The Unseen Riches

Prodigal: This was once beautiful!

Me: Somethings change and somethings never change.

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

One day the Reverend John Newton called upon a Christian family who had suffered the loss of all they possessed in a devastating fire. He greeted the wife and mother of the family by saying, “I give you joy.”

She seemed surprised at his words, almost offended, and replied, “What! Joy that all my property is consumed?”

“Oh no,” Newton answered, “but joy that you have so much property that fire cannot touch.”

His words reminded her of the true riches of her life, those things that she valued beyond measure.

From time to time, it is good to remind ourselves that the things we value the most are things that are unseen. They may be felt or experienced, but they cannot be handled, quantified, appraised, viewed, or calculated. The genuine riches of our lives include the love of family and friends, peace of heart, peace of mind, health, joy, hope for the future, and faith.

In the house of the righteous there is much treasure.

Proverbs 15:6

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin’ Jesus

Me: Something to remember.

Prodigal: What?

Me: Don’t be afraid of opposition. A kite rises against the wind.

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

Click here to watch the video

Proverbs 9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. (NIV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Could You Hurry a Little?

Me: We have to hurry the show is about to start.

Prodigal:  I will be there.

 

 

Lord, I know there are countless times

When I must wait patiently for You.

Waiting develops endurance.

It strengthens my faith

And deepens my dependence of You.

 

I know that You are Sovereign God–

Not an errand boy

Responding to the snap of my finger.

I know Your timing is neatly wrapped

In Your incomparable wisdom.

 

But, Lord

You have appointed prayer

To obtain answers!

Even David the Psalmist cried

With confident boldness:

“It is time, O Lord, for you to act.”

 

God, on this silent sunless morning

When I am hedged in on every side

I too cry boldly.

You are my Father, and I am Your child.

So, Lord, could You hurry a little?

 

by Ruth Harms Calkin

 

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:  and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

Daniel 2:44

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

 

Church and Work

Prodigal: I was just about to make a copy.

Me: Working is good for the soul.

Prodigal: So is God’s word.

This is from the book Joseph: A Man of Integrity and Forgiveness by Charles Swindoll

This is a good time to ask a theological question: Is God not sovereign over all realms, including the realm of our employment? Since when did character take a vacation from business? And whoever said that our faithfulness at church is more important than our faithfulness at work? Somehow I’ve never been able to understand how followers of Christ could separate life into separate segments, calling one secular and the other sacred.

What can we do today to remember that God is in our work? It is easy to separate the too. God never meant it to be separated. Let us pray for our work for a week and see how God speaks to us.

Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” So they said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we and our fathers.”

Genesis 47:3

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Women Lovin Jesus

Prodigal: I will be praising Jesus till the cows come home!

Me: Lord willing, I would love to also!

This is a short video devotion on proverbs.

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Universal Voice

 

Me:  Did you enjoy the show?

Prodigal:  He was a-dancin’ and a-hollerin’ like a barefoot boy in a bed of fire ants.

Me:  I thought he was a little much.

 

This is from the book The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer

 

This universal Voice of God was by the ancient Hebrews often called Wisdom, and was said to be everywhere sounding and searching throughout the earth, seeking some response from the sons of men.  The eighth chapter of the Book of Proverbs begins, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?”  The writer then pictures wisdom as a beautiful woman standing “in the top of the high places, by the way in the places of the paths.”  She sounds her voice from every quarter so that no one may miss hearing it.  “Unto you, O men, I call;  and my voice is to the sons of men.”  Then she pleads for the simple and the foolish to give ear to her words.  It is spiritual response for which this Wisdom of God is pleading, a response which she has always sought and is but rarely able to secure.  The tragedy is that our eternal welfare depends upon our hearing and we have trained our ears not to hear.

 

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.  Pray that the Lord will allow you to hear his quiet small voice today.  Remember we are to love and revenge is not our part in this world, that is left to the Lord.

 

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:  for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

Joel 2:32

 

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org