Revival and Transformation / City Strategic Prayer Summit 1-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me be quiet enough to listen and sensitive enough to follow the leading of Your Spirit into the arms and the will of my Father. ... "What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.... Let two or three prophets speak and the others weigh what is said.... So, my friends, be eager to prophecy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues; but all things should be done decently and in order" (1 Corinthians 14:26-40). Lord, I believe You've moved on my heart to invite our city together in prayer to seek Your face and listen for Your voice at the beginning of this new year. This weekend, many are coming from many traditions by the same Spirit under Your name alone to the glory of our Father. Let there be freedom and let there be order. Let there be humility in our flesh and boldness in Your Spirit. "Surely the Lord God does nothing, without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). So, let this not be just another meeting, but a meeting with You. Under the covenant in Your blood and by Your Spirit who now dwells within all who believe, we "can all prophecy, one by one, so that all may learn and be encouraged" (1 Corinthians 14:31). And we are all commanded to "be eager to prophecy" -- to seek Your face, listen for Your voice, and speak out with humility and with faith what we believe Your Spirit is saying to Your church (v. 14:39). Give us courage to "weigh what is said" and to not be afraid to "test everything; (and) hold fast to what is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21). You reveal Your written Word and Your living word to us for the purpose of our obedience to Your will. So, as we worship You and seek You in Spirit and in truth, let us not only hear You but also obey You. Obedience in faith is the path to revival and transformation of our hearts and our city for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" is this weekend at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road on the south side of Lexington (Friday night 7-9; Saturday 9-9). We'll have harp and bowl prayer and intercession with a number of teams, prophetic insight for the coming year from many different leaders with prayer, praise, and proclamation. Please come if you can, pray for us if you can't, and spread the word! Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com We started my Wednesday night teaching and equipping series on Prayer Ministry at my home church last night with a full house, but still room for more to join us next Wednesday. I sense an urgency to help prepare for this coming season of healing, deliverance, and miracles for a great harvest of salvation and transformation. All are welcome: www.CentenaryLex.com I will be teaching an intensive short course for our School of Spiritual Ministry January 21-24 in Lexington. Also, if you are in Western Kentucky, I'll be teaching the School of Spiritual Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville Friday night and Saturday the first three weekends of February. All are welcome. Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Decide and Decree 1-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Alpha and the Omega and Everything in between. You are Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Sustainer. You are my All in All. ... "You will decide on a matter ('decree a thing' in KJV), and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways" (Job 22:28). " In Your sovereignty You created us with the freedom to choose. You empower our choices and our words to direct our lives. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21). "From the fruit of the mouth" we sow the seeds that will form the path before us (v. 20). Lord, sanctify my tongue and purify my words. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart so that what I decide and speak are decrees from heaven instead earth, from Your Spirit instead of my flesh. I seek Your wisdom to speak and walk in Your ways. "But we speak God's wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, 'What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him' -- these things God has revealed to us by His Spirit for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:7-10). Align my heart and my mind with Yours as I decide my path today. Anoint my words to decree Your will on earth as it is in heaven. You said, "Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you" (Mark 11:22-23). Teach me how to do that by Your grace, in Your power, according to Your will, and for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Tonight 1/9 at 6:15, I will begin a Wednesday night teaching and equipping series on Prayer Ministry at my home church. All are welcome: www.CentenaryLex.com Our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" is this weekend at Church of the Savior. We'll harp and bowl prayer and intercession, prophetic insight for the coming year from many different leaders with prayer, praise, and proclamation. Please come if you can and spread the word! Write or call for details. A flyer is attached. I will be teaching an intensive short course for our School of Spiritual Ministry January 21-24 in Lexington. Also, if you are in Western Kentucky, I'll be teaching the School of Spiritual Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville Friday night and Saturday the first three weekends of February. All are welcome. Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Lift Up Your Voice in Praise 1-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I am still before You, You go before me. As I watch and wait, You arise and go, ordering the steps of my day. ... "Get up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cries of Judah, 'Here is your God!' See, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him" (Isaiah 40:9-10). This is the time to go up to the mountain of praise. You want to hear the cries of Judah -- and "Judah" means "praise!" As with lift up our voices with strength, as we do not fear the thoughts or disapproval or jealousies or insecurities of others, but look to You alone, we will see You come with might. We will see You confirm Your Word with Your power. We will see You establish Your rule in our lives and reward us with Your Presence. By Your grace, I will lift up my voice in praise to You throughout the moments of my day, no matter what comes. And I will see the glory of Your Presence and Your power wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, this Wednesday night 1/9 at 6:15, I will begin a teaching and equipping series on Prayer Ministry at my home church. All are welcome: www.CentenaryLex.com Our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" is this weekend at Church of the Savior. Please come if you can! Write or call for details. I will be teaching an intensive short course for our School of Spiritual Ministry January 21-24 in Lexington. If you are in Western Kentucky, I'll be teaching the School of Spiritual Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville Friday night and Saturday the first three weekends of February. All are welcome. Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Such as I am" 1-7-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I am a son of God through the blood of the Lamb. ... "But Paul replied and said, 'I am not out of my mind ... but I am speaking the sober truth.... I pray to God that not only you but also all who are listening to me today might become such as I am -- except for these chains' " (Acts 26:25-29). Paul knew who he was in Christ. And he wanted the same for everyone everywhere he went. So do I. I am a son of God. "For in Christ Jesus (we) are all children of God through faith" (Galatians 3:26). "See, what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, for that is what we are.... Beloved, we are God's children now" (1 John 3:1-2). Let that sober truth settle in to my heart and soul and mind. Let that sober truth fill my spirit and go forth from my mouth -- I am a son of God and the Son of God is living in me, living Your life through me and each of Your children for Your glory. Let that sober truth change the way I see myself and think of myself, more every day. You are "bringing many sons to glory" -- the glory of Your Presence, Your power, Your authority, Your kingdom living in us and being manifested through us (Hebrews 2:10, NKJV). As Paul said, "I am not out of mind." You are just aligning my mind with Your mind. By Your grace and according to the truth of Your Word, "(I) have the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). As I behold You and Your glory, I am being changed into Your image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). And that's the sober truth I will proclaim according to Your Word as You manifest Your truth in me, conforming my mind to Yours and my identity to who You say I am. And may all who are listening to me become such as I am by grace in faith. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, this Wednesday night 1/9 at 6:15, I will begin a teaching and equipping series on Prayer Ministry at my home church. All are welcome: www.CentenaryLex.com Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't as we seek the Lord together at our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" with may key prayer leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors from our city and region. A flyer is attached and all are welcome with free registration to come join us in prayer, praise, and proclamation. God bless you and your city this New Year! Please spread the word and come join us. I will be teaching an intensive short course for our School of Spiritual Ministry January 21-24 in Lexington, included on the flyer attached. If you are in Western Kentucky, I'll be teaching the School of Spiritual Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville Friday night and Saturday the first three weekends of February. All are welcome. Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

God's Glory in Me 1-5-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Holy are You, Lord, and worthy of all praise. ... "And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, singing, 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen" (Revelation 7:11-12). We worship You for who You are. And, in the mystery of faith and the extravagance of Your love, You have chosen to release the glory of Your Presence to abide in us by Your Spirit (John 14:17 and 15:4). On earth as Son of Man, You declared to our Father, "The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one as We are One. I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (v. 17:22-23). Lord, help me grasp the depths of this truth. Help me set aside false humility and every mindset that won't let me fully receive and embrace what Your Word says about me. You -- in all Your glory, wisdom, honor, power, and might -- dwell in me. You arise in me; You shine through me (Isaiah 60:1). Your glory rests on me and abides in me. And that makes me different from the world and those who don't have Your glory abiding in them. And as the eyes of the world are opened to see it, they are drawn to the light of Your glory living in me (v. 60:3). It is astounding, but true, that You have given me the glory the Father gave You (John 17:22). That would seem like heresy, pride, and delusion if it were not the very words of Your mouth. So I renounce every false belief system and every lying religious spirit that says I am anything less that You say I am. Help me see myself as You see me, because that's who I am. As I do, so will the world around me. Then they will be drawn to You, the light and the glory of the One who lives in me. "Christ in me, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't as we seek the Lord together for the New Year at our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" with many key prayer leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors from our city and region. A flyer is attached and all are welcome with free registration to come join us in prayer, praise, and proclamation. God bless you and your city this New Year! Please spread the word and come join us. If you are in our area, I will be teaching a series on Prayer Ministry on Wednesday nights starting January 9th at my home church of Centenary in Lexington. Please come join us. All are welcome. And I will be teaching an intensive short course for our School of Spiritual Ministry January 21-24 in Lexington, included on the flyer attached. If you are in Western Kentucky, I'll be teaching the School of Spiritual Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville Friday night and Saturday the first three weekends of February. Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Kingdom Mindset 1-4-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I entrust and submit my mind and my heart to You today. Make my thoughts and my desires more like Yours each day. ... "But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). Dutch Sheets came off his sabbatical to speak to us at Chuck Pierce's "Start the Year Off Right" conference in Texas. Last night he spoke of how You are radically shifting his mindset to be a kingdom-minded leader. We need to seek first the King and focus on the kingdom -- the "King's domain" -- rather than seeking first our own local church or ministry. He said You are not pleased when our own local church or ministry is doing well but the one down the street is not. You established Your church in the context of Your kingdom, which is Your rule and reign on the earth through Your people (v. 16:18-19). That must be a much broader primary perspective than the largely isolated, primarily local church mindset that makes us inward rather than outward focused. These are "keys of the kingdom of heaven" (v. 19). Lord, give me Your mindset. Give me "the mind of Christ" in these matters of Your kingdom, Your church, Your government, and Your leadership (1 Corinthians 2:16). Align my thoughts with Your thoughts and my desires with Your desires. Give me humility and wisdom to allow You to shift my perspective to align with Your perspective in every way necessary for You to rule and reign as King in my life and through my life, as Your kingdom comes and Your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Messiah" (Revelation 12:10). "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah and He will reign forever and ever" (v. 11:15). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't as we seek the Lord together at our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" with may key prayer leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors from our city and region. A flyer is attached and all are welcome with free registration to come join us in prayer, praise, and proclamation. God bless you and your city this New Year! Please spread the word and come join us. If you are in our area, I will be teaching a series on Prayer Ministry on Wednesday nights starting January 9th at my home church of Centenary in Lexington. Please come join us. All are welcome. And I will be teaching an intensive short course for our School of Spiritual Ministry January 21-24 in Lexington, included on the flyer attached. If you are in Western Kentucky, I'll be teaching the School of Spiritual Ministry at First United Methodist Church in Madisonville Friday night and Saturday the first three weekends of February. Write or call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

School of Spiritual Ministry and Wednesday Night Teaching Series

If you are in the Lexington area, I will be teaching a Wednesday night series on the principles and practice of prayer ministry at my home church in Lexington starting January 9th. All are welcome. Please contact us for more information and to sign up by contacting Marilyn Walker: DirOfMinistries@aol.com And I will be teaching an intensive short course of The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington the week of January 21-24 and separately over a series of weekends in February in western Kentucky. More detail are provided below and a flyer is attached. Please contact us for more information. God bless, Tommy Hays The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry January 21 - 24, 2008 Lexington, Kentucky Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Road Lexington, Kentucky 40502 859-422-1794 DirOfMinistries@aol.com www.messiah-ministries.org Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free as He taught His disciples about the Kingdom of God and demonstrated its coming through the power and presence of God (Isaiah 61; Luke 4). He commissioned His church to continue His ministry of discipleship, healing and deliverance by the power of His Holy Spirit living in and through His disciples until He returns (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 9 and 10; Acts 1). Jesus said, "As My Father sent Me, so I send you" in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the authority of His name (John 20). Messiah Ministries is a ministry called to minister healing and wholeness to God's people as they are being equipped and trained in their spiritual gifts and calling in order to be released and empowered in their own ministries within and beyond the local church. "The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry" is an intensive week-long school of ministry, sponsored by Messiah Ministries of Lexington, Kentucky. Scholarships are available for all to attend, but we request a suggested donation to our ministry of $175. Students come away for a focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry in a variety of ministry settings. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others during the school. The teaching environment is informal with many opportunities for discussion, questions, answers and practical demonstration of the principles of ministry being taught and modeled. Teaching focuses upon all aspects of prayer, healing, spiritual warfare, evangelism and holiness while equipping the Body of Christ to live out their identity and destiny in the ministry in the Kingdom of God. Some specific topics include: Biblical Foundations and Perspectives; the Love and Compassion of God; the Healing and Deliverance Ministry of Jesus and the Early Church; Healing of Damaged Emotions; Crucifixion of the False Self; Supernatural and Prophetic Ministry; and Understanding Key Areas of Ministry (Unforgiveness, Rejection, Fear, Addiction, Abuse, Trauma, Shame, Defense Mechanisms, False Belief Systems, Confusion, Deception, Self Rejection, Self Pity, Depression, Unholy Ties, Curses and Blessings, Generational Iniquities, Sickness, Occult, and Pride). Students learn how to wait upon the Lord in contemplative prayer, how to intercede for others individually and corporately, how to hear and discern the voice of the Lord from the voices of the world, the flesh and the devil, and how to be emptied of the false self and filled with the Holy Spirit to be empowered for ministry. They are provided with models of ministry to provide a general pattern for ministry, while developing their own unique approaches to ministry in line with their particular gifting and anointing. They are provided with hands-on teaching and experience with the opportunity to develop mentoring relationships with experienced ministry leaders in a safe environment to learn and grow into the maturity of Christ while being equipped for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4). Messiah Ministries and The Fountain School of Ministry are led by Rev. Tommy Hays, a Spiritual Director, Conference Leader, and Prayer Revivalist. He serves as Executive Director of Messiah Ministries, the ministry he founded and leads for interdenominational teaching, preaching, equipping, and prayer ministries of inner healing, deliverance and spiritual formation. Tommy ministers throughout the diverse traditions of the Christian faith and is ordained as a United Methodist Pastor (Elder in Full Connection) under special appointment to the ministry by his bishop (Southwest Texas Conference of the UMC). He is also a member in covenant relationship with the MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries, an international prophetic teaching ministry. He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from The University of Texas at Austin. Tommy was called to ministry from his law practice as a trial attorney in Texas, and now offers personal prayer ministry and spiritual direction by private appointment. He is a frequent speaker in conferences and churches of many traditions, leading teaching conferences, healing services, prayer retreats, ecumenical gatherings, and prayer revivals inter-denominationally throughout the United States and the nations. His vision and the calling of Messiah Ministries is to help "prepare the way of the Lord" by preparing the people of the Lord through the ministries of healing, wholeness, and sanctification to be trained and equipped to continue the ministry of the Lord throughout all the earth. His daily prayer devotional, "Morning by Morning -- A Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays" is sent to readers around the world every morning by email. Along with ministry partners, Tommy also leads a citywide, ecumenical service each month of prayer, praise and healing worship called "The Fountain" and teaches The Fountain School of Ministry, to train and equip believers for inner healing and deliverance ministry. Tommy is forty-six years old, married to Tricia Hays, and the father of four wonderful children -- Elizabeth, Zachary, Madison, Elijah, and Josiah Hays. They are members of Centenary United Methodist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, where the Messiah Ministries office is located. Though he is now serving in full time ministry, he is also a partner in the Lexington law firm of Troutman & Hays, with select opportunities to minister in the marketplace and public square of the community (859-253-0991). The general pattern for the School will be teaching and ministry during the days from 9 until 5, for this one-week intensive course on the principles of inner healing and deliverance within the context of sanctification. Students will be coming from various levels of experience and spiritual maturity to receive ministry and receive training to minister to others in these ways. We will be happy to answer any questions or provide more details, contacting Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 859-317-1591. Please share this will all who might be interested and come join us!

"All Things New" 1-2-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I bow low and lift You high. ... "And the One who was seated on the throne said, 'See, I am making all things new' " (Revelation 21:5). Since the fall of creation, all things have been subjected to deterioration and "bondage to decay" (Romans 8:21). We suffer "the devastations of many generations," as well as our own (Isaiah 61:4). We need redemption and restoration. We crave a fresh start and a clean slate. We are desperate for a new beginning. And in to the brokenness and failure of our desperation, devastation, and decay, You step in a say, "Behold! I make all things new! As you humbly turn to Me in desperate dependence and trusting faith, repenting from your efforts to live your life apart from Me, I reverse the process of death and proclaim the process of life." You are Life. And You redeem all things. "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Through the gift of Your grace and the power of Your love, You give us beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). You give us mercy instead of judgment, forgiveness instead of condemnation, hope instead of discouragement, freedom instead of bondage, and life instead of death. As I begin this year of new beginnings in You, I know "my Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25). And I'm filled with anticipation, expectation, and hope to see all this new year will bring as You make all things new. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be meeting in Texas today with many prayer leaders across the nation at Chuck Pierce's ministry to seek the Lord and His commands and strategies this coming year: www.glory-of-zion.org I pray for you and your cities and regions, as well as ours, to seek and hear and obey the voice of the Lord together. Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't as we seek the Lord together at our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" with may key prayer leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors from our city and region (Tom Monroe, Margaret Therkelsen, Linda Whitaker, Rob Poindexter, Bob Hale, Harp and Bowl worship and intercessory teams, Mark MacDonald, Tommy Green, and voices from many perspectives from our city leaders). A flyer is attached and all are welcome with free registration to come join us in prayer, praise, and proclamation. God bless you and your city this New Year! Please spread the word and come join us. Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Fear Not! 1-1-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I declare Your name over this new year and over every year of my life. ... "Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice; for the Lord will do great things" (Joel 2:21, KJV). Near midnight last night at our New Year's gathering at MorningStar to seek Your face and hear Your voice for this new year, Steve Thompson declared Your word for this coming year is "Fear not!" Your perfect love is casting out fear (1 John 4:18). Rick Joyner and Bobby Conner and many others declared a year of a baptism of Your love. And "there is no fear in (Your) love" (v. 4:18). You are delivering Your body from the fears that hold us back for the confident boldness and certain hope we have in You in these coming days. Though the earth may tremble and so may its people, Your love for us will prevail, as we fearlessly trust You through all we may endure. Your love is stronger than all we may face (Song of Solomon 8:6). Your angels come and often declare "Fear not!" as the heavenly realm intersects with the earthly realm. The manifestations of Your supernatural realm will increase this year. Open my spiritual eyes to see You and Your power manifested in Your love in levels and depths as never before. Deliver me from every fear of man, every fear of the failures and disappointments of the past, and every fear of future battles and challenges to come. Fill me with faith to trust in Your love and Your power to prevail in my life and through Your body in this year and every year until Your return. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Happy New Year! Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't as we seek the Lord together at our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" with may key prayer leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors from our city and region (Tom Monroe, Margaret Therkelsen, Linda Whitaker, Rob Poindexter, Bob Hale, Harp and Bowl worship and intercessory teams, Mark MacDonald, and voices from many perspectives from our city leaders). A flyer is attached and all are welcome with free registration to come join us in prayer, praise, and proclamation. God bless you and your city this New Year! Please spread the word and come join us. Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Double Portion of Restoration 12-31-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord. And I thank You for first loving me. ... "Comfort, O comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins" (Isaiah 40:1-2). I thank You for the bond of relationship You've given me with many churches and ministries. Thank You for the covenant bond of the Fellowship of Ministries with MorningStar Ministries and Rick Joyner. I felt strongly led to come here for their New Years Conference and the spiritual grand opening of the restoration of Heritage, USA that has now become MorningStar's home base near Charlotte, North Carolina. This massive complex sat in ruins while Jim Bakker sat in prison for the years following the PTL scandal that so shamed and damaged the reputation for integrity and honor of the Church. But last night Jim Bakker stood before us in both the humility of confession of his sin and also the confidence of faith in Your unfailing love and forgiveness. You call us to restore one another (Galatians 6:1). Last night I saw a man who had served his term stand in the place he had built and declare, "This is the time of restoration." Heritage and Jim Bakker are being restored. May they "never again be put to shame" (Joel 2:26). Lord, continue to restore me and all of Your Church. Convict us of our sins, break us of our pride, so You can cleanse us from our shame. Restore us to the place of glory in Christ to which we are called as "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display His glory" (Isaiah 61:3). Your heart is to redeem and restore, giving hope to the fallen and the broken -- which we all are apart from the mercy of Your grace and lavishness of Your unfailing love. "Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs" (v. 61:7). As we leave behind the sin and shame of the past, let this year be the time of great restoration. Let this be a year of the double portion and everlasting joy. Though there will be much tribulation and many challenges, let us walk with the confidence to know You love us and You never leave us and never forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). If we fall, You will pick us up. If we sin, You will forgive us -- if we continue to turn to You in humility and repentance and faith in Your process of the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be with my Fellowship of Ministries and others at MorningStar Ministries to seek the Lord and His Word for this new year: www.MorningStarMinsitries.org Please come join us if you can and pray for us if you can't when we do this same at our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" with may key prayer leaders, worship leaders, and intercessors from our city and region. A flyer is attached and all are welcome with free registration to come join us in prayer, praise, and proclamation. God bless you and your city this New Year! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Food in Due Season" 12-30-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open my ears to hear Your Word. Open my eyes to see Your face. Open my spirit to sense Your Presence. ... "The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand, satisfying the desire of every living thing" (Psalm 145:16). Your Word is my food. You know the season I've been through, the season I'm in, and the season to come. As I seek Your face, You open Your hand. You provide all that I need and satisfy my desires. There's something in the seeking of Your face and the humbly receiving of Your grace that shapes the desires of my heart so that You want to satisfy them because they glorify You. Lord, keep feeding me Your Food, keep shaping my desires, glorifying Your name in the new season to come. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Be Silent" 12-29-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be the center of my thoughts and the foundation of my day. ... "Be silent, all people, before the Lord; for He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling" (Zechariah 2:13). As we come to the close of this past year and look forward to the next, there is great anticipation among many for the move of Your Spirit to come. Before You move, let us be still. Before You speak, let us be silent. As we humble ourselves in Your sight, then You lift us up (James 4:10). You intend to lift us to new levels of knowing You and experiencing Your Presence and power in these days. So help us humble ourselves in the silence of surrender so we can hear and respond to Your move. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit '08 on Jan 11-12 in Lexington -- "Know our Calling, Fulfill our Destiny." With key prayer and worship leaders, we will join in prayer, praise, and proclamation for the fulfillment of the Lord's promises and prophecies for His Church in our city and region. A flyer for the Prayer Summit and our School of Spiritual Ministry Jan 21-24 in Lexington is attached. Write for details and please spread the word! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Looking Forward in Faith 12-27-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I watch for Your coming and wait for Your leading. ... "Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him what customary under the law, Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God ...." (Luke 2:25-28). Simeon sought You and held You, persisting in faith through the years of watching and waiting for You. He was "looking forward" in faith -- "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). Your Spirit gave him the revelation of promises to come and the faith to persevere in prayer for the fulfillment of those promises. His faith and his prayers were not in vain, though I'm sure there must have been many days he was tempted to question whether Your word to him would ever come to pass. Lord, release that anointing of Simeon in our days to persevere in faith and prayer for the fulfillment of Your promises. Your prophecies are our promises if we will persist by Your grace. They are invitations to agree with You and receive from You. Just as You taught us in the Lord's prayer, even though Your Word proclaims in many ways that Your kingdom will come and Your will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven, our part is to pray Your promises and seek Your Presence until every prophecy comes to pass. By Your grace, Simeon did his part to see Your promises fulfilled in his generation. And I pray for that same grace and persistence in persevering faith and prayer for ours'. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit '08 on Jan 11-12 in Lexington -- "Know our Calling, Fulfill our Destiny." With key prayer and worship leaders, we will join in prayer, praise, and proclamation for the fulfillment of the Lord's promises and prophecies for His Church in our city and region. A flyer for the Prayer Summit and our School of Spiritual Ministry Jan 21-24 in Lexington is attached. Write for details and please spread the word! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Merry Christmas!

"For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us; authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6) Merry Christmas and God bless you! From Tommy & Tricia Hays & Messiah Ministries www.messiah-ministries.org

The Gift of God 12-25-07

"To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Happy Birthday, Jesus -- our Savior, Messiah, and Lord. On this day when we give gifts to one another around the world, we celebrate that You have given us the greatest gift of all. "For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us" (Isaiah 9:6). In the mystery of Your extravagant love and grace, it is "for us" that You were born and "to us" that You were given. And "the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). You gave Your gift at a tree two thousand years ago -- the gift of salvation through Your sacrifice of love at the Cross. It's a free gift of "eternal salvation for all" (Hebrews 5:9). You don't want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). You are "God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:2-4). "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16). This day, let there be no unopened gifts under Your Tree. Let all who will, freely receive the Gift of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Merry Christmas! and God bless you! from Tommy, Tricia, Elizabeth, Zachary, Madison, Elijah, and Josiah Hays! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

The One We Desire 12-24-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's Christmas Eve and all the world is pregnant with anticipation for the celebration of Your birth. I join in their anticipation, watching and waiting for Your coming. ... "Paul said, 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the One who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus' " (Acts 19:4). Are You the One? The One we've been waiting for. Are You the One? The One our hearts yearn to adore. All the world awaits Your coming With seeking hearts and eager longing We look for the One to come. Whether we know it or not, we each long for Your coming. You've created us to need You, to seek You, to never be fulfilled without You. We were created for You (Colossians 1:16). And You have longed to come to us, in the fullness of time, to reveal the Father's heart through the Son (Galatians 4:4). You are Jesus. You are the One to come. Come, Lord Jesus. You are "the Desire of all nations" (Haggai 2:7, KJV). "O Lord, we wait for You; Your name and Your renown are the soul's desire. My soul yearns for You in the night, my spirit within me earnestly seeks You" (Isaiah 26:8-9). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Signs and Wonders of His Love 12-23-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You humbled Yourself to come in a manger. I'm amazed You humble Yourself to come in my heart. But I welcome You here in response to Your extravagant grace and unfailing love. ... "When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.' So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Child lying in the manger" (Luke 2:15-16). Your signs and wonders are for a purpose -- to draw us to You. They are signs of Your heavenly dimension made manifest in our earthly dimension to help reveal to us the wonders of Your love and the glory of Your manifest Presence among us. When the angels appeared to the shepherds, their hearts were moved and they moved with haste to come into Your Presence. Lord, in our day, send Your angels; manifest the signs and wonders of Your Presence among us. Open Your heavenly realms and open our earthly eyes to behold Your glory. Move our hearts to seek You; awaken our spirits to embrace You. "I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give (us) a spirit of wisdom and revelation as (we) come to know (You), so that, with the eyes of (our) hearts enlightened, (we) may know what is the hope to which (You) have called (us), what are the riches of (Your) glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of (Your) power for us who believe, according to the working of (Your) great power" (Ephesians 1:17-19). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Clothed in Love 12-22-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Father revealed in the flesh, and I welcome Your Holy Spirit into mine. ... " 'This shall be a sign for you: you will find a Child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger' " (Luke 2:12). At Your birth, You were wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a manger. At Your death, You were wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a tomb (Luke 23:53). The Child of Bethlehem was born to die as our Savior on the Cross. You were clothed in cloth, in life and in death, so we could be clothed in Christ, as we die to ourselves and live in You (Galatians 3:27). Your sacrifice to set aside the glory of heaven to come humble Yourself in human flesh -- to allow human flesh to lay Your body in a manger or a tomb, to hear You and receive You or to reject You and condemn You, to bow down before You or to nail You high on a cross -- is the sign of Your love for us. God the Father, humbling Yourself in God the Son, that we might be clothed with You and filled by You in God the Holy Spirit. You are God, and You are Love, so as I clothe myself with You, I clothe myself in Your nature by Your grace. "Above all, clothe yourselves with Love" (Colossians 3:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Merry and Missing 12-21-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The first thought in my mind and the first sound in my day is Your name. ... "There was also a prophet, Anna ... a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and speak about the Child to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel" (Luke 2:36-38). Christmas is a time to be merry, celebrating the birth of this Child who changes our lives. And for a season -- despite all the efforts to secularize it, materialize it, and marginalize it -- even our hardened, politically correct culture is still filled with greetings of "Merry Christmas," our radio waves are filled with Christmas songs, our lawns are filled with shepherds and angels, and our hearts are filled with joy and cheer. Christmas is a world-wide celebration of the birth of Christ. But it's also a time of missing those we love, who we wish could be with us to celebrate this joy of this season. Anna, the worshipper, never left the temple because she loved You and praised You day and night, always sensing Your Presence. But also Anna, the widow, never went home, where she must have missed the one she loved, maybe always sensing his absence. So there's room in our hearts to be both merry and missing the ones we love. You are our hope and our peace. You are the redemption of Israel and all things, bringing great tidings of comfort and joy, lifting our loneliness, stirring our hearts, drawing us together to worship You and celebrate You in the temple of Your Presence. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please put on your calendars our City-Wide Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 in Lexington to join us if you can and pray with us if you can't. Write for details and a flyer is attached. Come to The Fountain! This Friday night Dec. 21th at 7 pm for Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. Sandra White who is powerfully gifted by the Lord in healing ministry will be leading in prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.injesus.com/

"Overwhelmed with Joy" 12-20-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me deep into Your Presence as I focus my thoughts and open my heart to You alone in these first moments of my morning. ... "When they heard the king, (the wise men) set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the Child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy" (Mathew 2:9-10). To seek You is faith; to find You is joy. These wise men followed the witness of creation and the Word of God to find the One their hearts where drawn to seek (v. 2:1-8). When they found You, they worshipped You. They opened their treasure chests to You, with giving gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh out of the joy of their hearts in finding the Messiah (v. 2:11). Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah of Israel, the Christ of all nations. You are "the Root and the Descendant of David, the Bright Morning Star" (Revelation 22:16). You are Immanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). And all who seek You with all their hearts will find You (Jeremiah 29:13). By the leading of Your grace, I have sought You and I have found You. I am overwhelmed with joy. I bow down before You, worship and adore You. I open my chest and offer You the treasure of all that I have. I give You the gifts of the gold of my heart, the incense of my prayers, and the myrrh of the surrender of my will to Yours'. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday night Dec. 21th at 7 pm for Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. Sandra White who is powerfully gifted by the Lord in healing ministry will be leading in prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com See AOL's top rated recipes and easy ways to stay in shape for winter.

Seek Him and Adore Him 12-19-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the One who is and who was and who is to come (Revelation 1:8). Come now into my thoughts and my heart and my day, I pray. ... "In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, 'Where is the Child who has been born King of the Jews? For we observed His star at its rising, and have come to pay Him homage" (Matthew 2:1-2). As they say, "Wise men still seek Him." The stars and the incredible intricacy of Your design of all creation move upon the hearts of all but the most proud to acknowledge there is One who is Creator. "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims His handiwork" (Psalm 19:1). "Ever since the beginning of the world (Your) eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things (You) have made. So (we) are without excuse" (Romans 1:20). As with these wise men, You often use the glory of Your creation to lead us to the Creator. The vain philosophy of life by accident insults the intelligence You have given us. The profound complexity and intelligent design of the heavens above and firmament below leave us all without excuse to seek the One who created us seek You and know You, to worship and adore You. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:15-16). "O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday night Dec. 21th at 7 pm for Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. Sandra White who is powerfully gifted by the Lord in healing ministry will be leading in prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Awake and Obey 12-18-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name, seek out Your face, and reach out for Your Presence. ... "When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a Son; and he named Him Jesus" (Matthew 1:24-25). You gave Joseph great faith and great courage to believe Mary's story of a miraculous conception and to believe You would confirm her word by Your word through an angel in a dream. But with that gift of faith and courage, Joseph was free to choose to believe or not, to obey or not. By Your grace, he woke up, he discerned Your truth, and he chose well to trust and obey. He had the honor of naming the Son of God. Give me great faith to believe Your miraculous signs and to hear Your words through the ways You choose to speak to me. Give me great courage to choose well with the freedom You give to trust Your words and obey Your commands. As I wake up each day from sleep, open my eyes to seek Your face, open my ears to hear Your voice, and open my heart to welcome Your Presence. I will have the honor of the joy and peace that comes from living in the trusting surrender of communion with You and obedience to Your words. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday night Dec. 21th at 7 pm for Messiah Ministries' monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. Sandra White who is powerfully gifted by the Lord in healing ministry will be leading in prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Joseph's Choice of Mercy 12-17-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I come now before You, to worship and adore You, and welcome You into every moment of my day. ... "Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place this way. When His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the Child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins' " (Matthew 1:18-21). Before the angel of the Lord spoke to Joseph, he had a choice to make -- to demand judgment or release mercy. Under the law, if a virgin engaged to be married, found to have had relations with another man could have been stoned at the city gate along with that man (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). "But just when" Joseph choose mercy rather than judgment, the angel appeared to him and spoke to him. Joseph showed himself to be "a righteous man" in his actions by what he had resolved in his heart. "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:12-13). Like Joseph, Lord give me a heart of mercy, not always insisting on my just judgment of those I feel have wronged me or violated my trust. There is room for justice and just judgment, but You also desire there to be room for mercy. You have shown great mercy to each of us by coming to "save (Your) people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). You were conceived and born in the midst of mercy. Then one day You died to release mercy to us all. Thank You for saving me from my sins. Thank You for making room for mercy in Your heart. Give me Your heart of mercy toward others. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Prepare His Way" 12-16-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You increase as I decrease. You speak as I listen. ... "And you child will called prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:76-79). John had the spirit of Elijah. You said he was "the one about whom it is written, 'See, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You' " (Matthew 11:10-14). In the days of anticipation of the celebration of Your birth, send Your Spirit to prepare the way. In the days of anticipation of Your return, send Your Spirit to prepare the way. Though we live in a broken, fallen world, sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, we look forward to the day Your dawn from on high will break upon us again (1 Thessalonians 4:16). On that day You will come in the skies, but we welcome You each day before then to come in our hearts as Your Spirit prepares the way of the Lord in us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Life in the Womb of Mary 12-15-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit; come be One in me through the communion of the Spirit in prayer (1 Corinthians 6:17). ... "Then (John the Baptist's) father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 'Blessed by the Lord God of Israel, for He has looked favorable on His people and redeemed them. He has raised up a Mighty Savior for us in house of His servant David, as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old ... that we might swerve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days" (Luke 1:67-75). Zechariah proclaimed in the Spirit the coming of the Messiah of Israel. Yet at the time he proclaimed it, You were already conceived by the Holy Spirit in the human womb of Mary but not yet born. Life begins before birth -- at the conception of life in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16). Your spiritual life is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting, as Son of God; but Your physical life began at conception in the womb of Mary as Son of Man (Philippians 2:5-8). After conception but before birth, Zechariah was able to proclaim already that God the Father had already looked upon His people, had already redeemed them, and had already raised up a Mighty Savior. Your physical life as Messiah, like each of ours, began at conception and before birth. Lord Jesus, as we celebrate in this season of Christmas Your supernatural conception and Your glorious birth, You are also reminding of the sacredness of life in the womb. We are created by God with calling and purpose and destiny, knit together by Your hands in our mother's womb (Psalm 139:13). Continue to convict us, so You can forgive us and heal us and deliver us as a people from the sin of abortion, as we turn to You in repentance and faith. Cleanse and heal our hearts and our land as we honor Your Life and all life in these days. You are our Messiah, our Mighty Savior, our Healer and our Redeemer -- the "Light to the Nations" (Isaiah 42:6). Awaken us into newness of life to serve You "in holiness and righteousness before (You) all our days." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Out of the Lowly Places 12-14-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are Emanuel. You are God with us. ... "All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child" (Luke 2:3-5). The Jewish prophets declared long before the days of Joseph and Mary that the Child who would be born the Messiah of Israel would be a descendant of the throne of David (Isaiah 9:6-7). He would come forth from the generational line of King David (v. 11:1-2). And the light of His glory would shine forth from Galilee (v. 9:1-2). Yet, this holy Child would be born in Bethlehem, of the tribe of Judah (Micah 5:2). Just as His earthly father Joseph, this Child would be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, yet he would grow up and live in Nazareth of the region of Galilee. Apparently Nazareth was seen as a lowly place in those days. It was asked, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (John 1:46). And the place of Your birth was a lowly place as well -- in the manger of a stable in the very city where You were a descendant of the King (Luke 2:7). You love to chose "what is low and despised in the world" to be the places where You display Your glory (1 Corinthians 1:28-29). Lord, take the low places of weakness, failure, sorrow, sadness, brokenness, and shame in my life. Let the light of glory shine through these places -- how You love me and give Your life for me even when I sin; how You save me and raise me up from times of hurt and pain; how You keep healing me and freeing me and sending me out to love others with the love You have given me. Thank You, Jesus. You resist the proud, but give grace to the humble. And for all who will admit our desperate dependence on You, You lift us up and let the light of glory shine through -- even out of the most lowly places of our lives (James 4:6-10). If we give it to You, if we keep giving ourselves to You, You cause good to come out of it all in Your timing and in Your way (Romans 8:28). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I can send you a Postcard Flyer for sharing with dates for the City-Wide Strategic Prayer Summit (Jan 11-12, 2008) and for our next School of Spiritual Ministry (Jan 21-24, 2008) if you request it by email to me at: MessiahMin@aol.com Save the date for our City-wide Strategic Prayer Summit to begin the new year in prayer, praise, and proclamation January 11-12, 2008. We'll have a number of city-wide and regional prayer leaders leading us to "Know Our Calling and Fulfill Our Destiny" as the Body of Christ in our city. Our ministry will host it at Church of the Savior. Write or call Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com for details and please spread the word! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Blessing of Fulfillment 12-13-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. ... "And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord" (Luke 1:45). I believe You are always speaking to us -- always reminding us of who we are in You and who You are in us, always leading us into the fulfillment of our destiny in our generation. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:14). We are to created to hear Your voice and follow where You lead (John 10:3). But we can hear and fail to believe. We can believe and fail to follow. "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it" (Luke 11:28). Mary heard Your word and believed it and obeyed it. Blessed was she, as You fulfilled Your word through her life. Help me be quiet enough in my spirit to hear Your voice and sensitive enough to sense Your leading. Help me be have faith enough to believe what I hear and courage enough to obey it. You created me -- like each of Your children -- with identity, calling, and destiny (Ephesians 1:11-14). Let me never grow satisfied, complacent, or passive, until Your word for my life is fulfilled for Your purposes to the praise of Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be speaking on the blessing and power of gratitude at the Celebrate Recovery ministry at my home church, Centenary in Lexington, tonight. All are welcome. If you're in the area, please come join us for a meal, praise and worship, a message of hope, time of sharing with one another in small groups, and prayer. www.CRLex.com Save the date for our City-wide Strategic Prayer Summit to begin the new year in prayer, praise, and proclamation January 11-12, 2008. We'll have a number of city-wide and regional prayer leaders leading us to "know our calling and fulfill our destiny" as the Body of Christ in our city. Our ministry will host it at Church of the Savior. Write or call Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com for details and please spread the word! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Emmanuel, God with Us 12-12-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and in the foundation of my day. ... "In those days Mary set out with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb' " (Luke 1:33-42). The child in Elizabeth's womb recognized the Child in Mary's womb -- not by words, not sight, but spirit to Spirit. John the Baptist, even before his birth, was "filled with the Holy Spirit" (v. 15). Then so was his mother Elizabeth (v. 41), so was his father Zechariah (v. 67), and so was Mary (v. 35). Their human spirits leaped with joy by the stirring of the Holy Spirit. God became flesh in the womb of Mary (John 1:14; Philippians 2:7). Their spirits could not contain the joy of the Presence of God in their midst -- "Emmanuel" -- God with us (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). As the Holy Spirit leaped with joy in the hearts of all those in Your Presence, Mary sang out, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior" (Luke 1:46-47). Lord Jesus, God my Savior, I welcome Your Presence in every area of my life. Let my spirit continually rejoice in Your Spirit. Let me be filled with the Holy Spirit as I magnify Your name and marvel at Your truth -- God is with us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you're in the Lexington area, please save the date for our City-wide Strategic Prayer Summit to begin the new year in prayer, praise, and declaration January 11-12, 2008. We'll have a number of city-wide and regional prayer leaders leading us to "know our calling and fulfill our destiny" as the Body of Christ in our city. Our ministry will host it at Church of the Savior. Write or call Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 for details and please spread the word! Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Response of Faith 12-11-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me follow as You lead; help me listen as You speak. ... "Then Mary said, 'Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word' " (Luke 1:38). When the angel Gabriele declared, "Nothing shall be impossible for God," Mary responded in faith, "Here am I" (v. 37). Lord, let Mary's response be my response. Whether You send an angel, bring a thought to my mind, speak to my heart, stir in my spirit, show me an image, emphasis a verse of Your Scripture, open a door that only You could open, or any other way You choose to speak to me, let my response be the response of faith -- "Here am I." Give me grace to be sensitive Your voice. And give me faith to be obedient to Your call. "All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23, NKJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Born of the Virgin Mary 12-10-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and open up my soul and welcome in Your Spirit. Possess me with the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). ... "Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' The angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be holy; He will be called Son of God' " (Luke 1:34-35). You were conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary. It seems to me that those who don't believe in Your virgin birth don't really believe in "the power of the Most High." And a powerless god is no god at all. So they may say they know You, but do they really know You at all? They may say they depend upon You, but do they depend upon You and Your power or do they just depend upon themselves and their own power and call it "God?" Forgive me for any times that I have tolerated that deception as theological diversity -- that's the blasphemy of arrogant pride, the deception of humanism masquerading as faith. It is of the spirit of "antichrist" (2 John 7). A "christ" that was not born of a virgin, according to the Word of God, is no Christ at all. "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also" (1 John 2:22-23). Holy Spirit of the Living God, cleanse the heart and soul of the Body of Christ. Deliver us from deception, humble us of arrogant pride, and restore us to faithfulness as true witnesses of Your uncompromised truth. The virginity of Mary speaks of the calling to purity of the Church that is "holy and without blemish" (Ephesians 5:27). This is the Church You want to overshadow and possess with the power of the Most High. This is the Church of Christ, filled with the Spirit of Christ, proclaiming the True Christ as Savior and Lord for all the world to hear and see. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

No Ordinary Child 12-09-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek You with all my heart. ... "The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end' " (Luke 1:30-33). Isaiah had prophesied eight hundred years before Mary's encounter with the angel that a Child would be born to the throne of David who would be no ordinary Child. His authority would "grow continually" and His kingdom of justice and righteousness would last "forevermore" (Isaiah 9:6-7). This Child would come from "Galilee of the nations" to establish His kingdom throughout all nations (v. 1). Though this Child would be born, as any other child, He would be "born for us" (v. 6). This Child of promise and destiny, though born of human flesh, would be unlike any child ever born before. "He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (v. 6). He would be born form the womb of Mary in the City of David as "a Savior who is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11). Lord Jesus, You are both Son of the Most High and You are Everlasting Father. You are born of human flesh, yet You are Mighty God. You are the Child of promise who has fulfilled Your destiny, born to die for us that we might live forever in You (John 3:16). Praise Your holy name. Let Your kingdom grow continually in my heart and throughout all the earth forevermore. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Favored One 12-08-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I wait upon You in the quietness of my soul, I prepare room for You in the anticipation of my heart. ... "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you' "(Luke 1:26-28). Mary was favored for You were with her. Your favor is the grace of Your Presence in our lives. The angel said Mary "found favor with God" (v. 30). Lord, how to I find favor with You? It seems I hear You say, "My son, you find favor with Me as you seek Me with all your heart. As you seek Me, as you open your heart to Me, here I am." Yes, Lord. By Your grace, I do seek You. I seek the favor of Your Presence. I welcome You and embrace You here in my heart and in every area of my life. "For whoever finds Me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord" (Proverbs 8:35). Thank You for Your promises, "When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord" (Jeremiah 29:13-14). Like Mary, I want to be a favored one. Wake me every morning to hunger for You, to seek after You, to never be satisfied without more of You in my life. This is the heart after God that finds favor in Your sight. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.orgOrder our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Check out AOL Money & Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

Hanukkah Fulfilled in the Messiah 12-07-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Light of the world, shine in my soul. ... "At that time the Festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. So the Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, 'How long will you keep us in suspense? If You are the Messiah, tell us plainly.' Jesus answered, 'I have told you and you do not believe.... The Father and I are One.' The Jews took up stones to stone Him" (John 10:22-31). The Festival of Dedication is called Hanukkah today, celebrated by Jewish people around the world for these eight days of the Festival of Lights. As I understand the history (1 and 2 Maccabbees -- from the non-canonical books), this feast celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem in 175 B.C. The Syrian king Antiochus IV, who called himself Antiochus Epiphanes (the visible god), declared himself to be god and desecrated the Jewish temple with the blood sacrifice of a pig on the altar. Filled with the holy anger of God, a Jewish priest named Matthias Maccabbee pulled down the altar and led a miraculous rebellion with Judah Maccabbee and Matthias' other sons the defeat the vast Syrian army. When they rededicated the temple, there was only enough consecrated oil to light the sacred menorah (seven branched candelabra) and keep it burning one night. But the oil continued to burn and shine the light for eight days, the days required to make more of the consecrated oil to light the lamp commanded to never burn out in the temple. So today, a nine-branched menorah is used for this festival of dedication and lights, as they take the center candle and light the other eight candles, one each night for each night of the miracle of the light which continued to burn. All the festivals and feasts, like all the law and the prophets, are ultimately fulfilled in You. They are signs that point to the One to come. You said "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12). You said, "I and the Father are One" (v. 10:30). You are the Light that never burns out. You are One with the Father, shining Your Light in the hearts and of all who believe, by Your Holy Spirit living in us. When You declared that You were the Messiah, that You were God's Son, that You were One with the Father, many of the Jews that day wanted to stone You, shrieking, "You, though only a human being, are making yourself God" (v. 33). But a remnant came to You, and "many believed" (v. 42). Lord, open my eyes to see You as You are. Open the eyes of Jews and Gentiles alike to see that You are the Messiah, the Light of the World, "the refection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very Being" (Hebrews 1:3). Come and pull down the false altars in our hearts and take Your rightful place in the temple of our souls. Let our bodies be the temple of Your Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). "For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington. All who are thirsty are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Come to The Mountain! on Monday Nights for our ministry's weekly prayer for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray. 7 pm in the upstairs Community Room at First Southern National Bank on Harrodsburg Rd. in Lexington. All are welcome. Call or write for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Celebrate His Goodness 12-06-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my thoughts, my desires, and my day. ... "After those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months remained in seclusion. She said, 'This is what the Lord has done for me when He looked favorably upon me and took away the disgrace I endured among the people' " (Luke 1:24-25). For five months, Elizabeth hid her testimony of Your power and grace in her life. You miraculously answered her prayers for a child, but she was too afraid to tell anybody. I suppose she waited until her belly was big enough and her baby could kick hard enough that no one could mock her and shame her any more. And one day she spoke out, "Look what the Lord has done for me!" Lord, forgive us for keeping Your power a secret. Thank You being patient and understanding with us when we are bound by fear of rejection and wounded by the shame of the past. And praise You for loving us enough to never leave us there, but making a way to release Your power, break our bondage, and heal our wounds. Give us courage to testify and experience the joy of sharing the good news of all You have done. Then those who have rejected us can rejoice with us, as we celebrate Your goodness and mercy and power together (v. 58). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe/unsubscribe by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com