This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis (ts@godspeak.org)

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                        Grow In My Love

Child of Mine, I expect you to grow and mature in Me.  I expect your 
motivations to change over time, to become more closely attuned with 
Mine. I expect your thinking patterns to change, to begin to reflect 
Mine. I even expect the desires of your heart to change over time, 
that they match Mine more closely. I expect to see changes in your 
thinking and behavior that more closely reflect My nature. I expect 
you to approach more and more situations the way you know I would 
approach them.  

I also expect you to grow and mature in your love for one another. Have 
I not commanded you to love one another?  Have I not said that by this 
people will know that you are My disciples?  It is time to grow up in 
your love for your brethren.

Child of Mine, you cannot be mature in Me and if you are not also
mature in My love, for I am a God of love.  That is one of My defining 
characteristics. And My children must be defined in love as well.  I 
cannot permit division in My body.  I cannot permit My children to harm 
each other, nor can I permit you to harbor resentment, bitterness or
unforgiveness in your heart towards any of your brethren.  That is the 
world's way, it is not My way. A small child may get away with that for 
a season; but things that were permissible to you as an infant are no 
longer permissible to you as you grow and mature in Me.

Child, I am calling you to maturity in the area of loving one another.
But do not fret, for I will enable you to do this. First I will teach
you to accept My love for you, that you are established and secure.
For you cannot love one another if you cannot first love yourself
and receive the love that I have for you.  And child, I do love you
greatly.  It is important for you to know that.  

I will also empower you to receive My forgiveness, for you cannot forgive 
others the wrongs they have committed against you until you know you are
truly forgiven.  And I do forgive all of your inadequacies and sins; I
do not hold them against you.  That is what My blood accomplished for
you on Calvary.  Child, I have seen each of your faults and weaknesses -- 
I have truly known you.  And I still love you and accept you.  There is 
nothing you can surprise Me with; there is nothing in you that will shock 
Me or cause Me to draw away from you in horror.  There is no dirt in you
that I cannot wash away -- and I am willing to make you clean and pure
before Me.  I am willing to strengthen that in you which is weak.  I am 
willing to transform the areas of your thinking and motivations that need 
to change.  I am willing to work My glory in you and to make you a vessel 
of My love.  Little One, you are truly forgiven and you are secure in Me. 
I will not reject you nor push you away.  

But at the same time, I do expect you to love and honor me. I expect
you to obey My commands. And I have commanded you to love one another.  
It is time to put aside your differences and learn to obey My command.  
It is time that you bring glory to My name in this area -- love one 
another as I have loved you.

I do not give you commands that I will not empower you to keep. So
come to Me and allow Me to saturate you with My love.  Allow Me to
cause compassion to grow and spring forth within you. Allow Me to 
fill you with My love.  I am willing to do this for you and I am able
to accomplish it in your life.  I expect you to obey what I command,
but I will enable and empower you to do so if you will only come to 
Me and ask Me for help in that area.  Ask Me to cause My compassion
to grow in you. Ask Me to fill you with My love, and I will do it.

Child of Mine, it is time to grow and mature in My love.