Slow Summer Showers 7-31-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to be free to be more like You today. ... "Rain in abundance, O God, You showered abroad; You restored Your heritage when it languished; Your flock found a dwelling in it; in Your goodness, O God, You provided for the needy" (Psalm 68:9-10). Our land has languished from the summer heat and lack of rain. The Kentucky blue grass has been more brown than blue or green. But for two days now, it's as if You've opened Your heavens and showered down a slow, gentle rain. Literally overnight, the brown has turned to green; and the hot, sticky air is almost crisp and cool in July. In Your goodness, You are providing for our needy land and restoring our heritage. I know right now other parts of our county suffer from drought or flood, rather than the soaking of Your gentle rain. And I pray for breakthrough in their land, even as I praise You for the healing of ours. I find it helpful to my soul to focus on what You are doing instead of focusing on what You're not doing, celebrating all the blessings that I do have, instead of grumbling over the lack of blessings I am yet to have. I don't want to live in denial when times are dry or times of overwhelming flood, but I also don't ever want to surrender my perspective of hope and gratitude. I won't always be able to thank You from the experience of a cool morning in the middle of a hot summer, but this morning I can. And so I do. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line 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