Inspirational article from Joanne Lowe

God's Woodshed

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

Hebrews 12: 5, 6 King James Version

This afternoon I said something unkind to someone and really didn’t think about what I was saying until I had said it. Ever since then, I have been nauseous like I always get when I hurt Jesus. I am so thankful to know that when He chastens us, He does it out of Love for us and not out of hatred.

I have been to God’s Woodshed many times in my life. Thankfully, the trips are getter fewer and farther apart. His spankings go straight to the heart. If you have ever been there, then you know how I feel right now.

This is why I sent a letter to everyone on my mailing list right before Christmas telling them not to put their eyes on me because I am human. I sin and make mistakes just like you do. We need to keep our eyes and our focus on Jesus.

One of the things I have learned as a result of being chastised is that satan will try to use it to defeat us. God does not hold it against us. When we tell Him we are sorry and ask Him to forgive us; He forgives us and never brings it up again.

If you’re struggling with something that you have done that you know hurts Jesus, confess it to Him, ask forgiveness, ask Him to help you never to do it again, and then let it go.

Joanne Lowe

March 16, 2006

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