Where Do We Go?

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Wait up Prodigal! I am glad that I caught up with you!

Prodigal: Sorry, but I am jumpin’ ’round like cold water on a hot skillet.

Me: Well, take one break while I share!

This is from the book Psalm 91 by Peggy Joyce Ruth and Angelia Ruth Schum

When I think of how utterly impossible it is to protect ourselves from all the evils in the world, I am reminded of sheep. Sheep have no real protection other than their shepherd. In fact, a sheep is the only animal I can think of that has no built-in protection. It has no sharp teeth, no offensive odor to spray to drive off its enemies, no loud bark, and it certainly can’t run fast enough to escape danger. That’s why the Bible calls us God’s sheep! God is saying, “I want you to see Me as your source of protection. I am your shepherd.” Now He may use doctors, policeman, fireman, storm cellars, bank accounts, and so forth to meet our specific needs, but our hearts have to run to Him first as our shepherd and our protector. Then He will choose the method He desired to bring about the protection.

God will protect! You are one of His sheep and what good shepherd does not protect His sheep?

Psalm 30:2

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Twenty Years

Posted on February 26, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: It is a good day to go to church!

Prodigal: Yes, thank God for the churches we have around America.

Me: That reminds me of one town’s first church.

This is from the book The God Who Hung on the Cross by Dois Rosser Jr. and Ellen Vaughn

In the village where we built one of the first churches, the Hindus had sneered at the Christians for years. “If your God is so great,” they jeered, “why does He not even have a temple?” The Christians had explained that God’s temple dwells in human hearts, but still, they yearned for a physical place to gather as group and demonstrate that spiritual reality.

The day we dedicated that village church, a tattered old man grabbed my arm. Dr. Joshua translated as he spoke: “I prayed for twenty years,” he said, his dark face split by a huge grin. “I prayed that a church would come to our village. It would take a miracle for that to happen. And now here it is!”

Don’t stop praying, even if it takes 20 years! An answered prayer from God is always worth waiting for.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Speak Up

Posted on February 24, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Hi Prodigal!

Prodigal: I am just deep in thought and trying to seek wisdom and discernment from the Lord.

Me: I will share with you some wisdom.

This is from Martin Niemoller a Lutheran pastor in Germany in the 1930’s

In Germany they came first for the communists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

It is difficult to speak up at this time. You don’t want to get involved but at times we are called to get involved. God will show you the words to say with compassion, but you have to be obedient in speaking the truth.

Isaiah 55:7

Let the wicked forsake his way, and unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Communion with the Father

Posted on February 22, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How are you doing Prodigal?

Prodigal: I’m a happy as a mouse in a cheese factory!

Me: Gardening can bring join, I should go spend time doing that now.

This is from the book Great Women of the Christian Faith by Edith Deen

This is from Mary Slessor who was a Scottish missionary to Africa during the early 1900’s

To one who said he had prayed without avail, she wrote: “You thought God was to hear and answer you by making everything straight and pleasant–not so are nations or churches or men and women born; not so is character made. God is answering your prayer in His way.”

We have to continue to remind ourselves that God’s ways are not our way’s. We go to Him in complete surrender. We go to Him and say King of the universe you answer this prayer the way to see is best and I will continue to obey because you are true wisdom.

Psalm 110:21

But do thou for me, O God the Lord, for thy name’s sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincouneling.org

Time to Reflect

Posted on February 21, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This is where Billy Graham began his preaching.

Me: I am Happy Billy you are with Our Lord and to his family I am sorry for the grief you are experiencing.

The past 24 hours have been interesting in a way that makes to want to reflect on life for a moment as the sun washes the world with light and a new day. A couple of things have happened. First of all Asher decided to show up 18 days early, weighing at 7 pounds and 11 ounces. With that brings the hurrying, the amazement that a new personality, new person has just entered into your life and the thoughts of what joys and blessing will come to us who know him.

Then on the other side of the coin. The announcement of death. This death is not without hope though because we know Billy Graham is with our Lord. Billy was someone who I admired. I never met him,but I will in heaven. He was born and raised in North Carolina with three siblings just like me and then even came to Florida and started preaching. I do not preach but I also started my ministry in Florida. So a little bit of that shared journal has made me look into his life.

What impressed me about Billy is two personal stories that I have heard. He would never be in a room alone with a woman that was not his wife. The second is that one time he slipped and fell and cracked his ribs and then went on to speak to others about God hours later with no pain killers.

The little decisions in life and little moments make up your character. It is sometimes the things that people don’t see. It is the little things that can be the hardest to do. It is the little things that we believe do not make a difference.

I have been on a journey of late and that journey has brought with it ups and downs. I have run into the question of what happens when people refuse to accept God’s love? What happens with they are blind and deaf? What happens when these people will refuse to accept God’s love and remain blind and deaf until the day they die?

My journey has been a surrounding of this. So I have sought to figure out what the Lord wanted to show me with these circumstances. The Lord has then been able to show me an answer. The answer that was shown is to love them and have compassion on them in your heart. God has allowed my eyes and ears to be open and to receive His love. All I can do is be a reminder that God is love. You accept it or you don’t but I am accepting it. I am living with thankfulness and I am living with praise that God is love.

What will I say to the blind and deaf, to those who have not accepted God’s love? Thank you and praise you that you have been in my life. I have truly learned to love because I know I can love you whether your eyes and ears open or not. I can have compassion on you and still pray for you whether you understand God’s love or not.

God you have made this day and given me my daily bread already. God, I will continue to praise you and I know there will be nothing finer than to meet you when my time on earth is done and experience that love in a perfect heaven with your angels. In the meantime, while I am here, I will continue to bask in your love for me everyday. I will continue to have compassion on those who remain blind and deaf.

Psalm 26:12

My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the LORD.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Ask Yourself

Posted on February 20, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Are you going for a bike ride?

Prodigal: Yep, and I bet I can out bike anyone!

Me: Are you sure your in that good of shape?

Prodigal: I’m still on the ball. It just doesn’t have as much bounce as it used to have.

Me: I agree with that.

This is from the book Overcoming Spiritual Blindness by James Gills M.D.

Some constantly need to ask themselves the question: “Who’s on top?” We should instead be asking. “Whose supremacy do we recognize, God’s or our own?” Where can we find the essence of our humility?” Proper acknowledgement of God is the basis of humility and respect for our fellow man.

When do we know we are not following humility and respect for our fellow man? When we try to push them down and push ourselves up. May we instead push some one else up and push ourselves down.

Proverbs 3:1-2

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Missions

Posted on February 18, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: What a beautiful day!

Prodigal: I agree, we can walk while we share.

This is from the book Great Women of the Christian Faith by Edith Deen

Mukti Mission had already opened when, in 1896, a terrible famine began, in which between ten and fourteen million people of the Central Provinces of India perished. As the clamor for food increased, Pandita Ramabai traveled to famine-ridden sections, gathered up six hundred young widows and children, brought them back to Mukti, and housed them in temporary grass huts. Her deep wells yielded copious amounts of water. Her fruit trees bore plentifully. Vegetables, grains and other foodstuffs were produced in abundance on her land. Because of this, she made a second trip into famine regions and returned with several hundred additional girls and women. Now she needed more workers, buildings, foods and equipment, and also an evangelistic program.

A period of great revival began at Mukti during the overcrowed days of famine. A large group of girls gathered each day for prayer in Pandita Ramabai’s room. Hundreds were converted and Pandita took groups of girls to the nearby Bheema River to be baptized. During the revival, many confessed to stealing, lying, quarreling, fighting, and others renounced their former idolatry.

It was after a revival meeting that Pandita formally dedicated her mission to the work of the Lord, naming it Mukti, meaning “Salvation.”

God uses His people all over the world at different times to save his people in the worse of circumstances. He is still doing that today.

Luke 4:18-19

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

In Contrast

Posted on February 17, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: How are you Prodigal?

Prodigal: With my friend.

Me: I don’t know your friend?

Prodigal: He’s all broth and no beans type .

Me: Well let me tell you about someone else.

This comes from the book Rx for Worry A Thankful Heart by James P. Gills, M.D.

The life of Dr. Earl Arnett Seamands (1891-1984), long-time missionary in South India, beautifully illustrates the power of serving others. In 1919, he left a successful career as an engineer and moved his family to India to serve as missionaries there. Living in a third world country during the early part of the twentieth century was a daunting task. They earned a meager one hundred dollars a month and endured a tremendous cultural shock. Not only were they without important items like a piano and a car, they were also forced to live without running water or indoor plumbing. Unable to make the difficult adjustment to this primitive lifestyle, Mrs. Seamands complained loudly and incessantly. So negative was the atmosphere she created in her home and for those around her that, surprisingly, even some of Mr. Seamand’s Christian colleagues suggested to him that he would do well to divorce her.

But this godly man’s patient response to their suggestion was, “I can divorce her as you suggest, but that would not be what the Lord would want me to do. I can separate myself from her and her complaining and continue to live the life I want to live, or, I can constantly pray for her and become an intercessor for her rather than being her accuser.” In this attitude of humility, he decided to intercede for his wife and assist her rather than destroy their marriage. Dr. Seamands surmounted the challenges of life through this difficult time and became a stronger servant of God. As he continued to pray for his wife, she began to change positively and became more tolerant of their challenging lifestyle. As a result, their family was blessed with two sons who have distinguished themselves in Christian ministry as well.

James 3:7-9

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

God Shall Supply

Posted on February 14, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Watcha doing Prodigal?

Prodigal: Just remembering.

Me: Remembering what?

Prodigal: We were as poor as sawmill rats.

Me: That reminds of someone else like that.

This is from the book Great Women of the Christian Faith by Edith Deen

This is about Pandita Ramabai

During these wanderings, Pandita’s faith in her father’s idols was shaken. As he had traveled the dusty roads of India seeking spiritual peace, she too sought a way of life that would satisfy her soul. At a young people’s meeting in Calcutta, she was introduced to Christ, who knew no caste, who gave neither man nor woman dominion over the other, and who loved all, Jew and Gentile alike. In India, at that time, women ranked no higher than pigs; but in Christ she found a reason for the education of women.

We should not pay attention to the thoughts of others around us, but what Christ sees in us.

Jeremiah 31:10

Hear the word of the Lord, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Repent and Renounce

Posted on February 13, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Howdy Prodigal!

Prodigal: You know today, I have been getting a lot of questions about Muslims.

Me: Let me share about Muslims then

This is from the book Miracle of Miracles by Mina Nevisa with Jim Croft

Your years of quoting the Koran and reciting the Salat have established a stronghold in your heart and mind that must be broken. Repent of your homage to the Koran and ask the Lord to shatter its walls in your mind. It is also helpful to sever the soul-tie that you might have to the Mullah whose voice you followed as he taught you Koranic verses in Arabic. That can be accomplished by specifically renouncing him by name. And last, but not least, it is essential that you renounce Muhammad’s Allah and the Shahada.

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org