If Jesus

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Hi prodigal, it is so beautiful outside!

Prodigal: Yes, it is!

Me: The Lord’s wonders are amazing!

This is from the book The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

If Jesus is the Son of God, his teachings are more than just good ideas from a wise teacher; they are divine insights on which I can confidently build my life.

If Jesus sets the standard for morality, I can now have an unwavering foundation for my choices and decisions, rather than basing them on the ever-shifting sands of expediency and self-centeredness.

If Jesus did rise from the dead, he’s still alive today and available for me to encounter on a personal basis

If Jesus conquered death, he can open the door of eternal life for me, too.

If Jesus has divine power, he has the supernatural ability to guide me and help me and transform me as I follow him.

If Jesus personally knows the pain of loss and suffering, he can comfort and encourage me in the midst of the turbulence that he himself warned is inevitable in a world corrupted by sin.

If Jesus loves me as he says, he has my best interests at heart. That means I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by committing myself to him and his purposes.

If Jesus is who he claims to be (and remember, no leader of any other major religion has even pretended to be God), as my Creator he rightfully deserves my allegiance, obedience, and worship.

Mark 6:30

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Following the path of least resistance makes rivers and men crooked.

Me: Yes, that can be very true.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Mundane Moments

Posted on October 18, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Just another hour working in the fields.

Me: It is during these routine hours we can find ways to love.

Prodigal: I have never thought of that.

This is from the book Bold Love by Dr. Dan B. Allender & Dr. Tremper Longman III

Love is the most essential, life-giving gift we offer to another human being. It is also the least-likely, natural, or consistent response that is offered in the mundane moments, let alone during the difficult, soul-demanding struggles when we are threatened, reviled, and harmed. Rich moments of other centered care and sacrifice are rare. Most people presume the desire to love is a natural human sentiment, but love is actually the exception, the extraordinary, and the life-altering surprise.

It is in the day to day of living with others when we can really show love. Yes, you make think it is when the big holidays come around or the anniversary but you can really show love on an ordinary Monday or Wednesday in the middle of the afternoon by taking time for others to know you love them and try to make their live easier today.

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

John 16:32

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

It is Necessary

Posted on October 16, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: That pumpkin is a s pretty as a picture!

Prodigal: I tried.

This is from Jeremy Taylor

Nothing is intolerable that is necessary. Now God hath bound thy trouble upon thee, with a design to try thee, and with purposes to reward and crown thee. These cords thou canst not break; and therefore lie thou down gently, and suffer the hand of God to do what He please.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin Jesus

Posted on October 14, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Mighty big of you to help me with these pumpkins.

Me: Don’t mention it.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will suffer from it. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Lives

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: You are slow as molasses.

Me: I want to take it all in.

Prodigal: Let’s rest so that we can share.

Me: I have just the thing.

The lives which seem so poor, so low,

The hearts which are so cramped and dull,

The baffled hopes, the impulse slow,

Thou takest, touchest all, and lo!

They blossom to the beautiful.

Susan Coolidge

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Under Many Difficulties

Posted on October 10, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I sure am wore out from all these pumpkins.

Me: You are almost done.

This comes from the book Joy n Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon

Beloved, it is not always easy to get at Jesus. It is very easy to kneel down to pray, but not so easy to reach Christ in prayer. Perhaps the cries of your own child have often hindered you when you were striving to approach Jesus. Perhaps knock comes at the door when you most wish to be alone. When you are sitting in the house of God, the person seated in front of you may unconsciously distract your attention. It is not easy to draw near to Christ, especially when you come directly from your workplace with a thousand thoughts and cares about you. You cannot always unload your burdens outside and go into the sanctuary with your heart prepared to receive the Gospel.

Ah, it is a terrible fight sometimes, a real fight with evil, with temptation, and I do not know what else. But, beloved, do fight it out!

1 John 4:15

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on October 8, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Just shootin’ the breeze today.

Me: Let me join ya.

This is a video devotion about Proverbs

click here to watch

Proverbs 9:11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Tale

Posted on October 6, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: What a cozy spot.

Me: A perfect place for a tale.

Prodigal: I am ready to listen.

This is from the book Why Jesus? by Ravi Zacharias

The tale would go something like this:

In the beginning, God.

God spoke. But that was a long time ago.

We wanted certainty-now.

For this, only Reason and Rationalism would do.

But that was not enough. We wanted to “test.”

So we went into the senses and found the empirical.

But that’s not what we meant by testing. We really meant “feeling.”

So we found a way to generate feeling into the picture.

Truth was framed into a scene.

But the scene was left open to interpretation. Scenes are not absolute.

So the story was told as an art form.

But the reader still didn’t like it, because he was not the author.

So he read the story while he sat in a reconstructed and deconstructed cubicle to make of the story whatever he wished.

But what does one do with the long reach of the empirical?

The best way was to find a blend between the empirical and the satirical and end up with God again.

The only difference was that God could not be the storyteller.

We still needed God.

So we became God.

Are you going with your on tale today? Or you going to stick with God’s truth? Your choice. Your turn.

James 2:10

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Facing Giants

Posted on October 4, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I would love to sit and jaw with you, but I got to be moving on.

Me: One more think before you go, and this might help.

Prodigal:I reckon I can give you a second.

This is from the book David: A Man of Passion & Destiny by Charles Swindoll

So often, when facing our giants, we forget what we ought to remember and we remember what we ought to forget. We remember our defeats and we forget the victories. Most of us can recite the failures of our lives in vivid detail, but we’re hard-pressed to name the specific, remarkable victories God has pulled off in our past.

Focus on the victories you have had with the Lord in the past. That will help your faith during this time.

Philippians 2:1-4

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org