Prodigal: Look what I found.
Me: Yes, that was used long ago, to try and keep others safe.
Prodigal: Weapons might have changed but the Jesus has not.
Thank you for watching my video
Prodigal 3:31
Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: What does Jesus want from me?
Me: He wants your heart.
Prodigal: He has my heart.
Me: He wants all your heart.
This is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan
LUKEWARM PEOPLE say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives.
“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good bye to my family, “Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:57-62).
The Lord is testing you and wants you to give up control of everything. Trust Him. He has a plan but you have to have faith. He needs to work behind the scenes and you will not be able to see what is going on. This means your faith and trust in the Lord will be your obedience.
We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.
Psalm 78:4
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: I want to hear a story to celebrate this special day.
Me: I will give you a true story that is very special!
It was September 14th 2018, and it was that time of year that makes you pay close attention to the weather forecast. See, my family is from the east coast of North Carolina where hurricanes do hit. We just don’t know how often, or how strong. The hurricane that year was Florence. She had quickly strengthened to a grade 4 hurricane, but by the time she would hit, she would be at a grade 2. They were predicting a lot of rain though.
I was out of the area at that time, but had been watching, and tracking the storm by the internet. I looked on the radar, and I could see some of the first bands were going over my parents house. I called to check on them.
“Dad, how are you doing?” I said. “We are fine.” my dad said. ” Where is mom?” I said. “She’s out yonder walking in the storm.” “I told her to stay away from trees” replied my Dad with a sense of not understanding. “I will try to call her, I love you, bye.” I responded.
I attempted to call my mom with no response to her cell phone. I then decided to wait, and reach back out later. I waited 15 minutes, and then called back.
“Hi” responded my mom. “Where are you, and what were you doing?” I asked. “Well I took a walk over to Miss Libby’s, and I went to grape vine, and ate some of the grapes that were on the vine.” They were not as sweet as your grandmother’s, but they were good. I only got to eat a handful the rest were not ready yet.”
See I was watching the storm. I was tracking this storm. I was listening to several different sources about this storm. I was wondering what the storm was going to do. Would it be a bad storm? Would it leave much damage? I called, and wanted to know about the storm. I called, and wanted to know the experience of the storm.
My mom didn’t tell me about the storm. No, my mom told me about the vine, and the fruit of the vine.
See my mother is the daughter of a farmer. My Grandfather’s whole life was about the farm, and the crops. That was the focus. That was the topic everyday, and the crops were what was important. Crops provided money, food to eat, and a way of life. How the crops were determined a lot about the day, and week they were having.
Without realizing it, my mother just did what came natural from her relationship with her father. She went to the vine, and looked at the fruit. She knew the storm would take away the grapes. She did not want to waste that fruit.
In John 15 you read the following.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
See our Father in heaven is the true vine, and fruit comes from the Father. We represent our Father’s fruit. See some of you are in an emotional storm that is like a hurricane. Then some of you are watching that storm in a dear friend. Are you like me? Tracking that storm, trying to find out all the information you can about that storm? Are you like my mom? She is focused on the vine. She is focused on the fruit. She is just doing what comes natural because of the relationship with her father.
The storm does not matter as much. The storm is not as big as the vine, and the fruit on the vine. Others may think the storm is more important, but your Father is telling you that the fruit is.
Today, don’t be like me. No, I want you to be like my mom. Look more closely at that fruit.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: Jesus I love you!
Prodigal: Praise changes the spirit.
Thank you for watching my video
Proverbs 3:30
Do not accuse anyone for no reason-when they have done you no harm.
Jennifer Van Allen.
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: It is so cold out here!
Me: I hope the drive back is warmer.
Prodigal: It should be.
This is from the book Revolutions in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
By the winter of 1980, I was ready to start my first major tour. I bought a budget air ticket that gave me unlimited travel for 21 days–and somehow I managed to make appointments in 18 cities. My itinerary would take me through the southwest, from Dallas to Los Angeles.
On the day of my departure, a terrible winter storm hit the region. All the buses–including the one I planned to take from Eufaula, Oklahoma, to Dallas–were cancelled.
Our old Nova had some engine problems, so a neighbor offered to let me use an old pickup truck with a heater. The vehicle looked as if it could not make it to the next town, let alone the six-hour drive to Dallas. But it was either the pickup or nothing. If I missed my flight, the tightly packed schedule would be ruined. I had to go now.
Doing the best I could to stay warm, I put on two pairs of socks and all the clothing I could. But even with the extra protection, I was on U.S. Highway 75 only a few minutes when it appeared I had made a terrible mistake. A freezing snow covered the windshield within minutes. After every mile I had to stop, get out and scrape the windows again. Soon my feet and gloves were soaked and frozen. I realized that the journey was going to take a lot longer than the six hours I had left. In my worst scenario, I saw the newspaper headlines reading “Preacher Freezes to Death in Winter” My head dropped to the steering wheel, and I cried out to God.
“Lord, if You want me to go–if You believe in this mission and in my helping the national evangelists–please do something.”
As I looked up, I saw a miracle on the windshield. The ice was melting rapidly before my eyes. Warmth flooded the truck. I looked at the heater, but nothing was coming out. Outside, the storm continued to rage. It kept up all the way to Dallas, but the truck was always warm, and the windshield was always clear.
Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
Mark 14:38
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: What a pretty place to worship, and focus on God.
Prodigal: I believe worship helps us to remain focused on God.
How do you talk about what is hard to talk about? How do you discuss the tough issues with Christ. There were a couple of bible verses that haunted me. I just did not like the way that they sounded. How could the Lord who loved us put these in the bible.
I have a feeling that these verses are tough for others to read also. These verses are not quoted in your daily bible verse calendar. They are not in you christian journal at the bottom of the page. They are not on your coffee mugs, bible holders, and tote bags. They will not be the first 10 verses that you memorize.
No these verses are almost avoided. I am not one to avoid , and turn my eye. I like to figure it out. I like to try and understand. Even now today, I am not sure if I completely understand these verses, but over the years I think God has shown me some insight.
Matthew 10:37-39
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Is this verse trying to break the family apart, and make us unhappy? I thought maybe this was the case, and it confused me. That is not what God is saying here.
This verse is discussing something else entirely. I think this verse is really about idolatry. We do not really understand idolatry. Truth be told I probably have idolatry in my heart daily.
These verses warn about putting anything in top priority over the Lord. When we put something in first place with affections, and choices than it is idolatry. Idolatry will steal our joy , cause conflict around us.
When we look at the verse it says do not love son or daughter more than the Lord. How many conflicts and problems have you experienced in the past month with family that had to deal this. You are thinking none. Let me put it this way. Was their jealousy because someone in the family seems to be favored? Was their arguments over time spent with others, money spent and how decisions are made? Looking deeper were the real issues due to a jealousy. That person thinks another person is loved more. That person is afraid that they are not loved.
If God is priority, we have a tendency to then allow God to direct us in time spent, how decisions are made, and how money is spent. If someone questions us, and our decisions, we can honestly answer, the Lord has guided me. Conflict can easily be stopped when one person has put the priority correctly.
Looking back at my own life, I can clearly see this. Wanting approval, wanting control, or wanting the attention of others, I start moving God lower on my list. I start making decisions based on these people. I make decisions for their approval, and not God. I make decisions based on controlling the outcomes, and not God’s plan. I make decisions so I can have attention of others instead of the approval of God.
This at times will all point to one of those cross roads in your life. Putting God first means that he wants to to put mother, father, daughter, or son in second. They may not be happy with this decision. You may not be happy with this decision. It may seem like you are losing your life.
In a way you are. You are putting down your plan, and goals. You are agreeing completely to God’s plan, and goals. You will be misunderstood. Others will complain of the mess you are making. They may try to talk you out it.
What I have realized though is trusting God, and putting Him first always results in peace. In also requires that your faith is exercised by action, and not just words.
This is not the world’s message today. This may run against all logic. This may also seem like a dead end to you. When we pick up our cross, and walk toward the Lord. We keep people not between us, and the Lord but behind us. We will then be caring our cross. We will make sure that our view of who the Lord is, and our relationship is not blocked by the view of another person. We will clearly see the Lord before us, and from that view we can turn around, and see truth in our relationships with others.
The question to ask yourself now, is when you look upon the cross, what do you see? Is there anything blocking your view, no matter how big or small. The second question is are you going to move it? We are not called to complete this task alone. As we call on the Lord, He will also help you carry this cross. He has already had practice.
Luke 14:33
So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: If you are pumping water, I would like some refreshing water.
Prodigal: Sure, no problem, I will have some for you.
Me: We all need refreshment.
This is from the book All of Grace by C.H. Spurgeon
A certain man placed a fountain along a busy road. Then he hung a cup near to it by a little chain. He was told some time afterward that a great art critic had found much fault with its design. “But,” he asked, “do many thirsty people drink at it?” Then they told him that thousands of poor people, men, women, and children, quenched their thirst at this fountain. He smiled and said that he was not troubled by the critic’s observation. He only hoped on some hot summer’s day the critic himself might fill the cup, be refreshed, and praise the name of the Lord.
Here is my fountain, and here is my cup. Find fault if you wish, but do drink of the water of life. I care only for this. I would rather bless the soul of the poorest street cleaner or rag-gatherer than please a prince and fail to convert him to God.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: It is a warm day today.
Me: That is good for the weather but might not be good for Christians.
This is from the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan
LUKEWARM PEOPLE gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t a hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are no where as horrible as the guy down the street.
“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: “God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get” (Luke 18:11-12).
This is such a trap for us to think that we can coast on spirituality. We think we have done good for one day. We make this mistake, and feel we are better than others. It is always best to view us in the eyes of how the Lord sees us. He sees us as sinners. He loves us, and died for us on the cross. We all need Jesus. We all need Him everyday. It doesn’t matter if others have put you on a pedal stool. Don’t let that pedal stool turn to a life of pride. Instead look up and see how you are viewed with Jesus up above.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Matthew 6:26
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Prodigal: What a beautiful place!
Me: I agree, I am glad we are here!
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Proverbs 3:29
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
Me: A lot of people are thinking about the New Year!
Prodigal: Yes, some of it is not all positive.
Me: That is what the Lord can help us with.
This is from the book Revolution in World Missions by K.P. Yohannan
In some way, which I still do not really understand, the trying of our faith works patience and hope into the fabric of our Christian lives. No one, I am convinced, will follow Jesus very long without tribulation. It is His way of demonstrating His presence. Sufferings and trials–like persecution–are a normal part of the Christian walk. We must learn to accept them joyfully if we are to grow through them, and I think this is true for ministries as well as individuals.
The Lord becomes a friend that brings peace if we let him during a trial. He allows us not to be alone even when the world does not understand at times.
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isaiah 35:1
Jennifer Van Allen
www.theprodigalpig.com
www.faithincounseling.org
