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

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                      The Master Carpenter


Little one, I know your pain.  There are times when I must allow you to 
go through something painful in order that your character might grow 
and mature.  At times, I must allow the hurts of the past to come to the 
surface in order that their power in your life may be broken.  Yes, there 
will be times when you will struggle with thoughts or attitudes that you 
would be ashamed for others to know about.  There will be times that you 
will feel frightened or anxious or immature in some area.  There will be 
times when you will react poorly to certain situations because of the 
pains of your past.  

Do not be frightened when I allow this to surface in your life.  I do 
not allow these things to come up because I want to torment you.  
Rather, I allow them that they may be completely dealt with, that their 
power to torment you might be forever broken and disabled.  When I 
walked on this earth, did I come to set captives free and to heal those 
who were afflicted by the enemy?  My nature and My character and My 
motivations have not changed just because I died, rose from the dead 
and ascended to My rightful place in Heaven.  I still set captives free 
today and I desire to work My freedom and My wholeness in every area of 
your heart and life.

So, do not be afraid to approach Me when you struggle in this area.  Do 
not fear that I will stop loving you because of your struggles. I will 
not be disappointed in you and I will not push you away. Rather I will 
meet you and I will help you in the midst of these struggles, for it is 
My desire that you be whole in every way.  I will not push you away.  
I will hold you in My arms and pour My strength and My healing into you.  

But, if you resist Me in this process, I will be relentless.  I am 
truth and I cannot allow you to live in a lie and to pretend you do not 
struggle in this area.  I do not want to cover up your weaknesses and 
inadequacies and flaws. That is not My way.  My way is to expose them 
and remove them from your life, to break their power over you, to give 
you victory over the things of the past that beset you.  

I am truth and I am light. And if you come to Me, My light will expose 
your darkness that I might dispel it.  Therefore, I will force you to 
look at lies and renounce them.  I will force you to look at your 
strongholds of bitterness and unforgiveness, then to dismantle them by 
forgiving in the manner that I have commanded you to do.  I will force 
you to confront your walls and your defense mechanisms in order that 
you might place them into My hand. I require you to turn over your 
right to protect yourself from "being hurt again" so that I can be the 
One to protect you -- I will do a better job protecting and healing 
than you could ever do for yourself.  I will force you to confront 
your pain that I might take it out of your life and break its power 
over you.  I will confront whatever area of sorrow or pain or fear or 
despair or failure that you are struggling with.  Then I will work with 
you to take it out of your life and replace it with My wholeness, for I 
have come to give you peace and life and joy.

I am the Master Carpenter, and I am building a good work in your life.
As any carpenter does, I will examine the wood I work with.  If I 
find any bumps or gnarls in that wood, I will shave them down and 
sand them off.  I will, through My indwelling Holy Spirit, do a good 
work in your life and I will craft you will excellence.  This means 
that from time to time I will spotlight your imperfections that I might 
sand them down and polish them off, so that the work I do in you might 
be perfect in Me.

Do not be afraid when I touch these hidden areas of your life and 
confront you with them.  Do not pull away from Me try to hide them. Work 
together with Me to address them and to break their power over you that 
you might be free of them.  I am truth and I am light and I am life, and 
I will cause these things to manifest in your life that your joy might 
be full and that you may be whole and perfect before Me.  So, do not be 
afraid or dismayed that I work on these areas in your life.  Trust Me. 
My plans for you are good and I will surely do a good work in your life.