"Let Us Go On" 12-31-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes, open my heart, and narrow my thoughts to You alone. … "Therefore, let us go on toward perfection, leaving behind the basic teaching about Christ, and not laying again the foundation: repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And we will do this if God permits" (Hebrews 6:1-3). As we come now to the last day of the year, I pause to give You thanks for Your persistent presence and constant companionship in every step of the journey. I think of the times of laughter and joy … And I see Your face, lifted to heaven, smiling wide with sparkling eyes, as You laughed with me. I think of the times of heartbreak and sorrow … And I feel Your arms, wrapped around me, holding me tight, drawing out the pain and pouring in Your love, until my strength and peace returned. I think of the times of great promise and hope, breakthroughs and victories, encouragement and excitement of seeing Your glory come down and Your power made perfect in my weakness … And I "continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God" from whom all blessings flow (Hebrews 13:15). I think of the times of crushing disappointment of the prayers not yet answered or not answered in the way I wanted … And I remember Your Word that it is "through faith and patience (that we) inherit the promises" of the kingdom of God (Hebrews 6:12). As I look back, I see Your "footprints in the sand" with mine in all the times You walked with me and ran with me and danced with me; and I see Yours alone in the times You had to lift me up and carry me. But now I hear You say, "Let us go on. Let us leave behind the lessons you've learned this past season; they are now a part of you. Let us look forward to the lessons to come, as I teach You more about Me and about who you will become." Your Word comes to mind: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known" (Jeremiah 33:3). And this: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10, NKJV). Yes, Lord. By Your grace and in Your Spirit, I prepare to go on into this new year, this new season of life in Christ, leaving behind, but standing upon, the foundation of the lessons You've sealed in my soul. Teach me more, let me experience more, give me faith to believe there is always more, as I go on with You "toward perfection" in the grace of God growing in me. "Not that I have already attained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but his one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goad for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I pray the Lord's blessing and seal upon all He has done and will do in you and through you for the glory of His name. Thank you for joining with me in the journey, and I look forward to the exciting adventures with you in the days to come. Happy New Year! In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer, starting Jan 5th leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Flyer is Attached. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night of the Prayer Summit to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Margaret Therkelsen, Tom Monroe, David Fultz, Tommy Green, Bob Hale, Rob Poindexter, Mark MacDonald and other citywide prayer leaders will be speaking and leading in prayer as well throughout the weekend. Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer and spread the word! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit 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 or Contribute On-Line