Storms of Tribulation 8-19-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Transform me by the renewing of my mind as I submit my thoughts to You. Conform me by the shaping of my desires as I submit my will to You. Let me be silent now as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. ... It's stormy outside. The wind and rain are blowing hard against the house. Many would say it's stormy inside -- inside our homes and inside our hearts. But storms bring rain when the land is dry and storms break away the dead branches that no longer bear life. Storms have a way a getting our attention and demanding our focus. They have a way of changing our agendas and redirecting our plans. They have a way of humbling our hearts and turning our thoughts to You. If they lead us to hold on more tightly to You, we can even thank You for the storms. "In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the One who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered; and having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him" (Hebrews 5.7-9). These are the days of our flesh -- the days of suffering through our storms, even though we too are sons and daughters of God. Let them humble us to seek You and to obey You. As the storm clouds gather in these days, let them gather us to You. You are the source of our eternal salvation; You are our security and strength in the midst of every storm. Use the storms and suffering that comes with them to make us more like You, to draw us closer to You. "We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14.22, KJV). Let us not fear the tribulation or the storms or the suffering, let us fear the One who is Lord of the storm, in humble obedience and trusting faith. Only after the storm has worked its purpose in our souls, You will arise to rebuke it and declare, "Peace! Be still!" (Mark 4.39). In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain this Saturday night (8/20) at 7pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington (2800 Tates Creek Rd) for our monthly, city-wide gathering of prayer, praise, and healing worship. Our team will be leading, while I am leading a Healing Prayer Seminar to pray for others at Versailles United Methodist Church this Friday night 7-9, Saturday 10-3, and with a healing service Saturday night 7-9. This is sponsored by St. Andrews Anglican Church (www.StAndrewsKy.org) and held at Versailles United Methodist Church -- all are welcome. Please write us for details. 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