Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

Rough Terrain

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: That looks pretty tough and difficult to walk through.

Prodigal: It is and that is why I am taking a break.

Me: Let me encourage you during this part of the journey.

This is from the book Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On: Trusting God in Tough Times by Stormie Omartian

His desire is that we become more and more dependent upon Him for every step. That’s because He wants to take up to places we’ve never been. To heights we can’t even imagine. In order to do that, we have to go through the low valleys, treacherous mountains, rough terrain, and narrow paths of life- places where we could easily get lost or off the track. And there is definitely no way we can just head off on our own and expect to arrive safely in the place He has planned for us. And, quite opposite of the way we teach our children, we will never now the joy of true freedom until we understand we cannot take a single step without His help.

1 John 5:7

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodialpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: What to watch tonight?

Me: Maybe we can skip the old tube and instead spend time with the Lord.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 11:21

Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Full of Joy

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I have something to say.

Me: I’m listening.

This is from Colin Urquhart

My dear child, I want to tell you how much I rejoice in you. It grieves Me that so many of My children do not believe I enjoy them. They are so constantly distracted by their inadequacies. They imagine I look at them with a frown instead of a smile.

Think of the joy a father and mother have when their child is born. What great joy I had when you were born again! I caused all heaven to rejoice.

I want My joy to be in you and your joy to be full. Many of your inhibitions have gone, haven’t they? I love to break through all that stuff. It’s great when you want to skip and dance and rejoice with Me. This is My joy in you. Don’t you realize I was already rejoicing before it even occurred to you?

Joy is not emotional response to situations. I am not an emotion; I am spirit. Joy is a fruit of My Spirit in your life. I don’t want to see that joy suffocated by problems and cares that concern you.

I never take My joy away from you. It is always within you and can always be expressed in your life.

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Isaiah 66:2 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Such A Man As Paul

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Remembering sometimes, what God gave us.

Me: Yes, that is the truth.

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

Such a man was Paul. I am not about to set him on a pedestal, so that you may look at him and marvel, much less that you may kneel down and worship him as a saint. I mention Paul because what he was, every one of us ought to be. Even though we cannot share in his office, not being apostles, and even though we cannot share in his talents or his inspirations, we still ought to be possessed by the same Spirit that motivated him. Let me also add that we ought to be possessed by it in the same degree.

Do you take exception to that? I ask you what was there in Paul, by the grace of God, that may not be in you? What did Jesus do for Paul more than He has done for you? He was divinely changed; so have you been changed if you have passed from darkness into marvelous light. He had much forgiven him; so have you also been freely pardoned. He was redeemed by the blood of the Son of God; so have you been–at least, so you, if you are truly such as your profession of Christianity makes you out to be.

Owing your salvation to Christ, being debtors to the precious blood of Jesus, and being quickened by the Holy Spirit, why should you not bear the same fruit the same sowing? Why not the same effect from the same cause? Do not tell m that the apostle was an exception and cannot be set up as a rule or model for more common folk, for I will have to tell you that we must be as Paul was if we hope to be where Paul is.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. Acts 16:26 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Just saying Hi today!

Me: Yes, it is a busy day, but just a quick hello is always a good thing!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 11:20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD, but the blameless in their ways are His delight. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

For Thyself

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: God is all around.

Me: Yes, He is always making things grow!

This is from St. Augustine.

Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord; and our heart is restless until it rests in Thee.

And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: Jeremiah 32:38 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

No Surrender

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: When the enemy under estimates God,,well….

Me: Yes, that is like a little league team playing against super bowl champions.

This is from Barlett’s Familiar Quotations

Sir Winston Churchill at a cabinet meeting during World War II was encouraging no surrender. He said, “I find it rather inspiring (to stand alone). Nothing in life is so exhilarating as to be shot at without result.”

For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16 (KV)

Jennifer Van Allen

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: There is a time to sew and a time to reap.

Me: Looks like it is time to reap.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 11:19 As righteousness leads to life, So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

When We Feel

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: It appears to be all dark!

Me: I can see why, but hold on, I will help clear your path.

This is from A.M. Toplady

When we in darkness walk,

Nor feel the heavenly flame,

Then is the time to trust our God,

And rest upon His name.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 1 Thessalonians 2:9 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Think Rightly of God

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: If that don’t beat all, I got stuck.

Me: Don’t worry, it looks managable.

This is from The Divine Conquest by A. W. Tozer

We cannot think rightly of God until we begin to think of Him as always being there, and there first. Joshua had this to learn. He had been so long the servant of God’s servant Moses, and had with such assurance received God’s word at his mouth, that Moses and the God of Moses had become blended in his thinking, so blended that he could hardly separate the two thoughts; by association they always appeared together in Joshua’s mind. Now Moses is dead, and lest the young Joshua be struck down with despair God spoke to him with assurance, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you.” Moses was dead, but the God of Moses still lived. Nothing changed; nothing had been lost. Nothing of God dies when a man of God dies.

And the slain shall fall in the midst of you, and ye shall know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 6:7 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org