Trail of Tears 10-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and lift up Your praise, as I offer myself and my day to You. ... "By the rivers of Babylon -- there we sat down and there we wept when we remembered Zion. On the willows there we hung our harps" (Psalm 137:1-2). You've sent me to Claremore, Oklahoma to lead a Prayer Revival and Time of Healing, hosted by several local churches this weekend. This is the home of the famous political humorist Will Rogers and the setting of the Broadway musical "Oklahoma!" But it's also the heart of what became the Cherokee Nation of the Indian Territories following the Trail of Tears. I feel deep sadness and grief in my spirit to even write the words. Along with slavery, the Trail of Tears is one of the darkest moments of the history of our nation. In the dead of winter of 1838, our government forced the relocation of the Cherokee Native American Tribe from their homes in Georgia to this region of Oklahoma, under provisions of "The Indian Removal Act of 1830". Over the 2,200 miles of this trail of tears, over 4,000 graves of the men, women, and children who died along the way mark this trail of our national sin. It's said those among them who had come to know You as Savior and Lord sang over and over again "Amazing Grace" in their grief and sorrow, but also in their hope of Your redemption of the cruelty and injustice of this broken, fallen world. Lord, forgive us. "Open shame, O Lord, falls on us, our (leaders), our officials, and our ancestors, because we have sinned against you.... We do not present our supplication before You on the ground of our righteousness, but on the ground of Your great mercies. O Lord, hear, O Lord, forgive; O Lord, listen and act, and do not delay" (Daniel 9:8-19). Lord, would You cleanse us and our land from the sins of the generations. Would You break any curse of sorrow and sadness upon this land through our acknowledgement and repentance of our sins and through Your great mercies. "You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb, without defect or blemish" (1 Peter 1:18-19). Lord, let what was sown in tears and sorrow be reaped in joy (Psalm 126:5). "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10). Lord let it be so in Zion, in Oklahoma, and throughout the earth. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for us this weekend while I lead a Prayer Revival and Time of Healing in Claremore, Oklahmoma, being hosted by several churches in the city and held at the First United Methodist Church, http://www.claremorefumc.org Click this link... to Register for or get more information about our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry on November 12-15, 2008 in Lexington. Come to The Fountain! this Month on October 17, the 3rd Friday night of every month to hear Heather Butler, our friend from Wales, for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Heather Butler, prophetic psalmist from Wales, who leads the Healing Rooms there, will be ministering with me this month on Oct 17th, with Phil Jackson leading us in worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome! Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com To our friends in Pennsylvania, Laura Beach will be leading a retreat in Millerstown, PA on Thursday, October 23 from 9:00 AM till 4:00 PM. The theme of the day is Kaleidoscopes of Restoration. This day will be a gentle time of healing using the familiar image of the kaleidoscope, a word that comes from the Greek words kalos [beautiful] and eidos [form]. The kaleidoscope takes broken pieces and fits them together. As light shines through its lens, we see a thing of beauty. Through guided prayer, Scripture and reflection, the broken pieces of our lives can be illumined by the light of Christ. It is in that light that we experience restoration. For more information or reservations, contact the Center for Spiritual Formation, via email: formation1@embarqmail.com or phone: 717.240.0678. Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. New Location for "Come To The Mountain" Israel prayer! now meeting at Southland Evangelical Methodist Church 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale). All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to me at 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 Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org