Locust Years

Prodigal: The crops are growing!

Me: Thank you Lord!

This is from Charles R. Hembree

There are years in South Africa when locust swarm the land and eat the crops. They come in hordes, blocking out the sun. The crops are lost and a hard winter follows. The “years that the locusts eat” are feared and dreaded. But the year after the locusts, South Africa reaps it greatest crops, for the dead bodies of the locust serve as fertilizer for the new seed. And the locust year is restored as great crops swell the land.

This is a parable of our lives. There are seasons of deep distress and afflictions that sometimes eat all the usefulness of our lives away. Yet, the promise is that God will restore those locust years if we endure. We will reap if we faint not. Although now we do not know all the “whys,” we can be assured our times are in His hands.

 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. John 5:4 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Not So

Prodigal: Let’s just sit a spell.

Me: That quilt would be good to sit with!

This is from Anon

Not so in haste, my heart;

Have faith in God, and wait;

Although He linger long,

He never comes too late.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. John 5:3 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Prodigal: This is a beautiful day!

Me: Yes, and the Lord made it.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

If God Promised

Me: Some wisdom while we wait.

Prodigal: Sounds like a plan.

This is from Abraham by F.B. Meyer.

If God promised His servants an unbroken run of prosperity, there would be many counterfeit Christians. Don’t be surprised at famine….it is permitted to root you deeper just as a whirlwind makes the tree grapple deeper roots into soil.

This is about growing deeper roots and not the fruits this season. Accept where you are will help with the negative thoughts and emotions that come. Praise God for how the roots are growing and know that this time will be beneficial.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Sweet to You

Prodigal: I just wanted to share how sweet you are with a sweet treat.

Me: Let me share something else that is sweet.

This is from the book Joy in Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon

Gideon’s fleece was so full of dew that he could wring out the moisture. In the same manner, sometimes a verse of Scripture will be very full of meaning when the Holy Spirit visits His servants through its words. This statement of our Savior to His disciples has been to me like bread dipped in honey, and I do not doubt that it will prove equally as sweet to you, as well.

Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; Nehemiah 9:7 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Prodigal: My word! It’s been a busy day.

Me: Yes, it has.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 13:25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Not Keeping Pace

Prodigal: This one is different.

Me: Yes, it is nice

This is from Thoreau: Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measure or far away.

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Luke 7:6 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Reputation

Prodigal: That bread has had a good reputation.

Me: A tasty reputation!

This is from Charles Spurgeon

Do I address any servant of God here who is afraid of losing his reputation? This is not a reason which will stand examination. My brother, that is a fear which does not trouble me. I have lost my reputation several times, and I would not go across the street to pick it up. It is often seemed to me to be a thing that I should like to lose, that I might no longer be pressed with this huge throng, but might preach to two or three hundred people in a country village, and look after their souls, and stand clear at last to God about each one of them; whereas, here I am tied to a work I cannot accomplish–pastor to more than five thousand people! A sheer impossibility! How can I watch over all your souls? I should have an easy conscience if I had a church of moderate size, which I could efficiently look after. If a reputation gets one into the position I now occupy, it certainly is not a blessing to be coveted. But if you have to do anything for Christ which will lose you the respect of good people, and yet you feel bound to do it, never give two thoughts to your reputation; for, if you do, it is already gone into that secret place where you should most of all cherish it. The highest reputation in the world is to be faithful–faithful to your God and your own conscience. As to the approbation of the unconverted multitude, or of wordly professors, do not care the turn of a button for it; it may be deadly heritage. Many a man is more a slave to his admirers than he dreams of: the love of approbation is more a bondage than an inner dungeon would be. If you have done the right thing before God, and are not afraid of His great Judgment Seat, fear nothing, go forward.

And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. Luke 7:3 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Prodigal: This is fine as frog’s hair.

Me: I like it too!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 13:24

He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Somebody

Prodigal: We are enjoying our sweet treats!

Me: I reckon we all need a treat sometimes. I will share some spiritual sweets!

This is from the book Joy in Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon

And when you draw near to Christ and have a sweet season of communion with Him, tell it to your fellow believers. After hearing a sermon, take home spiritual food for those in your family who could not attend church that day. God grant that you may always have something sweet to tell about what you have known of precious truth.

Whoever you may be, though you may be nothing but a poor “somebody,” if you have touched Christ, tell others about it. In this way, they may come and touch Him, too.


And the righteous men, they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women that shed blood; because they are adulteresses, and blood is in their hands. Ezekiel 23:45 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org