Me: Hi Prodigal that is a nice bible!

Prodigal: Thanks, I like to look at all the different styles. Some are just so beautiful. The bible is just very intriguing.

Me: The bible can be confusing at first but the more you read it the more power the bible seems to have.

Prodigal: Yes, I have heard of different stories of the power of the bible.

Me: Well speaking of stories I have a story about the bible I think you might like that was written by James Pruitt

Among the U.S. Marines who fought against the Japanese in World War II was 21 year old Corporal William Devers, who considered himself an agnostic. No amount of arguing, Bible-quoting or coercion by his fellow Marines or the chaplain could sway him. During the company’s first major encounter with the Japanese, a number of the unit were killed and the chaplain was wounded. In great pain, the chaplain called to Devers, “My…left pocket…take it…please…Last night I had a dream. In the dream an angel appeared and told me that I had to make you take the Bible. Take it, son…please.” Devers shoved the Bible into his shirt pocket to satisfy the wounded man.

Twenty minutes later, Corporal Devers’ squad stumbled right into a Japanese patrol, and before he knew what had happened he was on the ground, his mind fading into the darkness, certain he was dying. When he came to , he felt a ripple of pain shoot through his chest, but there was no blood.
The bullet had torn into the Bible he carried in his pocket, ending its journey at the book of Psalms, which read: “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.”

God doesn’t give up on us. We may try to ignore or we may try to push God in the back of our mind. God of the universe still tries over and over again to get that message to us. We tend not to believe that God really loves us and is planning the details out. We get caught up in believing that we are alone and we have to figure out how to make this happen or that happen. Just continue to ask God to show you the plans he has for you. He will show you. Maybe it is a story or one bible verse. Or maybe it happens in the middle of chaos all around you.

Proverbs 8:17

I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
Faith In Counseling

Me: Hi Prodigal! How are you today?

Prodigal: Good just thinking about Valentine’s Day and it seems that love is everywhere. Where does that leave me if I am a single pig or I if don’t feel close to my friends and family?

Me: Well Prodigal that is a question that a lot of us are asking at this time of year and it doesn’t have to end in sadness or bitterness but can show God’s love for us. In fact Ashley has given us a story that has happened to her this week and I think that it just shows us how God’s love can be everywhere.

Prodigal: I can’t wait to hear her story!

Me: Here is Ashley’s story in her own words.

A little backstory: Jenny introduced me to a book a couple years ago called Work in Progress: An Unfinished Woman’s Guide to Grace by Kristin Armstrong which goes into detail about how God can reveal a name for us if we ask. For Kristen, God had revealed to her that He sees her as a sunflower and He reveals sunflowers to her throughout her life as a personal reminder of that. Some of you are familiar with how God has put blue jays on my heart as a uniquely special reminder of His love for me. God will then send me blue jays.

Well I was pulling into the office this morning, on our little back road, and as the fog was slowly lifting and the sun was just starting to break through I had slowed my car to a stop right before my turn into the parking lot and out of the blue and seemingly all of a sudden my car was surrounded by blue jays.
There were so many I could hardly count them fast enough.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many blue jays together in my entire life. They were flying over and around my car and landing on the fence directly in front of me.
I couldn’t move. I just sat there. I tried to count them and as I did I realized this was no fluke or coincidence but a gentle and personal love touch from God.
They were so beautiful. They were all so close. Some jumped on the fence in front of my car and others landed on the grass. I sat there for what felt like a while but was probably only a couple minutes and then just as quickly as it had happened they all flew away.
It reminded me of a song by Sarah Reeves off her Broken Things album called Spontaneous Two. I tried to look for it on YouTube but couldn’t find it so I searched on Spotify and was able to listen to it through Spotify. Below are the lyrics if you’re interested in finding it and listening to it.

Spontaneous Two

Jesus

Can you hear the sound of the Lord

Singing over us

Singing over us the song of love

Can you hear the sound of the Lord

Singing over us

Singing over us the song of love

Can you feel your world shaking

Can you feel your world shaking

At the rhythm of His dance of love

Oh He’s dancing over us, with rejoicing

Oh He waits for us

Yeah He waits for us

And He prays for us

Oh He sits at the seat of the right hand of the Father

Oh how I long for the day when I see your face, Jesus

And the light of your glory

Shines brighter than the sun, yeah

We’ll dine on his table

And we’ll bask in his glory

We’ll all cry blessing and honor and glory

To the precious lamb of God, oh lamb of God, yeah

People of God get ready

Prepare your hearts for the wedding

People of God get ready

Prepare your hearts for the wedding

He’s coming for a pure and spotless bride

Purify our hearts God, make us holy

Because you are holy

If you are feeling lonely or if you are unsure of God’s love then just ask God to show you his love to you. Just like a loving relationship where each of you know what the other likes and loves down to the details. Let God show you that he knows the details and he loves you. You just have to talk to him about it and let him send you sunflowers, blue jays, chickens, hearts or what ever is special to you. Thank you Ashley for your beautiful story of God’s love!

Zephaniah 3:17 The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Take care,

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com
faithincounselinginc@Verizon.net