Me: I have to finish this. It is time.
Prodigal: Yes, one thing about God we don’t have to worry about is that God is always on time.
Me: Amen
This is a short video devotion on Proverbs
click here to watch the video
Proverbs 8:18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness (NKJV)
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: I am going to pray before I start work.
Me: Yes, the Lord can help us in our work.
This is from the book Out Live Your Life by Max Lucado
O Lord, nobody lies beyond the grasp of your grace. Who in my life do I see as hopeless? What man or woman who currently seems far from you do you want to bring into your family, in part through me? What Saul is out there to whom I could become Ananias? Father, I pray that you would show your greatness and your power by using me in some way to introduce an “unlikely candidate” to your son. Help me triumph over my fears and obliterate my misconceptions as you work through me to bring someone else, through faith, into the circle of your love. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Everyday a new beginning has taken place with the rising of the sun. Let’s rejoice in the Lord today.
Prodigal: There may be struggles, but others are here to encourage you.
This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James P. Gills, M.D.
The Scriptures liken our sight to the poor quality of reflection particular to the piece of polished metal used as a mirror in Paul’s day. As far to the right of our continuum as we can possibly go in this life–living our faith fully in obedience to the Spirit of God within-we are still only beginning our eternal relationship with God. Heaven alone offers perfection. Our paltry knowledge–our ability to understand and perceive spiritually–is imperfect and limited. We see through a glass only dimly, though our hope is that the heavenly fullness is yet to come. We cannot now see the beauty of heaven, but under the perfect reign of God’s love in eternity, we will finally see the blessed life that God has appointed for us with clarity.
It is fine if you do not understand all that is taken place around you. God has a clear vision of it all. He has not allowed it to be out of His control. Some of this will not make since until eternity so do not focus on asking more right now. Focus on obedience.
Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.
PSALM 72 : 18
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Just finished some tough blocks.
Prodigal: What comes easy won’t last. What lasts won’t come easy.
This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.
Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. (NKJV)
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Doesn’t look like much is growing there.
Prodigal: I did the sewing, the Lord will do the growing!
Many times in my life in practical affairs I have had my “mourning turned into dancing,” because I have found that the trial I mourned was really a gateway into the good things I longed for. And I cannot help suspecting that this is far more often the case than we are inclined to think. I knew a man who had both his feet frozen off, and was thwarted in all his plans by the lameness that ensued. He thought his life was ruined and mourned with unspeakable anguish. But this very trial opened out for him another career which proved finally to be the thing of all others he would have chosen, and which brought him a success far beyond the wildest dreams of his early aspirations. His greatest trouble became his greatest triumph. Instances of this are innumerable. Every life has some.
by Hannah Whitall Smith
He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none.
Luke 3:11
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: He does not look to happy. He might have joined the club.
Prodigal: What club?
It finally happened. The Mommy honeymoon was over. And it was so close to Mother’s day. Our son declared us, “The Meanest Parents In The World.”
Yes. We have now joined the ranks of the battle-scared Meanest Parents In The World Club. For short, let’s call it the MPW Club.
With bent eyebrows, folded arms and stomping feet, our five-year-old awarded us this recognition when we wouldn’t allow him to watch a particular cartoon. (I might add, that it is not fit for children, adults, or monkeys to watch.) He also added that other parents let their kids watch it.
I almost swallowed my tongue as I tried to contain my laughter. His normal sparkling eyes only contained sparks of frustration and anger as he asked, “How can you be such mean parents?” Instantaneously, I flashed back to my younger days when I blurted out those same words to my parents. So, of course, the first thing that came out of my mouth was, “It runs in the family. When I was a kid, I had the meanest parents in the world, too. But don’t worry, we’ll grow out of it.”
I think my parents were the founding members of the MPW Club.
We weren’t allowed to wear make-up or date until we were sixteen. Our curfew was 9:30 p.m.-until my sister and her boyfriend broke it and then they moved it to 9 p.m. (Why go out if you had to be in before dark?)
They wouldn’t let us watch the popular show “Laugh In” or anything with GoGo Dancing. They were afraid of the negative influence it might have.
If sports or other extra curricular activities conflicted with Youth Group or church, guess which one came first? You guessed it: church.
I just know I was cursed with the meanest parents in the world. Mom and Dad must have renewed and paid their memberships dues every year because they never changed. But thank goodness, I grew out of that mind-set and finally realized the curse was actually a blessing in disguise. I found out for myself that when kids call it mean–God calls it love and protection. When other parents call it overprotection–God commands parents to instruct their children in His ways, not the ways of the world. When teens want to do their own things–the Scripture lays out moral absolutes that parents are instructed to teach.
At the time, I wasn’t real enthused with my parents, but now I thank God I was blessed with the meanest parents in the world. I wear my new title with pride. I promise to pay my dues and renew my membership every year to the Meanest Parents In The World Club.
Join the club. Some day your children will recognize it’s an unexpected blessing.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Georgia Curtis Ling.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: We were just talking.
Me: I was going to add to what you were saying. You can’t change the people around you, but you can change the people you choose to be around.
Prodigal: Very true.
This is a video devotion on Proverbs.
Proverbs 8:16
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. (KJV).
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Sometimes we need to show appreciation.
Prodigal: I agree!
You may talk of the work of the greatest man,
You may rave about statesmen and teachers;
You may tell all about their achievements, and then,
Let me tell you of the wives of the preachers.
No Martyr was more steadfast and true
No soldier was ever more brave;
She’s a genius at home, she’s a diplomat, too;
And the Best mother God ever gave.
She has met disappointments with courage so high;
She has battled grim poverty, too.
With a smile on her face and a light in her eye,
And a hope each morning that is new.
She is often alone, but she’ll never complain;
And she cheerfully stays by the stuff;
Knowing well that her loss is her dear Master’s gain,
And his smile of approval is enough.
She never gets all the credit that’s due,
For most of it goes to the preacher;
Few know of the faith and courage so true,
of this gentle and wonderful creature.
There is coming a day when the whole world shall hear
From the lips of the Crucified One,
Her story in full, told in words sweet and clear,
Hear Him say to her softly, “well done,”
And I think that when all their labors are o’er,
And we know all their unselfish lives,
We’ll honor more highly than ever before
The preachers’ most wonderful wives.
unknown author
Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
JOHN 2 : 19
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: You look pretty as a peacock!
Prodigal: I tried to pick a good back ground.
Me: Wanted to share with you if you have a minute.
Prodigal: I do for you.
This is from the book The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis
It is good for us that we sometimes have some weariness and crosses; for they often call a man back to his own heart; that he may know that he is here in banishment, and may not set his trust in any worldly thing.
It is good that we sometimes endure contradictions; and that men think ill or meanly of us; and this, although we do and intend well. These things help often to humility, and defend us from vain glory: for then we the more seek God for our inward witness, when outwardly we are contemned by men, and when no good is believed of us.
And therefore a man should settle himself so fully in God, that he need not to seek many comforts of men.
This is hard to swallow but, we need humbling at times. That is what God is doing. This is not a plan of satan but a plan of God. We stray so easily away from God and develop pride. God is just making sure that pride does not increase but decrease. Take this with love and know that God wants what is best for you not just today but five years from now.
Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
JOB 36 : 5
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: The day is a bright jewel in our lives.
Me: Yes, because God gave it to us.
This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.
Proverbs 8:15 By me Kings reign, and princes decree justice. (KJV)
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
