Me:  I see you brought some company?

Prodigal:  Yes, I did.

Me:  Well today I wanted to share some facts to help us with our lives.

This is from the book Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson

For example, one landmark study revealed that 90 percent of children from divorced homes suffered from an acute sense of shock when the separation occurred, including profound grieving and irrational fears.  Fifty percent reported feeling rejected and abandoned.  And indeed, half the fathers never came to see their children three years after the divorce.  One-third of the boys and girls feared abandonment by the remaining parent, and 66 percent experienced yearning for the absent parent, with an intensity that researchers described as “overwhelming”.  Most significant, 37 percent of the children were even more unhappy and dissatisfied five year after the divorce than they had been at eighteen months.  In other words, time did not heal their wounds.

The above statistics came from the research findings of Dr. Judith Wallerstein, the foremost authority on the subject of children of divorce.  She began studying boys and girls twenty-five years ago and has followed them to this time.   Her recent book revealed that 40 percent of her subjects never married, compared with 16 percent of children from intact families.  Children of divorce, she found, had less chance at college, were more likely to use drugs and alcohol before age fourteen, and displayed less social competence.  Girls whose parents divorced had earlier sexual experiences.  Clearly, the impact of family breakup is a lifelong affair.

Getting that divorce is not going to make things better.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: That window is some kinda pretty.

Prodigal: I like it too.

Me: The colors remind me of the beauty around us, even if we are inside.

Prodigal: I agree

Has the enemy come and swept away the trophies of remembrance of God’s good hand on you? Focus on what has been achieved, not on what has not. I read this is the book The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart by Charles Swindoll.

It was just a sentence and, not a paragraph. There was no long explanation or commentary on what the author was thinking. Because it was so simple and alone, it made me think.

We forget. We forget names, places, address, birthdays and phone numbers. We forget items, lists and, emails. We forget people and memories. We forget God and, what He has done.

I am convinced that anybody who truly lives for Christ will be challenged. The challenge will be living a life that remembers God’s trophies instead of what was not done. Working for Christ does not mean that perfect outcomes will display themselves in this world. Our plans and hopes sometimes do not happen, even with prayer and a pure heart.

We have prayed and desperately wanted cancer to go away, for addictions to be healed for deaths to be reversed. We have wanted the ability to have relationships restored and people accept Jesus. We have longed for the bill to be paid with hard work instead of credit this month. We pray for those that are lost for those, that have forgotten God. We pray for those who are confused by the world’s message and, those that live a lie from the enemy. Will these prayers all be answered? God will not give us all that we pray for in the way that we pray it. People will still die and some will never know Christ.

In the quiet moments when we see the enemy snatch people away. We retreat and are alone with God, we then question. We ask Why? We ask why to God, and to others. Time will pass and, sometimes we look back and can understand the reason why. Sometimes we will never get an answer and have no idea why?

I do not have all the answers. I may not even have an answer for you right now. I do know that God has allowed good in your life. God has created good from your life. There are trophies of remembrance from months and years past, that are a joy to the Lord and a joy to you. Do not let the enemy dim the light of the works that were done in God’s name through His spirit. Do not let the enemy take that joy from your heart that you felt when God’s work was accomplished.

The Lord is still working all around us. The Lord still has many trophies ahead. The enemy does have trophies also, but the Lord will end up with more.

At this moment the enemy has achieved his purpose in taking someone away from God. We do not focus on that right now, because their are many others who the spirit is preparing to accept Jesus and also grow in the Lord. You are a fisher of men and God is asking you to lower your net. Obedience is calling and there is work to do. It’s time to move forward.

Revelation 5:3

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

 

Prodigal:  I think you need this message today.

Me:  I agree, the Lord will always send us truth when we need it.

 

This is from the book Sunrays of Help by Dr. Albert Garner

 

Could we but draw back the curtains

That surround each other’s lives,

See the naked heart and spirit,

Know what spur the action gives;

 

Often we should find it better,

Purer than we judge we should;

We should love each other better,

If we only understood.

 

Could we judge all deeds by motives,

See the good and bad within,

Often we should love the sinner

All the while we loathe the sin;

 

Could we know the powers working

To overthrow integrity,

We should love each other’s errors

With more patient Charity.

 

If we knew the cares and trials,

Knew the efforts all in vain,

And the bitter disappointment,

Understood the loss and gain–

 

Would the grim eternal roughness

Seem–I wonder–just the same?

Should we help where now we hinder,

Should we pity where now we blame.

 

Ah! we judge each other harshly,

Knowing not life’s hidden force;

Knowing not the fount of action

Is less turbid at its source–

 

Seeing not amid the evil

All the golden grain of good;

And we would love each other better

If we only understood.

 

 

Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine.

Micah 6:15

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  It looks like it might rain cats and dogs!

Prodigal:  Well, you know how us pigs love the mud!

Me:  When you are wallowing in the mud, I will be reading a good book.

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

As we began to focus upon God,  the things of the spirit will take shape before our inner eyes.  Obedience to the word of Christ will bring an inward revelation of the Godhead (John 14:21-23).  It will give acute perception, enabling us to see God even as is promised to the pure in heart.  A new God consciousness will seize upon us and we shall begin to taste and hear and inwardly feel the God who is our life and our all.  There will be seen the constant shining of the light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world.  More and more, as our facuties grow sharper and more sure, God will become to us the great All, and His Presence the glory and wonder of our lives.

God be that wonder during this day!  I need you, every minute today!

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand.

1 Corinthians 15:1

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  That boat may or may not help you.

Prodigal:  Yes, I guess that is a risk.

Me:  As long as Jesus is in the risk then go for it.

C.S. Lewis states the following

I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him:  “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.”  That is the one thing we must not say.  A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.  He would either be a lunatic–on the level with the man who says he’s a poached egg–or else he would be the Devil of Hell.  You must make your choice.  Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and Him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any partronising  nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.  He did not intend to.

For six days, the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 20:11

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Birds of a feather, flock together.

Prodigal: That is true.

Me: I hope you watch.

Prodigal: I am watching!

click her to watch video

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me:  We had a nice time at the Library didn’t we?

Prodigal:  Yes, there are some good books to read there.

Me:  We can go over one of those books.

This is from the book Insight for Counseling and Pastoral Care by C. Stephen Evans

Humans cannot gain this faith through philosophical thinking or moral striving.  It is created in people solely through an encounter with God as he has revealed himself in Jesus.  In Jesus I learn what God is like and what I am supposed to be like.  In Jesus I discover how far from God and my true self I am.  In Jesus I discover God’s love in forgiving and atoning for my sin.  In Jesus I discover the possibility of a new beginning as I stake my identity on him and commit myself to being his follower.

I am your follower today.  What does that mean?  That even though there is a lot of distractions today, I turn to you, Lord.  I remember that I can live this day for myself or I can live it for you!

And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me.  And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God.

Deuteronomy 26:10

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Look at the cute couple!

Prodigal: I think they are getting married.

Me: Hopefully the Lord is in the decision.

Marriage, what a topic. As a marriage counselor, I get to see different couples very up-close and personal. I usually get to see them, when a struggle is happening.

One thing that is amazing is I can tell when God has united a couple. I am not the only one, the couple themselves can tell too. When God has joined people together, it is not of the world and it is automatically different. People can see the difference, some may be jealous but, they can see the difference.

God creates two people to marry each other so that they are then telling the world that they are set apart from everyone else. Their relationship will now be a closeness that will not be like any other relationships. This relationship will be priority above others but, below the relationship with God.

As this is happening and they are creating that journey of setting themselves apart from others and only to themselves then their are changes in relationships. Friendships are changed, family relationships are changed and time spent is changed.

This setting apart is a positive change because the Lord is in it. At times friends, families and others though can be hurt or melancholy by the change they see in their love one. Friends and family are letting go of time spent so that the couple can then begin setting themselves apart.

Like marriage, there is another setting apart. Their is God setting us apart to Himself and performing a Holy work unto us.

Psalm 4:3-5

But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.

There are times when we feel cast off, we are really being set apart. We feel God has forgotten our prayers and desires. He really is just sanctifying us during this time. We grow best with the Lord, when it is time alone with Him. We grow best without a lot of distractions. We grow best being set apart.

This day you are telling yourself that you are cast off. Others around you are telling you that you are cast off. Don’t believe that lie. For the Lord Himself is telling you that you are set apart for a purpose.

Stand in awe, Child of the Lord. The Lord is working His glory. This is something to be still about and wait for. This is something that has always been planned for your good!

Psalm 4:3

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: I am have something to share for mothers of little boys.

Prodigal:  I am ready to listen.

This is from Grace Wolgemuth

Two eyes that shine so bright,

Two lips that kiss goodnite,

Two arms that hold me tight,

That little boy of mine.

No one could every know how much your coming has meant.

Because I love you so, you’re something heaven has sent.

You’re all the world to me.

You climb upon my knee.

To me you’ll always be,

That little boy of mine

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all me made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:22

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: What a pretty picture of the boat.

Prodigal: Yes, I love how the sky looks.

Me: It brings peace.

The key turns the lock and, I step away to walk across the pavement. I am slowly but, surely headed toward the car. I have had a couple of hours to complete some chores and, ready myself for the day.

I quickly check the purse, so that I know I have not forgotten anything for the day. I then open the car door and sit down so that I can prepare the drive. I bring out the cell phone. I quickly look up a play list. What list will it be?

I choose one and, then hit play. The sound starts playing through the blue tooth and I start pulling my car out of the parking spot. The drive has begun and my next destination is work. The day is sunny and, the sky is blue. There are a couple of clouds and, the traffic is not too bad.

I started singing along to worship. I really sing! In my car, I have the best performances. I can sing as loud as I want too. I can sing from the heart.

“I’ve got a heart overflowing ’cause I’ve been restored.”

“There ain’t nothing gonna steal my joy.”

It is then I began to feel it. I feel the joy, peace and love. God has me today. See I don’t know everything that will happen today. I don’t know how I will fail and, how I will succeed. God has me though. I know that He is my savior and one day. One beautiful day, I will be with Him.

One day on this drive on this sunny day, I feel those emotions, I know this truth. I know that God is with me and I have made friends with the Big Kid on the Block and it doesn’t matter who else is on the block. It doesn’t matter what plans others have on that block or even little kids think they own it. The Big Kid is there to show others that He Loves me and that He is in control.

So I sing…….

“I got a sweet salvation and it’s beautiful”

The words are not just words to a song, they are truth that is spilling out of my spirit. They are truth that I am living in that moment. They are the truth of who God is and who I am.

Eventually I get to work and the private concert stops in the car. Duties and responsibilities take over. I am not longer singing out loud, but my spirit still remembers that at one point of the day, I remembered the joy of the Lord.

Psalm 4:7

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org