Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

Press On

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Keep moving toward the Lord.

Me: Yes, that I am doing!

This is from Calvin Coolidge

Press on. Nothing the word can take the place of persistence. Talen will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. Genesis 48:4 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Two Frogs

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: We just missed a close one.

Me: Praise God!

This is from Knight’s Master Book of New Illustrations by Walter Knight

Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl,

One was an optimistic soul;

But the other took the gloomy view,

“We shall drown,” he cried, without more ado.

So with a last despairing cry,

He flung up his legs and said, “Good-bye.”

Quoth the other frog with a merry grim,

“I can’t get out, but I won’t give in.

I’ll just swim round till my strength is spent,

Then will I die the more content.”

Bravely he swam till it would seem

His struggles began to churn the cream.

On the top of the butter at last he stopped,

And out of the bowl eh gaily hopped.

What of the moral? Tis easily found:

If you can’t hop out, keep swimming round.

They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. Psalm 84:7 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Protection from the coldness of the outside world is a good thing.

Me: Yes, the warmth of the sun is life giving.

This is a short video devotion

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:2

Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Locust Years

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: The crops are growing!

Me: Thank you Lord!

This is from Charles R. Hembree

There are years in South Africa when locust swarm the land and eat the crops. They come in hordes, blocking out the sun. The crops are lost and a hard winter follows. The “years that the locusts eat” are feared and dreaded. But the year after the locusts, South Africa reaps it greatest crops, for the dead bodies of the locust serve as fertilizer for the new seed. And the locust year is restored as great crops swell the land.

This is a parable of our lives. There are seasons of deep distress and afflictions that sometimes eat all the usefulness of our lives away. Yet, the promise is that God will restore those locust years if we endure. We will reap if we faint not. Although now we do not know all the “whys,” we can be assured our times are in His hands.

 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. John 5:4 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Not So

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Let’s just sit a spell.

Me: That quilt would be good to sit with!

This is from Anon

Not so in haste, my heart;

Have faith in God, and wait;

Although He linger long,

He never comes too late.

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. John 5:3 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This is a beautiful day!

Me: Yes, and the Lord made it.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

If God Promised

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Some wisdom while we wait.

Prodigal: Sounds like a plan.

This is from Abraham by F.B. Meyer.

If God promised His servants an unbroken run of prosperity, there would be many counterfeit Christians. Don’t be surprised at famine….it is permitted to root you deeper just as a whirlwind makes the tree grapple deeper roots into soil.

This is about growing deeper roots and not the fruits this season. Accept where you are will help with the negative thoughts and emotions that come. Praise God for how the roots are growing and know that this time will be beneficial.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Sweet to You

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I just wanted to share how sweet you are with a sweet treat.

Me: Let me share something else that is sweet.

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

Gideon’s fleece was so full of dew that he could wring out the moisture. In the same manner, sometimes a verse of Scripture will be very full of meaning when the Holy Spirit visits His servants through its words. This statement of our Savior to His disciples has been to me like bread dipped in honey, and I do not doubt that it will prove equally as sweet to you, as well.

Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; Nehemiah 9:7 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: My word! It’s been a busy day.

Me: Yes, it has.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 13:25 The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,

but the belly of the wicked suffers want. (ESV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Not Keeping Pace

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This one is different.

Me: Yes, it is nice

This is from Thoreau: Walden and Other Writings by Henry David Thoreau

If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measure or far away.

Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Luke 7:6 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org