Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

The Prophetic Illusion

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Watcha doing?

Prodigal: Just thinking.

Me: Maybe this will clear things up.

This is from the book No Man Is an Island by Thomas Merton

Your life is hidden with Christ in God. The discovery of ourselves in God, and of God in ourselves, by a charity that also finds all other men in God with ourselves is, therefore, not the discovery of ourselves but of Christ. First of all, it is the realization that I live now not I but Christ liveth in me.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:3

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

God Testing People

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I don’t know how perfect these are.

Prodigal: It is not about perfection. It is about the journey.

This is from the book When God Says Wait by Elizabeth Laing Thompson

We are not going to do the “does God test people” topic complete justice here because it’s complicated, but a fair, brief summary would be this: Yes, God sometimes test us (Deuteronomy 13:3; 1 Chronicles 29:17). But by God tests us, we don’t mean He puts us through trials to see if we fail (even secretly hoping we will fail). No, when God tests us, He is looking to find out what is in our hearts. He is looking to expose strength and weakness, to show us where we are and where we need to grow. His tests are not so much like a driver’s license exam–you pass or fail–but like the diagnostic tests a car manufacturer does on the cars themselves before releasing them into the world. The manufacturer needs to know if the vehicles are safe and ready for the road or if they need more work before they leave the factory.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: The Lord is with us.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 13:4 The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.or

Think About It

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I hope they know the Lord,

Me: Me too!

This is from the book God Works The Night Shift by Ron Mehl

When you think about it, no one comes to salvation until he or she admits to being a hopeless sinner, completely lost, and unable to lift one finger in his or her own help or defense. It’s at that very point that God offers His blinding, shining righteousness in exchange for our sin and shame. How could we believe it would be any different as we live out our life in Him? How could we turn back to our self-sufficiency?

Are you foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Galatians 3:3

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

I Suppose It Is True

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: What have they been up to?

Me: Thay ain’t no tell’in

This is from Dr. J.H. Jowett

I suppose it is true of all preachers that as we grow older our sense of the inefficiency of our work becomes intensified. The wonder grows that God can accomplish so much with such inadequate implements. One’s satisfaction with the Evangel deepens with the years; but one is increasingly discontented with the imperfect way in which we present it. No, I do not write as one who is proficient. I am only a blunderer at best; but I write as one who is honestly desirous of better and more useful equipment.

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. John 9:4 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Let us rejoice in the day the Lord has made.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Somebody

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Somebody thinks your special!

Me: I think they are special also!

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

“Somebody!” I do not know your name, but “Somebody!” –God’s electing love rests on you; Christ’s redeeming blood was shed for you; and the Spirit has brought about a work in you, or you would not have touched Jesus. Jesus knows all of this.

He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean.

John 13:10

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

We Must Practice

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: You are getting better.

Me: It is all the practice.

This is from the book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald S. Whitney

That’s the way it is with the Spiritual Disciplines. The desire and the power for them are produced by the grace of God. But Christians themselves must practice the Disciplines. For example, a deep, insatiable hunger for the Bible is a gift from God, but we are the ones who must turn the pages and read the words. God doesn’t pull our passive bodies over to the desk and cause our hands to open the Bible and draw our eyes back and forth over the pages without any effort on our part.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: You can’t hide the sun, the moon, or the truth.

Me: Amen

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 13:2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Loving Christ

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I love this!

Me: Me too, the work was a work of love.

This is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan

When we are focused on loving Christ, it doesn’t mean we do less. I used to do many of the same things I do now, but I was motivated by guilt or fear of consequences. When we work for Christ out of obligation, it feels like work. But when we truly love Christ, our work is a manifestation of that love, and it feels like love.

In reality, not one of us will ever be worthy. It is useless to attempt earning it; you will never feel ready. It is unknown and uncomfortable. But there really is a God who forgives everything and loves endlessly.

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org