Waking up in the Morning

Posted on October 20, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: It is a wonderful thing to take a walk outside after breakfast and time with the Lord.

Prodigal: I agree, there is something about starting your morning with the Lord that is a good thing.

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

When you wake up in the morning, come to Christ in an act of renewed communion with Him. All day long, keep on coming to Him even while you are occupied with the affairs of this life. And at night, let your last waking moments be spent in coming to Jesus. Come to Christ by searching the Scriptures, for you will find Him there on almost every page. Come to Christ in your thoughts, desire, aspirations, and wishes. In this way, the promise of the text will be fulfilled for you: “I will give you rest.”

Even when we are weary, even when we can barely keep our eyes open, there is always hope with Christ. We have those days when coffee, soda and an energy drink, still do not give us that energy that we need. We then turn to Christ. We may not get a burst of energy that allows us to only sleep for an hour but we get enough energy to make it through the next five minutes and then we get another burst of energy to last five more minutes and then before you know, Christ was with us all day long and we made it through.

Mark 4:40

Why are ye so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org.

Tumblr

Facebook Save

Flattr

Stumbleupon

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on October 19, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: It has been a couple of days since a video.

Me: Yes, I did not stop them.

click here for video

Proverbs 1:23

Repent at my rebuke!

Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,

I will make known to you my teachings.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Only Solution

Posted on October 18, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Are you ready for the test?

Prodigal: I hope so.

This is from the book The Gift of Forgiveness by Charles Stanley

One of my more memorable seminary professors had a practical way of illustrating the concept of grace for his students. At the end of his evangelism course he would hand out the exam with the caution to read it all the way through before beginning to answer it. This caution was written on the exam as well.

As we read through the exam, it became unquestionable clear to each of us that we had not studied nearly enough. The further we read, the worse it became. About half-way through, audible groans could be heard throughout the lecture hall. By the time we were turning to the last page, we were all ready to turn the exam in blank. It was impossible to pass.

On the last pages, however, there was a note that read, “You have a choice. You can either complete the exam as given or sign your name at the bottom and in so doing receive an A for this assignment.”

Wow! We sat there stunned. “Was he serious? Just sign it and get an A?” Slowly, the point dawned on us, and one by one we turned in our tests and silently filed out of the room. It took the rest of the afternoon for me to get over it. I had the urge to go back and check with him one more time to make sure he was serious.

When I talked with him about it afterward, he shared some of the reactions he had received through the years as he had given the same exam. There were always students who did not follow instructions and began to take the exam without reading it all the way through. Some of them would sweat it out for the entire two hours of class time before reaching the last page. Their ignorance caused them unnecessary anxiety.

Then there were the ones who would read the first two pages, become angry, turn in their paper blank, and storm out of the room. They never realized what was available. As a result, they lost out totally.

One fellow, however topped them all. He read the entire test, including the note at the end, but he decided to take the exam anyway. He did not want any gifts; he wanted to earn his grade. And he did. He made a C+, which was amazing considering the difficulty of the test. But he could have easily had a A.

Galatians 1:10

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Life Transformed

Posted on October 16, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I am enjoying out time together. I am so happy that you found time for me!

Prodigal: It is good for us to stop from our busy days and just soak in the grace of Jesus.

This is from the book Soren Kierkegaard’s Christian Psychology: Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care by C. Stephen Evans

As Kierkegaard saw it, Christianity is not primarily a matter of intellectually knowing or believing certain doctrines, nor is it primarily having certain momentary feelings or experiences. It is a way of living, or, as Kierkegarrd himself preferred to put it, a way of existing. It is certainly true that Christians believe some things which non-Christians do not, so the doctrines of faith are not unimportant. But the crucial thing to see is that Christians do not merely believe with their heads; they believe with their hearts. This means that the doctrines of Christianity are only truly believed when they are capable of moving the person to action, for it is our actions that the whole person is revealed. To believe that Jesus is Lord in the Christian way is not merely to assent to a proposition; it is to have your life transformed in a radical manner.

Action is what needs to take place at this time. How do people know how Christ transferred your heart? They need to see that now.

Galatians 1:4

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Christian Way

Posted on October 14, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Those cookies look sooo good Prodigal!

Prodigal: Yes, I can imagine tasting them right now!

Me: My heart desire’s that cookie and so I guess I will speak about desires.

This is from the book Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

The Christian says, ‘Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. A duckling wants to swim: well, there is such a thing as water. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probably explanation is that I was made for another world. If none of my earthly pleasures satisfy it, that does not prove that the universe is a fraud. Probably earthly pleasures were never meant to satisfy it, but only to arouse it, to suggest the real thing. If that is so, I must take care, on the one hand, never to despise, or be unthankful for, these earthly blessings, and on the other, never to mistake them for the something else of which they are only a kind of copy, or echo, or mirage. I must keep alive in myself the desire for my true country, which I shall not find till after death; I must never let it get snowed under or turned aside; I must make it the main object of life to press on to the other country and to help others to do the same.

Romans 12:21

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prophecy in Scripture

Posted on October 12, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Lets walk on the Riverwalk today.

Prodigal: Sounds good and you can share while we walk.

This is from the book Growing Deep in the Christian Life by Charles Swindoll

–One out of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of Christ’s return or the end of time.

–Of the 216 chapters in the New Testament, there are well over 300 references to the return of Jesus Christ.

–That means one-twentieth of the entire New Testament is dedicated to the subject of our Lord’s return.

–In the Old Testament, such well-known and reliable men of God as Job, Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, most of the minor prophets, fixed at least part of their attention on the Lord’s return.

–Christ spoke of His return often, especially after He had revealed His death. He never did so in vague or uncertain terms.

–Those who lived on following His teaching, who established the churches and wrote the Scriptures in the first century frequently mentioned His return in their preaching and in their writings.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: We are just waiting for another video.

Me: I hope the Lord uses it!

click here for video

Proverbs 1:22

How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Performing Heart

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Look at you Prodigal!

Prodigal: Yes, I am about to perform.

Me: Let me give you tips about performing first.

This is from the book Reclaiming Your Heart by Denise Hildreth Jones

The problem with the performing heart, in other words, lies not with the performance, but with the heart.

Performance becomes a problem when it take the place of authentic emotions and actions. It’s a problem when it is driven by fear of rejection or mistreatment and especially when it becomes such a habit that no one, not even the performer, recognizes it for what it is.

When you’re living out of a healthy heart, you may choose to perform to make some interactions more comfortable. You may choose to adjust your actions to your environment. You may even choose to join a community theater and act a part. But when the time comes to be real, to be vulnerable, to be yourself, you can do that too, without fear.

I see people with this performance that they put on. By the way, some of you are really bad at it. I mean really bad. It makes me sad for them really. Because even if you did fool me, then did you ever fool God?

Where did God ask us to put on a mask and pretend? Where did God reject us when we go to Him with our faults and our sins?

The stress of figuring out how to perform and be someone else is getting tiring isn’t it? What would happen if you started being real? Could it really be that scary? It is not as bad as you think and maybe it might reduce all that anxiety that your caring around all the time.

Hosea 2:14-15

Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her. I will give her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Strong Christians

Posted on October 7, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Prodigal, your friend looks mean.

Prodigal: He’s scarier than a roomful of rattlers.

Me: Well then, I will see you later.

This is from the book A Praying Life by Paul Miller

We tell ourselves, “Strong Christians pray a lot. If I were a stronger Christian, I’d pray more.” Strong Christians do pray more, but they pray more because they realize how weak they are. They don’t try to hide it from themselves. Weakness is the channel that allows them to access grace.

When we are weak then we need help, we need assist. If we are strong then we can be independent. God is a loving Father who wants to help us. Who would have a closer relationship with God? One who is independent and therefore never looks for help or someone who is weak? I think we have to start to look at what a “strong Christian is”. It looks different then what you think is should be.

Psalm 124:2-3

If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us; then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Disagreements At Home

Posted on October 5, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I like your house!

Prodigal: Yes, but there is some disagreeing going on at the moment.

Me: Well, maybe this will help.

This is from the book God’s Generals by Roberts Liardon

During those days of heavy work and great prosperity, Smith’s attendance in church declined rapidly and his heart grew cold toward the Lord. But as his fire grew dimmer, Polly’s grew brighter, and her zeal for God and her prayer life never wavered. Her consistency and diligence in the things of God made Smith’s laxity all the more apparent, and he became irritated by her very presence.

One night, she came home from church a little later than usual. When she entered the house, Smith remarked, “I am the master of this house, and I am not going to have you coming home so late an hour as this!” Polly quietly replied, “I know that you are my husband, but Christ is my Master.” Greatly annoyed, Smith opened the back door and forced her out of the house, locking the door behind her. But in his great annoyance he had forgotten to lock the front door. So Polly walked around to the front of the house and came in through the front door–laughing! In fact, she laughed so much that Smith finally surrendered and laughed with her. In his laughter, a revelation came into his heart and mind, so he decided to spend ten days in prayer and fasting to see the Lord. in desperate and sincere repentance, he found his way to the road of restoration.

Sometimes you just have to laugh over those arguments!

Psalm 122:1

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org