“With a True Heart” 3-11-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are faithful, even when we are faithless. Your love is forever, even when ours may fail. … “Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with a pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). You are a God we can approach “with a true heart.” We don’t have to lie; we don’t have to hide; we don’t have to try to cover up all our fears and failures, our sins and disappointments, our embarrassment or shame. We don’t have to act like we’re somebody we’re not, pretend we can do something we can’t, or kid ourselves into thinking we are more perfect or pure or holy than we are. You see it all. You know it all—not only our actions, but also our intentions; not only our failures, but also how hard we tried. And yet You love us still. You welcome us still into the very holy of holies of Your Presence if we will humble ourselves to confess our sins, admit our failures, and recognize our need of the One who washes us clean by the blood of the Lamb. There is no sin You will not forgive, no failure You will not redeem, if we entrust ourselves to You. “And the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7-9). To know Your mercy, Your steadfast, unfailing love—even in the face of all our fears and failures—is the peace that brings us through every storm and the hope that calms us through every challenge to our faith. This is the “full assurance of faith”—that You keep loving us no matter what; You keep reaching out to us no matter what; You stand by us no matter what. For You, and You alone, are the personification of Perfect Love: “Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Your mercy endures forever; Your love never ends. “Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your house; with deepest awe I will worship at Your temple” (Psalm 5:7, NLT). It’s only through the blood of the Lamb that we can enter in. But because of the blood of the Lamb, freely available to all who will come “with a true heart,” in humility and faith, it would be foolish and sinful to fail to enter in to this holy place of Your forgiveness, mercy, and love. We can hold fast to You because You never quit holding fast to us. You never let go. Love never can because Love never ends. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I sent out the Personal Note I've included below yesterday so that truth may be known and all hearts may be clear in the light of the love of God. I'm so grateful to God for the overwhelming love, grace, and support expressed for us through this time. God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer through life that's not always as we hoped it would be. Subscribe for 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 A Personal Note from Tommy Hays & Tricia Hays Dear Friends, Many have been praying and asking about the painful time of transition in my personal life and marriage. Rather than continuing to simply speak with people personally as the topic comes up, I feel it would be appropriate to also send out this general update. I’m including a note below that Tricia wrote expressing her viewpoint as well. Though she tends to be as deeply private as I am openly public, she wanted people to accurately hear her own words instead of making assumptions. We’ve been married for twelve years and have two sons. Though our greatly varied personalities and perspectives have made most of our marriage difficult and challenging, we have put much effort and prayer into it, with both of us receiving various ministry, prayer, and counseling at times. In May, 2009 Tricia chose to begin the process of separation and moved out of our house, with us both sharing responsibility for our boys. She later filed papers for a divorce, which was finalized in December, 2009. Tricia and I disagree about whether divorce is the right answer to our problems. This is not my desire or choice, but it is the choice that has been made. We continue to respect and love one another, seeking to provide a healthy atmosphere for our boys, even though our marriage has ended and we are moving forward into the next season of our lives with God’s help and grace. -- Tommy Hays From Tricia Hays: The decision to end my marriage to Tommy Hays was a painful and difficult choice to make. I made the decision based on personal reasons that pertain to our own personal relationship to one another. There were no immoral indiscretions by either one of us. Neither did my decision have anything to do with any overemphasis on ministry or Tommy’s traveling schedule. While we were married, I fully supported him in his travels in ministry and continue to support and encourage him in the ministry I believe God called him to devote his life to. We are committed to having a positive relationship with one another and as we raise our sons together. -- Tricia Hays We thank you for your concern and prayers for us and our children. Many will be deeply disappointed by this news and it is painful to have to share it with you. But we wanted you to know. -- Tommy Hays and Tricia Hays March 10, 2010