This word is submitted by Teresa Seputis [ts@godspeak.net]

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                           Goodness and Mercy

    "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; 
     And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." --Psalm 23:6

Child of Mine, I am a good God and a loving Father, and My intentions 
for you are good. But so many of My children don't believe that about 
Me.

Some of My own have been told that I want them to suffer, so that I 
might develop their character. Or they have been taught that if they
yield to Me, then I will force them to do the things that they hate.
But those thing are lies, carefully crafted by the enemy of your soul
to cause fear; to drive in a wedge of separation and distrust, and 
keep My own from entering into full intimacy with Me.

The truth is that My heart for My own is that of a loving and protective 
Father. Think about this, dear one: What father in his right mind wants 
his children to suffer in order to develop their character? What father 
in his right mind wants his children to be miserable, or wants to force 
them to do only things they hate?

Do you think I am like that? Do you believe I am not in My right mind
when it comes to taking care of My own? 

Child of Mine, let Me assure you of this: I am in My right mind, and I 
care greatly for each of My own. My plans for you are good, and I am 
capable of bringing them to pass in your life as you put your trust in 
Me.

Dear one, I don't want you to suffer. It is the enemy of your souls who 
wants that for you...not Me. It is true that I don't protect you from 
every attack, because you do need to learn to war and you do need to 
learn how to walk in faith and stand firm. But here is what you do not 
realize: I protect you from so many attacks that you are not even aware 
of. I constantly dispatch My angels and My heavenly resources to take 
care of you. I do that because I am a good and loving father, and 
because you are My own dear child.

So, dear one, open your heart and start to believe the truth. Believe
that My plans for you are good. Believe that My mercy will follow you
until I have accomplished many blessings in your life.

Look to Me and expect good from Me, for I have many good things for 
you.