#chastening

[kafkaontheroad]

Awwww

[kzong-ngajato]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The godly do suffer and complain about it at times. But the Bible teaches plainly that their suffering, even after their conversion and reconciliation to God, is not punishment any longer, but chastening. It is not the punishment of a God who is angry with them, but the chastening of a God who is reconciled to them. Whom God loves, the Scriptures says, He chastens. He makes all things, including pain, “work together for good for them that love God, and are called according to His purpose.” That should be the consolation and strength of the saints… That affliction is actually a blessing in disguise. At other times, the pain hurts so much that they cannot, through the tears, see the disguise. Momentarily they lament the heavy hand of God upon them, but when they are thinking in their most saintly character, they praise God. His rod and staff comfort them.

John Gerstner

[ingodsarms57]

Been studying Chastening and Repentance and some things satan uses to to defeat us.

Don’t let satan defeat you! Always stand strong for God. And if Satan attacks, go to God and He will help you.

[savedforlaterdotorg]

What is chastening?

Now that we are Christians, we can expect all rainbows, sunshine, and smooth sailing in our lives, right? Isn’t that what the Bible says? Actually no. The Bible says we should expect tribulation from the world, and chastening from the Lord.

Though God’s chastening is for our good, we rarely identify it as something pleasant. So what is chastening?

As always, please feel free to like, not like, co…

View On WordPress

[first-i-will-say-a-little-p-blog]

Chastening | 7/10/1796

     He looked down his nose at the boy, eyeing him with some scrutiny. He did not see that he had grown much over the course of his time away. He was short for his age, and still rather scrawny; too small, too thin. Nothing at all like his own son. Then again, the other one had been sickly too, hadn’t he? Rickets or some such. Left him with one leg deformed. One could not have contested that Elizabeth was a beautiful woman——and, from what he had seen of her, an obedient and good-natured one. Far more so than his own wife, he had often thought, with a none-too-concealed sourness. Still, perhaps her own fragile constitution prevented her from producing a truly healthy child. Perhaps, in that sense——and only in that sense——he had been landed with the better of the two cousins.

     His thoughts fell to Morwenna and her shortcomings, both in her unwelcoming manner and physical weakness, and what they had resulted in. No——no, he most certainly had not been landed with the better. He could not imagine that George ever had to suffer through such tribulations. And surely, if there was credit to be assumed for John Conan’s vitality, it must be assumed by himself. It seemed impossible that Morwenna, with her own tending towards sickliness, would have had anything to do with it. Of course, it might’ve been the luck of the draw. Or God’s hand in the thing, seen fit to bless him with a strong and healthy son, after all of the other hardships he had been forced to bear. Who was he to say, a mere man?

     But certainly, it had been no doing of Morwenna’s.

     He also did not like how he——this boy——was always riding over here unannounced. As George’s son——or stepson, rather——he could not very well turn him away, or treat him over-harshly. He would not have been inclined to think it of George, but to him, the child seemed markedly undisciplined; a consequence, perhaps, of his having been allowed to run rampant for too long without a father. He was always prattling on, always an opinion on that or this. Looking in on Morwenna, inquiring after her health with a critical eye that suggested he somehow held him at fault for her condition. Him, Osborne, as though he had not done everything within his power——gone above and beyond——to restore her. Of course, if the boy did entertain such a belief, it was likely Morwenna’s doing.

     He also resented anyone whose company Morwenna seemed to welcome, and for some reason, she welcomed this boy’s. Sometimes, he felt that she did it just to spite him------and to him, it all seemed bitterly unfair. Of course, he also could not help but to take some affront, that while George never called, his stepson did. For that matter, so did his wife. And what was he supposed to make of that, eh? Not that George had ever given him reason to think he had anything whatsoever against him------and why would he?

     Still, one would have thought that he might have made time enough to call upon the vicarage now and again, in particular, after all that he, Ossie, had done for him. George was a busy man, certainly, but that was hardly an excuse. He was a busy man, too. Perhaps busier than George, as he was not so well circumstanced, and quite literally could not afford to dictate so many of his tasks to others——a cross that he bravely, and solemnly bore. Still, he did not suppose that all men could be expected to manage their affairs so tactfully as he.

     “Seen her, have you?” He loomed tall over the boy, who had just come down from Morwenna’s room——hands clasped behind his back, hoping that if he did not offer him any refreshment or opportunity to ask questions, he would take his leave. He had long since learned——to his sullen indignation, and moderate dismay——that it was no good trying to intimidate him into departing. The child had none of the deference he rightly should have had for his elders. “Satisfied——?” His tone was brusque and somewhat snappish, knowing full well the surly and suspicious attitudes that he was likely to be met with, and resenting them, as he resented the situation on a whole.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Prayer in Time of Chastening

1 In thy great indignation, O Lord, rebuke me not; Nor on me lay thy chast'ning hand, in thy displeasure hot.

2 For in me fast thine arrows stick, thine hand doth press me sore:

3 And in my flesh there is no health, nor soundness any more. This grief I have, because thy wrath is forth against me gone; And in my bones there is no rest, for sin that I have done.

4 Because gone up above mine head my great transgressions be; And, as a weighty burden, they too heavy are for me.

5 My wounds do stink, and are corrupt; my folly makes it so.

6 I troubled am, and much bow'd down; all day I mourning go.

7 For a disease that loathsome is so fills my loins with pain, That in my weak and weary flesh no soundness doth remain.

8 So feeble and infirm am I, and broken am so sore, That, through disquiet of my heart, I have been made to roar.

9 O Lord, all that I do desire is still before thine eye; And of my heart the secret groans not hidden are from thee.

10 My heart doth pant incessantly, my strength doth quite decay; As for mine eyes, their wonted light is from me gone away.

11 My lovers and my friends do stand at distance from my sore; And those do stand aloof that were kinsmen and kind before.

12 Yea, they that seek my life lay snares: who seek to do me wrong Speak things mischievous, and deceits imagine all day long.

13 But, as one deaf, that heareth not, I suffer'd all to pass; I as a dumb man did become, whose mouth not open'd was:

14 As one that hears not, in whose mouth are no reproofs at all.

15 For, Lord, I hope in thee; my God, thou'lt hear me when I call.

16 For I said, Hear me, lest they should rejoice o'er me with pride; And o'er me magnify themselves, when as my foot doth slide.

17 For I am near to halt, my grief is still before mine eye:

18 For I'll declare my sin, and grieve for mine iniquity.

19 But yet mine en'mies lively are, and strong are they beside; And they that hate me wrongfully are greatly multiply'd.

20 And they for good that render ill, as en'mies me withstood; Yea, ev'n for this, because that I do follow what is good.

21 Forsake me not, O Lord; my God, far from me never be.

22 O Lord, thou my salvation art, haste to give help to me. — Psalm 38 | Metrical Psalms 1650 (MP1650) The Metrical Psalter, © British and Foreign Bible Society 2015. All rights reserved. Cross References: Job 3:24; Job 6:4; Job 19:5; Job 30:28; Job 31:40; Job 33:19; Psalm 6:1; Psalm 6:7; Psalm 9:13; Psalm 13:2; Psalm 17:6; Psalm 22:19; Psalm 27:1; Psalm 35:4; Psalm 35:22; Psalm 71:12; Ezra 9:6; Matthew 6:8; Luke 23:49; 2 Corinthians 7:9-10; 1 John 3:12;

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto sons {children}, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the LORD, nor faint when thou art rebuked of HIM; —  Hebrews 12:5 | King James Bible: Purple Letter Edition (KJBP) King James Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2009 by Jim Musser. All rights Reserved.