Prodigal:  I need to get started on the road, it will be a long trip.

Me:  Well, God will be with you.

Prodigal:  Yes, He will.

 

This is from the book Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan

 

Early in 1981–while driving alone between meetings in a borrowed car near Greensboro, North Carolina–all the dark feelings of psychological burn-out crept over me.  I had a full fledged pity party, feeling sorry for myself and the hard life I was leading.

With a start, I began to tremble with fear.  Suddenly I felt the presence of someone else.  I realized the Spirit of the Lord was speaking.

“I am not in any trouble,”  He chided, “that I need someone to beg for Me or help Me out.  I made no promised that I will not keep.  It is not the largeness of the work that matters, but only doing what I command.  All I ask of you is that you be a servant.  For all who join with you in the work, it will be a privilege–a light burden for them.”

The words echoed in my mind.  This is His work, I told myself.  Why am I making it mine?  The burden is light.  Why am I making it heavy?  The work is a privilege.  Why am I making it a chore?

I instantly repented of my sinful attitudes.  God was sharing His work with me, and He was speaking of others who would join me.  Although I still was doing the work alone, it was exciting to think others would be joining with me and that they too would find the burden to be light.  From that moment until this, I have not been overpowered by the burden of heading Gospel for Asia.  I find building this mission an exciting, joyful job.  Even my preaching has changed.  My posture is different.  Today the pressure is gone.  No more do I feel I have to beg audiences or make them feel guilty.

Because the work of Gospel for Asia–and the whole indigenous missionary movement–is initiated by God,  it does not need the worries and guidance of man.  Whether our goal is to support 10,000 or 10 million missionaries, whether it is working in 10 states or 100, or whether I must supervise a staff of 5 or 500, I still can approach this work without stress.  For this is His work, and our burden is easy.

 

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Daniel 12:3

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: Gettin’ ready for bed.

Me: Maybe this will help your sleep.

This is from Francois De La Mothe Fenelon

We sleep in peace in the arms of God, when we yield ourselves up to His providence, in a delightful consciousness of His tender mercies; no more restless uncertainties, no more anxious desires, no more impatience at the place we are in; for it is God who has put us there, and who holds us in His arms. Can we be unsafe where He has places us?

My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. Job 7:5 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Like duck to water.

Prodigal: More like horse to hay.

This is from Henry More

With meekness, humility, and diligence, apply yourself to the duties of your condition. They are the seemingly little things which make no noise that do the business.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Hebrews 5:8 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Don’t pitch a hissyfit.

Prodigal: I know, it won’t help.

This is from H.W. Smith

In order to mould thee into entire conformity to His will, He must have thee pliable in His hands, and this pliability is more quickly reached by yielding in the little things than even by the greater. Thy one great desire is to follow Him fully; canst thou not say then a continual “yes” to all His sweet commands, whether small or great, and trust Him to lead by the shortest road to thy fullest blessedness?

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:18 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: Well, I never!

Me: I know.

This is from Charles Buxton

It is astonishing how soon the whole conscience begins to unravel, if a single stitch drops; one little sin indulged makes a hole you could put your head through.

And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. Matthew 17:23 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: This is the day the Lord has made!

Prodigal: And it is good!

This is from Francois De La Mothe Fenelon

Lord, I know not what I ought to ask of Thee; Thou only knowest what I need; Thou lovest me better than I know how to love myself. O Father! give to Thy child that which he himself knows not how to ask. I dare not ask either for crosses or consolations; I simply present myself before Thee; I open my heart to Thee. Behold my needs which I know not myself; see, and do according to Thy tender mercy. Smite, or heal; depress me, or raise me up; I adore all Thy purposes without knowing them; I am silent; I offer myself in sacrifice; I yield myself to Thee; I would have no other desire than to accomplish Thy will. Teach me to pray; pray Thyself in me.

And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. Exodus 3:19 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: Why beat around the bush, we might as well, shoot it straight.

Me: Might as well.

This is from J. G. Whittier

All as God wills, who wisely heeds

To give or to withhold;

And knoweth more of all my needs

Than all my prayers have told.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Timothy 3:13 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Recognizing your temptations is the first step to resisting them.

Prodigal: Very true!

This is from the book No Man Is An Island by Thomas Merton

If my will is meant to perfect its freedom in serving another will, that does not mean it will find its perfection in serving every other will. In fact, there is only one will in whose service I can find perfection and freedom. To give my freedom blindly to a being equal to or inferior to myself is to degrade myself and throw away my freedom. I can only become perfectly free by serving the will of God. If I do, in fact, obey other men and serve them it is not for their sake alone that I will do so, but because their will is the sacrament of the will of God. Obedience to man has no meaning unless it is primarily obedience to God. From this flow many consequences. Where there is no faith in God there can be no real order; therefore, where there is no faith obedience is without any sense. It can only be imposed on others as a matter of expediency. If there is no God, no government is logical except tyranny. And in actual fact, states that reject the idea of God tend either to tyranny or to open disorder. In either case, the end is disorder, because tyranny is itself a disorder.

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 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: Give God what’s right, not what’s left.

Me: Yes, Lord guide us to what is right.

This is from Sandy Seltzer

Dustin, my California-bred guide dog, was having trouble outside our Long Island apartment. This was his first snow storm and he was confused. I’m blind, and I wasn’t doing so well either. No one was out, so there were no sounds to steer me. Contrary to what many people think, guide dogs do not find the way for a blind person. The blind person directs the dog.

After a harrowing forty-five minutes, Dustin and I finally made it back. But guide dogs must be walked regularly. “Next time why don’t you ask God to go with you?” a friend suggested. And so I did. “Lord, go with Dustin and me. The wind is so fierce it’s hard to concentrate on our direction. Lead us.”

Snow stung our faces and it was difficult to make a path. Dustin whined a little. “Okay, boy,” I said to him, “the Lord is with us.” And then I gave him a command that a blind person gives only when another person is leading the way: “Dustin, follow!”

Dustin perked up and to my astonishment took off as though he knew exactly where to go. We made it to the street, then headed back to our building–no problem.

A young woman trudged up and offered to walk us to our door. “We’ll just follow your footprints,” she said. “Yours and the dog’s, and that other person’s.”

“What other person?” I asked.

“There’s a dog’s prints. And your prints. And a larger person’s prints. Wasn’t someone with you?”

I paused for a moment and then I answered, “Oh yes, there was Someone with us.” There always is.

They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. Nehemiah 4:17 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: I have something to share.

Prodigal: Go ahead!

This is from Ruth Harms Calkin

You know, Lord, how I serve You

With great emotional fervor

In the limelight.

You know how eagerly I speak for You

At the women’s club.

You know how I effervesce when I promote

A fellowship group.

You know my genuine enthusiam

At a Bible study.

But how would I react, I wonder

If You pointed to a basin of water

And asked me to wash the calloused feet

Of a bent and wrinkled old woman

Day after day

Month after month

In a room where nobody saw

And nobody knew.

God looked down from heaven upon the children of men,
to see if there were any that did understand,
that did seek God. Psalm 53:2 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org