PJP2 “7 PRAISES” - 161214 - SANTA CLAUS SANTA CLAUS: - Savior's Advent Now Teaches ALL (of) Christ's Love And (our) Ultimate Salvation Perhaps it is a bit odd to include SANTA CLAUS as one of the J-ACRONYMS for the PJP2 ADVENT 2016 Series - But, what can I say - even at 62 years old, I still enjoy seeing SANTA CLAUS (Note: We will use "S.C." For short today/jaj). So, as I've been Pondering and Praying in regards to what The Holy Spirit is directing me towards this morning - The First Thought He has Pinged me with is that of S.C.bringing gifts. As I thought on this, The Holy Spirit Shared.... Matthew 2:11 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."And going into the house, they Saw The Child with Mary His mother, and they Fell Down And Worshiped Him. Then, opening their Treasures, they Offered Him Gifts, Gold and Frankincense and Myrrh.".... One might say this was the first recorded 'gift exchange'.....God The Father had just Given mankind His Ultimate Gift - The Gift Of His Only Son. Mankind had responded by giving our Lord Jesus Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.....More on that in an upcoming PJP2.... So, a Tradition, perhaps, began....Yet, as we so often do, we of the human race missed God The Father's Revelation - that our Lord Jesus was Much More that Just A Gift. We missed (as we have since our collective Fall From GRACE) that our Lord Jesus Provides us Redemption and Reconciliation with Him, Resulting in God's Gift of Eternal LIFE with Him as well..... 2 Corinthians 5:18 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."ALL This Is From God, Who THROUGH Christ Reconciled us To Himself And GAVE us The Ministry Of Reconciliation;".... Romans 6:23 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."For the wages of sin is death, BUT The FREE GIFT of God IS Eternal LIFE In Christ Jesus our Lord.".... So, SANTA CLAUS is indeed a Reminder that God The Father, His Son, our Lord Jesus, and His Holy Spirit - God Is The Ultimate GIVER....The GIFT He Has, and Continues to Pour Out Upon us, well summed up best by.... ....2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV/emphasis added/jaj)...."Thanks Be To God For His Inexpressible Gift!".... My Overall PJP2 Prelude Prayer for us today..... Psalm 31:3, 7, 9, 14, 19, 24 (ESV/emphasis & paraphrase added/jaj)....O Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit, Father God, we Thank You and Worship You for Your Amazing and Miraculous LOVE. Lord Jesus, You Are our ROCK and our Fortress. Thank You for Your Provision and Protection as we Carry On through these days of challenge. Holy Spirit, Thank You that For Your Name's Sake You Continue to Lead us And Guide us In Your Righteous Way. Father God, Forever we Will Rejoice And Be Glad In The Gift of Your Eternal and Steadfast LOVE. Lord Jesus, Because You Chose to Become One of us, You Have Both Seen and Endured our affliction. Lord Jesus, we Are Humbled, Because You Have Known our distress within Your Own Soul. Thank You Lord, For You Are Ever So Gracious to us. Holy Spirit, Ever Be With us - For in our distress and challenges, our eyes are wasted from grief; our Soul And body as well. BUT, Father God, Thank You that we Can TRUST Forever In You! O Lord Jesus, we Raise our Voices and say: “You Are our God and Savior!” Oh, How Abundant Is Your Goodness. Thank You, Father God, For we Know You Stored Up Your Salvation For those who Faithfully Esteem, Adore, Revere You. Holy Spirit, Thank You, For we Know You Continue to Work for those of The Family of The Faith, who have Taken Refuge In You. May we, O Lord, Ever Reflect Your Free Gift of Eternal Life in the sight of the children of mankind, especially those who Do Not Yet Know You! Lord Jesus, In You we Can Be Strong! Holy Spirit, In You our Hearts Take Courage. Father God, In You, we All WAIT For Your Promised Return, O Lord! In Your Holy Name, Lord Jesus, we Raise our Prayers and Praise.....Amen and Amen....jaj