People That Hurt

12-30-15 179

 

Me:  It looks like you with a lot of happy people!

Prodigal:  Its been a good day even though the week was very stressful and filled with hurt.

Me:  Well, it is good to rejoice when there is time to rejoice.

 

Dr. Larry Crabb shares in his book Men & Women Enjoying the Difference

 

The difference between godly and ungodly people is not that one group never hurts and the other group does, or that one reports more happiness than the other.  The difference lies in what people do with their hurt.  Either they do what comes naturally:  use their hurt to justify self-centered efforts to relieve it, caring less about how they affect others and more about whether they are comfortable; or they do what comes unnaturally; use their hurt to better understand and encourage others while they cling desperately to the Lord for promised deliverance, passionately determined to do His will.

 

None of us like to feel pain and feel the hurt from others we have tried to reach out too.  In fact some of us refuse to make emotional connections.  We think that will help keep us from hurt.  That really keeps us from living though.  It is the little things in life that bring us joy that comes from connections.

When you know that person is waiting for you.  It makes a difference to their day that they were able to share a quick smile.  A small sharing of your worlds.  A small gesture that says I am glad you are in my life.  An idea that you would be missed if you did not show up.  The idea that others may enter in to their life that day but you are one of the joys of that day.  Yes, there may be a day of pain because a misunderstanding happened the day before.  This can never erase the joy experienced from the many days before.  So remember the days of joy and forgive the pain.

 

Ephesians 6:24

Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

 

 

One Smart Donkey

12-30-15 072

Me:  Nice donkey! Prodigal:  Thanks, he is pretty smart and he is letting me ride him.

Me:  I have a story about another smart donkey.

This comes from the book Voices of the Faithful by Beth Moore

It was harvest time when Mrs. Tendai’s donkey went missing.  She searched everywhere and even reported the missing animal to the local police.  When it was evident that her donkey and simply disappeared, she began praying that it would return. Due to lack of good seed, fertilizer and sufficient rain, Mrs. Tendai’s harvest that year was small, and she had little money to buy food for her family.  Several months later, her prayers were more about God providing “daily bread” than finding the donkey.  The family’s maize meal supply was depleted.  Would God answer her prayers for food? The next morning, when Mrs. Tendai walked out of her hut, she was amazed to see her donkey standing there with 100-pound bag of maize meal on its back!  She was happy to see the donkey but afraid to use the maize meal since it wasn’t hers. Eventually a story was pieced together that a man had stolen her donkey and used it to do his labor. One night after grinding his corn, he went to the beer hall to drink, leaving he donkey burdened down the maize meal outside.  The donkey realized that he was not far from home and decided to return to where he would be taken care of and fed.  The thief, wishing to remain anonymous, did not claim his maize meal, so Mrs. Tendai was able to use it to feed her family.  God had answered both of her prayers in a very unusual manner!

Donna, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa

This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 1 John 5:14-15

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Empty-Handed

12-30-15 092

Me:  Prodigal, your wagon is all empty!

Prodigal:  I know.  All I can say is that one day you’re the peacock; the next day you’re the feather duster.

Me:  Very true Prodigal!  Let me share this poem for all those that are feeling like a feather duster.

 

One by one God took them from me,

All the things I valued most,

Till I was empty-handed,

Every glittering toy was lost.

And I walked earth’s highways grieving

In my rags and poverty

Til I heard His voice inviting

“Lift those empty hands to Me.”

So I turned my hands toward heaven,

And He filled them with a store

Of His own transcendent riches

Till they could contain no more.

And at last I comprehended,

With my stupid mind and dull

That God could not pour His riches

Into hands already full.

 

Anonymous

 

Psalm 37:1-2

Do not fret yourself because of evildoers, be not envious toward wrongdoers.  For they will wither quickly like the grass, and fade like the green herb.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Mistreatment

04-03-16 034

Me:  Prodigal, what is on your nose?

Prodigal:  Someone put this on me thinking it was funny but it hurt my feelings.

Me: Well sometimes we have to deal with mistreatment

Prodigal:  I could use some encouragement in that area.

This is from the book Hope Again When Life Hurts and Dreams Fade by Charles Swindoll

 

Anybody can accept a reward graciously, and many people can even take punishment patiently when they have done something wrong.  But how many people are equipped to handle mistreatment after they’ve done right?  Only Christians are equipped to do that.  That is what makes believers stand out.  That’s our uniqueness.  And, yes, there are occasions in life when we will be called for that very purpose.  In the mystery of God’s sovereign plan, we will be singled out.

 

If you live for Christ In this world, then the day will come when you will be punished for doing right.  In our country we do not see a lot of physical punishment but we do have a lot of emotionally punishment.  You can be slandered, passive aggressiveness rules in your social circle.  You are denied opportunity and even kindness because of doing what is right.  Jesus had to handle this also, so look to Him as your encouragement during this time.  Go to the gospel.  It may not be what you want to deal with at the present time but you are not alone!

 

1 Corinthians 1:4

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org