"As we work together
with Him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says,
'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have
helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!'
" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
Your grace is
sufficient and Your grace is for today. Your grace is Your unmerited favor, Your
undeserved mercy, and Your unimaginable goodness. Your grace reaches out to us
in our sin and shame, our brokenness and bondage, and our woundedness and
weariness. Your grace fills us when we're empty, lifts us when we're down, and
finds us when we're lost. Your grace embraces us in Your love, empowers us as
Your children, and encourages us to know our identity and fulfill our destiny,
as we grow daily in the image of Christ. Your grace is the transforming power of
God to change our lives into all You've created us to be.
How can we neglect so
great a gift, so great a salvation? How can we get stuck in the past when Your
grace sets us free to move forward. How can we get paralyzed in the fear of what
tomorrow may hold when Your grace immerses us with all the strength and wisdom
we need for today? Every moment of every day is "the acceptable time" and "the
day of salvation!" Now is the time; now is the day!
And You have saved us
by Your grace with a purpose-to live our lives in passionate pursuit of our
relationship of love with You and with one another: "You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
This is the greatest and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall
love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and
the prophets" (Matthew 22:37-40).
O Lord, my God, as I
work together and live together with You and with all You bring alongside me in
every season of this journey of faith, I embrace the gift of Your grace. And by
Your grace, I will not accept it in vain, but with thanksgiving and joy for all
You have done and all You will continue to do, in me and through me, this day
and every day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Be
encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays
Come to The Fountain!
Tonight, Nov. 18 at 7 pm for our Messiah Ministries monthly city-wide
gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from The
Fountain of Living Waters as we worship Jesus in the freedom of His Holy Spirit
and the loving embrace of the Father heart of God. Brooke Barrett will be
leading in worship and Linda Dulin-Moore will be leading in prayer this month.
All are welcome! Please come and spread the word!
You're Invited to the
Messiah Ministries Christmas Gathering on December 2nd! Please come
join us for a festive time with all our friends, 7-9 PM in the Foyer at
Centenary UMC in Lexington, 2800 Tates Creek Road. Please let Marilyn Walker
know if you're thinking of coming to help with our planning: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591
Friends, please keep us in prayer
as Sylvia and I travel to the Palo Duro Canyon area of north Texas this week to
lead a Pastor's Retreat with the Northwest Texas Conference of the United
Methodist Church this weekend. Please let us know if you'd like us to come
minister in healing prayer and prophetic ministry in your area. God bless
you!
Tommy
& Sylvia Hays
