Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

A Prayer For Difficult Times

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Sometimes we just need a prayer.

Me: Yes, a prayer is the only thing that will bring comfort.

This is from the book Praying Through Life’s Problems featuring Stormie Omartian

Lord, I give thanks to You in all things because I know that You reign in the midst of them. I know that when I pass through the waters, You will be with me and the river will not flow over me. When I walk through the fire, I will not be burned. Nor will the flame touch me (Isaiah 43:1-2). That’s because You are a good God and have sent Your Holy Spirit to be my Comforter and Helper in the midst of difficult times.

Lord, I wait for You today. I put my hope in Your Word and ask that You would fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit and wash away all anxiety or doubt. Shine Your light into any dark corner of my soul that needs to be exposed. I don’t want my impatience or lack of trust to stand in the way of all You desire to do in my life at this time. I realize that no matter how difficult life gets, as long as I cling to You I am moving forward on the path you have for me. Help me to wait on You and not grown impatient with my circumstances simply because my timetable does not coincide with Yours. Help me to understand Your ways and not give in to discouragement. Strengthen my faith to depend on Your perfect timing for my life. Help me to rest in You and be content with where I am right now. At the same time, I ask you to heal, restore, redeem, transform, and bring new life to my situation. Teach me what I need to learn and help me get beyond this time successfully so I can rise above the storm to Your place of perfect peace. Amen.

Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Little chilly today.

Me: Yep, time to sit by the fire.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown, But the tent of the upright will flourish. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Messages

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Y’all are two peas in a pod.

Prodigal: I agree with that.

This is from the book Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster

Human beings seem to have a perpetual tendency to have somebody else talk to God for them. We are content to have the message second hand. One of Israel’s fatal mistakes was their insistence upon having a human king rather than resting in the theocratic rule of God over them. We can detect a note of sadness in the word of the Lord, “They have rejected me from being king over them” (1 Sam. 8:7). The history of history of religion is the story of an almost desperate scramble to have a king, a mediator, a priest, a pastor, a go-between. In this way we do not need to go to God ourselves. Such an approach saves us from the need to change, for to be in the presence of God is to change.

Right now there is someone who is fighting going to the Lord. They are in fear. They fear the answer, they fear no answer. They fear how they will look when they approach the Lord. If only that person could see the love of God. If that person understood the truth of the word that says I will never leave you or forsake you. I pray for that person. I pray.

Proverbs 17:22

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

wwwfaithincounseling.org

Time to Laugh

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Are you having fun?

Prodigal: Yes!

Me: Here is something else to make you laugh.

This is from Laugh Again by Charles Swindoll

I have become a little older since I saw you last, and a few changes have come into my life since then. Frankly, I become quite a frivolous old gal. I am seeing five gentleman every day.

As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps me get out of bed. Then I go to see John. Then Charlie Horse comes along, and when he is here he takes a lot of my time and attention. When he leaves Arthur Ritis shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn’t like to stay in one place very long, so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day I’m really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay. What a life!

P.S. The preacher came to call the other day. He said at my age I should be thinking about the hearafter. I told him, “Oh, I do all the time. No matter where I am–in the parlor, upstairs, in the kitchen, or down in the basement–I ask myself what am I here after?”

Micah 6:1

Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.co

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: What a great day it is to be in the presence of the Lord.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.com

Love for

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I LOVE my friend.

Me; Do you love them because they are a pig.

Prodigal: It is one of the reasons, but there are many more.

This is from The Magnificent Defeat by Frederick Buechner

The love for equals is a human thing–of friend for friend, brother for brother. It is to love what is loving and lovely. The world smiles. The love for the less fortunate is a beautiful thing–the love for those who suffer, for those who are poor, the sick, the failures, the unlovely. This is compassion, and it touches the heart of the world. The love for the more fortunate is a rare thing–to love those who succeed were we fail, to rejoice without envy with those who rejoice, the love of the poor for the rich, of the black man for the white man. The world is always bewildered by its saints. And then there is the love for the enemy–love for the one who does not love you but mocks, threatens, and inflicts pain. The tortured’s love for the torturer. This is God’s love. It conquers the world.

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Hebrews 11:5 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Sharing Love

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I love your taste in decorations!

Prodigal: It is getting closer to Christmas and a time to share love.

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

True happiness is found in unselfish love, a love which increases in proportion as it is shared. There is no end to the sharing of love, and, therefore, the potential happiness of such love is without limit. Infinite sharing is the law of God’s inner life. He has made the sharing of ourselves the law of our own being, so that it is in loving others that we best love ourselves.

He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence; Psalm 78:50 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Two peas in a pod.

Me: Ain’t that the truth.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Conversations

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Time for conservations.

Prodigal: I agree!

This is from the book How Can I Find You, God? by Majorie Holmes

I make it my business only to persevere in his Holy presence…an habitual, silent and secret conversation of the soul with God…

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God…

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Hebrews 1:10 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Family Members

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Spending time with family.

Me: Great!

This is from The Strong Family by Charles Swindoll

When family members maintain a sincere fear of God, something wonderful occurs within the ranks. Self-made pride and presumption continue to decrease as a fear of God increases. Don’t misunderstand. By “fear of God” I do not mean fright….feeling uneasy and afraid in His presence. The right kind of fear is reverence for His holy name, a wholesome respect for His sovereign will, holding Him in highest regard. It is ever present realization that God is the Almighty, Holy God. It is remembering (in today’s terms) that He doesn’t mess around. He means what He says. We respect Him too much to disregard His ways or disobey His will.

 Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Psalm 32:9 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org