PJP2 “7 PRAISES” - 161204 - CANDLES CANDLES: Christ's Advent/Noel Daily Leads (us to His) Eternal Salvation Today, 161204, is the Second Sunday of Advent. The Advent Wreath, a practice that began in Germany in the 16th Century, was implemented at a school to help the school children know the progress towards Christmas Day. The original Advent Wreath actually had 24 smaller candles (representing the days of the week) were spaced between the four larger candles (representing the Sundays, Holy Days). The larger center candle equated to Christmas Day finally arriving. In our day the Advent Wreath has been modified to usually just five candles, four on the ring, one for each of the four Sundays prior to Christmas Day, and the center "Christ's Candle" representing the Day of Christmas itself. If you've never participated in the Advent Wreath Tradition, here's what the candles signify: Candles of The Advent Wreath: (Week 1) HOPE; (Week 2) PREP (also called The Prophet's Candle); (Week 3) JOY; (Week 4) LOVE; (5) (Center/Christmas Day) LIGHT (Christ's Candle) Thus, this morning I am Hearing The Holy Spirit's Encouragement to employ the J-ACRONYM of CANDLES.....Christ's Advent/Noel Daily Leads (us to His) Eternal Salvation As I've been Pondering on CANDLES this morning, Here's The Passages Of the WORD Select that He's brought to mind.....1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)...."Now Concerning The Times And The Seasons, brothers/sisters, you Have No Need To Have Anything Written To you. FOR you yourselves Are Fully Aware That The Day Of The Lord Will Come Like A Thief In The Night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” Then Sudden Destruction Will Come upon them As labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, And they Will Not Escape. BUT you Are NOT in darkness, brothers/sisters, For That Day To Surprise you Like A Thief. FOR you ARE All Children Of LIGHT, Children Of The Day. We Are NOT of the night or of the darkness. SO Then Let us NOT sleep, as others do, BUT Let us Keep Awake And Be Sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. BUT Since we Belong To The Day, Let us Be Sober, Having PUT ON The Breastplate Of FAITH And LOVE, And For A Helmet The HOPE Of Salvation. For God Has NOT Destined us For Wrath, BUT To Obtain Salvation THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ, WHO Died For us SO That Whether we Are Awake Or Asleep we Might LIVE With HIM. Therefore Encourage one another And Build one another Up, Just As you Are Doing.".... And there you have it Team - When I see The Advent Wreath, I am Filled with His HOPE, His Preparing of my Heart, His JOY, His LOVE and His LIGHT in all of my being. And as The Holy Spirit Inspired Paul to write in his Letter to The Thessalonians, I would echo for us as well....."Therefore Encourage one another And Build one another Up, Just As you Are Doing." My Overall PJP2 Prayer for us today, on this, the Second Sunday of Advent 2016 - O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Praise You for Your Blessed Gift of Salvation and GRACE. Lord Jesus, May we Grow Deeper and Deeper into Your HOPE, PROPHECY, JOY, LOVE and LIGHT in our Lives, Day by Day. Holy Spirit, Empower and Inspire us to Be Your Voice of Encouragement for Your Household of HOPE. Father God, Guide us to Be Your Builders, that we May In Your Name and Strength Build one another Up in Your LIGHT. Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers and Praise in Your Holy Name....Amen and Amen....jaj