Me: The holidays are fast approaching!
Prodigal: I am ready!
Thank you for watching another video!
Proverbs 3:23
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: Birds of a feather like to flock together.
Me: Very true, but in Christ community we are different too.
Prodigal: Yes, that should be the case.
This is from the book Prophetic Voices in Contemporary Theology by Alvin Porteous
The church as a community of love presupposes a relationship between members which “expresses itself in mutual acceptance in spite of the separations which take place because the church is a sociologically determined group.” This means that the cohesive which holds the church together is not manufactured out of the natural preferences of people which are rooted in social, economic, educational, racial, or temperamental compatibilities. The “glue” which unites people of varying backgrounds and dispositions into a Spiritual Community is the reconciling love of the cross which unconditionally affirms the other person in terms of his essential humanity. The reuniting power of agape, not the chumminess of social affinity, is the basis for a true Spiritual Community.
We can only agape our love for each other with the help of the holy spirit. That means we must pray for each other. I know that person is not mature in Christ. I know they attacked you out of the flesh. I know that you are trying to love. This is what you have to understand, is that they are reacting in the flesh, and we need to respond in the spirit.
Psalms 5:12
For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: This church is different then mine.
Me: Yes, but the focus is if Christ died for our sins, and we are saved by faith.
Prodigal: That is the best focus.
Don’t be afraid of the world. You have nothing to fear from the world. Christ has already told you He has overcome it. Engage it. Understand it. Know why people think the way they think, what they care about, what they’re afraid of, what makes them laugh, and what keeps them up at three in the morning. Remember the first Bible verse you ever learned: “For God so loved the world. ” God does love the world, and the sign of a God is to love the things He loves.”
Do not be afraid of the church, in what she described as ” all of its multi-hued, chaotic, messy glory.” Get to know believers of other stripes, there will be days when you think, God has no standards and no taste. Other days, of course, this is what gives you hope for yourself. Instead of being fenced in behind denominational boundaries and caught up in theological squabbles, do not be afraid of other worship styles or different denominational norms.
by Shannon Wright
The Lord Jesus Christ our Savior is our focus, and with that their is no fear. He is with us till the ends of the earth, and we can find unity in it with others.
And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 11:19
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: The morning has started out slow.
Me: I agree. It just seems that there are distractions.
Prodigal: Let’s share a story then.
This is from the book Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stories of Faith by Jack Canfield and Mark Hansen
On Thanksgiving Day I awoke on the mattress that I shared with my two young children and tumbles into despair. At the time I was twenty-five and recently divorced. It was three days to payday and there was no money left. I had a job, but was only making $300 a month, and that month’s entire paycheck had already gone to pay for the apartment and food for my little boys. I had swallowed my pride and applied for food stamps, but had been turned down-because I made two dollars over the monthly limit.
On that Thanksgiving Day, there was nothing left to eat in the house but three hot dogs.
Perhaps hardest of all was my feeling of isolation. There was no friends to help. No one had invited us to share the holiday dinner. The loneliness was worse than the ever-present hunger.
But it was Thanksgiving, and for the sake of the children, I knew I had to make the best of the day.
“Come on, boys,” I said. “Today’s a special day. We’re having a picnic!”
Together the three of us went to the park and cooked the hot dogs on the grill. We played happily together until late in the afternoon.
But on the way home, the boys asked for more food. The single hot dog they had eaten did not come close to being a decent meal. I knew they were hungrier even than they let on.
I tried to joke about it with them, but inside I was very, very scared. I didn’t know where our next meal was going to come from. I’d reached the end of my rope.
As we entered our apartment building, an old woman I’d never seen before stepped directly into our path. She was a tiny thing wearing a simple print dress, her wispy white hair pulled up in a bun. With her smile of greeting, she looked like a kindhearted tutu, and island grandmother.
“Oh, Honey,” the old lady said as the boys and I started to walk past. “I’ve been waiting for you. You left this morning before I could catch you. I’ve got Thanksgiving dinner ready for your family.”
Caught by surprise, I thought that I shouldn’t accept such an offer from a complete stranger. With a word of thanks, I started to brush past.
“Oh,” said the old lady, “but it’s Thanksgiving. You have to come.”
I looked at my boys. Their hunger tore at me. Even though it was against my better judgement, I accepted.
The old lady’s apartment was on the ground floor. When she opened the door, we saw a beautiful table set for four. It was the perfect Thanksgiving meal with all the traditional trimmings. The candles were lit and it was obvious that guests were expected. We were expected.
Gradually I began to relax. We all sat down together to enjoy the meal. Somehow, I found myself talking freely of my loneliness, the difficulty of raising two small boys by myself and of the challenges I was facing. The grandmotherly woman listened with compassion and understanding. I remember I felt that for that time, at least, we were home.
As the evening ended, I wondered how I could possibly express my thanks for such incredible kindness. Eyes brimming, I simply said, “Thank you. I know that now I can go on.” A complete stranger had reached out and given our little family such an important gift. The boys were grinning from ear to ear as the elderly lady loaded them down with Tupperware bowls full of leftovers.
We left her apartment that evening bubbling with joy, the boys joking and laughing. For the first time in a long time, I felt certain that I could face what had to be faced. I was a different person from the scared girl I had been that morning. I’d somehow been transformed. We all had.
Early the next day, in a happy mood, I went back to visit my new friend and to return the borrowed bowls. I knocked, but there was no answer. I looked through an open window.
What I saw shocked me. The apartment was completely empty. There wasn’t a stick of furniture. There wasn’t anything.
I hurried down to the manager’s apartment. “What happened to the elderly lady in apartment three?” I asked.
He gave me a look and said, “What lady? That apartment’s been vacant for the past ten or twelve weeks. Nobody lives there.”
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is a thrist of the fountain of water of life freely.
Revelation 21:6
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: It is a nice day!
Me: Yes, but sometimes people can distract from the nice day!
Prodigal: Let’s focus then, because we do not want a distraction.
If you are fought and criticized,
If you are hated and despised,
Because you stand against the wrong,
And will not travel with the throng,
Go forth with courage in your heart
To always do the noble part;
Don’t quit for what the critic said,
For you’ll live on when he is dead.
When men use dope and nicotine,
Or drink until they’re wild and mean,
Indulge in things you know are bad,
Form habits that may run them mad,
And will not heed your warning voice,
Nor make the better, wiser choice,
Look up, and do not fear nor dread,
For you’ll live on when they are dead.
When men who fight the truth and preach
And turn their back when you beseech,
Resolved to do what they desire,
Although it sinks them in the mire,
Fret not because you find it so,
As on the path of life you go;
Be happy in your heart instead,
For you’ll live on when they are dead.
When you have stood for what is clean,
Opposed the vulgar, low and mean,
And held God’s holy banner high,
For men to see, as they go by,
That they may take the upward road,
That leads to Heaven’s blest abode;
But if they will not be so led,
Then you’ll live on when they are dead.
Great men of truth and God and right
Have had opposing men to fight;
It has been so throughout the past,
And in the future days will last;
But when these men with purpose wrong
Have run their little road along,
In spite of all you’ve done or said,
Then you’ll live on when they are dead
By Walter Isenhour
And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.
Isaiah 54:13
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: God’s word is a good to hear all the time.
Me: Watch my video about proverbs and I hope it encourages you.
Proverbs 3:22
So they will be life to your soul and grace to your neck
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: It is good to just be thankful sometimes in our lives.
Prodigal: I agree!
Me: I am thankful that the Lord has given me those who love me.
This is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan
Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.
“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my father in heaven (Matt 10:32-33)
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Matthew 6:29
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: I am thankful for Jesus!
Prodigal: How do we know He really existed.
Me: Maybe this will help.
This is from the book The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
“We have better historical documentation for Jesus than for the founder of any other ancient religion, “said Edwin Yamauchi. Sources from outside the Bible corroborate that many people believed Jesus performed healings and was the Messiah, that he was crucified, and that despite this shameful death, his followers, who believed he was still alive, worshiped him as God. One expert documented thirty-nine ancient sources that corroborate more than one hundred facts concerning Jesus’ life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection. Seven secular sources and several early creeds concern the deity of Jesus, a doctrine “definitely present in the earliest church,” according to scholar Gary Habermans.
And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
Leviticus 26:12
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodial: I really want about five different cookies.
Me: Should you eat that many cookies.
I walk in through the two doors. I have been here plenty of times in the past. It is a regular stand alone building with the red sign.
So have many of you have walked where I have walked. I am going into Chick-fil-A. I need a quick lunch, and some nourishment. I walk up to the counter, and I already know what I want. I want the chicken tortilla soup. I love that it is not too spicy, but has enough spice to give it some extra flavor. I will also have their lemonade to go with it.
I briefly see their chocolate chip cookie on display. My sweet tooth is crying out briefly to indulge in the treat.
What will I do?
Life is about balance, we fail miserable at balance. I look around, with eyes of compassion. Some orders are on the verge of a binge meal. Some orders barely seem to have any food on the plate. Some people are happy, and others have a face of despair.
Balance means several components must be involved. Our lives are not just about out wants. We have a body, mind, and spirit. We were made to respect our body, mind, and spirit. We also were made to encourage growth physically, mentally and spiritually.
An out of balance life means that we may try to make up with excess in one area that may be lacking. We can focus on our body so much that our mental growth has diminished. We can focus on the mental aspect of our lives that our physically body is lacking during the check up.
But many of us ignore the empty hole that calls out to us to figure out our spiritual side. We try to ignore there is a God.
If our bodies look perfect, if we are perfectly happy, why do people still feel empty?
You have neglected your spiritual side. It if not enough to know if there is a God. You have to have a relationship with God.
Balance will begin. With relationship, with our bodies our minds, and with God.
We begin to not hate ourselves if two pounds were gained. We have balance.
We begin to not hate ourselves if someone in the office is so much smarter than us. We have balance.
We begin to not hate ourselves when people think we hate others because we believe in God. We have balance in a relationship with God.
That cookie is still calling out to me. Yes, but balance.
I have plans to eat dessert at home tomorrow. I need balance. I need to say no to indulgences. Indulgences will not make me happy, but balance in all areas of my life will.
I have no problems saying no, because I will be saying yes at other times.
I have no problems saying no because I don’t have something in my life that is completely empty.
At the end of the day with all my choices good and bad. I know I am loved by God who created me. I also know that with all your choices today good and bad, you are loved by God too.
Even if tomorrow I choose the cookie, I am still loved, and so are you.
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
MARK 4 : 9
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Reading the bible?
Prodigal: Yes, there is just something about God’s word.
Me: I agree
This is from the book Sunrays of Help by Dr. Albert Garner
This Book contains
the mind of God,
the way of salvation,
the doom of sinners,
and the happiness of believers.
Its doctrine is holy,
its precepts are binding,
its histories are true,
and its decisions immutable.
Read it to be wise,
believe it to be safe,
practice it to be holy.
It contains light to direct you,
food to support you,
and comfort to cheer you.
It is the traveler’s map,
the pilgrim’s staff,
the pilot’s compass,
the soldier’s sword
and the Christian’s character.
Here heaven is opened, the gates of hell disclosed.
Christ is its subject,
our good its design,
the glory of God its end.
It should fill the memory,
rule the heart
and guide the feet.
Read it slowly,
frequently, prayerfully.
It is mine of wealth,
and a river of pleasure.
It is given to you here in this life,
will be opened at the judgement and
is established forever.
It involves the highest responsibility,
will reward the greatest labor,
and condemns all who trifle with its sacred contents.
That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1:6
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
