"A Great Shout" 7-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Spirit increase; let my flesh decrease, as I choose, by Your grace, to submit my will to Yours today. ... "When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments were stationed to praise the Lord with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, according to the directions of King David of Israel; and they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, 'For He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.' And all the people responded with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid" (Ezra 3:10-11). There's great rejoicing in heaven whenever a sinner comes to repentance and turns his life over to You, welcomes Your Holy Spirit into his heart, and embraces the steadfast love of our Father. And their was great rejoicing at every stage of Israel's journey where they behold Your mighty power and turned their hearts to their God. But when You restored their lives and their nation from Your judgment and the season of their exile from the promised land and blessings of God through their sin, they gave up "a great shout." You set things right again in the foundation of their souls and their land. In Your "steadfast love" that "endures forever," You are good and faithful to restore and redeem all things we will entrust to Your care. I thank You for the joy of my salvation. And I praise You for all the times I've seen You move in the mighty power of Your steadfast love to set things right in my life. Every time You heal my brokenness and break my bondage, You continue to build a foundation of faith in my soul, grounded and established in Your steadfast, unyielding love for me. You never let go. And I want to respond with a great shout of praise when I remember and bear witness to all You've done out of Your unfailing, unending love for me. And one day, a mighty angel of the Lord will stand on earth and shout into the heavens with "a great shout" like "a lion roaring" and sound of "seven thunders" when You move in mighty power to restore and redeem all things (Revelation 10:1-7). "There will be no more delay" and "the mystery of God will be fulfilled" on that day (v. 10:6-7). That will be a day worthy of the greatest shout of praise of all. Give me grace to press on and rise up from the firm foundation of faith You've been laying in my soul until the coming of that awesome day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we've updated our ministry resources at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org, including my new book and the new release of the dvd's from our School of Spiritual Ministry filmed live in Lexington earlier this year. Please come join Laura Beach and me if you can for the overnight spiritual retreat we are leading 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. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, for more details and registration (859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com). Join us for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry led by Tommy Hays July 24-26, 2008 (Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Prayer Ministry to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of our Father). No fee, but suggested donation of $75.00.CHILD CARE AVAILABLE - Please contact Marilyn Walker for more information (859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com) Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night 7/18 (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. I will be there to lead in prayer this month. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org