Religious Books

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

 

Prodigal:  I can’t decide which book to read.

Me:  Yes, that often is a problem for me.  There are so many to choose from.

Prodigal:  I have a little while to figure it out.

 

This comes from Philip Yancey

 

A shelf of all the religious books on this subject would cleanly divide into two groups.  The older ones, by Bunyan, Donne, Luther, Calvin, Augustine, and others, are almost embarrassing in their readiness to accept pain and suffering as among God’s useful agents.  A sense of loyalty and faith in God’s wisdom undergirds each one.  God knows what He is doing in this world, and these authors do not question His actions.  They merely try to “justify” the ways of God to man.

More modern books on pain, beginning with some of the agnostic philosophers of nineteenth century and continuing through to many Christians today, contrast sharply.  These authors assume that the amount of evil and suffering in this world cannot be matched with the traditional view of good and loving God.  Therefore, many of them adjust their conception of God, either redefining His love or questioning His power to control evil.  If you read these two categories of books side by side, the difference is quite striking.  It is as if we in modern times think we have a corner on the suffering market.  Do we forget that Luther and Calvin and the others lived in a world without ether and penicillin, and that Bunyan and Donne wrote their greatest works in a dungeon.

 

Why do we think we are guaranteed a life with no pain?  When I start thinking that then I find myself bitter with God.  I find myself questioning more than accepting.  My faith is less and I take control.  In reality, sometimes we have pain and we have no answers but God is still got us and that is more important than if we have pain or not.

 

Let the word of Christ dwell in richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Colossians  3:16

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Lord,

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Sometimes we need to pray.

Me: You’re speaking the truth!

This is from the book Splashes of Joy in the Cesspools of Life by Barbara Johnson

Lord, whenever I hear or read rumors, gossip, or just plain lies, help me fix my thoughts on what is true, good, and right. Help me tune out what is negative and suggestive and tune in what is pure and lovely.

When I get irritated with others and start finding fault, help me dwell on the fine things in them. Help me forget about their faults and remember their strengths.

And when I start feeling sorry for myself, help me remember all the reasons why I should praise You. Remind me of all the blessings You bring into my life to make me happy.

And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. Luke 19:32 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Your Cleanness

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Time to clean!

Me: Yes, it is

This is from Joy in Christ’s Presence by Charles Spurgeon

Your cleanness is not measured by any scale or ruler; it is not a variable or vanishing quantity. Instead, it is present, constant, and perfect. You are clean through the Word, through the application of “the blood of sprinkling” (Heb 12:24) to your conscience, and through the imputation of the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Lift up your head, therefore, and sing with a joyful heart, because your transgression has been pardoned, your sin has been covered, and Jehovah sees no iniquity in you. Do not let another moment pass until by faith in Jesus you have grasped this privilege. Do not be content to merely believe that this priceless gift may be had, but lay hold of it for yourself. You will find that the song praising Christ’s substitutionary death for you is an excellent song, if you are able to sing it.

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Psalm 16:1 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Multitasking and Work

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I ain’t got a dadblame thing to do.

Me: Well, enjoy the peace.

This is from the book Growing Up Social: Raising Relational Kids In A Screen-Driven World by Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane

Multitasking reduces the quality of your work. In one experiment, students were asked to sit in a lab and complete a standard cognitive skill test. One group of subjects was not interrupted while taking the test. The other group was told they may be contacted with further instructions at any moment via text. They were interrupted twice during the exam. The interrupted group scored 20 percent less than the other group. That difference is enough to bring a B-minus student down to a failing student. In another study, researchers found that workers distracted by email and phone calls suffered a fall in IQ more than twice of that found in marijuana smokers.

If your child is multitasking while doing homework or other activities requiring focus, the quality of her work will suffer. When Suzy does her homework while watching television, she is prone to make errors she would catch if she weren’t distracted.

A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. Proverbs 21:28 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

It’s Nature

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Let’s get to work!

Me: Yes!

This is from A Spiritual Clinic by J. Oswald Sanders

The nature of true spiritual leadership is indicated in a sentence from the pen of the late Dr. S.M. Zwemer: “There was never a world in greater need of men and women who know the way, and can keep ahead and draw others to follow,” If we are to become leaders it will be because we can show the way to others, the way which we have successfully trodden ourselves. We can lead others only so far as we ourselves have gone, and we are leaders only to the extent that we inspire others to follow us. Because eh himself has qualified, a leader can secure the cooperation of others in achieving some work for God.

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. 1 Timothy 4:6 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Spirit of God

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: A man is also known by the company he avoids.

Me: Something to ponder.

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

If we all preach with the “Holy Spirit sent down from heaven” ( 1 Peter 1:12), the results will astound us. After all, there is no end to the power of the tongue! Look at the power of a bad tongue–what great harm it can do! Will not God put more power into a good tongue, if we will but use it right? Look at the power of fire: a single spark might set a city ablaze. Similarly, the Spirit of God being with us, we do not need to calculate how much or what we can do. There is no calculating the potentialities of a flame, and no end to the possibilities of divine truth spoken with the enthusiasm that is born of the Spirit of God.

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

As A Result

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Strawberry looks delicious!

Me: Yes, the results are good so far.

This is from T.C. Upham

As a result of this strong faith, the inner life of Catherine of Genoa was characterized, in a remarkable degree, by what may be termed rest, or quietude; which is only another form of expression for true interior peace. It was not, however, the quietude of a lazy inaction, but the quietude of an inward acquiescence; not a quietude which feels nothing and does nothing, but that higher and divine quietude which exists by feeling and acting in the time and degree of God’s appointment and God’s will. It was a principle in her conduct, to give herself to God in the discharge of duty; and to leave all results without solicitude in His hands.

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Spirit of Love

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: What a blessing you have been.

Me: Amen, with the Lord as my guide.

This is from J.H. Thom

The Spirit of Love must work the works, and speak the tones, of Love. It cannot exist and give no sign, or a false sign. It cannot be a spirit of Love, and mantle into irritable and selfish impatience. It cannot be a spirit of Love, and at the same time make self the prominent object. It cannot rejoice to lend itself to the happiness of others, and at the same time be seeking its own. It cannot be generous, and envious. It cannot be sympathizing, and unseemly; self-forgetful, and vain-glorious. It cannot delight in the rectitude and purity of other hearts, as the spiritual elements of their peace, and yet unnecessarily suspect them.

Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. Matthew 23:10 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Begin At Once

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: All that playin’ is gonna young you up.

Prodigal: I’m sure it will.

This is from F.R. Havergal

Begin at once; before you venture away from this quiet moment, ask your King to take you wholly into His service, and place all the hours of this day quite simply at His disposal, and ask Him to make and keep you ready to do just exactly what He appoints. Never mind about to-morrow; one day at a time is enough. Try it today, and see if it is not a day of strange, almost curious peace, so sweet that you will be only too thankful, when tomorrow comes, to ask Him to take it also–till it will become a blessed habit to hold yourself simply and “wholly at Thy commandment for any manner of service.” The “whatsoever” is not necessarily active work. It may be waiting (whether half an hour or half a life-time), learning, suffering, sitting still. But shall we be less ready for these, if any of them are His appointments for today? Let us ask Him to prepare us for all that He is preparing for us.

These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 1 Timothy 3:14 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Just As I am

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: That’s not worth a hill of beans.

Me: Don’t judge to quickly.

This is from Sacred Stories by Ruth A. Tucker

One of the greatest evangelistic hymns of all time was written by a woman who knew well the release and peace that come from confessing one’s sins and failures to God. “Just As I Am,” a hymn frequently sung at the close of evangelistic meetings, was written by Charlotte Elliott, who at one time had been very bitter with God about the circumstances in her life.

Charlotte was an invalid from her youth and deeply resented the constraints her handicap placed on her activities. In an emotional outburst on one occasion, she expressed those feelings to Dr. Cesar Malan, a minister visiting her home. He listened and was touched by her distress, but he insisted that her problems should not divert her attention from what she most needed to hear. He challenged her to turn her life over to God, to come to Him just as she was, with all her bitterness and anger.

She resented what seemed to be an almost callous attitude on his part, but God spoke to her through him, and she committed her life to the Lord. Each year on the anniversary of that decision, Dr. Malan wrote Charlotte a letter, encouraging her to continue to be strong in her faith. But even as a Christian she had doubts and struggles.

One particularly sore point was her inability to effectively get out and serve the Lord. At times she almost resented her brother’s successful preaching and evangelistic ministry. She longed to be used of God herself, but she felt that her health and physical condition prevented it. Then in 1836, on the fourteenth anniversary of her conversion, while she was alone in the evening, the forty-seven-year-old Charlotte Elliott wrote her spiritual autobiography in verse. Here, in the prayer of confession, she poured out her feelings to God–feelings that countless individuals have identified with in the generation that followed. The third stanza, perhaps more than the others, described her own pilgrimage.

Just as I am, tho tossed about

With many a conflict, many a doubt,

Fightings and fears within, without,

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Many years later, when reflecting on the impact his sister made in penning this one hymn, the Reverend Henry Venn Elliott said, “In the course of a long ministry I hope I have been permitted to see some fruit of my labors, but I feel far more has been done by a single hymn of my sister’s, “Just As I Am.”

And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth. 2 Samuel 4:4 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org