Me: Let us focus on Christ during this time.

Prodigal: Yes, he cannot be forgotten

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

Now, if faith is the gaze of the heart at God, and if this gaze if but the raising of the inward eyes to meet the all-seeing eyes of God, then it follows that it is one of the easiest things possible to do. It would be like God to make the most vital thing easy and place it within the range of possibility for the weakest and poorest of us.

Several conclusions may fairly be drawn from all this. The simplicity of it, for instance. Since believing is looking, it can be done without special equipment or religious paraphernalia. God has seen to it that the one life-and-death essential can never be subject to the caprice of accident. Equipment can break down or get lost, water can leak away, records can by destroyed by fire, the minister can be delayed or the church burn down. All these are external to the soul and are subject to accident or mechanical failure: but looking is of the heart and can be done successfully by any man standing up or kneeling down or lying in his last agony a thousand miles from any church.

Satan would like us to become frustrated because of some of the technical problems that are taking place. We think that we need this or that to look a certain way. The world may need that, but God’s people do not need that. God will be there and His will is accomplished with the spirit of the Lord. Some will complain, but the spirit did not touch them. Praise God and receive His peace about this.

The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

MARK 1 : 15

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: That is a lot of chopped wood!

Prodigal: Yes, but I cannot boast.

This is from Dr. Samuel Brengle

If I appear great in their eyes, the Lord is most graciously helping me to see how absolutely nothing I am without Him, and helping me to keep little in my own eyes. He does not use me. But I am so concerned that He uses me and that it is not of me the work is done. The axe cannot boast of the trees it has cut down. It could do nothing but for the woodsman. He made it, he sharpened it, and he used it. The moment he throws it aside; it becomes only old iron. O that I may never lose sight of this.

Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see.

ISAIAH 42 : 18

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: God loves us all.

Prodigal: Yes, we just have to accept that.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch video devotion

Proverbs 7:24

Hearken unto me now therefore, O yes children, and attend to the words of my mouth. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: I love that song you are singing.

Prodigal: Singing while working helps the time go by faster.

This is from the book Heaven Your Real Home by Joni Eareckson Tada

Loved with everlasting love,

Led by grace that love to know;

Gracious Spirit from above,

Thou hast taught me it is so!

O, this full and perfect peace!

O, this transport all divine!

In a love which cannot cease,

I am His, and He is mine.

Things that once were wild alarms

Cannot now disturb my rest;

Closed in everlasting arms,

Pillowed on the loving breast.

O, to lie forever here,

Doubt and care and self resign,

While He whispers in my ear,

I am His and He is mine.

And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.

GENESIS 49 : 15

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: I am wore out!

Me: Rest while I share about Jesus.

This is from the book The Greatest Life Of All: Jesus by Charles Swindoll

When we presume to know the right course of action, we believe we are as smart or as able as God. When we panic, we instinctively turn to our own internal resources because we doubt Him. And when we feel adequate for a task, our belief in self has diminished our view of the Almighty.

On the other hand, if we see God as He is–omnipotent, unfailingly good, and interested in us-we will not hesitate to take every matter to Him, no matter how trifling. And the degree to which we have entered God’s rest can be measured by the shrinking size of the issues we release into His capable hands.

This was God’s timing. So knowing it is God’s timing you can rest. We live knowing that we cannot see the whole picture, but God will allow us to see some of what is taking place. God’s timing is always important and we know we can rely on that as a way to encourage us today.

And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of the flood; neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the earth.

GENESIS 9 : 11

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Nice place!

Prodigal: It is so far out in the country that the sun sets between this place and town.

Me: Haha. Good one.

This is a short video devotion on proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 7:23

till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. (NIV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalgpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: What a beautiful bird!

Prodigal: Yes, God makes us all beautiful!

This is from the book Christian Caregiving A Way of Life by Kenneth Haugk

Everyone’s life has a spiritual dimension. God persists in revealing this dimension wherever and whenever he can, despite society’s continual efforts to thwart him. As one who seeks to care for others as a Christian, you need to be ready to relate to the deep spiritual needs of others. Your readiness to do so will be communicated to others by the climate of acceptance and encouragement you create, by your sensitivity to opportunities to raise the issue, and by our willingness to take whatever time is necessary. The person you are caring for will find you trustworthy because you do not respond with cliches or behave in a lofty, superior manner, and you listen as well as talk. Thus, the door will be open for providing care that is deeply and distinctively Christian.

God may have allowed this relationship as an opportunity for you to speak about Christ. Don’t panic or feel overwhelmed with the figuring out what you can say and how you can say it. Pray daily about this relationship. Then the Holy Spirit will show up and give you the right words at the right time. You don’t have to be perfect or figure it all out right now.

1 Timothy 1:17

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Tis the season to be jolly.

Prodigal: Also to remember what the season is about.

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

For according to verse 10 the death of Christ was ‘the death of his Son’. If God has sent a man to us, as he had sent the prophets to Israel, we would have been grateful. If he had sent an angel, as he did to Mary at the annunciation, we would have counted it a great privilege. Yet in either case he would have sent us a third party, since men and angels are creatures of his making. But in sending his own Son, eternally begotten from his own Being, he was not sending a creature, a third party, but giving himself.

When you care, and when you love deeply. You go yourself. You address that person as intimately as you can. You want to be as close as you can to them. It means a great deal so you handle it yourself. This is what God did for us! God loved us on a personal level starting thousands of years ago. He has never stopped. He still loves you on a personal level today. Make this Christmas personal and about love.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

JOHN 3 : 7

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: I like your Christmas Tree!

Me: Thanks, I’m getting ready for the season.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 7:22

All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose. (NIV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: It has been a difficult week.

Me: We need support during those difficult weeks.

This is from Warren Wiersbe

The best way to help people who are hurting is just to be with them saying little or nothing, and letting them know you care. Don’t try to explain everything; explanations never heal a broken heart. If his (Job) friends had listened to him, accepted his feelings, and not argued with him, they would have helped him greatly; but they chose to be prosecuting attorneys instead of witnesses.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

I JOHN 4 : 12

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org