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

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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

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Lord, thank you for this day!

Prodigal: Yes, I also thank you for you!

Me: Time for a video.

click here to watch

Proverbs 1:21

On top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Joy Springs Up

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Why did your friend leave?

Prodigal: I told him his roof leaks even when it ain’t rainin’.

Me: Maybe we should show some love.

This is from the book Believe and Rejoice by Dr. James P. Gills, M.D.

We cannot have joy without love. It is like two people in love–joy springs up and fills them when they have an unconditional love for each other. That is the joy that should be our response to Christ–someone who loves us far more than anyone else ever could.

We may think we are not loved but that is not true. Christ always loves us more than anyone and it doesn’t not matter about our performance today. How could you show that joy today if someone ask about your relationship with Christ.

Psalm 119:57

Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Father of Jesus

Posted on October 1, 2018 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I think you should try one of those burgers with donuts and everything on it.

Prodigal: I’d just as soon bite a beetle.

Me: Haha, I will not force you.

This is from the book The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

There is nothing good, nothing holy, nothing beautiful, nothing joyous which He is not to His servants. No one need be poor, because, if he chooses, he can have Jesus for his own property and possession. No one need be downcast, for Jesus is the joy of heaven, and it is His joy to enter into sorrowful hearts. We can exaggerate about many things; but we can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus, or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus to us all. All our lives long we might talk of Jesus, and yet we should never come to an end of the sweet things that might be said of Him.

Why don’t you come with me and spend all our long lives speaking of Jesus!

2 John 1:3

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s son, in truth and love.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org