"Beginning of Birth Pangs" 8-22-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I dedicate and consecrate my life and this day to You, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. ... With the unfolding of the events in Israel and in Babylon, with the shaking of the heavens and of the earth in famines and earthquakes, with the increase of violence and darkness and lawlessness throughout every tongue and tribe and nation, we need You now as never before. As we declared in worship Sunday, "People need the Lord." We are experiencing "the beginning of the birth pangs" (Matthew 24.7). But we need not fear, we need not run, we need not hide. We need not sit back passively waiting for everything to fall down around us until we catch the glory train passing through in the middle of the night as our ticket of escape out of here. You are preparing Your people to shine as light in the midst of the darkness, to be the arms of Your security and Your love in the midst of the confusion and fear. Prepare us now that we may stand firmly and securely in these days that the seeds of both evil and righteousness are coming to full maturity in the lands of the earth and in the souls of men. You glory is Your manifest presence. And Your glory is present in the hearts of Your people whom You have prepared for this present darkness of these days. We do not stand alone, we stand in You as You stand in us. These are the days prophesied long ago: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (Isaiah 60.1-3). Let us not withdraw but advance in these days of the beginning of the birth pangs. Let us not sit back passively in resignation, retreat, and self-centeredness, but let us be Your light in the midst of the darkness, let us be rooted and grounded in Your love and firmly established in trusting faith. Let us be Your place of refuge for those who would humble themselves to come to You and call upon Your name. Let the nations see Your light shining in us, let them see the brightness of Your dawn rising in us at the dawn of the day of the Lord. "But how are they to call on One in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in One of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim Him? And how are they to proclaim Him unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news" (Romans 10.14-15). You are the Good News. Let it be written on our hearts and lived out in our lives for all to see, as You draw the nations to You through the people You have prepared in these times of great tribulation and of great harvest. "But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 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). Come, Lord Jesus, come -- into our hearts and into our world. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address for ministry and contributions: 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com andwww.morningbymorning.injesus.com