Flavia Domitilla Remembered

Posted on June 20, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Daggon’ is this not the hottest day.

Prodigal: We will have to find some shade before we take a load off.

This is from the book Great Women of the Christian Faith by Edith Deen

Flavia Domitilla was important as a niece of the Emperor Domitian. Her husband, Titus Flavious Clemens, was the emperor’s cousin and was appointed consul by him. Both Flavia and her husband were accused of atheism because they refused to worship the emperor as a god. Since they rejected the state of religion, and could not plead the excuse of being Jews, they were branded as atheists,

Flavia not only suffered for her faith in being a Christian but also for giving aid and shelter to the needy, for burying dead martyrs, and for reading the Bible. As soon as her husband’s consulate ended in 95 A.D., Domitian ordered that he be put to death for refusing to assist in the persecution of Christians. Flavia was spared death but was forced to endure a long and lonely martyrdom on an island in the Mediterranean Sea near Naples.

1 John 2:28

And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Empathy in Servanthood

Posted on June 18, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: That was a real tear jerker.

Me: Sometimes we all need a tissue to help with the waterworks.

Prodial: And we need a friend to help us.

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

When you empathize, the other person senses that you share his or her problems, but you have the all-important objectivity that enables you to communicate, “Let’s get out of this together.” With your empathy you firmly grasp the other person’s hand and help him or her through the quagmire back onto stable ground.

It has been difficult for you. You don’t always say it. You try to praise instead of complain. I see the somber way you stand and stare off in quiet times. Once again obedience has seemed to bring you to a lonely place.

This is only for a time. We walk by faith and trust in the Lord. We trust Him and with that trust we receive a peace. With the Lord, the loneliness turns to a time of resting. A peaceful time. Something that is a blessing while others are much too busy to notice.

The Lord knows and He wants you to enjoy this time of rest.

Psalm 89:1

I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on June 16, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: You know a bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you fail to make the turn.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video.

Proverbs 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthen the fountains of the deep. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

God Dwells

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Is God listening?

Me: Yes, God sees all right now.

Prodigal: Sometimes it seems hard to see that.

Me: Doesn’t mean it is not true.

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

God dwells in His creation and is everywhere indivisible present in all His works. This is boldly taught by prophet and apostle and is accepted by Christian theology generally. That is, it appears in the books, but for some reason it has not sunk into the average Christian’s heart so as to become a part of his believing self.

After accepting the Lord as your Savior the Holy Spirit dwells in you. That means there is always a connection to you and God. You cannot get lost to a place that He will not be able to find you. We cannot worry that the Lord has forgotten to be with us during the difficult day. We need wisdom and wonder. How can we find it? We have wisdom in us through the Holy Spirit. We are part of a body of Christ that is connected in so many ways we cannot understand. Look at life different today.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.

Isaiah 61:1

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Watch for Temptation

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I am tempted to take a cookie when others backs are turned.

Me: Prodigal, I know what you are thinking. You should think twice about that action.

This is from the book The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis

Fire proveth iron, and temptation a just man. We know not often times what we are able to do, but temptation sheweth us what we are.

Yet we must be watchful, especially in the beginning of the temptation; for the enemy is then more easily overcome, if he be not suffered in any wise to enter the door of our hearts, but he resisted without the gate at his first knock.

When we are in the battle the first step can be just to recognize the knock of satan. Sometimes we forget that he was an angel and was very beautiful. He knows how to make things beautiful. He knows how to make us think that this choice is not a bad choice. Be watchful and do not answer that knock today.

Psalm 90:1

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on June 10, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I just read something. Jesus turns a test into a testimony.

Prodigal: Amen to that!

This is a short video testimony.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 8:27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Muller’s Mustard Seed

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Well that is fine as a daisy.

Prodigal: Yes, I’m excited to find out all that is in this box.

Me: Remember to thank others.

Prodigal: I will.

This is from the book No Easy Road by Dick Eastman

One one occasion, Muller traveled to Canada for a speaking engagement. Dense fog settled upon the ocean and the uncertain vessel floated motionless on a silent sea. Soon Muller knocked anxiously on the captain’s door expressing, “I must be in Toronto by Sunday.” The captain quickly replied, “In no way can this vessel move without assuming great danger of colliding with another.”

“I understand,” said Mr. Muller, “but in forty years of Christian service I have not failed to keep an appointment. I must be in Toronto Sunday!” He then asked the captain to join in special prayer that the fog lift. Embarrassed, the captain agreed. They knelt and Muller calmly asked God to lift the hindering fog. Somewhat intimidated, the captain said a simple prayer to please his anxious passenger. He no sooner began when Muller stopped him. He gently touched the captain’s shoulder saying: “You need not pray. You do not believe.”

Startled, the seafarer rose to leave the cabin with this unusual passenger. Walking out on deck, a look of sheer astonishment spread over the captain’s face. The fog had completely lifted. George Muller silently stood by with a “just as I expected” look.

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalipig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

To Pray is to Change

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Nothing has changed with the plants yet.

Me: No, but the growth will happen, just wait and see.

This is from the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster

To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us. If we are unwilling to change, we will abandon prayer as a noticeable characteristic of our lives. The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ.

We also will seek prayer when we need to change. God called me to forgive. It really was not what I wanted to do. I wanted to ignore the conviction in my spirit. I wanted to pretend that I had forgiven. God does not want our spirit to dry up like the leaves in fall. No, He wants us to grow, become alive. He had given me several different verses on forgiveness. I finally stopped the running. I acknowledge the call. I dropped to my knees in prayer. In that instance, I pray. I pray because I cannot forgive alone. I pray because my spirit needs help to focus on the things of God at this time. I pray because God, I need to change.

LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:1

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on June 4, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Wanted to share some good words today.

Prodigal: Let’s hear.

Me: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

This is a short video devotion.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 8:26 Before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

He Accepted Us

Posted on June 2, 2022 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Y’all are an interesting bunch.

Prodigal: Don’t forget to look at the heart.

Me: That should be our focus.

This is from Pastor R. Kent Hughes

How did Christ accept you and me? He accepted us with our many sins, prejudices, and innumerable blind spots. He accepted us with our psychological shortcomings and cultural naivete. He accepted us with our provincialisms. He even accepted us with our stubbornness. This is how we are to accept one another.

There is someone who needs to feel accepted. They need to feel accepted by you and accepted by God. They need to feel the warmth of love from you. God will show you that person. Then take time to really pay attention. Take the time to make a difference in their lives.

Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

PSALM 98 : 5

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org