A Pod of P's (Peas) 2 Sam. 23:11b-12 2Samuel 23:11-12 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.  But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory. Introduction: A. Peas are not only good, they are good for you. B. A little story went something like this where I grew up, way back in the depression days. Two fellows were out in the woods cutting wood. A terrible storm arose. One of these fellows said, "Let's head for the cellar."  The other said, "No, let's go to the pea patch. It has always saved my life before, perhaps it will this time also." C. May we look at some of the "P's" of God's Word. P's you and I need. I. Prepare A. We need to prepare for this life. 1. All our life long we should be preparing to live. Make a better life for ourselves and for those around us. 2. The parents care for the baby. What are they doing? Preparing it for life ahead. 3. The little guy or girl gets old enough to go to school. What are they doing? Preparing the child to live a better life. a. Little Billy came home and announced that he had made a hundred on his test. His mother was thrilled, and asked him which test? He replied, "It was on two of them: 50 on spelling and 50 on reading." 4. We prepare for college; for marriage; for vacation, etc. We must never stop preparing. Illustration: A great preacher I know of is 75 years old, and he is now preparing himself to go to the mission field. B. We certainly should prepare for eternity. 1. If one makes all the necessary preparations for a good life down here, but it fails to prepare for the hereafter, he has gained nothing.      Matt. 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he should gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?      Amos 4:12b---prepare to meet thy God. II. Polite A. The definition of "polite" is: courteous, having good manners. B. Politeness has to do with how you respect and treat other people. C. The Golden Rule is the best rule to follow Matt. 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. D. Good manners should be practiced in: 1. The home. 2. The school. 3. On the job. 4. At play. 5. In church. a. I have seen faithful members, good Christians, pull some horrible "boners" in church. b. When visitors walk in be nice; speak to them; offer them a seat. c. I have seen people shove someone out of the way, cut in the line, etc. at a church meal. d. Don't chew gum, talk, write notes, etc., at church e. Be attentive, listen to what is being said. If you were talking, you would want people to listen. III. Praise A. Praise simply means "bragging on someone." B. The one to be praised above all, of course, is God. C. But, you know, it sure helps to pass a little word of praise along to someone who is doing a job. 1. I believe it was Zig Zigler who told of a father who always criticized his little boy. He could never do any thing right, at least in the dad's eyes. This father attended a seminar on child psychology. In that seminar he was taught to praise the child, and see what happened. He started praising the child, and the child made dramatic improvements. Anybody can find the faults of others. We need to see the good. IV. Power A. There is power available for you (1Jn. 4:4). V. Prayer A. Pray about everything. B. The greatest and best prayer of all is to ask God to save you.