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

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                             Grow

My children, I have called you to a season of growth, and it is My 
intention for you to grow in Me.  It does not matter where you are at
in your walk with Me. I do not expect you to stay there, I expect
you to continue to grow and develop and mature in Me.

Seedlings
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Some of you are like seedlings and your season of growth is pushing 
through until you poke your head above the soil -- or until you begin 
to get a handle on the many circumstances that surround you and 
effect you.  And I say to you, have faith and trust in Me.  I am your 
deliverer and I am your helper.  I will bring My glory into your 
situations, so do not fear and do not give up.  Keep on holding on and 
pressing through.  

My hand is upon you even when you cannot feel it.  I am with you even 
when you cannot see Me, and I will never leave you.  I am teaching you 
to walk by faith.  I am developing your ability to put your trust in 
Me.  The faith that is developing within you may seem small or shaky.  
There may be fear and there may be uncertainty.  But these things do 
not nullify faith.  True faith is to trust in Me even in the midst of 
fear and uncertainty.  

If you keep on trusting, despite these things, then your faith shall be 
rewarded and you shall have your breakthrough.  I will cause you to rise 
up and walk in My victory.  I will make you an overcomer and I will give 
you a peace that passes all understanding no matter what circumstances 
you might find yourself in.  

Child of Mine, experience My faithfulness and My love for you.  Grow in 
faith and grow in your knowledge of Me.

Sprouts
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Some of you are in your rapid growth season, like the stem that shoots 
up quickly and where the buds begin to form.  Know that I am bringing 
you into a season where I am teaching you of the things of My Spirit 
and of My Kingdom.  You may find that I place some restrictions on you,
that things which used to be permissible to you are no longer so.  That
is because I am increasing My presence with you and drawing you to a
closer place to Me.  That is because I am removing the things of your
past that hinder you, so that I might fill you with more of Myself.  I 
am placing anointings upon you and giftings within you.  

Look to Me and trust Me -- for these I will cause these buds of gifting 
and anointing to blossom in due season.  At present they are just hints 
of the things to come.  Do not be discouraged and do not give in.  Grow 
in your gifting through 'reason of use.'  Practice doing with Me what I 
am doing, even though you are not seeing the level of power and 
anointing that you desire.  It will come.

Do not despise the days of small beginnings.  The flower must first 
become a bud before it can open up and blossom and show forth it's 
fragrance and beauty.  Even so, My anointing must start as a bud before 
you will see the full manifestation of it in your life and ministry.  
I start most things small and give increase over time.  But that does 
not mean that I have small plans for you.  A small beginning does not 
mean that I have placed a small calling on your life.  Be faithful to 
serve Me with what you have and you will see increase.  

Look eagerly forward to that day of increase.  Do not become satisfied 
with what you already possess.  Do not stop asking Me for more.  Ask Me 
for more giftings and for higher levels of anointings.  Ask Me for 
kingdom opportunities to do with Me what I am doing.  Ask Me for more 
wisdom.  Ask Me for increased maturity and that I might complete the 
inner healings that I am doing in your hearts and lives.  Look to Me 
to develop more of My character within you.  Ask Me to give you greater 
clarity in discerning My voice.  Ask Me for an increase of My tangible 
presence to surround you.  Do not be satisfied with what you already 
have but look for an increase.

But I must warn you of one thing: to get more of Me and more of My 
giftings and anointings, you must give Me more of yourself.  You must 
open your heart to Me.  You must commit to obey Me.  You must open your 
finances to Me. And you must give Me more of your time and attention.
For that is how you grow -- by consuming yourself with Me.  Give Me more 
of yourself, and I will give you more of Myself.  And I will cause you 
to grow beyond your wildest imagination.

Trees
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Some of you are already established like strong tall trees.  But even 
the tall trees and the mighty oaks do not stop growing.  Each year 
they add another ring to their trunk, they increase in their stature 
and durability.  Throughout their lives, they continue to face winter 
seasons where there is lack.  But they do not grow discouraged nor faint 
of heart, for they know with a certainty that spring will surely come.  
Likewise, you must not allow your faith to waiver when I allow 
hardships or difficulties or trials in your life.  I have come through 
for you in the past, I have brought My glory into your situations.  I am 
the Lord God who does not change.  I will do it again for you.  Trust
in your current situation based on your past experiences of My 
faithfulness.  Be an example to the younger ones who have not yet 
experienced My faithfulness in their lives.  Be an example to My people, 
even as Joseph was and even as Daniel was.   Allow Me to demonstrate
My faithfulness to others through the situations that you face and how
I meet you in them.  Allow Me to continue to glorify My name through
your life.

Know that I am not done growing you.  I will once again bring the 
seasons of new growth into your life.  I will form new buds within you.
Continue to be faithful in what I have already given you, but look to 
Me for more.  Continue to ask Me for deeper intimacy. Continue to ask 
Me for new giftings and for increased anointings.  Those of you who are 
mature in kingdom things must not allow yourself to stagnate.  Do not 
stop growing.  Continue to look to Me for an increase.  Look to Me to 
teach you more of My ways and reveal more of Myself to you.  Look to Me 
for the ability to not only move in My anointings, but to impart them 
into others.  Look for the opportunity to help those grow who are not 
yet to the place where I have already taken you.  

Do not stay where you are at.  Keep growing, keep maturing in Me. If you
don't, then the others will pass you by and leave you in the dust, for
growth is a part of My order and of My kingdom.  I am commanding you 
to continue to grow in Me and to continue to seek to know Me better. I 
am larger than you can imagine.  I am so vast that there is no limit 
to what you can learn of Me and to the degree to which you can grow in 
intimacy with me.  So continue to grow even if you think you are mature.

Everyone
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Children of Mine, I do not give you impossible commandments.  I have 
commanded you to grow, but I have also given you My spirit to empower 
you to do so. So, Child of Mine, obey My command and GROW!