Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

Do Not Faint

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This is a lot to carry. I am feeling tired.

Me: Don’t faint, you will make it.

This is from John Claypool

Now I am sure that to those looking for the spectacular this may sound insignificant indeed. Who wants to be slowed to a walk, to creep along inch by inch, just barely above the threshold of consciousness and not fainting? That may not sound like much of a religious experience, but believe me, in the kind of darkness where I have been, it is the only form of the promise that fits the situation. When there is no occasion to soar and no place to run, and all you can do is trudge along step by step, to hear of a Help that will enable you “to walk and not faint” is good news indeed.

Don’t give up. Keep the standing. The Salvation of the Lord is near!

John 14:1

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Be Patient With Others

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I can’t wait for Christmas!

Me: Hold on to your britches. You have to be patient like the rest of us.

This is from the book The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis

Endeavour to be patient in bearing with the defects and infirmities of others, of what sort soever they be; for that thyself also hast many failings which must be borne with by others. If thou canst not make thyself such an one as thou wouldest, how wilt thou be able to have another in all things to thy liking?

We would willingly have others perfect, and yet we amend not our own faults. We will have others severely corrected, and will not be corrected ourselves. The large liberty of others displeaseth us, and yet we will not have our own desires denied us. We will have others bound down by ordinances, and in no sort do we ourselves endure further restraint.

And thus it appeareth, how seldom we weigh our neighbour in the same balance with ourselves.

John 14:2-3

In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Tis the season…..

Me: To Praise God!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Think of It

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: We have a lot of information around us.

Prodigal: What is the truth?

This is from the book The Revolution That Changed the World by Dr. David Jeremiah

Charles Colson, who once served as special counsel to President Richard Nixon, wrote, “My personal experiences in the Watergate scandal convinces me of the historic proof of the resurrection.” He goes on to explain that President Nixon’s closest advisers conspired to keep the illegal break-in secret. The conspiracy unraveled three weeks later, however, when Nixon’s legal counsel John Dean, fearing a prison sentence, went to the prosecutors and offered to testify in exchange for immunity “to save his own skin.” Other conspirators followed suit, bringing down the Nixon presidency. Colson continues:

Think of it: the most powerful men around the president of the United States could not keep a lie for three weeks. And you’d have me believe that the twelve apostles–powerless, persecuted, exiled, many martyred, their leader Peter crucified upside down–these common men, gave their lives for a lie, without ever breathing a word to the contrary? Impossible…..People will die for something they believe to be true; but men will never die for something they know to be false.

The lies will be exposed it just takes time. A lie does not have the power of the truth. A lie will not stand the test of time.

Matthew 18:7

Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to the man by whom the offence cometh!

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Spirit in Christ

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: It is that time of year again.

Me: Yes, I am ready to prepare for the season.

Prodigal: Me too!

This is from T.T. Carter

Only as we know what it is to cherish love when sore at some unkindness, to overmaster ourselves when under provocation, to preserve gentleness during trial and unmerited wrong,–only then can we know in any degree the “manner of spirit” that was in Christ.

Focus on how our Lord would respond. Focus on being like Jesus. Love is the only way. It will grow us and make us lie in green pastures. Obedience in our spirit is the first step.

Psalms 25:7

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Time to finish up some projects around the house.

Me: Yes, idle hands are the devil’s playground.

This is a short video devotion.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 11:31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner! (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Our Sinful Nature

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: The nativity reminds us of how precious Jesus birth was.

Me: How much we have to be thankful for!

This is from the book Vocabulary of Faith by Hampton Adams

The person who is not aware of his sin or his sinful nature should be led to consider the fact that many, perhaps all, of the truest Christians have known themselves to be sinners “saved by grace.” And their salvation from sin was not guaranteed once for all time, but is a continuing victory of grace. Sanctification, or freedom from sin or the desire to sin, is not claimed by many real Christians. The claim of achieving a sinless life is an exhibition of self-righteousness that belies the claim.

James 4:11-12

Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Time With God

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Why beat around the bush, I really like that one.

Me: Glad it is pleasing to the eye.

This is from the book Reaching for the Invisible God by Philip Yancey

At a conference on evangelism sponsored by Billy Graham in Manila, a Cambodian man mesmerized the audience with his story of daily meditation. Under the Pol Pot regime he was held in a concentration camp like those depicted in the movie The Killing Fields. Believing he had little time to live, he wanted to spend time each day with God, preparing for death. “Even more than deprivation of food, even more than the torture, I resented having no time to meet with God. Always guards were yelling at us, forcing us to work, work, work. ” Finally he noticed that the guards could get no one to clean out the cesspits. He volunteered for the wretched job. “No one ever interrupted me, and I could do my work at a leisurely pace. Even in those stinking depths, I could look up and see blue sky. I could praise God that I survived another day. I could commune with God undisturbed, and pray for my friends and relatives all around me. That became for me a glorious time of meeting with God.”

That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: Psalms 78:7 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

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

Me: Well you can help me with this.

Prodigal: Sounds good.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Works Done for Love

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: You have been spending a lot of time on that.

Me: This project has love in it, I work with love in my heart.

Prodigal: I am sure they will appreciate it then.

Me: I think they will.

This is from the book The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis

Oftentimes there seemeth to be charity, and it is rather a fleshly mind: because natural inclination, self-will, hope of reward, and desire of our own interest, will seldom be away.

He that hath true and perfect charity, seeketh himself in nothing: but only desireth in all things the glory of God.

He also envieth none; because he is in love with no private joy, neither willeth he to rejoice in himself; but wisheth above all good things to be made happy in the enjoyment of God. He attributheth nothing that is good to any man, but wholly referreth it unto God, from whom as from the fountain all things proceed; in whom finally all the Saints do rest in fruition.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org