Prodigal:  I think you need this message today.

Me:  I agree, the Lord will always send us truth when we need it.

 

This is from the book Sunrays of Help by Dr. Albert Garner

 

Could we but draw back the curtains

That surround each other’s lives,

See the naked heart and spirit,

Know what spur the action gives;

 

Often we should find it better,

Purer than we judge we should;

We should love each other better,

If we only understood.

 

Could we judge all deeds by motives,

See the good and bad within,

Often we should love the sinner

All the while we loathe the sin;

 

Could we know the powers working

To overthrow integrity,

We should love each other’s errors

With more patient Charity.

 

If we knew the cares and trials,

Knew the efforts all in vain,

And the bitter disappointment,

Understood the loss and gain–

 

Would the grim eternal roughness

Seem–I wonder–just the same?

Should we help where now we hinder,

Should we pity where now we blame.

 

Ah! we judge each other harshly,

Knowing not life’s hidden force;

Knowing not the fount of action

Is less turbid at its source–

 

Seeing not amid the evil

All the golden grain of good;

And we would love each other better

If we only understood.

 

 

Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

Micah 6:15

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  It looks like it might rain cats and dogs!

Prodigal:  Well, you know how us pigs love the mud!

Me:  When you are wallowing in the mud, I will be reading a good book.

This book is  The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

As we began to focus upon God,  the things of the spirit will take shape before our inner eyes.  Obedience to the word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23).  It will give acute perception, enabling us to see God even as is promised to the pure in heart.  A new God consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God who is our life and our all.  There will be seen the constant shining of the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  More and more, as our facuties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His Presence the glory and wonder of our lives.

God be that wonder during this day!  I need you, every minute today!

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  That boat may or may not help you.

Prodigal:  Yes, I guess that is a risk.

Me:  As long as Jesus is in the risk then go for it.

C.S. Lewis states the following

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him:  “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.”  That is the one thing we must not say.  A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic–on the level with the man who says he’s a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and Him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any partronising  nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.  He did not intend to.

For six days, the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 20:11

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Birds of a feather, flock together.

Prodigal: That is true.

Me: I hope you watch.

Prodigal: I am watching!

click her to watch video

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  We had a nice time at the Library didn’t we?

Prodigal:  Yes, there are some good books to read there.

Me:  We can go over one of those books.

This is from the book Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care by C. Stephen Evans

Humans cannot gain this faith through philosophical thinking or moral striving.  It is created in people solely through an encounter with God as he has revealed himself in Jesus.  In Jesus I learn what God is like and what I am supposed to be like.  In Jesus I discover how far from God and my true self I am.  In Jesus I discover God’s love in forgiving and atoning for my sin.  In Jesus I discover the possibility of a new beginning as I stake my identity on him and commit myself to being his follower.

I am your follower today.  What does that mean?  That even though there is a lot of distractions today, I turn to you, Lord.  I remember that I can live this day for myself or I can live it for you!

And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me.  And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God.

Deuteronomy 26:10

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Look at the cute couple!

Prodigal: I think they are getting married.

Me: Hopefully the Lord is in the decision.

Marriage, what a topic. As a marriage counselor, I get to see different couples very up-close and personal. I usually get to see them, when a struggle is happening.

One thing that is amazing is I can tell when God has united a couple. I am not the only one, the couple themselves can tell too. When God has joined people together, it is not of the world and it is automatically different. People can see the difference, some may be jealous but, they can see the difference.

God creates two people to marry each other so that they are then telling the world that they are set apart from everyone else. Their relationship will now be a closeness that will not be like any other relationships. This relationship will be priority above others but, below the relationship with God.

As this is happening and they are creating that journey of setting themselves apart from others and only to themselves then their are changes in relationships. Friendships are changed, family relationships are changed and time spent is changed.

This setting apart is a positive change because the Lord is in it. At times friends, families and others though can be hurt or melancholy by the change they see in their love one. Friends and family are letting go of time spent so that the couple can then begin setting themselves apart.

Like marriage, there is another setting apart. Their is God setting us apart to Himself and performing a Holy work unto us.

Psalm 4:3-5

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

There are times when we feel cast off, we are really being set apart. We feel God has forgotten our prayers and desires. He really is just sanctifying us during this time. We grow best with the Lord, when it is time alone with Him. We grow best without a lot of distractions. We grow best being set apart.

This day you are telling yourself that you are cast off. Others around you are telling you that you are cast off. Don’t believe that lie. For the Lord Himself is telling you that you are set apart for a purpose.

Stand in awe, Child of the Lord. The Lord is working His glory. This is something to be still about and wait for. This is something that has always been planned for your good!

Psalm 4:3

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: I am have something to share for mothers of little boys.

Prodigal:  I am ready to listen.

This is from Grace Wolgemuth

Two eyes that shine so bright,

Two lips that kiss goodnite,

Two arms that hold me tight,

That little boy of mine.

No one could every know how much your coming has meant.

Because I love you so, you’re something heaven has sent.

You’re all the world to me.

You climb upon my knee.

To me you’ll always be,

That little boy of mine

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all me made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:22

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: What a pretty picture of the boat.

Prodigal: Yes, I love how the sky looks.

Me: It brings peace.

The key turns the lock and, I step away to walk across the pavement. I am slowly but, surely headed toward the car. I have had a couple of hours to complete some chores and, ready myself for the day.

I quickly check the purse, so that I know I have not forgotten anything for the day. I then open the car door and sit down so that I can prepare the drive. I bring out the cell phone. I quickly look up a play list. What list will it be?

I choose one and, then hit play. The sound starts playing through the blue tooth and I start pulling my car out of the parking spot. The drive has begun and my next destination is work. The day is sunny and, the sky is blue. There are a couple of clouds and, the traffic is not too bad.

I started singing along to worship. I really sing! In my car, I have the best performances. I can sing as loud as I want too. I can sing from the heart.

“I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored.”

“There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy.”

It is then I began to feel it. I feel the joy, peace and love. God has me today. See I don’t know everything that will happen today. I don’t know how I will fail and, how I will succeed. God has me though. I know that He is my savior and one day. One beautiful day, I will be with Him.

One day on this drive on this sunny day, I feel those emotions, I know this truth. I know that God is with me and I have made friends with the Big Kid on the Block and it doesn’t matter who else is on the block. It doesn’t matter what plans others have on that block or even little kids think they own it. The Big Kid is there to show others that He Loves me and that He is in control.

So I sing…….

“I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful”

The words are not just words to a song, they are truth that is spilling out of my spirit. They are truth that I am living in that moment. They are the truth of who God is and who I am.

Eventually I get to work and the private concert stops in the car. Duties and responsibilities take over. I am not longer singing out loud, but my spirit still remembers that at one point of the day, I remembered the joy of the Lord.

Psalm 4:7

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Thank you for always watching my video’s!

Prodigal: I enjoy them.

click here to watch next video

Proverbs 2:16

Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,

from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  Prodigal, you look like you have been living it up….

Prodigal:   Maybe a little…..

Me:  Well as you sort all those beads and find a way out…let me share.

This is from the book The Reason for God:  Belief in an Age of Skepticism by Timothy Keller

Religion, generally speaking, tends to create a slippery slope in the heart.  Each religion tells its followers that they have “the truth,” and this naturally leads them to feel superior to those with differing beliefs.  Also, a religion tells its followers that they are saved and connected to God by devotedly performing that truth.  This moves them to separate from those who are less devoted and pure in life.  Therefore, it is easy for one religious group to stereotype and caricature other ones.  Once this situation exists it can easily spiral down into the marginalization of others or even to active oppression, abuse or violence against them.

On your best day you are a sinner saved my grace!  That does not mean that you do not have the love of our Lord and Savior but it does mean you have nothing to brag about.  Remember this is not about religion.  This is about living in the spirit and staying focused on the Lord our Savior.

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you his people.

1 Samuel 12:22

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org