The Greatest of These Feb 15 2012

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

I really haven't jumped around...I promise...

Proverbs 16: 9 (NKJV) says:

A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

I believed I heard the LORD when I began this assignment...a Bible Study to study 1 Cor. 13.

I knew that I pray this chapter everyday with other prayer warriors...and I'm hearing more and more sisters in Christ tell me they are, too. I received that charge to memorize by Beth Moore..more than a year ago...not sure how long.

For me, memorization takes repetition, so I committed myself and Women Who Pray prayer warriors to pray with me daily.

So, back to the Bible Study, I began with the 1st verse and here, today, I have presented the last verse.

Remember I had the plan...to study..rather to meditate really...on this chapter...known as the LOVE chapter.

As you've seen, if you've been here from the 1st...it has not been a verse by verse...or word by word...study.

Rather, I see it as an application of this chapter study...meditation. :)

Since I retired from teaching, I've been in full-time prayer ministry...and on a full-time mission.  During my 19 years of teaching...I did this part-time...as my teaching career required innumerable hours of preparation and practice...many nights and weekends included. While teaching, I accomplished two degrees, and an add-on. I was busy!! Whew!!

Or, so I thought! Today, I'm busier if that's possible!!

Since I retired, I keep a 3-yr-old daily...I attend 2 Bible Studies once twice and the other 3 times a month...I continue to lead a prayer ministry every morning, as I have for almost 9 full years...I assist with ESL and take grandgirl(s) to AWANAS... I attend a Bible Study 5 days a week on the internet and I lead this one now...and I man a fb womenwho pray wall and a website http://www.womenwhopray.net/ and the page attached to it that also goes to twitter...

Now, go back, and change all the I's to We! The LORD in me does this! So it is He and I, together, who romp on the enemy every day. His joy is my strenghth! I'm armed in the power of His might! My weapons of warfare are not carnal but are mighty in God for demolishing strongholds.

I want to share with you that I'm in awe of what He's doing. I discussed with Emily, who has been in this ministry with me since day 1, and just marvelled at how it began.

It was the end of Christmas break...like December 30, 2002...I'd have to find that journal (among sooo many!)

Listen: "LORD, you want me to do what? How?....(that's my part of the conversation)

He told me not to re-invent the wheel! The wisest of the wise for sure!!!  He told me to look at my resources and glean what was applied Word to everything that Matthew 6 (the LORD's prayer) tells us to cover. 

I had read Larry Lea's book Can You Not Tarry One HOUR, and I had heard Bobbie Jean Merck preach on that by cd.  I knew that my tent was large as I had a large family. I also had read the book about The Prayer of Jabez  and knew I was praying that the LORD enlarge my territory.

We had a discussion...I asking...Him telling me...me writing in journal..

I am an eternal student! Holy Spirit is my teacher everyday!!! I learn from others, but it is Holy Spirit in them that I listen to and heed...applying to me...whether it's Germaine Copeland in Prayers that Avail Much ..or Beth Moore in her many books I've read and studies I've been in...or from David who had the heart after God...or Paul. Holy Spirit is the teacher..the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth...given to me to hearken to ... to heed.  He is God Himself!!

Now, continuing...I gathered the prayer blanket together...much smaller in the beginning...as the LORD has added sooooo much...it is a living document...because it is the WORD, itself...and when He says add...I do! He redeems the time! The focus is Jesus...in fact, it is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!!

We're not like any prayer ministry, I know....unique...boring to some...very repetitious! I mean we pray daily...it changes because of how it comes together...we pray a proverb a day...(31 Proverbs).  Psalms is completed 2 1/2 times a year.  Psalm 119 is prayed...an 8 verse section a day...22 days completes 172 verses (newest addition).

You would not believe the miracles!!! The strongholds that were hit everyday and knocked down!! We are a demolishing crew...Jesus style.  We take the Kingdom by force..the violent in prayer...we go for the jugular...like David, we speak to the Goliath and say...then he falls...we cut off the head. Vipers have to have heads taken off! Violent in Spirit...the might of the Holy Ghost!!! Glooorrrryyyy!!!

I know I'm extreme!!! I know I'm strange...wierd!!! So is my Jesus!! So are those I know who are in the battle...it is a battle worth fighting...yes, He has overcome the enemy...but He tells me to stand in the power of His might!! That doesn't mean for me to go read a novel, or magazine, or get my toes done...while He battles for me!

Before I lose anyone, please know that I do read a magazine...occasionally or have toes done...but that's not my focus. What you see is what you get! LOL!!! I don't even cover the hair anymore...and the Word says in Proverbs 16:31:

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.

I came to a point in my life, just recently, when, I realize the income I'm on as a retiree is less and my soon to be retired husband needed me to help pay off the debts we have left...we will soon be debt free..Praise God!!! Only Him!!!

Now, don't think I care whether you color your hair or not...I have for soooo many years...I'm a red-head, who spent my middle-aged years as a blonde... :)!!!! God was there and cheering me on regardless!  I do know that it's so much easier for me not to worry about all that anymore. 

I know I glow...I know the LORD shines...not because I'm me...but because He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do..so if I obey Him, I have whatever the promise is.  Example: If I delight in Him, He gives me the desires of my heart...just to mention one of the many, many promises!

Now, let me share....

Yesterday, my husband, my valentine for 42 years of marriage and 4 dating years, and I exchanged valentine gifts. I'm glad that I don't like all the candy in the Russell Stover box or I would have gained a ton.  I ate three in the 1st hour.  Then, Lili came and we exchanged valentines. I also gave a valentine to her daddy, my son, and one for him to give to my daughter inlaw. I also gave to my youngest son and his girls...2 daughters and wife.  I kept the youngest granddaughter while they went to a movie. I still have valentines for my oldest son and the granddaughters I will see tomorrow.  Do I love them! Yes!!!!! Bunches and bunches!!! Am I blessed!!!! Amen!!

Today, I prayed with my sister prayer warriors (all 4 a blessing to my heart!...the number changes everyday...and the warriors...some are on everyday...some almost...some seldom, but welcome...all loved as are the ones that were on the conference line last night and will be tomorrow night)...my sisters and daughters in Christ. I'm mentor to them, and some are to me!

While praying, one popped up on my fb prayer page from Nigeria. His name is Elijah! He was blessing me..referring to me as Mum..and woman of God..and thanking me for the Word going forth to him and all those who come to the page.  Then, another popped up..he's from Nigeria, but in Dubai (Middle East).  Was this an accident?  or a coincidence? Not hardly!!

Then, I spoke to one in Pakistan, who was on a few days ago with me.  He wants to model after the one in India...to translate the prayer blanket into his language and to spread among the people...the Word...on paper....the one in India has had 1,000 printed in pamphlet form and will soon print the 2nd edition.

Guess who popped up while I'm talking with these other three young men? The one from India.  Women Who Pray are prayer support for his orphanage, and he was requesting prayer for a sister in the 4th stage of cancer.  Mighty prayer came forth...he agreed...and then posted on his wall.

I spoke with him about the one in Pakistan and Nigeria! We were all declaring Jesus is LORD over the U.S., Nigeria, Pakistan, and India..as we had with a young man from Kenya, Monday. 

The one in Nigeria...the first to chat with me today...spoke prophetically of the Harvest...going forth with Harvesters coming...to take the prayer blanket to the nations.

I sent the prayer blanket to Nigeria today...the one in Dubai and India already have...and I sent to Pakistan...Monday.

When I read the prophetical Word from Nigeria to Emily...I began to cry...few tears...but gut-wrenching waves of crying...little sound!!

Can you hear it saints? The Word going forth into the nations...translated in their mother tongues...

Remember Corrie ten Boom, The Hiding Place? Remember, how Corrie hid the Word? She only had a few pages ripped from the New Testament.  Why?

Well, God planned it to be so. Bibles were ripped out of the Believers' hands! But...the pieces...the seed...were hidden and taken into the concentration camp...and many were saved!

Remember, her sister Betsy said, "Corrie, we praise the LORD for the fleas!" The fleas were sooo bad that the guards would not go into the middle of the women...where in the middle sat Corrie and Betsy...with the WORD!!! Hallleeeellluuuujjjjaaaahhhhh!!!!!

The LORD showed me that the part of the prayer blanket broken into 6 voices that we pray...the one I send to the nations...the one printed in India in a pamphlet...can be folded and tucked away...hidden...not detected like the bound Bibles.

I am soooo loved!!!!! My Heavenly Father loves me!! Jesus loves me this I know!!! How? The Bible tells me sooo!!!

He loves you, too!!! The greatest is these is LOVE!!!!

God so loves us that He gave us Jesus...who is in us by the Holy Spirit...the Spirit of Wisdom and Truth!! He says:

Love as freely as I have loved you!!! Love me with all your heart, soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourself!

We love God, ourselves (our families being in us), and our neighbor (friends, community, nation, and the world) as as ourselves (our families).  We become one as He and the Father are one.

How wonderful to hear these young men calling me Mother...Mum...Mama...Mummy...and as the Nigerian declared...the LORD has sent me sons to take the WORD...in prayer form...to the nations!!!! 

Am I a missionary to the nations??? The answer is yes!!!

Do you have a vision? Meditate yourself on the WORD...saturate yourself in the WORD...it will change you...it will transform your mind...renewing it...to the mind of Christ!

Once you've waited in Jerusalem (your place)...you will receive power to go forth...Acts 1. 

It's not that you have to wait a long time in our timing...it is long in His timing humbling yourself under His mighty hand...He does the exalting...in due time!! (1 Peter 5: 6)

Meditating...saturating...basking....chewing and chewing....

Teddi