Friday, September 29, 2006

Beauty for Ashes, Joy for Mourning 9-29-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Anointed One of God, the Word made flesh, now reigning in glory as King of kings and Lord of lords. Come reign in my heart and my life today. … "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:1-3, NKJV). Lord Jesus, You fulfilled Isaiah's prophecy of the ministry of the coming Messiah (Luke 4:21). You are the perfect fulfillment of all Scripture (Matthew 5:17). You are the Word of God (John 1:1 and 1:14). And You are "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). By Your Holy Spirit living on in Your disciples of all generations, You continue to fulfill the Word of God in proclamation and power. As the Father sent You, so You send us in the power of Your Spirit in accordance with Your Word (John 20:21-23). We are Your body, filled with Your Spirit, continuing Your ministry, to display Your glory (1 Corinthians 12:27). Continue Your ministry of love and power through me today. Send me out with all Your disciples throughout all the earth as Your hands with Your heart in Your power to comfort those who mourn, to offer them Your beauty for their ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a garment of praise instead of the spirit of heaviness. You are still changing lives and displaying the glory of God. Thank You for changing my life, so that my life may bring You glory by Your grace. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I am going to be leading a one day inner healing conference of teaching, worship, and healing ministry, in Lexington on Saturday, October 14th: "From Brokenness to Breakthrough -- healing from grief, sorrow, trauma, and pain in a broken world." We will hold this in The Foundry at my home church, Centenary UMC, 2800 Tates Creek Rd from 9 am to 9 pm (Morning and Afternoon teaching, worship, and ministry; Evening healing service). Please come if you can and please keep us in prayer. Pre-register by contacting Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries at 859-317-1591 or email at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Please forward this note and spread the word to your church and friends! To subscribe/unsubscribe or to order my teaching and prayer dvd's and cd's for spiritual transformation, write to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, Kentucky 40502: www.messiah-ministries.org Daily archives of my devotional: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com