WhooHoo! 1-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My first word is Your name. In these first moments of my morning, I center my heart and focus my thoughts on You alone. ... "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). "WhooHoo!" my friend shouted over her cell phone early yesterday morning. She couldn’t wait to get to our office with a thousand dollar check to help get a pastor from Nepal to our School of Spiritual Ministry next week. I had just mentioned this pastor's earnest prayers to be able to come our school in a note at the end of my devotional early yesterday morning. She was overwhelmed with such excitement and joy that pretty soon I was shouting "WhooHoo!" too! She said as soon as she read the words, Your Holy Spirit was stirring in her spirit so strongly she couldn't wait to get to our office to help her brother, literally on the other side of the world. "What an opportunity to give to the Kingdom of God, to so seeds into His end-time harvest. What anointing must be on the seat prepared for this man," she said. Thank You, Lord. We should never feel guilty about giving or not giving. Under the New Covenant in Christ, our giving is never "under compulsion" but always by the leading of Your Spirit. And what joy You bring when we respond to Your promptings with our faith! What joy to join in the ministry of Your Kingdom as You build Your Church to change the world. The lives of people in Nepal -- a nation with incredible Christian persecution that requires such courage and faith to even claim to be a follower of Christ -- will be changed as You change this pastor, equipping him to equip others in spiritual ministry of transformation of people and their land through healing and deliverance. And my friend's life will be changed as Your blessings overtake her in Your timing and in Your way (Deuteronomy 28:2). "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back" (Luke 6:38). And my life and the lives of all who join with us in so many ways to pray for and equip the saints for the work of Your ministry will be changed, as You use us to touch others with Your healing love and mighty power -- in Nepal and the nations, but also in our neighborhoods at home. Thank You for the joy of giving and the blessing of joining the advance of Your Kingdom -- WhooHoo! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Last night at The Fountain, our praises went up and God's glory came down! Thank you for joining with us in prayer for the people of our city and I join with you in prayer for your city. May the Lord's glory keep coming down until it covers the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Please keep our students in prayer as they come from Nepal, Texas, Oklahoma, and across town to our School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington next week. And I pray the Lord keeps building your faith and empowering your hands and heart for the ministry of His Kingdom through you life! God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org