"Give to Everyone Who Begs from You" 11-30-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Holy Spirit. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Lord God Almighty, I enter in to the Holy of Holies of Your presence in prayer through the blood of the Lamb. ... "You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.... So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:8-13). Yesterday a man asked me for money to buy some food. It may be the changing season or the changing culture, but that seems to be happening more and more. I have to admit those times make me uncomfortable as I find myself trying to judge the person's heart, motives, needs, and circumstances. Then I find myself judging my own. But this time, as soon as my mind started to go down that road, I heard very clearly in my spirit, "Give to everyone who begs from you." So that made it easy. But as the man walked away, I remembered the many times I have not given to everyone who begs from me, despite the teaching of Your Word (Matthew 5:42). I remembered the times I've tried to find comfort leaning instead toward another teaching of Your Word, "Anyone unwilling to work should not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:11). It just reminded me how impossible it would be to try to sort out the heart and circumstances of every person in every encounter, without the leading of Your Holy Spirit. And it seems that is the answer to showing no partiality -- with every encounter with every person in every circumstance, I need to listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, I need to seek the mind of Christ, I need to choose the path of the Father Heart of God. I need to begin my days entrusting the encounters of that day to You, so I can be ready make choices out of constant communion with You. Otherwise, I'll always be tempted to look upon the outward appearance and judge from my limited discernment, when You always look at the heart and only You truly know a person's heart. "For the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Lord, forgive me for the times I have shown partiality by relying on my own wisdom and whims rather seeking Your will and ways. Forgive me for my judgments that were not sanctified by Your judgment and all the times I have not loved my neighbor as myself, in violation of Your royal law. I am guilty under the law of Your judgment, and I need Your mercy. Thank You for making Your mercy available for my sins when I commit them to You. Thank You that Your "mercy triumphs over judgment." Judgment is real and so are the consequences -- now in this age and in the age to come -- but so is Your mercy. Thank You for the mercy that freely comes to a repentant heart by the blood of the Lamb in the grace of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com . Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Flesh and Blood 11-29-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I think of what I have to do today, before I even begin to pray for others or myself, I turn my heart and soul to You. ... "So Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no Life in you. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day; for My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood abide in Me, and I in them....' When many of His disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?'... Because of this many of His disciples turned back and no longer went about with Him" (John 6:53-66). Lord, help me hear all Your words and receive them all as "spirit and life" -- even the hard words and difficult teachings (v. 6:63). Give me faith to keep pressing in and courage to keep pressing on, never turning back and never holding back. You are the Word of God and You became flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14). You poured out the blood of Your life to cleanse me from my sins, heal me of my wounds, and free me from my bondage. By Your grace, I choose to abide in You and welcome You to abide in me. I choose to eat of the flesh of Your Word and drink of the blood of Your Life. In the mystery of faith, make me one with You, one with the others of Your body throughout the nations and generations, and one in ministry to all the world. Where You lead me, I will follow -- knowing You go with me and You live within me, all the way. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Fire from Heaven 11-28-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of the morning in contemplative prayer, let me hear no voice but Your voice, think no thoughts but Your thoughts, have no desires but Your desires. I watch and wait for You alone -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "Now, O my God, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to prayer from this place.... When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 6:40-7:1). Solomon built a temple for You; and by Your grace, You have built a temple in me. Through the sacrifice of the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, my body is now "a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19). As I offer to You in prayer the burnt offerings of my heart and soul with the sacrifices of my thoughts and desires, let Your fire come down from heaven. Consume my flesh and fill me afresh with the glory of Your presence living in me. "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call Marilyn at 859-317-1591. God bless! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Fear Him and Seek Him 11-27-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the paths of Your righteousness today. ... "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him. O fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing" (Psalm 34:7-10). You call me to seek You and to fear You at the same time. Teach me Your ways, Lord. Let Your ways become my ways, a little more each day. ... It seems I hear You say, "My son, there are those who seek the blessings of My hands without seeking the glory of My face. There are those who want to know Me for what I can do for them, not really desiring to know Me for who I am to them. This is not the fear of the Lord. To fear Me is to honor Me for who I am without regard to what I can do for you. I am the Lord your God. Seek Me first and My righteousness. Then all these things will be added unto you. When you seek Me in this way, you honor Me, you fear Me, and you welcome Me to encamp around you." Yes, Lord. As someone has said, I choose to seek Your face before Your hands. By Your grace, I seek You first (Matthew 6:33). As You have said in the wisdom of Your Word, "I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me" (Proverbs 8:17). Help me continue to learn how to walk this journey of faith in both the fear of the Lord and the intimacy of the Lord, as You teach me to seek You and to honor You for who You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

King of Glory Come In 11-26-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here I am, Lord -- watching and waiting for Your leading, as I offer to You the first-fruits of my thoughts and desires this day. ... "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is this King of glory" (Psalm 24:9-10). To You, O Lord, I lift up my head and open up my heart. You are the King of glory. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the King and Lord of my heart and soul, and I welcome You to continue to come in and establish Your Kingdom in my life. As I behold You in the trusting surrender of worship and yield to Your will and Your ways in the communion of prayer, You are changing me into Your image one day at a time (2 Corinthians 3:18). "Look to Him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed" (Psalm 34:5). Thank You for Your blood that cleanses my sin. Thank You for Your fire that purifies my soul. Thank You for Your grace that enables me to lift my head and open my heart that the King of glory may come in. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

At All Times" 11-25-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I begin this day with You, I choose by Your grace, to actively and simply seek You and worship You while I wait for You in the silence of surrender. ... "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exult His name together" (Psalm 34:1-3). Teach me, Lord, how to keep my eyes fixed on You, while at the same time, fully seeing the reality of the circumstances before me. Teach me how to bless You with my praises and honor You with my trust, while also submitting to Your discipline and yielding to Your correction. Because I know You are with me, because I know You care for me, because I know in the end You will cause all things to work together for my good as I keep my face set toward You, I can bless You" at all times." This is how, by Your grace and in Your power, I can "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Be magnified and exalted in my heart and throughout the moments of my days. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Anticipating the Coming of Christ 11-24-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and throughout the earth this day. ... "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:5-9). In this season as we turn our hearts from Thanksgiving to Christmas, we look toward the Light who is coming into the world. This is the season of Advent -- the season of the anticipation of the coming of Christ. Those who long awaited Your first coming through the prophesies of the coming Messiah, longed for the light to step down into darkness. It would be said of them, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2, fulfilled in Matthew 4:16). As we begin this season of anticipation to celebrate Your first coming, let us also continue in this season of hope longing for Your second coming. Step down into the darkness of our souls and the darkness of this broken, fallen world. As the prophets spoke of Your first coming, so they also proclaimed Your second. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves the Lord on that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem" (Zechariah 2:10-12). Come, Lord Jesus. You are "the Alpha and the Omega," the One "who is and who was and who is to come," "the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Anticipating the Coming of Christ 11-24-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and throughout the earth this day. ... "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:5-9). In this season as we turn our hearts from Thanksgiving to Christmas, we look toward the Light who is coming into the world. This is the season of Advent -- the season of the anticipation of the coming of Christ. Those who long awaited Your first coming through the prophesies of the coming Messiah, longed for the light to step down into darkness. It would be said of them, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2, fulfilled in Matthew 4:16). As we begin this season of anticipation to celebrate Your first coming, let us also continue in this season of hope longing for Your second coming. Step down into the darkness of our souls and the darkness of this broken, fallen world. As the prophets spoke of Your first coming, so they also proclaimed Your second. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves the Lord on that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem" (Zechariah 2:10-12). Come, Lord Jesus. You are "the Alpha and the Omega," the One "who is and who was and who is to come," "the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Thankful Hearts 11-23-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give You thanks and praise as I lift up my heart to You. ... "As He entered a village, ten lepers approached Him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' When He saw them He said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priest.' And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. And he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17:12-16). On this Thanksgiving Day, I choose to be one who turns to You in worship and praise with a thankful heart. You are my Savior and Healer. You have cleansed me from sin and shame. You are the One who answers when I call. Sometimes the answer comes immediately in the miracle of a moment, but most of the time the answer comes as I go forth in obedience like the lepers who were healed as they went. Thank You for the countless mercies of Your grace in my life that have come and are yet to come in my journey of faith. With a grateful heart, every day is a happy day of thanksgiving in You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Fount of Every Blessing" 11-22-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On the eve of Thanksgiving, I come to You this morning with a thankful heart -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:7-9). I hear the words of the old hymn in my spirit this morning -- "Come thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace. Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise." You are the Fount of every blessing; You are the Fountain of Life. As we gather tomorrow to feast on Thanksgiving Day, let us remember that You are the source of our feast. Every good and perfect gift is from You (James 1:17). Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your goodness and the abundance of Your steadfast love. You are my Father and I am Your son. Thank You for the gift of salvation through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Thank You for the gift of Your abiding presence through the Holy Spirit of the Living God living in me. I sing to You my songs of loudest praise! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays For my friends in the Lexington area, please come join me today at noon. I will be leading a Service of Thanksgiving in the chapel at my home church, Centenary United Methodist at 2800 Tates Creek Road. God bless you all as we thank God for the goodness of His grace and abundance of His blessings! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Give Thanks to the Lord 11-20-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I set apart these first moments of my morning to watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit in the communion of prayer. ... "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 118:1). We give thanks because You are good, because You love us, and because You love endures forever. Some say we should give thanks to You for all circumstances, but I believe we should give thanks to You "in every circumstance" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There is a difference. Not everything that happens to us in this broken, fallen world is Your will, where human beings and spiritual beings have the freedom to rebel and resist Your will for our lives and others. You do not will or cause evil. You desire the abundance of life for us, while the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy through whatever means he can (John 10:10). But even then, You are with us -- fighting for us, walking with us, even causing all that we endure to work together for our good out of Your love (Romans 8:28). So I thank You, Lord. Though I go through the valleys, I will fear no evil, for You are with me (Psalm 23). Though I go through the waters and rivers and fires of hard circumstances in a broken, fallen world, they shall not overwhelm me nor consume, for You are with me (Isaiah 43). Thank You for the steadfastness of Your love; thank You for Your power to redeem all things in my life for my good and Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Jesus Christ is Lord" 11-17-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be exalted in the heavens and exalted in my heart. ... "On His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, 'King of kings and Lord of lords' " (Revelation 19:16). Lord Jesus, You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Your name "is the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow ... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). I bow my knees before You this day and confess before heaven and earth that You are Lord and You are my Lord, You are King and You are my King. As Your first disciples bowed their knees before You in worship before You ascended into heaven, You declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:16-20). In trusting faith, I submit to Your authority and seek to obey Your command -- to do my part in my generation to go and make disciples of all nations. We each have our part by the grace of the gifts You have given each of us to lead others to You and teach them all You have taught us. Then they will bow their knees before You and confess with their tongues before others that You are Lord. "And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). As we go and make disciples and as we proclaim the coming of Your kingdom, You will be with us always -- by the Spirit of Christ within us -- to the end of the age (Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:27). To God "be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday night 11/17 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. I will be leading in prayer and Brooke and Shannon will be leading in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Renewed Day by Day 11-16-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. ... "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16). Thank You, Lord, for "the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:5). Day by day, morning by morning, moment by moment, renew me, Holy Spirit, I pray. Fill me afresh with Your breath of life. Refresh and renew the inner nature of my human spirit by conforming me to the holy nature of Your Holy Spirit. You are the "Spirit of Truth" (John 14:17), the "Spirit of Life" (Romans 8:2), the "Spirit of Holiness" (Romans 1:4), the "Spirit of Jesus" (Acts 16:7), the "Spirit of Christ" (Romans 8:9), the "Spirit of the Lord" (Acts 5:9), the "Spirit of God" (Romans 8:9), and the "Spirit of the Living God" (2 Corinthians 3:3). As we pray in the song of worship and surrender, "Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me...." Thank You for this daily gift of "the new life of the Spirit" as You lead me to entrust You with my life every day (Romans 7:6). You are a good Father who gives good gifts to Your children, giving us the good gift of Your Holy Spirit day by day to all who ask (Luke 11:13). So by Your grace, I ask; and by Your grace, I receive, as You renew my inner nature by Your Spirit this day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday night 11/17 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. I will be leading in prayer and Brooke and Shannon will be leading in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Verses to the King 11-15-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All that I am and all that I have, I entrust to You alone -- my Lord, my God, and my King -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "My heart overflows with a goodly theme; I address my verses to the King; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe" (Psalm 45:1). All that I am and all that I have, I entrust to You alone. My thoughts and desires, all my waking hours I give You my heart and soul. In You there's no lack, so I hold nothing back. I lay my life in Your hands. You are worthy of my trust and the loyalty of my love, I give You all that I have and all that I am. Yes, Lord. Thank You for putting these new verses on my heart to express my commitment of surrender to You again this day. Help me commit more of myself to You each day than the day before. Help me receive more of You each day than I received the day before. Keep increasing and I keep decreasing (John 3:30). Help me keep my eyes on You, beholding Your glory, as I am "being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday night 11/17 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. I will be leading in prayer and Brooke and Shannon will be leading in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Created in Christ for Good Works 11-14-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for this new day. Let me live it well as I live it in You. ... "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2:10). Lord God, my Father, from before the foundations of the earth, You willed in Your heart that I would live my life for You in Christ. I am what You have made me to be as You have given me grace to choose to embrace Your will and Your way for my life. As I live my life in Christ, let Your ways become my ways, Your will become my will, and Your nature to become my nature. As You led me to teach my children to pray at the beginning of each new day, "Lord Jesus, make me more like You each day." You set before me the good works of Your good pleasure for Your purposes through my life. Open my eyes to see them and direct my desires to do them by Your grace and in Your power and for Your glory this day. Let Your will be my way of life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday night at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Let God Arise and Our Enemies be Scattered 11-13-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face; I need Your grace; I welcome Your embrace. ... "But my eyes are turned toward You, O God, my Lord; in You I seek refuge" (Psalm 141:8). I have been so honored and blessed to be a minister of Your healing and freedom among Your people tucked away in a retreat in the beautiful woods and hills of eastern Pennsylvania these past few days. We gathered from churches from this region to worship You in spirit and truth, to listen for Your words of life, and receive healing and freedom from the power of Your hand. You are the God who answers when we call -- sometimes dramatically in the miracle of a moment and sometimes little by little and step by step as we can handle it -- but always answering when we call in Your perfect timing and in Your perfect way. From the first night you gave me an image from my recent journey with my family through Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. There are places where there is a low ceiling and you have to bend over as you walk. It seemed You were speaking of a low ceiling of depression and discouragement over this region, trying to keep the people bowed down under a crushing weight. As we gathered for refreshing and renewed in this sanctuary of healing and peace in Your presence, there were many coming as those "utterly spent and crushed," groaning under the burdens of life and ministry under a heaviness of spirit. But You were speaking to us, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). You called us to arise and shine for our Light had come and the glory us the Lord was upon us -- though deep darkness covered us, the light of the glory of God within us was rising up in our praises and prayers to push back the darkness and shine for Your light in our hearts and throughout the region (Isaiah 60:1-3). You arose within us and our enemies of discouragement and depression were scattered. "Let God rise up, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away; as wax melts before the fire, let the wicked perish before God. But let the righteous be joyful; let them exalt before God; let them be jubilant with joy!" (Psalm 68:1-3). You are a good God who defeats our enemies before our eyes and fills our hearts with joy. Rise up with us and drive our enemies from us in our hearts, our churches, our cities, and our regions throughout the earth for the glory of Your name. Praise Your holy name! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for all your prayers for me and my family and those I've been sent to minister to in this unusually long period of back to back ministry engagements on the road. God has been incredibly faithful to preserve my health and passion. I've been without internet access at the retreat and was delayed in Philadelphia last night because of weather. I hope to make it home today for some rest and peace in the arms of my family at home. God bless you all and thank you for joining me in the journey! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month -- this Friday Night-- for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com .

Rivers of Living Water 11-9-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I am Yours and You are mine. Abide in me, I pray. ... "Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink. As the Scripture has said, 'Out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' Now He said this about the Spirit, which believers in Him were to receive; for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 3:37-39). I am thirsty, Lord. I thirst for more of You. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I give as much of me to You as I can; and I receive as much of You in me as I can. Fill me, soak me, immerse me, baptize me in Your Holy Spirit more every day (Matthew 3:11). Your Holy Spirit is "the Spirit of Christ", who lives in me (Romans 8:9). You are the Living Waters that fill me up as I thirst for You and flow out of me as I give my life to You as a vessel for Your purposes and Your kingdom (John 4:10). "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for Righteousness for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). You are the River of Life that flows through Your people to touch the nations, bringing life to all Your waters touch (Ezekiel 47:1-12; Revelation 22:1-2). Flow, river, flow. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for praying for our renewal services in western Kentucky this week. Last night we all swam in the River! I pray for the River of Life to rise in your hearts and flow freely through your lives, healing all that He touches through you. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com . Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Pursue Holiness 11-8-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes unto the hills, from where my help comes from. My help comes from You, the Maker of heaven and earth -- my Lord, my God, my King -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). To "pursue" is to seek after, to run hard after, to press in and press on with tenacity and perseverance, to settle for nothing less. You call me to pursue peace and to pursue holiness if I am to see You. You give me the grace to desire it and You give me the grace to do it, but ultimately I must make the choice to pursue or not. You are my Peace -- my "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). You are my Holiness -- "majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor" (Exodus 15:11). Holy One of God, I pursue You, I run hard after You, "looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2). Cleanse my heart in the peace of Your presence, that I may be made holy and pure in Your sight by "the blood of Christ" (Hebrews 9:14). Through this mystery of faith in Christ who takes away my sins as I pursue Your peace and Your holiness, I "become the righteousness of God" by Your grace (2 Corinthians 5:21). You make me pure in heart as I "go on toward perfection" in You (Hebrews 6:1). "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). And I do yearn to see You, Lord -- to see You as You are and to begin to see myself as You see me in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for covering us in prayer at our Renewal Services in Madisonville, KY -- the Lord is moving powerfully in our midst in the services and personal prayer ministry times. Praise God! I pray you be renewed and refreshed in the Spirit of God as well! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com . Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Choose Well this Election Day 11-7-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Conform my nature to Your nature a little more each day (2 Peter 1:4). Reveal Your will and teach me Your ways, then give me the courage to obey. ... "When you have come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,' you may indeed set over you a king whom the Lord your God will choose.... When he has taken the throne of his kingdom, he shall have a copy of this law written for him in the presence of the levitical priests. It shall remain with him and he shall read it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, diligently observing all the words of this law and these statutes" (Deuteronomy 17:14-19). Today is an election day in America. Let us choose the men and women that You have chosen. Let us seek Your face and listen for Your voice, allowing You to place Your thoughts in our minds and Your desires in our hearts. Let us not be deceived by outward appearances and self-promotion. Let us see their hearts with Your eyes, "for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Lead us to the leaders who have learned to fear the Lord as God, who carry Your Word in their hearts all the days of their lives and diligently seek to know and obey Your will and Your ways in the choices they make in the authority they have. "There is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" (Romans 13:1). As we willingly submit our wills to Your will, guide our thoughts and decisions to institute the men and women in the seats of authority You choose for Your purposes and our good. "Who are they that fear the Lord? He will teach them the way that they should choose" (Psalm 25:12). Teach us Your way that we may choose well this day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, my wife and two youngest sons came to join me last night for a couple of days of our spiritual renewal services in western Kentucky. Prophet, Preacher, and Prayer Warrior Elijah Hays, my four year-old son, came up to speak a few words from the Lord and pray for the people (then stood by me at the pulpit all night!) Many were moved by the power of his simple words of blessing, protection, and rest. I agree with Elijah's prayer over you and your churches and communities this day. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com . Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

"They will see God" 11-06-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the song of worship says, "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord; I want to see You." ... "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). Purify my heart and sanctify my soul. Open the eyes of my heart to see You in the radiance of Your glory. Remove the veils from my face and the blinders from my eyes. Your glory is Your presence -- the manifest presence of God. And You desire to manifest Your presence in our lives, to fill us with the fullness Your presence and conform us into the fullness of Your nature. Though it is hard for us to grasp with our finite, human minds, You call us "be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit" (1 John 4:12-13). Open my eyes to see You living in me and to see You living in those around me who have received of Your Spirit, who You are filling with all the fullness of God. We cannot fully see You as You are until we stand amazed in Your presence in our glorified and resurrected bodies in the day to come, but we do see You in how You have revealed Yourself and Your nature to us in Jesus the Christ. "But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone" (Hebrews 2:9). Unlike the new age movement that calls us to say in pride we are each our own god, You call us to surrender and submit our lives to You in humility so that the One true God may abide in our hearts by the Spirit of Your love. Your Spirit is holy and pure, making us holy and pure by Your grace as we worship You and You fill us with the presence of Your glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). This is the mystery of the presence of God living in all who are called by Your name and filled with Your love -- "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for covering us in prayer for our spiritual renewal meetings at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville, KY this week. This a great hunger for God and anticipation for His move in our hearts. To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com . Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794