Monthly Archives: December 2019

Last Dollar

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I would love to go to a picture show!

Me:  Yes, but I’m down to my last dollar.

Prodigal:  Well, maybe you can just share a story then.

This comes from the book Revolutions in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan

One Sunday when we were down to our last dollar, I drove our old  Nova to a nearby church for worship.   I knew no one and sat in the last row.  When it came time to take the offering, I quickly made an excuse to God and held on to that last dollar.

“This is my last dollar,”  I prayed desperately,” and I need to buy gas to get back home.”  but knowing God loves a cheerful giver, I stopped fighting and sacrificed that last dollar to the Lord.

As I left the church, an old man came up to me.  I had never seen him before and never have since.  He shook my hand silently, and I could feel a folded piece of paper in his palm.  I knew instinctively that it was money.  In the car, I opened my had to find a neatly folded $10 bill.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

One Sunday

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal:  This is a great walk!

Me:  Yes, and we can grow closer to God at the same time!

Prodigal:  Of course.

This is from the book  This is My Story, This is My Song by Norman Blosat with Elva Blosat

David Pringle invited me to take a walk with him through the meadow path near his home.  As we walked, he told me an amazing story.  He said that one Sunday afternoon, while reading the Bible and meditating, he heard an audible voice saying.  “Go to Poynton.”  It was so strong an authority that he went that very afternoon.  As he walked through the town he was drawn to an old brick church with a “For Sale” sign on the front lawn.  In brief, David later learned that at the very time he heard the audible voice, five women were holding a final prayer meeting in the little red brick church with the “For Sale” sign, asking God to send someone who could help them keep their church open.  With contacts made, David volunteered to preach, evangelize and pastor the church.  The church soon began to take on new life.  It grew in numbers.  Several years later the old brick building was torn down, replaced by a modern functional building.  Church growth continued.  The Poynton Church developed a vital outreach into the community.  In a time of seeming defeat, five faithful women prayed and God turned things around!

Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father?  Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father:  if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 8:19

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: We need balance.

Prodigal: I agree, let’s remember that.

Thank you for watching!

click here to watch

Proverbs 3:24

When you like down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

We Must Appeal to Both

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

 

Prodigal:  I wonder what you have to share today.

Me:  Maybe it will help someone out there today.

Prodigal:  That is my prayer.

 

This is from the book The Soul Winner by C.H. Spurgeon

 

A sinner has a heart as well as a head, emotions as well as thoughts.  We must appeal to both.  A sinner will never be converted until his emotions are stirred.  Unless he feels sorrow for sin and a measure of joy in receiving the Word, there is not much hope for him.  Truth must soak into the soul and dye it with its own color.  The Word must be like a strong wind sweeping through the whole heart and swaying in the whole man, even as field of ripening corn waves in the summer breeze.  Religion without emotions is religion without life.

 

God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Holy Spirit

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal:  Why are people confused about the Holy Spirit?

Me:  A lot of people ignore the topic.

Prodigal:  Ignoring something just leaves us ignorant.

 

This is from the book When God Whispers Your Name by Max Lucado

 

The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in our lives, carrying on the work of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit helps us in three directions–inwardly (by granting us the fruits of the Spirit, Gal 5:22-24), upwardly (by praying for us, Rom 8:26) and outwardly (by pouring God’s love into our hearts, Rom 5:5.

In evangelism the Holy Spirit is on center stage.  If the disciple teaches, it is because the Spirit teaches the disciple (Luke 12:12).  If the listener is convicted, it is because the Spirit has penetrated (John 16:10).  If the listener is converted, it is by the transforming power of the Spirit(Rom. 8:11).  If the new believer matures, it is because the Spirit makes him or her competent (2 Cor. 3:6).

 

Psalm 5:2

Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org