"Glorious Inheritance" 7-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Lord and Savior, my Father and Friend, my God and King. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit today. ... "In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to His counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:11-12). In You, I have destiny and purpose -- for this day and every day of my life. Yet You set before me each moment the choice to seek You or not, seek Your counsel and will or not, keep setting my hope and trust on You alone or not. By the power of Your grace, I can live each day for the praise of Your glory. Or I can choose to live it for myself. Love always leaves a choice. Love "does not insist on its own way" because then it wouldn't be love (1 Corinthians 13:5). And You are love (1 John 4:8). You created me for a relationship of love with You. You created me in Your image, to be transformed and to grow in Your nature, and to live for the praise of Your glory. This is my inheritance. This is my destiny and purpose. And You will fulfill it in me and through, uniquely and creatively, as in no other. I thank You for this gift and I thank You for reminding me today to appreciate it with a grateful and willing heart. Keep opening the eyes of my heart to know and embrace this hope to which You have called me, my "glorious inheritance" (Ephesians 1:18). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we have just a few places left open. Please sign up right away to come join Laura Beach and me for the overnight spiritual retreat we are leading this weekend, August 2-3, 2008 near Lancaster, Kentucky, in the country just south of Lexington -- "The Shepherd's Pen" -- Come away with the Good Shepherd to learn to hear His voice and be comforted in His embrace. Through Tommy's teaching and Laura's leading of creative prayer experiences, "The Shepherd's Pen Retreat" will explore the beautiful passage of John 10 -- We will delve into what it means to: 1) Truly hear and discern the voice of God, our good shepherd, 2) Identify the broken fences that allow the wolf and the thief to disrupt our ability to hear the Good Shepherd, and 3) Experience the healing and restoration that occurs when we enter into the safe "pen" of God's love. There will be times of worship, teaching, practice hearing the voice of God in different ways and, of course, prayer to equip and nurture all who attend. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, for more details and registration (859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502