Monday, February 15, 2010

I Dare to Dream 2-15-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Great and mighty God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I honor You, worship You, and entrust myself to You. May Your will and Your purpose for my life be made fully manifest by the end of my days on this earth. … “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not your harm, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). I do not yet fully know what is the fullness of my purpose and the fulfillment of Your plans for my life. Yet I do pray that You will yet have Your way. And I do seek that You will grant me the courage and faithfulness to trust and obey the leading of Your Spirit, no matter the cost, and grant me the patience to tenaciously endure every moment of delay, no matter the time it takes. Let me not ever think more highly of myself than You have created me to be. But let me also never think more lowly of myself than the son of God that I am, by the mercy and power of Your grace (Hebrews 2:10). “For it was 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. Wonderful are Your works, that I know very well…. In Your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed” (Psalm 139:13-16). This is true for each of Your children. And this is true even for one such as me. I Dare to Dream… O how can I doubt Yet how can I believe How can I dare to dream Yet it was You who conceived Am I created for significance For greatness of life Or destined for disappointment Mere misery and strife Do I dare think of myself With destiny and calling Or settle for less Accepting my failures and fallings But what if it’s true We’re each created to be Someone magnificent And each one unique What if the world Would not be the same Without the full measure of my life And every moment of my days What if history itself Could not speak its heart If it failed to record Every act of my part Is it too vain Full of arrogance and pride To think I’ve a part to play That none can play but I I leave it to my God My Creator and King To determine if it’s so Or just a foolish dream Lord, give me the humility to know that I can do nothing apart from You (John 15:50). And at the same time, give me the faith to know that I am never apart from You and that through Christ, I can do all things for Your glory and Your name (Philippians 4:13). Lord, let me do my part in my generation to fulfill my destiny for Your glory, in both humble faith and courageous boldness in a way that honors You with all You have entrusted to me. Let me dare to dream. And if it is true, let me believe in faith that it’s You who gave me these dreams. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night February 19th at 7PM, the 3rd Friday Night of every month, for our Messiah Ministries monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Led by Messiah Ministries and hosted at Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky. Come drink deeply from The Fountain of Living Waters as we worship Jesus in the freedom of His Holy Spirit. Linda Dulin will be leading in Prayer and Jeff Settles will be leading in Worship this month. All are welcome and spread the word! Contact Marilyn Walker, our Dir. of Ministries for details 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Thank you for joining in prayer. The Lord is gathering His army for such a time as this. If you'd like to be part of our intercessory prayer team with interaction and updates, please send a note to our Pastor of Prayer Ministries, Linda Dulin at PrayerLead@aol.com We are trying to establish Linda in a full time position with Messiah Ministries, as we advance in this season, so I've you would like to assist with this, please contact me at MessiahMin@aol.com right away. Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Lionheart! 2-13-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as well as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. You are the Commander of the Army of the Lord as well as the Lamb who was led to slaughter and opened not Your mouth. Lord, let me know You as You are in every dimension of Your Being, so that I can learn to know myself in every dimension of my being. … “Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a Man standing before him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You one of us or one of our adversaries?’ He replied, ‘Neither; but as Commander of the Army of the Lord I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to Him, ‘What do You command Your servant, Lord?’ The Commander of the Army of the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15). Lord, You woke me up this morning with my right arm stretched out, violently shaking. In my spirit, I saw a sword in my hand. I knew You were calling me to get up and pray. You’ve been speaking to my heart for several days about calling together the men of our city to prepare for war in the days to come. Men of faith must arise! We must know how to love and to lead, how to stand firm before men and how to bow low before our King. We must know how to walk in honor and authority, how to speak with dignity and power, how to listen with compassion and wisdom, how to act with decisiveness and confidence. We are the Army of the Lord and You are our Commander in Chief. We are to be lionhearted leaders of our families and of our city because we have the heart of the Lion who is our King. “See, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered…” (Revelation 5:5). It seems I hear You say: “Gather My men, my mighty men, whom I will train for war. I will teach them My ways and give them My heart, My Lionheart. I am He who sits in the heavens and I have uttered My voice in the earth. I am assembling My men to prepare their fingers for battle and their hands for war. This is a spiritual war, which must be fought with the heart, with My heart. And so I will give them My Lionheart.” Yes, Lord. Let it be so, according to Your word, in Your timing and in Your way. You bring to mind the fulfillment of Psalm 18, David’s song of great victory and praise for Your mighty deliverance: “I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies…. The Lord also uttered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice…. For You deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down. It is You who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. By You I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall…. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of salvation, and Your right hand has supported me; Your help has made me great…. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back until they were consumed. I struck them down so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. For You girded me with strength for the battle; You made my assailants sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed… I beat them fine, like dust before the wind; I cast them out like mire in the streets…. Foreigners lost heart, and came trembling out of their strongholds. The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted by the God of my salvation…. For this I will extol You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name. Great triumphs He gives to His king, and shows steadfast love to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever” (Psalm 18:1-50). This is a spiritual war against spiritual enemies to be fought with the spiritual “weapons of our warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4). This battle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, “but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). So we must know our victory because we know the Victorious One. We must know the weapons of our warfare and the nature of our battle and our enemy, as You enforce the victory of Your Cross through Your crucified ones (Galatians 2:20). We must hear the call to our battle and the cry of Your command uttered from the heart of the Lion King stirring the spirits of those You have given Your Lionheart. “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle!” (Psalm 144:1) Let the men of faith arise! Impart to us Your Lionheart! “Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains so that they smoke…. Stretch out Your hand from on high; set me free! … May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, out daughters like corner pillars, cut for the building of the palace…. May there be no breach in the walls, no exile, and no cry of distress in our streets. Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall; happy are all the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:1-15). Lord, let it be so in my heart and in my city, for the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if this word this morning rings true in your spirit, please pray and pass word on to every man the Lord puts on your heart. Pass this on to every woman of prayer to rise up and pray for the men of faith to rise up and be prepared for the battles in the days to come. Men and women alike have a significant role in the battle plans of God as He enforces the victory of His Cross through His people. Our ministry has been planning a conference to affirm the essential role of women in spiritual leadership we're calling "Breaking the Silence" and this morning, I believe the Lord is also calling us to affirm the essential role of men as well, maybe in a conference or weekly gathering called "Lionheart." Please join me in prayer and I discern this with our leadership team in the days ahead. I also feel led to make our resource cd series available free of charge, as we're able, on Spiritual Warfare -- Fighting the Good Fight of the Faith -- available to any man free of charge or for any contribution to the cost who would commit to listen. This is my teaching on this topic, taped live at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas. Send me a note for this or order it from our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Thank you for joining in prayer. The Lord is gathering His army for such a time as this. If you'd like to be part of our intercessory prayer team with interaction and updates, please send a note to our Pastor of Prayer Ministries, Linda Dulin at PrayerLead@aol.com God bless you! Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org
Morning by Morning, Saturday 2-13-10 – Lionheart! Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Lion of the Tribe of Judah as well as the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. You are the Commander of the Army of the Lord as well as the Lamb who was led to slaughter and opened not Your mouth. Lord, let me know You as You are in every dimension of Your Being, so that I can learn to know myself in every dimension of my being. … “Once when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up and saw a Man standing before him with a drawn sword in His hand. Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You one of us or one of our adversaries?’ He replied, ‘Neither; but as Commander of the Army of the Lord I have now come.’ And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and he said to Him, ‘What do You command Your servant, Lord?’ The Commander of the Army of the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.’ And Joshua did so” (Joshua 5:13-15). Lord, You woke me up this morning with my right arm stretched out, violently shaking. In my spirit, I saw a sword in my hand. I knew You were calling me to get up and pray. You’ve been speaking to my heart for several days about calling together the men of our city to prepare for war in the days to come. Men of faith must arise! We must know how to love and to lead, how to stand firm before men and how to bow low before our King. We must know how to walk in honor and authority, how to speak with dignity and power, how to listen with compassion and wisdom, how to act with decisiveness and confidence. We are the Army of the Lord and You are our Commander in Chief. We are to be lionhearted leaders of our families and of our city because we have the heart of the Lion who is our King. “See, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered…” (Revelation 5:5). It seems I hear You say: “Gather My men, my mighty men, whom I will train for war. I will teach them My ways and give them My heart, My Lionheart. I am He who sits in the heavens and I have uttered My voice in the earth. I am assembling My men to prepare their fingers for battle and their hands for war. This is a spiritual war, which must be fought with the heart, with My heart. And so I will give them My Lionheart.” Yes, Lord. Let it be so, according to Your word, in Your timing and in Your way. You bring to mind the fulfillment of Psalm 18, David’s song of great victory and praise for Your mighty deliverance: “I love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, so I shall be saved from my enemies…. The Lord also uttered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice…. For You deliver a humble people, but the haughty eyes You bring down. It is You who light my lamp; the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness. By You I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall…. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of salvation, and Your right hand has supported me; Your help has made me great…. I pursued my enemies and overtook them; and did not turn back until they were consumed. I struck them down so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. For You girded me with strength for the battle; You made my assailants sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed… I beat them fine, like dust before the wind; I cast them out like mire in the streets…. Foreigners lost heart, and came trembling out of their strongholds. The Lord lives! Blessed be my rock, and exalted by the God of my salvation…. For this I will extol You, O Lord, among the nations, and sing praises to Your name. Great triumphs He gives to His king, and shows steadfast love to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever” (Psalm 18:1-50). This is a spiritual war against spiritual enemies to be fought with the spiritual “weapons of our warfare” (2 Corinthians 10:4). This battle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, “but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). So we must know our victory because we know the Victorious One. We must know the weapons of our warfare and the nature of our battle and our enemy, as You enforce the victory of Your Cross through Your crucified ones (Galatians 2:20). We must hear the call to our battle and the cry of Your command uttered from the heart of the Lion King stirring the spirits of those You have given Your Lionheart. “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle!” (Psalm 144:1) Let the men of faith arise! Impart to us Your Lionheart! “Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; touch the mountains so that they smoke…. Stretch out Your hand from on high; set me free! … May our sons in their youth be like plants full grown, out daughters like corner pillars, cut for the building of the palace…. May there be no breach in the walls, no exile, and no cry of distress in our streets. Happy are the people to whom such blessings fall; happy are all the people whose God is the Lord” (Psalm 144:1-15). Lord, let it be so in my heart and in my city, for the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if this word this morning rings true in your spirit, please pray and pass word on to every man the Lord puts on your heart. Pass this on to every woman of prayer to rise up and pray for the men of faith to rise up and be prepared for the battles in the days to come. Men and women alike have a significant role in the battle plans of God as He enforces the victory of His Cross through His people. Our ministry has been planning a conference to affirm the essential role of women in spiritual leadership we're calling "Breaking the Silence" and this morning, I believe the Lord is also calling us to affirm the essential role of men as well, maybe in a conference or weekly gathering called "Lionheart." Please join me in prayer and I discern this with our leadership team in the days ahead. I also feel led to make our resource cd series available free of charge, as we're able, on Spiritual Warfare -- Fighting the Good Fight of the Faith -- available to any man free of charge or for any contribution to the cost who would commit to listen. This is my teaching on this topic, taped live at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas. Send me a note for this or order it from our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Thank you for joining in prayer. The Lord is gathering His army for such a time as this. If you'd like to be part of our intercessory prayer team with interaction and updates, please send a note to our Pastor of Prayer Ministries, Linda Dulin at PrayerLead@aol.com God bless you! Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Thursday, February 11, 2010

An Unfinished Life 2-11-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name and welcome in Your Spirit. … “(The Lord) heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds…. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. The Lord lifts up the downtrodden…” (Psalm 147:4-6). Julie was a young woman with her life half finished. This morning, I’ll join with her family and friends, as together in prayer we commit and commend her spirit to You. You give us grace to mourn and weep, to grieve the loss of life, even as we celebrate the memories of the life of one we love. And how we need the comfort of Your Presence and the assurance of Your awareness of our sufferings in moments like these. But You are near and Your grace is sufficient. There is no death that Your life cannot overcome. There is no wound that Your love cannot heal, as we cast our heavy burdens upon You and entrust our heavy hearts to You. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). It could be said that You too lived a life that was half finished. At only thirty-three years old, Your days on this earth as Son of Man came to an end. Yet at the same time, as You bowed Your head and committed Your spirit into the eternal arms of our Father, You declared forever, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Even now, we truly have no idea of all You accomplished for each of us in those short years of what seemed to be such an unfinished life. But we know our lives have been forever changed by Your life and death. And the same is true of every life that will gather today to say goodbye to this one whose life is also now finished on earth. It is the nature of life and love in this world You created that our lives can’t help but be changed by the lives of those we love. So it is into the hands and heart of the One who is Love that we commit her spirit and ours today. This is the way our unfinished lives are finished in Yours. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep the family of Julie Lansill Cameron in your prayers as they grieve her loss and untimely death. I'll be leading her memorial service this morning in Lexington. And I pray the comfort of our Savior and Father with you in the losses you grieve in our journey together in the love of God. God bless you! Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

Green Pastures and Still Waters 2-9-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes to Your hills and wait in the silence of surrender to Your will and listen for the voifce of Your Spirit. … “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou prepares a table for me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23, KJV). I guess these were the first words of “the Old Testament” I ever learned and memorized. Nanny’s Bible and Nanny’s prayers were in the King James. But I remember my grandmother Hays teaching me these ancient words while she worked out in the chicken house on the edge of our west Texas cotton farm. They were hard workers, and they instilled in us a strong work ethic. But they also knew when it was time to take their Sabbath rest—when it was time to let the Lord make them to lie down in the green pastures and settle down for awhile beside the still waters, while You restored their souls. I remember seeing PaPa, my Grandfather Hays, stretch out on the couch every day after lunch before he went back to the field. There was time for work, but there was also time for rest. When I get a little too extended from being a little too busy and start to feel a little too overwhelmed by the work of my day, even what I believe is the work of the Lord, I still hear these ancient words begin to rise up in my heart and try to settle down in my soul. I know it’s time to find some time for some Sabbath rest. As a friend of mine gently said, “Even you have to get tired sometime.” And I knew that her words were Your words, calling me to come lie down for awhile in Your green pastures and settle down for awhile beside your still waters. There, You’ll restore my soul, renew my spirit, and revive my passion. There will still be plenty of hard work to do, but I’ll be able to get it done with more joy in the power of the strength that only comes from a sincere Sabbath rest. Instead of worrying about what won’t get done if I do, help me realize what can’t get done if I don’t. “So then, a Sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter into God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from His. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest …” (Hebrews 4:9-11). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Monday, February 08, 2010

Austin, TX Healing Conf. w/Tommy Hays & Dan Van Nice Feb 18-20

Please come join us in Austin, Texas for this Healing Conference with Dan Van Nice and Tommy Hays February 18-20, 2010! Please join us for this three day event as Rev. Tommy Hays teaches on inner healing and Dan Van Nice teaches on physical healing. There will be a limited number of private sessions available with both Tommy and Dan. There is no charge for this event, however an offering will be taken to cover costs and support both of these ministries. Come with an open heart and expect to receive from God the promises that He has for His children! When: February 18th and 19th, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and February 20th,9:00 am to 4:00 pm Where: Bethany UMC (map) Cost: $0.00 a love offering will be taken RSVP here or call Jill: (512) 656-7789 For more information click here You may bring your own lunch on Saturday or there will be an opportunity to order lunch. Details including cost will be announced at the conference. We look forward to seeing you there! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friends, Van Nice Ministries has an exciting year ahead and we are thankful that you are a part of it. God's Holy Spirit continues to work signs and wonders in the earth, Van Nice Ministries continues to proclaim the glory and grace of our Lord in all we do! We have several events already planned in the upcoming months, so if you would like to schedule a conference or speaking event this year, please contact us asap. You may also contact us regarding bringing Tommy Hays to your church. God Bless- Dan & Giana Van Nice Servants of the Most High God

Next Steps 2-8-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I praise You as You are that You love me as I am. … “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a level path” (Psalm 143:10). Thank You for Your mercy to meet me where I am. Thank You for Your insistence to never leave me here and Your determination to always lead me on to more. Give me a teachable spirit that knows I’ll always have more to learn and more to un-learn. You are my Creator, and I am Your created. You see all things—the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. You know all things—every challenge I’ll ever face, every obstacle I’ll ever overcome. So I would be foolish to insist on my own way, my own wisdom, my own will. I would be wise to remember You are God and I am not. So come, Holy Spirit. Lead me on a level path, lead me in Your paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. You know the right path for my next steps. And my next steps always need to begin with looking for the path where Your good Spirit leads. In these days, those steps will rarely be popular and rarely be easy, but they will always be right. But as I remember to humble myself in trusting faith to seek and obey Your leading as best as I can and all by Your grace, surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please mark your calendars for the evening of March 19th to come join our yearly Celebration of all the Lord has done and is doing through Messiah Ministries. I'm especially excited to share stories of my adventures in Pakistan, Israel, the Philippines, and Estonia as well as the exciting things the Lord is doing in our midst at home in Kentucky and America. Please let us know if you'd like to help. Please make plans to come and bring a friend to explore our ministry and celebrate God's glory. How great is our God! We want you to be a part of all He is doing through Messiah Ministries! Our team is gathering prizes for a Silent Auction at our Celebration to raise funds for our ministry. If you'd like to contribute something, please let us know: MessiahMin@aol.com Friends, please prayerfully consider joining our ministry this year as an Isaiah 35 "Streams in the Desert" Covenant Partner, as we proclaim the message of the coming of the Kingdom of God at home and abroad to the nations, preparing the way of the Lord, and ministering the healing love of God. I would be glad to speak with you or your group personally about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries (www.messiah-ministries.org). God bless you! Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Friday, February 05, 2010

“Surely I Am Coming Soon” 2-5-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Bright Morning Star, Son of David, Son of God, Savior of All, I worship You and welcome You as Lord of my life and Lord of my day (Revelation 22:16). … “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let everyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who wishes take the water of life as a gift…. The One who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I Am coming soon’ ” (Revelation 22:17-20). Over two thousand years ago, You stood before John in a revelation of Your glory to encourage Your people and prepare Your bride in that day and for the days to come. He fell to his face in the fear of the Lord, trembling at the Presence of the Living Word of God (Revelation 1:17). But You comforted him with Your touch and encouraged him with Your words as You commanded him to write of “what is, and what is to take place” (v. 1:19). And all that You spoke to his spirit and revealed to his eyes began to take place and has been taking place and will have taken place in the fulfillment of all things. Soon, You will come again to stand in the glory of Your Presence upon this earth, and like John, all people of all nations will fall to their faces and tremble in the fear of the Lord. First, You will descend from the heavens “with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). Then, You will set Your feet upon the Mount of Olives overlooking Jerusalem, as the very mountain itself is split in two and all the earth You created trembles at Your coming in glory (Zechariah 14:4). And all rebellion against Your Word and Your will shall be destroyed and consumed in the glory of “the manifestation of (Your) coming” (2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 16:16). But all who turn to You, Jew and Gentile alike, even at that last moment of this age, will shout out these long awaited words, “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Matthew 23:39). And all who do “will be saved” (Romans 11:26; Zechariah 12:10). For though we are impatient for that day of Your coming, You use every moment of our waiting and longing to draw as many souls to You as will come, “not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9; John 3:16). One day You will come again in the clouds and to the earth. But every day between now and then, You want to come into our hearts. One day when we die—if we are not part of that last generation of this age who will never die—we will go to heaven. But every day between now and then, You want heaven to come into us. For You said, “Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, KJV). It’s not only living in a place with You when we die, it’s giving You a place to live within us now. This is the place You have gone to prepare for us and this is the place You long to come and fill within us now (John 14:3). “For the Kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). So we who are hungry to hear Your Word and thirsty to encounter Your Presence, we who long for the day our Redemption draws near and we can look up and shout out “Blessed is the One who comes in the name of the Lord!”, we who yearn to drink deeply of the free gift of Your living waters say “Come!” Those who have prepared the way of the Lord in their hearts and on this earth say “Come!” May it be so in that day that Your “bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:17). The Spirit and the bride say “Come!” And we hear by Your Spirit in our hearts say, “Surly I Am coming soon!” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please mark your calendars for the evening of March 19th to come join our yearly Celebration of all the Lord has done and is doing through Messiah Ministries. I'm especially excited to share stories of my adventures in Pakistan, Israel, the Philippines, and Estonia as well as the exciting things the Lord is doing in our midst at home in Kentucky and America. Please let us know if you'd like to help. Please make plans to come and bring a friend to explore our ministry and celebrate God's glory. How great is our God! We want you to be a part of all He is doing through Messiah Ministries! Our team is gathering prizes for a Silent Auction at our Celebration to raise funds for our ministry. If you'd like to contribute something, please let us know: MessiahMin@aol.com Friends, please prayerfully consider joining our ministry this year as an Isaiah 35 "Streams in the Desert" Covenant Partner, as we proclaim the message of the coming of the Kingdom of God at home and abroad to the nations, preparing the way of the Lord, and ministering the healing love of God. I would be glad to speak with you or your group personally about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries (www.messiah-ministries.org). God bless you! Subscribe for 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 Order my books and our resources on-line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Thursday, February 04, 2010

Strategically Positioned for God's Greatness 2-4-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Lord and my Savior, I give You my all. … “Now Esther was admired by all who saw her … the king loved Esther more than all the other women; of all the virgins she won his favor and devotion …” (Esther 2:15-17). Sometimes we can tend to think of Esther’s story as a love story—a night with the king. We can forget that she was a young girl, forcefully taken away from her family and friends to satisfy the pleasures and the vengeance of a pagan king (v. 2:1-4). She was chosen not by the love in his heart, but by the beauty of her skin, to be among the harem of virgins in the parade of nights in the bedchambers of the Persian king (v. 2:12). She had to hide her true identity as a Jew, one of the chosen people of God, as she entered into a new identity as one of the chosen concubines of the king (v. 2:10). Your Word does not reveal what emotions she had to hide or what thoughts she had to bury, to endure and survive in the adjustments of her new life that were suddenly thrust upon her. But we know she prospered and that she was highly favored even in the darkness and tragedy of her new circumstances forced upon her by the will of others (v. 2:8-9). And we know You gathered those around her, who were watching out of her, with love and counsel, through her experiences and encounters of this new season of her life (v. 2:11). But though Esther found herself in a situation she never chose, out of the choices of others for their own purposes and plans to satisfy their own desires, You didn’t waste a moment of her suffering. You didn’t waste an opportunity to turn the choices of men into the purposes of God. In those very circumstances that began with the sinful choices of man’s desires, she found herself strategically positioned to be used for Your desires—“for such a time as this” (v. 4:14). Because of Esther’s courage and faithfulness in the face of choices and circumstances beyond her control and desires, the lives of many were spared and the destiny of a people was preserved (v. 8:1-17). By her obedience to Your leading and trust in Your faithfulness to cause all things to work together for good, the day of appointed destruction of her people became a day of great “gladness and joy” (v. 8:17). Esther’s story is not a story of love; it’s a story of redemption. It’s a story of how You took the abuse and shame of a tragic story of broken dreams for “a normal life” and positioned Your child for greatness in the redemption of her pain for Your purposes. The plans and purposes of the Persian king were transformed and redeemed into the plans and purposes of the King of kings. “The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps” (Proverbs 16:9). “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established” (Proverbs 19:21). Thank You, Lord, for taking all our plans and the plans of those around us to redeem all the circumstances of human choices into Your holy purposes for our good and Your glory. Thank You for surrounding us with those who encourage us and guide us to keep looking to You, keep trusting You, no matter what. As we entrust ourselves and our circumstances to You, You are the God who always redeems our pain in your plans (Romans 8:28). Your ways are higher than our ways and Your thoughts are higher than our thoughts, but they are good toward us, just as and You are faithful for us (Isaiah 55:9). After all, You chose to create us and strategically position us in this earth in this generation, knowing ahead of time all that we would encounter and endure for such a time as this. And one day—a day of great gladness and joy—we will be glad You did. “The sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please mark your calendars for the evening of March 19th to come join our yearly Celebration of all the Lord has done and is doing through Messiah Ministries. I'm especially excited to share stories of my adventures in Pakistan, Israel, the Philippines, and Estonia as well as the exciting things the Lord is doing in our midst at home in Kentucky and America. Please let us know if you'd like to help. Please make plans to come and bring a friend to explore our ministry and celebrate God's glory. How great is our God! We want you to be a part of all He is doing through Messiah Ministries! Please prayerfully consider joining our ministry this year as an Isaiah 35 "Streams in the Desert" Covenant Partner, as we proclaim the message of the coming of the Kingdom of God at home and abroad to the nations, preparing the way of the Lord, and ministering the healing love of God. I would be glad to speak with you or your group personally about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries (www.messiah-ministries.org). God bless you! Subscribe for 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

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

“Gird Up Your Loins” and Speak the Word 2-2-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up in my heart and throughout my day. … “Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations…. You shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you…. Now I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant…. I am watching over My word to perform it…. But you, gird up your loins; stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not break down before them, or I will break you before them…. They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I Am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you’ ” (Jeremiah 1:4-19). Yes, Lord. Give us courage in this hour to see what You see, to hear what You hear, to say what You say. Give us humility to first seek Your face and listen for Your voice. Give us faith to always trust You, no matter what we endure in our journey through a broken, fallen world, surrounded by broken, fallen people, including ourselves. Give us a spirit of repentance to first turn to You with all our own hearts, minds, souls, and strength, away from our own thoughts and desires apart from Yours. And give us boldness to obey, no matter the opposition and no matter the cost. Let there be a remnant of a generation “found faithful” to trust You and obey You (1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV). And let me be part of that remnant, one of “those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus” all by the power of Your grace and fulfillment of Your will (Luke 21:10-19; Matthew 24:9-14; Revelation 14:12). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please prayerfully consider joining our ministry this year as an Isaiah 35 "Streams in the Desert" Covenant Partner, as we proclaim the message of the coming of the Kingdom of God at home and abroad to the nations, preparing the way of the Lord, and ministering the healing love of God. I would be glad to speak with you or your group personally about the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries (www.messiah-ministries.org). God bless you! Subscribe for 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

Monday, February 01, 2010

Like Christ in This World 2-1-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. With an unveiled face, I look up and behold Your glory, asking You to change me by Your Spirit into Your image by Your grace—from glory to glory, morning by morning, moment by moment, every day (from 2 Corinthians 3:18). “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). I have far to go and it’s a daily journey, but this is my quest, this is my desire—to be more like You each day. This is the desire You have put in my heart because this is the desire in Your heart for each of us. This is the purpose for all the challenges and changes, all the experiences and encounters of our lives. “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). This is Your heart, Your holy desire for each of us. You’ve created and called every one of us to this relationship of love with You through trust in You (John 3:16). You’re “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” to live in this trusting relationship of love with You (2 Peter 3:9). And as we give ourselves to that relationship, as we willing entrust ourselves to You, You change us to make us more like You each day, so that as You are, so are we in this world. In one sense, we each have so far to go. But in another sense, it’s already done. “It is finished” through the sacrifice of Christ (John 19:30). In that sense, we were completely changed into Your image the moment we welcomed Your Spirit into our hearts. “So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new.… For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). It is done in heaven, and now it is being done here on earth as it is in heaven. Every moment we willing choose by the grace You give to entrust ourselves to You, earth comes into agreement with heaven, our nature comes into alignment with Your nature. Your kingdom comes and Your will is done—here on earth and here in our hearts by Your Spirit—as it is in heaven. “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit that dwells in you” (Romans 8:11). By the power of Your Holy Spirit, living in us, changing us every moment of every day, heaven comes to earth. What was eternally done in Christ is now being personally done in us. And “as You are, so are we in this world.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Our Monday Night "Come To The Mountain" Prayer Group for Israel and the Peace of Jerusalem led by Bob and Doris McCray every Monday Night is now meeting at First Assembly of God, 2780 Clays Mill Rd, at the corner of Clays Mill and Pasadena in Lexington. All are welcome at 7 p.m. Contact Bob & Doris for details: bndmccray@windstream.net And please let anyone know who might be interested. Friends, thank you! for your prayers for our Messiah Ministries' School of Spiritual Ministry, Level I that I was teaching last week in Wilmore, Kentucky on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. This is one of the ways I try to share what I've learned from healing prayer ministry in practical ways for equipping and empowering spiritual leaders in our generation. All are welcome. The teaching is based upon my book, Free to Be Like Jesus--Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. (Order from www.amazon.com or our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org) If you would like to join us for future schools, Level I or Level II, please let us know by contacting Marilyn, our Director of Ministries, DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 We make scholarships available through donations to our ministry so that all may attend. God bless you and the Holy Spirit equips you and empowers you for your unique calling and destiny in ministry to God and for His people. If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Many pastors, leaders, and home groups use these for Bible studies and prayer ministry training. Subscribe for 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

Saturday, January 30, 2010

No More Bitter Waters 1-30-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Friend and my Father, my Savior and Sanctifier, my Helper and Healer, my Maker and Master, my All in All. And I entrust my life and my day to You, my God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. … “When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter…. And the people complained against Moses, saying, ‘What shall we drink?’ He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood; he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet” (Exodus 15:23-25). Lord, You love to turn our bitter places sweet. You love to give us Your beauty for our ashes, Your garments of praise for our spirit of heaviness, Your joy for our sorrows, Your faith for our doubts, Your hope for our discouragement, Your clear purpose for our aimless wanderings. The piece of wood of the old rugged cross changes the stagnant pools of our souls into rivers of living waters. For You are the God who redeems all things we will entrust into Your care. You are the God who frees us and heals us and calls us to walk in Your ways (Exodus 15:26). Lord, deliver us from complaining about all it seems You’re not doing in our lives. And remind us to be thankful and grateful for all You are doing in our lives. We will move out of the places of our wilderness and into the places of Your promises as we learn to seek You and praise You in all things. Your living waters are sweet. So let us drink deeply of Your Spirit every day, remembering to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). Every day You set before us a choose of the perspective of life we will choose. We can choose life or death, blessing or curse, to depend upon You or depend upon ourselves, to move forward or look back, to live in Your Spirit or in our flesh. Every day, Your living waters are free to all who will come and drink. “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters! … Incline your ear, and come to Me; listen so that you may live” (Isaiah 55:1-3). Trusting in You, we never have to drink the bitter waters again. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Our Monday Night "Come To The Mountain" Prayer Group for Israel and the Peace of Jerusalem led by Bob and Doris McCray every Monday Night is now meeting at First Assembly of God, 2780 Clays Mill Rd, at the corner of Clays Mill and Pasadena in Lexington. All are welcome at 7 p.m. Contact Boby & Doris for details: bndmccray@windstream.net Friends, thank you! for your prayers for our Messiah Ministries' School of Spiritual Ministry, Level I, I've been teaching in Wilmore, Kentucky on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary this week. Today is our last day and we've seen amazing breakthroughs in lives, while being equipped for prayer ministry. This is one of the ways I try to share what I've learned from healing prayer ministry in practical ways for equipping and empowering spiritual leaders in our generation. All are welcome. The teaching is based upon my book, Free to Be Like Jesus--Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. (Order from www.amazon.com or our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org) If you would like to join us for future schools, Level I or Level II, please let us know by contacting Marilyn, our Director of Ministries, DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 We make scholarships available through donations to our ministry so that all may attend. God bless you and the Holy Spirit equips you and empowers you for your unique calling and destiny in ministry to God and for His people. If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Many pastors, leaders, and home groups use these for Bible studies and prayer ministry training. Subscribe for 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

Friday, January 29, 2010

“Bear One Another’s Burdens” 1-29-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My eyes are on You. Let me start this new day centered in Jesus, embraced by my Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit. … “Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). You’ve brought together many different lives with many different stories and expressions of Your love and mercy through each of our journeys at our School of Spiritual Ministry this week. We each are seeking to be better equipped and empowered by Your Spirit for ministry. But above all, we are seeking an encounter with the Presence of the Living God. And You have not disappointed us. And it’s in those moments when we have humbled ourselves in prayer, to bear the burdens of the broken and bound in faith to the One who is our Burden-bearer, that we have most deeply experienced Your heart and encountered Your Presence. In this way, we fulfill the law of Christ. In this way, we join in the ministry of Christ, who “always lives to make intercession” for those who seek the help of God (Hebrews 7:25). In that sense, perhaps we are never more like Jesus than when we pray for one another and bear one another’s burdens to Christ. Yesterday we heard tragic news from home from one of our pastors. Your Holy Spirit moved us to pray: and class became an encounter with You, as You put Your burdens on our hearts to join with Your Spirit in the ministry of intercession. And to our great joy, word came back by the end of the day that everything was fine, all was well, the crisis of the moment had passed! Prayer makes a difference. And it is Your gift to us to allow us to join in the ministry of the One who ever lives to make intercession. That’s always been Your heart and Your ministry from the beginning—proclaiming the coming of the Kingdom of God, healing the broken-hearted and setting the captives free, so that those who are touched and changed by Your power can display Your glory (Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:18-19). This is “the law of Christ,” the grace of Christ, the ministry of Christ, and the heart of Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer this Wednesday through Saturday for our Messiah Ministries' School of Spiritual Ministry, Level I, we are hosting and I am teaching in Wilmore, Kentucky on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. This is one of the ways I try to share what I've learned from healing prayer ministry in practical ways for equipping and empowering spiritual leaders in our generation. All are welcome. The teaching is based upon my book, Free to Be Like Jesus--Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. (Order from www.amazon.com or our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org) If you would like to join us for future schools, Level I or Level II, please let us know by contacting Marilyn, our Director of Ministries, DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 We make scholarships available through donations to our ministry so that all may attend. God bless you and the Holy Spirit equips you and empowers you for your unique calling and destiny in ministry to God and for His people. If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Many pastors, leaders, and home groups use these for Bible studies and prayer ministry training. Subscribe for 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

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Fill My Day with Good Things 1-28-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I surrender all—all I am, all I have. I am Yours and You are mine. Help me live this day in that truth. … “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty, wrapped in light as with a garment…. O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; the earth is full of Your creatures…. They all look to You to give them their food in due season; when You give to them, they gather it up; when You open Your hand, they are filled with good things…. When You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; and You renew the face of the ground…. May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in His works—who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord” (Psalm 104:1-34). O Lord, you are my Creator and I am one that You have created. You sent forth the breath of life by Your Spirit and created me. “I praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Send forth Your breath of life today by Your Spirit and renew me. Let the dust of the earth in my body tremble before You and let the smoke arise from the fire of my heart You set ablaze by the touch of Your presence. I will sing my song of praise to You as long as I live. I will set my mind on things above and not below; I will set my hope on the things to come and not things that have passed; I will my face toward to calling and purpose and destiny You have set with expectant faith in the yearning of my soul. So may You gather me up and open Your hand and fill my day with Your good things. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer this Wednesday through Saturday for our Messiah Ministries' School of Spiritual Ministry, Level I, we are hosting and I am teaching in Wilmore, Kentucky on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. This is one of the ways I try to share what I've learned from healing prayer ministry in practical ways for equipping and empowering spiritual leaders in our generation. All are welcome. The teaching is based upon my book, Free to Be Like Jesus--Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. (Order from www.amazon.com or our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org) If you would like to join us for future schools, Level I or Level II, please let us know by contacting Marilyn, our Director of Ministries, DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 We make scholarships available through donations to our ministry so that all may attend. God bless you and the Holy Spirit equips you and empowers you for your unique calling and destiny in ministry to God and for His people. If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Many pastors, leaders, and home groups use these for Bible studies and prayer ministry training. Subscribe for 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

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Lamentations of Praise, Hope, and Faith 1-27-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the first word of my day be Your name. Let the first thought of my morning be Your praise. … “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in Him.’ The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him” (Lamentations 3:21-25). Someone has said, “Lamentations is the highest form of praise.” And I believe it is the highest form of faith and the deepest expression of hope. In the words of Job, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15). In the words of Isaiah, “Though I go through the waters, the rivers, and the fires, they shall not destroy me nor consume me, for You are with me, and You love me, and You say I am precious in Your sight. You have called me by name and I am Yours” (from Isaiah 43:1-7). In the words of David, “Though I go through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You even prepare a table for me in the very presence of my enemies and make my cup to overflow. So there is no doubt that my hope is secure in You, for You cause Your goodness and Your mercy to follow me all the days of my life” (from Psalm 23). This is the hope I have. This is my faith. Your love for me never ceases. Your mercies for me are new every morning. You are all I need and You are all I really have. No matter what days of darkness or discouragement I may endure, no matter what burdens of heaviness I may feel I’m bearing, I will seek You in the midst of it all, I will look for You to be standing with me in the flames and carrying me when it feels I can’t go on. Though sorrow may last for the night, Your joy comes with the morning. And every morning comes fresh with Your mercies for the day. Great is Your faithfulness, O Lord. So may my lamentations to You be an offering of highest praise, a declaration of undoubting faith, and an expression of deepest hope—all in response to Your unfailing love. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep us in prayer this Wednesday through Saturday for our Messiah Ministries' School of Spiritual Ministry, Level I, we are hosting and I am teaching in Wilmore, Kentucky on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary. This is one of the ways I try to share what I've learned from healing prayer ministry in practical ways for equipping and empowering spiritual leaders in our generation. All are welcome. The teaching is based upon my book, Free to Be Like Jesus--Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. (Order from www.amazon.com or our web site www.shop.messiah-ministries.org) If you would like to join us for future schools, Level I or Level II, please let us know by contacting Marilyn, our Director of Ministries, DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 We make scholarships available through donations to our ministry so that all may attend. God bless you and the Holy Spirit equips you and empowers you for your unique calling and destiny in ministry to God and for His people. If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Many pastors, leaders, and home groups use these for Bible studies and prayer ministry training. Subscribe for 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

Monday, January 25, 2010

“As One” 1-25-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine, let Your love flow through my life today. … “And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Joshua, the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God” (Ezra 3:1-2, NKJV). “As one” the people came together to rebuild the altar of the Lord after generations of destruction. The leaders of the people of God “arose as one to oversee the working of the house of God” (Ezra 3:9). There is power in the principle of unity. Together they heard and obeyed the voice of God directing their steps to accomplish Your will. And when the foundation of the house of God was set in place for the building of temple, all the leaders and all the people began to shout and praise the Lord their God—the God who is good and whose mercy endures forever” (Ezra 3:10-11). At our city-wide and regional Strategic Prayer Summit this weekend, Your Holy Spirit drew us together as one from many different streams and traditions of Your Body to seek Your face and listen for Your voice. As one, Your stirred our hearts with vision to be a city known for mercy and for the Father Heart of God, a city of refuge, and a place of a pool where Your healing waters are stirred and where Your river of life flows. This is our prophetic destiny. And this is the foundation of our identity in Christ and our calling before God as a people of this region of central Kentucky around the city of Lexington. By Your grace and in Your power, my You build Your Church with apostolic leadership and prophetic revelation upon the foundation You’ve set in our hearts, with Christ alone as our Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Though there are many different expressions in many different local gatherings in buildings and homes and places where two or more gather together in Your name, there is only one Church in our city, in our region, and in all the earth. “There is one body and one Spirit, just (we) were called in one hope of (our) calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in(us) all” (Ephesians 4:4). And as one with You, one with each other, and one in devotion to the vision and calling You’ve set in our hearts by the leading of Your Spirit, the world will know that the Father has sent His Son to our city and region and to all the world in the love and mercy of God (John 17:20-23). You’re the God of this city and of all the earth. May our love and our lives honor You each day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for covering us in your prayers for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit, to begin this year seeking to know our calling and fulfill our destiny in our city and region. When we come together as one in the unity of the Spirit of God, there the Lord commands His blessing and releases His anointing to flow freely (Psalm 133). We experienced that this weekend and I pray the same for your city and region as the one Spirit of our one Father continues to unite the One Church of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ throughout the earth in our generation, in fulfillment of Jesus' prayer (John 17). God bless you as you join as one with others in Him to seek His face and obey His voice in your life and the region He has entrusted to you with responsibility and authority in prayer. January 27-30, 2010 -The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry- Level I Come Join us for focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For more information or to Register On-Line for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Click Here: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne or contact Marilyn Walker at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Scholarships are available as much as possible to that all may attend. Please spread the word! If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe for 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

Friday, January 22, 2010

City-wide Prophetic Destiny 1-22-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of all I am and all I do this day and every day. … “Call to Me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3). This weekend we will come together as one of the reflections of Your city-wide Church in our city and region for our beginning of the year Strategic Prayer Summit. Together as one, from the various traditions and streams of Your Body in our midst, we will seek Your face in worship and listen for Your voice in prayer. Through prayer, praise, and proclamation we will call to You, wait for You, and watch for You, then declare the words You reveal to our hearts. As the united Body of Christ, entrusted with responsibility and authority concerning the souls of our city and region, we want to know our destiny and fulfill our calling in obedience to Your will and to the glory of Your name. As You lead and as far as Your grace will go, we want to bring our sins and the sins of our generations and community to the foot of the cross and under the blood of Jesus. We want every barrier that would block Your blessings to be removed. We want every gate of hell that’s been opened to the enemy to be slammed shut and every gate of righteousness to opened wide that the King of Glory may come in (Jeremiah 33:4-5; Psalm 24). Then with repentant hearts, full of praise, may we hear Your words of healing, freedom, promise, and favor for this city and over this land. As You said over Jerusalem, in her city-wide prophetic destiny, may You speak over us: “I am going to bring (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 glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good and all the prosperity I will provide for it” (Jeremiah 33:6-9). Lord, let it be so—all in Your timing, all in Your way, all by Your grace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please Come Join us This Weekend! in person or in prayer. Messiah Ministries will be leading again the 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 22-23, 2010, hosted at Church of the Savior at 1301 Brannon Road (www.cosonline.org). See Detailed note below. Jannuary 27-30, 2010 -The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry- Level I Come Join us for focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For more information or to Register On-Line for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Click Here: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne or contact Marilyn Walker at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Scholarships are available as much as possible to that all may attend. Please spread the word! If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe for 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 Please Join Us This Weekend in Person or in Prayer! 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit Jan 22-23, 2010 Prayer, Praise, and Proclamation Knowing our Destiny...Fulfilling our Calling in our City and Region We will be led in worship and prayer by many prayerful, prophetic voices from around our region, with opportunities to share from one another as the Holy Spirit leads. Led by Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries, Citywide Worship Leader Rob Poindexter, and anointed worship teams from our region Hosted at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road Tentative Schedule Friday Night 7-10pm: Welcome, Worship, and Prophetic Word for Kentucky by Linda Whitaker from the Apostolic Network led by Chuck Pierce We will also honor various spiritual mothers and fathers of our city Saturday Night 6:30-9:30pm: Worship and Prophetic Message of Awakening and Revival by Margaret Therkelsen, Lexington citywide prayer leader Saturday 9am-6:30pm: Worship and Prophetic messages from Pastor Tim Cole, Spiritual Historian and Leader Dr. Bob Hale, Prayer for Revival, Pastor Krista Hampton and the River of Life worship Team, Prayer for Israel by Bob & Doris McCray, Prayer for World Equestrian Games with Cindy Rullman from Ky Horse Park and AIM Concerts of Prayer and Corporate Intercession with citywide leaders David Fultz and Tom Monroe of Lexington Leadership Foundation and one another from areas of the marketplace, church, and public square of our city and region Anointed Worship Teams from around our region will lead us in worship and prophetic psalms throughout the conference, led by Citywide Worship Leader Rob Poindexter Please join us and spread the word! Each year the Lord has moved powerfully in our midst to speak to us and lead us into the new year with a deep encounter of His Presence. We have high hunger, deep thirst, and great expectations for More this year! Contact our Messiah Ministries Dir. of Minstries Marilyn Walker for more details at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 www.messiah-ministries.org Church of the Savior at 1301 Brannon Rd. Nicholasville, KY (south edge of Lexington) http://www.cosonline.org Please forward this to everyone who would be interested in joining us! God bless you and may God bless our city and region and yours! --Tommy Hays, Messiah Ministries www.messiah-ministries.org For updates on regional prayer events, join our email list: PrayLexington@aol.com

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Praying Heaven into Haiti 1-21-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. May Your Holy Spirit abide in communion with my human spirit now and throughout the moments of my day. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Put Your burdens on my heart, as You lead me to pray by Your Spirit today. … “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light” (Genesis 1:1-3, KJV). With all the world, You have been moving my heart to pray for the people of Haiti. We hear and see unimaginable pain and incomprehensible destruction. We read of stories of what seems like hopeless devastation. Our hearts are broken by the cries of the needy, the disillusionment of the homeless, and the overwhelming grief of the bereaved. Our anger is kindled against the ruthless wickedness of those who are taking advantage of the chaos and confusion. And our spirits are stirred to dig deeply in our pockets and deeply in our prayers trying to find some way to help. But You are not distant that You do not hear the desperate cries of Your creation. You are not unmindful of every moment of suffering and pain, of devastation and despair. You are moving in ways we don’t always see, working in ways we don’t always know. Your heart is to bring “life … more abundantly,” and it’s the heart of evil one who comes “to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Your will is to bring forth light in the midst of the darkness, hope in the midst of despair, order in the midst of the chaos. But it’s the will of “the ruler of this world” to use whatever means he can under the cover of “this present darkness” to bring as much destruction and deception as he can to turn the hearts of men against their God (John 14:30; Ephesians 6:12; Revelation 12:9). He is furious in his increasingly desperate wrath in these days “because he knows his time is short” (Revelation 12:12). But though the enemy of our souls seeks to wield “the power of death” against the creation of God, he fears the One who was raised from the dead to bring the sons and daughters of God into His eternal victory of life over death, restoring God’s created order over the darkness and chaos of this fallen, broken world being redeemed by the victory of the cross and power of the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 12:11). “We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved” (Romans 8:22-24). So when we cry out to You in our distress but also in faith and hope, You hear us; and when we call upon the name of the Lord, You save us and heal us and deliver us out of the darkness and into Your light (Psalm 107). As I groan in the spirit of intercession for people of Haiti, I see with the eyes of my spirit Your mighty right arm stretched out over that nation. I see Your nail-scarred hand moving over the face of the darkness, bringing order out of the chaos, hope out of the despair, and faith out of the confusion. I hear in my heart Your voice speaking forth Your words of light and life, pushing back the darkness and releasing the power of Your light. And I sense the stirring of Your Spirit in my heart and the hearts of Your people who are called by Your name to pray. For in the sovereignty of Your will, You have chosen to move Your hand as Your people pray for Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done—in Haiti and in the hearts of all people—on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). In Heaven, there is no chaos, no formless void, no darkness or destruction or devastation or death. They have no place in Your Kingdom. So our part is to pray as You taught us to pray for Your Kingdom of Heaven to come to earth—not complaining about all we think You’re not doing, but praising You for all You are doing. May we listen to hear the stories of Your deliverance and salvation, of courageous faith and unselfish love, as You move in the hearts of Your people to be as Your hands and heart in the midst of this tragedy and tribulation. Let us go to sleep at night and rise up in the morning in prayer thinking on these things and believing on these things in the faith, hope, and love that You have poured into our hearts by Your Spirit (Philippians 4:8). As we do, the Spirit of God will continue to move over the face of the deep places of darkness, as You speak forth the light of glory into the chaos and emptiness of this earth You love so much (John 3:16). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please Come Join us This Weekend! in person or in prayer. Messiah Ministries will be leading again the 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 22-23, 2010, hosted at Church of the Savior at 1301 Brannon Road (www.cosonline.org). See Detailed note below. January 27-30, 2010 -The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry- Level I Come Join us for focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For more information or to Register On-Line for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Click Here: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne or contact Marilyn Walker at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Scholarships are available as much as possible to that all may attend. Please spread the word! If you're unable to attend, You can order the DVDs from our Level I and Level II Schools of Spiritual Ministry from our resources page: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe for 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 Please Join Us This Weekend in Person or in Prayer! 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit Jan 22-23, 2010 Prayer, Praise, and Proclamation Knowing our Destiny...Fulfilling our Calling in our City and Region We will be led in worship and prayer by many prayerful, prophetic voices from around our region, with opportunities to share from one another as the Holy Spirit leads. Led by Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries, Citywide Worship Leader Rob Poindexter, and anointed worship teams from our region Hosted at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road Tentative Schedule Friday Night 7-10pm: Welcome, Worship, and Prophetic Word for Kentucky by Linda Whitaker from the Apostolic Network led by Chuck Pierce We will also honor various spiritual mothers and fathers of our city Saturday Night 6:30-9:30pm: Worship and Prophetic Message of Awakening and Revival by Margaret Therkelsen, Lexington citywide prayer leader Saturday 9am-6:30pm: Worship and Prophetic messages from Pastor Tim Cole, Spiritual Historian and Leader Dr. Bob Hale, Prayer for Revival, Pastor Krista Hampton and the River of Life worship Team, Prayer for Israel by Bob & Doris McCray, Prayer for World Equestrian Games with Cindy Rullman from Ky Horse Park and AIM Concerts of Prayer and Corporate Intercession with citywide leaders David Fultz and Tom Monroe of Lexington Leadership Foundation and one another from areas of the marketplace, church, and public square of our city and region Anointed Worship Teams from around our region will lead us in worship and prophetic psalms throughout the conference, led by Citywide Worship Leader Rob Poindexter Please join us and spread the word! Each year the Lord has moved powerfully in our midst to speak to us and lead us into the new year with a deep encounter of His Presence. We have high hunger, deep thirst, and great expectations for More this year! Contact our Messiah Ministries Dir. of Minstries Marilyn Walker for more details at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 www.messiah-ministries.org Church of the Savior at 1301 Brannon Rd. Nicholasville, KY (south edge of Lexington) http://www.cosonline.org Please forward this to everyone who would be interested in joining us! God bless you and may God bless our city and region and yours! --Tommy Hays, Messiah Ministries www.messiah-ministries.org For updates on regional prayer events, join our email list: PrayLexington@aol.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit This Weekend Jan 22-23!

Glory of God over Lexington; Photo courtesy of our friend Jeff Rogers/ jeffrogers.com
Please Join Us This Weekend in Person or in Prayer! 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit Jan 22-23, 2010 Prayer, Praise, and Proclamation Knowing our Destiny...Fulfilling our Calling in our City and Region We will be led in worship and prayer by many prayerful, prophetic voices from around our region, with opportunities share from one another as the Holy Spirit leads. Led by Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries, Citywide Worship Leader Rob Poindexter, and anointed worship teams from our region Hosted at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road Tentative Schedule Friday Night 7-10pm: Welcome, Worship, and Prophetic Word for Kentucky by Linda Whitaker from the Apostolic Network led by Chuck Pierce We will also honor various spiritual mothers and fathers of our city Saturday Night 6:30-9:30pm: Worship and Prophetic Message of Awakening and Revival by Margaret Therkelsen, Lexington citywide prayer leader Saturday 9am-6:30pm: Worship and Prophetic messages from Pastor Tim Cole, Spiritual Historian and Leader Dr. Bob Hale, Prayer for Israel by Bob & Doris McCray, Prayer for World Equestrian Games with Cindy Rulman from Ky Horse Park and AIM Concerts of Prayer and Corporate Intercession with citywide leaders David Fultz, Tom Monroe, Tommy Green of Lexington Leadership Foundation and one another from areas of the marketplace, church, and public square of our city and region Anointed Worship Teams from around our region will lead us in worship and prophetic psalms throughout the conference, led by Citywide Worship Leader Rob Poindexter Please join us and spread the word! Each year the Lord has moved powerfully in our midst to speak to us and lead us into the new year with a deep encounter of His Presence. We have high hunger, deep thirst, and great expectations for More this year! Contact our Messiah Ministries Dir. of Minstires Marilyn Walker for more details at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 www.messiah-ministries.org Church of the Savior at 1301 Brannon Rd. Nicholasville, KY (south edge of Lexington) http://www.cosonline.org/locateus Please forward this to everyone who would be interested in joining us! God bless you and may God bless our city and region and yours! --Tommy Hays, Messiah Ministries www.messiah-ministries.org For updates on regional prayer events, join our email list: PrayLexington@aol.com

My Beloved and My Best Friend 1-20-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. O Lord, my God, I welcome You in every dimension of Your being into every dimension of my being. You are my Emperor and my Empowerer, my God and my King, my Beloved and Best Friend, and so much more. You are my All in All. … My Emperor My Empowerer My God and my King My Savior My Sin-Bearer My Leader and my Lord My Comforter My Conqueror My Redeemer and my Reward My Mighty One My Majestic One My Beginning and my End My Holy One My Heavenly One My Beloved and my Best Friend “I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6:3). Sometimes men find it hard to express the emotions of our hearts and souls. But Your Holy Spirit is always moving in my heart and soul to express my love for You, my God. And by the stirring of Your Spirit, poured out into my heart from our Father, I worship You, I adore You, I surrender the possession of my life for You. And this morning, before I pray for others or myself, before I even think of any person or any circumstance in my life or in this world, I choose to take these first moments of my morning to adore You, to simply love You. So I’m just going to sing this little song of trust and love Your Spirit has written on my heart this day until You get tired of hearing it or Your Spirit gets tired of singing it through me to You. May it be an honoring sacrifice and a sweet sound in Your ear. My Emperor My Empowerer My God and my King My Savior My Sin-Bearer My Leader and my Lord My Comforter My Conqueror My Redeemer and my Reward My Mighty One My Majestic One My Beginning and my End My Holy One My Heavenly One My Beloved and my Best Friend … In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please Come Join us This Weekend! Messiah Ministries will be leading again the 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 22-23, 2010, hosted at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road (www.cosonline.org). Together we will seek the Lord for His vision for our city and region this year, joining in prayer, praise, and proclamation, while hearing from the leaders, intercessors, and watchmen on the wall of our city and Central Kentucky, Bluegrass region (Margaret Therkelsen, Bob Hale, Tom Monroe, Linda Whitaker, and others). Rob Poindexter and many worship teams from across our region will lead us in prophetic worship and praise throughout the weekend. Come join us if you can and join with us in prayer if you can't. I pray for unity and awakening of the Body of Christ and the City-wide Church in your region as well, as the army of the arises to advance the Kingdom of God in our generation. For details, contact Marilyn at: DirofMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Friday Night 7-10pm; Saturday 9am-9pm, with Linda Whitaker sharing a prophetic word of our city Friday Night and Margaret Therkelsen speaking on Holy Spirit revival Saturday Night, with praise, praise, and proclamation all day Saturday. Please spread the word! All are Welcome! January 27-30, 2010 -The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry- Level I Come Join us for focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For more information or to Register On-Line for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Click Here: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne or contact Marilyn Walker at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Scholarships are available as much as possible to that all may attend. Please spread the word! Subscribe for 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

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Holy Laughter and Spirit-filled Joy 1-19-10

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eyes and open up my heart as I begin this day in the communion of prayer with You—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. … “He who sits in the heavens laughs…” (Psalm 2:4). You are a God who is full of joy. You are the King of the Kingdom of God; and Your Kingdom is full of joy—“righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Whether You’re laughing with the joy of the Father heart of God as You delight in Your children or laughing in the face of the foolish arrogance and rebellion of those who think they know better than You, You laugh with the joy of the Lord, with the joy of the One who sees the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end (Psalm 2:1-4). And You long to fill us with Your joy—“so that (Your) joy may be in (us) and that (our) joy may be made complete” (John 15:11). You are not the grim-faced God many imagine, but the God who is always moving us to pray by Your Spirit, “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation” (Psalm 51:12, KJV). And there is no greater joy than the joy of one who knows the fullness of our salvation in You. The restoration of holy laughter and Spirit-filled joy is a great witness of Your goodness and the power of Your redemption for those who keep trusting You and calling on Your name through the darkest of days and hardest of times. “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced…. May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:1-5). Lord fill me with the fullness of Your joy today. Let me see Your smile and hear You laugh. Your laugh is contagious and Your smile is irresistible. And though there is so much in the world and in our lives that would break our hearts and try to steal our joy, You are the God who loves to give “beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness… that (You) might be glorified” (Isaiah 61:3, KJV). You love to bless us with Your joy in the very places where we feel almost embarrassed to laugh again in the strength of the joy of the Lord because the enemy of our souls wants to crush our spirits and bind us up in the grave clothes of mourning. But Your heart and Your Word says, “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh” as you allow the Lord your God to turn again your sorrows into singing and your mourning into dancing (Luke 6:25). “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Thank You this morning, for filling me afresh with Your joy. Your joy, O Lord, is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Your smile, O Lord, is my delight (Numbers 6:25). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays This Weekend! Messiah Ministries will be leading again the 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit the weekend of January 22-23, 2010, hosted at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road (www.cosonline.org). Together we will seek the Lord for His vision for our city and region this year, joining in prayer, praise, and proclamation, while hearing from the leaders, intercessors, and watchmen on the wall of our city and Central Kentucky, Bluegrass region (Margaret Therkelsen, Bob Hale, Tom Monroe, Linda Whitaker, and others). Rob Poindexter and many worship teams from across our region will lead us in prophetic worship and praise throughout the weekend. Come join us if you can and join with us in prayer if you can't. I pray for unity and awakening of the Body of Christ and the City-wide Church in your region as well, as the army of the arises to advance the Kingdom of God in our generation. For details, contact Marilyn at: DirofMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Friday Night 7-10pm; Saturday 9am-9pm, with Linda Whitaker sharing a prophetic word of our city Friday Night and Margaret Therkelsen speaking on Holy Spirit revival Saturday Night, with praise, praise, and proclamation all day Saturday. Please spread the word! All are Welcome! January 27-30, 2010 -The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry- Level I Come Join us for focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For more information or to Register On-Line for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Click Here: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne or contact Marilyn Walker at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Scholarships are available as much as possible to that all may attend. Please spread the word! Subscribe for 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

Monday, January 18, 2010

Enduring Faith 1-18-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Though the mountains may tremble and the seas may roar, though the earth may split open in gaping wounds groaning for the healing and redemption of all creation to come, my hope and security is in You alone. You are my rock and my refuge, my strong tower and strength, my Lord and my God in whom I trust. … “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). The grace of enduring faith is not something you can receive in a prayer line. It must be established in the dark nights of the soul, forged in the fires of affliction, rooted and grounded in the seasons of hungering and thirsting for more of Your presence and peace in the desert days of the wilderness. Enduring faith, persevering faith, tenacious, fearless, unyielding faith must be developed and strengthened one day at a time—even moment by moment and morning by morning. That’s the kind of faith that sees beyond the circumstances of the moment to the promises of God to come, that sees to the heart of a matter and not just the surface, that never doubts for a moment that though it’s often darkest before the dawn, the sun will always rise in glory for the coming of another day. Enduring faith allows hard times to bring out the best in us. It builds our character and shows us the true nature of our current character and how much further we have to go by Your grace to become all You have created us to be. Enduring faith allows us to stand and keep on standing when everything around us may tremble and shake and fall because we stand in the strength of the Lord alone by the mercy of Your grace, the authority of Your name, and the power of Your Spirit: “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Romans 5:1-5). So I praise You for the miracles of Your power and for the oceans of Your love. I praise You for the waves of Your Spirit and thickness of the glory of Your presence. But I also praise You that You are with me through the seasons of suffering and the trials of tribulation. Those are the times of deepest intimacy with You, even in the moments when we may feel You seem so far away. As the old poem about the footprints in sand reminds us, those are the moment when it may seem like You’re no longer walking with us, because those are the moments You carry us. And in the days of great tribulation to come in the midst of the great final harvest just before Your return, we will be thankful then for the deep intimacy and enduring faith You’ve established in us now (Matthew 24:29). “By your endurance you will gain your souls…. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:19-36). “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13). One day Your Kingdom will come in final victory upon the earth, but every moment of every day now, let Your Kingdom come in my heart and establish Your faith in my life. By the power of Your grace, I want to be one of those who endure to the end in faith to see the coming of my King in glory (Matthew 24:27). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Messiah Ministries will be leading again the 3rd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit the weekend of January 22-23, 2010, hosted at Church of the Savior on Brannon Road (www.cosonline.org). Together we will seek the Lord for His vision for our city and region this year, joining in prayer, praise, and proclamation, while hearing from the leaders, intercessors, and watchmen on the wall of our city and Central Kentucky, Bluegrass region (Margaret Therkelsen, Bob Hale, Tom Monroe, Linda Whitaker, and others). Rob Poindexter and many worship teams from across our region will lead us in prophetic worship and praise throughout the weekend. Come join us if you can and join with us in prayer if you can't. I pray for unity and awakening of the Body of Christ and the City-wide Church in your region as well, as the army of the arises to advance the Kingdom of God in our generation. For details, contact Marilyn at: DirofMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Please spread the word! All are Welcome! January 27-30, 2010 -The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry- Level I Come Join us for focused time of teaching, mentoring, discipleship, personal ministry, equipping, worship and prayer led by Tommy Hays and our teaching team of experienced prayer ministers. We will study and experience a Biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For more information or to Register On-Line for The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Click Here: Information/RegisterSchoolOfMinistryLevelOne or contact Marilyn Walker at DirOfMinistries@aol.com or 859-317-1591 Scholarships are available as much as possible to that all may attend. Please spread the word! Subscribe for 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