Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

Luke warm

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me:  I have to do chores while we chat.

Prodigal:  I understand, sometimes things cannot wait.

This is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan

LUKEWARM people probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever.  They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee!  First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.  Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.  In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness (Matt 23:25-28).

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Heaven and Hardships

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I reckon we can just sit a spell.

Me: I like that idea!

This is from Samuel Rutherford

If God had told me some time ago that He was about to make me as happy as I could be in this world, and then had told me that He should begin by crippling me in arm or limb, and removing me from all my usual sources of enjoyment, I should have thought it very strange mode of accomplishing His purpose. And yet, how is His wisdom manifest even in this! For if you should see a man shut up in a closed room, idolizing a set of lamps and rejoicing in their light, and you wished to make him truly happy, you would begin by blowing out all his lamps; and then throw open the shutters to let in the light of heaven.

Matthew 5:10

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Today’s sunrise is not defined by yesterday’s sunset.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Heavenly Father

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal:  Good place to pray.

Me:  Yes, it is.

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

Heavenly Father, every breath is a gift from your hand.  Even so, I confess that sometimes my own hand remains tightly closed when I encounter the needs of others.  Please open my hand and my heart that I might learn to open my doors to others.  As you help me open my heart and hand, O Lord, I ask that you also prompt me to open my life to those who need a taste of your love and bounty.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodialpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

God’s Thoughts

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: What is all this howlin’ and yowlin’ I’m hearing.

Prodigal: Sorry, I fell into this plant.

Me: I don’t mind helping.

This is from the book Let the Journey Begin by Max Lucado

We ask for food, only to find provision already made. (How did you know I would be hungry?)

We ask for guidance, only to find answers in God’s ancient story. (How did you know what I would ask?)

God dwells in a different realm….

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are they even like ours. We aren’t even in the same neighborhood. We’re thinking, Preserve the body; he’s thinking, Save the soul. We dream of a pay raise. He dreams of raising the dead. We avoid pain and seek peace. God uses pain to bring peace. “I’m going to live before I die,” we resolve. “Die, so you can live,” he instructs. We love what rusts. He loves what endures. We rejoice at our successes. He rejoices at our confessions. We show our children the Nike star with the million-dollar smile and say, “Be like Mike.” God points to the crucified carpenter with bloody lips and a torn side and says, “Be like Christ.”

Proverbs 16:18

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: God’s voice is as loud as your willingness to listen.

Me: That is speaking the truth.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Setting Captives Free

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: The turkeys are not free to roam today?

Prodigal: Not today.

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

In the land of Namibia, we traveled to remote villages, where most practice ancestor worship and traditional tribal religion. We visited homes and presented the gospel when permitted.

At one street ,we again sought the Lord’s guidance. From behind a wire fence, two men called to us. They were prisoners at a jail and asked if we would come in to talk. We knew that dealing with police officers and paperwork would take a long time. So, regretting that we couldn’t visit at that point, we prayerfully handed the men some tracts in their language.

Before we could leave, a man outside the fence stopped us. Dressed in plain clothes, he told us that he was a police officer. The translator openly explained what we were giving to the prisoners. To our surprise, the officer said, “You must come to my home and tell me about Jesus”. He led us to his home behind the jail.

In the yard, the man listened intently to the gospel through the translator. I silently prayed for him the whole time. To our joy, he asked Jesus to be his Lord! But what he said next brought tears to our eyes.

“I’ve been waiting for someone to tell me about Jesus,” said the officer.

The prisoners we met now have someone on the “inside” to explain the tracts and tell them about Jesus. What “prisoners” do you know who need to be set free? Will you share the key to life today?

-M.M. Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa

So shall my word be that goes from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose

Isaiah 55:11

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodialpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Resolved

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

 

 

Prodigal:  Time to go to church.

Me:  Yes, and be with the people of the church.

Prodigal:  Yes, God calls us to be with others.

 

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

 

Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and a sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule….

 

Don’t forget this today.  Do not allow others to make your tongue loose.  Remember we are all God’s children.  We are all called to love everyone.  I mean everyone!

 

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing:  for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

Isaiah 52:8

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

 

 

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all of the alligators.

Prodigal: Great focus!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:5 “Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed.” (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Looking At Themselves

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me:  How is the carving going?

Prodigal:  It’s harder than pushin’ a boiled noodle through a keyhole.

Me:  I’m sure after practice it will get better.

Prodigal:  I hope so.

This comes from the book How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit by A.W. Tozer

Instead of looking at the mighty resurrection power of the Lord Jesus, people go back to looking at themselves–and that’s why they lose hope and give in so easily to defeat and discouragement.

We are actually dealing here with Christ’s supernatural power–not with just our human hope and resolutions!

The world encourages us to look at ourselves.  They think this is wisdom.  But wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord. That means we are obedient in the way God calls us.  That means we are not able to see what God is really doing by having us take this step but we do it anyway.  Looking to ourselves, we will end up in a dead end, always.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:  otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 6:1

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org