Hymn Singing

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How is the gardening going?

Prodigal: I just singing a long and the day flies by.

Me: Maybe this will help

This is from Sunrays of Help by Dr. Albert Garner

We sing “Sweet Hour of Prayer” and are content with 5-10 minutes daily.

We sing “Onward Christian Soldiers” and wait to be drafted into His service.

We sing “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” and don’t use the one we have.

We sing “There Shall be Showers of Blessings” but do not come out when it rains.

We sing “Blest be the Tie That Binds” and let the least little offense sever it.

We sing “Serve the Lord with Gladness” and gripe about all we have to do.

We sing “I Love to Tell the Story” and never mention it at all.

We sing “We’re Marching to Zion” but fail to march to Worship or Sunday School.

We sing “Cast All Your Cares on the Lord” and worry ourselves into a nervous breakdown.

We sing “The Whole Wide World for Jesus” and never invite our next-door neighbor.

We sing “O Day of Rest and Gladness” and wear ourselves out traveling, cutting grass or playing golf on Sunday.

We sing “Throw Out the Life-Line” and content ourselves with throwing out a fishing line.

Be ye steadfast unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. Let us put away our inconsistent living, go all out for the Lord every day

1 Corinthians 15:58

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on March 11, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: The stars look great!

Me: Yes, they took some time, but were worth it.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 6:13

He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

A Simple Choice

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: You are looking fine as a daisy!

Prodigal: Well, thank you!

Me: I am trying my best.

This is from the book The Power of A Woman’s Words by Sharon Jaynes

It is easy to laugh at men’s ideals; it is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy to discourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty to encourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a man on his feet. Blessed is the man or woman who speaks such a word.

It is almost over. Then another plan will start, it will have its own challenges. God will grow you in new ways. The Lord has been preparing you for this time. Do not worry. You are with the Lord and the Lord is with you. The Lord loves you and you will not fail.

Revelation 4:11

Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Accountability

Posted on March 7, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I have been waiting for you.

Prodigal: What is on your mind?

Me: I have some questions for you.

Personal accountability is invaluable. Recently, I was encouraged to hear about a minister who meets once a week with a small group of men. They are committed to one another’s purity. They pray with and for each other. They talk openly and honestly about their struggles, weakness, temptations, and trials. In addition to these general things, they look one another in the eye as they ask and answer no less than seven specific questions:

Have you been with a woman this week in such a sway that was inappropriate or could have looked to others that you were using poor judgement?
Have you been completely above reproach in all your financial dealings this week?
Have you exposed yourself to any explicit material this week?
Have you spent time daily in prayer and in the Scriptures this week?
Have you fulfilled the mandate of your calling this week?
Have you taken time off to be with your family this week?
Have you just lied to me?

The Bride by Charles Swindoll

Exodus 20:12

Honor our father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on March 5, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: The Lord brings the increase!

Me: Amen, thank you for all Lord.

This is a short video devotion on proverbs

click here to watch video

Proverbs 6:12

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth;

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Fasting

Posted on March 3, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Only water today.

Me: Why?

Prodigal: I am fasting.

Me; Let me encourage you in your fast.

This is from the book Finding Peace for Your Heart by Stormie Omartian

God designed fasting to bring us into a deeper knowledge of Him, to release the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives, and to bring us to greater health and wholeness. Fasting blesses every area of our mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional lives. It breaks down strongholds that we are not even aware the enemy has erected against us. In fact, the Bible says certain spirits can be broken only through fasting. When Jesus’ disciples asked why evil spirits din’t submit to them, He replied, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:29). Fasting is like getting a holy oiling so the devil can’t hold on to you.

Participating in a fast soon would be a good idea. It is time to spend goo time with the Lord and also work on the spiritual.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

To Be Effective

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Sometimes we need to be reminded of what the Lord says is true.

Prodigal: Yes, there are so many different ideas of what will help.

Me: You can never go wrong with the direction the Lord will take you.

This is from the book Jonathan Edwards: Men of Faith by David J. Vaughan

Edwards understood that to be effective in the pulpit he needed to do more than simply master the mechanics of sermon preparation and the techniques of preaching. He also needed something beyond his solid knowledge of the Bible. What Edwards sought in private was communion with God. If he was going to preach effectively–with power– then he needed the touch of God. Not content to utter speculative truth alone, he strove to acquire a personal and experiential knowledge of the doctrines he proclaimed. He grasped the simple but profound fact that his inner life was interwoven with his outer work. Ministers should “earnestly seek after much of the spiritual knowledge of Christ, and that they may live in the clear views of his glory….Ministers should be much in seeking God, and conversing with him by prayer, who is the fountain of light and love.

Minister’s heart should be in the right place and pride should be forced away by understanding that God has given us everything. God is the one to be worshiped and not God’s servants.

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodialpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on February 27, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Giving in the Lord’s name brings glory to Him.

Me: Yes, it does and we can be lead by the spirit in our giving.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 6:11

And poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like and armed man. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Cleaning the Grooves

Posted on February 25, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Sometimes it is a tough day.

Me: How so?

Prodigal: It’s the kinda day that my britches are gettin’ caught on my own pitchfork.

Me: I know those kinda days.

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

My dining room table has a small, decorative groove that circles the entire table. It looks nice, but just as with all small ruts, it collects crumbs that fall in the groove. Sometimes, when I have company, I will put a tablecloth on the table. This keeps the crumbs from getting into the groove and covers any crumbs that I didn’t clean before. Sometimes, though, I will use a lacy tablecloth that has small openings, and sure enough, crumbs get through to the groove until I decide to clean again.

For my regular cleanings, I wipe off the table, wash it and polish it. Sometimes, though, I look closely and decide that it’s time for the scrub brush to really dig deep into the groove.

Thinking about this table, I can easily make a parallel to my own life. Some sins I will instantly recognize that I need to confess and repent from. Sometimes my armor is solid, and my spirit is protected against sin and temptation. However, at times my armor has tiny openings that let sin through. These crumbs may not be overt sin but rather a general acceptance of worldly ways, without questioning them in light of God’s Word and God’s values. That’s when God tells me that it’s time for me to look at the groove in my life in order to scrub away the sin. The days with the scrub brush may be rough, but afterward, I feel clean.

Betty, Central and Eastern Europe

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, “He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean.” John 13:8b

The Heart of Prayer

Posted on February 23, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: About to start your day?

Prodigal: Yes, but I am going to pray before I start my day.

Me: That is a great way to start!

This is from the book With Christ in the Garden by Lynn James Radcliffe

Here is the heart of prayer as petition and intercession. We do not assert our wills and our desires and expect God to give just what our limited intelligence thinks is best at the moment. We rather worship and commune with God so sincerely that we are lifted to the place where we sense His Presence and are guided to His will. Then marvelously we are aware that we have touched the outskirts of His power and, by His mighty grace, become the contact point through which His will can be released into the world.

Your Holy word has spoke truth for ages, and it also has changed lives. The word we read today is used for battle but also is used to bring you peace. This word must be the focus and with it, we will in turn do the Lord’s work.

Psalms 118:24

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org