Me:  Prodigal, what a cute picture of a couple dancing.

Prodigal:  I thought you might like it.

Me:  With that I will share something to help other couples.

This is from the book Sunrays of Help by Dr. Albert Garner

Blessed are the husband and wife who continue to be affectionate, considerate and loving after the wedding bells have ceased ringing.

Blessed are the husband and wife who are polite and courteous to one another as they are to their friends.

Blessed are they who have a sense of humor, for this attribute will be a handy shock absorber.

Blessed are the married couples who abstain from alcoholic beverages.

Blessed are they who love their mates more than any other person in the world, and who joyfully fulfill their marriage vow of a lifetime of fidelity and mutual helpfulness to one another.

Blessed are they who remember to thank God for their food before they partake of it, and who set aside some time each day for reading the Bible and prayer.

Blessed are they who attain parenthood; for children are a hertiage of the Lord.

Blessed are those mates who never speak loudly to one another and who make their home a place “where seldom is heard a discouraging word.”

Blessed are the husband and wife who faithfully attend the worship service of the church together for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom.

Blessed are the husband and wife who humbly dedicate their lives and their home to Christ and practice the teachings of Christ in the home by being unselfish, loyal and loving.

This blessed attitude helps cement hearts and homes together to the honor of the Lord.

For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. Psalm 47:7

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: I love your pile of books.

Prodigal: I love to read!

Me: Let me share from some of my reading.

It was 4:50 p.m and I was in my office. I had anywhere between one minute or 15 minutes before my next appointment would show up in my office. A lot of work cannot take place during that time, so I find myself keeping a pile of reading material on my desk that I can quickly read while I wait. You never know what you will find on the next page, when you pick something up. You never know how it will make you feel at times too.

This was one of those times that I was surprised at what I read and how I felt. I subscribe to Psychology Today for my work. Working as a Therapist in my own private practice, it can give me up to date research.

In my practice during a single day; I can go from an atheist, saved follower of Christ, back sliding christian to Jewish person all in a couple of hours. This opens the door for many conversations. I make it a point to try and understand where the other person is coming from so that we can have an honest discussion.

Some of the new research helps me with these conversations and different symptoms that others are dealing with. One part of the publication allows for me to look into new research that is valuable for all sorts of conversations and aides in treatment. The other part allows me to see what some of the secular views of the world are focusing on at any given time.

It was here that two sentences pierced my heart with awe as I read the black print on the white paper. Rex Jung, Ph.D is a neuropsychologist and professor of neurosurgery at the University of New Mexico was the writer of this article.

Part of the awe was that I was not expecting those words in this publication. The other part was the sheer truth that these words represented.

Dr. Jung had met a Christian that was to have brain surgery due to a tumor growing on her brain. She confessed her believes as a Christian and He goes on to share a part of their conversation. He sums up the brief interaction in two sentences that changed my thoughts for the night.

“Sara spoke in a manner that was at once bracing and comforting. It’s not often that I meet someone so secure in their beliefs as to speak so fearlessly and openly.”

Have I ever spoke fearlessly or openly about Christ that it touched a soul? Have I stopped in my day, to let my spirit show to others in just how I speak?

What a life. What a life if 50 years from now, you don’t remember my name. In 50 years though you remember a woman who once spoke fearlessly and openly about Christ that the busy word stopped and your soul was touched by the truth of the universe and it would not allow you to forget.

Can that happen with a person? I know it can’t. You know what can happen? For a moment, the flesh can decrease and the spirit increase, and then in just a matter of minutes, the heart of love is present. Love is God and God is love and you know that this is the most powerful thing the universe has ever seen.

1 John 4:16

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org