Leaning In and Listening 2-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Holy and anointed One, I seek Your face and praise Your name. ... "Pursue peace and strive for spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophecy" (1 Corinthians 14:1). To prophecy is to hear and to speak the word of the Lord. Lord, teach me how to quiet my soul to listen for the leading of Your voice in the diversity of ways You desire to speak Your words to me. Teach me how to narrow the focus of my thoughts to You alone in simple surrender and active engagement of my spirit with Yours. The children of God are led by the Spirit of God (Romans 8:14). Your "Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (v. 8:27). And Your sheep hear Your voice (John 10:27). I am Your child, a son of God, and a sheep of Your fold. Help me hear Your Spirit interceding for Your saints. Help me speak what You would say to me and through me. And help me humble myself to listen to what You would say to and through those You bring to intercede for me and speak into my life. It seems I hear You say, "My son, listen for Me, leaning in to hear My still, small voice. As You lean in to listen, you lean in to Me, so that listening is a means of My intimacy with you." Yes, Lord. By the cleansing of Your blood and the power of Your grace, I'm leaning in and I'm listening. "Now go about Your day in the faith of knowing You are leaning into Me and listening for Me and believing I am speaking through You, interceding for My saints according to My will." Yes, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to the Fountain! this Friday Night 2/15 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. This month Sandra White of Bethlehem Farm Ministries will lead in prayer while Brooke and Shannon Barrett will lead in worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Contact Marilyn for details at dirofministries@aol.com All are welcome! Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

At the Center 2-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I center my thoughts and my heart on You. ... "For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; and He will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:17). Be enthroned at the center of all I am and all I do. Guide me with Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Be my strength and comfort, my peace and joy. Renew me and refresh me as I drink in the living waters of Your Presence now and throughout my day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free 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/

Power Present to Heal 2-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You increase and I decrease -- increase in my reliance upon Your strength and Your wisdom as I decrease in my reliance upon my own. ... "One day, while He was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting near by (they had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem); and the power of the Lord was with Him to heal (Luke 5:17). There are times when Your power is especially "present to heal" (Luke 5:17, NKJV). You are always the Lord our God and You are always the Lord who heals us (Exodus 15:26). But there are times and places when You choose in Your wisdom and Your strength to move in Your power to heal. That's a time to humble ourselves to hear Your teaching and embrace Your power. That's a time to bring our friends to You in faith to be forgiven and freed, healed and whole (Luke 5:18-26). Lord, increase those times in our day. Let us be "filled with awe" in our day, in our church, in our city, just as Your first disciples were "filled with awe" in theirs' (v. 5:26). They "glorified God" and so will we (v. 5:26). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'd appreciate your prayers as I teach our School of Spiritual Ministry in Madisonville, Kentucky this weekend (2nd of 3 weekends in a row) and as I continue this School on Wednesday nights at my home church in Lexington where we have our ministry base anchored. May the Lord our Healer be present with power to heal in every dimension of our lives -- here with me and there with you. God bless you! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

A City of "Abundance of Prosperity and Security" 2-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm willing to admit my need of You and find my security in the desperate dependence of trusting You for everything. Apart from You, I can do nothing; but -- praise God! -- I never have to be apart from You. ... "I am going to bring (the houses of this city) recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them of all the guilt of their sin against Me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against Me. And this city shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it" (Jeremiah 33:6-9). My friend Tommy Green had me on his radio program yesterday, "A City for God," to talk about our ministry's heart to see our city and region freed from the strongholds of darkness and sin and to be released into the destiny of Your calling and blessing for us and through us. Your heart is to restore, rebuild, and redeem. Your heart is to restore unto us the joy of our salvation as we experience Your "abundance of prosperity and security." But just like in our personal lives, in the life of our city we need the cleansing from sin by the blood of the Lamb that only comes through repentance and faith. We need the generational curses broken from our inheritance and the generational blessings released and increased. We need to break through the strongholds of darkness and the gates of hell, that You would be our Strength and Shield, establishing Your gates of righteousness, blessing, and peace. We need Jesus. So come into our city, Lord Jesus. We give you the key to our city and open the gates to our hearts, "that the King of glory may come in" (Psalm 24:9). Bless us with the fear of the Lord and the conviction of our sin, that we may turn to You in repentance and faith, in desperate dependence upon the power of Your grace. Deliver us from evil and cast down the strongholds of darkness. Let the holy fire of Your Spirit consume us and purify us; let the light of Your glory shine through us. In Your power and by Your grace, we will be the city for God we are destined to be as "a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth." I pray the same for Jerusalem and all the cities of the earth who will turn to You in humility and call on Your name in faith. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Last night at my home church of Centenary in Lexington, we joined in the one year birthday celebration of the Celebrate Recovery ministry at our church and heard many testimonies of changed lives from those in our city who have come to experience the healing love of God! www.CRLex.com I praise God for the committed team of people from our church who have experienced God's healing and deliverance and now want to see others free and whole. Thank you for joining with me in prayer for this dimension of our ministry and all the others where the Lord strategically positions us at different levels and in different seasons. Friends, as you and your churches make plans to budget your giving to the Lord's Church and the building of His Kingdom, please prayerfully consider joining with us as He would lead: Messiah Ministries; 2800 Tates Creek Road; Lexington, KY 40502 I would be thrilled to talk with you or your pastor about the vision and calling of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" (Isaiah 61:1-11; Luke 4:18-19). www.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Steady and Secure in His Steps 2-7-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Blessed be Your name. At Your name, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that You are Lord. ... "Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your custom toward those who love Your name. Keep my steps steady according to Your promise, and never let iniquity have dominion over me" (Psalm 119:132-33). My steps will be steady today as I seek to follow in Yours'. My thoughts and desires will be holy today as I seek to have Yours. I submit to the Lordship of Your dominion in every area of my life, as best as I can and all by the power of Your grace. You draw near to me as I draw near to You (James 4:8). You turn to me as I turn to You; and I turn to You because You first turned to me (1 John 4:19). With You at my side and Your Spirit in my heart, I am "steady" with my focus and my faith "firm, secure in the Lord;" I will "not be afraid" (Psalm 112:7-8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as you and your churches make plans to budget your giving to the Lord's Church and the building of His Kingdom, please prayerfully consider joining with us as He would lead: Messiah Ministries; 2800 Tates Creek Road; Lexington, KY 40502 I would be thrilled to talk with you or your pastor about the vision and calling of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" (Isaiah 61:1-11; Luke 4:18-19). www.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Ashes of Humility 2-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I humble myself in Your sight, that You may lift me up. ... "Then I turned to the Lord God, to seek an answer by prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). Daniel humbled himself in ashes as He turned to You to seek Your face and hear voice for the burdens of his heart. Many within the body of Christ will celebrate this day as Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of the season of Lent, leading up to the season of the cross. This day is marked by humility more than joy and by repentance more than celebration. Before the joy of the resurrection comes the humility of the Cross. And so it is in the journey of the Christian soul. There are times to be quiet and humble before our God. There are times to set aside the celebration of joy to remember that our joy had a price. We draw near to You only through the blood of Your sacrifice for us. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let you laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you" (James 4:8-10). Lord, I am humbled by Your sacrifice of love for me. And in the ashes of the day, I remember the price Your paid to cleanse my hands and purify my heart so that I could know the joy of intimacy with You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Call upon the Name of the Redeemer 2-5-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name. And Your name is first name I speak today -- Jesus. ... "Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, for she said, 'God has appointed for me another child instead of Abel, because Cain killed him.' To Seth also a son was born, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to invoke the name of the Lord" (Genesis 4:25-26). People began to invoke Your name -- to speak out and call upon Your name -- as they began to see Your redeeming nature and power. You took the brokenness and pain of a mother and father's grief over the loss of their son and began to redeem their pain with the life of another son. You didn't deny their pain or replace their pain. You redeemed their pain. For You are a redeeming God (Psalm 31:5). Even the things You do not will and desire, but that we experience in a broken and fallen world, You will redeem -- causing all things to work together for good as we give them to You and call on Your name (Romans 8:28). "For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved' " (Romans 10:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Peace Will Prevail 2-4-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The storms of thunder and rain have not ceased through the night. But make them cease in my soul as I settle in to listen for the leading of Your Spirit this day. ... Through the night And through the storm Through the torrent That rages on. I will hold on to the hand Of the One in whom I stand. You are near to my side You are here and You're alive. So I will not be afraid I will never be dismayed. I will rise and take my stand As You stretch out Your mighty hand. Demons flee and storms subside On Your words angels ride. Peace, be still, in my soul. Peace, arise, because I know My God reigns through every storm, My God reigns for ever more. "He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' Then the wind ceased and there was dead calm" (Mark 4:39). Even as I'm journaling my prayer, the winds have ceased this morning. Mighty are You, O Lord. The wind and sea obey You. I hear nothing now but dead calm. Though the wind and storm may be raging just miles from here, You've commanded them to be still here in the peace of Your Presence with me. Though You hold all heaven and earth in Your hands -- Your nail-scarred hands -- You also know every hair on the head on every child and every desire in every heart. You're amazing and You're love is unfailing. And though the winds and the rains may return on the outside, Your peace will prevail in my soul this day by Your power and grace. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Surpassing Value of Knowing Christ" 2-1-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the One who is and who was and who is to come. Come into my heart and every moment of my day. ... "Yet whatever gains I had, I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord" (Philippians 3:7-8). Compared to knowing You, it's as if nothing else matters. And, while of course, all the people and relationships of my life matter beyond measure, knowing You is of surpassing value and of infinite significance. That is not to diminish everything and everyone else. It is to emphasis the paramount importance of my relationship with You (Luke 14:26). Without You, literally nothing else matters. But by Your grace and the power of Your love, I am not without You. And I never will be. 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

Be Not "Found Fighting Against God" 2-1-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I steady my soul and quiet my spirit as I simply come to speak out Your name and seek out Your face. ... "Then the word of the Lord came to me: Mortal, your kinsfolk, your own kin, your fellow exiles, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, 'They have gone far from the Lord; to us this land is given for a possession.' Therefore say: Thus says the Lord God: Though I removed them far away among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a little while in the countries where they have gone. Therefore say: Thus says the Lord God: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel" (Ezekiel 11:14-17). One day, "all Israel will be saved" (Romans 11:26). One day, they will look to their Messiah, they will "look on 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 12:10 - 13:1). In that day of repentance and faith that will come through the brokenness of pride and the pain of judgment by a loving God who cannot bear to ever let Your people go from Your heart or Your covenant, You have said, "I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph. I will bring them back because I have compassion on them, and they shall be as though I had not rejected them; for I am the Lord their God and I will answer them" (Zechariah 10:6). So until that day, let us pray for fulfillment of the salvation of Israel. Though she may experience brokenness and judgment and even a great measure of destruction according to the many prophecies of Your Word, one day she will be restored and redeemed in fulfillment of her destiny. "On that day the Lord their God will save them for they are the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land" (Zechariah 9:16). Gentile and Jew together will embrace You, Lord Jesus, as Messiah, Lord, and King when "the full number of Gentiles has come in. 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 their away their sins" (Romans 11:25-27). "And even those of Israel, if they do not persist in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again" (Romans 11:23). And let us not enter in to the sin of judgment against Israel. "They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand only through faith. So do not become proud, but stand in awe" (Romans 11:20). For on the day of her great salvation will also be the day of great judgment for all who accused her and condemned her in their arrogance and pride. As You have also warned and proclaimed in Your Word, "And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem" (Zechariah 12:9). Though You may even use the arrogant actions of prideful nations as an instrument of Your judgment of the sin of Israel in order to restore her to her place of honor and blessing through fulfilled faith in You, there will be a day of judgment for all the nations who accused her, condemned her, and violated her. "Therefore, as I live, says the Lord God, I will deal with you according to the anger and envy that you showed because of your hatred against them; and I will make Myself known among you, when I judge you. You shall know that I, the Lord, have heard all the abusive speech that you uttered against the mountains of Israel, saying, 'They are laid desolate, they are given us to devour.' And you magnified yourselves against Me with your mouth, and multiplied your words against Me; I heard it. Thus says the Lord God: As the whole earth rejoices, I will make you desolate. As you rejoiced over the house of the inheritance of Israel, because it was desolate, so I will deal with you; you shall be desolate, Mount Seir, and all Edom, all of it. Then they shall know that I am the Lord" (Ezekiel 35:11-15). There is a movement within my stream of the body of Christ of the United Methodist Church discussing proposals to judge, condemn, and punish Israel as an occupying force in the land of her Biblical inheritance. And while all Israel is not yet saved, all her actions are not right, and the fulfillment of the promise of Your covenant to take away her heart of stone and fill her with Your Spirit has not yet fully come to pass, You have not rejected her or replaced her; You still love her and honor her and fight for her (Ezekiel 36:22-38). So let us not "be found fighting against God" (Acts 5:39). Let us seek You and the leading of Your Spirit in humility, in faith, and in obedience to Your Word. Let no one speak for me who speaks against You. Lord, convict us of every sin of failing to know Your Word and Your will for Israel. Let us not speak out of our own emotions or wisdom or under the pressure of world opinion and the fear of man. Let us not be found uttering abusive speech and words of condemnation and judgment, seeking to punish those who take a stand for Your people and the inheritance of hope and land You have given them according to Your Word and Your plan and Your covenant. Who are we to think we know better than You? Will not Your Word and Your warning come to pass for all who fail to know It and obey It? "I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:3). Let us repent of our sins and turn our hearts to You. Let us seek the leading of Your Holy Spirit and not give to the leading of merely human emotions. Let us be found fighting for Your people not fighting against God, agreeing with the Redeemer and no longer agreeing with the accuser. As You have commanded us and promised us: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you" (Psalm 122:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I believe these are very significant issues of faith in God and submission to the authority of His Word. Please pray for me and for my part of the body of Christ to have the right heart and spirit in our discussions and decisions. I pray the same for you and every part of the body of Christ. 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

Ray Bringham, A Heart for Revival 1-31-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Worthy is the Lamb, worthy to be praised. ... "From that time Jesus began to proclaim, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand' " (Matthew 4:17). My good friend, Rev. Ray Bringham, passed on to glory last Saturday, January 26, 2008, in San Marcos, California. His son Lonnie told me of the gentle and sacred moment of that last gaze from Ray's deep blue eyes with the love of God as he crossed over into eternity. The world will miss him. He had a heart for revival and unbounded energy even as a man of eighty-eight years old to keep praying through for Your kingdom to come 'til the day he died. He was the president and founder of Prayer Summit Ministries and everywhere he went around the world, he prayed for revival, for the coming of the kingdom of heaven. Whenever I was honored to join him in ministry, the heart of his message was the same -- repentance is the key to revival. Turning away from ourselves, away from our sins, and turning to God in humility and faith is what opens our hearts as You open Your heavens to release Your revival fire and transforming power in our land (2 Chronicles 7:14). Now Ray's "perishable body must put on imperishability, and (his) mortal body must put on immortality" as You welcome him home into Your eternal embrace (1 Corinthians 15:53). Now with the "great cloud of witnesses" who have gone before us in the faith, Ray will be praying those perfect prayers for Your great revival more powerfully than ever -- praying onsite with insight from his strategic assignment at heaven's throne (Hebrews 12:1). As we honor him with repentant hearts turned to You, would You honor him with revival in the hearts and lands wherever he preached and prayed throughout the earth. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep Ray's wife, Mid Brigham and their family in your prayers. There will be a memorial service February 10, 2008 in San Marcos, California. We praise God for the influence of His sons and daughters in our lives and pray we can each be a godly influence in the lives of others for His glory. 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

"But Only Jesus" 1-30-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Simply and deliberately, I turn my thoughts and lift my worship to You. ... "Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!' Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, but only Jesus" (Mark 9:7-8). Father, as I settle in to my prayer chair each morning, as I pull my prayer cover over my head, let the glory cloud of Your Holy Spirit overshadow me. Through the blood of the Lamb that cleanses my soul, draw me in to the holy of holies of prayer. In the surrender of silence before You, let Your voice be the only voice I hear and Your face be the only face I see -- no one else, "but only Jesus." These first moments of the morning in prayer are my mount of transfiguration. They are my daily encounter of transformation. "And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Then throughout the moments of my day, may I continue in prayer -- being transformed by Your Presence, being transfigured into Your image, looking and listening to You alone. 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

Happiness of Holiness of Heart 1-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up, exalted in my heart and throughout my day. ... "Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways" (Psalm 128:1). To fear You is to walk in Your ways -- not out of religious duty, but out of trusting relationship; not out of an unholy fear of punishment and judgment, but out of a holy fear of honoring You with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. This kind of holiness of heart brings happiness and peace in every dimension of our lives -- our work (v. 2), our families (v. 3), and our health (v. 5). In every way, "(we) shall be happy, and it shall go well with (us)" (v. 2). Lord, teach me how to fear You in this way. Teach me how to look to You and honor You, to trust You and obey You out of my respect and love for You. Teach me by Your Word and empower me by Your Spirit to live my life, moment by moment, in trusting surrender to Your unfailing love. "Let those who fear the Lord say, 'His steadfast love endures forever' " (Psalm 118:4). "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 3:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we have 2 New CD series available from my week of ministry at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas ( www.cfni.org ) : 1) Spiritual Warfare -- Fighting the Good Fight of Faith (4 cd's) ; and 2) The Father's Blessing Through Our Brokenness (1 cd) These are not yet on our web site, so please contact us at MessaiahMin@aol.com to order them for personal or group studies. Though we need time to edit and process the video, please let us know if you'd like to be on the list for the dvd's from our School of Spiritual Ministry one week intensive course I taught in Lexington last week. 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

Morning by Morning, Monday 1-28-08 -- Out of the Depths Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Abba my Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit of the Living God. I greet You and beseech You in every dimension of Your Being from every dimension of my being. ... "Out of the depths I cry to You, O Lord" (Psalm 130:1). Let my spiritual life grow in depth. Let my understanding of Your Word and experience of the power of Your grace grow in depth. Thank You for the milk when I couldn't handle more, but You've made me hungry for the meat of Your Word. "For everyone who lives on milk, being still and infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. But solid food is for the mature" (Hebrews 5:13-14). You meet us where we are but never desire to leave us there. Instead, You desire we grow in depth, grow in wisdom, and grow into maturity. "Deep calls to deep" (Psalm 42:7). And I'm crying out of the depths of my being to go deeper still. And I know You will satisfy the desires of my heart because You have put these desires there. You move me to pray in line with Your promises for the fulfillment of Your purposes in me and through my life. . "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be taking the School of Spiritual Ministry on the road to western Kentucky at Madisonville the first 3 weekends of February (Friday night and Saturday teaching, equipping, and ministry). Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, to register if you're able to come. All are welcome! DirOfMinistries@aol.com My Wednesday night series on Spiritual Ministry at my home church in Lexington continues. And please let us know if you would like to order the dvd from our week-long intensive School of Spiritual Ministry from Lexington last week. I sense an intense urging to do my part in helping prepare God's people to minister in their calling with their gifts for the days ahead. With the economic battles of our nation, please keep our ministry finances in prayer. We are a faith-based ministry depending completely on the Lord and the generosity of His people who believe in what He is doing through us. Subscribe 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

I Have Been to the Mountain Today 1-27-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take my hand, fill my heart, lead the way, as I start this new day together with You. ... "Be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to Me, on the top of the mountain. No one shall come up with you ..." (Exodus 34:2-3). Before I speak to anyone else, I want to speak to You. Before I go anywhere else, I want to come to You. Through the veil of Your blood, I present myself to You in humility and faith, as best as I can and all by Your grace. Draw me up into the mountain of Your Presence. "But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He has loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6). Anything good that I will do, anything wise that I will say, will begin here in my time of communion in prayer with You. You are my vine and I am one of Your branches, abiding in You that my life will bear Your fruit (John 15:4-5). So I come up to this mountain to set my face and open my heart to abide in You. And here, on the mountain of Your Presence, I "wait upon the Lord" as You align heaven and earth to order my steps and set Your path for my day before me today (Isaiah 40:29-31). As I face the challenges and opportunities of my day, I can remember in my spirit that I need not worry or fear or falter, for I have been to the mountain today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be taking the School of Spiritual Ministry on the road to western Kentucky at Madisonville the first 3 weekends of February (Friday night and Saturday teaching, equipping, and ministry). Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, to register if you're able to come. All are welcome! DirOfMinistries@aol.com And please let us know if you would like to order the dvd from our week-long intensive School of Spiritual Ministry from Lexington last week. Subscribe 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

All the More 1-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I'm hungry for more of You. ... "But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites" (Exodus 1:12). The king of Egypt feared the people of Israel, that they were growing "more numerous and more powerful" (v. 9). So he set out a strategy to enslave them and oppress them to discourage and defeat them (v. 10-11). But his schemes for their bondage only served to bond them more closely together. His plans to divide and conquer them only served to multiply and motivate them to resist him and hold on to their faith and their God all the more. "The people multiplied and became very strong" (v. 20). This was a foreshadow of things to come in Christ. "More than ever believers were added to the Lord, great numbers of both men and women" (Acts 5:14). As the people of Israel began to receive and embrace You as Messiah and Lord, the religious leaders feared the faith of Your people and envied the power of God displayed through them (v. 5:12-18). But the more they were persecuted, the more they grew in the boldness of faith. "They rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name. And every day at the temple and at home they did not cease to teach and proclaim Jesus as Messiah" (v. 5:41-42). As the enemy of our souls seeks to oppress us, discourage us, and defeat us, to bind us and break us out of jealousy and fear, let his attacks only bond us together and strengthen our faith. Let the Gospel of Your Kingdom multiply and spread all the more. Let the displays of Your power manifest the glory of Your Presence all the more. Let persecution make us all the more persistent and oppression make us all the more stronger and bolder in You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be taking the School of Spiritual Ministry on the road to western Kentucky at Madisonville the first 3 weekends of February (Friday night and Saturday teaching, equipping, and ministry). Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries, to register if you're able to come. All are welcome! 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

Beauty of Diversity 1-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I center my thoughts and my day in You. ... "For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members of one another" (Romans 12:4-5). Thank You for the diversity of the body of Christ, an expression of Your creativity. Thank You for the freedom to be ourselves, in the unique way You have created each of us. "We have gifts that differ according to the grace given us" (v. 6). And every gift, expressed differently in every one, is necessary for the health of the body and for the ministry of the body to others. While the false religions, confused and deceived by the enemy of our souls, teach that we are to become one with the universe in nothingness, You teach the opposite. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made" for live forever with You in the closest union but not uniformity. You've created us individually and uniquely with such incredible diversity as a means of display Your the beauty of Your glory forever. I thank You for role models and mentors, for spiritual fathers and brothers, mothers and sisters, from whom I can learn. But I am not to be just like them; I am to be just like You -- conformed to the image of the Son of God (Romans 8:29). 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" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

Sonshine of the Glory of God 1-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Son of God, Son of Man, Sonshine of the Glory of God, let Your light shine on me and in me and through me today. ... "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace" (Numbers 6:24-26). Through Moses, You told Aaron and the priests to speak Your words of blessing over Your people. You said, "Put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them" (v. 6:27). Lord, put Your name on me today. Lift up Your countenance upon me today. Let me be unashamed to be seen and known as a Christian today -- one of Christ's own -- a son of man, but also a son of God (1 John 3:1). Wash me in Your Word, cleanse me in Your blood, fill me with Your Spirit. As people see me, may they see Christ in me, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). "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). "Let Your face shine upon Your servant" (Psalm 31:16). Let Your face shine upon Your son. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, our one week intensive School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington ends tonight. It has been an glorious week! Thank you for your prayers! The Lord is equipping us and empowering us for ministry in His Spirit as He strategically positions us for His purposes. This course is being filmed for dvd, so please let us know if you'd be interested in ordering a copy of the dvd. This builds upon our the foundational principles of our earlier dvd, Preparing the Way of the Lord -- Biblical, Spiritual Principles of Healing and Deliverance, which you can also order: MessiahMin@aol.com or http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

Equipped for Ministry 1-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make me more like You each day, conforming my nature, my thoughts, my desires, to Your's. I have so far to go, but You are so patient and You are so persistent. ... "The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to a unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13). Thank You for the gifts You have given me. Help me know them and use them for You, doing my part in Your power to build up the body of Christ as we grow up to maturity in You. By the blood of the Lamb we are the saints of God. We are to equip and be equipped, taught and trained in Your Word, empowered and anointed by Your Spirit, and commissioned to the work of ministry. Let us no longer settle for drinking milk and playing with childish things, but let us grow up into the full stature of Christ we are created and destined to become, doing the works we were created and destined to do. Let us get about the business of "turning the world upside down" in our generation for Your glory (Acts 17:6). 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

Gifts Bestowed by God 1-22-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I bow down low as You draw me up high into the heavenly realm of Your Presence. ... "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:12). You have given gifts to Your people, for the building of Your Church and the establishing of Your Kingdom. Open my eyes to see Your gifts in me. Purify them from pride, cleanse them from any manipulation or motivation for my own purposes, sanctify them as holy unto You. Teach me what they are and how to use them. Empower me by Your Spirit to give of them in love. You said through Your Word, "Pursue love and strive for spiritual gifts" (v. 14:1). Let me not strive for the gifts without first and always pursuing love, letting love be my aim and my desire in all things. Then my gifts -- the gifts You have given me for Your purposes -- will be a means of Your grace in the lives of others. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers to get Pastor John here from the nation of Nepal for our School of Spiritual Ministry this week. They were answered and we are thrilled and honored to have this kind of opportunity to sow seeds to the nations! Please keep us in your prayers. God bless you! 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

School of the Spirit 1-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and seek our Your face. I pour out my heart and reach out my arms. I welcome You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- into every moment of my day. ... "About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, 'How does this man have such learning, when He has never been taught?' Then Jesus answered them, 'My teaching is not Mine but His who sent Me' " (John 7:14-16). As You walked this earth as Son of Man, You did everything as our model for ministry and life. You were sent by the Father, anointed by the Holy Spirit, spending time in prayer and coming out of prayer into authority to proclaim with Your words and demonstrate with Your life the coming of the Kingdom of God (Acts 10:38). In prayer, You heard what the Father was saying and saw what the Father was doing; then with authority and power You spoke what You heard and did what You saw (John 8:38). Now as we walk this earth, we want to hear what You're saying and see what You're doing so we can obey Your leading and minister the power of Your love by the Presence of Your Spirit in our lives into the lives of one another. "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be taught by God' " (John 6:45). You are our Teacher by Your Word and by Your life as our example and source of all You would do in us and through us. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life (v. 14:6). We are in the school of Your Spirit, to live our lives abiding in You and welcoming You to abide in us. As Your first disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Lord, teach us to trust and obey. "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that He may teach us His ways and that we may walk in His paths" (Isaiah 2:3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we start our one week intensive School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington this morning. Please keep us in your prayers as we learn and grow in the gifts and grace of God to love and minister to Him and one another through our lives. I pray the same for you. God bless you! I'm also teaching this course in a Wednesday night series at my home church in Lexington and in a series of weekends in February in western Kentucky. I sense an urgency to help equip God's people in spiritual ministry in this season. Let us know if you would be interested in this course by dvd (we will be filming this school) or in your area: MessiahMin@aol.com 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/

Break Through, Pass Through, Follow Through 1-20-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit come fill my spirit, soul, and body I pray. ... "The One who breaks out will go up before them; they will break through and pass the gate, going out by it. Their King will pass on before them, the Lord at their head" (Micah 2:13). Lord Jesus, You are the Head of Your Church (Ephesians 4:15). You are the King of Your Kingdom (Revelation 17:14). Pass on before me today; rise up within me today. Be exalted and honored in my heart and in my actions today. By Your power and in submission to Your will, I want to break through every barrier and pass through every gate in line with Your will and Your plan for my life this day and every day. Let this be my year of breakthrough, my year of passing through the gates, as I follow through on my commitment to You, my Lord, my Head, and my King. 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

WhooHoo! 1-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My first word is Your name. In these first moments of my morning, I center my heart and focus my thoughts on You alone. ... "Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). "WhooHoo!" my friend shouted over her cell phone early yesterday morning. She couldn’t wait to get to our office with a thousand dollar check to help get a pastor from Nepal to our School of Spiritual Ministry next week. I had just mentioned this pastor's earnest prayers to be able to come our school in a note at the end of my devotional early yesterday morning. She was overwhelmed with such excitement and joy that pretty soon I was shouting "WhooHoo!" too! She said as soon as she read the words, Your Holy Spirit was stirring in her spirit so strongly she couldn't wait to get to our office to help her brother, literally on the other side of the world. "What an opportunity to give to the Kingdom of God, to so seeds into His end-time harvest. What anointing must be on the seat prepared for this man," she said. Thank You, Lord. We should never feel guilty about giving or not giving. Under the New Covenant in Christ, our giving is never "under compulsion" but always by the leading of Your Spirit. And what joy You bring when we respond to Your promptings with our faith! What joy to join in the ministry of Your Kingdom as You build Your Church to change the world. The lives of people in Nepal -- a nation with incredible Christian persecution that requires such courage and faith to even claim to be a follower of Christ -- will be changed as You change this pastor, equipping him to equip others in spiritual ministry of transformation of people and their land through healing and deliverance. And my friend's life will be changed as Your blessings overtake her in Your timing and in Your way (Deuteronomy 28:2). "Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back" (Luke 6:38). And my life and the lives of all who join with us in so many ways to pray for and equip the saints for the work of Your ministry will be changed, as You use us to touch others with Your healing love and mighty power -- in Nepal and the nations, but also in our neighborhoods at home. Thank You for the joy of giving and the blessing of joining the advance of Your Kingdom -- WhooHoo! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Last night at The Fountain, our praises went up and God's glory came down! Thank you for joining with us in prayer for the people of our city and I join with you in prayer for your city. May the Lord's glory keep coming down until it covers the earth as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14). Please keep our students in prayer as they come from Nepal, Texas, Oklahoma, and across town to our School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington next week. And I pray the Lord keeps building your faith and empowering your hands and heart for the ministry of His Kingdom through you life! God bless you and thank you for joining with me in the journey! 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

"Prepare My People in Goshen" 1-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good Shepherd, help me hear Your voice, run to You, and follow You today. ... "But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people live, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I the Lord am in this land. Thus I shall make a distinction between My people and your people. This sign shall appear tomorrow. The Lord did so ..." (Exodus 8:22-24). It seems I hear You saying, "Prepare My people in Goshen." What is "Goshen" for me, Lord? These thoughts from Your Holy Spirit seem to be rising up in my human spirit and into my mind: " 'Goshen' is the place of provision, protection, and peace. 'Goshen' is in Me. I am your provision, protection, and peace." What do You mean for me to "prepare Your people?" It seems You are impressing these words on my heart: "By My grace and with those I have chosen to help you, teach My people to pray, just as I have been teaching you to pray. Through the intimacy of communion in prayer, you enter in to the place I have prepared for you. This is the place of My provision, protection, and peace no matter what judgments or evil may come. And teach them to pray for one another, to hear My voice and speak My words, to be My vessels to display My glory and My power on earth as it is in heaven." Lord, I'm not qualified and I have so much to learn and I've not had those kinds of experiences yet like the things that are coming to mind by these words. I hear: "None are righteous; no, not one. None are qualified; no, not one. All are in need of My grace. And My grace comes through desperate dependence on Me with a humble heart to seek Me and obey Me by the grace I give. You do your part, by the grace and with the gifts I have given you, just as I am calling each of My children to do their part by My grace. As you have heard before, 'I do not call the qualified; I qualify the called.' Yes, Lord. These words ring true as I test them in my spirit and against the standard of Your written Word. I pray You would confirm what I believe You are speaking through the trusted voices and counsel of others. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I choose to trust You and obey You. You are my 'Goshen.' "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and they are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). "You are my hiding place and my shield" (Psalm 119:114). I choose to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and "abide in the shadow of the Almighty"; "under (Your) wings (I) will find refuge." As You have promised, "Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name (Psalm 91:1-16). You have prepared a place for me -- not just in heaven, but also here on earth -- so that wherever You are, I may be also (John 14:3). You are calling Your people to 'Goshen' -- the place of Your abundance and blessing (Genesis 47:27). You are giving us grace to enter through this gate of righteousness where the gates of hell cannot prevail (Matthew 16:18). As You teach me and deliver me and draw me into the Goshen of Your Presence, qualify me to help others by Your grace and Your power. Together, we will know Your provision, protection, and peace through the intimacy and the ministry of prayer. Let the world see the distinction of those who abide in You and those who do not, so that all may "come to repentance" and be drawn into You and the fullness of Your salvation (2 Peter 3:9). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we're providing a full scholarship and board for Pastor John in Nepal to come to our School of Spiritual Ministry next week to receive teaching and ministry and take it back to his nation. He has a visa and reservations and is praying intensely for the funds for his plane fare (about $2,000 need today). If you feel led to help make this happen, please call Marilyn Walker immediately 859-317-1591 Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from many different traditions and streams to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Sandra White and I will lead in prayer and Jeff Greene will lead in worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington: www.CentenaryLex.com All who are thirsty 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" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Simple 1-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before my day unfolds, I unfold my day before You. ... "The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple" (Psalm 119:130). Help me simply come humbly before You -- seeking Your face, listening for Your voice, waiting for Your leading. Unfold Your words and Your will before me. Let Your light shine on the steps of the path You are setting before me this day. Let the sound of Your words in my spirit rise up into the thoughts in my mind. Then, by Your grace, throughout the encounters of my day, may I walk in Your wisdom, love with Your heart, and speak with the authority of one who has spent time in Your Presence. Help me be simple enough to get this one thing straight: "He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way" (Psalm 25:9). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's city-wide gathering of the body of Christ from many different traditions and streams to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Sandra White and I will lead in prayer and Jeff Greene will lead in worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary in Lexington: www.CentenaryLex.com All who are thirsty 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" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Incarnation 1-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit; and by the mystery of faith and Your unfathomable love, You want me to be one in You. ... "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 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" (John 17:20-23). Though I have read these verses of Your Word many times, this morning You are sending them deep into my soul. Like an armor piercing bullet, it seems You are firing this Truth through every layer of religious thinking, traditions of men, false humility, false doctrines, self-conscious pride, timidity, and the fear of man. Let Your Word hit its mark and explode inside of me. Let me be forever changed by the light and glory of Your Word of Truth to me. You really do desire this holy, intimate, communion -- that I may also be one in You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- as You are One in One Another (v. 21). "But anyone united to the Lord becomes one with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). Let this not be my theory or my theology, let this be my true thoughts of myself and the reality of my experience in You. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV). And this is not only for me and for each of Your children, it is for "the world" -- "so that the world will know that (the Father) has sent (His Son)" (John 17:21). This is the key to world-wide evangelism -- "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" -- the glory of the manifest Presence of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit living as One in us, shining as Light and flowing as Love through us (Colossian 1:27). Our Father humbled Himself in human flesh as the Son (Philippians 2:5-11). "The Word became flesh and lived among us" (John 1:14). And now You want Your Word to become flesh in me and through my life -- totally surrendered and completely submitted to the will of my Father in Christ by the Holy Spirit of the Living God living in me. Together, we are "the body of Christ" in and to this world by Your Spirit living in us (1 Corinthians 12:27). This is not self-centered pride, this is Gospel Truth. This is not self-delusion, this is self understanding. This is not becoming God (as in the false teachings of New Age and Mormonism), this is embracing the Incarnation of God living in me and in each of us who are in Christ and allowing Christ to live in us. "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16). Yes, Lord. By Your grace, I do know this truth this moment more deeply than ever before. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come join us Tonight for my Wednesday Night teaching series on Spiritual Ministry at 6:15 at my home church: www.CentenaryLex.com and also sign up for our School of Spiritual Ministry in Western Kentucky next month in Madisonville. Contact Marilyn Walker: dirofministries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 (And please keep us in prayer and for everyone to arrive safely for our one week intensive School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington next week -- a pastor is trying to come from Nepal!). Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, 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. Sandra White and I will lead in prayer and Jeff Green will lead in worship. 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 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

Cities of Refuge and Righteousness 1-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening. Speak, Lord, for Your son is eager to spend time with You. Speak, Lord, for Your friend seeks Your counsel and Your comfort. ... "I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness, and I will make all his paths straight; he shall build My city and set My exiles free, not for price or reward, says the Lord of hosts.... For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (He is God!), who formed the earth and made it (He established it; He did not create it in chaos; He formed it to be inhabited!): I am the Lord and there is no other (Isaiah 45:13-18). Cyrus was the pagan king of Persia. Yet in Your sovereignty, You moved on his heart to stir him to obedience to Your plans. You used him to set Your people free and to bless them with abundance in the rebuilding of their city for the glory of Your name (Ezra 1:1-4). His eyes were opened to realize that You, "The Lord, the God of heaven" alone were the source of all his power and wealth (v. 2). And in response to Your leading, he used his authority and influence to help Your people and fulfill Your purposes (v. 7-11). Lord, in this day, I ask You to stir in the hearts of those with power and authority to be aroused and stirred to obedience. Open their eyes to realize Your goodness and Your grace in their lives even before they have received You as Lord. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights" (James 1:17, NKJV). With thanksgiving and joy, let them give to Your kingdom and bless Your people in accordance with Your purposes. "The sinners' wealth is laid up for the righteous" (Proverbs 13:22). Let the power and influence of the Cyruses of our day be "anointed" as a means of Your grace for Your people (Isaiah 45:1). Let their wealth be released into Your kingdom, to be used for Your purposes and to establish Your cities of refuge for the days to come. "Make glad the city of God ... God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved ... The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge" (Psalm 46:4-7). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please let us know no later than today if you are interested in attending the School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington January 21-24. Several from other states are even signed up to come and scholarships are available to cover the cost for anyone who needs it. I sense an urgency to help prepare the Lord's people for ministry in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Also, this week, you can still join us for my Wednesday Night teaching series on Healing Prayer Ministry at 6:15 at my home church: www.CentenaryLex.com and also sign up for our School of Spiritual Ministry in Madisonville. Contact Marilyn Walker: dirofministries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, 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. Sandra White and I will lead in prayer and Jeff Green will lead in worship. 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 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

"Rain Down Righteousness" 1-14-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I worship You in every dimension of Your Being -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. You are One; You are holy; and You are worthy of all praise. ... "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the skies rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation may spring up, and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also; I the Lord have created it" (Isaiah 45:8). You have been cleansing our souls and cleansing our land in these days. We are turning away from our sins and turning away from our selves, and we are turning to You. You have been weeding the soil of our soils and tilling the gardens of our hearts. You have been planting the seeds of Your word deep in our spirits as we have been preparing the way of the Lord. Now, like dry soil thirsty for rain, we cry out, "Lord, let it rain! Open Your heavens! Rain down Your righteousness!" We open up our hearts in worship and lift up our voices in prayer. Let salvation now spring in our land -- the fullness and abundance of life in You now and forever. Shower us with Your Spirit and awaken us to spring up into our destiny. With pursuing passion, we seek You and the kingdom of Your righteousness -- right relationship with You, with one another, and within ourselves. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, 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. Sandra White and I will lead in prayer and Jeff Green will lead in worship. 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 This week, you can still join us for my Wednesday Night teaching series on Healing Prayer Ministry at 6:15 at my home church: www.CentenaryLex.com and also sign up for our School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington or Madisonville. Contact Marilyn Walker: dirofministries@aol.com or 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" 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Go Through the Gates 1-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Head of the body of Christ. I bow mine before You. ... "Go through, go through the gates, prepare the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, clear it of stones, lift up an ensign over the peoples. The Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to daughter Zion, 'See your salvation comes; His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.' They shall be called, 'The Holy People, The Redeemed of the Lord'; and you shall be called, 'Sought Out, A City Not Forsaken' " (Isaiah 62:10-12). Last night some of the worshippers brought a beautiful colored banner that they stretched out and lifted high as a banner over us. As we all went underneath, we went through the gate of the past season into the new. We had spent the day in a flow of prayer, praise, and proclamation. We had joined in repentance of sin and the sins of the past generations of our city, and receiving Your forgiveness and grace to move on and move through the gates of Your blessing and abundance in the land of our promise and destiny (Deuteronomy 8:1-20). Our worship teams released the sound to Your Scriptures and prophetic words over our lives and our land. You spoke to us of this season of the almond branch, ready to blossom and bud with excitement and anticipation for Your move in our midst, declaring, "I am watching over My word to perform it" (Jeremiah 1:11-12). We were amazed to see the 1:11-12 of Jeremiah matched the month and dates of our gathering to go through the gates of this new year and into this new season. "Now is the time," You said to us. Through Your blood and by Your blessings, we are a A City Not Forsaken, we are a City Redeemed. You have sought us out and welcomed us in. You are forgiving us, cleansing us, and restoring us. You are rewarding us with Your Presence in ever increasing measures of Your glory. You said, "I am the Gate" (John 10:9). And we are going through. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! Friends, thank you for your prayers for us this weekend at our Strategic Prayer Summit. It was awesome! And now, by God's grace, we will keep moving through the gates of the Lord and His Kingdom into this new season. I pray the same you and the Church of your City. God bless you! 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

Stones Cry Out 1-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the King of the kingdom of God, King of glory, King of my heart and soul. ... "As He was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power they had seen, saying, 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!' Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, 'Teacher, order Your disciples to stop.' He answered, 'I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out' " (Luke 19:36-40). We gathered together last night as Your disciples from across our city and surrounding region to welcome You as the King who comes in the name of the Lord into our city and into our hearts. As one body with one voice under our one Head as the city-wide church, we praised You joyfully and with loud voices, and welcomed Your deeds of power to change our lives and transform our city. We'll gather again today and tonight to humble ourselves in Your sight, to repent for the sins of our city in our day and throughout our generations, to embrace Your mighty deliverance from the strongholds of darkness over our land and into the kingdom of Your light. We will keep seeking Your face, welcoming Your Presence, and arising by Your grace and power into our calling and destiny as a city for God. In Your divine strategy, You led us to gather a pile of stones at the altar. They are soaking in the sounds of prayer, praise, and proclamation. They are being saturated in our worship, recording our adoration of our King and declaration of Your kingdom. We'll take those stones with us tonight to place them in the strategic places across our land where You lead. And these stones will cry out, groaning with all creation, for the coming of Your kingdom in the hearts of all who pass by and Your redemption of all things (Romans 8:22-23). When the world comes to Kentucky this year to celebrate the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, a deliverer You rose up to break the bondage of slavery in our nation, these stones will cry out. When the world comes to Lexington in two years for the World Equestrian Games to see the horses, they will see the One who rides the white horse, who is called Faithful and True, and these stones will cry out. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, in our hearts and in our land for the glory of Your name. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come join us if you can in person or in prayer Today and Tonight! for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" 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 and prayer points for the coming year from many different leaders with interactive prayer, praise, and proclamation. Call for details to Marilyn Walker: 859-317-1591 I pray for the Lord to move mightily in Your city and nation! A flyer is attached. 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

"Seek the Welfare of the City" 1-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. At Your name, I bow my knees and confess with my tongue that You are Lord. I open my heart and lift up my spirit to welcome You as Lord of my life and Lord of this day. ... "But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7). You strategically position us for Your strategic purposes. You send us where You want us for the season at hand. Let Your plans determine my plans and Your purposes determine my purposes -- where I live, work, go to church, raise my family; where I eat lunch, go get gas, shop for groceries. Let me see all the moments of my life as strategic for Your purposes (v. 29:11). And not for my welfare alone, but seeking You just as much for the welfare of those around me in this generation and the ones to come. "When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices" (Proverbs 11:10). Let me seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, embracing the purposes and plans of my King. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Tonight! our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 11-12 -- "Know Our Calling, Fulfill Our Destiny" begins 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 and prayer points for the coming year from many different leaders with interactive 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 I pray for the Lord to move mightily in Your city and nation! A flyer is attached. We started my Wednesday night teaching and equipping series on Prayer Ministry at my home church this week with a full house, but still have 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. Scholarships are available so all can come. 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

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