"Far More Than All We Can Ask or Imagine" 12-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, my Father God. Good morning, Holy Spirit. I welcome every Dimension of Your Being into every dimension of my being, that as far as Your grace will go, I "may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). … "For this reason I bow my knees before, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of His glory, He may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through His Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of God that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:14-19). Until I am "filled with all the fullness of God," there is more. Until I am "filled with all the fullness of God," I have not arrived, I have not fully thrived, I have not reached the depths of surrender nor the heights of spiritual maturity You desire. There is more. According to Your Word, inerrant and true, You want to strengthen me in my spirit with Your power through Your Spirit. You want to fully dwell in my heart through faith. You want to firmly forever establish me in the certainty and security of Your unfathomable love for me. Growing in the knowledge of this love is the power that strengthens me and encourages me to keep pressing on and pressing in for more of You filling more of me every day. The power of this love is deeper, higher, wider, and longer than I will ever be able to fully comprehend, but not beyond my capacity to fully embrace, according to the faith-filled expectation of Paul's prophetic prayer for the Ephesians and for me. Lord, let Your Word keeping sinking in more deeply than ever before. Let the hope and faith of Your promise keeping rising up more higher than ever before. Don't let me ever let me become satisfied or stagnant, but always hungry for more -- more of this love, more of this power, more of this knowledge of Your heart and Your will for me. This is the cry of my heart as I prepare to enter into this new year. "Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever" (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I pray your heart will hunger and thirst for more of God dwelling in you as you prepare to enter into this new year. In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer, starting Jan 5th leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministryto Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days) * Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material * Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team* Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry * Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believers The Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. Registration or Information: ClickHere 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Let Every Day be Christmas 12-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. … "Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool devours it" (Proverbs 21:20). All the bows are untied and all the boxes are opened. All the carols are sung and all the candles are snuffed. Christmas Day has come and gone, but the "Spirit of Christ" remains (Romans 8:9). You are the Precious Treasure. You are the Gift of God. You are Immanuel, God with us -- not for a day, but for forever. So let us live each day, celebrating the Gift of God within us, the Treasure entrusted forever to us. Let everyday be Christmas -- "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Let every day be Christmas For every day You're with us Christ in us, the glory of God! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days) * Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material * Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team* Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry * Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believers The Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. Registration or Information: ClickHere In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Born This Day 12-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your birth in my world is my hope and peace and joy of my second birth in Yours. … "To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord" (Luke 2:11). This day my life is changed This day all things are rearranged This day I'll never be the same For this day is the day You were born for me This day all my sins are gone This day all souls can come home This day we'll never be alone For this day is the day You were born for me This day all heaven and earth proclaim This day we adore Your holy name This day in our hearts You rule and reign For this day is the day You were born for me On this day of giving we remember and rejoice in the One who has given so much to us. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting (our) trespasses against (us), and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us" (2 Corinthians 5:19). You are the Christ, our Messiah, the Anointed One of God, born in a manger to die on a cross so You could live forever in our hearts. Through Your birth we may all have our second birth -- birth into Christ and Christ birthed into us. "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above" (John 3:3). On this day of worldwide celebration of Your birth, I thank You, Lord Jesus for being born from above in my world and in my heart. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Merry Christmas, my friends! I pray the Lord will continue to birth in you His Spirit and His passion for Him and His coming kingdom this coming year of 2009 as never before. Thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer and passion for Jesus. God bless you and Merry Christmas! -- from your friend and fellow traveler, Tommy In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! Come join us if you can for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I and II) this January in Lexington. Write for details or register online. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Seek and Find Jesus 12-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of the highest heaven, Lord of the lowest heart, Lord of everything in between, be Lord of everything in me today. … "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' " (Luke 2:15). Seeing the angels moved the shepherds to seek Jesus. They didn't worship the angels. They didn't build a shrine to their supernatural experience. They said, "Let us go. Let us see. Let us seek Jesus." That's the purpose of all supernatural, spiritual signs and wonders and encounters -- to move us to seek Jesus. Though the angel said, "I am bringing you good news," the shepherds knew the Source of the message (Luke 2:10). As stunning and amazing as their spiritual encounter was, their focus was not on the messengers, but on the One who sent the message. They knew it was the Lord who made known to them this "good news of great joy for all people." You are still making Your good news of great joy know to us. You are still sending Your heavenly messengers and inviting us into spiritual encounters and supernatural experiences. In fact, it seems there is a great increase in spiritual activity in our days. There is a growing hunger to both know the Truth and experience the Truth (John 8:32). But even so, You want both our knowledge and experience to always lead us to seek You. And like the shepherds, when we seek You with all our hearts, we will find You (Luke 2:16). Just as You have always promised those who would follow the signs and the leading of their hearts, "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). Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays On this Christmas Eve of 2008, I pray the Lord will increase our passion to seek Him, know Him, and experience in this coming year of 2009 as never before. Thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer and passion for Jesus. God bless you and Merry Christmas! -- from your friend and fellow traveler, Tommy In the first 10 days of January 2009, many of us are sensing a call to try to spend as much of those days in prayer and worship as we can in the upper room of the presence of the Lord. Cornerstone International House of Prayer (CI-HoP) in Wilmore, Kentucky ( http://www.cornerstoneinternational.org/prayer/ ) will be joining with us to host a place for these days of prayer leading up to our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Send me a note if you're interested in joining in. And please keep us in prayer. God bless! 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-Line

Angels We Have Seen on High … and in Hospitals 12-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Child of wonder, Child of light, Child who grew up and laid down Your life, come live Your life through Your Holy Spirit in me today. … "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, goodwill toward men!" (Luke 2:13-14, NKJV). Angels give glory to God. And they are often sent by God as messengers of Your love and power into our lives as worshippers, warriors, and witnesses of Your peace and goodwill toward the children of Your creation. "Are not all angels spirits of divine service, sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:14) You send them to bear us up on angels' wings in ways we don't often see in the natural realm of all You are doing around us and for us in the spiritual realm (Psalm 91:11-12). And according to the news, You just sent an angel of Your glory to the pediatric intensive care unit of Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since being born five weeks premature, Chelsea Banton endured chronic health problems all her life, spending much of it in the hospital. Just before her fifteenth birthday this coming Christmas Day, the doctor spoke to her mother the heartbreaking words, "We've done all we can do." And her mother, Colleen Banton had to make the heart-wrenching decision of removing the life support and releasing the spirit of her daughter to God. But as she prayed, it seems You sent an angel. The nurses at the desk kept seeing an image on the security monitor at the door. And the image, even being shown now on network television, seemed to even have wings. The nurses say the pediatric unit was suddenly filled with light. Instead of dying, Chelsea started getting better. Her mother took her home! She'll celebrate another birthday this Christmas Day. She says it's a miracle and the Today Show says she's been "touched by an angel." According to a Child Life Specialist in the unit, there were other miracle healing stories in the hospital as well -- a child with cancer healed, a boy with a skull fracture and brain injuries healed. Glory to God in the highest! We know the kingdom of God is not yet fully manifested on earth as it is heaven. But Your kingdom is coming more every day. Every little girl and boy is not yet healed every time their mothers pray, but heaven is invading earth and the kingdom of God is being made real in our lives more every day. You are sending Your angels and releasing Your power on earth as it is in heaven. The veil between the natural realm and the supernatural realm seems to be growing thinner each day. So instead of complaining about what You are not doing, we want to celebrate, with all the angels of heaven, what You are doing. Glory to God in the highest! Peace and goodwill toward men! Angels we have seen on high … Gloria in Excelsis Deo! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, like you, I hope this news story proves to be real. I don't know anyone involved, but if you'd like to read more about this story from the blog of an eyewitness, here's one person's account of the story. http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1338525/A_real_angel_of_the_Lord_at_local_hospital_true_story 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

God's Word, God's Way 12-22-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my day. Come lead me in Your way. … "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 2:4-5). You declared long ago through Your prophetic Word that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Those who studied Your Word could see and anticipate the things to come (Matthew 2:3-6). And in the fullness of time, You began to position people and events in alignment with Your Word and Your will. Yet, it was not an angel that sent Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was not from an open vision in the heavenlies or a spiritual dream in their sleep. Neither was it from a burning bush or miraculous signs and wonders. It was from the decree of a pagan, prayer-less and God-less government enforcing its power and authority to control its subjects (Luke 2:1). Mary and Joseph didn't vote in this government, nor did they agree with its philosophies. But in the fullness of time, in Your ways that are always perfect, whether we have eyes to see it or not, Your Word and Your will came to pass. Just as You had said, the holy Child to come as Messiah and King, was born in the manger at Bethlehem (Luke 2:7). Position me, Lord. Align the relationships and events of my life to fulfill Your prophetic word for me. You see the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. Though we have freedom to make our choices, You are also actively involved in every event and You know eternally every choice we will ever make. "For it is You who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made… Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In Your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed" (Psalm 139:13-16). So I need not fear the powers and authorities of this age, nor the motives and choices of the governments of man. My God is in control. My God sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. "And indeed, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31). Every word of Your eternal prophecies for me and for all the children of Your creation will come to pass, all in Your perfect timing and in Your perfect way (Revelation 22:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I pray the hope of things to come will be birthed in your spirits in these days of celebrating the coming of our Savior. May the Lord align all your relationships and events with His purposes for your life in this coming season. God bless you and Merry Christmas! 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 Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/

"We Wish to See Jesus" 12-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before looking to anyone else, I look to You. Before listening for anyone else, I listen for You. Let me see You and hear You. Let me be moved and led by Your Spirit to let You live through me so that others may be moved and led to You today. … "Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Phillip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, 'Sir, we wish to see Jesus.' Phillip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered the, 'The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified' " (John 12:20-23). This time of year, there are many festivals. We call them "Christmas parties." Or at least we used to; now we call them 'Holiday parties' because we're so often afraid to say the name of Jesus or Christ in public. But this is a time of year for the Son of Man to be glorified. This is a time of year when we should wish to see Jesus. And Lord, what glorifies You most is when we stop and look to see Jesus long enough so that others can look to see Jesus living in us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Tonight please come join us and bring a friend following The Fountain (December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! If you think you're coming, please let Lisa know at 859-543-0658 to help us plan the desserts. Come to The Fountain Tonight! -- the 3rd Friday night of every month -- for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. Laura Beach will be sharing some of her journey. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Honoring Our Pastor 12-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I honor You and thank You for Your leading in my life. … "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away -- and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep" (John 10:11-15). Last night we honored my pastor and his wife, David and Karen Thomas, and their family for twelve years of leadership and love at our home church, now coming to a close. We remembered and celebrated all You have done through them among us, as You have been shepherding Your flock through their hands and hearts. The testimonies of souls saved and lives changed are forever recorded in Your book of life and sealed in our hearts. Like the good shepherd, they have been willing to know us and allow us to know them, as we have all grown in our desire to know and follow You. And they gave all glory and honor to You, their good shepherd. It was humbling to remember so many of the ways they have willingly, sacrificially laid down their lives for the sheep You entrusted to their care. And it's even more humbling to know there have been so many other sacrifices in their labor of love we'll never know. Yet it was thrilling to recount the mighty moves of God we've seen in our midst as we've grown toward the vision of becoming "a kingdom church" -- a community of believers seeking the coming of Your kingdom in our lives and through our lives in Your transformation of our community and our world. May that vision You cast through their leadership continue to come to pass. As Karen said, according to the promise of Your Word, "I am confident of this, that the One who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Christ" (Philippians 1:6). You will continue to be the good shepherd of David and Karen's journey in this next season of life and ministry. He'll be able to follow the leading of his heart to study the overwhelming grace of God poured into the hungry hearts of a people who are desperate for Him. May you continue to pour into him, so he can pour into Your church in the advance of Your kingdom, as You continue to equip him and empower him for spiritual leadership in the seasons to come. May you continue to pour into Karen as she leads in their home and on the board of Asbury Theological Seminary in fulfillment of the kingdom vision "to prepare and send forth a well-trained, sanctified, Spirit-filled, evangelistic ministry to spread scriptural holiness throughout the world." In our hearts and in theirs, we know You will be faithful to bring to completion all You have begun. Thank You for the gift of coming alongside one another in the journey toward the vision of Your kingdom. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II)January 14-17, 2009 Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days)* Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material* Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team * Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry* Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believersThe Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs. REGISTRATION or Information: LeftClickHere Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night(December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Simplicity of Life, Hidden with Christ 12-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I simply come and silently wait in the stillness of surrender in the beginning of this new day. … "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, 'Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch?' All these regulations refer to things that perish with use; they are simply human commands and teachings. These indeed have an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-imposed piety, humility, and severe treatment of the body, but they are of no value, serving only to indulge the flesh. So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 2:20 - 3:3). Simplicity of life, hidden with Christ: More of Him, less of me More of His ways, less of mine More of His wise will, less of my self will More dependence on Him, less dependence on me More of His increase, more of my decrease More of His speaking, more of my listening More of His leading, more of my following More deeply surrendered, more filled with faith More shaking in the world, more steadiness in my soul More darker the days, more brighter His light More treacherous the journey, more tighter the grip More challenging my circumstances, more greater the chance to see His glory More complicated my life, more certain my need to simply trust in Him It's just that simple. Yes, Lord. Thank You for writing this simple strategy into my mind and taking time to patiently weave it into the DNA of my soul. Let it be so unto me as You have said: "Abide in Me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in Me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from Me, you can do nothing" (John 15:4-5). By the mercy of Your grace and the power of Your love, I need not ever be apart from You, but ever abiding in You as You abide in me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II)January 14-17, 2009 Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free

in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Conference includes: * Lunches/snacks, materials (all four days)* Notebook with valuable teaching notes and other ministry material* Teaching, Equipping, & Impartation from a seasoned leadership team * Hands-on Interactive Participation in Prayer Ministry* Deep worship & incredible fellowship experiences with like-minded believersThe Cost is $125.00, with partial scholarships available if necessary. (Please consider giving one for someone else if you can't come). Held at our home base in Lexington, Kentucky. Lodging is on your own but there may be a limited number of "Partner Homes" that will be available for lodging needs.

REGISTRATION or Information: LeftClickHere Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night (December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Settle for Nothing Less than More 12-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek You. … "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" (Luke 2:25-26). By Your Holy Spirit, Simeon sought You with every breath of life. With the sunrise of each new day, he woke with a passion to seek You, looking forward to the One who would come to comfort his people and satisfy the hunger of his soul. Morning by morning, he would open up his heart and lift up his eyes to seek the One he longed to see. With each passing day, he sought You more, he hungered for more, he thirsted for more. He would settle for nothing less than the manifest presence of the Lord's Messiah. And so do I. I know You, but I want to know You more. I have found You, but I want to find You more. I have seen You, but I want to see You more. And I believe, by the moving of Your Spirit who rests upon me and rises up within me, I always will. I'll never settle for less than more. "But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more" (Psalm 71:14). With holy desperation, I will pray unceasingly and seek unreservedly to abound in my love and longing for You, yet "more and more" (Philippians 1:9). As in the story of the Song of Solomon, I will passionately seek the One whom my soul loves (Song of Solomon 3:1). As in the inspiration of the determination of Bartimaeus, I will cry out all the more loudly (Mark 10:48). And as in the witness of the passion of Simeon, I will settle for nothing less than more, nothing less than the manifest presence of my Savior and Messiah. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night(December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd in Lexington. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

3 Days Left at Amazon.com to Send Tommy's Devotional Book, Morning by Morning, for Christmas

Friends, Please click the link below if you'd like to send my Morning Prayer Devotional Book, Morning by Morning, as a Christmas Gift through Amazon.com: Amazon.com: Morning by Morning: A Prayer Journey with Tommy Hays: Tommy Hays: Books These morning prayers are written to start each day Embraced by the Father, Centered on Jesus, and Filled with the Holy Spirit through a daily walk of deeper intimacy with God. God bless you and Merry Christmas! Tommy www.messiah-ministries.org

Hope of the Dawn of Light 12-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I enter into the holy of holies of prayer through the blood of the Lamb. … "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 1:78-79). In the darkness of our souls, we long for light. In the deadness of our spirits, we long for life. But You are our "bright morning star" who breaks forth like the dawn no matter how dark our days may seem (Revelation 22:16). "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9). You are our "Prince of Peace" who steps down into our darkness to steady our thoughts, remind us of Your presence, and guide our feet into the way of Your peace (Isaiah 9:6). This is the unfailing love and tender mercy of our God, our Emmanuel -- "God with us." Long before Your first coming as the Child of Promise, You spoke through Your prophet to a people who needed hope of a Savior and Messiah to come. One day the One who would lead in the way of peace would arise and come from "Galilee of the nations" (Isaiah 9:1). He would come to lift "the yoke of their burden" and break "the rod of their oppressor" (Isaiah 9:4). One day the light of their hope would break forth into the dawn of their lives, as Your prophetic message was fulfilled. "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great Light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them Light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2). Lord Jesus, Messiah, You are that Light. You are "the Light of the world" (John 8:12). The prophecy has now come to pass and the hope of Your presence always among us is now fulfilled. Your light breaks into our darkness every day. Your power is available to lift our burdens and break our oppression every day, as we look up to Your light and open up to Your peace. "So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (2 Peter 1:19). By the tender mercy of God, we have seen Your great Light; and on each of us, Your Light has shined. "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 Friends, please come join us following The Fountain This Friday Night(December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas Reception to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! To help us plan, Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Emmanuel, God with Us in Spirit and Truth 12-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Emmanuel, God with us, come be with me throughout my day. … "An 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.' All this was took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us' " (Matthew 1:20-23). Angels, dreams, miracles, prophecy -- the foundation of our faith in a God who loves us and lives among us is saturated in the supernatural. The Word of God makes no room for a faith apart from the reality of His spiritual realm actively coexisting with His physical realm. Any faith devoid of the reality and expectation of the supernatural is a false faith; any teaching that denies the reality of the spiritual realm is a false teaching; and any doctrine that denies the reality of God's heavenly dimension actively intertwined with His earthly dimension is a false doctrine. True Christian faith cannot be expressed or experienced apart from faith in a supernatural, spiritual reality. "We look not at what can be seen, but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:18). Especially in our western culture, we need Your grace to obey the command of Your Word to embrace the priority of a spiritual perspective. "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3). Despite Your perspective, our culture has invaded the western church, insisting upon its own perspective -- denying the reality of the spiritual realm, mocking miracles and mocking a faith founded and filled with angels, dreams, miracles, and prophecy. If we are to experience the fullness of our faith, to embrace the fulfillment of Your Word in our lives, to see Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven, this worldly, western perspective must change. The stronghold of unbelief must come down. And true faith must arise. You alone are "the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God" (1 Timothy 1:17). You are a supernatural God seeking a people with supernatural faith. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Lord, open the eyes of our hearts to be "enlightened" to see You as you truly are (Ephesians 1:18). Awaken our human spirits to arise and embrace the reality of Your Holy Spirit and Your spiritual realm with Your spiritual perspective. Our faith is in God who is with us -- "in Spirit and in Truth" for "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24). Lord Jesus, You are "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in (You) 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 (You) and for (You)" (Colossians 1:15-16). You are Emmanuel, God with us. Give us a firm and true faith that You are with us in things visible and invisible, in the natural realm and the supernatural realm, in every dimension of our lives. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us following The Fountain this month (December 19th) for our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ) Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! Please call or write if you have any questions about our vision or needs, or if you would like to introduce me to speak to someone you think may have a heart for what the Lord is doing through our ministry. God bless you! -- Tommy 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

The Conception and The Cross 12-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. O come, let us adore You. … "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 1:41-42). My seminary professor of evangelism, Bob Tuttle, used to always say, "Jesus' suffering didn't begin at the cross; His suffering began in the womb." We can't really even begin to imagine what You sacrificed to willingly set aside the glory of heaven to humble Yourself to be conceived as the Son of Man in the womb of a woman to be "born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-8). The extravagance of Your gift of love for us is beyond our comprehension. But there could be no reconciliation without the cross; and there could be no cross without the conception. "But God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us .... We were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, we will be saved by His life" (Romans 5:8-10). And because You were willing to fill Mary's womb, we can now, like Elizabeth, be "filled with the Holy Spirit." Like the child in Elizabeth's womb who "leaped for joy" in Your Presence, we can leap for joy in the love of God that now fills our souls with Your peace and goodwill, comfort and joy (Luke 1:44). "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:5-6). Thank You, Lord Jesus, for the gift of Your conception and Your cross. Thank You for the joy of filling us and baptizing us with Your Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). Thank You for reconciling us to God, through Your birth, Your death, and Your life now living in us (Galatians 2:20). May You be filled forever with the joy of knowing Your sufferings were not in vain. We joyfully embrace Your unimaginable, incomprehensible Gift of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's citywide gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ) Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! Please call or write if you have any questions about our vision or needs, or if you would like to introduce me to speak to someone you think may have a heart for what the Lord is doing through our ministry. God bless you! -- Tommy 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

"And Now …" 12-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. One with the Father, one with the Holy Spirit, come be one in me. … "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…. 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 call Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord 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…. 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; and He will be called Son of God' " (Luke 1:26-35). Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because she had "found favor with God." Knowing Your favor -- knowing Your presence, Your peace, and Your pleasure with us as Your children -- should calm our hearts and steady our minds from all fear. Your favor is a reflection of Your love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). When we know You are with us in Your love, we need not fear. You will bring us through whatever we may face. And in the favor of God, the angel said "and now" Mary would conceive in her womb the purposes of God for the calling and destiny of her life: "For you have found favor with God. And now …." It's only in Your favor that we can fulfill our purpose, calling, and destiny. It's only in Your favor that we have any purpose or calling or destiny. Because Mary "found favor with God" so that the Son of the Most High, the Son of God, could be conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Living God in her human womb, we can all find favor with God. We all have favor with God through the willing sacrifice and perfect love of this holy Child. "And now" we can all be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, who can conceive and birth in us the plans and purposes of God for each of our lives. In the favor of Your present and perfect love, we will not fear; we will fulfill our destiny in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! God bless you, my friend and favored one in Christ! -- Tommy Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Season of Preparation 12-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come live in me today. … "But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. You wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will name him John…. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord' " (Luke 1:13-17). Before the angel appeared to Mary and Joseph, the angel appeared to Zechariah. Before the coming of the Messiah came the one with the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for His coming. And just as You prepared Your people for Your first coming, so You are preparing Your people for Your second coming. Christmas season speaks of this season of preparation -- a season "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And how do we prepare? We turn our hearts to You and to one another, from disobedience to righteousness, from looking inward to ourselves to looking forward to You. And one day soon, You will come in glory in the skies. But every day before then, You want to come in glory in our hearts. Let us know by faith Your angels are here among us, helping prepare Your servants and proclaiming Your coming. Let us turn our hearts to You and one another. Let us be a people prepared for coming of the Lord our God. "Righteousness will go before Him, and will make a path for His steps" (Psalm 85:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Mystery of More 12-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of the heavens and the earth, be Lord of my heart and my day. … "For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things" (Psalm 107:9). In the mystery of more, You satisfy the thirsty and then make us thirsty for more of You; You fill the hungry and then make us hungry for more of You. No matter how much You've poured into us, no matter how much we've received, there's always more. Spiritual thirst and holy hunger leave us filled with gratitude for the grace that allows us to experience even a taste of Your Presence, while at the same time, always move us to yearn for more. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. And You are always crying out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me" (John 7:37). I've been yearning for more -- more of Your presence, more of Your Spirit, more of Your gifts, more of Your wisdom, more of Your power, more of everything You want me to have, to be all You created me to be, and to fulfill all You created me to do. And I believe it's Your Spirit moving in my spirit to move me to seek more. So I've been thirsting for a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit (John 7:39; Ephesians 5:18). I've been hungering to be "clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). I've been yearning to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit" more deeply than ever before (Acts 1:5). I know I'll need it for the days to come and the places You'll send me to be Your witness in Your power to a people who need to know You. I'm still processing, even as I'm still embracing, all You did in me Saturday afternoon, December 6, 2008 -- now another one of those red letter days on the calendar of my spiritual journey with You. At the close of our four days of teaching and ministry in Tucson, Randy Clark told the story of John Wimber prophesying over him and knowing You were sending him with an anointing to impart gifts and awaken gifts of the Holy Spirit in pastors and leaders around the world to proclaim to all nations the gospel of the kingdom of God. He told stories of seeing You fulfill that word since 1994. He said according to Your Word, You pour out Your Spirit to all who are thirsty. "To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6). As he opened the altar, he said he wanted to pray for everyone, but wanted to first pray for those who sensed the Lord specifically touching them in some way. As many went forward, I waited in what seemed like a deep sense of peace in Your presence. But at the same time, I was crying out to You in my spirit for more -- "Lord, make me thirsty, make me hungry, help me be completely surrendered to You, remove any barrier, forgive any sin. I know I can't ever earn it; I can only receive it. I want more -- to give more of me to You and receive more of You in me." The more I prayed, the more hungry and desperate I seemed to become, even while having Your deep sense of peace in my heart. I prayed, "Lord, I want to receive all that You have for me -- all that's of You and nothing that's not of You; all through the cross and blood of Jesus." I prayed, "Daddy, Abba, my Father God, I am Your son and I know it is Your good pleasure to give good gifts to Your children. Daddy, give me this good gift of more of Your Spirit in me now." Then, I felt the tips of my fingers slightly begin to tremble and I stepped forward to the altar and kept my eyes closed tight. Then my middle finger on my right hand started to tremble even more. Then my right hand began to violently shake, then my left hand. I thought to myself, "Am I doing this because I want to experience You or something so bad?" And I instantly realized I couldn't be doing this, and though it must look really strange, I didn't care. I decided to just let go and give myself completely to Your control and let anything happen without trying to shut it down or control it. It seemed like electricity was surging throughout my body. It came in waves, with groans, sometimes what must have been loud. It was both exhilarating and exhausting. At one point, it was like I was running a race and "kicking" at the end in a dash for the finish line, with my arms moving faster than they ever have. I breathed like a sprinter. The Scripture from Hebrews 12 about running the race looking to Jesus came to mind. And then, "The last shall be first." Though I've never won any races in my physical body, I felt like how it must feel for a son to know his father was watching him cross the finish line to win a race. I felt like You were proud of me. Between waves of Your power, I could hear people praying for me. I heard Randy Clark say, as he prayed for someone, "He's going to have to go to some really hard places. He's going to need the power of the Lord." I didn't know if he was talking to me, but it seemed You were speaking these words to me. And then another surge of the electricity came. I felt like I was on fire and dripping with sweat. All this was with my eyes tightly closed because I didn't want to come out of whatever this was and didn't want to be distracted or concerned about what anybody around me might be thinking or doing. At one point, my right harm was stretched out and my right pointing finger was extended, as if pointing with confidence and authority, while some kind of utterance came up out of me with every point, as if making some kind of declaration in my spirit. I can't remember what all else happened or even the order of things, but after the last surge of power I sensed a deep peace and quiet. I realized that sometime I had come to my knees during all of this, and then I opened my eyes. Many people were gone but some were in line beside me to receive prayer from the ministry team. I just stretched out on my face on the floor in a mixture of prayer, exhaustion, processing what had happened. I had the sense of a deep cleansing of my soul and fresh baptism of Your Spirit. I believe You have done something new in me that will become more clear in the days ahead. By Your grace, I've had deep spiritual experiences with You before, but nothing like this. As Randy said, You are an infinitely creative God, never making two snowflakes or fingerprints the same. We all have very diverse personalities and all have very diverse experiences with You. No two are the same. But I do believe You desire all of us to hunger and thirst for more of You. It is a means of Your grace to fill us with Your Presence and fulfill Your purpose through our lives. It's all part of Your plan for all Your people: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem; in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I don't think we receive all that power all at once. I don't think we could handle it. But You know what's best; and You move us to ask You for Your best. Maybe I've been so specific about this experience in my prayer this morning to be able to remember this day through hard days to come. Maybe I'll even regret being so vulnerable and such a fool for the sake of Christ to share this experience in such detail. But maybe You'll use this to stir others to a deeper desire for more of You. You have satisfied my thirst and filled my hunger. And at the same time, You are already making me thirstier and hungrier still. And by Your grace, You always will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Thank You! for covering me in prayer last week as I attended Randy Clark's School of Healing, Deliverance, and Impartation in Tucson, Arizona. I believe it was a life changing experience for me and I'm looking forward to living and imparting all the Lord did in me through this time of teaching and ministry: http://www.globalawakening.com I would encourage you to go to one of Global Awakening's events. I am joining their Apostolic Network of Global Awakening and would appreciate your prayers for the Lord's leading in this next season of ministry. And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next Messiah Ministries School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels here in Lexington, Kentucky, January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"Renown by the Wonderful Deeds of God" 12-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are alive and active in every area and every day of my life. … "Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation…. He has gained renown by His wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful" (Psalm 111:1-4). "Thanks be to Jesus!" were the first words I heard A.J. say last night, without slurred speech, after we prayed for him. "I feel really calm and warm inside; my hands aren't trembling anymore" was his answer when I asked him if he could sense the Lord doing anything in his body. "I want to stand up and walk around" is what he said when I asked him if he wanted to try to something he couldn't do very well before we prayed. With big, growing smile he walked around quickly and confidently with his cane on the floor and his arms in the air. He had told us he had Parkinson's Disease. But he also told us he believed in the power of God to heal. You are gracious and merciful. You are still gaining renown by Your wonderful deeds. Though all will not be healed and free on this side of heaven until You come again in the fullness of Your kingdom on earth as it is heaven, many are. And many are in growing numbers each day as we pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done. In heaven, there is no Parkinson's Disease. And heaven is coming into A.J.'s life on earth as it is in heaven in the name and for the glory of Jesus. Thank You for letting me see it and giving me faith to pray it. Give me the boldness to pray more and the joy to see more. With A.J., I give you thanks with my whole heart! In the Jesus' name I pray, Amen Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. I would appreciate your prayers for me this week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Father's Glory through Miracles in the Name of the Son 12-4-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name be glorified in my heart and throughout my day. … "Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in My name you ask Me for anything, I will do it" (John 14:12-14). Father, You receive glory when we ask and receive in the name of Jesus. Lord Jesus, You do what we ask in Your name to bring glory to our Father. Holy Spirit of the Living God, You move in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus to ask the things Jesus would ask and to do the works Jesus would do, all in the power and authority of His name. Father and Son, abiding in us by the Holy Spirit, You are honored and glorified by our prayers and our obedience in the name of Jesus. "Those who love Me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:23). Through the spiritual gifts of words of knowledge, miracles, and healing, You healed many people yesterday during our school of ministry led by Randy Clark in Tucson, Arizona. The Holy Spirit was welcomed, the name of Jesus was exalted, and our Father was glorified. We erupted in praise when You opened the deaf ear of a man who had a fever when he was a little boy and had been deaf in that ear all his life. Many others testified to the immediate release of pain and other signs of healing and freedom in the presence of Your glory. And we are expecting more and more as Your name is glorified in our hearts, in our land, and throughout the earth (Habakkuk 2:14). Miracles are a means of Your grace to reveal Your glory and bring people to faith in Christ. It was after Your first miracle of changing the water into wine at a wedding celebration that Your first disciples believed in You. "Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him" (John 2:11). Your miracles are for the sake of bringing people to salvation. And the world needs that as much today as ever before. In these days, You are increasing an awakening of faith and a revelation of Your glory throughout the earth. Instead of focusing on what You're not doing, we're learning to focus on what You are doing. You are empowering Your church to display Your nature and glorify Your name and our Father through our prayers. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples" (John 15:7-8). Your kingdom is coming and Your will is being done -- more and more as we believe and obey -- on earth as it is in heaven. And the glory of the Son is the glory of the Father, now being glorified through us (John 17:1). "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 17:22-23). As the old song says, "Glorify Thy name in all the earth!" In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. I would appreciate your prayers for me this week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"Gain in Learning" and "Acquire Skill" 12-3-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart, the forefront of my mind, and the foundation of my day. … "Let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill" (Proverbs 1:5). Give me wisdom to be teachable. Give me a hunger to gain in learning. Give me patience, perseverance, and divine opportunities to acquire skill in the gifts and calling You've given me for my part in Your body and Your kingdom. You are my teacher and Your Holy Spirit continues to teach me and all Your disciples Your wisdom and ways, as You anoint us and empower us to be the body of Christ in the earth (John 14:26; Luke 12:12). "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go" (Isaiah 48:17). And I thank You for those You have called and anointed to be teachers in the body of Christ. "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 the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of 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). By Your Spirit and through Your servants, You equip us for the work of the ministry to which You have called us. As we learn and grow, You keep building us up and maturing us as the body of Christ, moving forward to that day that we will truly display Your nature in "the full stature of Christ" on this earth. The next few days, I'll be learning and growing through the ministry of Your teachers with Global Awakening Ministries in their School of Healing, Deliverance, and Impartation in Tucson. As Your Spirit teaches me and equips me through them, may You empower me for the work of ministry and also anoint me to teach and equip others for the work of their ministry. Give me humility to hear and receive all that is of You and wisdom to discern anything that's not, always testing everything, as You command us to do (1 Thessalonians 5:21). These are teachers and leaders -- Randy Clark, Che Ahn, and others -- at the forefront of a fresh move of Your Spirit in the earth in our day. With a hungry heart and a teachable spirit, let me receive all You desire to impart to me and then through me to others (Romans 1:11-12). Like Timothy, give me humility and passion to keep learning and growing; and like Paul, give me confidence and courage to teach others what You have taught me. "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:14-16). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me this week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's 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. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Main Thing of this Season of Hope and Peace 12-2-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's all about You. And the main thing is the keep the main thing the main thing. You're the main thing. … "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 in Him and for Him. He Himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:15-20). All things have been created in You and for You. You are to have first place in everything. You are "the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). "Christ is all in all" (Colossians 3:11). You're not just a wise teacher, a holy man, or a good example of how to live a godly life. You are God -- God made flesh in one dimension of Your Being (John 1:14). You are forever one with the Father, one with the Holy Spirit, yet now one with humanity, having humbled Yourself "in human form," and "being born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-8). Why would You empty Yourself of the glory of heaven, though You "were in the form of God?" (Philippians 2:6) Why would You enter into the womb of a woman to born as vulnerable baby in a pen made for animals because humans wouldn't make any room for Your birth? (Luke 2:7) Because You love us. Because You want remove everything that would separate us from an eternal relationship of love with us. So You became a vulnerable child who would one day allow Yourself to become a vulnerable man nailed to a cross, as the only possible sacrifice for the sin that would separate us. In this season when we celebrate the hope of peace on earth, let Your Spirit remind us and convict us to keep the main thing the main thing. Peace on earth is only possible as we have peace in our souls -- a peace that came when God made Himself flesh "to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's 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. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Here's an invitation from Laura Beach, a Spiritual Director with our ministry: Women of Faith…Are you weary in this season of your life? Consider taking a day apart with the Lord to find His rest (Matt 11:28). You are invited to day retreats of spiritual refreshment led by Laura Beach in association with Messiah Ministries. These are experiences of restorative prayer, worship, and fellowship -- particularly for women on the front lines of ministry and life. There are a few spaces left for December 19 in Bryantsville, Kentucky. I can send you a list of dates & locations for 2009. The first will occur on January 3 and will others will continue throughout the year in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. For more information, contact LauraBBeach@insightbb.com. Subscribe free by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Daily Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Not on Talk, but on Power" 12-01-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Help me grow more into Your likeness today. … "For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). When we pray, as You taught us to pray, for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done, we are praying for the power of God to manifest the kingdom of God here on earth, just as it is in heaven. The coming of Your kingdom is not demonstrated by our nice sermons, our clever teachings, or our good church services. It's demonstrated by the coming rule and reign of Christ. "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). Through the power of God in Christ, souls are saved and sanctified, sin is forgiving and cleansed, minds are renewed and freed, bodies are healed and delivered, relationships are strengthened and restored, and all creation is redeemed and transformed. And the driving force of all this power of God to change us and all creation is the love of God, for "God is love" (1 John 4:8). The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love. And love comes from within us, just as "the kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). Your power is made manifest on earth as it is in heaven as the power of Your love is made manifest in our lives and through our lives each day. When You said to Your first disciples of the first generation, just as You say to all Your disciples of all generations, "I give you power and authority …", You gave them power and authority to love (see Luke 9:1 and 10:1). As You "sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal" -- just as You continue to send us out -- You send us to love (Luke 9:2). For love is the power of God. And we love, because You first loved us (1 John 4:19). You laid down Your life in love for us and call us to lay down our lives in love for one another -- not in talk, but in power; not in lofty words, but in obedient action (1 John 4:11). As we do, Your kingdom comes and Your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me love in power, not just in talk, today and every day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, here's an invitation from Laura Beach, a Spiritual Director with our ministry: Women of Faith…Are you weary in this season of your life? Consider taking a day apart with the Lord to find His rest (Matt 11:28). You are invited to day retreats of spiritual refreshment led by Laura Beach in association with Messiah Ministries. These are experiences of restorative prayer, worship, and fellowship -- particularly for women on the front lines of ministry and life. There are a few spaces left for December 19 in Bryantsville, Kentucky. I can send you a list of dates & locations for 2009. The first will occur on January 3 and will others will continue throughout the year in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. For more information, contact LauraBBeach@insightbb.com. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's 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. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 at Southland Evangelical Methodist Church 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale). Contact Doris & Bob at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Daily Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org