Hatred Will Break Your Back

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Lord help me stay focused on you today!

Prodigal: Amen!

This is from the book In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado

Oh, the gradual grasp of hatred. Its damage begins like the crack in my windshield. Thanks to a speeding truck on a gravel road, my window was chipped. With time the nick became a crack, and the crack became a winding tributary. Soon the windshield was a spider web of fragments. I couldn’t drive my car without thinking of the jerk who drove too fast. Though I’ve never seen him, I could describe him. He is some deadbeat bum who cheats on his wife, drives with a six-pack on the seat, and keeps the television so loud that neighbors can’t sleep. His carelessness blocked my vision. (Didn’t do much for my view out the windshield either.)

Ever heard the expression “blind rage”?

Let me be very clear. Hatred will sour your outlook and break your back. The load of bitterness is simply too heavy. Your knees will buckle under the strain, and your heart will break beneath the weight. The mountain before you is steep enough without the heaviness of hatred on your back. The wisest choice–the only choice–is for you to drop the anger. You will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given you.

Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of thy kingdom is a right scepter.

PSALM 45 : 6

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

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Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on September 19, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: You are dropping off to a stick.

Me: It must be all the running around.

Prodigal: Let’s sit a spell and watch a video.

This is a video devotion on Proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 7:10

And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitue, wily of heart. (ESV).

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Tolerance Grows

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: Look at all the turtles getting along.

Me: Yes, and their unity is noticeable.

This is from the book Open Heart and Open Home by Karen Burton Mains

In order to become a family we must learn to know one another. Once we know, we can love, for loving does not come unaccompanied by understanding. We must learn to talk to one another, to tell who we are, and why we are the way we are, and who we hope to become. Tolerance grows in our Body because we have had honest glimpses of those inner men. Sensitized through the work of the Holy Spirit, we become able to breathe deep draughts of compassion. Our hearts become opened to Him, and opened to one another, and His love is able to flow through us to our brothers.

Some have not developed the best way to share their thoughts and feelings. Do not be discouraged or upset with them. We are to be patient. We are to ask the Holy Spirit to see them through His eyes and heart. We have needed plenty of patience in the past for ourselves, now we serve another in the same way.

Jonah 1:16

Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Comfort in Time of Need

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: God really is there for us.

Prodigal: God is a God of consistency.

This is from the book God Will Make a Way: Stories of Hope

Dave Berland was on his way to work at 4:00 in the morning on January 31, 1987. As he drove along the left-hand lane of the interstate, he started up a long upgrade–and that is the last thing he remembers about that morning.

According to witnesses, a van was parked on the median, half on the shoulder and half in the lane in which Dave was driving. He hit the right rear of the van, shot across the median and all four lanes of oncoming traffic, ran up the side of the hill to the right of the freeway, and then rolled back down into a ravine.

Dave was unconscious during most of the accident itself, but as he lay on the operating table, nervous and frightened, he asked the Lord to give him a word of comfort. The Lord spoke back to his heart in song, reminding him of the words of a praise tape he had recently received. “a very present help in trouble.” He closed his eyes and felt someone lay a hand on his chest. He didn’t open his eyes, but instead held onto the hand. To him, that warm hand was God’s own hand of protection on his life. A great peace engulfed him.

During his recovery from the surgery, song after song came to his mind. The Holy Spirit used music, which Dave had loved all his life, to comfort him and to build him up both spiritually and emotionally. The stronger his spirit and emotions, of course, the more quickly his body healed.

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you

John 14:18

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: What a beautiful day!

Me: Let’s praise God for some of what we have today.

Prodigal: Yes, We have so much to be thankful for.

This is a short video devotion on proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 7:9

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Created in the Right Image

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: What a beautiful image to capture the heart of Dunedin.

Prodigal: Yes, we are created in an image also.

Me: Yes, we are!

This is from the book Reclaiming Your Heart by Denise Hildreth Jones

How can we not have value when we were created in the image of the Creator himself? And yet the enemy of our heart would try to convince us that we were created in the image of something broken or damaged. Oh, what a liar he is! And how deadly the fallout of the shamed heart can be–because that basic lie can spawn one false belief after another that not only keeps us trapped in the box of shame but can also endanger our very souls.

You are not the lie that is the enemy is telling you. It may seem loud at this time. It may seem overwhelming. Do not listen. Instead listen to the voice of your shepherd. He has cared for you and loved you this whole time. The enemy would like to separate you from this shepherd. The shepherd just wants what is best for you!

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

No Meaning

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: This seems like a long journey.

Me: God is with us and He says it will all be alright.

This is from the book Vocabulary of Faith by Hampton Adams

At the end of earthly existence there is no meaning without God. Some, whistling in the dark, say that they do not care if the last pulse beat is last of everything. But what meaning does life have if there is not even a memory of it and no one to remember? You might say that you do not care for your own life to go on; but can you say honestly that you do not care about the lives of those you love? What are you saying when you say dogmatically that life ends with the death of they body? You are saying that the miracle of life–the birth of a child is nothing short of a miracle–all of its achievements,its disciplines,its wonders come to absolutely nothing. Is that not more incredulous by far than believing it means something? Furthermore, you can know that life means something–has infinite meaning–when you have fellowship with God. “This is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3).

Isaiah 52:8

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Posted on September 7, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Prodigal: We are almost finished.

Me: Yes, and I am lovin’ the fabric in this one.

Prodigal: I am also lovin’ that it is time for a video

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 7:8

Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house. (NKJV).

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Remove Our Spots

Posted on September 5, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: Are you trying to be a turtle now?

Prodigal: You are always poking fun!

Me: It is done with love.

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

I think I have known some of Christ’s disciples who have appeared to doubt the wisdom or the love of their Lord. They did not quite say that He was mistaken, but they said that He moved in a mysterious way. They did not quite complain that He was unkind to them, but they whispered that they could not reconcile His dealings with His infinite love. Alas, Jesus has endured much from our unbelief! May this illustration help us to see our spots, and may the love of our dear Lord remove them!

Lord sometimes I cannot see my unbelief. I am afraid to admit that it is there. I think some how having unbelief means that I don’t love you. I cover this up in my soul under layers of knowledge and praise. It is still there O Lord. Help uncover the unbelief and then help remind me that you are the God of the impossible!

Matthew 20:28

In the same way, the Son of Man did not come to be served. He came to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many people.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Speaking For God

Posted on September 3, 2021 by Jennifer Van Allen

Me: I am not sure about what was said by that guy.

Prodigal: He ain’t done a nary thing.

Me: Listen though for what his focus is.

This is from A.W. Pink

The prophet needed further training in secret if he was to be personally fitted to speak again for God in public….The man whom the Lord uses has to be kept low: severe discipline has to be experienced by him…..Three more years must be spent by the prophet in seclusion. How humbling! Alas, how little is man to be trusted: how little is he able to bear being put into the place of honor! How quickly self rises to the surface, and the instrument is ready to believe his is something more than an instrument. How sadly easy it is to make of the very service God entrusts us with a pedestal on which to display ourselves.

John 6:51

I am living the bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org