Ask Yourself

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Are you going for a bike ride?

Prodigal: Yep, and I bet I can out bike anyone!

Me: Are you sure your in that good of shape?

Prodigal: I’m still on the ball. It just doesn’t have as much bounce as it used to have.

Me: I agree with that.

This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James Gills M.D.

Some constantly need to ask themselves the question: “Who’s on top?” We should instead be asking. “Whose supremacy do we recognize, God’s or our own?” Where can we find the essence of our humility?” Proper acknowledgement of God is the basis of humility and respect for our fellow man.

When do we know we are not following humility and respect for our fellow man? When we try to push them down and push ourselves up. May we instead push some one else up and push ourselves down.

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Missions

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: What a beautiful day!

Prodigal: I agree, we can walk while we share.

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

Mukti Mission had already opened when, in 1896, a terrible famine began, in which between ten and fourteen million people of the Central Provinces of India perished. As the clamor for food increased, Pandita Ramabai traveled to famine-ridden sections, gathered up six hundred young widows and children, brought them back to Mukti, and housed them in temporary grass huts. Her deep wells yielded copious amounts of water. Her fruit trees bore plentifully. Vegetables, grains and other foodstuffs were produced in abundance on her land. Because of this, she made a second trip into famine regions and returned with several hundred additional girls and women. Now she needed more workers, buildings, foods and equipment, and also an evangelistic program.

A period of great revival began at Mukti during the overcrowed days of famine. A large group of girls gathered each day for prayer in Pandita Ramabai’s room. Hundreds were converted and Pandita took groups of girls to the nearby Bheema River to be baptized. During the revival, many confessed to stealing, lying, quarreling, fighting, and others renounced their former idolatry.

It was after a revival meeting that Pandita formally dedicated her mission to the work of the Lord, naming it Mukti, meaning “Salvation.”

God uses His people all over the world at different times to save his people in the worse of circumstances. He is still doing that today.

Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

In Contrast

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How are you Prodigal?

Prodigal: With my friend.

Me: I don’t know your friend?

Prodigal: He’s all broth and no beans type .

Me: Well let me tell you about someone else.

This comes from the book Rx for Worry A Thankful Heart by James P. Gills, M.D.

The life of Dr. Earl Arnett Seamands (1891-1984), long-time missionary in South India, beautifully illustrates the power of serving others. In 1919, he left a successful career as an engineer and moved his family to India to serve as missionaries there. Living in a third world country during the early part of the twentieth century was a daunting task. They earned a meager one hundred dollars a month and endured a tremendous cultural shock. Not only were they without important items like a piano and a car, they were also forced to live without running water or indoor plumbing. Unable to make the difficult adjustment to this primitive lifestyle, Mrs. Seamands complained loudly and incessantly. So negative was the atmosphere she created in her home and for those around her that, surprisingly, even some of Mr. Seamand’s Christian colleagues suggested to him that he would do well to divorce her.

But this godly man’s patient response to their suggestion was, “I can divorce her as you suggest, but that would not be what the Lord would want me to do. I can separate myself from her and her complaining and continue to live the life I want to live, or, I can constantly pray for her and become an intercessor for her rather than being her accuser.” In this attitude of humility, he decided to intercede for his wife and assist her rather than destroy their marriage. Dr. Seamands surmounted the challenges of life through this difficult time and became a stronger servant of God. As he continued to pray for his wife, she began to change positively and became more tolerant of their challenging lifestyle. As a result, their family was blessed with two sons who have distinguished themselves in Christian ministry as well.

James 3:7-9

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

God Shall Supply

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Watcha doing Prodigal?

Prodigal: Just remembering.

Me: Remembering what?

Prodigal: We were as poor as sawmill rats.

Me: That reminds of someone else like that.

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

This is about Pandita Ramabai

During these wanderings, Pandita’s faith in her father’s idols was shaken. As he had traveled the dusty roads of India seeking spiritual peace, she too sought a way of life that would satisfy her soul. At a young people’s meeting in Calcutta, she was introduced to Christ, who knew no caste, who gave neither man nor woman dominion over the other, and who loved all, Jew and Gentile alike. In India, at that time, women ranked no higher than pigs; but in Christ she found a reason for the education of women.

We should not pay attention to the thoughts of others around us, but what Christ sees in us.

Jeremiah 31:10

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Repent and Renounce

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Howdy Prodigal!

Prodigal: You know today, I have been getting a lot of questions about Muslims.

Me: Let me share about Muslims then

This is from the book Miracle of Miracles by Mina Nevisa with Jim Croft

Your years of quoting the Koran and reciting the Salat have established a stronghold in your heart and mind that must be broken. Repent of your homage to the Koran and ask the Lord to shatter its walls in your mind. It is also helpful to sever the soul-tie that you might have to the Mullah whose voice you followed as he taught you Koranic verses in Arabic. That can be accomplished by specifically renouncing him by name. And last, but not least, it is essential that you renounce Muhammad’s Allah and the Shahada.

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

God’s Values

Posted on February 10, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Visiting the parks again Prodigal?

Prodigal: Yep, I enjoy the out doors and remind myself of what is most important in my life.

Me: I agree, we need those moments.

This is from the book The God Who Hung on the Cross by Dois Rosser Jr. and Ellen Vaughn

Though we know that God’s values are at odds with this world’s, many of us are unconsciously swayed by the culture of celebrity, power, and influence. When that happens, we begin to believe God can’t really use us unless we’re sharp and successful, thin and thriving, living the “victorious Christian life”–or seeming to–like the handful of headliners who speak at Christian conferences, write successful books, and pastor the megachurches. God longs to set us free from that boxed-in thinking. He loves us! He takes great pleasure, as He always has, in using weak, flawed, eccentric, failed human beings to highlight His power.

Well we know this is true because he has used this weak, very flawed, eccentric and failure of a human being. I praise God for seeing something in me beyond this.

Isaiah 26:12

O Lord, you will ordain peace for us, for you have indeed done for us all our works.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Helplessness

Posted on February 9, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: How is your day today?

Me: Good, I spent some time praying on my knees with God.

Prodigal: Did it help?

Me: Yes it did!

This is from the book A Praying Life by Paul Miller

I am starting to see there is a difference between “saying prayers” and honest praying. Both can sound the same on the outside, but the former is too often motivated by a sense of obligation and guilt; whereas the latter is motivated by a conviction that I am completely helpless to “do life” on my own. Or in the case of praying for others, that I am completely helpless to help others without the grace and power of God.

Yes, God it is not me but YOU who help people.

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is and everlasting rock.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Value

Posted on February 7, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How are you and your friend?

Prodigal: Let’s just say we’re not on borrowin’ terms.

Me: Well I hope that this will encourage your walk though.

This is from the book God’s Little Devotional Book for Women

One of the items in Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is a picture of a plain bar of iron. It is valued at $5.00. The same bar of iron has a far different value, however, if it is fashioned into different items.

— As a pair of horse shoes, it would be worth $50.00

–As sewing needles, it would be worth $5000.00

–As balance springs for fine Swiss watches, it would be worth $500,000.

The raw materiel is not what is not what is important. What’s important is how raw material is developed.

Each of us has been given talents and abilities–some have received more, others less, but all have received something as a unique gift from God. As Christians, we also enjoy spiritual gifts which flow from the Holy Spirit of God.

The value of these raw material, however, is a moot point unless we develop and use our talents, abilities and spiritual gifts as a force for divine good in this world.

If you don’t know what your abilities and gifts are, ask God to reveal them to you. Then ask Him to show you what He wants you to do with them. Your happiness and success in life will be found in fulfilling His plan for your life.

I heard the voice of the Lord,saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I , Here am I; send me.

Isaiah 6:8

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Undivided Heart

Posted on February 5, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Where are you going Prodigal?

Prodigal: I am running around and it has been a hectic day.

Me: You need to put on your sittin’ britches then.

Prodigal: I might have time to listen a little.

This is from the book Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst

Lord, may nothing separate me from You today. Teach me how to choose only Your way today so that each step will lead me closer to You. Help me walk by the truth today and not my feelings.

Help me to keep my heart pure and undivided. Protect me from my own careless thoughts, words, and actions. And keep me from being distracted by MY wants, MY desires, MY thoughts on how things should be.

Help me to embrace what comes my way as an opportunity…rather than a personal inconvenience.

And finally, help me to rest in the truth of Psalm 86:13, “Great is your love toward me.”

You already see all the many ways I will surely fall short and mess up. But right now, I consciously tuck Your whisper of absolute love for me into deepest part of my heart. I recognize Your love for me is not based on my performance. You love me warts and all.

Have mercy, that’s amazing.

But what’s most amazing is that the God of the universe, the Savior of the world, would desire a few minutes with me this morning. Lord, help me to forever remember what a gift it is to sit with You like this.

Psalm 86:11

Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

A Daily Task

Posted on February 3, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Woo-ee, you look like chewed twine.

Prodigal: It’s been that kind of day so I will just let you talk.

This is from the book You Can Change by Tim Chester

Faith and repentance are daily disciplines. Turning from sinful desires in faith today doesn’t’ mean that the problem will be gone tomorrow. I may well find myself having to turn from my sinful desires in faith to God today, tomorrow, and day by day after that. I may realize I crave the approval of certain people so much that they’ve become idols in my heart. I may determine to fear God more than I fear those people, but it will still be a daily struggle to remember that God is greater.

That person’s approval will not mean anything ten years from now. God’s approval will mean a great thing though.

2 Samuel 22:31

This God-his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org