Daily Littles

Posted on May 5, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: What are you and Mr. Bill doing?

Prodigal: We are just wrestling it out, to see who is stronger.

Me: Well, it looks like you won! I am happy for you.

This is from the book You Can Change by Tim Chester

The battle for holiness is made up of what Horatius Bonar calls “daily littles.” It’s not given to many of us to make life-and-death choices for our Savior. Not many will be called on to recant or be martyred. For us the battle is made up of thousands of little moments–choices between self and service. We fall, not when we face death, but when we face a traffic jam. It’s too easy to imagine ourselves as strong Christians who would stand firm in the face of persecution, while every day we let sinful desires control us. We imagine ourselves winning the great battles when all the time we’re losing the “daily littles.” But the “daily littles” are the stuff of the battle. Bonar says, “The Christian life is a great thing, one of the greatest things on earth. Made up of daily littles, it is yet in itself not a little thing, but in so far as it is truly lived….is noble throughout–a part of that great whole, in which and by which is to be made known to the principalities and powers in heavenly places the manifold wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10).

I noticed your battle with “daily littles”. I am proud of you and respect you so much for the wins.

Matthew 6:6

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Parents

Posted on May 4, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I am having a great time!

Me: I can tell you are getting a lot of attention. Let me encourage parents out there today.

This is from the book Parenting From Surviving to Thriving by Charles Swindoll

If you haven’t heard this in a while, let me thank you on their behalf.

Thank you for the many sacrifices you make. Thank you for doing what is right even when things don’t work out well. Thank you for saying what may be difficult for your children to accept and for being the truth teller when you’d rather be a pal. Thank you for loving them when you feel so unloved. Thank you for fulfilling your role with such devotion and faithfulness, even when you’ve run out of hope, energy, and ideas. Thank you for the great service you do for all of us in the body, not just your children.

Matthew 5: 3

Blessed are the poor in spirit , for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

More Than Meets the Eye

Posted on May 2, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Is my eyes deceiving me? I think you have a twin Prodigal?

Prodigal: Yes, and my twin here has good taste.

This is from More Than Meets the Eye by Dr. Swenson.

The human body is a reflection of the brilliance, the genius, the power, the precision, the sophistication of an almighty Creator. There are 10 to 28th (10 with 28 zeros) atoms in the human body–more than there are stars in the universe. We turn over a trillion atoms every 1/billionth of a second. And, if we examine the subatomic space where the smaller-than-atom particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons dwell, we find we are perhaps infinite in a subatomic direction. The scientific theory of ‘super strings’ (fundamental constituents of subatomic reality represented as strings of energy as opposed to particles) postulates that the most basic building blocks of life lurking in the microscopic sphere of our body are a 100 million billion times smaller than a proton particle. Consider the greatness of God’s handiwork in creating the human body, which scientists today are only beginning to understand.

God my body is only working because you allow it too! I praise you for how you create and how you up hold your creation!

Matthew 5:8

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prevenient Grace

Posted on May 1, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I am glad I found you!

Prodigal: Me too!

Me: Now we can continue on our day.

This is from the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which briefly stated means this: that before a man can seek God, God must have sought the man. Before a sinful man can think a right thought of God, there must have been a work of enlightenment done within him; imperfect it may be, but a true work nonetheless, and the secret cause of all desiring and seeking and praying which may follow.

We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. “No man can come to me”, said our Lord, “except the Father which hath sent me draw him,” and it is by this very prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: “Thy right hand upholdeth me.”

I cannot take any credit for what God has given me today. It is ONLY because of our LORD! So may I praise Him with my whole heart and rejoice at His plan!

Romans 8:16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Not Weak or Passive

Posted on April 29, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How is the pig racing going?

Prodigal: Good, there ain’t no grass gowin’ under that ones feet.

Me: Looks so. I will share when the race is finished.

This is from the book When Sinners Say I Do by Dave Harvey

Meekness has nothing to do with being weak or passive. Meekness is power harnessed by love. It is an expression of humility that will not bristle or defend when challenged about motives. In fact, a meek person realized that he could have selfish motives and must evaluate himself. This fruit of the Spirit helps us govern our anger, restrain our tongue, and maintain our peace. A.W. Tozer said, “The meek man…will have attained a place of soul rest. As he walks on in meekness he will be happy to let God defend him. The old struggle to defend himself is over. He has found the peace which meekness brings.

Thank you LORD! How God is good to remind of us the truth over and over again. I love to try and win an argument with words. Aaron so do you. Sometimes though we need to be reminded that it is about meekness and not the most intellectual speech.

Phlippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Power of Healing

Posted on April 27, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Are you trapped Prodigal?

Prodigal: Well ain’t I God’s own fool, I am!

Me: Don’t worry, that is what friends are for. I will help you out.

This is from Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul by submitted by Bernie Siegel. This is for all the hard working nurses out there! Thank you for all the small things you do that seem to go unnoticed!

The real power of healing is not about curing diseases. This was revealed to me by a male nurse who spend a lot of time with a woman in a nursing home who hadn’t been able to walk for six years. Edward lifted her in and out of her chair or into the bed, depending on her schedule.

She always wanted to talk about God and forgiveness. Because Edward had had a near-death experience, he felt comfortable doing this.

One night it was so late that Edward slipped out without being the one to put her to bed. He was heading for his car in the parking lot when he heard her call, “Edward!” He snuck back inside and into her room.

“Are you sure God forgives us for everything?” she asked.

“Yes, I’m sure, from my own experience,” he said. “You know the gospel song that tell us, “He knows every lie that you and I have told, and though it makes him very sad to see the way we live, he’ll always say “I forgive.”.

She sighed. “When I was a young woman, I stole my parents’ silver and sold it so I would have enough money to get married. I’ve never told anyone and no one ever found out. Will God forgive me?”

“Yes,” Edward reassured her.” God will forgive you. Good night.”

When Edward returned to work the next morning, he was told to see the administrator who asked what he had told the woman the night before.

“As usual,” Edward explained, “we talked about God and forgiveness. Why?”

“At 3:00 am the woman came out of her room and, with no help, walked the entire length of the nursing home, put her Bible and teeth on the nurse’s desk and said, “I don’t need these any more.” Then she turned and walked back to her room, laid down and died.”

Philippians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Life to Death

Posted on April 25, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How is the baby?

Prodigal: He is doing great!

Me: Here is a story for you about babies.

This is from the book Psalm 91 by Peggy Joyce Ruth and Angelia Ruth Schum

The whole family was rejoicing when our daughter-in-law, Sloan, received a positive pregnancy test report and found she was going to have the first grandchild on either side of the family. Since she’d had a tubal pregnancy before, making her highly susceptible for another, the doctor ordered a sonogram as a precautionary measure.

The disturbing result of the sonogram was : “no fetus found, a great deal of water in the uterus and spots of endometriosis.” With only two hours’ notice, emergency surgery was quickly underway, at which time the doctor performed a laparoscopy, drained the uterus, and scraped away the endometriosis. After the surgery the doctor’s words were, “During the laparoscopy we carefully looked everywhere, and there was no sign of a baby, but I want to see you back in my office in one week to be sure fluid doesn’t build back up.” When Slain argued that the pregnancy test had been positive, he said there was a 99 percent chance the baby had naturally aborted and had been absorbed into the uterine lining.

Even, so after the doctor left the room, Sloan was the only one not fazed by his report. What she said next surprised everyone. She emphatically stated that even the doctor had left her with a 1 percent chance, and she was going to take it. From that moment on, no amount of discouragement from well-meaning friends who didn’t want her to be disappointed had any effect on her. Never once did she veer away from confessing out loud Psalm 91 and another Scripture promise that she had found “(My child) will not die, but live, and tell of the works of the LORD” Psalm 118:17.

A strange look came on the technician’s face the next week as she administered the ultrasound. She immediately called for the physician. Her reaction was a little disconcerting to Sloan, until Sloan heard these words: “Doctor, I think you need to come here quickly. I’ve just found a six-week-old fetus!” It was nothing short of a miracle that such sever, invasive procedures had not damaged or destroyed this delicate life in its beginning stages. When I look at my grandson, it is hard to imagine life with out him.

Philippians 1:4

Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Translating the Bible

Posted on April 22, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This house looks a little run down.

Me: They were so broke the wolf won’t even stop at the door.

Prodigal: Must have been tough.

Me: They had Jesus tough.

This is from the book Great Women of the Christian Faith by Edith Deen

In her last fifteen years Pandita Ramabai began the immense task of translating the Bible into Marathi, using words the least educated laborer could understand. First she had to master Greek and Hebrew. She had to fit this work in amid her many other duties: appointing workers to their posts, seeing visitors, superintending buildings and supplies, and preparing dainties in her kitchen. She was growing too deaf to hear the words spoken in church services, but she used to come into the church and take her place near one of the doors. Her manuscripts were always with her. She provided many books and pamphlets from her own print shop. She printed more than one hundred thousand copies of the Gospels alone, and her own Gospel bands distributed them.

In her last months, Pandita corrected the final proofs for her translation of the Bible. She spent long hours proofreading, in addition to her work for her eight or nine hundred people at Mukti. She had nearly completed the proofreading, and the first pages of the fifty thousand copies of the Bible were already being printed by her girls, when she became ill and knew her time was drawing very near. She prayed to God for ten more days in which to complete the proofreading. In just ten days, on April 5, 1922, when the last proof was read, she fell asleep, never to wake again.

God is control of all and can even delay death for His glory!

2 Timothy 1:12

which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Cross

Posted on April 20, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Hi Prodigal, look at that cross!

Prodigal: Yes, I thought it was nice to have on the mailbox.

Me: I can give you some history about the cross.

Prodigal: I would love to hear it!

This is from the book The Cross of Christ by John R.W. Stott

Christianity, then, is no exception in having a visual symbol. The cross was not its earliest, however. Because of the wild accusations which were levelled against Christians, and the persecution to which they were exposed, they ‘ had to be very circumspect and to avoid flaunting their religion. Thus the cross, now the universal symbol of Christianity, was at first avoided, not only for its direct association with Christ, but for its shameful association with the execution of a common criminal also. So on the walls and ceilings of the catacombs (underground burial-places outside Rome, where the persecuted Christians probably hid), the earliest Christian motifs seem to have been either non-committal paintings of a peacock (supposed to symbolize immortality), a dove, the athlete’s victory palm or, in particular, a fish. Only the initiated would know, and nobody else could guess, that ichthys (fish) was an acronym for Iesus Christos Theou Huiso Soter (Jesus Christ, Son of God, Saviour).

Proverbs 21:1

The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

BreastPlate of Righteousness

Posted on April 17, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Trying on your armor?

Prodigal: Yep, you can’t start your day without it.

This comes from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James P. Gills, M.D.

Another important article of armor described for the believer is the breastplate of righteousness. A sword through the heart would be fatal, so our Captain has given us the crucial breastplate. While we cannot boast of any righteousness within ourselves, God Himself provides us with His righteousness.

Through our receiving Christ as Savior, He has given us His righteousness. We stand before God, cleansed from our sin, based on our acceptance of what our Savior did on the cross. When He said, “It is finished,” all that was necessary to forgive and cleanse us was accomplished. Now we are called to rest in His finished work. In that way we put on the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness. In Christ, God is infinitely pleased with you. You are welcomed into His presence at all times. “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. To be justified is to have the perfect righteousness of Christ credited to your account. No matter how completely you may fail and sin, the perfect obedience of Christ grants you God’s pardon and acceptance.

“Jehovah Tsikenu!”–The Lord Our Righteousness”–is our battle cry. He is our strength. Our salvation is based on what He did on the cross, to Him be all the glory! Accepting this truth alone will protect our hearts from the sword of unbelief that has the thrust to destroy any man’s soul. We cannot say it any better than the psalmist did: “Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, And in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, And in Your favor our horn is exalted” (Ps. 89:15-17). This is the voice of the believer rejoicing in the privilege of wearing the breastplate of righteousness.

Psalm 33:1

Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org