Me: This is the day the Lord has made!
Prodigal: Amen
Below is a video part of a video series in Proverbs. Please watch!
Proverbs 4:10
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall by many.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: I see you are walking in the forest.
Prodigal: Yes, it has been nice.
Me: Yes, sometimes that is a nice walk.
It has turned dark now. The outline of the trees look threatening where once they had a calming effect. I have been in the forest too long now. I never thought it would take this long. I never thought that the forest could get this dark. I know the sun is out there, and will return, but how is that comfort when the darkness is overwhelming?
I started the path in the forest. It seemed simple. It seemed short. I knew it might take a while, but I had been on other journey’s. I had made it, and gained strength. So this journey should be shorter. I had skills going in. I didn’t realize that my skills could barely touch the overwhelming darkness that lasted too long.
I was hesitant at first. I will not lie. I had been on several journeys, and I was a little weary. I did not want to start another journey so soon. I was afraid of what it would take out of me.
I did not realize how right I was. How much it would take out of me. In the darkness you are left with nothing. With nothing you have to face yourself. There are no distractions in the darkness. The distractions mean nothing after awhile. You are left with not being able to avoid what is all around you.
I started the path, and the light was still there. I could see patches of darkness in the forest, but somehow I thought they could be avoided. Then I realized that the path took me straight to the depth of the darkness.
The darkness seems to take over at times. Was there a time before the darkness. Has the darkness really been here for this long?
Along the path seemed to point to an opening of light. It seemed to say this was the end. How many times did that happen. Several, to the point it seems foolish to think that the end was there. It was a brief time of less darkness, but I was still in the forest. I was still on this path.
You know that this darkness in this forest cannot last forever. It is hard to see that though. The darkness plays with time, and hope. You know this path has to end. Will it end to another dark path. How about a path with light. Is that even for me?
You have questioned over, and over again, why not just leave the path? Being lost is worse than any path in the darkness. Your life turns messy quickly when you have no direction at all.
So you are in the darkness, knowing that this may be your path for a long time. You know you have to stay on the path.
As the darkness suffocates you today. As the darkness attempts to even make breathing difficult. You focus on the end of the path, and the light that will surround you completely. You know one day that will happen, and you know one day it will all make up for all the darkness.
For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? Who hath marked his word, and heard it?
Jeremiah 23:18
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: Sometimes we need to hear a message twice.
Me: I need that a lot.
Prodigal: God will show us what we need.
Me: Amen, for that.
This is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan
LUKEWARM people feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label Christian or because some people persist in calling us a “Christian nation.”
“Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matt. 7:21).
“Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria, you notable men of the foremost nation” (Amos 6:1).
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Y’all are way out yonder.
Prodigal: Yep, but we are enjoying it.
Please watch the video below about Proverbs 4:9.
Proverbs 4:9
She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: These cookies look so good!
Me: We have some time before we can eat them.
Prodigal: What shall we do?
Me: I have a story.
This is from Donna Griffith
Mom and I always relied on one another. I worked at a fast food restaurant, but before and after my shifts she served me the best home-cooked breakfasts and dinners a girl could want. Plus she gave expert foot rubs, which came in handy. But most of all I looked forward to our evening walks.
One evening we walked down the road to the first major intersection. “Look both ways before you cross,” Mom said.
“Always the mother hen,” I replied. Always trying to take care of me. Just like I’m always trying to take care of her. Lord, I wish we had someone to take care of both of us.
There weren’t any cars coming, so we stepped into the crosswalk. Halfway across the street I heard screeching wheels. A late-model sedan was barreling right for us. There was no time to run. “Jesus,” I mumbled, braced for impact.
That’s when I felt them: two strong hands on my upper arms. The car was so close I could make out specks of dirt on the shiny front grille. But the second before a collision happened, I was lifted into the air. I felt a rush of wind as the car passed me. Somehow I had been taken out of harm’s way just in time.
The next thing I knew I was sitting on the sidewalk across the street, the cook concrete under my palms. Mom! I expected to see her lying injured in the road.
But she wasn’t there. Mom sat a few feet away from me. “Are you all right?” she asked.
“Yes,” I said. “How are you?”
She sat up straight, and took a big stretch. “I feel fine, thanks to that man,” she said.
“What man?” I asked.
“The man who picked me up and carried me over here just as the front of that car brushed past me. How on earth did you get out of the way in time?”
“The man who helped you must have had a friend.”
We looked around in either direction for our saviors, but there was no one in sight. I was unsure about exactly what had happened, but I’d never felt so cared for, so safe and secure, either.
1 Corinthians 11:7
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: Just dropped off my present.
Me: It must have been big to have to carry it in that wagon.
Prodigal: It was, and I hope it is enjoyable.
This is from the book Life Essentials: Knowing God better, Experiencing God deeper and Loving God more by Tony Evans
When it’s all said and done, then, spiritual growth does not primarily depend on what is happening around you, but on what is happening inside of you. Growth comes from the inside out, which is the way God designed all of His creation to function. Full-grown oak trees don’t just appear. Neither do full-grown Christians. But all the requirements for growth are there.
Spiritual growth is the process of expanding and releasing what is on the inside so that it becomes visible on the outside. What God often does is apply the heat and the pressure to bring about this release. That’s why our greatest times of spiritual growth are almost always our times of greatest trial.
We cannot see the growth that is taking place day by day as we lean on Christ, and as we pray more, and more. A habit is growing one that says I must turn to Him if I am to make it through this at all. What a great habit that is to learn even if it seems difficult at the moment.
The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: I’ll be doggone, if I didn’t forget something at the house.
Prodigal: We all have things like that happen.
Me: We can still continue with the video
Here is a video on the book of proverbs. I am discussing proverbs 4:8 today.
Click here to watch the video.
Proverbs 4:8
Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: Well golly, I wasn’t expecting y’all.
Me: I just felt like you needed a visit.
Prodigal: Your probably right.
I had two cats. One was the mother, and one was her son. The mother cat named Faith came into my life when she was around 8-12 weeks old. She was found in an oil drum outside of a mechanic shop crying as loud as she could. She was very afraid.
I took her home, and took her to the vet. The vet told me she was born deaf. He showed me how she doesn’t move when noises are made. He also showed me how visual she was.
Faith had one litter when she was 8 months old. They were born in my house. One son was deaf. I immediately decided to keep him, and named him Happy. The other two were given to wonderful homes.
As the years went by, I noticed a difference between the two deaf cats. Faith was scared of anything sudden. Her deafness became a way to fear the world. Happy’s deafness made him not afraid of anything.
Without hearing, a lot of things became surprises in their world. If she closed her eyes, too sleep. The world changed around her without knowing. I could leave without knowing, I could come home. It could start raining, or get dark outside, and she would not know. Someone new could come over, and she would be surprised because she did not hear them. She would open her eyes, and it would scare her to see something so unexpected.
Happy though would be the opposite. He would close his eyes, someone new would be here, and he would be happy for the surprise.
I saw these patterns over, and over again everyday. Faith passed away, and she remained afraid everyday.
Happy remains happy over everything.
I couldn’t help, but see us in these two. I couldn’t help, but see that we respond to God in the same way.
God sees all, so it is almost like we are missing an extra sense, like we are deaf. We have surprises that show up. God was not surprised though. Some of us react in fear every time.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I think Faith early on in life had some experiences that were scary. Even though she had moved to a safe home, she could not let go of her fears.
We have all had some experiences that can create fear, but in truth. God is a safe place for us to go to. If we seek Him. If we go where he calls us to. We do not have to fear. We do not have to be afraid of what surprises show up that day or week.
Psalm 34:4
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
I know that surprises have happened. You don’t understand how they could have happened suddenly. Just like faith could not understand when she opened her eyes, and new people were suddenly there. God is not surprised though. He can see more. As long as we seek God, we really do not have to fear.
Happy would see the same people that showed up as a surprise, and he choose to feel no fear about the surprise. Happy trusted that where he was was safe.
God has you in a safe place. He will help you. He will help you step by step, and you are not alone.
Isaiah 41:13
For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Don’t fall prodigal!
Prodigal: Pride comes before the fall.
Me: That is right!
This is from the book Believe and Rejoice by James P. Gills, M.D.
A relinquished heart requires purity and separation from our base human attitudes, which are constantly within us regardless of how close we are to the Lord. We frequently think we have the answer. In fact, in our own egotism we think we are “the answer” and frequently do not turn to Christ.
True humility results from submitting our lives to God and worshiping Him. We are not humble by nature. Humility is not something we can decide to acquire. We become humble only as we love and follow Him. And our submission to Him becomes all-consuming–affecting every part of our body, permeating us, and directing us. Humility is reflected in our lives when we are molded by the Holy Spirit.
Please Lord make sure that I am submitted to you. I know how quickly I can think I have the answer. I also can think that your way is not what is best for me. I just need you Lord. I can’t even submit to you without your help today.
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
Matthew 4:16
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: There is a whole crowd gathered today.
Me: I don’t have a problem with that.
Here is a short of video on my proverbs series. Today is the video discussing Proverbs 4:7
click here to watch my video on proverbs
Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
