECALL 160531 - Hebrews 4:16 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Let us Then With Confidence Draw Near To The Throne Of Grace, That we May Receive Mercy And Find Grace To Help In Time Of Need."....

PJP2 SIP 160531 - Psalm 103:1-5 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj).... O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Raise our Voices in Collective Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, we would Proclaim, "Bless the Lord, O our Souls."  Holy Spirit, Let All That IS Within us, Bless Your Holy Name!  Father God, we would Bless You, O Lord.  With our Hands Raised and our Voices Singing Your Praise, O Lord, May our Souls Never Forget All Your Benefits You Lavishly Provide us with.  Lord Jesus, It Is You Who Forgives All our iniquity.  Holy Spirit, It IS You Who Heals All our diseases.  Father God, It Is You Who Redeems our Life from the pit.  Lord Jesus, Thank You, For It Is You Who Crowns us With Your Amazing Steadfast LOVE And Mercy.  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, It IS You and You Alone Who Satisfies us With Good.  Thank You for Renewing our youth and strength in You, like That of an Eagle.  May we Ever Reflect, O Lord, Your Love, Light and Grace.  In Your Holy Name, O Lord, we Raise our Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise.  Blessings.....Amen and Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160531 - Galatians 3:25-26 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."BUT Now That FAITH Has Come, we Are No Longer Under A Guardian, For IN Christ Jesus you Are All sons of God, Through FAITH."....

God's Nod 160531- Galatians 1:3-5 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Grace To you And Peace From God our Father And The Lord Jesus Christ, Who Gave Himself For our sins To Deliver us From the present evil age, According To The Will Of our God And Father, To Whom Be The Glory Forever And Ever. Amen."....

PJP2 "7 PRAISES" 160530 - Memorial Day 2016

Team PJP2:  A Blessed Memorial Day 2016 to one and all.
For today's PJP2 "7 PRAISES" 160530....(God's Nod; PJP2 PBJ; PJP2 SIP; PJP2 RECALL; PJP2 LIGHT; PJP2 THANKS; PJP2 PROLOG), I'm hearing the Holy Spirit Guide me to do an 'all inclusive'.....So.....I'm Following His Leading.....PJP2 "7 PRAISES" 160530 - Memorial Day Edition is all wrapped up into Ephesians 6:10-20.....I leave to you, Dear PJP2 Reader, to discern where/what The Holy Spirit is Sharing with you in regards to our PJP2 Series.  Tomorrow I will, I believe, return to our normal PJP2 Series 'programming'.  Blessings to each of you - Ever Remember the 22....(God's Nod 160530; PJP2 PBJ 160530; PJP2 SIP 160530; PJP2 RECALL 160530; PJP2 LIGHT 160530; PJP2 THANKS 160530 THANKS Focus; PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160530; PJP2 PROLOG 160530 PROLOG Focus; PJP2 PROLOG POST 160530).....

Ephesians 6:10-20, 23-24 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....

"Finally, Be Strong In The Lord And In The Strength of His Might.

Put On The Whole Armor of God, That you May Be Able To Stand Against the schemes of the devil.

For We Do Not Wrestle Against flesh and blood, BUT Against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, Against the spiritual forces of evil In The Heavenly Places.

Therefore Take Up The Whole Armor of God, That you May Be Able To Withstand in the evil day, And Having Done All, To Stand Firm.

Stand Therefore, Having Fastened On The Belt of Truth, And Having Put On The Breastplate of Righteousness, And, As Shoes for your feet, Having Put On The Readiness Given By The Gospel of Peace.  In ALL Circumstances Take Up The Shield of Faith, With Which you Can Extinguish ALL the flaming darts of the evil one; And Take The Helmet of Salvation, And The Sword of The Spirit, Which IS The Word of God, Praying At ALL Times in The Spirit, With ALL Prayer And Supplication.

To That End Keep Alert With ALL Perseverance, Making Supplication for ALL the saints, And Also for me, That Words May Be Given To me In Opening my mouth Boldly To Proclaim The Mystery Of The Gospel, For Which I am An Ambassador in chains, That I May Declare IT Boldly, As I ought To Speak.....

Peace Be to the brothers, And Love With Faith, From God The Father And The Lord Jesus Christ.....

Grace Be With ALL who LOVE our Lord Jesus Christ With LOVE Incorruptible."....

My prayer for us today would be to refer back to Ephesians 6:10-20.....Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God - Thank You for Providing us Your Full Armor.  Help us, Lord Jesus, to Take It Up, Put It On, and Employ Your Full Armor effectively.  Holy Spirit, Ever Remind us to Keep our Focus Fixed on You.  Father God, May we Ever Reflect Your Presence, Light and Grace in our Actions, Thoughts and Word.  In Your Holy Name we Raise our Praise and Prayers.  Amen and Amen....jaj

PJP2 PROLOG 160529 PROLOG Focus - Galatians 5:13-15....

1 Chronicles 16:9 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Sing To Him, Sing Praises To Him; Tell of ALL His Wondrous Works!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160529 - Galatians 5:13-15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For you Were Called To FREEDOM, brothers.  Only Do NOT use your FREEDOM as an opportunity for the flesh, BUT Through LOVE Serve one another.  For The Whole Law IS Fulfilled In One WORD: 'You Shall LOVE your neighbor As yourself.'  BUT IF you bite and devour one another, Watch Out that you are not consumed by one another."....

One objection I have heard to being a Follower of Jesus Christ is 'there's just too many rules....you can't be yourself.....you have to Obey.....too restrictive....no freedom'.....

Hmmmm....Let's ponder that for a moment.....

Note:  I have heard the Book of Galatians called "The Christians' Declaration of Dependence", or "The Christians' Magna Carte".....Easy to see where that comes from when you look over Galatians 5:1 and 5:13...."It Is for FREEDOM That Christ Has Set us FREE"....."For you Were Called to FREEDOM"....

So, one the one hand, IF our Lord Jesus is enslaving us.....then I'll gladly be enslaved to a Master Who Calls me Via His Giving me FREEDOM (from guilt and shame and sin's destructive touch).

As for 'too many rules'......Bottom-Line/Up-Front - Our Lord Jesus encapsulated ALL of the Old Testament and God The Father's Laws Given Through Moses (and His Prophets) into TWO Commandments Resting On One CONCEPT = LOVE......

Matthew 22:35-40 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question to test Him. 'Teacher, which is The Great Commandment in The Law?'  And Jesus Said to him, 'You Shall LOVE The Lord your God With ALL your Heart And With ALL your Soul And With ALL your Mind.  THIS IS The Great And First Commandment.  AND A Second IS Like IT: You Shall LOVE your neighbor as yourself.  On These TWO Commandments Depend ALL The Law and The Prophets.'”....

So, once more if the objection to Being A Follower of our Lord Jesus is that He is Too Restrictive....well He Restricts us By His Grace Giving us FREEDOM.  He's Too Bossy.....He Commands us To LOVE.

Just me thinking out loud here.....I am Encouraged By His Grace, Empowered By His Freedom and Enthused By His Amazing Love of us, Even though there is no-way I have earned or deserve Any Of His Attention.

Again, I would rather be a Servant of The Master Who Gives FREEDOM and Commands LOVE, than a free person lost in the clutches of sin and depravity.

IF you do Not Know our Lord Jesus, He Ever Remains Open-Armed, Waiting and Wanting you to Come to Him.  If you Do Know Him, Praise God, for You Know Well our Hope and Joy in Him.

My Prayer for us today - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You That You Have Called us To Your FREEDOM from death and sin.  Lord Jesus, Guide and Teach us NEVER to abuse our FREEDOM as an opportunity for the flesh.  Holy Spirit, Lead us By Your Word and Truth to Share You LOVE and to Serve our fellow man.  Father God, Thank You that Through Your Son, You Have Given us Your Whole Law Fulfilled In just One WORD: 'You Shall LOVE your neighbor As yourself.'  Lord Jesus, Protect us from the divisiveness that can come when we bite and devour one another from petty disagreements, or selfishness.  Holy Spirit, Help us to Watch Out for such divisions, for by them we could be consumed by one another.  Father God, Open our Inner Eyes to Clearly See Your Way of Love, Mercy and Grace.  Lord Jesus, we Raise our Praise and Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160529 THANKS Focus - Galatians 4:4-7

Psalm 7:17 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Will Give To The Lord The Thanks Due To His Righteousness, AND I Will Sing Praise To The Name Of The Lord, The Most High."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160529 - Galatians 4:4-7 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."BUT When The Fullness of Time Had Come, God Sent Forth His Son, Born of woman, Born under the law, TO REDEEM those who were under the law, SO That we Might RECEIVE Adoption as sons.  AND Because you Are sons, God Has Sent The Spirit Of His Son INTO our Hearts, Crying, “Abba! Father!”  So you Are No Longer a slave, BUT A son, AND IF A son, Then An heir Through God."....

I am so Very Thankful that God The Father, By His Grace and Love for us - Sent His One and Only Son, our Lord Jesus, to Be our Redemption and Reconciliation to Him.  I am Thankful that God The Father overwhelmed my having been orphaned and cut-off from Him by my own sinfulness, going Above and Beyond to Adopt us As His own children.  I am Thankful that He Gives us His Guarantee and Deposit of Earnest Intent, that is His Son, our Lord Jesus' Holy Spirit within us to Ensure and Assure that we Know He Loves us.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today would be - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Forgiveness and Saving Grace.  Lord Jesus, May we Grasp, Understand and Ever Share The Fact that You Came for us to Be our Redemption and Statement of Adoption by God Your Father.  Holy Spirit, Encourage us to Reflect You in All we Say, Think and Do, to Share with those who Do Not Know You as Lord.  Father God, Thank You for Your Grace that has taken us, your lost children, and Transformed us into adopted heirs with Your Son, our Lord Jesus.  O Lord, we Praise You and Thank You.  We Lift Up our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen and Amen/jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160529 - Proverbs 6:23 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For The Commandment Is A LAMP And The Teaching A LIGHT, And The Reproofs of Discipline Are The Way of LIFE,"....

PJP2 RECALL 160529 - Galatians 5:1 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For FREEDOM Christ Has Set us FREE; Stand Firm Therefore, AND Do NOT submit again to a yoke of slavery".....  

PJP2 SIP 160529 - Psalm 94:12, 14-15, 17-19, 22 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Lift Up our Voices in Joyous Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, Blessed Indeed are we, whom You Discipline.  Holy Spirit, our Lord, Blessed are we whom You Teach Out of Your Righteous Law.  Father God, we Know that You are Faithful, and You Will NOT ever forsake us.  Lord Jesus, we Are Your Heritage, and we Know You Will NOT abandon us.  Holy Spirit, during these dark days of man's inhumanity to our fellow man, May Your Justice Return to Your Righteous, And to All the Upright In Heart who Follow You, and Your Way.  Father God, IF You, O Lord, Had Not Been our HELP, our Souls would soon have lived in the land of silence, death and destruction.  Lord Jesus, Thank You, for ever when we thought, “Our feet slips...we are lost,” Your Steadfast Love, O Lord, Held us Up.  Holy Spirit, even when the cares and burdens on our Hearts are many, we Praise You for Your Consolations Cheer our Souls.  Father God, You Have Become our Stronghold.  Lord Jesus, You Are our God.  O Lord, You Are The ROCK of our Refuge.  In Your Precious and Holy Name we Pray....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160529 - Galatians 5:22-24 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."BUT The FRUIT Of The Spirit IS Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control;  Against Such Things There Is NO law.  And those who Belong To Christ Jesus Have Crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."....

God's Nod 160529 - Exodus 14:13-14 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And Moses said to the people, 'Fear Not, Stand Firm, And SEE The Salvation Of The Lord, Which He Will WORK For you today.  For the Egyptians whom you see today, you Shall NEVER see again.  The Lord Will Fight For you, AND you Have Only To Be Silent.”

PJP2 PROLOG 160528 PROLOG Focus - Galatians 3:13-14

2 Samuel 22:4 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Call Upon The Lord, Who Is Worthy To Be Praised, And I am SAVED from my enemies."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160528 - Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Christ Redeemed us From The Curse of The Law BY Becoming A Curse For us—For It Is Written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'— SO That In Christ Jesus The Blessing of Abraham Might Come to the Gentiles, SO That we Might Receive The Promised Spirit Through FAITH."....

I have always marveled at The Depth of our Lord Jesus' Love for us.  This morning I am Hearing His Holy Spirit Focus me on this Concept that our Lord Jesus, not only Sacrificed Himself to Pay our Debt of Sin....He Also took His Sacrifice to the next level....meaning our Lord Jesus BECAME a Curse for us.

Wow.

Think of the 'power' associated with A Curse.  I mean I am fairly certain we've all seen or heard of "The Curse" of something.  The Curse of the Mummy...The Curse of______ fill in the blank....even in sports, for example, the Chicago Cubs (my Team) has for years said to have been 'cursed', thus unable to win the World Series (even get to it, let alone win it).....

This line of thought, the negativity attached to A Curse holds in our PROLOG POST POWS today....."Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"....This quote is derived from Deuteronomy 21:22-23 (ESV)....“And if a man has committed a crime punishable by death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain all night on the tree, but you shall bury him the same day, for a hanged man is cursed by God. You shall not defile your land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance."  Look at the Power God applies to this Curse of being hung from a tree.  Ouch.
For just a moment consider two examples and the impact The Curse had upon each - Judas (the betrayer) and our Lord Jesus.  Judas, I believe we could all agree, seemed to have ended his life under A Curse.  Matthew 27:3 we find Judas, seeing what all had happened to our Lord Jesus, filled with remorse, and attempting to at least return the 30-pieces of silver, the 'blood money' he'd taken.  It is all downhill for Judas.  Alone, isolated and cut-off from all who he'd come to know and be with, Judas must have thought he had no other option available to him.  The Curse consumed him.

In full contrast, there's our Lord Jesus - He Openly and Willing Became The Curse for us.  The Curse Upon Him Who Knew no sin, Becoming sin for us, Being Compelled by His Love For us to even Face God His Father Turning Away from Him as He Paid The Full Price for our Redemption and Reconciliation.  The Curse Confirmed Him as our Lord, King and Savior for Eternity.

And Praise God, even though we too are Cursed by sins touch, BUT (Behold the Underlying Truth), we Are Cleansed By His Blood, thus Canceling The Curse By our Having Been Crucified With our Lord Jesus When we Accept Him and Surrender to Him.

So for my Prayer for us today, permit me to employ a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise via Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You for Your Loving Grace.  Lord Jesus, Teach us to Better Understand that Through Your Love and Sacrifice, You Redeemed us From The Curse of The Law.  Holy Spirit, as our Lord Jesus Became A Curse For us, Guide us In Sharing Your Truth to those who Do Not Know or Grasp This Fact.  Father God, As You Inspired It to Be Written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree', Instill in us The Depth of Your Love for us, in That Your Son's Mission for our Reconciliation was indeed to Become and Absorb That Curse.  Lord Jesus, we Praise You - For In You The Blessing of Father Abraham Has Been Made Available to us as well, the Gentiles of today.  Thank You, that Through Your Sacrifice and Resurrection, we too Might Receive Your Promised Holy Spirit Through This FAITH, Father God, You Have So Freely and Richly Given to us.  We Lift Up our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen...jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160528 THANKS Focus - Galatians 2:19-20....

1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Oh Give Thanks To The Lord, For He Is GOOD; For His Steadfast LOVE Endures Forever!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160528 - Galatians 2:19-20 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For Through The Law I Died To The Law, SO That I Might LIVE To God.  I Have Been Crucified With Christ.  IT Is No Longer I who live, BUT Christ Who LIVES IN me.  AND The LIFE I Now LIVE in the flesh I LIVE By FAITH In The Son Of God, Who LOVED me And GAVE Himself For me."

I am Thankful for All our Lord Jesus has Done and Continues to Do for us.  I am Thankful to Know we are, Little by Little, being Transformed to Become More and More Like our Lord Jesus.  I am Thankful, even when I stumble (and believe you me, I do certainly stumble) - Still By His Grace, my failures NEVER change This FACT (for me and for you) - Our Lord Jesus LOVES us and Once/For All GAVE Himself Up in Full Payment of our failures and sins.

Thus my Prayer of Thanks for us today is to Share a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise via His Holy Spirit's Inspired Word to Paul as captured in our PJP2 THANKS TEXT Galatians 2:19-20.... O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You for Your Amazing and Saving Grace.  Lord Jesus, Help and Guide us as we Continue to Learn that Through The Law we have Died To The Law, SO the End Result is that Through Your Grace, we Might LIVE To God The Father.  Holy Spirit, Thank You and Help us Better to Live Your Truth.  That is, Help us to Reflect that we Have Been Crucified With our Lord Jesus Christ.  Father God, Moment by Moment Remind us that IT Is No Longer we who live, BUT Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ Who LIVES IN us.  Lord Jesus, Strengthen us to Ever Proclaim by Both our Word and The LIFE we Now LIVE in this earthly flesh, we LIVE By FAITH In You, The One and Only Son Of God.  Thank You Lord Jesus that You LOVED us And, Once/For All, GAVE Yourself For us.  We Raise our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160528 - John 8:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Again Jesus spoke to them, Saying, 'I Am The LIGHT of the world.  Whoever Follows Me Will NOT walk in darkness, BUT Will Have The LIGHT of LIFE.”

PJP2 RECALL 160528 - Exodus 14:14 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The Lord Will FIGHT For you, And you Have Only To Be Silent.”....

PJP2 SIP 160528 - Psalm 93:1-5 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Praise and Worship You and Your Holy Name.  Lord Jesus, we Are Thankful that You Reign in God's Kingdom.  Holy Spirit, we Exalt You, Longing to See You Robed In Your Majesty.  Father God, we Bow Before You as You Are Robed in All Your Glory.  Lord Jesus, Help us to Tap Into Your Strength in our daily lives.  Help us, Holy Spirit, to each moment 'Put On Your Strength' As our Belt.  Father God, By Your Grace our world and Your Kingdom Is Established.  Lord Jesus, we Are Thankful That Your Kingdom Shall Never Be moved.  Father God, Your Throne Is Established from of old, from the Ancient of Days.  Holy Spirit, we Are Thankful that You Are From Everlasting to Everlasting. Lord Jesus, Open our Inner Eyes to See and Witness that, By Your Grace, the floods of guilt and shame Have Lifted Up.  O Lord, The Floods of Your Love Have Lifted Up their Voice in Worship and Praise.  Father God, The Floods of Your Forgiveness Have Lifted Up their Roaring.  Holy Spirit, You Are Mightier than the thunders of many waters, Mightier than the waves of the sea.  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, You Are The Lord On High, and we Know That You Are Mighty!  We are Thankful that Your Decrees, Your WORD Is Very Trustworthy.  Your Holiness, O Lord, Befits Your House, Forevermore.  We Lift Up our Praise and Prayers in Your Holy Name...Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160528 - 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."But Thanks Be To God, Who Gives us The Victory Through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brothers, Be Steadfast, Immovable, Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord, Knowing That In The Lord your Labor Is Not in vain."....

God's Nod 160528 - Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And when you draw near to The Battle, the priest shall come forward and speak to the people and shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel, Today you are drawing near for Battle against your enemies: Let Not your Heart faint.  Do Not fear or panic or be in dread of them, FOR The Lord your God IS He Who Goes With you To Fight For you Against your enemies, To Give you The Victory.’"....

PJP2 PROLOG 160527 PROLOG Focus - 2 Samuel 22:17-20....

2 Samuel 22:47, 50 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“The Lord LIVES, And Blessed Be my ROCK, And Exalted Be my God, The ROCK of my Salvation....For This I Will Praise You, O Lord, among the nations, And Sing Praises To Your Name."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160527 - 2 Samuel 22:17-20 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“He Sent From On High, He Took me; He Drew me Out of many waters.  He Rescued me From my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too mighty for me.  They confronted me in the day of my calamity, BUT The Lord Was my Support.  He Brought me Out Into A Broad Place; He Rescued me, Because He Delighted In me."....

As we ponder over this Passage Of the Word Select (POWS), I can almost hear Simon Peter quoting these POWS to our Lord Jesus just after Jesus pulled Peter from the waves post their Walking on The Water experience.

What I Hear The Holy Spirit Sharing with me, this morning, along those same lines, is His Focus on this one phrase....

"BUT The Lord Was my Support."......

There is the Bottom-Line/Up-Front for our lives.  I mean think on this for a moment - 2 Samuel 22 is David's Song that The Holy Spirit Inspired him to pen following David's Adventures in God's Deliverance of David from all his enemies, to include King Saul.  Clearly, as we read through 2 Samuel, there were multiple times it would seem that David was cornered, and no way he was getting out or away from the ultimate end.  Yet, as we have seen through 2 Samuel, God Provided a Means and Method to do just that.

Thus what's the Encouragement for us?

"BUT The Lord Was my Support."......

Regardless that 'the enemy' may be stronger than us, hates us, even way too mighty for us to face.  Perhaps we're down, and the circumstances of our lives could be compared to stormy waves threatening to capsize our boat of Life.  All the negative and evil enemy forces may seem to be surrounding us, and circling in for what they think will be the kill-shot....

"BUT The Lord Was my Support."......

Like David (and all the other Saints of old) - even Like our Lord Jesus, Let us NEVER forget - God The Father IS With us.  He IS Fighting For us.  He Has Already Won!

Thus my Prayer for us today would be a Paraphrase of Praise and Prayer employing The Holy Spirit's Inspired Word found in 2 Samuel 22:17-20 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Lift Up our Voices in Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus, Ever Remind us That It Is You Who Sent Your Help From On High.  Holy Spirit, when we find ourselves in the Midst of a Storm of Life, Remind us That You Have Already Taken us and Drawn us OutOut of the many waters that surround us.  Father God, Thank You, for You Have Rescued us From our strong enemy, From those who hated us.  Lord Jesus, we Know that when we stand alone, without You, they are too mighty for us.  Holy Spirit, though they confronted us when we were in the day of our calamity, Let us Ever Remember, By Your Grace....You, The Lord Are Ever our Support.  Father God, Thank You that You Have Brought us Out Into A Broad Place, The Place of Your Amazing Love, Light and Grace.  Lord Jesus, Thank You that You Have Rescued us, Because You Have Ever Delighted In us as Your children.  We Lift Up our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160527 THANKS Focus - 2 Samuel 22:14-15....

2 Samuel 22:47, 50 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“The Lord LIVES, And Blessed Be my ROCK, And Exalted Be my God, The ROCK of my Salvation....For This I Will Praise You, O Lord, among the nations, And Sing Praises To Your Name."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160527 - 2 Samuel 22:14-15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The Lord Thundered from Heaven, And The Most High Uttered His Voice.  AND He Sent Out Arrows And Scattered them (the enemy); Lightning, And Routed them."....

I am so Very Thankful that we Serve a Lord and Savior Who Is (a) our Living Lord; (b) A ROCK of Reliance; (c) our Savior; (d) Engaged in our Lives every Moment; (e) Mighty to Save and Mighty to Fight for us - His Victory IS Assured.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, May we Ever Be Encouraged and Thankful Knowing the Your Are Alive Within, Around and Through us.  Lord Jesus, Guide us to Stand Firm Upon You, our ROCK of Salvation.  Holy Spirit, Ever Kindle the Flame of our Sharing Your Presence In us, Especially to those who Do Not Know You.  Father God, Thank You for Your Plan of Redemption, and Your Saving/Forgiving Grace.  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Lastly we Thank You and Praise You for Fighting for us.  May we Ever Be Uplifted in Knowing that You Have Already Won the war, Your Victory IS Assured.  We Lift Up our Prayers of Thanks and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160527 - 2 Samuel 22:29 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For You Are my Lamp, O Lord, And my God LIGHTENS my darkness."....

PJP2 RECALL 160527 - 2 Samuel 22:2 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."He (David) said,'The Lord Is my ROCK And my FORTRESS And my DELIVERER,"....

PJP2 SIP 160527 -2 Samuel 22:4-7 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, HoIy Spirit, Father God, we Call Upon You, O Lord.  Lord Jesus, You and You Alone Are Worthy To Be Praised.  Holy Spirit, By Your Presence, we Are Saved from our enemies.  Father God, even though the waves of death have encompassed us, or the torrents of destruction assail us, we Know You Are With us.  Lord Jesus, as the cords of Sheol try to entangle us, or the snares of death confront us, we Thank You and Look to You, for You Have Walked Before us, and Are Even Now With us.  Holy Spirit, Ever Remind us, Even in The Midst of our Distress, that we Can Call Upon You, O Lord.  Father God, our God, we Lift Up our Voices in Worship and Praise.  We Call Out To You, our Lord and God.  Thank You Lord Jesus, Thank You Holy Spirit, Thank You Father God, for we Know By Your Faithful And True WORD, You Hear and Answer our Cries.  We Lift Up All our Prayers to You in Your Holy Name....Amen and Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160527 - 2 Samuel 22:32-33 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“For Who Is God, BUT The Lord?  AND Who Is A ROCK, Except our God?  This God IS my Strong Refuge AND Has Made my Way Blameless."....

God's Nod 160527 - 2 Samuel 22:31 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."This God—His Way Is PERFECT; The WORD Of The Lord Proves TRUE; He Is A SHIELD For All those who Take Refuge In Him."....

PJP2 PROLOG 160526 PROLOG Focus - 2 Samuel 19:1-8....

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Oh Give Thanks To The Lord; Call Upon His Name; Make Known His Deeds Among the peoples!  Sing To Him, Sing Praises To Him; Tell of ALL His Wondrous Works!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160526 - 2 Samuel 19:1-8 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."It was told Joab, 'Behold, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom.'

So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the people, for the people heard that day, 'The king is grieving for his son.'

And the people stole into the city that day as people steal in who are ashamed when they flee in battle.

The king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, 'O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!'

Then Joab came into the house to the king and said, 'You have today covered with shame the faces of all your servants, who have this day saved your life and the lives of your sons and your daughters and the lives of your wives and your concubines, because you love those who hate you and hate those who love you.  For you have made it clear today that commanders and servants are nothing to you, for today I know that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead today, then you would be pleased.  NOW  therefore Arise, Go out and speak kindly/encourage your men/servants, for I swear By The Lord, IF you do not go, not a man will stay with you this night, and This Will Be Worse for you than all the evil that has come upon you from your youth until now.'

Then the king Arose And Took his seat in the gate.

And the people were all told, 'Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.'  AND All the people Came Before the king."....
What a Great Story of 'simple as dirt' Encouragement, Guidance and Discernment by God's Holy Spirit to us via Joab and David's interaction following the shut down of Absalom's Rebellion.  I Hear The Holy Spirit telling me Three Key Points for today's PJP2 PROLOG POST 160526....

Attitude Does Determine Altitude;
Balance Is A Key to LIFE;
Heed Indeed The WORD Shared with you

Clearly Joab nails it when he lights into King David for David's having become a whiny, 'woe-is-me' monarch.  David's negative Attitude was having a PROFOUND downward-impact on his troops and his subjects.  Joab called David out on that - I can almost hear Joab's 'command voice' saying, "Suck it up, Davey-boy!"  Though Joab's monologue with David doesn't hint at any regret or sorrow for his own part in the demise of David's son Abaslom - I have to think Joab was not such a hard-nosed warrior that the loss of David's son through this whole affair, even though Absalom turned out to be an evil enemy, was bound to seem to be a kick in the teeth.  Yet, Joab is right in his assertion that David needs to review and evaluate his expression of grief over Absalom's loss.  I am almost surprised Joab didn't Remind David that "YAHWEH is STILL in control - He's Well Aware of your Loss....Turn your Grief Over to Him."....Lastly, though, I am especially Encouraged to See King David's Action (going to the Gate to Encourage the Crew) align with David having Heard and Received Joab's 'three-point presentation' in a positive way, taking appropriate actions to reconcile with his crew.

Thus my Prayer for us today....O Lord Jesus, Help us to Learn from David and Joab, Your Three Points of Pondering today.  Holy Spirit, Encourage us to Ever Remember that With Your Help we Can Choose our Attitude towards a circumstance in our Lives.  Father God, Keep us In Balance.  Guide us, Lord, to Know You Are Always In Control and You Will Be with us Through All we go through.  Lord Jesus, Open our Inner Ears and Eyes that we May Be Ever Aware of Your WORD and Your Guidance on our Direction.  We Lift Up and Prayer these Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160526 THANKS Focus - 2 Samuel 19:23....

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Oh Give Thanks To The Lord; Call Upon His Name; Make Known His Deeds Among the peoples!  Sing To Him, Sing Praises To Him; Tell of ALL His Wondrous Works!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160526 - 2 Samuel 19:23 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And the king said to Shimei, 'You shall not die.'  And the king gave him his oath."....

I am so Very Thankful God's Word to us Is A WORD of GRACE.  I am Thankful God Employs an example like King David and Shimei Gerason's interaction.  I am Thankful that King David, who had every right to punish Shimei, BUT did NOT.  I am Thankful that God's Grace and Forgiveness to us goes well beyond David's forgiveness and grace.

Thus my Prayer of Thanks for us today....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Loving Grace and Forgiveness.  Lord Jesus, Help us to Learn from the Lessons of David and Shimei.  Holy Spirit, Lead us Not to be like Shimei, who initially 'threw rocks' at Your Plan.  Father God, Encourage us, Though, When we ARE like Shimei, to come to our senses and KNOW, Like David, You Are Ever Ready to Extend Your Grace and Forgive us.  Lord Jesus, Help us Ever To Reflect Your Grace and Forgiveness, especially to those who Do Not Know You as their Personal Lord and Savior.  We Pray all these Prayers in Your Holy Name...Amen/Amen...jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160526 - John 1:4-5 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."In Him Was LIFE, And The LIFE Was The LIGHT of men. The LIGHT Shines in the darkness, And the darkness Has NOT overcome IT."....

PJP2 RECALL 160526 - Micah 6:8...."He Has Told you, O man, What Is GOOD; And What Does The Lord Require Of you BUT To DO JUSTICE, And To LOVE KINDNESS, And To WALK HUMBLY With your God?"....

PJP2 SIP 160526 -Psalm 92:1-2, 4-5, 9, 13-15 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, It Is So Very Good To Give Thanks To You, O Lord our God.  How Good it is To Sing Praises To Your Name, O Most High.  Holy Spirit, we Long To Declare Your Steadfast Love In The Morning, each and every Morning, And Your Faithfulness, Father God By our Nights.  Lord Jesus, For You, O Lord, Have Made us Glad By Your Work Within, Around and Through us.  Holy Spirit, as we Witness The Works of Your Hands, we Sing for Joy. Father God, How Great Are Your Works, O Lord!  Lord Jesus, Your Thoughts Are so Very Deep! Holy Spirit, For Behold, we Know that Your enemies, those who have rejected You as Lord and Savior, O Lord our God, Behold, Your enemies Shall perish.  Father God, On Your Day, The Day of Your Son, our Lord Jesus' Second Advent - Then All evildoers, those who refuse to Accept You As their King of Grace, they Shall be scattered.  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Are So Thankful, Though, for Your Plan of Redemption, through the Life, Sacrifice and Resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus.  Because of You, Lord Jesus, we Have Been Planted as God's Seeds of Righteousness,  In Your Holy House.  Holy Spirit, Because of You in our Lives, we Flourish In The Courts of God our Father.  Lord Jesus, Help us that we May Still Bear Fruit for You and Your Kingdom, Even In our Old Age.  Holy Spirit, Spring Eternal Within us.  Make us to be Like Your Tree of Life, Planted by The Living Waters that Flow from God's Throne.  Help us, Father God, to Be Full of Your Grace, Like Sap from the Tree of Life, and Ever Green/Growing with Your Love.  Lord Jesus, May we Ever Declare That You, the Lord, Is Eternally Upright.  Your Are our ROCK.  Praise God The Father, There Is NO unrighteousness In You, Lord Jesus.  In Your Precious Name we Pray these Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160526 - John 1:1-3 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."In The Beginning Was The WORD, And The WORD Was With God, And The WORD Was God.  He Was In The Beginning With God.  ALL Things Were Made Through Him, And without Him Was NOT Any Thing Made That Was Made."....

God's Nod 160526 -Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“Blessed Is the man who TRUSTS In The Lord, whose TRUST Is The Lord.  He Is Like A Tree Planted By Water, That Sends Out Its Roots By The Stream, And Does NOT fear when heat comes, For Its Leaves Remain Green, And Is NOT anxious in the year of drought, For It Does NOT cease To Bear Fruit.”....

PJP2 PROLOG 160525 PROLOG Focus -

Psalm 95:1 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Oh Come, Let us Sing To The Lord; Let us Make A Joyful Noise To The ROCK of our Salvation!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160525 - 2 Samuel 16:16-19 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And when Hushai the Archite, David's Friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, 'Long Live the king!  Long Live the king!'  And Absalom said to Hushai, 'Is this your Loyalty to your Friend?  Why did you Not Go with your Friend?'   And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, For whom The Lord And this people And all the men of Israel Have Chosen, his I Will Be, And With him I Will Remain.  And again, whom should I Serve?  Should it Not Be his son?  As I Have Served your father, So I Will Serve you.'”

The Holy Spirit's Inspired Word is indeed a Fascinating reading experience.  As we review 2 Samuel 16:16-19, it would seem, on-the-surface at least, that Hushai the Architect has abandoned King David and switched allegiance to David's wicked son Absalom.  BUT, indeed, all is NOT as it seems.

As we read on in 2 Samuel 16, we find that Hushai is actually a 'double-agent' to borrow from our modern vernacular.  When we figure that out, then going back and reading 2 Samuel 16:16-19 puts Hushai's statement in a slightly different light.

What I Hear The Holy Spirit Sharing is that Hushai is Reflecting The Loyalty and Focus that God The Father has towards us.  Regardless of the scenario, God The Father is Faithful and True to His Word.  Now that the enemy, Absalom in this case, misses the subtle point that Hushai (and God The Father, by the way) are REALLY still in David's corner.  Absalom's self-absorption as to his own personal destiny, becomes his downfall.

In contrast, David's TRUST in YAHWEH's Faithfulness and Presence, I believe, helps David Discern those The Lord Has Sent to him that David can likewise Trust in the same way.....such as Hushai.

Lessons Learned for us:  When we Seek God's Relationship, He is Faithful and True to His Word to us.  When we lose the Focus on God, and begin to focus on ourselves, destruction is clearly soon to follow.  We will find ourselves 'left hanging', with no one to turn to, since we Turned from The One Who could and would have Helped us Find His Way of Love and Light.

Thus my Prayer for us today is very straight-forward - Lord Jesus, Open our Inner Ear to Hear You Word of Truth, Light and Grace.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for Your Presence in Every Situation.  Father God, May we Ever Reflect Your Grace in all we Say, Think and Do.  Lord Jesus, we Lift Up our Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160525 THANKS Focus - 2 Samuel 17:27-29....

Isaiah 38:19 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The Living, The Living, he Thanks You, As I Do This Day; The Father Makes Known To the children of Your Faithfulness."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160525 - 2 Samuel 17:27-29 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, Brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

I am Thankful for our Lord's Consistency in His Message to us to Care/Love one another.  I am Thankful for His Examples to Help us Understand His Guidance.  I am Thankful for His Help as we Strive To Follow In Step with Him along our way.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today would be to Lift Up Matthew 10:40-42 as our Prayer of Contemplation and Incorporation into our own Lives.....

Matthew 10:40-42 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."{And Jesus Said}....'Whoever receives you Receives Me, And whoever Receives Me Receives Him Who Sent Me.  The one who Receives a prophet Because he is a prophet Will Receive a prophet's reward, And the one who Receives a Righteous person Because he is a Righteous person Will Receive a Righteous person's reward.  And whoever Gives one of these little ones Even A Cup of Cold Water Because he Is A Disciple, Truly, I Say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Help us to Give and Share, 'Even A Cup of Cold Water', to those You Lead us to who Need Help, and most of all Need You.  Thank You for All Your Love and Grace.  May we Ever Reflect Your Light in our Lives....In Your Blessed Name we Pray....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160525 - Proverbs 4:18 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."But The Path of The Righteous Is Like The LIGHT of Dawn, Which Shines Brighter And Brighter Until Full Day."....

PJP2 RECALL 160525 - Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“Enter By The Narrow Gate.  For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  For The Gate Is Narrow And The Way Is Hard That Leads To LIFE, And those who Find IT are few."....

PJP2 SIP 160525 - Psalm 91:4-5, 9-10, 14-15 (ESV/emphasis &paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Worship and Praise You.  Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You Cover us, Like an Eagle Covers her Eaglets, With Your Pinions/Feathers, And Hide us Under Your Wings of Love and Grace.  Holy Spirit, In You we Will Find Refuge.  Father God, Your Faithfulness Is our Shield And Buckler/Sword.  Lord Jesus, Because of You in our Lives, we Will Not fear the terror of the night, Nor the arrow that flies by day.  Holy Spirit, Because You Have Indwelled In us, You Have Help us Make You our Dwelling Place as well.  Father God, You Are The Most High, Who Is our Refuge.  Lord Jesus, Ever Protect us and Keep us such that no evil Shall Be Allowed to befall us.  Holy Spirit, Keep us Safe, may no plague come near us. Father God, Open our Inner Ears That we May Hear You as You Say, “Because they Hold Fast To Me In LOVE, I Will Deliver them; I Will Protect them, Because they Know My Name.  When they Call To Me, I Will Answer them; I Will Be With them in their trouble; I Will Rescue them And Honor them." Thank You Lord!  We Raise our Praise and Prayers in Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus....Amen and Amen/jaj....

PJP2 PBJ 160525 - Ephesians 4:32 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Be Kind to one another, Tenderhearted, Forgiving one another, As God In Christ Forgave you."....

God's Nod 160525 - Psalm 91:1-2 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."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 160524 PROLOG Focus - 2 Samuel 15:21....

Psalm 89:5 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Let The Heavens Praise Your Wonders, O Lord, Your Faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160524 -2 Samuel 15:21 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."But Ittai (The Gittite) answered the king (David), 'As The Lord Lives, And As my lord the king Lives, Wherever my lord the king Shall Be, Whether for death or for life, There Also Will your Servant Be.”

As noted above from 2 Samuel Chapter 13 through Chapter 21, things really go downhill for King David.  I am certain one of his lowest moments of his tenure as King of Israel is when his son Absalom had rebelled to the point of literally chasing David off the throne, and out of Jerusalem, fleeing for his life.  I mean think about it for just a moment - this is David; - David, the Shepherd who had protected his father Jesse's flock(s) of sheep from bears, lions and marauders; - David who took on a 9-foot behemoth named Goliath with only 5 smooth stones and a slingshot; - David who the 12 Tribes sang songs of Victory...."Saul has slain his thousands....David his tens-of-thousands; - David who cared not a whit about dancing in front of YAHWEH in open Worship and Praise; - David who had ruled with justice and equity for all the people.....Yet, hear we find him, packed up and heading out before his wicked son Absalom gets to Jerusalem and really ruins the day.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of bright spots, or words of encouragement that we can glean from 2 Samuel 13 through 21.

Ah, BUT let us Remember, we're Reading God's Word.  The Holy Spirit Is The MASTER at uncovering A Nugget of Gold, or a Pearl of Great Price exactly where we would least expect to Find His Treasure.

In 2 Samuel 15:21, we find The Holy Spirit's Inspired Response and Reminder to David and his traveling company that God IS In their Midst.

And look who The Holy Spirit employs to Deliver His Word of Encouragement to David - Ittai the Gittite, a foreigner, an exile, who'd just arrived to King David's Court the day before.  Ittai the Gittite, his one-time appearance in God's Narrative to us is powerful and laced with God's Grace.  Ittai the Gittite, someone for us to emulate his Loyalty, Dedication, Focus and Faithfulness.

Thank You Lord for Sharing Your Word through Ittai the Gittite.

Thus my Prayer for us today would be - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Amazing Love and Grace.  Lord Jesus, Ever Remind us that You Are Indeed with us, even at our Darkest Moments, You Are There.  Holy Spirit, Thank You for Sharing through Ittai the Gittite Your Message of Hope, of Loyalty, of Focus, of Dedication and of Faithfulness.  Father God Help us to Be Encouraged by Your Word, and Know that just like David, if we are fleeing the issue, You Are Still With us and Willing to Help us, when we finally Turn and Call On You.  Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160524 THANKS Focus - 2 Samuel 14:17....

Psalm 136:3 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Give Thanks To The Lord of Lords, For His Steadfast Love Endures Forever;"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160524 - 2 Samuel 14:17 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...." (The Woman from Tekoa said to King David)....'And your servant thought, ‘The Word of my lord the king Will Set me at Rest,’ for my lord the king is like The Angel of God To Discern Good and evil.  The Lord your God Be With you!'”

2 Samuel Chapters 13-21 are laced with the fruition of Nathan (one of God's Prophets who spoke to King David regards David's falling by his actions with Bathsheba) and his Prophecy to David that things are going go from worse to worst (see 2 Samuel 12:13-14).  Yet, even in the midst of these dark writings, filled with rape, murder, and rebellion, I am Thankful for The Lord injects characters who Reflect God's Loyalty and Faithfulness to His Promise to Ever Be With us.  In this instance the Woman from Tekoa (we never learn her actual name) is in essence teaching King David somewhat of a lesson in regards to forgiving and moving on.  The Key Point of Thanks I Hear The Holy Spirit Focusing me on is the last phrase of 2 Samuel 14:17...."The Lord God Be With you."....

Thus my Prayer of Thanks for us today rests on that - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Continuous Presence in our Lives.  Lord Jesus, ever Remind us, no matter how challenging our circumstances may seem at that moment - You Have Faced much worse on our behalf.  Holy Spirit, Encourage us to Be Open to Your Presence and Your Influence within our circumstances.  Father God, May we Ever Remember that You are Far Greater than any challenge we will ever face.  Lord Jesus, we Lift Up our Prayers of Thanks in Your Precious Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160524 - Psalm 136:7 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."To Him Who Made The Great LIGHTS, For His Steadfast LOVE Endures Forever;"....

PJP2 RECALL 160524 - Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Whatever you Do, Work Heartily, As For The Lord And NOT for men, Knowing That From The Lord you Will Receive The Inheritance as your Reward.  You Are Serving The Lord Christ."....

PJP2 SIP 160524 - Psalm 89:1-2, 5-7, 26, 28, 50-52 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, indeed we Will Sing of Your Steadfast LOVE forever.  Lord Jesus, with our mouths, we Will Make Known of Your Faithfulness To All generations.  Holy Spirit we Know With All Confidence that Your Steadfast LOVE Will Be Built Up Forever.  Father God, we Know that In Your Heavens You Will Establish Your Faithfulness. O Lord Jesus, Let The Heavens Praise Your Wonders, O Lord, Your Faithfulness Be Worshipped  In The Assembly of The Holy Ones!  O Holy Spirit, we would ask, Who in the skies can be compared to You?  Father God, Who among the heavenly beings Is Like You, Are Lord?  Lord Jesus, You are Indeed a God Greatly To Be Feared In The Council of The Holy Ones.  Holy Spirit, You Are Awesome!  Father God, You Are Above All who are around him!  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Shall Cry Out to You, "Lord, You Are our Father, our God, And You Are The Rock of my Salvation.’  Thank You Lord That Your Steadfast LOVE Keeps us For You Forever.  Holy Spirit, as God The Father's Seal Upon our Hearts, Thank You that You Stand as His Witness to His Covenant with us.  Father God, we Know and Stand Firm For You on Your Truth.  Lord Jesus, Please Remember, O Lord, How we, Your servants, continued to be mocked by those who Do Not Know You.  Strengthen us, Holy Spirit, to be able to bear in our Hearts the insults of all the many nations, with which Your enemies mock.  Father God, our Lord, Help us to Be Your Witness, regardless of them when they mock The Footsteps of Your Anointed, Your Son, our Lord Jesus.  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, May You Be Blessed, O Lord, Forever!  In Your Holy Name we Pray....Amen and Amen/jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160524 - Romans 4:23-25 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."But The Words 'It Was Counted to him' Were NOT Written for his sake alone, BUT For ours Also.  IT Will Be Counted to us who Believe In Him Who Raised From the Dead Jesus our Lord, Who Was Delivered Up For our trespasses AND Raised For our Justification."....

God's Nod 160524 - Malachi 3:1 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“(And God Said)....'Behold, I Send My Messenger, And He Will Prepare The Way Before Me.  And The Lord Whom you Seek Will Suddenly Come To His Temple; And The Messenger Of The Covenant In Whom you Delight, Behold, He Is Coming', Says The Lord of Hosts.'"

PJP2 PROLOG 160523 PROLOG Focus - 2 Samuel 8:14-15....

Psalm 79:13 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."BUT we Your people, The Sheep of Your Pasture, Will Give Thanks To You Forever; From generation to generation we Will Recount Your Praise."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160523 - 2 Samuel 8:14-15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Then he (David) put garrisons in Edom; throughout all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became David's servants.  AND The Lord Gave Victory to David Wherever he went.  So David reigned over all Israel.  And David administered Justice and Equity to all his people (doing what was Right for all his people)."....

I Hear The Holy Spirit mentioning two Key Points via 2 Samuel 8:14-15, both of which hinge on the phrase - "AND The Lord Gave Victory to David Wherever he went."

Look at the 'Oreo' of this Passage Of the Word Select (POWS).....

Kingdom of Edom's defeat // GOD GAVE VICTORY // David admins Justice/Equity to All

The central key, of course, GOD GAVE VICTORY to His servant David.  So BLUF, as we've seen consistently, IF we are Obedient, Seeking God First, and Listening to His Guidance.....GOD GIVES VICTORY - Not only on the Battlefield, BUT as well in the day-day relationships and daily living 'battles' we face.

Now, that said, please note that in 2 Samuel Chapter 11-12 King David's story begins the slow tail-spin of disaster when David's sinful self gets in the way of Following God's Way.  Another story for another time.

For today, may we bask in God The Father's Presence via His servant David, a man after God's Own Heart.

My Prayer for us today would be - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Example of Love, Mercy and Grace that You Weave throughout David's Life.  Lord Jesus, we Praise You for Your Blessings, and Thank You for Your Presence.  Holy Spirit, Ever Remind us, Especially When You Are Giving us The Victory, that The Victory Comes Through You.  We Are Your Servants, and No Victory is due to us.  Father God, May we Ever Reflect You in All we Say, Think and Do.  Lord Jesus, In Your Precious Name we Lift Up our Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160523 THANKS Focus - 2 Samuel 10:12

Psalm 86:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Give Thanks To You, O Lord my God, With my Whole Heart, And I Will Glorify Your Name Forever."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160523 - 2 Samuel 10:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Be of Good Courage, And Let us Be Courageous for our people, and for the cities of our God, And May The Lord Do What Seems Good to him.”....

I am Thankful that God is With Us regardless of the circumstances we may be facing.  In today's PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160523 (2 Samuel 10:12), The Holy Spirit Inspired Joab, Commander of David's Army of Israel, in the midst of facing two forces (the Ammonites and the Arameans) to utter these Words of Encouragement to the Army of Israel.  Likewise, as we face our own Goliaths, or Arameans or Ammonites, let us as well Look First to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Trusting that He Too will Do What He Knows is Good for us.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today would be - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Love, Light and Grace.  Lord Jesus, Strengthen our Trust of You, Knowing You are Ever With us, and Always Working for our Best.  Holy Spirit, Open our Hearts and our Inner Eyes to Sense and See when/where You Are Working, That we May Join In.  Father God, Thank You for Your Eternal Presence, May we Reflect such in all we Say, Think and Do.  In Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160523 - Psalm 119:130 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The Unfolding of Your Words Gives LIGHT; It Imparts Understanding to the simple."....

PJP2 RECALL 160523 - 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And God Is Able To Make All Grace Abound To you, So That Having All Sufficiency In All Things At All Times, you May Abound In Every Good Work."....

PJP2 SIP 160523 - Ephesians 1:15-23 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Ever Lift Up Your Name in Worship and Praise.  Lord Jesus,   For these Reasons, Because we have Heard of The FAITH our Fellow Family of FAITH, Have in You, Lord Jesus, we Lift them Up in our Prayers, Asking You to Be With them in All their ways.  Holy Spirit, In Your Love Toward All the saints, Strengthen and Empower us to Share Your Grace to All who do Not Yet Know You.  Father God, we Do Not Cease To Give Thanks to You for Your Examples of Love and Light that Your Reflect Through our Fellow Family of FAITH.  Lord Jesus, Guide us to Pray and Remember one another in our Prayers to You.  Holy Spirit, we Thank You for Your Presence.  Father God, You Are our God.  Thank You for Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.  O Father of All Glory, May You Continue To Give us Your Spirit of Wisdom And of Revelation In Your Knowledge of Your Son, our Lord Jesus.  Holy Spirit, Open our Inner Eyes of our Hearts.  Lord Jesus, Please Enlightened us, That we May Fully Know What Is The HOPE To Which You Have Called us.  Father God, we are in Awe of All Your Riches of Your Glorious Inheritance You Have Provided for Your saints.  Lord Jesus, we Are Humbled By The Immeasurable Greatness of Your Power Toward us who Believe in You.  Holy Spirit, Your Power, as we Have Witnessed, According to Your Working of Great Might When You Raised Him From the dead And Seated Him At God The Father's Right Hand In The Heavenly Places, Renew us as well In Your Way.  Lord Jesus, You Who Are Far Above All rule and authority And Power And Dominion, And Above Every Name That Is Named, Not Only in this age BUT Also In The One To Come, To You Be All Praise!  Father God, we Thank You that You Have Put All Things Under our Lord Jesus' Feet.  Thank You that You Gave Him As Head Over All Things In Your Holy Church.  Holy Spirit, Revive us and Focus us to Be The Living Body of our Lord Jesus here on earth.  Lord Jesus, in The Fullness of God that is You, Fill us All in All with Your Grace.  In Your Precious Name we Lift Up our Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160523 - Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Therefore, As you Received Christ Jesus The Lord, So Walk In Him, Rooted And Built Up In Him And Established In The FAITH, Just As you Were Taught, Abounding In Thanksgiving."....

God's Nod 160523 - Psalm 46:10-11 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“'Be Still, And Know That I AM God.  I Will Be Exalted among the nations, I Will Be Exalted in the earth!'  The Lord of Hosts Is With us; The God of Jacob Is our Fortress.  Selah/Amen"

PJP2 PROLOG 160521 PROLOG Focus - 2 Samuel 5:18-25....

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 160521 - 2 Samuel 5:18-25 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.  And David Inquired of The Lord, 'Shall I go up against the Philistines?  Will You Give them Into my hand?'  AND The Lord Said to David, 'Go Up, For I Will Certainly Give the Philistines Into your hand.'  AND David came to Baal-perazim, AND David defeated them there.  AND he said, 'The Lord Has Broken Through my enemies before me Like A Breaking Flood.'  Therefore the name of that place is called Baal-perazim.  And the Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away. And the Philistines came up Yet Again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.  AND When David Inquired of The Lord, God Said, 'You Shall NOT Go Up; Go Around to their rear, AND come against them Opposite The Balsam Trees.  AND When you Hear The Sound of Marching In The Tops of The Balsam Trees, THEN Rouse yourself, FOR Then The Lord Has Gone Out Before you To Strike Down the army of the Philistines.'  AND David Did As The Lord Commanded him, AND struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer."....

This Passage Of the Word, Select (POWS) encapsulates newly crowned King David of all Israel's first real military campaign against the Israelites nemesis the Philistines.  The Valley of Rephaim Campaign, as The Holy Spirit accounts for her, consisted of two primary battles - (1) The Battle of Baal-perazim (means - 'The Lord Has Broken Through') and (2) Battle of The Balsam Trees.  As I've shared in previous PJP2 PROLOGs et al, I am indeed fascinated by The Battles of The Bible (TBoTB) - I will write a book on TBoTB one day AND to be sure The Valley of Rephaim Campaign (TVORC) will be included.....enough, though, on my marketing my unwritten books. ;)

The Point I hear The Holy Spirit Sharing with me is found in this phrase from these POWS....

"And David Inquired of The Lord".....

The Holy Spirit Records in TVORC account that David Inquired/Prayed for YAHWEH's Guidance in regards to his leading the Army of Israel into battle against the Philistines.  As we well know, David was clearly a Man of Prayer.....we have 150 of his Holy Spirit Inspired Prayers contained in the Book of Psalms.  Those few times David did NOT Inquire for The Lord's Guidance, relying instead on his own human resources.....well, to be frank those times did not turn out to well.

So, The Holy Spirit's Point to us seems pretty straightforward - Consistent with the IF....THEN Guidance He Provides Throughout His Word to us.....for example....

Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 20-25 (ESV).....“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’"....

Thus my Prayer for us today would be - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You and we Praise You for Your Loving Live within us.  Lord Jesus, Continue to Teach us to Ever First Turn to You in All we Think, Say and Do.  Holy Spirit, Like David May we Ever Inquire of You The Direction You Have Planned for us to Go.  Father God, Thank You for Your Loving and Saving Grace, and Your Light to Give us Sight in Your Way.  Lord, May we Ever Reflect You in Our Lives.  We Lift Up our Voices in Worship.  In Your Name, Lord Jesus, we Call and Pray These Prayers.  Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160521 THANKS Focus - 2 Samuel 5:12....

Psalm 30:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."That my glory May Sing Your Praise And Not Be Silent.  O Lord my God, I Will Give Thanks To You forever!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160521 - 2 Samuel 5:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And David KNEW That The Lord Had Established him king over Israel, AND That He Had Exalted David's  kingdom for the sake of His people Israel."....
I am Thankful for David's Example of Recognizing his success was Completely Due to God's Presence and Work in his life.  I am Thankful, as we read through The Holy Spirit's accounting of David's Walk with Him, that, for the most part, David Remained Faithful and Engaged in his Relationship with YAHWEH.  I am also Thankful, though, for David's Example of when he stumbled (and he did, just like us), he knew he needed to Repent and Return to God's Saving Presence and Grace.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today is - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Eternal Love and Light in our Lives.  Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your Amazing Presence in The Lives of Your Family of Faith.  Holy Spirit, Help us to Learn More from Your Examples, like David, who clearly Knew You and Your Working within him.  Father God, Renew our Heart within us that we May Be Focused on You, the Giver of All Good Things.  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, May we Ever Reflect You In All we Say, Think and Do.  In Your Precious Name we Pray these Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 RECALL 160521 - Deuteronomy 11:18 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)....“(God Said to Moses and the 12 Tribes)....'You Shall Therefore Lay Up These WORDS of Mine In your Heart And In your SOUL, And you Shall Bind THEM As A Sign on your hand, And THEY Shall Be As Frontlets between your eyes."....

PJP2 SIP 160521 - Psalm 34:1-8 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Lord we Will Bless You at all times.  Lord Jesus, Your raise Shall Continually Be In our mouths.  Holy Spirit, our Soul Makes its Boast Only In You, and Your Work within and around us, O Lord.  Father God, Open our Inner Ears.  And May The Humble Ever Hear Your Word and Be Glad in Your Presence.  Oh People, Magnify The Lord Jesus With us.  Let us Exalt His Holy Name Together!  We Sought You, O Lord Jesus.  In our Prayers, we Search for You, O Holy Spirit.  Praise You, Father God, for Listening and Answering our Prayers.  Thank You Lord Jesus, for You Delivered us From All our fears.  Holy Spirit, we Are Blessed by Your Presence in our Lives.  Those who Look To You, Father God, they Are Radiant in Your Light and Glory.  Lord Jesus, Because of Your Grace, our faces Shall Never be ashamed.  O Holy Spirit, every  poor man who Cries Out to You, You, O Lord our God, You Hear him, And In Your Name You SAVE him, In Your Perfect Timing, Out of All his troubles.  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You that Your Angel, The Angel of The Lord, Continues to Encamp Around us.  May we Learn From You, Oh Lord Jesus.  May we Continue to Faithfully Esteem You and Adore You and Respect You, Holy Spirit, Know that You will Ever Continue to Deliver us as well.  Father God, Thank You and Guide us to Continue to Taste Your Blessings.  Help us to Reflect You, Lord, that Others May See That Your Are Good!  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Blessed Is the one who Takes Refuge In You!  In Your Precious Name we Raise our Prayers and Praise.....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160521 - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For The LOVE of Christ Controls/Compels us, Because we Have Concluded THIS: That ONE Has Died For ALL, Therefore All Have Died; AND He Died For ALL, That those who LIVE Might No Longer LIVE for themselves BUT For Him Who For their sake Died And Was RAISED."....

God's Nod 160521 - 2 Samuel 7:21-22 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."(David Prayed)....'Because of Your Promise, And According to Your Own Heart,You Have Brought About ALL This Greatness, To Make Your servant Know it. Therefore You Are GREAT, O Lord God.  For There IS None Like You, AND There IS No God Besides You, According To ALL That we Have Heard with our ears.'"....

PJP2 PROLOG 160519 PROLOG Post -

Psalm 102:18 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Let This Be Recorded for a generation to come,SO That a people yet to Be Created May Praise The Lord:"....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160519 - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."So to keep me from becoming conceited Because Of The Surpassing Greatness Of The Revelations, a thorn was Given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I Pleaded With The Lord about this, that it should leave me. BUT He Said To me, 'My GRACE Is Sufficient For you, For My Power Is Made Perfect IN Weakness.'  Therefore I will boast All The More Gladly of my Weaknesses, SO That The Power Of Christ May Rest Upon me.  For The Sake of Christ, Then, I am content with Weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  For When I am WEAK, THEN I am STRONG."....

'My GRACE Is Sufficient For you, For My Power Is Made Perfect IN Weakness.'

This is the Point I Hear The Holy Spirit zeroing me in on today.

'My GRACE Is Sufficient For you, For My Power Is Made Perfect IN Weakness.'

I fully agree with Brother Paul, though, unlike Paul, The Lord Jesus has NOT Shared His Surpassing Greatness of The Revelations with me....I do Believe in this concept of 'thorn in the flesh' to keep me honest and Focused on our Lord Jesus being The CORE of our Being.

This Message, that His GRACE Is Sufficient resounds throughout His Word.  I mean for 40 years YAHWEH's GRACE Sustained the 12-Tribes of Israel as they wandered through the desert.  All through the multiple challenges of Israel's kings - God's GRACE REMAINED Sufficient.  Our Lord Jesus Carried On God's Theme of All Sufficient GRACE throughout His First Advent and Beyond, as His Church sprouted and grew.  AND even today, this very moment, He Is Supplying His GRACE to and for us, regardless of our challenges and weaknesses.

What a Blessed Word of Encouragement for us today.....

 'My GRACE Is Sufficient For you, For My Power Is Made Perfect IN Weakness.'

My Prayer for us today would simply be - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your All Sufficient GRACE in our Lives.  Lord Jesus, Encourage us when we stumble that Your Grace is Sufficient.  Holy Spirit, Strengthen us when we are weak, Reminding us That In You, we can Do All Things.  Father God, Thank You for Your Love.  May we Ever Reflect Your All Sufficient GRACE in every action, thought and word, today and forever more.  In Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Praise and Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160519 THANKS Focus - 2 Corinthians 11:1....

Psalm 145:10 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."All Your Works Shall Give Thanks To You, O Lord, AND All Your saints Shall Bless You!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160519 - 2 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Wish you Would Bear With me In A Little Foolishness.  Do Bear With me!"....

I am so Very Thankful our Lord Jesus, His Holy Spirit and God The Father puts up with and bears with our foolishness.  :) I have plenty of foolishness to go around, for sure and for certain.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today would be - Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Loving Presence in us.  Lord Jesus, when we are foolish, Thank You for Still Being There with us.  Holy Spirit, Guide and Teach us, IF we are going to be FOOLS, then May we Reflect Being Followers Of Our Lord/Savior (FOOLS) in Your Way.  Father God, Thank You, O Great Creator, for Making us as we are, Accepting us in that Same Way, and Having Your Plan to Transform us Into What You Know we can be.  Lord Jesus, In Your Gracious and Holy Name we Lift Up our Prayers of Thanks.  Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160519 - Psalm 119:130 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The Unfolding of Your WORDS Gives LIGHT; IT Imparts Understanding to the simple."....

PJP2 RECALL 160519 - Colossians 3:23 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Whatever you Do, Work Heartily, As For The Lord AND not for men,"....

PJP2 SIP 160519 - Psalm 18:1-3, 6, 31, 49 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we LOVE You, O Lord, our Strength. Lord Jesus, You Are our Lord, You Are our Rock.  Holy Spirit, Thank You, for You Are our Fortress AND our Deliverer.  Father God, our God, You Too our Are Rock.  It is You Lord in Whom we Take Refuge.  Lord Jesus, You Are Ever our Shield, AND The Horn of our Salvation.  Holy Spirit, Continue to Be our Stronghold.  Father God, we Come Before You and Call Upon Your, O Lord.  Lord Jesus, You are He Who Alone Is Worthy To Be Praised.  Thank You Holy Spirit, for By Your Mighty Arme we Are Saved From our enemies.  Father God, In our distress we call Upon You, O Lord.  Lord Jesus, To You, our God, we Cry for Help.  Thank You, Holy Spirit that From Your Temple within us, You Have Heard our voices.  Father God, By Your Grace, our Cries have even Reached Your Ears.  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Ask, BUT Clearly Know the Answer - For Who is God, BUT The Lord?  And Who Is A ROCK, Except You, O Lord our God?  Lord Jesus, for All of This, we Will Praise You, O Lord.  May we Ever, Father God, Lift Up Your Name and Sing Your Worship Among the nations.  Come Holy Spirit, Fill us and Renew us as Your Witness.  In Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers and Praise.   Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160519 - Colossians 2:6-7 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Therefore, As you Received Christ Jesus The Lord, SO Walk In Him, Rooted And Built Up In Him AND Established In The FAITH, Just As you Were Taught, Abounding In Thanksgiving."....

God's Nod 160519 - 2 Corinthians 13:14 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The GRACE of The Lord Jesus Christ AND The LOVE of God AND The FELLOWSHIP of The Holy Spirit Be With you All.".....

PJP2 PROLOG 160518 PROLOG Focus - 2 Corinthians 9:8....

Psalm 104:33 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Will Sing To The Lord As Long As I LIVE; I Will Sing Praise To my God While I Have Being."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160518 - 2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And God IS Able To Make ALL GRACE Abound To you, SO That Having ALL Sufficiency In ALL Things At ALL Times, you May Abound In Every Good Work."....

I have dubbed this Passage Of the Word Select (POWS) the 'ALL 4....4 ALL' POWS....let me Share why.....(which is, fortuitously What I Hear The Holy Spirit Sharing with me..... :) )

First I LOVE this Basic and True Statement...."And God IS Able".....As we see throughout the Old and New Testaments - God IS Able to DO Whatever Needs Be Done.  He is Such a Loving Heavenly Father, He LONGS to Do Just That for us His children....How Encouraging is That - to Know That we Serve The God Who IS ABLE?  In a Word....PHENOMENAL!!!!

Then there's the 4 ALLs....(1) ALL GRACE Abound; (2) ALL SUFFICIENCY; (3) ALL Things; (4) ALL TIMES....ALL GRACE, SUFFICIENCY, THINGS, TIMES....

Isn't that just too much?  Our Lord is Not Saying, "I Will Give you a tad.", or, "I Will Give you a smidgen", or "I Will Give you what you've earned"....No our Lord PROMISES to GIVE ALL.  We Know This is True, for we have Witnessed This Characteristic via His Son, our Lord Jesus, Who IS The Living Image of His Father.  Our Lord Jesus GAVE us ALL of Him to Reconcile us To God The Father.

Thus my Prayer for us today would Be....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Giving us Your ALL.  Lord Jesus, Help us to Grasp the deep currents of Your Love and Grace.  Holy Spirit, Open our Inner Eyes that we May See Your Vector on our Employing ALL 4....4 ALL in our own Life With You.  Father God, we are Awed and Humbled by Your Love.  May we Ever Reflect Your ALL 4....4 ALL that You Bring us in contact with today, and beyond.  Lord Jesus, In Your Precious Name we Raise our Praise and Prayers....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160518 THANKS Focus - 2 Corinthians 9:15....

Psalm 106:1 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Praise The Lord!  Oh Give Thanks To The Lord, For He IS Good, For His Steadfast LOVE Endures Forever!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160518 - 2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Thanks Be To God For His Inexpressible GIFT!"

I am Thankful for God's Inexpressible GIFT to us.  His GIFT is somewhat like a Swiss Army Knife....there's so many attachments to His One GIFT that every time we examine His GIFT we Find A New 'Attachment' we missed the first time.  I am Thankful, as well, that His GIFT Reminds us to Focus ON The GIVER and Not on The GIFT.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today would be - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Inexpressible GIFT of Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Reconciliation and GRACE (to name only a few of the ever-growing Attributes of Your GIFT of LOVE to us).  Lord Jesus, May we Be Your Reflection of God The Father's GIFT of LOVE to all mankind.  Holy Spirit Strengthen our Focus that we are never distracted By God's GIFT, keeping our Focus On The GIVER.  Father God, Thank You and Help us to Employ Your GIFT in our Lives to Better Serve and Learn from You.  In Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, we Call Upon You and Raise our Prayers and Praise.....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160518 - Psalm 112:4 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."LIGHT Dawns in the darkness For The Upright; He IS Gracious, Merciful, AND Righteous."....

PJP2 RECALL 160518 - 2 Corinthians 8:9 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For you Know The GRACE Of our Lord Jesus Christ, THAT Though He Was Rich, YET For your Sake He BECAME Poor, SO That you By His Poverty Might Become Rich."....

PJP2 SIP 160518 - Psalm 84:8-12 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, You Are The God of Hosts, and we Praise and Worship You.  Lord Jesus Please Hear our Prayers.  Holy Spirit, Thank You as You Give Ear to our Petitions.  Father God, You Are our God!  Behold, You Are our Shield, O Lord our God!  Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God May You Ever Look upon us as The Face of Your Anointed child and servant!  Father God we Long to Be at Home with You.  For Lord Jesus, By Your Word of Truth, we Know that A Day In Your Courts IS Far Better Than a thousand days elsewhere.  Holy Spirit, we Would Rather Be A Doorkeeper In Your House....Than To Ever Dwell in the tents of wickedness.  O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God You Are our Sun And Shield!  Lord Jesus, Thank You as Your Bestow Your Favor And Honor aligned with Your Grace.  Holy Spirit, Thank You that there is No Good Thing That You Would Withhold from those who Strive to Walk Uprightly.  Strengthen us and Empower us, Lord, to Follow In Your Steps.  Father God, O Lord of Hosts, Blessed IS the one who TRUSTS In You!  In Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayer and Praise.  Amen and Amen....jaj

God's Nod 160518 - Psalm 103:2-5 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Bless The Lord, O my Soul, And Forget NOT All His Benefits, Who Forgives all your iniquity, Who Heals all your diseases, Who Redeems your LIFE from the pit, Who Crowns you With Steadfast LOVE And MERCY, Who Satisfies you With GOOD So That your youth IS Renewed Like The EAGLE's."....

PJP2 PROLOG 160517 PROLOG Focus - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21....

Psalm 119:7 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Will Praise You With An Upright Heart, When I Learn Your Righteous Rules."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160517 - 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."All This IS From God, Who Through Christ Reconciled us To Himself AND Gave us The Ministry Of Reconciliation; That IS, IN Christ God Was Reconciling the world To Himself, NOT counting their trespasses/sins 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.  For our sake He Made Him To BE sin Who Knew NO sin, SO That In Him we Might Become The Righteousness Of God."....

Dear Readers of PJP2 - first my Thanks to you for stopping by.

I am certain, if you've kept track, you are well aware I have a LOT of Favorite Passages Of the Word, Select (Fav/POWS) - that would indeed be very true.  Welllll.....hang on, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 is yet another Fav/POWS.  :) There is simply so much of God's Gold in this set of POWS.....man, I hardly know where to begin.

First there's The Holy Statement Basic Statement of Eternal Truth - "All This IS From God, Who THROUGH Christ RECONCILED us To Himself"....This Statement of Eternal Truth would be enough to ponder on for the rest of the PJP2s I may ever be fortunate enough to pen.  Such a Statement of His Love and His Grace.  To be RECONCILED, to have our fractured Relationship with God Repaired and Renewed, even though we have done nothing but rebelled and disobeyed Him, this Act of Love, in and of itself, is mind-boggling.

Then there's our Mission:  The Ministry Of and Message Of God's Reconciliation of us Through our Lord Jesus Christ's Life, Sacrifice, Resurrection and Indwelling of His Holy Spirit (as a Deposit Securing our FAITH - see 2 Corinthians 5:5/jaj).....In a Sense, God's Asked us to Hand Out MOR of His Grace to both our Fellow Family of Faith, and to those who do Not Yet Know Him.....MOR - Ministry Of/Message Of Reconciliation.

Oh, and IF you want a Title for Being Members of His MOR Messengers.....He has Appointed us as His Ambassadors!  We are His Ambassadors For Christ (AFC)!  As with any Ambassador, our Mission is to Be His Representative to Both those who already are His, and to those He is Seeking Out to Reconcile with, and even to those who have rejected Him, and unfortunately sided with the enemy.  God The Father is STILL Reaching Out to All - As His Holy Spirit Inspired Peter to Record....(2 Peter 3:9 {ESV})...."The Lord IS Not slow To Fulfill His Promise as some count slowness, BUT IS Patient Toward you, NOT Wishing That ANY should perish, BUT That ALL Should Reach Repentance."....

Lastly there's This Last Compelling Truth..... (2 Corinthians 5:20c-21 {ESV})...."We IMPLORE you On Behalf Of Christ, BE RECONCILED TO GOD.  For our sake He Made Him To BE sin Who Knew NO sin, SO That In Him we Might Become The Righteousness Of God."....

What a super-encouragement - God Love for us is SO deep, He Became a Man, flesh and blood as we are.  He Walked Among us, Lived as we Live, and Remained unstained by our common human failing of sinfulness and selfishness.  Yet, Miracle of Miracles, our Lord Jesus Christ, as He Bore His Cross to Calvary, and then His Cross Bore Him to His Death - each agonizing step, each of the sins of All mankind, clung to Him, Him Who Knew NO sin.  He Drew them all to Him, and 72-hours later, on that First Resurrection Sunday, our Lord Jesus pulverized sin and death, leaving them heaving and broken in His former Tomb!

In a Word.....OUTSTANDING!!!!

So my Prayer for us today would be a Paraphrase of Prayer and Praise based on His Word from 2 Corinthians 5:18-21....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You that All of Your Story of Love, Grace and Reconciliation is Straight From You.  Father God, we Thank You that It Is You Who Through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, Implemented Your Plan and  Reconciled us To Yourself.  Holy Spirit, Help us to Rightly Employ what You Have Given us, that Is to Share Your Ministry Of Reconciliation.  Lord Jesus, Guide us and Teach us That IT IS IN You, that God The Father Is Reconciling/Repairing our ruin relationship with him and our world To Himself.  Father God, we are in Awe that You, By Your Grace, Are NOT counting our trespasses/sins against us.  Holy Spirit, we Are overwhelmed that You Are Entrusting To us This Message Of God The Father's Reconciliation of all mankind.  Lord Jesus, Inspire us as Your Ambassadors.  Father God, Encourage us and Show us How You Would Have us Make Your Appeal to those who Do Not Know You, or have rejected You, Share This Through us.  O people Hear us as we IMPLORE you On Behalf Of  our Lord Jesus Christ, BE RECONCILED TO GOD The Father.  Lord Jesus, we Thank You that For our sake You Surrendered to God The Father, And You Became sin for us.  You, Who Knew NO sin, Became sin for All mankind.  Father God, Holy Spirit, Thank You for Completing Your Miracle of Reconciliation that In Him, Your Son, our Lord Jesus, we Might Become Your Righteousness.  We Lift Up our Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160517 THANKS Focus - 2 Corinthians 5:17....

Psalm 119:16 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."I Will Delight In Your Statutes; I Will NOT forget Your WORD."....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160517 - 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Therefore, IF anyone Is In Christ, he Is A New Creation.  The old has passed away; BEHOLD, The NEW Has Come."....

I am Thankful that Because of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Sacrifice upon His Cross, which Cleanses us of our debt of sinfulness, and Then His Resurrection, which Assures our Reconciliation with God The Father - Because of All This, He Has Gone Above and Beyond to take away the 'old self' and By His Awesome Creative Power, made us New Creations in Him!

My Prayer of Thanks for us today would be - O Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your Amazing Grace towards us.  Holy Spirit, Fill us Anew with Your Truth and Reality that our old self has passed away, AND That we Are Indeed a New Creation in You.  Father God, May Your New Creation Within us Ever Reflect Your Light, Love and Forgiveness, Drawing those who Do Not Yet Know You to Your Waiting, Loving Arms.  Lord Jesus, In Your Precious Name we Pray and Call Out to You....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 LIGHT 160517 - Psalm 104:1-2 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Bless The Lord, O my soul!O Lord my God, You Are Very Great!  You Are Clothed With Splendor And Majesty, Covering Yourself With LIGHT As With A Garment, Stretching Out The Heavens like a tent.

PJP2 RECALL 160517 - 2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Now The Lord IS The Spirit, AND Where The Spirit Of The Lord IS, There IS FREEDOM."....

PJP2 SIP 160517 - Isaiah 40:9-11 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Go on Up To a high mountain, O Lord, and we Herald/Proclaim Your Good News of Salvation and Reconciliation for All mankind.  Lord Jesus Help Us to Lift Up our Voices With Strength for Praising Your Name.  O Fellow citizens of earth, Hear us as we Herald/Share The Good News of our Lord Jesus' Gospel of Grace.  Holy Spirit, Help us Ever to Reflect You in our Lives.  Father God, Teach us to Share How we Can Lift Up Your Plan for Salvation, and that those who Do Not Know You, Need Not fear.  Lord Jesus, Empower and Embolden us to Say, “Behold our God!  Behold, The Lord God Comes With Might, And His Arm Rules For Him; Behold, His Reward IS With Him, And His Recompense Before Him."  Holy Spirit, Thank You, as our Eternal Shepherd that You Tend Your flock.  Father God, Please Gather us as Your lambs.  Lord Jesus, Thank You that in the Embrace of Your Grace and Arms You Carry us In Your Righteous Bosom.  Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Gently Leading us.  Lord, ever Be with those among us that have younglings to care for.  We Lift Up our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 PBJ 160517 - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For The LOVE of Christ Compels/Controls us, Because we Have Concluded This: That ONE Has Died For ALL, Therefore All Have Died; AND He Died For ALL, That those who LIVE Might No Longer live for themselves BUT For Him Who For their sake Died And Was RAISED."....

God's Nod 160517 - Isaiah 40:8 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The grass withers, the flower fades, BUT The WORD of our God Will Stand Forever."....

PJP2 PROLOG 160516 PROLOG Focus - 2 Corinthians 2:15-17....

Psalm 97:6 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."The Heavens Proclaim His Righteousness, And ALL the peoples See His Glory."....

PJP2 PROLOG POST 160516 - 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For we Are The Aroma Of Christ To God Among those who Are Being SAVED And among those who are perishing, To one a fragrance from death to death, To the other A Fragrance From LIFE To LIFE. Who Is Sufficient For These Things?  For we Are NOT, like so many, peddlers of God's Word, BUT as men Of Sincerity, As Commissioned By God, In The Sight Of God we Speak IN Christ."....

This is indeed one of my All Time Favorite Passages Of the Word Select (POWS)!  As I read and ponder 2 Corinthians 2:15-17, two images come to mind with regards to 'The Aroma Of Christ' - First I imagine the Fresh Scent of Spring - His Blessed Aroma of newly blooming flowers, or of the earthy Smell of pine/cedar trees, or as the Gaither's song sings, 'like the Fragrance after the rain'.....These Aromas fill my Heart and Soul with Joy, Gladness, Encouragement, His Presence, and a Reassurance of Him Being With me regardless of the circumstances.

The other aroma that comes to mind is the fragrance of death to death.  This is a stench that none of us either want to smell, nor are we able to 'stomach' for very long.  I Hear The Spirit saying to move along and not dwell on this stinky smell.  Thanks, Spirit, I Hear and Obey.

Thus I have a Goal today - that is to Be Open to Him and By this Openess, to Do, Think and Say what will Reflect His Aroma and Fragrance of Grace and Life to Life.  I would Encourage you, as well, to Join us in Being His Aroma of Life.

My Prayer for us today...O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Love, Light and Saving Grace.  Lord Jesus, Please Fill us Anew with Your Presence.  Holy Spirit, May we Ever Be Your Aroma of Life to Life.  Father God, Protect us when we come up against the aroma of death.  May Your Sweet Fragrance of Grace and Forgiveness ever Overwhelm the fragrance of the evil one.  Lord Jesus, Empower us In Your Commission to Share Your Gospel.  Holy Spirit, Guide us to Reflect Your Light in our Lives to those who do Not Yet Know You.  Father God, Embolden us to Ever Speak In Your Son's Name, Sharing Your Story of Reconciliation.  Lord Jesus, Thank You for Being our YES.  We Lift Up our Prayers in Your Holy Name....Amen/Amen....jaj

PJP2 THANKS 160516 THANKS Focus - 2 Corinthians 1:18-20....

Psalm 97:12 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Rejoice In The Lord, O you Righteous, And Give Thanks To His Holy Name!"....

PJP2 THANKS TEXT 160516 - 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."As Surely As God IS Faithful, our Word to you Has Not been 'Yes and No'.  For The Son of God, Jesus Christ, Whom we Proclaimed Among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, Was NOT 'Yes and No', BUT IN Him IT IS Always YES.  For ALL The Promises of God FIND Their YES IN Him.  That Is Why It Is THROUGH Him That we Utter our AMEN To God For His Glory."....

I am so Very Thankful for 2 Corinthians 1:18-20.....I am Thankful that God The Father Speaks to us so Plainly.  I am Thankful that our Lord Jesus is God's YES to us....Jesus is Your (and my) Eternal Savior....YES!  I am Thankful that we can Say AMEN Because of Jesus our YES.  Isn't it such an Encouragement to Hear YES, when in our lives we hear no so many times?  And This is a BLESSED YES the God The Father has Proclaimed from The Beginning.

My Prayer of Thanks for us today - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, Thank You for Your Loving Grace and Faithful Forgiveness.  Lord Jesus, Help us to Learn and Share Your Meaning of being God The Father's YES for us.  Holy Spirit, Inspire us to Be Bold and Reflect Your AMEN in our daily lives, in All we Say and Do.  Father God, Thank You for ALL Your Promises to us, and That You Have Encapsulated All Those Promises into Your Son, our Lord Jesus.  May we Ever Be Ready to Share Your Grace with All whom You Cross our Lives Path with.  In Your Precious Name, Lord Jesus, we Call Upon You and Raise our Prayers of Thanks and Praise.  Amen/Amen....jaj