The heart of the Father is breaking. It grieves him to see so many of his precious children fall into Satan’s hands. He cherishes even the worst evil-doers more than we can imagine. Abba-Father has been reaching out to them in countless ways, including through saints and mystics.

God is mighty, but despises no one; / he is mighty, and firm in his purpose…. But if people are bound in chains, / held fast by cords of affliction, / he tells them what they have done—/ that they have sinned arrogantly. / He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. / If they obey and serve him, / they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity / and their years in contentment. / But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword / and die without knowledge. (Job 36:5,8-12 NIV)

When the Father’s love doesn’t reach the hearts of his lost children, he extends his mercy. When that doesn’t work, he disciplines them. Chastisements are the lion’s den that we walk into when we turn away from God. When our lives get torn apart by the lions of sinful decisions, we either turn to God for rescue or we let the lions devour us.

Our sins create our chastisements (the lion’s den) but it’s our Good Father who chooses how we are disciplined (how we are bitten). He sets us up to succeed, not to fail. He permits the Devil to torture us when we open ourselves to demons—but only in ways that have the potential to sanctify us.

It pains Abba deeply to discipline us, just like any good parent who punishes the child out of heartfelt love and concern. And like every good parent, he reluctantly but firmly expresses his love through anger when nothing else works. It’s anger towards the lion and it’s anger over the sin that put us into the lion’s den. Our Divine Daddy hates all sins because they feed us to lions.


Day 25 on the journey includes:

  1. The Illumination of Conscience
  2. The Prayer of Divine Illumination
  3. Words from our loving Mother
    On May 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary began to appear to three children in Fatima: Lucia dos Santos and her cousins Francisco and Jacinta Marto. These appearances are well known for the three secrets, and many books, articles, and websites cover them. In particular, I recommend to you the Vatican document published by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, entitled The Message of Fatima. It was published at the beginning of the third millennium when Pope Saint John Paul II decided to make public the text of the third part of the “secret of Fatima”. This document includes wonderful prayers by John Paul II, which consecrated the world to the Blessed Mother. Download it here.

 

© 2021 by Terry A. Modica

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

This book is going to soon be republished as three workbooks. Until then, the original  book is no longer available. For news updates, be sure to subscribe to the Author's Blog.


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Lois ann mader
Lois ann mader
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November 21, 2020 5:46 am

This chapter about our longing for our loved ones to fall in love with The Father is my heart’s desire especially for my boys 56 and 54– now I know how I might more effectively pray for their salvation. Thanks Terry

Mary
Mary
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November 18, 2020 1:06 pm

This was a most enlightening chapter!