"So Stay Here Until …" 11-30-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my heart; welcome into my day. … "You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what My Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:48-49). Every morning, I come seeking You, sensing Your call to come to You first before I begin my day. So I stay here in this place of prayer, watching and waiting for Your Holy Spirit, the One who is the Promise of our Father, the One who comes to clothe me with Your power from on high to be Your witness throughout my day. Not just once in my life, but every day -- and not just once a day, but every moment throughout my day -- I need to be filled afresh and baptized, saturated and immersed, in the fullness of Your Spirit. "While staying with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 'This,' He said, 'is what you have heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now' "(Acts 1:4-5). As I tarry in Your presence through the communion of prayer in Your Spirit, You are teaching me all I need to know, equipping me with all I need to have, and reminding me of I all need to be. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.… On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you…. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all I have said to you " (John 14:15-26). Thank You, Father, for fulfilling Your promise. Thank You, Jesus, for abiding in me by Your Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me and empowering me as a son of my Father and disciple of Christ to live this day as a witness to glory and love of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Maturity 11-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I listen, I ask You to lead. … "Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Lord, I want to be a spiritual Christian. I want to grow up into spiritual maturity. Give me the humility and grace to receive, understand, and discern the gifts of Your Spirit. This is not foolishness, but faithfulness. You have called us and commanded us to "pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1). And our sin of disobedience as a church has left us weak and immature, as we have traded our birthright of experiencing the presence and power of God through our lives in order to appear a little more acceptable and a little less foolish in the eyes of the world. Lord, forgive us. Let the conviction of Your Word and Your truth expose our sin and lead us to repentance and restoration of our calling and destiny in You. Let us no longer be a church who are lovers of the acceptance of the world "rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:4-5). Your spiritual gifts have spiritual purposes. You want to fill Your church with Your Spirit to display Your presence, Your wisdom, and Your power through Your people on earth (Ephesians 3:10). You want our lives, as Your church, to be "a demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). And You want our lives, as Your church, to display the nature of Your Spirit, bearing the fruit of Your Spirit to a world who needs to know You and the power of Your grace -- "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Only in the power of Your presence and the gifts of Your Spirit can we truly be Your witnesses to the ends of the earth, as You have called us and commanded us as Your church (Acts 1:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me next week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit, not my own wisdom: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January, 2009. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Spiritual Wisdom in Human Weakness 11-28-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my voice to speak out Your name and give You my life again this day. … "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Human wisdom or God's power? Lofty words of wisdom or Jesus Christ, and Him crucified? Act like I know it all from my own intelligence and the education of this world or admit I really know nothing apart from what You have taught me from Your Word and by Your Spirit? Help people put their faith in sound doctrines and carefully worded creeds or help them put their faith in a personal, living relationship with the Living God? You taught Paul how to teach and lead in deep humility, without any self promotion, so that You alone were glorified through his life and ministry. And You want that same heart and spirit in each of us You have called Your disciples, as we teach others Your truth and lead them to You (1 Corinthians 11:1). The wisdom of the world is wearing thin these days. And the wisdom of the world that's woven it's way into the mind of the church will continue to wear thin as well. All our training and education, all of our promotion and production, will increasingly be exposed as nothing more than lofty words and the world's wisdom clothed in spiritual garb. In Your mercy, You are bringing us back to the place of humility -- in weakness and in fear and much trembling -- depending on You and Your power to confirm our message of faith and hope. "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Bring me back to the basics. Empower me again and afresh by Your Spirit to teach Your Word in Your power. Keep reminding me it's not about me. "So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me next week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit, not my own wisdom: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January, 2009. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Happy Thanksgiving Blessing! from Tommy & Tricia Hays & Messiah Ministries

Happy Thanksgiving! "I will thank You forever, because of what You have done. In the presence of the faithful, I will proclaim Your name, for it is good" (Psalm 52:9). God bless you with the fullness of His blessings and the faithfulness of His presence. May you know the fullness and abundance of His provision and peace as He fills your life with His horn of plenty. -- Tommy & Tricia Hays & Messiah Ministries

Day of Thanksgiving to God 11-27-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this Thanksgiving Day, I thank You, Lord, for loving me, forgiving me, and calling me Your own. I thank You for every blessing and I thank You through every circumstance. I thank You for never leaving me, never forsaking me, but always going with me through every moment of my journey toward maturity in You. … "I will thank You forever, because of what You have done. In the presence of the faithful, I will proclaim Your name, for it is good" (Psalm 52:9). In these days of great concern -- where many are losing jobs, homes, and peace of mind; where many are concerned of losing even more -- it's good for us all to pause and pray. Instead of dwelling on all we don't have -- as true and real as that may be -- it's good to take some time to catch our thoughts, open our hearts, and lift our eyes in thanks and praise for all we do have. "For I have learned to be content in whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstance I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13). I thank You, my God. You are good. And You are good to me. In times of little or times of plenty, in times of struggle or times of celebration, I thank You for strengthening me, encouraging me, and walking with me through it all. No matter what, I always have much to be thankful for. And on this day of national thanksgiving to God, I pray You would pour out Your Spirit of gratitude upon our hearts and upon our land. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Happy Thanksgiving my friends! I'm very blessed to have my mother and brother and all my five children with Tricia and me in Kentucky today. I pray for a blessed day of thanksgiving to God for you and your family today. I know it's hard for many, as it is for my mom after the recent death of her husband, but I know our God is with us through it all. And we can always thank Him for His steadfast love and unfailing mercy. God bless you! 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

120 Filled with Glory of God 11-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the glory of Your presence come fill this place and fill my soul. … "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath's day's journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying …. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication …" (Acts 1:12-14). After You ascended into heaven to reign, You lead Your disciples to ascend into the upper room to pray. Though You were in heaven, You were also still there in the midst of them through the communion and agreement of prayer, as they gathered together in Your name. "For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). The people of God coming together "with one accord" in the agreement of prayer and in the power of Your name is still the way You have chosen for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:18-19). When Your first disciples came together with one accord in prayer in that upper room, they prayed until something happened. And something did. Like a mighty rushing wind, the glory of God filled that place and filled their souls in the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). You changed their lives forever and set in motion a movement of Your Spirit that began to change the face of the earth. That change has not stopped and will not stop as Your people who are called by Your name continue to pray (2 Chronicles 7:14). There were one hundred and twenty disciples gathered together in that place in prayer that day (Acts 1:15). And as many of us gathered together in prayer for our Kentucky Prayer Focus yesterday, Ray Hughes reminded us that many prophetic people from across our nation have noted that the one hundred and twenty counties of Kentucky. We believe You've given us a divine strategy to cover all those counties in focused prayer every day of January this coming year to pray with one accord for the coming of the glory of God in this land and in Your people. Give us faith and persevering grace to pray through and pray until something happens -- here in our land and here throughout all the earth. "But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Messiah Ministries will be leading again this year the Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 9-10. We'll also be one of the ministries and churches hosting a 24 hour prayer time for the 120 counties of Kentucky with the Kentucky Transformation / Kentucky Prayer Focus strategy. To be on the list for more details, please send your email to us at PrayLexington@aol.com For my many friends outside Kentucky, we're praying for God's divine strategies to be released in your region through the agreement of prayer as well. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Suffering for Sin? 11-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Holy Spirit, and Son -- Lord God, You are holy and one. Come be one with me and within me today. … "At that very time there were some present who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, 'Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did" (Luke 13:1-5). Suffering does not always mean sin. As You pointed out, people are quick to equate suffering with sin -- that it's only the "worse sinners" or "worse offenders" who are just getting what they deserve. Sin does open the door to destruction, because it is our choice to bring ourselves out from under the covering of Your hand of grace. But we live in a broken, fallen world where people sin around us every day and where sin has opened the door to destruction since the first sinners who ever lived. All creation is subject to the consequences of sin and suffering (Romans 8:20). So sometimes our suffering is a consequence of our sin and sometimes our suffering is a consequence of living in a broken, fallen world "groaning in labor pains until now" (Romans 8:22). But whether we have sinned or not, You call us all to repent. To "repent" is simply to turn to You. If we have sinned, we need to turn to You. If we are suffering because of the sins of others or the sins of our nation or the sins of our generations all the way back to Adam and Eve, we need to turn to You. It's only in You that we can know comfort through every calamity, peace through every persecution, and truth through every tribulation. As we repent, turning away from ourselves and turning to You, You draw us in to place of safety and peace, even in the midst of destruction. If there's something in us You want to correct or change, You will, but always in the Spirit of Your love for us, Your desire to redeem us, and Your desire to bring us through our storms to even strengthen us through our struggles (Hebrews 12:1-13). As it always does, the sufferings of this hour will draw many more deeply into Your arms -- even as You draw us first to our knees in desperate dependence upon You alone. As we repent and turn to You, we bring ourselves, by Your grace, under the shadow of the Almighty and into the safe and secure place of the Most High God, where You lift us up on angels wings in to the peace of Your presence, no matter what destruction or calamity may come (Psalm 91). We may have to go through more suffering than we would choose, and sometimes Your answer doesn't seem to come soon enough, but even in the struggles, sufferings, and even judgments of the sin of a broken, fallen world, You encourage us and empower us to keep turning to You. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). By Your grace, I choose repentance. I choose to keep turning to You, come what may. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Obedience From the Heart 11-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, lead me in Your ways. … "What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you no know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart …" (Romans 6:15-17). Under law, obedience is forced upon us. Under grace, obedience is from the heart. We obey because we want to obey, we want to please You. We willingly obey You because we truly trust You. We love You because You first loved us. And the degree of our willing obedience to You -- from the heart -- is a reflection of the degree of our love for You -- from the heart. "Those who love Me will keep My Word, and My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them" (John 14:23). "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:9-10). Your grace frees us for joyful obedience -- obedience from the heart, because we trust You to love us and know what's best for us. The enemy of our souls tries to tempt us and trick us into thinking obedience is bondage. But it's disobedience that's bondage -- bondage to whatever sin controls us, so he can accuse us, condemn us, shame us, and steal from us the peace and joy You created us to know. The truth is, obedience to You and Your Word from the heart brings joy. "I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). Lord Jesus, give me wisdom to embrace Your Word, keep Your commandments, and walk in Your ways. Give me grace to choose freedom instead of bondage, joy instead of shame. Empower me by the Spirit of the Father and the Son abiding in me to love You and obey You from the heart. I know it will please You. And what could be more important than living my day and my life to please You? In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"And All These Things Will Be Given" 11-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I begin my day before You, my King. … "But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). You are a giving and generous God. You love to "give good gifts" to Your children (Matthew 7:11). And You love to move on the hearts of Your children to give good gifts to those in need. That's one of the ways Your fulfill Your Word to give "all these things" to those who try to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, while trusting You to provide for all we need. By the moving of Your Spirit in the seeking and the giving, You bless the gift, the giver, and the gift receiver. And whether we are the one giving or the one receiving, Your Holy Spirit moving in our human spirits to seek You first is our greatest gift of all (Luke 11:13). Friday morning, I needed to have my laptop computer fixed. For several years, it's been my morning journal to write and send my daily devotional prayer devotional, Morning by Morning. And though I never want to be dependent upon anything but You, it seems to have become like my right hand in ministry in many ways. I use it to prepare and often present my teaching and preaching of Your principles of the kingdom of God. In a strong sense, it has become a key of Your kingdom for me, a weapon of my warfare, and a means of Your grace to encourage lives of many in the journey of faith and prayer with me. But it was broken, so I asked my friends to join with me in prayer. Before the end of the day, someone had tracked down all the details and anonymously arranged to get me a new computer! It turned out that my old one was broken beyond repair, but You had it in Your heart all along to bring Your blessing out of my brokenness. I couldn't quit saying, "Praise God! Praise God!" to the young man on the phone at the store, who was as stunned as I was to see the extravagant provision of my giving and generous God through one of His giving and generous children. What a witness and testimony to Your goodness that was to both of us. As they say, "You can't out-give God!" I know provision does not always come to suddenly and miraculously. I know You call us to be thankful in all things and content in all circumstances. And I know as that we often have not because we ask not (James 4:2). In Your timing and in Your way -- sometimes in Your sudden and exciting ways -- You provide all our needs according to Your riches in glory, as we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness (Philippians 4:19). Lord, thank You for these blessings of "all things" You've poured out on me. Lord, pour out Your abundant blessings on my friends who prayed and my anonymous friend who paid -- "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38, KJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank You, my friends, for joining with me in the journey. I pray for you to have "all these things" that You've needed and lain before the Lord, our generous and giving God! He knows what we need, and He knows we need Him most of all. God bless you! 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Filled with the Knowledge of His Will 11-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up before my eyes and before my day. ... "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:9-12, NAS). Each new day, come fill me with the knowledge of Your will. Form Your thoughts in my mind with Your spiritual wisdom and understanding. Give me grace to walk in a manner worthy of You and to please You in all respects. Then my life today will bear fruit for You. Then I will increase in the true knowledge of God and be strengthened in Your power. As You empower me to live out my day with steadfast and patient persistence to overcome every challenge to my flesh in the power of Your Spirit, You will grant me the joy of sharing in my inheritance as a child of God and a saint in Your light. I may not be a perfect saint today, but at least now -- in these first moments of my morning alone with You -- I honestly say that is my desire, because You have put that desire in my heart and put that thought in my mind. You have answered my prayer to fill me with the knowledge of Your will. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). If I didn't want to know, I shouldn't have asked. But now that I've asked and now that I know, I ask for grace to walk it out in the strength of Your power in the way that You lead, while joyously giving thanks to the Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain tonight, Friday 11-21-08 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the Presence of the Lord. Laura Beach and I will be leading in prayer, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. As always, we'll have prayer ministry from our prayer team at the altar. You're welcome to come early for intercessory prayer at 6:30. Hosted in the chapel at Centenary United Methodist, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY. Spread the word and come join us. All are welcome! For details, call Marilyn at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Friends, I'd appreciate your prayers for my computer to be fixed. I'm borrowing one in the mornings to write and send my prayer. Thank you for your prayers to cover and protect us in ministry, and our prayers are with you. God bless you! Subscribe/Unsubscribe at MessiahMin@aol.com Order our resources and my prayer book (Maybe a great Christmas present!) at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Messiah Ministries -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, KY 40502

A Time to Weep and to Laugh 11-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come lead me today closer to You. ... "For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; ... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance ..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Over this past weekend, we have mourned the death and celebrated the life of my stepfather, Jim Butler. Family and friends came in from literally around the world. He was not a pretentious man and we didn't try to pretend he was a perfect saint. But he did know You. And in the assurance of that truth, we were able to cry hard but laugh harder at the audacity with which he lived life to its fullest. Lord, You came to forgive us and free us to live life abundantly. You don't want us to hold back, but to hold on for the adventure that each day brings. And You want us to hold on to You through every season, with our hearts always filled with anticipation for the next season to come -- whether on this side or that side of eternity. And at the end of our season on this side, we can look back and say: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep my mom and all the Butler family and friends in your prayers during this season of life without someone dearly loved and deeply missed. And I pray the Lord's comfort and peace with you through those seasons of your life. God bless you. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Suddenly, Only Jesus 11-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord. And I thank You for loving me. ... "Suddenly, they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus" (Mark 9:8). Yesterday morning about this time, Jim Butler suddenly saw no one with him any more, but only You. In the twinkling of an eye, he passed from this world to the next -- "away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). My stepfather had a good night and got up early to get ready for work like any other day, but his work on earth was done. His heart suddenly failed his body, but his spirit suddenly fled to his Lord. Now he is at perfect peace, resting in the arms of his Savior. Now his life has truly begun. What You proclaimed long ago, You proclaim throughout all eternity: "I Am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26). His heart is now healthy and whole, his spirit is now strong and alive, his now glorified body is perfectly suited and perfectly at home in the glory of heaven, immersed in the glory of God. "There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly body is one thing, and that of the earthly is another.... So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:40-44). Like Jim, one day I will know that blessing of suddenly seeing no one else, but "only Jesus", as I see You "face to face". In that instant of entering into the fullness of eternity, "I will know fully, even as I have been fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). Lord, give me grace to live my life fully every day between now and then. Let me leave nothing of my destiny undone. Let every moment count and every moment glorify You. And at the same time, I praise You now for Your steadfast love and unfailing mercy in my moments that may not. Suddenly, in the moment of the twinkling of an eye, my work on earth will be done. And You will welcome me home to heaven. I may not know whether I want to dance in the air or bow down on my face before You, but I know now what I will long to hear then: "Well done, My good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21). What a day of rejoicing that will be. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be Encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep my mom and all the family of Jim and Ann Butler in your prayers as we gather together in Ruidoso, New Mexico over the next few days. I'll be entrusting the teaching and leading of our School of Spiritual Ministry into the hands of anointed leaders while I'm away with my mom. Please keep this in your prayers. We thrilled last night to have people from six states come join us for this School to be equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit for spiritual ministry! Thank you and God bless you for joining with me in the journey of life and prayer, morning by morning in Christ. 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 My Book and Our Ministry Resources at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Coming of the God of Elijah 11-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me throughout my day, live in me throughout my life. ... "He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, 'Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?' When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over. When the company of prophets who were at Jericho saw him at a distance, they declared, 'The spirit of Elijah rests upon Elisha' " (2 Kings 2:13-15). Tonight, we'll begin another one of our four day Schools of Spiritual Ministry. Those You are sending are hungry to know and to grow in the gifts and graces You have given them -- to understand their identity, to walk in their calling, and fulfill their destiny. We will learn from You and from one another. We will seek and receive impartation of Your spiritual gifts and Your spiritual wisdom in Your timing and in Your way (Romans 1:11; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). You are the God of Elijah. You are the God of the ones You send to prepare the way of the Lord. "See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all the evil doers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.... Lo, I will send you the prophet Elijah before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of parents to their children and the hearts of children to their parents, so that I will not come and strike the land with a curse" (Malachi 4:1-6). The angel spoke to Zechariah of the father's blessing he would release and impart to his son, John, "With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord" (Luke 1:17). In the spirit of Elijah, John was preparing the way in the hearts of Your people for Your first coming. You confirmed the mantle that rested upon him, saying, " 'Elijah indeed is coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come' .... Then the disciples knew He was speaking to them about John the Baptist" (Matthew 17:11-13). Today, in our generation, You are pouring out the spirit of Elijah again -- the Holy Spirit of the Living God "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." Lord, put Your axe to the root of every tree that bears bad fruit in our lives, prune every branch that does not bear good fruit for the glory of Your name and Your kingdom (Matthew 3:10). John the Baptist declared in the spirit of Elijah, "I baptize you with water for repentance, but One who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire" (Matthew 3:11). Dig up the roots and prune back the branches through repentance of the sin and shame of our past, through healing, freedom, and restoration of our spirit, soul, and body that we may be baptized in Your Holy Spirit and Your holy fire. As You sent Your Word and Your Spirit to prepare the way of the Lord for Your first coming, so You are again for Your second coming. Prepare the way in our hearts so You can use us to prepare the way in the earth. Let Your mantle fall upon our generation, as we cry out in passion and prayer for the coming of "the God of Elijah." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry this week. (Our Next one will be near the end of January). And I pray that the Lord continues to "rekindle the gift of God that is within you" (2 Timothy 1:6) and continues to equip you and empower to fulfill your destiny in Him wherever He has strategically positioned you now and in the seasons ahead. God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey! Come to The Fountain! 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. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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. 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 my book and our resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Like Father, Like Son 11-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You ever live to intercede at the right hand of the Father. Father, You are always sending the Gift of Your Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart. Holy Spirit, You are always lifting my eyes to Jesus. You are a holy picture of perfect love. Thank You, Lord, for loving me. ... "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God" (Galatians 4:6-7). By the grace of God, I am a child of God. Though I serve You and honor You, worship You and obey You, I also draw near to You in the trusting, tender faith of the happiest child who has the best Dad. That's Your heart for me. That's at the heart of who I am and who You created be to be. Keep freeing me from every thought and every spirit that would ever say I'm anything less (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). After You filled him with Your Holy Spirit, John Wesley was able to fully embrace his true identity in the grace of God, declaring with his mouth what he came to know in his heart: "I have exchanged the heart of a servant for the heart of a son." By the mercy of Your grace, Your heart is to change our hearts to know this truth. You long to lead us to fully embrace our true identity as sons and daughters of the living God. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father!' it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ -- if, in fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:14-17). To suffer with Christ, to be gloried with Christ, is to fully identify with Christ in every way, as I allow the Spirit of Christ to speak to me and show me who I am in Christ and who Christ is in me. "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). This is the Spirit of Adoption, the Spirit of Sonship, the Spirit of my Father living in me. This is the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead and now lives in me, making me more like You each day. Like Father, like Son. Like Father, like son. As a child of God, I'm no longer enslaved by the flesh and a servant of sin, but alive in the Spirit of the One who calls me Your Son. "But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit (who) dwells in you" (Romans 8:9-11). Whatever else I may be at any time in this world, at the very core of my being, through Christ my Lord, I am a son of God (John 1:12). I choose by Your grace, to declare this truth with my mouth and believe it from my heart -- this day and every day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please keep us in prayer for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry this week, beginning Wednesday Night. May we be freed, healed, equipped, and empowered as spiritual leaders by the Spirit of God. It's not too late to register and join us. The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - November 12-15, 2008 hosted by Messiah Ministries in Lexington, Kentucky. Wednesday 6-9pm; Thursday 6-9pm; Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-9pm "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry" is a focused time of healing, deliverance, and impartation for spiritual ministry led by Rev. Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for spiritual ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others. For more information or to register Please Click RegisterNow or contact Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Invitation for our Inspirational Caribbean Cruise with Tommy Hays, hosted by "The Haven" Ministries Feb 23-28, 2009 Some additional cabins have just become available! If you would like to join us for the cruise at a great price, please contact Jeannie at The Travel Authority (937-684-9046 or 800-727-7277 OR Jeannie.Anderson@thetravelauthority.com) to receive further information. 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

11-10-08 -- "Fulfill All Your Plans"

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come walk with me and talk with me and tell me I am Your own. ... "The Lord answer you in the day of trouble! The name of the God of Jacob protect you! May He send you help from the sanctuary, and give you support from Zion. May He remember all your offerings, and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices. May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your plans" (Psalm 20:1-4). Lord, I want my plans to be Your plans and my desires to be Your desires. By Your grace and the leading of Your Spirit, don’t let me seek anything more or settle for anything less. Keep Your vision and Your victory always before me, with my eyes open to see it and my spirit open to embrace it. You've entrusted the leadership of this ministry to me -- to prepare the way of the Lord, to minister the healing love of God, to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free, to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God and see You demonstrate it in Your power through Your people (Isaiah 61:1-11; Luke 4:18-19; John 20:21). Like each of Your children, Father help me be faithful to fulfill my calling in my generation for the glory of Your name. Any offerings or sacrifices I have made have only been those You have given me to give. All that I have and all that I am belongs to You (1 Corinthians 6:20 and 7:23). Anything good in me worth offering You is only the good of the grace of God living in me. Yet all that there is and all there will ever be, I freely give to You as my "living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1). As best as I can and all by Your grace, I commit my plans to You, trusting all provision for the work of the ministry and the labor of love to which You have called me will come from You. "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established" (Proverbs 16:3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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 Please join with us in fulfillment of the Lord's calling and vision for Messiah Ministries as He leads. Order My Book and Our Ministry Resources at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"I Shall See God" 11-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, You are One God in Three Persons. Holy, Holy, Holy, are You Lord God Almighty. I behold You in Your glory, as You hold me in Your hands. ... "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last He will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has been thus destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!" (Job 19:25-27). In Job's times of trouble -- trouble far beyond my capacity to fully comprehend -- You reminded him of the One who redeems all things. You lifted his eyes off of himself and his troubles, and You lifted them to behold a glimpse of Your coming. Even now, in the troubles of our day, You are lifting our eyes to behold You. You are reminding us that our Redeemer lives. You are leading us to look forward to the day You will come again and stand once more upon the earth. "On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.... On that day living waters shall flow out from Jerusalem.... And the Lord will become king over all the earth; on that day the Lord will be One and His name One" (Zechariah 14:4-9). Until that day of hope comes when You return and stand again upon the earth in Your glory, You want to come and stand within each of us by the glory of Your Holy Spirit. "God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). We face tribulation and trouble in this broken, fallen world not yet fully redeemed. But we press on and we look forward to the coming of our Redeemer, who redeems even now, as we entrust all things to You (Romans 8:28). "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). Holy Spirit of the Living God, keep lifting my eyes to behold my Lord and Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ the Son of God, who is eternally One with and the exact image of God my Father. Lord Jesus, keep rising and standing in me until that day You stand upon the earth. My Father God, keep holding me, as I keep beholding You. "So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature us wasting away; our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). With Job, I believe in trusting faith and I have this certain hope: "My eyes shall behold (You)" and "I shall see God." Of this I have no doubt, "For I know my Redeemer lives." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited that the Lord just made a way to bring a new friend up from Austin, Texas with a miraculous healing prayer ministry to come join us for our School of Spiritual Ministry next week. Come join us if you can and Spread the Word! The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - November 12-15, 2008 hosted by Messiah Ministries in Lexington, Kentucky. Wednesday 6-9pm; Thursday 6-9pm; Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-9pm"The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry" is a focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, impartation, worship, and prayer led by Rev. Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for spiritual ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others. For more information or to register Please Click RegisterNow or contact Marilyn at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Invitation for our Inspirational Caribbean Cruise with Tommy Hays, hosted by "The Haven" Ministries Feb 23-28, 2009 Some additional cabins have just become available! If you would like to join us for the cruise at a great price, please contact Jeannie at The Travel Authority (937-684-9046 or 800-727-7277 OR Jeannie.Anderson@thetravelauthority.com) to receive further information. 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

In God We Trust 11-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me into the life You long for me to live. ... "(Jesus) said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds! And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to the span of your life? If you then are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you -- you of little faith!" (Luke 12:22-28). Economic crisis, increasing unemployment, decreasing financial stability -- the bad news of the gospel of the kingdoms of this world would be overwhelming if our hope were only in ourselves or the governments of this world. But our hope is in You. In God we trust. "(Our) Father knows what (we) need before (we) ask Him" (Matthew 6:8). This is the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of the gospel of the kingdom of God. We are not alone, not abandoned, not forsaken. We are safe and secure in the Rock and Refuge of our salvation in You. "From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I; for You are my Refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me abide in Your tent forever, and find refuge under the shadow of Your wings" (Psalm 61:2-4). "You indeed are my Rock and my Fortress; for Your name's sake lead me and guide me" (Psalm 31:3). As I turn to You each day, I am turning to You as my Answer for every need and my Peace for every concern. By Your grace, I will not strive and strain and worry, but I will turn to You and trust in You to put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as You lead me through whatever each day will hold. "And do not keep striving for what you are to eat and what you are to drink, and do not keep worrying. For it is the nations of the world that strive after all these things; and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, strive for His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:29-32). Yes, Lord. By Your grace, I will not turn to the kingdoms of this world, but I will turn to You. I will not strive for their answers and security, but I will strive for Your kingdom. As You lead, I will keep giving and loving and going and doing all that You put in my heart to do and to be, without worry or fear, but with trusting faith in You (Luke 12:32-34). This is the good news I hear in my heart that overcomes all the bad news I may have to hear in my head. "And now, O Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You" (Psalm 39:7). In God alone will I trust. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited that the Lord just made a way to bring a new friend up from Austin, Texas with a miraculous healing prayer ministry to come join us for our School of Spiritual Ministry next week. Come join us if you can and Spread the Word! The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - November 12-15, 2008 hosted by Messiah Ministries in Lexington, Kentucky. Wednesday 6-9pm; Thursday 6-9pm; Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-9pm "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry" is a focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, impartation, worship, and prayer led by Rev. Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for spiritual ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others.For more information or to register Please Click RegisterNow or contact Marilyn at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Invitation for our Inspirational Caribbean Cruise with Tommy Hays, hosted by "The Haven" Ministries Feb 23-28, 2009 Some additional cabins have just become available! If you would like to join us for the cruise at a great price, please contact Jeannie at The Travel Authority (937-684-9046 or 800-727-7277 OR Jeannie.Anderson@thetravelauthority.com) to receive further information. 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

Into the Unknown 11-7-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of my morning alone with You, be the centre of my thoughts and the foundation of my day. ... "I will lead the blind by a road they do not know, by paths they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I will do, and I will not forsake them" (Isaiah 42:16). As I wait upon You this morning and listen for the leading of Your voice, it seems I hear You say, "Into the unknown. You have not passed this way before. But in the unknown, I will make Myself known to many." Yes, Lord. These seem to be days of darkness and rough places, of crisis and concern, of many questions and few clear answers. These are humbling days that humble our pride and any false sense of self sufficiency apart from You. But as we seek Your face and linger to listen for Your leading, You will lead us by Your road and guide us down Your paths. "A highway shall be there, and a road; and it shall be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it shall be for others. Whoever walks the road, although a fool, shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast go upon it; it shall not be found there. But the redeemed shall walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:8-10, NKJV). You make Yourself known in the journey -- whether through times of joy and gladness or darkness and gloom. I don't know the nature of the days we are entering. There's little I could do about it if I did, besides prepare and pray. But I do know the nature of the One who will walk with me through these days -- the One who will never leave me nor forsake me, the One who will be faithful to redeem all things for my good and Your glory. I know You will continue to make Yourself known to me, even as You are making the true nature of myself known to me as well in the journey. This Highway of Holiness is the path of seeking to follow the High and Holy One, as best as I can and all by Your grace, entrusting my heart and life to You. "For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:14). But all who seek to find and follow You will know Your peace and joy down deep inside, even on this journey into the unknown. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Registration is Still Open. Please Come and Spread the Word: The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - November 12-15, 2008 hosted by Messiah Ministries in Lexington, Kentucky Wednesday 6-9pm; Thursday 6-9pm; Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-9pm"The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry" is a focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, impartation, worship, and prayer led by Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others. For more information or to register Please Click RegisterNow or contact Marilyn at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Invitation for our Inspirational Caribbean Cruise with Tommy Hays, hosted by "The Haven" Ministries Feb 23-28, 2009 Some additional cabins have just become available! If you would like to join us for the cruise at a great price, please contact Jeannie at The Travel Authority (937-684-9046 or 800-727-7277 OR Jeannie.Anderson@thetravelauthority.com) to receive further information. 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

"Change is in the Air!" 11-06-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Word of God, speak, I pray, as I wait and watch and listen. ... "At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a child, whom He put among them, and said, 'Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in My name welcomes Me" (Matthew 18:1-5). If there is one word that seems to express the heart and desire of our age, it is "change." Our newspapers, radios, televisions, conversations, and thoughts have been saturated will the cry and call for change: "Change we can believe in." "We need change." "Things must change." "Change is gonna come." "Change has come." As one of our government leaders prophesied not long ago, "Change is in the air!" And so it is. What is being proclaimed, decreed, and declared in the physical realm is also true of the spiritual realm. "But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual" (1 Corinthians 15:46). Our words have power. "The power of death and life are in the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21). In Your sovereignty as our Creator, You have chosen to entrust incredible responsibility and authority to the children of Your creation. "The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He has given to human beings" (Psalm 115:16). What we speak and do and believe in the earthly realm affects the heavenly realm, according to the spiritual principle of "dominion" (Genesis 1:26). "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 18:18 and 16:19). Yet You entrust this all to us with the desire we would exercise the dominion of our responsibility and authority in trusting submission to Your dominion of our lives, always seeking Your will, always relying upon Your wisdom, always depending upon Your power. So as we proclaim "change" and see it manifested in our lives and throughout our land, let it be the change You desire, the change You know we need. Give us wisdom and courage to humble ourselves in trusting, obedient faith as the children of God we are created to be, in personal relationship with You (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26). Let us change our pride for humility, our knowledge for Your wisdom, our desire for independence from Your authority for our willing submission to Your dominion. Let us surrender our agenda to Your agenda, and our plans to Your plans (Jeremiah 29:11). You will change the direction of our nation and our world as we allow You to change us. We will be changed by the renewing of our minds and the transformation of our hearts, as we seek You, honor You, and worship You alone as God (Romans 12:1-2). "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12, KJV). We will enter into the kingdom of heaven as we allow the King of the kingdom of heaven to enter into us. As we take our eyes off of ourselves and our desires to lift our eyes to You and Your desires, we will be changed. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV). Change our hearts, O God. Change, my heart, O God (Ezekiel 35:26). "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10, KJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Registration is Still Open. Please Come and Spread the Word: The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - November 12-15, 2008 hosted by Messiah Ministries in Lexington, Kentucky. Wednesday 6-9pm; Thursday 6-9pm; Friday 9am-9pm; Saturday 9am-9pm"The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry" is a focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others.For more information or to register Please Click RegisterNow or contact Marilyn at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Invitation for our Inspirational Caribbean Cruise with Tommy Hays, hosted by "The Haven" Ministries Feb 23-28, 2009 Some additional cabins have just become available! If you would like to join us for the cruise at a great price, please contact Jeannie at The Travel Authority (937-684-9046 or 800-727-7277 OR Jeannie.Anderson@thetravelauthority.com) to receive further information. 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

Prayer for Our New President 11-5-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Nations and economies and political leaders may rise and fall, but You are on Your throne. Be enthroned in my life and our land today. ... "For just as the body is one and has many members, and all members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit we are all baptized into one body -- Jews or Greeks, slaves or free -- and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). Our nation elected Barak Obama as President of the United States of America yesterday. And as one nation, under God, may we be united as one in prayer for Your hand to anoint him, Your Holy Spirit to fill him, Your Word to guide him, and Your ways to lead him. Form Your thoughts in his mind and Your desires in his heart. Draw him daily in humility to his knees in prayer and grow him to maturity in the faith in Christ he proclaims (Ephesians 4:13). Protect him from the influences of power and deception as You pour into him Your wisdom and revelation, that he may grow, as every Christian must, in his personal relationship and desperate dependence upon You alone as his Source of inspiration, guidance, and strength (Ephesians 1:17-19). As the first African-American President, his election is a sign of redemption from our national, generational sin of slavery and prejudice. In his Christian faith and dynamic leadership, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. drew from the inspiration of Your prophet Isaiah in his longing and praying for a day like this in America: "I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain made low ... and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together" (from Isaiah 40:4). Your teaching from the Sermon on the Mount inspired the "dignified social action" and the "creative suffering" of the non-violent revolution that would lead to a day where our nation would freely choose to elect a Black man as the leader of our nation. In his last speech before Rev. King lost his life waging the war of hearts and minds for racial justice and unity in our nation, he remembered the story of Moses on Mt. Nebo overlooking the promised land he longed to see: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life ... But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain, and I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land." He's watching from the "great cloud of witnesses" in the communion of saints of heaven as we cross over into history as a nation today (Hebrews 12:1). We have far to go, as a people and a nation, to fully cross over into the fullness of the promises of God, to fulfill our inheritance and destiny as a nation. We do not fully honor life and the authority of Your Word for our lives in many ways that will continue to necessitate Your correction and discipline, but always out of Your love and will for our redemption (Hebrews 12:5-13). But may we come together as one body in Christ, united by the one Spirit of Christ, to pray for our President -- the one leaving office and the one coming into office -- to follow You and walk in Your ways. Like Rev. Dr. King, may he live his life and use his influence "to do God's will." Then, as a follower of Christ, growing in the mind and nature of Christ, may he "increase in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with men" (Luke 2:42, NKJV). Let the things that break Your heart break his heart and things that bring You joy bring him joy. And may he lead us, as he follows You, into the land of Your promises, so that the best days of our destiny may be yet to come. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! 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. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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. 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" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order my book and our resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Make Your Call and Election Sure" 11-4-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this presidential election day, I choose to put my hope and trust in You. You are the Chosen One, the Anointed One, the only One worthy of all glory and honor and praise. ... "Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen in whom My soul delights; I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations. He will not cry or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed He will not break, and a dimly burning wick He will not quench; He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for His teaching" (Isaiah 42:1-4). Eight hundred years before You stepped out of heaven and down into the darkness of our broken, fallen world, Isaiah prophesied of Your coming as Messiah and Lord. In the fullness of time, You willing humbled Yourself of the glory of heaven with the Father, "being born in human likeness" as the Son, in order to live Your life in the Spirit and lay down Your life in the flesh, being "obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:5-8). Now and forever, You alone are the "highly exalted", anointed and chosen One of God, having "the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). You alone will establish justice in the earth and bring forth justice to the nations. You alone will establish Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven, so that "the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever" (Revelation 11:15). And at the same time, in the sovereignty of Your will, You have chosen to use human men and women to be Your servants and instruments to pray for the coming of Your kingdom and have a part in Your answers to our prayers through our obedience and faith, in submission to Your will. You desire our governments and leaders to be instruments of Your righteousness, justice, and mercy in the earth as "God's servant for (our) good" (Romans 13:1-7). As we honor our governmental leaders by choosing them with our votes, You will honor our choices by given us what we have chosen. Let us choose well, humbling the pride and self will of our own desires to obediently seek the wisdom of Your will and Your desire. As in every generation, You continue to set before us the freedom to choose the path of our destiny as a people and a nation: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that your descendants may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying Him, and holding fast to Him; for that means life to you and length of days, so that you may live in the land that the Lord sword to give to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). This day, let America choose well by choosing Your will. Let every citizen seek Your face, listen for Your voice, and follow the leading Your Spirit. Let us not assume Your choice, but let us humble ourselves in prayer so that we can know Your choice. As each one seeks to find and follow the will of God as best as we can and all by Your grace, You will honor our choice. Let us choose life, not death; blessings, not curses; Your will, not our will; Your ways, not the world's ways. The destiny of our nation hangs in the balance of our choices today. "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12, NKJV). Lord, let our nation be blessed as we choose You and elect the leaders You have chosen. "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10-11, NKJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I join with you and all who are fasting and praying for America today. May we choose the one God has chosen. And whoever we choose, let us unite in prayer that our leaders will seek the face and follow the will of the Lord our God. In the gift of freedom, God has given us great authority and responsibility to use our freedom to honor Him. "The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He has given to human beings" (Psalm 115:16). May we honor Him with the freedom of our choices today. God bless you, God bless America, and God bless all people of all nations of the earth! 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 My Book and Our Ministry Resources at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Counting the Cost in India 11-3-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's good to be home from my journey. And it's good to know You are always at home in my heart on my journey with You. ... "Whoever does not carry the cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? ... Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? ... So therefore, none of you can become My disciple if you do not give up all your possessions" (Luke 14:27-23). I've spent most the past two weeks in south India with my good friend and faithful disciple of Jesus Christ, Ghuna Kumar of Gospel Friends ministry. With all of his gifts of wisdom, passion, leadership, and energy, he could be a wealthy man, overseeing his own kingdom in any culture. But his heart burns with a passion for You and Your kingdom. He has humbly and faithfully counted the cost and surrendered his all to use every gift You've given him to spend all his energy and pour out his life for the poor, the downtrodden, the hopeless, and forgotten, to bind up the brokenhearted and set the oppressed free in the power of Your name and Your love. Through this ministry You've entrusted to him, they send out evangelists to the villages and regions that have never heard the good news of Your gospel, establishing houses of prayer that become churches and shelters of refuge, life, and hope. They gather the outcasts and the orphans and bring them to Living Hope, where they learn they are loved, learn practical skills to live productive lives, and learn the Word of God and the One who is their Living Hope. They teach students in the Bible College who are now coming from remote areas of India to teach and preach and pray as they return with the passion You impart and fan into flame in this army of the kingdom You are raising up. I was so humbled and honored that You would allow me to come alongside them to help encourage them and pray for them, and that You allowed them to encourage and pray for me. You've given me a great gift to have a small share in the glorious work You are doing through these faithful disciples in this distant land. As our team from Fishhook International met with many of Ghuna's pastors and evangelists who spread the gospel through the seven hundred and fifty churches they've established in places that had never heard Your name before, we were amazed to see all You are doing and all the lives You are changing in this land. We heard stories of incredible faith in the face of fierce persecution, of Your faithful disciples literally willing to lay their lives down for You and Your gospel. We heard story after story of how You have used Your miracles of Your power and the miracles of sacrificial love to lead people to Christ despite the grave cost of being cast out of their villages and rejected by their own families. Yet the light of Christ in their eyes and the joy of the Lord in their hearts is so clearly worth every cost they've been willing to pay for the deep peace that now fills their souls. Thank You for letting me see this and be a small part of this. Thank You for letting me see an altar filled with souls who heard and responded to the message of Your salvation in our outdoor meeting one night. Thank You for letting me minister Your healing love and deliverance in the power of Your name, as You filled Your disciples afresh with Your Holy Spirit and encouraged them in their calling and gifting in Christ. Thank You for letting me bow on my knees and stand in faith with Ghuna and his Bible students from the southernmost tip of India one morning to stretch out our hands and pray for revival fire to burn north throughout this land as we proclaimed India for Jesus. Thank You for letting me see the joy in the little faces of the children who were once rejected, abandoned, and without hope until You brought them to this place of Living Hope. And thank You for inspiring me through these faithful lives to keep giving You all I have and keep carrying the cross of the calling You've given me to fulfill my part for the glory of Your name and Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you! for all your prayers for us on this journey and the lives that were touched and changed, including our own. I couldn't do begin to do this kind of ministry without you! And you share with me in it in every way as you join with me in prayer! Please continue to pray for Ghuna Kumar and the ministry of Gospel Friends. Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a child in their orphanage, a Bible student, a pastor or evangelist, or other way as the Lord leads to support this ministry of such integrity and passion, bearing such tremendous fruit for the kingdom of God in India: http://www.fishhook.org/ghuna/gospelfriends Please continue to pray for the persecuted church in India, where it's estimated at least 40,000 Christians are remain in hiding in the jungles in the Orissa region, where Ghuna Kumar also has ministry workers and Christian families. Pray for their faith to stay strong in the face of threats and torture to renounce their faith. God bless you! 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