Author Archives: Jennifer Van Allen

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

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Busy as a bee.

Me: Yes, and slowly it will all get done!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way! but the folly of fools is deceit. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Will Not Be Discouraged

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This work is taking forever!

Me: Be Patient and the Lord is with you.

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

Pray that you will not get discouraged. Discouragement can descend on you like a flood. You think you are standing strong and all of a sudden, in a weary moment, you get washed away be discouragement that threatens to drown you. Even though it may seem like forever as you wait for your difficult time to end, and you feel like you don’t have the strength to withstand anything any longer, tell yourself that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13). Declare that you will “rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him” (Psalm 37:7). Keep in mind that God has been known to do a quick work for which He has been preparing a long time. It could be today.

O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. Psalms 74:19 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Praying for Others

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I am worn out.

Me: You know you can’t shine if you don’t fill our lamp. I have an encouraging story for you.

This is from the book Psalm 91 by Peggy Joyce Ruth and Angelia Ruth Schum

One of my most memorable and exciting experiences was when I recently had the privilege of speaking to some of the residents of Seadrift, Texas, and hearing them tell stories of God’s magnificent protection over their soldiers during World War II. This is their story of the boys who went off to war and the families who stayed behind to pray for their safety. Joe Fred Coward, along with Hollis and Gerald McCown, said that they experienced miraculous protection during World War II, and they knew why. There was a group of mothers and friends in their hometown of Seadrift, Texas, who were fervently praying for their safety. Coward and the McCown brothers were among fifty-two soldiers whose photos were placed in a large picture frame at a church and prayed over daily until they returned. Everyone I interviewed was still excited to tell me, “All fifty-two came home!”

And, behold, Cushy came; and Cushy said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the LORD hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee. 2 Samuel 18:31 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Jesus is the reason for the season.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion.

click on the link to watch the video

Proverbs 14:7

Go from the presence of a foolish man, When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

No Greater Force

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: That looks yummy!

Me: Thank you!

This is from Choose Love by Stormie Omartian

There is no greater force in the world than God’s love. All the weapons of hate and cruelty cannot stand against it. The spiritually blind and intentionally evil try to oppose it, but they cannot ultimately win. That’s because all creation was formed and is sustained by God. And He gives each of us a free will to choose His love for our lives–or not.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me; O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You. Psalm 139:17-18

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Forgive Others

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I don’t know if he is worth forgiving with that attitude.

Me: Let’s talk about that, so that God can help us.

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

Pray that you will forgive others. Often our greatest times of hurt, trial, difficulty, or disappointment occur when someone fails us–or we feel they have. People can hurt us deeply. But our fulfillment and happiness don’t depend on other people, they depend on God. Of course we rely on other people for certain things and it’s painful when they let us down. But the ultimate success or joy of our life doesn’t depend on them. We have to forgive and release them and not continue to suffer over what others do or don’t do to us. Ultimately our reward is in God’s hands. If we surrender our disappointment to God and say, “Be my light and lead me through this, Lord,” then His work will be accomplished faster. But if we wallow in the darkness of bitterness, casting blame toward God and other people, we end up suffering more.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Romans 1:20 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Now that is high cotton!

Me: Well, thank you I tried.

This is a short video devotion

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 14:6

A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, But knowledge is easy to him who understands it. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

The Lord Teaches

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: I’ve got to toe the line today.

Me: That’s right.

This is from Lord, Teach us to Pray by Andrew Murray

And the first thing the Lord teaches His disciples is that they must have a secret place for prayer; everyone must have some solitary spot where he can be alone with his God. Every teacher must have a school room. We have learnt to know and accept Jesus as our only teacher in the school of prayer. He has already taught us at Samaria that worship is no longer confined to times and places; that worship, spiritual true worship, is a thing of the spirit and the life; the whole man must in his whole life be worship in spirit and truth. And yet He wants each one to choose for himself the fixed spot where He can daily meet him. That inner chamber, that solitary place, is Jesus’ schoolroom. That spot may be anywhere; that spot may change from day to day if we have to change our abode, but that secret place there must be, with the quiet time in which the pupil places himself in the Master’s presence, to be by Him prepared to worship the Father. There alone, but there most surely, Jesus comes to us to teach us to pray.

For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Psalm 32:6 (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Marbles and Grapes

Posted on by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: It is time to get ready for Christmas!

Me: Yes, but remember Christ.

This is from the book The Quest for Character by Charles Swindoll

Marbles or grapes, which will it be? Every congregation has a choice. You can choose to be a bag of marbles….independent, hard, loud, unmarked, and unaffected by others. Or you can be a bag of grapes….fragrant, soft, blending, mingling, flowing into one another’s lives. Marbles are made to be counted and kept. Grapes are made to be bruised and used. Marbles scar and clank. Grapes yield and cling.

Not everyone will try to be a grape or agree. Do not let that discourage you today. You can be a grape and from that others will be grapes with you. You can shape the congregation and have the body become what Christ wants the body of the church to be.

And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

MARK 1 : 11

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org