Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

Clinging Faith

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Shoot straight with me.

Prodigal: I wanted us to have some time before I did.

Me: Looks like there is no better time than now.

This is from the book All of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon

Sometimes faith is little more than a simple clinging to Christ-a sense of dependence and a willingness to depend. When you are down at the seashore, you will see limpets sticking to the rocks. You can walk softly up to a rock, strike a mollusk a quick blow with a stick, and off he comes. Yet try the next limpet in that way. You have given him warning; he heard the blow with which you struck his neighbor, and he clings with all his might. You will never get him off! Strike and strike again, but you might as well break the rock. The limpet does not know much, but he clings. He is not acquainted with the geological formation of the rock, but he clings. He can cling and has found something to cling to; this is all his stock of knowledge, and he uses it for his security and salvation. It is the limpet’s life to cling to the rock, and it is the sinner’s life to cling to Jesus. Thousands of God’s people have no more faith than this. They know enough to cling to Jesus with all their heart and soul, and this suffices for present peace and eternal safety. Jesus Christ is to them a strong and mighty Savior, a Rock immovable and immutable. They cling to Him for dear life, and this clinging saves them. Can you not cling? Do so at once.

Romans 13:1-2

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Fear

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I don’t know if you should get so close to that spider.

Prodigal: I am not afraid of no spider.

Me: There are two types of fear.

This comes from the book Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Phyllis Hendry

The capacity to experience fear is a gift from God. When heeded, fear protects us. Yet what we actually do with fear when we experience it can prevent us from enjoying the good it can bring. So instead of enhancing life, fear has poisoned human relationships ever since man first stepped outside of God’s will. Consider the consequences of Adam and Eve’s eating the forbidden fruit: they immediately became self-conscious, covered their nakedness, and hid from God in fear. Human beings have been hiding ever since, because we fear that our weaknesses and bad behavior will be found out. The irony is, God already sees those weaknesses and knows all about our bad behavior.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: The right thing and the hard thing are usually the same thing.

Me: That is true!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 10:10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, and a babbling fool will come to ruin. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Sword of the Spirit

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How is it going?

Prodigal: Just with Petey the Pirate.

Me: He has some sword!

Prodigal: Yes, he does.

This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James P. Gills, M.D.

The one offensive weapon given to the Christian soldier for spiritual warfare is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph 6:17). We have discussed the importance of the Word of God for every aspect of our spiritual life. However, in this passage, rhema is the Greek for this “word” of God, brought forth in specific, direct application to the issue at hand. It carries a very personal encouragement by the Spirit for the individual receiving it. This is the powerful application of God’s Word that is “sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb 4:12). It is the Word of God, not just written on the page, but drawn smartly and thrust deeply into the enemy.

When the Lord Jesus was tempted by the devil, He met each approach with a specific and devastating counter: “It is written” (Matt. 4:4). Those three words are Satan’s worst nightmare; using God’s Word against him thwarts his attacks with God’s direction.

The sword of the Spirit can also cut through the hardest layers protecting a heart that opposes God. When told that “every knee shall bow” to Christ, some people may laugh and ridicule, but when the Spirit uses the Word in their hearts it becomes different.

We thank God that the sword of the Spirit continues to work in cutting away sin in our own lives. When God quickens His Word to our hearts, our occasionally prayerless and cold spirits are pierced. Then we return to our first love for Christ, and see through the vanity of temporal things; again we hunger for the satisfaction alone that comes from being in His presence. The sword of the Spirit is mighty and we need it desperately to fight against our own sins as well as in seeking to free others from the enemy who does not easily let his captives go free.

Mark 2:1

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was reported that he was in the house.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Avoiding Hypocrisy

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I think that is a fake tree Prodigal:

Prodigal: I think it might be, it is not as good as a real tree.

Me: I have to agree.

This is from the book Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado

  1. Expect no credit for good deeds. None. If no one notices, you aren’t disappointed. If someone does, you give the credit to God. Ask yourself this question: “If no one knew of the good I do, would I still do it?” If not, you’re doing it to be seen by people.
  2. Give financial gifts in secret. Money stirs the phony within us. We like to be seen earning it. And we like to be seen giving it. So “when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” (Matt. 6:3).
  3. Don’t fake spirituality. When you go to church, don’t select a seat just to be seen or sing just to be heard. If you raise your hands in worship, raise holy ones, not showy ones. When you talk, don’t doctor your vocabulary with trendy religious terms. Nothing nauseates more than fake “Praise the Lord” or a shallow “Hallelujah” or an insincere “Glory be to God.”

It is not about YOU. It is about the Lord! It is to easy to think something is about you because you can take the credit but that will increase pride and before you know it, the ministry is about you. Stay true to what the Lord has done in your life!

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:3-4

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: God wants full custody, not just weekend visits.

Me: Love it!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 10:9

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Real Contact With Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: We are alone, shoot straight with me. What do you think?

Prodigal: Sometimes we have to get alone to have that private conversation and those can be good.

Me: That is what I choose now.

Prodigal: Let me share a story as my answer.

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

Jesus Christ does not save the worthy, but the unworthy. Your plea must not be righteousness, but guilt. And, though you are ashamed of yourself, Jesus is not ashamed of you, for you are a child of God. Though you feel unfit to come, let your unfitness only urge you on with a greater earnestness of desire. Let your sense of need make you more fervent to approach the Lord, who can supply your need.

O, my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Song 2:14

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Entertaining

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Thanks for having me over.

Me: Anytime and you are a joy to be with.

Prodigal: It is nice to share your home with others.

Me: Yes, it is.

This is from the book Open Heart Open Home by Karen Burton Mains

Entertaining has little to do with real hospitality. Secular entertaining is a terrible bondage. Its source is human pride. Demanding perfection, fostering the urge to impress, it is a rigorous taskmaster that enslaves. In contrast, scriptural hospitality is a freedom which liberates.

Entertaining says, “I want to impress you with my beautiful home, my clever decorating, my gourmet cooking.” Hospitality, however, seeks to minister. It says, “This home is not mine. It is truly a gift from my Master. I am His servant and I use it as He desires.” Hospitality does not try to impress, but to serve.

Entertaining always puts things before people. “As soon as I get the house finished, the living room decorated, my place setting complete, my housework done–then I will start having people in.” The So-and so’s are coming. I must buy that new such-and such before they come.” Hospitality, however, puts people before things. “We have no furniture; we’ll eat on the floor.” The decorating may never get done. Please come just the same.” “The house is a mess-but these people are friends. We never get to see them. Let’s have this time together anyway.”

Because we are afraid to allow people to see us as we really are, we welcome the false ideal of entertaining. To perpetuate the illusion we must pretend we love housework, that we never put our hair in rollers, that our children are so well disciplined that they always pick up their toys. We must hint broadly that we manage our busy lives without difficulty. Working hard to keep people from recognizing our weak points, we also prevent them from loving us in our weakness.

Because hospitality has put away its pride, it doesn’t care if other people see our humanness. Because we are maintaining no false pretensions, people relax and feel that perhaps we can be friends.

Open your house today and guess what a lot of people including me just do not like housework so you can share that with others.

Mark 2:3

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Be careful when you go with the flow–you might end up over the falls!

Me: That is true.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 10:8

The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a bubbling fool will come to ruin. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Lead Like Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: If this ain’t a breathe of fresh air.

Me: What is?

Prodigal: Taking time like this.

Me: Yes, and listening for what God wants us to do.

This is from the book Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Phyllis Hendry

People who want to lead like Jesus, on the other hand, respond to things that happen to them. Before taking action, they choose to step back from the emotion of the moment, even for just a second or two, and desiring to love and serve, run some value checks on the situation. People who lead like Jesus are quick to listen, slow to judge, slow to become angry, and quick to let someone else receive the praise.

Praise of yourself can increase pride. How you struggle with pride. Just remember to pause and pray.

Proverbs 16:5

The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org