Lake In Middle of Night

Prodigal:  This is a nice lake!

Me:  Yes, but don’t go out at night with our safety precautions.

Prodigal:  Smart Idea!

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

Have you ever been fishing on a lake in the middle of the night?  Some people think that is the very best time to catch fish.  When my husband was seven years old, all the people who worked for his father took their boats to Lake Brownwood to do some night fishing.  Jack was placed in a boat with five adults so he would be well supervised.  Since one of the men in the boat was an expert swimmer, his mother and dad thought he would be in especially good hands.

Later that night, during one of the times when the boats were going back and forth to shore for bait, Jack had gotten out of his boat and into another one without anyone noticing.  Then off they went–without Jack–back onto the lake in the dark.  This was back before there were rules about life jackets and lights on your fishing boats, so no one could see in the dark what actually happened.  Perhaps they hit a stump.  But for some reason the boat Jack was in sank.  All five of the people in it drowned, even the expert swimmer.  It became obvious that Jack had been directed to another boat by an unseen hand.

Yea, in the way of thy judgements, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee.

Isaiah 26:8

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Prodigal: May your path that God guides you be surround about the light of His love.

Me: Amen!

This is a video devotion on Proverbs

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:14

For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

What Love Requires

Prodigal:  It is such a nice day.

Me:  Maybe we should go out today.

Prodigal:  Yes, I agree and I can tell you about what I have been reading.

This is from the book Bold Love by Dr. Dan B. Allender & Dr. Tremper Longman III

While love does not require less than kindness, it definitely requires more.  The commitment to love often seems to be derailed by our insensitivity or lack of wisdom, but that can never serve as a reason to not venture to love more.  It should, however, make us cautious and compel us to consider and reconsider our motives, timing, and concern for the other person before we decide how to handle his or her failures.  No amount, of fencing, clarifying, and restating will keep some from seeking to force the Kingdom’s entrance through verbal violence.  I can only prayerfully hope to limit the potential misuse.

We go off the path of obedience to the Lord when our main focus in trying to win the fight verbally.  We should always seek to ask God for timing and a heart that is focused on Him when we have to share difficult truths with others.  By saying it is love and it is really our motive to gain something; we are just making the matter worse.

Psalm 49:2-3

both low and high, rich and poor alike:  My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

If Jesus

Me:  Hi prodigal, it is so beautiful outside!

Prodigal:  Yes, it is!

Me:  The Lord’s wonders are amazing!

This is from the book The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

If Jesus is the Son of God, his teachings are more than just good ideas from a wise teacher; they are divine insights on which I can confidently build my life.

If Jesus sets the standard for morality, I can now have an unwavering foundation for my choices and decisions, rather than basing them on the ever-shifting sands of expediency and self-centeredness.

If Jesus did rise from the dead, he’s still alive today and available for me to encounter on a personal basis

If Jesus conquered death, he can open the door of eternal life for me, too.

If Jesus has divine power, he has the supernatural ability to guide me and help me and transform me as I follow him.

If Jesus personally knows the pain of loss and suffering, he can comfort and encourage me in the midst of the turbulence that he himself warned is inevitable in a world corrupted by sin.

If Jesus loves me as he says, he has my best interests at heart.  That means I have nothing to lose and everything to gain by committing myself to him and his purposes.

If Jesus is who he claims to be (and remember, no leader of any other major religion has even pretended to be God), as my Creator he rightfully deserves my allegiance, obedience, and worship.

Mark 6:30

And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Prodigal: Following the path of least resistance makes rivers and men crooked.

Me: Yes, that can be very true.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Mundane Moments

Prodigal:  Just another hour working in the fields.

Me:  It is during these routine hours we can find ways to love.

Prodigal:  I have never thought of that.

This is from the book Bold Love by Dr. Dan B. Allender & Dr. Tremper Longman III

Love is the most essential, life-giving gift we offer to another human being.  It is also the least-likely, natural, or consistent response that is offered in the mundane moments, let alone during the difficult, soul-demanding struggles when we are threatened, reviled, and harmed.  Rich moments of other centered care and sacrifice are rare.  Most people presume the desire to love is a natural human sentiment, but love is actually the exception, the extraordinary, and the life-altering surprise.

It is in the day to day of living with others when we can really show love.  Yes, you make think it is when the big holidays come around or the anniversary but you can really show love on an ordinary Monday or Wednesday in the middle of the afternoon by taking time for others to know you love them and try to make their live easier today.

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

John 16:32

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

It is Necessary

Me: That pumpkin is a s pretty as a picture!

Prodigal: I tried.

This is from Jeremy Taylor

Nothing is intolerable that is necessary. Now God hath bound thy trouble upon thee, with a design to try thee, and with purposes to reward and crown thee. These cords thou canst not break; and therefore lie thou down gently, and suffer the hand of God to do what He please.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin Jesus

Prodigal: Mighty big of you to help me with these pumpkins.

Me: Don’t mention it.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will suffer from it. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Lives

Prodigal: You are slow as molasses.

Me: I want to take it all in.

Prodigal: Let’s rest so that we can share.

Me: I have just the thing.

The lives which seem so poor, so low,

The hearts which are so cramped and dull,

The baffled hopes, the impulse slow,

Thou takest, touchest all, and lo!

They blossom to the beautiful.

Susan Coolidge

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Under Many Difficulties

Prodigal: I sure am wore out from all these pumpkins.

Me: You are almost done.

This comes from the book Joy n Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon

Beloved, it is not always easy to get at Jesus. It is very easy to kneel down to pray, but not so easy to reach Christ in prayer. Perhaps the cries of your own child have often hindered you when you were striving to approach Jesus. Perhaps knock comes at the door when you most wish to be alone. When you are sitting in the house of God, the person seated in front of you may unconsciously distract your attention. It is not easy to draw near to Christ, especially when you come directly from your workplace with a thousand thoughts and cares about you. You cannot always unload your burdens outside and go into the sanctuary with your heart prepared to receive the Gospel.

Ah, it is a terrible fight sometimes, a real fight with evil, with temptation, and I do not know what else. But, beloved, do fight it out!

1 John 4:15

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he in God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org