The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation 11-17-05

Morning by Morning, Thursday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me see You with spiritual eyes and hear You with spiritual ears. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail" (Exodus 9:23-26). At one level of interpretation and application of Your Word, it seems that Egypt speaks of the places of our souls in the rebellion of pride against You. And Goshen speaks of the places in submission to You, under the covering of Your hand of protection. Out of Your love for us and Your desire for us to be whole and holy, You release Your judgments against the flesh of Egypt in our souls, so that the life of the Spirit of Goshen may arise and fill our souls with Your Spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:23; Ephesians 5:18). Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). You send Your judgments to bring us to our knees in humility, to turn to You in repentance and faith, that You may destroy our flesh and breathe the newness of Your life into our spirits. Then Your judgments become Your mercy, and Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). And another level, Egypt speaks of the nations and people of the earth in rebellion against You; and Goshen speaks of the nations and people in submission to You. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:6-7). When Your judgments rain down "hail and fire, mixed with blood" on the earth at the sound of Your trumpet call to repentance in those last days to come, let us find our place of refuge in submission and trusting faith in You -- in the land of Goshen where there is "no hail" of Your wrath (Revelation 8:7; Exodus 9:26). "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So we need not fear the judgments and wrath of God in our souls and in the places of the earth where we submit to the lordship and receive the salvation of Jesus Christ. We need not fear the days of tribulation to come, nor these that are coming in some measure even now. Those who turn to You in repentance and faith will bring their lives under the hand of Your protection. And the world will have one last chance to see that the only place of safety and peace is to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Out of every tribe and tongue and nation, there will be a people who enter in to the land of Goshen -- the place of safety and shelter even in the days of judgment, tribulation, and wrath. This is the place of the kingdom of God -- the place of submission and faith in the Lord our God. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). But by Your grace and in Your mercy, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:29-30) I choose this day to bring every area of my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ in humble repentance and trusting faith -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. I ask you to continue to put to death the things of my flesh that I may live in the life of Your Spirit. Give me courage to embrace Your judgments, that I may have grace to embrace Your mercy. Through the tribulations of Your judgments against my flesh, may I enter in to the fullness of the kingdom of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

My Hiding Place 11-16-05

Morning by Morning, Wednesday Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the old hymn says, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." You are my Rock and Refuge. Let me be hidden in Christ and Christ be found in me. ... They said forty tornados came churning across our region last night. We made preparations to get ready to hide in the most secure place in the center of our home, as we prayed together for protection and stood against the storm in the power of Your Word and Your Name. It's as if "the ruler of the power of the air" is mustering his forces of destruction in a furious rage to turn our hearts from God in the face of adversities and calamities (Ephesians 2:2). No doubt some will blame You and curse You, as our spiritual enemy is always whispering through the voices of those who are weak in their faith and hardened in their hearts, to just "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). Yet You intend every force of destruction -- from whatever source -- to turn our hearts to You, to call upon Your name, that we may be saved. You desire "that we may have life and have it abundantly," while "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). You are patient with us and You are persistent with us, using even the tragedies and travesties of our lives -- whether the vengeance of the enemy or the judgments of God -- to draw us 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). Let destruction drive me into the cleft of Your Rock. "You are my hiding place and my shield" (Psalm 119:114). You are "like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest" (Isaiah 32:2). You are the place of security and protection for all humble themselves in trusting faith to "live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, who say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust' " (Psalm 91:1-2). Make me more secure in You each day, that I will be able to stand securely in You as You stand securely in me in the days of destruction. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month -- This Saturday Night with Ghuna Kumar from India -- at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Faithful God, Steadfast Friend 11-15-05

Morning by Morning, Tuesday 11-15-05 -- Faithful God, Steadfast Friend Good morning, Lord Jesus. In dark days, You are my Light. In seas of confusion, You are my steadfast Rock. Though the darkness increases across the face of the earth, Your light shines brighter still. Though the mountains tremble and the seas roar, the stronghold of Your security stands out like a rugged cliff at the edge of the waves. You are my Light and my Strength. ... "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in Him" (Psalm 37:39-40). We have no righteousness on our own or apart from You. But the righteous are those who trust in You by faith. "Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God" (James 2:23). As we trust in You, we abide in You and You abide in us (John 15:4). This is our security and safety; this is our guiding light in the midst of the darkness. Give me wisdom to continually find my refuge in You. Then, by Your grace, I will not fear the times of darkness or the times trouble. They will only draw me closer to You -- my faithful God and my steadfast Friend (John 15:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. My Friend Ghuna Kumar, who oversees many churches and ministries throughout southern India will here to preach and pray with us! People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Armor of Light 11-14-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me near to You as I exalt Your name in praises and prayer. ... "Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:11-14). To "put on the armor of light" is to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." It is the choice to submit my thoughts to Your thoughts and my desires to Your desires. It is the choice to allow Your Holy Spirit to convict me of sin, to crucify my flesh, to empower me by Your presence, and to lead me in the ways of Your truth and life. The call is not to merely see the Light, but to put on the Light; not merely to know about the Light, but to know the Light. This Light is the shining armor that pushes back the darkness, and that overcomes the battles of the world, the flesh, and the devil. But we have the choice to put on the armor each day or leave it hanging in the closet. By Your grace, I choose to put on the armor today and suit up for battle. I choose to embrace the Light of the glory of Your presence and put on Jesus Christ as my Lord. Now Your Light in my heart will overcome the darkness -- first in my own soul and then wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend from India, Ghuna Kumar, who oversees many churches and ministries on the front line of the battle, will join me in leading our time together. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Know Me and Trust Me" 11-13-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Establish my soul securely in the knowledge of Your love for me and in the certainty of Your plan for me. Give me the wisdom to know I don't need to know the details. All I need to know is You. ... It seems You are saying, "This is wisdom, my son -- to know Me and to trust Me. Choose to entrust your thoughts and desires to Me, and I will shape them into My thoughts and desires. Be patient with Me in this process, for I am patient with you." Yes, Lord. Forgive my impatience and anxiety and doubts. Help me trust You more completely and trust that You are working in the details of my thoughts and desires to lead me into the fullness of Your plans. "My child, if you accept My words and treasure up My commandments within you, making you ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures -- then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5). Thank You, Lord. I receive the peace that comes with choosing to look to You and trusting by faith that You will give me Your wisdom and understanding in the measure I need it. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will preach and minister this Saturday! Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

My Map and Compass 11-12-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me focus my thoughts on You. ... "The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them" (Matthew 21:6). Yes, Lord. That's what Your disciples do -- they go and do as You direct. I need Your direction, Lord. Focus my thoughts and direct my paths. Open my eyes to see where You are going. Open my spirit to sense Your leading. Give me a more specific sense of Your direction in this season of my life. Help me focus my thoughts in the direction of the path of Your plans for me. Free me from distractions and detours. Deliver me from the tyranny of good plans, that I may pursue only Your best plan. "The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps" (Proverbs 16:9). If I were to direct my own steps, then I would be my own lord. I renounce my lordship and submit to Your Lordship. I renounce my own plans apart from Your leading and submit to Your plan and Your leading. Let Your Word be my map and Your Spirit be my compass. Lead on O King Eternal in the journey of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Important Note: Dear Praying Friends, from time to time some have suggested that I personalize these prayers with "I" instead of "we," in the style I prayed today. In the past, I've always started off with my personal prayer to get centered on Jesus, then waited on the Lord for His leading (the "..."), then prayed a prayer as if all of us were praying it together. To me, this was less presumptuous but some feel it is less personal. I've been told many change the "we's" to "I's" as they pray this devotional. As I try out this other style for awhile, I would appreciate your feedback on whether this style is more or less helpful as a devotional prayer. By the way, as I click "send" every morning, it is my joy to pray for each one of you! God bless you and thank you for joining me in the journey! Your friend and prayer partner, Tommy. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on biblical principles of inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries-- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will lead this Saturday night! Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Revelation of Light and Glory 11-11-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Light of the world and the Glory of God. Let the light of Your truth shine in my soul; let the glory of Your presence fill my heart. ... When John saw You in the vision of Revelation, You were wearing a "golden sash" across Your chest and Your face was "like the sun shining with full force." You were standing in the midst of the seven lampstands, which represented seven churches. At the sight of Your presence, John fell at Your feet as though dead. But You touched him and comforted him, saying, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the living one" (Revelation 1:12-20). Open our eyes to see You as You are, Lord -- living among us in the golden glory of Your presence and in the shining light of Your truth. You are touching us, comforting us, encouraging us, as we look to You in faith and bow before You in humility. We need not fear, for You hold all things in Your hands and know the end of all things from the beginning. You are the Living One and You are living in us, here in our hearts. "Christ in us, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Continue the revelation. Reveal Yourself more to us each day as we seek Your face and welcome Your light and Your glory in our hearts and lives throughout the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Follow Joshua 11-10-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be the Lord of my life and the leader of my soul. ... As the Israelites gathered together at the edge of the wilderness before crossing over the Jordan in the land of Your promise, they were to look to Joshua, listen to his command, and follow his lead. You are our Joshua -- "Yashua" in the Hebrew -- the Salvation of Yaweh -- the salvation of God. "Then Joshua said, 'sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you" (Joshua 3:5). Before we can cross over into the land of our promise, we must be sanctified -- be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, be purified in the fire of the Holy Spirit, be surrendered and submitted to follow You wherever You lead. Only You can sanctify us; Your Holy Spirit is the sanctifier who purifies us and burns out of us the dross and chaff of sin and flesh. So how do we obey the command to "sanctify yourselves"? Your part is to do it, but our part is to choose it. It is Your will to sanctify us, to that we can experience the fullness of the presence and power of God in our lives, to experience the fulfillment of the promises of Your Word in our lives. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You want to conform us into the image of Christ, to fill us with the nature of Your Spirit -- to make us holy as You are holy. But we must choose to embrace it, to embrace the process of Your purifying fire. And fire burns, but it is through the fire that lesser metals purified into gold. Your part is to do it, but our part is to choose it. Give us grace to choose well this day and every day, as You sanctify us and lead us into the land of Your promise. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank you for your prayers for our revival in western Kentucky. As we followed Jesus to kneel at the altar in surrender and submission of our lives, the fire of the Holy Spirit burned in our hearts to sanctify us for the glory and promises of God. I pray that He would burn in your hearts and your churches as the Holy Spirit purifies the glorious bride of Christ in golden glory. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Miracles of Glory 11-9-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All glory and honor and praise are Yours, now and forever -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... Someone asked me last night what I thought about the gold teeth miracle from our meeting Saturday night. I had already said Sunday morning that it seemed to me that the gold speaks of Your glory -- that You want our hearts and our mouths filled with the praises of the glory of God. But I can identify with the skeptical, the analytical, the doubters. I used to be one. My name is Thomas after all. But it was Thomas who saw the miracle of Your glory up close and personal when You invited him to put his finger in Your nail-scarred hands and his hand in Your wounded side. You said, "Do not doubt, but believe." And as his doubt changed to faith, he said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-29). That's really the bottom line. You are God and we are not. You are the author of miracles -- You alone determine their timing and their nature. Perhaps a miracle we need sometimes if for You to change our pride into humility. You changed water into wine, mercury fillings into gold. You are the God who changes things. Change our hearts, O God. Let us know the miracle of Your love and the power of Your grace however You choose to manifest the presence of Your glory to us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please continue to cover us in prayer for our last night of revival in Sebree, Kentucky tonight. May the Lord continually revive our hearts with a hunger and thirst for the fullness of His presence throughout the earth. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Coming of the Messiah 11-8-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Messiah -- the Anointed One of God, the Holy One of Israel. In You, Jew and Gentile are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord (Ephesians 3:5-6). You are the Messiah who has come and Your are the Messiah who will come again. I welcome the witness of Your Word in my heart and I welcome the anointing of the oil of Your Spirit over my head. As best as I can, and all by Your grace, I choose again this day to surrender and submit my heart and life to You. ... As we were praying before I preached at our revival last night, someone said the news was filled with the word that Israeli soldiers were uncovering an inscription on the floor of what may have been the oldest church building ever found in Israel. Among the symbols of two fish, the inscription declared something like, "This temple is dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ." What immediately came to mind as we prayed was the image of Jewish men on their knees brushing away the dust and debris that covered the floor of this ancient temple. I heard this word in my heart, "Israel will discover her Messiah." Yes, Lord. Let it be so. Your Word declares there will come a day when the eyes of Israel will behold You and their hearts will receive You. "And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, 'Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.' 'And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins' " (Romans 11:26-27). You have not forgotten Your people and You have not forgotten Your covenant. Your Spirit is still moving on the hearts of Your people throughout the earth to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you" (Psalm 122:6). It is no coincidence that the eyes of all the world are fixed upon this tiny nation of a tiny population of people who have endured endless waves of persecution and destruction at the hands of countless nations throughout the generations. Yet Israel remains. The world was shocked to hear just the other day the President of the major Muslim nation of Iran declare his heart that Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth. Yet You were not shocked. Your Word prophesied of these days long ago, when the nations of the earth would gather against Israel for her destruction. But the day of her planned destruction would become the day of her promised salvation. "On that day the Lord will shield the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord at their head. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour out a Spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that when they look upon the One whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him as one weeps over a firstborn. ... On that day a Fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity" (Zechariah 12:8-13:1). In fear and trembling, but also with confidence and joy, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem -- the peace that will come on that day the Prince of Peace will come again to the City of Peace. On that day, the evil one manifested in the evil of the hearts of men and the armies of the nations gathered to destroy the people of Your covenant, will be consumed in the coming of the fire of Your glory. "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of His mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of His coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Come Lord Jesus, our Messiah and Christ, in the fullness of Your glory to establish Your kingdom on earth and in our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"So Great a Salvation" 11-7-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. There is no salvation apart from You -- everything else is something less. The experiences of our lives teach us that there is no true peace, no true joy, no true fulfillment apart from a living and intimate relationship with You. This is the relationship we were created for, that we long for, that we are to live for. In fact, we cannot live in any true sense of the word "live" without it, for You are life. There is no true life apart from life in You. ... "How can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Him, while God added His testimony with signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His will" (Hebrews 2:3-4). O, how much of the fullness of this salvation that we neglect, that we waste, that we squander away. Like Esau who despised his birthright, we settle for so much less than the fullness of our inheritance and throw away what we should treasure above all. We can see You, hear You, know You. We can grow in the intimacy of relationship with You. We can experience Your signs and wonders and miracles. We can live our lives as instruments of Your graces in the gifts of Your Holy Spirit that You distribute to each of us as You release the power of Your love through us to others. O, how much we fail to receive and O, how much we fail to give away. Forgive us for neglecting so great a salvation. Restore within us a hunger and thirst for a living experience of the living God in every moment of our lives. Let us settle for nothing less, let us be satisfied with nothing less than the fullness of the salvation You long for us to have. We renounce our complacency and compromise, our lukewarmness and cold love, our fear of disappointment, and our spiritual laziness in the name of Jesus. Awaken within us a desire to encounter You afresh each day in the signs and wonders of Your presence. Let the gift of Your Holy Spirit be the gift of a heart set ablaze with a passion for You and a passion for the life we were created to live in the fullness of our salvation. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). This is our great salvation. This is our great gift. Let us receive it in the all the fullness You have intended. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

King of Glory 11-6-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are glorious. You are the King of glory. I open up the gates of my heart and soul -- that the King of glory may come in. ... "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads O gates! And be lifted up O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory" (Psalm 24:7-10). They say that the color gold speaks of Your glory, and that Your glory is Your manifest presence. You manifested Your presence in our hearts in amazing ways last night during our altar ministry training for our revival at the Methodist Church in Sebree, Kentucky. Though it's hard to fully understand it yet, You manifested Your presence in some of our mouths last night. The gold of Your glory was manifested in golden teeth and fillings that miraculously appeared where only mercury and silver had been before! These are amazing days of Your glory being manifested upon the earth in amazing ways. It's almost hard to do church decently and in order while people are getting flashlights to look in each others mouths and others are jumping up and down in the pews with joy. But its Your church, Your gold, and Your glory. As we behold You, You are changing us into Your image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18) -- even by the skin of our teeth. What an amazing promise we have, and what amazing days of the fulfillment of Your promise -- "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). As we welcome the King of glory into our hearts and souls, we will "Arise and shine for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us!" (Isaiah 60:1). In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please cover us in prayer for our prayer revival in Sebree, Kentucky this week. May the King of glory fill your hearts and mouths! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Faith of a Child 11-5-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit as I lift my face and open my heart to You. ... You call us to a simple, trusting faith -- the faith of an obedient child who does not doubt the truth of Your words. As You 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" (Matthew 18:3-4). There is a simplicity of devotion and a boldness of faith in the heart of a child who knows Your love. Before the world begins to whittle away our faith and pepper our mind with doubt and unbelief, there is a gift of trusting, unwavering child-like faith. Restore our hearts and minds to that faith. Humble us when our pride makes us think we know more than You and that our word is more true than Your Word. These are the barriers that block our way into the fullness of the kingdom of God. Lord, break through these barriers and restore us again to the simplicity of devotion to You. Then we will enter in to the fullness of Your kingdom and the fullness of Your kingdom will enter in to our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Many Sons unto Glory" 11-4-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You've taught me how important it is to start my day with You -- to offer to You my first thoughts and words as a living sacrifice. These first moments of the morning will set the course for the rest of my day. As the worship song says, "Lord I give You my heart, I give You my soul. I live for You alone. Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake, I live my life for You." ... As Tricia began her morning with You yesterday before going to have the ultrasound of her womb, Your Holy Spirit led her to Psalm 45. These words spoke to her heart: "In the place of ancestors You, O King, shall have sons; You will make them princes in all the earth" (Psalm 45:16). Though we had been thinking we would have a daughter, she said yesterday morning, "I think the Lord is telling me we're going to have a son." As it turns out ... that's what the doctor said too. Father, we thank You for the gift of children. We thank You for the gift of this son. We dedicate and consecrate his spirit and soul and body to You as a holy, living sacrifice. He is a prince of the King. Cleanse him continually in the blood of Jesus, purify him always in the fire of the Holy Spirit, forever fill his heart with the love of the Father heart of God. May Your peace rest upon his shoulders and may Your joy fill his spirit. May You sanctify him by the washing of Your Word and anoint him in the power of Your Spirit. You are "bringing many sons unto glory," those "'who are being sanctified" for Your purposes and Your glory (Hebrews 2:10-11). With his mother and our family, I entrust this son to You to be one of Your sons -- a son of God, a prince of the King, a man after God's own heart -- in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Give us all humility and faith, wisdom and courage, to raise up our children -- both natural and spiritual -- in the way they should go, to live their lives for You (Proverbs 22:6). As Your sons and daughters, keep training us and raising us up in the way we should go. Let our lives be living sacrifices of praise that bring joy to Your heart. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Womb of Life 11-3-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. This is a day You have made. I choose to rejoice and be glad -- glad that You are with me, watching over me, leading the way. ... Today, we'll have an ultrasound to see the life You are forming in Tricia's womb. Life is one of Your most amazing gifts, and we thank You for breathing this gift of life into our lives. We pray for Your covering of protection at this most vulnerable place in the journey of life for this child and all the children You are calling forth in the earth for these amazing days. You would not choose to breathe life into their mothers' wombs in these days of both great darkness and great light unless You had a very special calling and purpose for each one. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). Lord, You are the giver of life. You scooped up the dust of the earth from the generations of Jeremiah's father and mother into Your hands and then breathed life into the womb of his mother. He became a living soul with purpose and calling and destiny. Even before You formed him, You knew him and the lives You would form through him. Even before he breathed his first breath, You consecrated him and set him apart for his place in Your plan. You placed desires in his heart that would guide his steps and thoughts in his mind that would teach him Your ways. You knit him together with deliberate purpose and the wisdom of that sees the end from the beginning (Psalm 139:13). But though the human spirit You created and breathed into existence was holy and pure, the dust of the earth from his earthly parents was both blessed through generations of obedience and cursed through generations of sin. Even Jeremiah would have to overcome the tainting of original sin and the sins of the generations, while receiving the blessings from obedience and faithfulness of those who had gone before him. These are the opportunities and challenges we all face. We are all created with godly purpose and destiny (Jeremiah 29:11); but we are also created in human bodies tainted with human sin (Psalm 51:5). We all have need of a Savior -- One who will call forth the blessings and overcome the curses, as we entrust our lives to You. This trusting and overcoming is not just one moment of our lives, but a daily journey. Give us grace for the journey, that we may fulfill the purpose and calling in the destiny of our lives for Your glory in Your plan. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Nehemiah's Prayer 11-2-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your desires on my heart to guide my thoughts and my paths this day. ... Nehemiah cried out to You to for Your favor and grace to be upon him before he went in to meet with the king: "O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give success to Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man" (Nehemiah 1:11). Though Nehemiah was a broken man living in broken times under Your judgments for his sins and the sins of his nation, You heard his cry and gave him favor in the sight of the king. Though he lived with his people in the bondage of captivity in a foreign land, where they had been driven away from their promised land as a consequence of their actions and in accordance with their choices of sin and rebellion against You, You poured out Your mercy upon his humble and repentant heart. Lord, humble our hearts. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit in prayers of repentance from our sin and of faith in Your mercy. Forgive us, cleanse, and then anoint us with Your favor and mercy and grace. Lead us in the paths that will be Your means of deliverance for us and for our nation. Put those kinds of prayers on our hearts and that kind of faith in our spirits. Restore us and redeem us in the fullness of our calling and the fulfillment of our destiny. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Rays of Hope and Light 11-1-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open my eyes to see You; open my ears to hear You; open my spirit to know You. ... I see the red and orange rays of light shining in the sky above the horizon, awaiting the burst of light from the rising of the morning sun. There will come a day when the "sun of righteousness" will rise over the earth on the Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:1-6). All the earth will see You appear in glory. And the light of the glory of Your coming will overcome and displace all darkness (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). But before the day You come in glory on the earth, You desire to come in glory in our hearts. King of Glory, we open up the gates of our hearts and welcome You in (Psalm 24:7-10). Let the light of Your glory overcome and displace the darkness in our hearts and the darkness in the earth. Even now, let us see Your rays of hope breaking across the sky of our souls. "And may He so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Rays of hope, rays of light Shining across the morning sky You're coming. Darkness flees before the light The King of Glory fills my life You're coming. Come fill the earth with Your glory Come fill our hearts with You only You're coming. Come Lord Jesus, here in our hearts and here in the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

All Saints Eve 10-31-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Lord of Life. Come live Your life in me this day. ... Many will celebrate Halloween tonight. As I understand it, the name comes from All Saints' Eve, the night before All Saints Day, in the Catholic tradition. This was to celebrate the death and eternal life of the saints, especially those who died as martyrs for their faith in You. Your Word says "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). The "witnesses" are those who "were commended for their faith" and "of whom the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:38-39). Now they are away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Now they behold You face to face, as they are one with You in Your ministry of intercession at the right hand of the Father for those who remain in the world to fulfill our calling in our generation (Hebrews 7:25). Somewhere along the path of history, this day of the Feast of All Saints was set for November 1st, which also coincided with the Celtic celebration of Samhain, named for their pagan deity known as "the lord of death." As I understand it, the eve of Samhain at the beginning of winter, was a time of the pagan sacrifice to this spirit of death that allowed the souls of the dead to return to the earth, tormenting those who had tormented them during life. Many of the images witches, ghosts, cats, and things we commonly see associated with Halloween are associated with this pagan tradition, along with other traditions blended in through the years. But You have suffered death for us that we might live in You. "It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:34-37). You are the Lord of Life and You have conquered death. We need not fear death, or any tormenting spirit of death or fear. You perfect love casts out all fear and Your life has overcome the power of death (1 John 4:18; Hebrews 2:14-15). Death and fear are defeated through the victory of Your cross and the glory of Your resurrection. As the great cloud of witnesses join with You in cheering us on in our generation, let us live our lives for Your glory in the victory of Your life over all death, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Rain of Your Word 10-30-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me hear Your words of life. Let them be life to me. ... You are the Word. You're the Word of Life. Speak Your Word to me. Lord let me hear, Hear Your Word of Life, Hear Your Word for me. Let Your Word come down. Come down in my heart, From Your heart to me. Thank You for this new song of Your Spirit that You're singing in my soul this morning. As You sing, I see little children running outside laughing in a sprinkle of rain. Their faces are turned to the sky with their arms opened wide. Their mouths are open and they're sticking out their tongues to catch the drops of rain. Give us the joy of tasting Your Word and drinking it in. Give us open hearts and open arms to embrace Your Word to us. You are the Word, and You are the Life (John 1:1 and 14:6). You are the Word of Life to us; and we embrace You this day. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Lord of All 10-28-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the old hymn declares, "All hail the power of Jesus' name; let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem and crown Him Lord of all." I bow before You as Savior in surrender and crown You as Lord in praise as we begin another day of the journey of faith together. Let the power of Your nature and Your name be released in me and through me this day. ... "Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of all!" (Acts 10:36). "On His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, 'King of kings and Lord of lords' " (Revelation 19:16). Lord Jesus, You are "the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15). "Lordship" is a relational term. To say You are Lord is to say You are in charge, that You have my willing permission to form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. It is a choice of trusting surrender to Your will and Your ways. Help us to choose to submit to Your Lordship and surrender to Your will -- in every area of our lives and a little more each day. Cause our nature to be more like Your nature. A "Christian" is a follower of Christ. Let it be more than a name, let it be our nature. Let us join the angels of heaven in the depths of our hearts, falling prostrate before You to crown You Lord of our lives and Lord of all. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

See the Lamb of God 10-27-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My first choice today is to think of You. ... "The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus" (John 1:35-37). John the Baptist was like the Holy Spirit -- leading others to look to Jesus. As we look to You, we cannot help but follow You. That's why the enemy of souls tries so hard to fill our lives with so many things to draw our attention away from the most important thing we need to see. To see You is to see our Father, for You "are One" (John 10:30). You are "the exact imprint of God's very being" (Hebrews 1:3). Holy Spirit, turn our eyes toward Jesus. Open the eyes of our hearts to see Him more clearly every day. As we see Him, we cannot help but follow Him. Fill our hearts with the desire to seek Him and conform our wills with the desire to follow Him every day. Let this be the first thought and the first choice of each day of our lives, so that we can continue to make that choice throughout the day -- the choice to see the Lamb of God and to follow Him. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

River of Life 10-26-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me drink deeply of the waters of Your life. Refresh me and renew me to flow in Your Spirit as You lead me today. ... "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:1-2). Lord, Your river flows from Your throne. And You said, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the One who believes in Me drink. As the scripture has said, 'out of the believer's heart shall flow rivers of living water.' " (John 7:37-38). Be enthroned in our hearts, and out of our hearts will flow the rivers of living water. You are Life in us and You desire Your Life to flow out of us and touch the lives of others. The water of life nourishes the tree of life. And a tree bears fruit after its own kind. If there is life in us, then we will bear life in others. As Your life wells up and flows out of us, Your life will bring life to others. And this is healing -- that the life of God would flow to the hearts of all people throughout all nations. As it does, You will be enthroned in the hearts of Your people in every tribe and tongue and nation throughout the earth. "Everything will live wherever the river goes" (Ezekiel 47:9). Then "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). Let Your river of life flow from Your throne in our hearts today. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Holy and Whole 10-25-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are our Healer, our deliverer, our Savior and Lord. You are our Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, our All in All. ... You love to heal us and make us whole, to deliver us and set us free. You love to transform us by renewing our minds and to conform us into the image of the Son of God by sanctifying our spirit and soul and body. You love to redeem our suffering, break our pride, and comfort our broken hearts. Thank You for healing our hearts last night, for pouring in the oil of Your Spirit and binding up our wounds, as You held us in Your arms. Let it not be for an evening, but for an eternity. "May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and my your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do this" (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24). You are the God of peace, the God of shalom. As we humble ourselves in Your sight and entrust our hearts into Your hands, You release Your peace into our spirits and souls and bodies -- every dimension of our being. You bring us to the place of peace with You, peace with one another, and peace within ourselves. You make us holy and whole. Father, You have sent Your Holy Spirit to prepare the bride for the coming of Your Son. He is not coming for a wounded, bound, or dirty bride. But for a people who are holy and whole, healed and free, "rooted and grounded in love," and "filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19). This is the healing and freedom You desire. This the calling to which we are called. You are faithful and You will do this as we entrust our lives to You in spirit, soul, and body. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank you for your prayers for our revival and healing service in Georgia. The Lord is healing hearts and cleansing His bride at a deep level of surrender and trust. Let's pray the same for the body of Christ throughout the earth. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Revival is the Restoration of Destiny" 10-24-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me be still and quiet. Help me watch and wait in the silence of surrender, as I listen for the leading of Your voice. ... Your voice is saying to my spirit, "Revival is the restoration of destiny." Yes, Lord. I have not seen revival quite like that before. But I believe I see what You are saying. We are created with calling and purpose and destiny. But along the way, that destiny can get distorted and defiled, crushed and consumed, by the world, the flesh, and the devil. We find ourselves frustrated, irritated, and unfulfilled. In time, we can grow numb and complacent, while our passions turn passive. The fire burns out. Instead of a burning flame, we become more like dead wood. What's true of ourselves, can be true of our churches. And what's true of our churches can be true of the body of Christ throughout the earth. Revive us, Lord. Restore us to our calling and destiny. You created us to live our lives in personal relationship with You for Your glory, in fulfillment of the purpose and hope You've placed in our souls. You placed all creation at our hands to steward and tend as an offering of praise. But in many ways, we've allowed our souls and Your creation to wither and die, without bearing the fullness of the fruit You've placed in our hearts. "For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies" (Romans 8:19-23). Revive the hearts of Your children, that all creation may be awakened to the glory of our destiny in Christ. Your glory is Your manifest presence. We welcome Your presence to manifest again and forever in our hearts, and in the body of Christ, and throughout Your creation. Revive us and restore us to our calling and our destiny in all the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are having a wonderful revival at Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church in Rocky Face, Georgia. Please cover us in your prayers for our healing service tonight. May the Lord revive and renew you into the fullness of your calling and destiny in Him! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Battle Line 10-22-05

Morning by Morning, Saturday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take charge of my heart and soul again today. ... Today we'll travel to Rocky Face, Georgia to preach a series of revival messages at the church that one of my best friends pastors. We'll stay at their home on along the side of the ridge of a mountain that rises up to form the rocky face overlooking the valley below. That area is called Battle Line Road. Over a century ago, the Confederate Army lined up their canons along that ridge to guard the pass below from the Union Army marching to Atlanta in the Civil War. To this day, they still find the remains of war buried in the dirt along this road. There is a battle line road that runs through our soul. It's the place of civil war within each one of us between the spirit and the flesh, between the armies of the Lord and the armies of the world, the flesh, and the devil. It's the place where the lines of battle are drawn and fought every day for the life of our soul -- whether we will walk in victory or defeat in the decision of every moment. "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do what is good, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God in my inmost self, but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:21-25). If the Apostle Paul could acknowledge this war within his own soul, let us humbly acknowledge the war within ours. As Paul found, let us find that we cannot will this war on our own. And we don't have to. "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" As we submit and surrender our hearts and souls to You, we are victorious to overcome every battle in the decision of every moment. As we entrust our lives to You afresh each day, the victory is won along every line of battle. And in time, even the remains of the battles will give you glory. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"We do see Jesus" 10-21-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I lift my eyes to the world, I lift my eyes to the heavens. Before I turn to face the day, I first turn to seek Your face. ... You are restoring and redeeming all things into the perfection of Your will. You are using all things to accomplish Your purpose, from whatever source and by whatever motive. You use "everything" -- even sin and sinners, even the devil and destruction, even judgment and wrath, even ridiculously undeserved mercy and grace, "to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them" (Romans 8:28). We do not yet see the full restoration and redemption of all things with our natural eyes as we look and see the current reality of this physical dimension. But, at the same time, open our spiritual eyes of faith to see all things as You intended and all things as they shall be as we persevere through the process of redemption. We are not to ignore the realities of the natural realm, nor the realities of the spiritual realm. We are not to ignore the realities of the present, nor the realities of the future. Every word and promise You have ever spoken will come to pass, no matter what immediate realities we face. This is the essence of faith. And we choose this day, by Your grace, to continually put our faith in You. We do not yet see the heavens and the earth restored and redeemed into perfection as You have promised, but "we do see Jesus" (Hebrews 2:9). So when we look around us and see the realities of the consequences of sin and the destruction of the forces of darkness, let us also see Jesus. When we see injustice and oppression and suffering, let us also see Jesus. When we sickness and disease, famines and wars, let us also see Jesus. Let us not only see things as they are, but also how they shall be. You see "the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying My purpose will stand, and I will fulfill My intention" (Isaiah 46:8-11). Give us eyes to see as You see. Give us eyes to see Jesus with us in the midst of it all, redeeming it all into the purposes of God. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Day of the Breakthrough 10-20-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I submit my will to Your will, my thoughts to Your thoughts. Help me get quite and still as I watch and wait for the leading of Your voice. ... I see an image of an ancient battering ram relentlessly pounding the walls of a city. There are many strikes before any cracks form, but then finally the wall begins to crack. Then with each successive strike, the cracks explode in every direction from the pounding of the battering ram, weakening the walls of resistance. At last, the battering ram breaks through and the wall crumbles to the ground. It seems You are reminding us of the power of persistence. There are walls of resistance we face -- resistance to Your will and Your promises in our lives. We've been pounding against the walls in prayer and in faith and in obedience, but it seems like nothing is happening to some of those walls. But the truth is that with every blow, the wall is being weakened. Though we don't see it now, that wall is already destroyed. It will crumble and fall of the day of our breakthrough -- if we persist in obedience and faith. You released Your judgment against the ancient city of Tyre and its rulers, which speaks, at one level, of our spiritual enemies and their strongholds in our lives. At another level, it speaks of the sin of pride, arrogantly trusting in ourselves and our own strength, independent of trusting You. "They shall destroy the walls of Tyre and break down its towers.... He shall direct the shock of his battering rams against your walls and break down your towers with his axes" (Ezekiel 26:4-9). Give us faith to persevere against the walls of resistance. Give us faith to believe the walls are crumbling in the spiritual dimension, even before we see it happening yet in the physical dimension. "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). In Your timing and in Your way, every wall raised up against the will of God will fall. Your Word will break through. The walls will fall down. But they will not fall down by themselves. You have chosen, in Your sovereignty, to release the power of Your Word -- like a battering ram -- through the obedience and persistence of the prayers of faith of Your people. Let us not let up until the day when faith becomes sight in the day of the breakthrough. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Arise, My daughters, arise!" 10-19-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the light of Your Word guide my path; let the leading of Your Spirit guide my steps. ... Father, I believe I hear You saying, "Arise, My daughters, arise! Arise, My daughters, arise! Arise, My daughters, arise! My Word reveals My will for you. But look to the whole counsel of My Word to find My will. Seek out My will as you search out My Word. There you will find My calling and My command." Yes, Lord. I pray for Your daughters to arise to walk in the fullness of their calling -- in perfect submission and obedience to Your will as revealed in Your Word and in perfect fulfillment of their glorious destiny in Christ. With the coming of Your Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, the yoke of unjust oppression and the burden of ungodly submission was broken in the power of Your indwelling presence in their hearts. They were set free to be all You created them to be -- to take their rightful place in the body of Christ and in the ministry of the kingdom of God: "But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, 'Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o'clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: 'In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon My slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out My Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved' " (Acts 2:14-21). We pray for revival and renewal. We pray for the moving of Your Spirit in power. We pray for the salvation of the souls and the coming of the day of the Lord. Let us also pray to see this first prophecy of Pentecost fulfilled -- that we affirm that Your Spirit has been poured out upon all flesh, that we honor and receive the word of the Lord spoken in authority through both Your sons and Your daughters. I have heard it said that the women of the church have had to rise up in the leadership of worship, prayer, and spiritual gifts to take the place of the men who won't. I believe You are showing us that is not fully true. It is true that men have not risen to fully take their place in these forms of godly leadership in our homes and in Your church. But the women are not rising up to take the place of the men, the women are rising up to take the place of women -- a place of honor and authority in Your kingdom, in accordance with Your will, revealed in Your Word. As this begins to happen in our generation, surely this will be a sign in the heavens above and on the earth below of the coming of the Lord's great and glorious day. "So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, 'Why do Your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?' He said to them, 'Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me; in vain do they worship Me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition. Then He said to them, 'You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition!' "(Mark 7:5-9). Forgive us where we have sinned through any misunderstanding of Your will and Your Word; and forgive us where we have known very well Your will and Your Word, but have chosen to disobey out of the fear of men and our own pride. Forgive us for rejecting the commandments of God in order to hold on to the traditions of men -- elders or otherwise. May the body of Christ be cleansed of our sin of the oppression of women in the leadership of the church. Who could dare say on that day when we will all give account before You that we didn't think "your daughters shall prophesy" meant spiritual authority in the church. May Your daughters be set free from the yoke of slavery and anointed with the honor Your will and Your Word commands in these long awaited days. Let Your daughters arise, as Your sons lift them up to their place of honor and respect in Your kingdom for Your glory. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

All I've Ever Needed 10-18-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the worship song says, "You're all I want; You're all I've ever needed." I seek You and I need You this day and every day. ... "My child, be attentive to My words; incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:20-22). Thank You for Your words, Father. Thank You for the sound of Your voice and the peace of the presence of Your Spirit. They are life to the hopeless and healing to the weary. But there is confidence and power and assurance in the steadiness of Your words and the strength of Your voice. I've not felt well for a couple of days, but You have been here by my side. When I was weak, You were my strength. When I was wavering, You were steady. At times when I was too tired to get up or open my eyes, I could still hear the voice of Your Spirit singing in my heart, lifting my spirit to You. You sustained me as You sang through my spirit this simple song of trust: "Draw me close to You; never let me go. I lay it all down again, to hear You say that I'm Your friend. You are my desire, no one else will do. 'Cause nothing else could take You place, to feel the warmth of Your embrace. Help me find the way, bring me back to You. You're all I want; You're all I've ever needed. You're all I want; help me know You are near" (by Kelly Carpenter). Thank You for helping us know You are near. You never leave us and never forsake us. You are here with us, bringing us through every hard time, being everything we need. You are life to our spirit and healing to our flesh. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Whatever you do" 10-15-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn my eyes and my heart to You. ... "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). My oldest son, Zachary, and I are away this weekend for his soccer tournament. We will both have many opportunities to blend in with the world and its ways in our words and actions or to be faithful to Your ways and Your nature. Someone has said that your character is defined by what you do when no one is looking. And someone has said a Christian's character is truly revealed Monday through Saturday, rather than Sunday. Our character is our nature and You call us to have Your nature -- not just in church, but also in the marketplace; not just around our friends, but also around our enemies; not just when things are going well, but also when they're not. "Thus He has given us, through these things, His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature" (1 Peter 2:4). Give us grace to face the challenges and opportunities to reveal Your nature through our lives each day. Strengthen us when we are tempted; and convict us when stumble, that we may return to You in repentance -- learning and growing through every experience. Help us grow up into the full measure of the stature of Christ, to bring You glory with our lives in all that we do. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Lovc of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Knowing You, Jesus" 10-14-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day well -- seeking Your face and receiving Your grace. ... "May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of our Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:2-3). To know Your power, we must know You. Through knowing You, we receive everything needed for life. You have not called us to merely know about You, but to know You. How can we know You unless we spend time with You -- not just with Your Word, but with You. Not just through reading of the experiences of others with You, but through having our own experiences of Your presence with us. Then we will not only have Your grace and Your peace, we will have it "in abundance." In the words of the worship song: "Knowing You, Jesus. There is no greater thing. You're my all, You're the best, You're my joy, my righteousness, and I love You, Lord...." We love You, Lord, and we want to grow more every day in knowing You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and Doris McCray will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be availble throughtout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Gift of Mothers 10-13-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Living Waters flow through my soul. ... " 'Honor your father and mother' -- this is the first commandment with a promise: 'so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth' " (Ephesians 6:2-3). Since I was a little boy, my mother's favorite gift from me was for me to write a few words in a poem from my heart. I see now that You were teaching me then to listen for the leading of Your voice and write the words You would give me to touch the heart of another. Thank You for teaching us and equipping us in the journeys of our lives to find our place in the body of Christ and to share the gifts You've given us with one another. Let these words You have given me touch the hearts of our mothers today: You conceived me and carried me Before I breathed my first breath of life. You held me and nurtured me Before I could crawl. You sang to me and played with me Before I could speak a word. You laughed with me and cried with me Before I could understand what it meant. You corrected me and disciplined me Before I could choose for myself. You encouraged me and taught me Before I could think for myself. You blessed me and released me Before I could bless the children of my own. You lived your life in as an example of love before me Before I could honor you by trying to live out my life in the example of your love. Thank You for the gift of mothers. Thank You for the gift of my mother. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

We will Overcome 10-12-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You and call upon Your name. ... As my alarm clock went off this morning, I was in a dream, standing before the people of a church. I was saying: "Turn in your Bibles to Revelation 1, verse 1. The Apostle John was writing this letter to the Christians of the first generation, but God was writing the letter through John to the Christians of every generation. He was encouraging them and encouraging us to take courage in Him through every tribulation. We need not fear, for God is with us. God will not leave us, no matter what we face. We will endure, we will persevere, we will overcome -- through Jesus Christ our Lord." Thank You, Lord, for Your words of encouragement. You are Faithful and True. And You are preparing Your people to stand firm in the faith and the courage You give by Your grace. You are deepening our revelation of the person and nature of Jesus Christ, deepening our dependence upon our Father in heaven who is perfectly revealed in Christ, deepening our intimacy with the Holy Spirit of God who fills us with the heart of the Father and the mind of Christ. We will stand firm in You when everything around us is shaken. "We must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, KJV). But by Your grace, we will not fear, for You are with us (Isaiah 43:1-7). Neither the trials nor tribulations that we will ever face "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 8:39). In Christ, we are more than conquerors; we are overcomers. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and Doris McCray will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be availble throughtout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Yielded and Still" 10-11-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I choose to please you and not people, to submit to Your will and not mine. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. I entrust my life to You intentionally, deliberately because You are worthy of my obedience and my trust. ... "Yet, O Lord, You are our Father. We are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). When the clay is centered on the potter's wheel, there is no wobbling or bending. The clay is yielded and still. All resistance is smoothed away, as the shape of the vessel and the will of the potter become one. Water us with Your Word, Lord. Center us in Your Spirit. Shape us into the vessels of Your choosing for the purposes of Your will. Turn us through the challenges and struggles of this broken, fallen world as You smooth away our resistance and mold us into the work of Your hand. Give us courage to embrace Your hands without resistance, sensing the gentle pressure of Your Word and Your ways. Let the old hymn be our prayer: "Have Thine own way, Lord. Have Thine own way. Thou art the Potter; I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still." In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and Doris McCray will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be availble throughtout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Frequency and Intensity of Birth Pangs 10-9-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My rock and my refuge, my strong tower and strength. I rest in You and trust in You -- secure in the power of Your presence. ... "For God alone my soul waits in silence; for my hope is from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" (Psalm 62:5-8). What a picture of this age we have seen this weekend: Earthquakes in India and California, mudslides in Mexico, devastation from hurricanes in the Gulf Coast, famine in Sudan, war in Iraq, terror in Israel, and the global threat of a world-wide plague of avian flu. All the earth is groaning in the pangs of birth for the revealing of the glory of God (Romans 8:18-25). All that can be shaken is being shaken, so that only what cannot be shaken remains (Hebrews 12:25-29). Your presence is Your glory. Faith in You is our hope. While all that can be shaken is shaken, You are teaching us to stand firm in the power of Your strength, upon the Rock of our refuge in You. As each day passes and as the earthquakes and famines and wars and plagues increase in the frequency and intensity of the pangs of birth, the eyes of the world and the eyes of our hearts are being opened to the truth of our only Hope. Our hope is in You, and in You alone. Everything else will tremble and crumble and fall -- everything else but the mighty Rock and Refuge of our God. We pour out our hearts before You and find our refuge in the peace and the power of Your presence in our hearts through it all. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Well-Worn Path 10-8-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Teach me Your ways, reveal to me Your truth, live Your life through me. ... As I close my physical eyes to wait on You, the eyes of my spirit are opened to see a man walking down a path. It winds through a field and a forest, over a hill and through a dry creek bed. Then it rises up to cross an open plain of green grass before ending at the porch of his home. Then I see the same man going down the same path, but this time it is dark. His pace is a little slower but still steady as he confidently moves along the path to his home. It seems You are saying, "Learn to walk in My paths while it is light. Then you will know how to walk when it is dark. Let your feet learn to follow the well-worn paths of righteousness in the light of the day, then they will not fail you during the darkness of the night. As surely as there is day, there is night. Yet my path remains the same through both the darkness of night and the light of day." Yes, Lord. "Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth, and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long" (Psalm 25:4-5). Lead us in the paths of righteousness until they become well-worn and familiar beneath our feet. We don't have to travel this journey alone. You are with us and You are within in -- our Way, our Truth, and our Life. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Cleans Hands and Pure Hearts 10-7-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the song says, "Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts, let us not lift our souls to another." I lift my soul to You and to You alone, my Lord and my God. ... "Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 24:3-6). We have no righteousness apart from You. We have clean hands and pure hearts only by the washing of Your Living Water, only by the cleansing of the Blood of the Lamb. "In Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So, we are ambassadors of Christ, since God is making His appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake He made Him sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:19-21). In Christ, we "become the righteousness of God." In Christ, we have clean hands and pure hearts. In Christ, we ascend the hill of the Lord to worship the Lord our God in spirit and in truth. This is our blessing and vindication, this is our hope and our peace, as we seek You and find You in this holy place of prayer. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Holy Spirit of God 10-6-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. ... "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:30-32). Bitterness grieves You, but kindness welcomes You. Wrath and anger push You away, but tenderness and gentleness draw You near. Wrangling and slander and malice resist You, but forgiveness embraces You. Holy Spirit of God, we need You. Forgive us for all the ways we have grieved You and resisted You, rejected You and dishonored You -- often with the theologies of our minds and more often with the hardness of our hearts. Your nature is holy. You are the Spirit of Holiness and You come into our minds and hearts to correct us and convict us, so that You can make us more like You. You are the Spirit of God in Christ; and You desire to be the Spirit of God in us --"the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). "Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (Ephesians 5:1-2). As we confess and repent of our unholy ways, we receive Your Holy Spirit and embrace Your holy ways. We surrender our lives to You as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God, to live our lives for the hope of Your glory. In Jesus' name we, pray. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please let me know if you would like to order my new teaching dvd's called "Preparing the Way of the Lord -- Prayer Ministry of Inner Healing and Deliverance." This is my most recent teaching on the biblical principles of healing and deliverance in the context of the Holy Spirit preparing the bride of Chirst and empowering the people of God to shine as lights in the midst of the darkness in these days before the return of Christ. Please send a check or credit card information to "Messiah Ministries" for $50 plus $3 shipping, and spread the word to those who might be interested. I'm very grateful to Mikal and Tammy Watts of Corpus Christi, Texas for helping make this possible. God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Fill Me with Your Spirit 10-5-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit and fill me with Your Life. I listen for Your leading at the dawn of a new day. ... Fill me with Your Spirit, Fill me with Your Life. Lead me through the darkness, Lead me to Your Light. Let me taste the Living Waters, Let me drink deeply from Your Well. As You strengthen me in Power, As You storm the gates of hell. Teach me Your holy Wisdom, Teach me Your holy Ways. I will live for You forever, I will live for You today. Yes, Lord. Thank You for this song You are writing on my heart. Sing it through our souls and declare it through our lives this day. "Be filled with the Spirit, as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:18-20). Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Song of Moses 10-4-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart and arise in my thoughts. Let the glory of Your presence and the peace of Your power fill my life. ... "Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: 'I will sing to the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider He has thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my might, and He has become my salvation. This is my God and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name' "(Exodus 15:1-3). We sing the song of Moses over our enemies of stress and strain, worry and fear, discouragement and depression. We sing the song of Your deliverance over our spiritual adversaries who pursue us to torment us to the death -- death of our vision, our hope, our calling, our lives. But You have triumphed in the victory of Your cross and the glory of Your resurrection. You are our might, our strength, and our salvation. You are a warrior, mighty in battle, casting our enemies into the sea of Your wrath, consuming them in the fire of Your fury. And we sing Your praise even now in the midst of the battle, for the battle in won and the victory assured. "Your hand, O Lord, glorious in power -- your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. In the greatness of Your majesty You overthrew Your adversaries; You sent out Your fury, it consumed them like stubble" (Exodus 15:6-7). Send the fire of Your fury. Send the waters of Your wrath. Shatter the enemy of our souls, the pursuer of Your people. Deliver us into the safety of Your mighty arms as in the days of Moses. There is no safety, no security, apart from Your presence and Your power. So we praise You and thank You for the peace You bring in the knowledge of Your power and the arms of Your presence. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com