Living It Out

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Who are y’all talking about?

Prodigal: Them gals were gnawin’ her name like starvin’ dogs on a bone.

Me: You know we should try not to gossip and slander others.

Prodigal: I guess you are right.

This is from the book Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias

The greatest obstacle to the impact of the gospel has not been its inability to provide answers, but the failure on our part to live it out. If teens do not see us exhibiting godly moral character in our daily lives, the apologetic arguments we provide them are invalidated, no matter how compelling our words are.

It is tough to watch our mouths sometimes and it is so easy to fall into the trap of talking about others. I pray that my words will be a blessing and not painful to others. So God how me how to live out this part of the gospel message today.

Daniel 2:20

Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Posted on August 4, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Howdy Prodigal!

Prodigal: I was just talking with my friend about the church. He doesn’t think he should go.

Me: How did you answer him?

Prodigal: I told him that I hear your cluckin’ but I can’t find your nest.

Me: Well that is a good answer but let me give a list that might be helpful.

This is from the book You Can Change by Tim Chester

Here are some ways in which the church is a means of grace:

We remind one another of the truth.

We are taught the Bible by people whom God has gifted for this purpose.

We pray together for God’s help.

We model Christian change and holiness for one another.

We see God at work in the lives of others.

We remind one another of God’s greatness and goodness as we worship him together.

We are given opportunities for service.

We provide accountability for one another.

I have been hurt by the church too. I can say this though. Every institution has hurt people. The positive thing about the church though is I have learned more and more about Christ. I have seen miracles, and blessings happen among God’s people. I have become friends with others who I would never would have met and are a blessing in my life. Maybe if you want to see change, then God can use you to be that change in the church.

Psalm 119:23

Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Lead Today

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: It should not be too much longer.

Me: It seems we have been waiting for this speaker for awhile.

Prodigal: I wonder what is taking so long?

Me: He could be as nervous as a fly in a glue pot.

Prodigal: That would explain the delay, and we do have time for you to share then.

This is from the book Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders

If the world is to hear the church’s voice today, leaders are needed who are authoritative, spiritual, and sacrificial. Authoritative, because people desire leaders who know were they are going and are confident of getting there. Spiritual, because without a strong relationship to God, even the most attractive and competent person cannot lead people to God. Sacrificial, because this follows the model of Jesus, who gave himself for the whole world and who calls us to follow in His steps.

To lead today you need to get back to God. Clear your morning and just spend time in prayer with God. You need God and God needs to show you something. You can’t lead without God. That is getting back to basics.

Romans 6:22-23

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Him

Posted on July 29, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Howdy Prodigal!

Prodigal: It was a rough start to the morning and I can use some encouragement.

Me: I can share from what I read this morning.

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

Everything that you have, you have in Him; you have been chosen in Him, redeemed in Him, justified in Him. You are risen in Him, but without Him you would have died the second death. In Him you are raised up to the heavenly places, but out of Him you would have been damned eternally.

Do not be afraid this morning. Your fears are not focused on the fact that your life is built on the rock of Christ. He will help you through anything. You are not perfect and you do not have to be perfect. When you make a mistake then God can make sure you receive mercy and grace for that mistake. You cannot miss up all of God’s plan just because you made a mistake. He does not expect you to take all this alone without His guidance.

Psalm 90:2

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

One Little Boy

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: What a cute little boy!

Prodigal: Yes, I am enjoying my time with him!

Me: Let me share a story about another little boy.

This comes from the book Stories for the Heart by Alice Gray and was submitted by David Needham

There is a true story of a little boy whose sister needed a blood transfusion. The doctor explained that she had the same disease the boy had recovered from two years earlier. Her only chance of recovery was a transfusion from someone who had previously conquered the disease. Since the two children had the same rare blood type, the boy was an ideal donor.

“Would you give your blood to Mary?” the doctor asked.

Johnny hesitated. His lower lip started to tremble. Then he smiled and said, “Sure, for my sister.”

Soon the two children were wheeled into the hospital room. Mary, pale and thin. Johnny, robust and healthy. Neither spoke, but when their eyes met, Johnny grinned.

As the nurse inserted the needle into his arm, Johnny’s smile faded. He watched the blood flow through the tube.

With the ordeal almost over, Johnny’s voice, slightly shaky, broke the silence.

“Doctor, when do I die?”

Only then did the doctor realize why Johnny had hesitated, why his lip had tremble when he agreed to donate blood. He thought giving his blood to his sister would mean giving up his life. In that brief moment, he had made his great decision.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Ice Cream

Posted on July 25, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: That was some good ice cream!

Me: I agree! I actually have a story about ice cream.

Prodigal: Lets hear it then.

This is from the book Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore

God is always teaching me about trusting Him to provide. I often learn through my friend, and Indian woman who lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She has five children and makes a meager living. Her husband is in jail in Dubai. Her faith is simple yet remarkable. She trusts in God to provide everything–and I do mean everything.

In the Congo, the sidewalks roll up around 6 p.m., and everyone just stays at home. It’s during this time that my friend prays and teachers her children about God’s power to provide. One night, she shared that her stomach ulcer was painful. She also mentioned that ice cream might help settle it down. But the family didn’t have money to buy ice cream–if the stores had even been open. Besides, finding ice cream in the store is a challenge!

One of her kids asked what he could do. My friend replied, “Let’s pray for my stomach and pray that God would provide for my need.”

Her 6-year-old prayed earnestly for ice cream. Ten minutes later, the phone rang. A neighbor called to say he had leftover ice cream from a party and wanted to know if they could use it.

My friend sang the “Hallelujah Chorus” and told her neighbor, who was not a Christian, that the ice cream was a direct answer to prayer. On the phone, she told the story of how God provides for her family–even for the simple things like ice cream.

Debbie, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa

2 Corinthians 12:9

Each time he said, No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people. Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Word Became Flesh

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Prodigal, SLOW down, I think you are driving too fast.

Prodigal: Who’s pluckin’ this chicken, you or me?

Me: Well you are but I was just trying to help.

Prodigal: Maybe you can help with an encouraging word.

Me: I can share words from C.S. Lewis

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic–on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.

Is Jesus the Son of God or something else?

How are you treating Jesus today?

And a leper came to Him, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying to Him, “If you are willing, You can make me clean”

(Mark 1:40)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Dark Power

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Prodigal, I am confused. You were born in the south.

Prodigal: Yes, but I have a friend who was born in LA and another Yankee friend.

Me: Do they know your thoughts on this.

Prodigal: Of course they do, and we still get along.

This is from the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

But I freely admit that real Christianity (as distinct from Christianity-and-water) goes much nearer to Dualism than people think. One of the things that surprise me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe–a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees with Dualism that this universe is at war. But it does not think this is a war between independent powers. It thinks it is a civil war, a rebellion, and that we are living in a part of the universe occupied by the rebel.

Don’t forget your sword today! Don’t forget the shield of faith also! I just remind ya, because I care.

Galatians 6:10

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Exclusivity

Posted on July 17, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I am not sure about these guys, they look kinda rough around the edges.

Me: I am sure they are very kind and probably fun!

Prodigal: Yep, and I am sure they mild chickens too.

Me: Let me share a story that might help with your perceptions.

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

Clans, cliques, castes–it may be an unfortunate, inherent attribute of our fallen human nature that we seek not only to distinguish ourselves from others, but to separate ourselves from them. Pride, as we have discussed, causes people to elevate themselves about their neighbors and to exclude them from their own experience of life. Many gravitate toward, and cling to, those who appear to be the same and can confirm that their blindness is justified. We learn to identify with false differences and to reinforce them in a group. Kings are no commoners, and farmers are not doctors. One is better than another; at least, so we think. But our evaluations are not of God.

You are not better than anybody else and you are not lower than anybody else. Our Lord Jesus Christ loves me and you and that other person also. Don’t base your relationships on pride but on love.

1 Corinthians 16:11

Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Progress

Posted on July 15, 2017 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Do you like your train ride?

Prodigal: This ride is ’bout as fast as a wagon pulled by a team of sick turtles.

Me: Sometimes you just have to have patience.

This is from the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. We have all seen this when doing arithmetic. When I have started a sum the wrong way, the sooner I admit this and go back and start again, the faster I shall get on. There is nothing progressive about being pig headed and refusing to admit a mistake.

Are you on the right road? Really only God can show you that. People may think they can show you, but only God has that power.

Exodus 14:13

And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org