Prodigal: That was so good my fat cells are singin’ praises to the Lord.

Me: Amen!

This is from Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders

Samuel Brengle, noted for his sense of holiness, felt the heat of caustic criticism . Instead of rushing to defend himself; he replied: “From my heart I thank you for your rebuke. I think I deserved it. Wil you, my friend, remember me in prayer?” When another critic attacked his spiritual life. Brengle replied: “I thank you for your criticism of my life. It set me to self-examination and heart-searching and prayer, which always leads me into a deeper sense of my utter dependence on Jesus for holiness of heart, and into sweeter fellowship with Him.

With such a response, criticism is turned from a curse into a blessing, from a liability into an asset.

Paul sought the favor of God, not of people. His hard work was not to please those around him (Galatians 1:10). Nor was Paul terribly disturbed by criticism. “I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court….It is the Lord who judges me” ) 1 Corinthians 4:3-4. Paul could afford to take lightly the comments and criticism of others, for his heart was owned by God (Colossians 3:22).

But link indifference to human opinion with a weak spiritual life, and the result is disaster. The same independence from human opinion can be a valuable asset to the person whose life goal is the glory of God. Paul’s ear was tuned to the voice of God, and human voices were faint by comparison. He was fearless of human judgment, because he was conscious of standing before a higher tribunal (2 Corinthians 8:21).

Where you go, I will go;

where you lodge, I will lodge;

your people shall be my people,

and your God my God.

Where you die, I will die–

there will I be buried.

May the Lord do thus and so to me,

and more as well,

if even death parts me from you.

Ruth 1:16-17 (NRSV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: We’re here to Praise the Lord.

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. (KJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: I don’t know what to think of them.

Me: Well, looks can be deceiving.

Prodigal: How can you tell?

This is from the book Bold Love by Dr. Dan Allender & Dr. Tremper Longman III

Evil is bad. That is, it is persistently destructive. But it is also deceitfully subtle. Consequently, evil rarely shows itself as bad. In fact, it often portrays itself as helpful, open, kind, generous, long-suffering. An inclination to evil taints all activity, even the gifts of kindness that appear genuine. Such kindness or generosity seems to entangle the victim deeper in the evil person’s web. If one is in a relationship with an evil person for long, the signs of death will begin to show–anemia (a loss of self, vitality, and strength), despair (a loss of desire and hope), and disorientation (a loss of direction and purpose). Many of these symptoms are also the byproduct of a relationship with an arrogant, hard, and destructive person who may not be inclined to deeper shades of evil. How does one make a distinction between an evil person and a less destructive person who may not be inclined to deeper shades of evil. How does one make a distinction between an evil person and a less destructive person ( a fool)?

A fool might withhold involvement unless you conform to his will and might intimidate or manipulate to gain advantage. His goal is to get you to conform, and once that end is achieved, he is at peace. An evil person, on the other hand, wants conformity and much more. He wants unearned devotion that borders on worship–a form of sacrifice that requires the loss of one’s will, mind, and soul. He displays a craving to suck the other’s soul dry until every drop of life has been drawn for his own benefit.

Evil steals faith, hope, and love. Faith involves trusting in what is unseen and unknown, and is required in almost every moment of our existence. An evil person uses the access of trust to obliterate any desire to trust others, and even to trust in oneself. Consequently, the effect of evil is to remove from its victim any discernment or sense of caution in relating to evil and, at the same time, to create a hypervigilant fear of anyone good. Evil betrays trust and makes faith look ridiculously foolish. Evil misuses power and then claims innocence. If that is questioned, then evil uses shame or mockery to bludgeon the victim into accepting the blame.

Psalm 55:17

Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Me: Sometimes you have ants in your pants, but sometimes you have to pause anyway and rest.

Prodigal: Yes, I need that time now.

This is from the book Lead Like Jesus by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges and Phyllis Hendry

Only when you really know God will He truly be the object of your worship. When you know God is good, when you know He loves you with no strings attached, and when you know that He will never leave you, then you can trust Him above all others and you will worship Him more freely. When you are in deep trouble and the only One you can call on is your heavenly Father–the One who put the stars in place, who loved you first, who created you, and who has a perfect plan for you life–then you will worship Him more wholeheartedly. We come to know God through our experiences with Him, and our worship of God increases and is enriched as we come to know Him better.

Matthew 1:23

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us).

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org

Prodigal: God be with me today!

Me: Amen!

This is a short video devotion on Proverbs

click here to watch the video

Proverbs 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongs days, But the years of the wicked will be shortened. (NKJV)

Jennifer Van Allen

www.theprodigalpig.com

www.faithincounseling.org