Courage, Unity, and Sacrifice - September 19

Morning by Morning, September 19 - Courage, Unity, and Sacrifice

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Commander of the Army of the Lord; and I arise to report for duty and embrace my mission for this day. ...

"So Gideon and the hundred who were with him came to the outskirts of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, when they had just set the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the smashed the jars that were in their hands. So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, 'A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!' Every man stood in his place all around the camp, and all the men in the camp ran; they cried out and fled" (Judges 7:19-21).

Your Holy Spirit is strategically aligning us and spiritually inspiring us with Your divine strategies and heavenly wisdom to defeat the enemies of our souls and advance the Kingdom of our God. You are uniting us as one with those You have chosen to take their stand with us. You are stirring up our courage in the confidence of Your power and the sword of Your Spirit of truth to accomplish every mission You've set before us. And You are bringing us to the place where the clay jars of sin and flesh are broken before God so that the light of Your glory can arise and shine through us.

In that spirit of courage and unity and sacrifice, You are fanning a flame in the heart of the army of the Lord that You are calling, equipping, and empowering. And in that spirit, a shout of victory rises up in our hearts with the high praises of God in our mouths! "In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us" (Romans 8:37). And in whatever battles we face, "let God rise up, let His enemies be scattered; let those who hate Him flee before Him.... But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before God; let them be jubilant with joy!" (Psalm 68:1-3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Friends, the Lord gave me these words -- Courage, Unity, Sacrifice -- when I preached the Sunday morning message of 9-11 in Pennsylvania, near the field where one of the four planes crashed on that day 10 years ago. I shared those words again this past weekend with the men at our Men's Retreat at Living Waters near Bravard, North Carolina. I believe they are words the Holy Spirit is stirring the heart of the Body of Christ in this hour. So I pray this for you and for for me, as we advance together in the Kingdom of God. God bless you!

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healing prayer ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Please come for healing prayer ministry at The Healing Rooms of Lexington every Thursday Night, hosted by our ministry team in Lexington. Details on our ministry web site calendar: www.messiah-ministries.org

"Let Her Be the One!" - September 15

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my King, my Lord, and my Savior.  ...

"Abraham said to his servant, the oldest of his house, who had charge of all he had, '... go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son.' ... Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, taking all kinds of choice gifts from his master; and he set out and went to Aram-naharaim, to the city of Nahor. He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water; it was toward evening, the time when women go out to draw water. And he said, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today and show steadfast love to my master Abraham. I am standing here by the spring of water, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. Let the girl to whom I shall say, 'Please offer your jar that I may drink,' and who shall say, 'Drink, and I will water your camels'-let her be the one whom You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I shall know that You have shown steadfast love to my master Abraham.' Before he had finished speaking, there was Rebekah..." (Genesis 24:2-15).

Abraham sent his most trusted servant to find a bride for his son, Isaac. Father God, You have sent Your Holy Spirit to prepare a Bride for Your Son, Jesus. And Father, I believe, Your Spirit has been moving in my heart to desire a bride for myself. Perhaps it's out of my own desires or my own needs-to have a trusted companion in the journey, a faithful partner in my ministry and family, a best friend through the everyday challenges and celebrations of trying to live a life of radical faith and fulfillment of the calling and destiny You sealed into my heart. Even so, You care about my desires and needs. But I believe You're the One Who's put these very desires into my heart to fulfill a calling and destiny I can't fulfill alone.

Abraham's servant prayed for a quick work. And as he saw Rebekah, he cried out in prayer, "Let her be the one You have appointed for Isaac!" And when I saw Sylvia, I believe with all my heart it was Your Holy Spirit crying out in my spirit, "Let her be the one You have appointed for me!" And I believe with all my heart You are the One Who set my eyes on her, as fixed as the sun. I believe You are the One Who stirred in my heart to court her and pursue her until I could hold her in my arms as my bride and never let her go. Isaac fell in love with Rebekah the moment he set his eyes on her and without delay "brought her into his mother's tent ... and loved her" (Genesis 24:62-67). And I believe Your Spirit led me without delay or long engagement to take Sylvia into my heart and into my family and love her with all that I have and all that I am.

We are two people who have had challenging lives, especially in the brokenness and pain of the failed relationships of our past. But You are the God Who redeems all things, causing all things to work together for good when we choose to keep loving You, trusting You, and entrusting to You all things in our lives (Romans 8:28). There is no wound You will not heal, no bondage You will not break, no sin You will not forgive, as we surrender all to You at the foot of the cross and under the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:9).

Yet, as much as You care about us personally, You care as much or more for the advancement of Your Kingdom through the lives of Your servants who are Your sons and daughters. Your plans and purposes for our lives and through our lives to touch the lives of others with the message of Your steadfast love and unfailing mercy will come to pass (Jeremiah 29:11). And despite all our brokenness and failures, our ultimate calling and destiny in Christ for the sake of our part in the coming of the Kingdom of God will not fail, "for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Romans 11:29).

My life has never been normal. Neither has my journey from faith to faith, from lawyer to minister, from a little town on the plains of west Texas to the nations of the world "preparing the way of the Lord ... ministering the healing love of God" through Messiah Ministries. And neither has Sylvia's life been normal, from faith to faith, from small business owner to prophetic voice, from a little town in south Alabama to the nations of the world with the message that "the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our God." But together, we will live and love and laugh. Together we will journey with each other, stand beside each other, and be a prophetic picture of the redeeming love and power of our God, Who never gives up and always wants the best for His children.

Thank You, Father, for sending Your Spirit to find the bride who's perfect for me. All by the grace of God, may I be perfect for her, as we live our lives for You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Dear Friends, Sylvia and I felt strongly led to keep our personal life very private during our courtship this summer and our wedding day September 6th. We exchanged our personl vows to each other and to God in a very private, deeply spiritual setting with one of our best friends officiating as minister. We would have loved to have had all of our friends join us for a great public wedding celebration, but we both felt the Lord's leading to have our special day be very private and intimate. We love you and are so thankful for your friendship and love for us! We are looking forward to sharing our joy with you in all the personal and ministriy settings to come!

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Sylvia and I are in the process of updating our ministry web sites and facebook profiles, but feel free to visit our current web sites.

For Sylvia Jackson Hays: www.Kingdom1stFinancial.com

For Tommy Hays:

www.Messiah-Ministries.org

Sylvia's prophetic message as a Finacial Advisor adressing the current economic issues is available as a free ebook by emailing her at: Sylvia@Kingdom1stFinancial.com

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Please come for healing prayer ministry at The Healing Rooms of Lexington every Thursday Night, hosted by our ministry team in Lexington. Details on our ministry web site calendar: www.messiah-ministries.org

Life Together in Love - September 14

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close, help me listen, hear my prayer. ...

"Above all, clothe yourselves in love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called into one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God" (Colossians 3:14-16).

Last night after dinner, Sylvia and I were invited to join Louise and Harry Bezzell for their home group at the Apple Hill Lodge outside Moravian Falls, North Carolina. With young and old, children included, they've been meeting together every Tuesday night for worship, prayer, encouragement, and discipleship for ten years. They asked us to share our story of our journeys of faith that led us to You and to one another. Then they asked us to pray and prophesy over every one there, from the youngest children to the elder leaders. "For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged" (1 Corinthians 14:31).

How beautiful to see the Body of Christ living life together in harmony and love. And how wonderful to be welcomed as family with a father's blessing and opportunity to share the gifts of You've given us to encourage Your Bride wherever You lead us. Thank You for touching our hearts as we sang to You and prayed for one another. Thank You for the physical healing of the one with the pain of an abscessed tooth, and thank You for the deeper changes in all of our hearts and lives that will be made manifest in our journeys to come. What a joy to know wherever we go, we're always part of one body and one family with You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Friends, Sylvia and I are enjoying a couple of days in the mountains at Moravian Falls, NC between our ministry engagments in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Many speak of this area as a holy place with an open heaven. May we draw near to hear the voice of the Lord on this mountain. And I pray you'll hear His voice for your life as well. God bless you!

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Diamond and Sapphires - September 12

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are steadfast and true, with me always in every way. ...

"Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, and they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. God did not lay His hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank" (Exodus 24:9-11).

A diamond with sapphires, set in white gold-it seems even the wedding ring that would represent our covenant with You and with each other would have prophetic significance and meaning for Sylvia and me. The diamond speaks of Your indestructible bond. The sapphires speak of Your abiding Presence. The golden ring speaks of Your eternal commitment, forever fulfilling Your promises to us. And You've called us to enter into this indestructible bond, this abiding Presence, and this eternal commitment in covenant with You and one another by the provision of Your grace and the power of Your love.

You've created Your children to long for love-Your love for us and Your love expressed through us. Love is the power that calls us to commitment, and love is the power that sustains that commitment. And it's only the covenant of commitment, rooted and grounded in the power of Your love, that's infused with the Presence of God and sealed with the authority of heaven. You dwell in the midst of our covenant of love. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.... If we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:7-12).

Your love for each of us is indestructible, and Your Presence with each of us is ever-abiding. Your covenant of commitment to us is eternal, for "the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting" (Psalm 103:17). Thank You, Lord, for choosing to express Your covenant of love for me through my love for my bride and her love for me. May the diamond and sapphires she wears on her ring remind me each day of Your steadfast, unfailing love for us and for one another. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Friends, thank you for your prayers for us this weekend in Western Pennsylvannia: Empowered for Greatness conference with Tommy & Sylvia Hays at Alverton UMC with Pastor Tommy Shirer. The Holy Spirit moved mightily in all of our hearts, with many testimonies to the power of His life-changing love and power! Sylvia and I were just married Sept 6 and were ministering together for the first time as Husband and Wife in prophetic and healing prayer ministry. What a tremendous confirmation of God's heart and plan for us and our lives together!

Please keep us in prayer as we move on to North Carolina today, where I'll be leading a men's retreat in the mountains at Bravard, NC later this week. God bless you!

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Sweet and Powerful Words - September 9

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my thoughts and in the middle of every moment of my day. ...

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body" (Proverbs 16:24).

There are no words like Your Words. They are powerful yet soothing, sharper than a sword yet sweeter than honey. They are "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). They are mighty for the bringing down of strongholds and creative in the establishment of Your Kingdom. "For they are life to those that find them, and healing to all their flesh" (Proverbs 4:22).

As I meditate on Your written Words, as I listen for Your living Words, I long for the life You infuse into my spirit and the direction You set into my day. Help me to hear them and act upon them. But also help me to speak them into my life as I trust them to shape my life into who I am to become and what I am to do. "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope" (Psalm 130:5).

And thank You so much for those who listen for Your voice and share the encouragement and comfort of Your Words into my heart. They are pleasant to me because they are pleasing to You. They are like honeycomb, with sweetness to my soul and healing to my body. They build me up and never tear me down; they encourage me to look forward and not dwell on the past; they inspire me to more than I could be because they are from the heart of the One Who wants the best for me (1 Corinthians 14:3).

Now, as I have received so freely and deeply, let me give in like measure. As I have been filled up with Your Words, let Your Words now flow out of me. "Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:11). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Friends, please come join us this weekend if you're in the Western Pennsylvannia area: Empowered for Greatness conference with Tommy & Sylvia Hays at Alverton UMC in Alverton, PA with Pastor Tom Shirer 724-925-7092. Sylvia and I were just married Sept 6 and will be ministering together for the first time as Husband and Wife in prophetic and healing prayer ministry. All are welcome!

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Tommy & Sylvia Hays - What God Has Joined Together - September 7

Tommy & Sylvia Hays -What God Has Joined Together!

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - You are God and You are So Good to me! ...

"Then the Lord said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.' ... Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.' ... Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 2:18-24).

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6, KJV).

You are a great Father Who wants the very best for Your sons and daughters. You know everything we need because You created us to need those things. And You know everything we turn toward to fill those needs instead of turning to You; and though it breaks Your heart to see us hurt and fail, You never stop calling us and never stop drawing us into the best You still have for us, if we will turn to You and trust in You.

I've needed a partner in ministry and for my family, and a companion in my journey. And the honest truth is - no matter how painful it's been to endure or how embarrassing it is to admit - I've been married and divorced, engaged and disengaged, full of faith and hope and expectations for great things to come in my personal relationships and emptied of it all when it didn't come to pass as I had planned. But You are faithful; and You are forgiving. You are the God Who loves to redeem all things to bring beauty from ashes, joy from sadness, and hope from despair. You never tire of wanting Your best for each of us. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

You gave Your best for me to me yesterday. In a small, private time of exchanging the vows of our hearts in our covenant with God and one another, I married the one I believe You have chosen for me - Sylvia Jackson Hays. And in my faith in You and knowing Who You are, I believe I am Your best for her. She's perfect for me! She's Spirit-filled, highly and accurately prophetic, smart, funny, drop dead gorgeous; both a financial advisor in the marketplace and a spiritual teacher in the church. But most of all, she's crazy about me and believes with all her heart You told her it would be an honor to be my wife. We both believe this is Your holy alignment for our Divine assignment and prophetic destiny in life and ministry for the extension of Your Kingdom through our lives in ways together we could never fulfill alone. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

Lord, as best as I can and all by Your grace, help me love Sylvia like Christ loves the Church; help me honor her, encourage her, love and cherish her, lay down my life for her in every way You lead me. Let her know every day that I am Your gift to her. And remind me every day that she is Your gift to me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Married September 6, 2011

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

"What God Has Joined Together" - Tommy & Sylvia Hays! - September 7

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - You are God and You are So Good to me! ...

"Then the Lord said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.' ... Then the man said, 'This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.' ... Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh" (Genesis 2:18-24).

"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder" (Matthew 19:6, KJV).

You are a great Father Who wants the very best for Your sons and daughters. You know everything we need because You created us to need those things. And You know everything we turn toward to fill those needs instead of turning to You; and though it breaks Your heart to see us hurt and fail, You never stop calling us and never stop drawing us into the best You still have for us, if we will turn to You and trust in You.

I've needed a partner in ministry and for my family, and a companion in my journey. And the honest truth is - no matter how painful it's been to endure or how embarrassing it is to admit - I've been married and divorced, engaged and disengaged, full of faith and hope and expectations for great things to come in my personal relationships and emptied of it all when it didn't come to pass as I had planned. But You are faithful; and You are forgiving. You are the God Who loves to redeem all things to bring beauty from ashes, joy from sadness, and hope from despair. You never tire of wanting Your best for each of us. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

You gave Your best for me to me yesterday. In a small, private time of exchanging the vows of our hearts in our covenant with God and one another, I married the one I believe You have chosen for me - Sylvia Jackson Hays. And in my faith in You and knowing Who You are, I believe I am Your best for her. She's perfect for me! She's Spirit-filled, highly and accurately prophetic, smart, funny, drop dead gorgeous; both a financial advisor in the marketplace and a spiritual teacher in the church. But most of all, she's crazy about me and believes with all her heart You told her it would be an honor to be my wife. We both believe this is Your holy alignment for our Divine assignment and prophetic destiny in life and ministry for the extension of Your Kingdom through our lives in ways together we could never fulfill alone. "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps" (Proverbs 16:9).

Lord, as best as I can and all by Your grace, help me love Sylvia like Christ loves the Church; help me honor her, encourage her, love and cherish her, lay down my life for her in every way You lead me. Let her know every day that I am Your gift to her. And remind me every day that she is Your gift to me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Tommy & Sylvia Hays

Married September 6, 2011

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

"Continue" - September 2

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in my heart; arise through my life this day and every day. ...

"As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6).

Thank You, Lord, for the mountain top experiences in the exciting places You send me and in the interesting ministry You bring me. But let me also continue. Thank You for the powerful encounters of Your Presence and power in the supernatural ways of Your Kingdom. But let me also continue. Thank You for the mighty deliverances through all the challenging circumstances in my life or the lives of those You bring into mine. But let me also continue.

There are mountaintop experiences and breakthrough encounters along the journey of faith that are so fascinating and exciting. But they are dramatic experiences and encounters within the broader context of a life-long journey. And not every day, nor even every season, necessarily has in store those kinds of "off-the-charts" and "over-the-top" experiences. So I also need Your grace to consistently continue the path You set before me in the journey of faith. And I need Your wisdom to remember that neither my journey nor anyone else's is any less significant when they are in the season of "continue" instead of in the moments of "encounter."

So whether exciting or mundane, whether in the nations or at home, I choose by Your grace to continue to live my life in You. With each step of every choice, let me continue to be rooted and grounded in You and Your Word, continue to be built up and established in You and Your faith, and continue to be abounding in thanksgiving for all You're doing instead of murmuring in complaining about whatever I may think it is that You're not doing. It's a great adventure. But I'll never see what adventure the next day will hold unless I keep choosing each day to continue on in You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Returning with Joy! - September 1

Good morning, Lord Jesus. King of kings and Lord of lords, King of heaven and Lord of all, I worship You now and entrust this day to You. ...

"The seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, in Your name even the demons submit to us!' He said to them, 'I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread and snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.' At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit ..." (Luke 10:17-21).

We truly have no idea what can happen when we obey Your call and go at Your command - whether to the nations or across the street. But we know that whether we go must change, because we carry the Spirit of Christ within us and the glory of God upon us (Colossian 1:27). "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1).

Wherever Your Light shines, darkness must flee. Wherever Your name is lifted up, every other name must bow down. Wherever Your glory comes, all that would seek to steal Your glory must fall. And how You rejoice to see our hearts full of the joy that comes from obeying Your will from a place of intimacy with You!

Lord, give me the understanding to believe the truth that wherever I go, You go with me because You are within me. Give me the faith to know that the spiritual atmosphere immediately changes the moment I arrive because the King of the Kingdom of God is within me (Luke 17:21). "Christ in (me), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Lord, thank You for sending me to Africa last week and home this week. Like each of Your disciples, let me continue to be transformed into Your image, so that I can be an agent of Your transformation wherever I am and wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Friends, Thank You so much! for all your prayers for me and our team in Africa. Our time of ministry and fruit for the Kingdom here was beyond my imagnnation! I made it home to Lexington about midnight last night with Wesley and Patti. Praying for wonderful reunions with family and friends, as well as speedy recovery from jet lag and travel exhaustiion. What joy fills our hearts as we return! God bless you!

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details or to register on-line:

www.messiah-ministries.org

Please keep Messiah Ministries in prayer. We're needing to raise additional significant financial support right now, so we would welcome your generous support as you are led, whether on-line, by phone, or through the mail. Thank you and God bless you! We couldn't minister like this without you!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Thousands of African Souls - August 30

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit; be One within me in my thoughts, desires, and choices today. ...

"Now when they heard (the Gospel of Jesus Christ), they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what should we do?' Peter said to them, 'Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promises is for you, for your children, and all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Him.' And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand were added" (Acts 2:37-41).

We've been preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the village of Sabasaba, Kenya and the surrounding villages northeast of Nairobi for two weeks. Over one thousands souls have been saved! That's only counting those who came forward for prayer and who also filled out decision cards for follow-up ministry with the local pastors and altar counselors. There were also waves and waves of children and others who held up their hands to welcome Jesus into their hearts who didn't make into our official records, but whose names are now written on the pages of the Lamb's Book of Life and upon the heart of our Father in heaven. And there were also waves and waves of many who received a deep touch of Your healing power and freeing grace in spirit, soul, and body every day. Praise God!

Lord, I'm so honored, so humbled, and so excited You would send me and our team to Africa in this apostolic, evangelistic ministry. I'm so encouraged to see how Your Holy Spirit brought together so many pastors and leaders from so many diverse churches and traditions in this region to pray and proclaim the truth and the heart of God "all with one accord in one place" (Acts 2:1, NKJV). All the pastors are talking about the new faces they see coming to the churches for worship, and all them are declaring, "Revival has come!" to this region of Africa. Praise God!

As we prepare to go home to America, O Lord, keep Kenya and Africa in my heart. Thank You for all the invitations to return. Thank You for all the Divine connections and life-long friendships You've given me. I'm trusting You to provide the funds and the time for me to come again as soon as You're ready to send me back. And as Your Holy Spirit declares through evangelist Rienhard Bonnke everywhere he goes to proclaim Your Gospel in this land, "All Africa will be saved!" I'm so excited You've allowed me to be a part of what You've doing throughout this continent in our generation before our eyes! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Friends, Thank You so much! for all your prayers for me and our team in Africa. Our time of ministry and fruit for the Kingdom here was beyond my imagnnation! We leave Nairobi to fly home in the morning. I've stayed very healthy except battling a sinus infection the past two days. Please pray for my healing and our safe travel home. God bless you!

Please come join us in Lexington in October for our 4 Day School of Spiritual Ministry for equipping and impartation in healnig praeyr ministry and prophetic ministry. Scholarships are available as needed so all can come. Please see our Events Calendar on the web site for details www.messiah-ministries.org

While I'm away in ministry in Africa, please keep Messiah Ministries in prayer. We're needing to raise additional significant financial support right now, so we would welcome your generous support as you are led, whether on-line, by phone, or through the mail. Thank you and God bless you! We couldn't minister like this without you!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

The City and Kingdom of Our God - August 24

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is the name above every name. May I live this day to honor Your name wherever You send me and however You lead me. ...

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10).

My inheritance - like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - is the City of God, the fullness of the Kingdom of God. This City is not built upon a foundation of bricks or stone; it's built upon the foundation of the principles of the Kingdom of God and the ever-abiding, ever-increasing Presence of the King. And in every place along the journey between here and there, I'm a foreigner and a traveler, pressing forward, looking higher for this Kingdom to come in my heart and in every dimension of my life, here on earth as it is in heaven.

My thoughts and hopes, like those of Abraham and his sons and daughters of the promises and inheritance of God, compel me to always keep seeking more - more of You, more of Your Presence, more of Your Kingdom in my life. "If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, He has prepared a City for them" (v. 11:15-16).

This City that I seek, this Kingdom that I desire, is not just a place I'll go when I die. It's a place in my heart that increases with every prayer and every declaration of my commitment to You - entrusting my will to Your will, my thoughts to Your thoughts, my desires to Your desires. "The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, 'Look; here it is!' or 'There it is!' For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20-21). "For the Kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit" (Romans 14:17).

So no matter what city or village I find myself, whether at home or away, I'm seeking that place You've prepared for me. No matter what nation in the earth to which You've sent me to proclaim Your name and the coming of Your Kingdom, I'm just a traveler in a foreign land, looking forward to the City to come, to the fullness of the Kingdom to come - more in my heart and my life every day. This is "the City of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of it; it shall not be moved" (Psalm 46:4-5). It shall not be moved because it stands firm on the solid foundation of the principles of the Kingdom of God and in the ever-abiding, ever-increasing Presence of the King of the Kingdom in my heart by Your Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Friends, about 1,000 pastors and leaders have come from many cities and denominations for our Pastors and Leaders Conference in Thika, Kenya for 3 days this week. Some of our team is teaching and ministering to them (Wesley Paul, Patti Patrone, Mike Gonzales, and myself) while others are engaged in commuity outreach with a free dental clinic (Dr. Gary and Ann Olsen, Jackie Seeley) and painting and restoring the Sabasaba Police Station (Jeff Bealmear and volunteers).

Later this week I'll be preaching with Wesley Paul and the other evangelists at our main Sabasaba Gospel Festival, north of Nairobi, where they are expecting 30-40,000 people over the 4 day festival. Please keep praying for us and for the people of Kenya! God bless you!

The leader of the city-wide Pastors' Fellowship in Kenol, Kenya told me they estimated that 3,000 people were there Sunday night at the closing night of the satellite Gospel Festival I've been preaching outdoors for 4 nights! On the last night a wave of people came for salvation, another wave for healing and deliverance, and another wave for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire with a passion to live a radical life for Jesus. Praise God! All the other evangelists in each of 5 cities preaching these Satellite Festivals on the same 4 nights were giving reports a mighty move of God's Spirit in this region! Thank you for your prayers!

Here's a short video that Dr. Wesley Paul and I made for our trip: http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMV3bUagljM Please pass it along to anyone who may be interested in joining with us in prayer or financial support. God bless you and thank you for all your encouragement and support for me and our minsitry!

While I'm away in ministry in Africa, please keep Messiah Ministries in prayer. We're needing to raise additional significant financial support right now, so we would welcome your generous support as you are led, whether on-line, by phone, or through the mail. Thank you and God bless you! We couldn't minister like this without you!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

859-422-1794

"To Care for Orphans and Widows" - August 22

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are Lord of Kenya, Lord of all nations, and Lord of me. ...

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world" (James 1:27).

After preaching and praying for everyone Sunday morning at the Redeemed Gospel Church in Kenol, Kenya, Your Spirit spoke to my heart to ask if there was a widow in our gathering. So I interrupted the pastor's benediction to ask if I could share what Your Spirit just said. When I did, a woman at the very back of the church timidly raised her hand. So I went to her to put the roll of money in her hands You told me to give from my heart. You had been working something in my heart during our worship and I had no idea what You were about do our in all of our hearts.

This church had amazed me at their incredible generosity among the people, most of whom would be seen as very poor by the standards of my own nation. A young man had left his new bicycle at the altar a few weeks before in sacrificial giving to the ministry of the Kingdom through this church, and within a week his Asian boss told him to go buy a brand new motorcycle for himself. He pushed it up to the front of the church during the offering time for our Gospel Festival to show everyone his proof of Your spiritual principle that you can't out-give God.

As soon as I put the money in the widow's hand and began to pray a blessing for her, she began to weep and wail. The pastor called her to the front. And he told the congregation that this woman had come to him earlier to tell him she had no money for her needs and that he felt led to tell her that day "God Himself will provide the money to you." Everyone began to weep and wail throughout the church. Then the pastor asked me to pray for any who would come to the altar to receive a generous heart of giving to the Lord for the blessing of His people. As almost everyone came, they spontaneously began laying down where they kneeled their deeply sacrificial gifts of their very limited resources out of their hugely generous hearts. And church was already supposed to be over!

O Lord, give me a generous heart. Let Your generous Spirit fill my spirit. Let the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God, as we learn to give first to You and the ministry of Your Kingdom however and whenever You lead. Give me a greater joy in giving and a greater expectancy of increase in the great harvest to come - here in Kenya and in all the nations of the earth. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Freiends, the leader of the city-wide Pastors' Fellowship in Kenol, Kenya just told me the estimated that 3,000 people were there last night at the closing night of the satellite Gospel Festival I been preaching outdoors for 4 nights! Last night a wave of people came for salvation, another wave for healing and deliverance, and another wave for the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire with a passion to live a radical life for Jesus. Praise God! All the other evangelists in each of 5 cities preaching these Satellite Festivals on the same 4 nights were reports a similar move of God's Spirit in this region! Thank you for your prayers!

Now, we begin our Pastors and Leaders Conference for the next 3 days, where I'll be teaching with other on our mulitnational, mulitcultural team of evanglists (America, Kenya, Uganda, Korea, India) here with Wesley Paul Ministries. We'll have videos and pictures to pass along from the festivals soon! Then later this week I'll be preaching with Wesley Paul and the other evangelists at our main Sabasaba Gospel Festival, north of Nairobi, where they are expecting 30-40,000 people over the 4 day festival. Please keep praying for us and for the people of Kenya! God bless you!

Here's a short video that Dr. Wesley Paul and I made for our trip: http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMV3bUagljM Please pass it along to anyone who may be interested in joining with us in prayer or financial support. God bless you and thank you for all your encouragement and support for me and our minsitry!

While I'm away in ministry in Africa, please keep Messiah Ministries in prayer. We're needing to raise additional significant fainancial support right now, so we would welcome your generous support as you are led, whether on-line, by phone, or through the mail. Thank you and God bless you!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

859-422-1794

"Go Into All the World" - August 19

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come into my heart and into my day; rule over my life and over my ways. ...

"And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using My name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and it they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover' " (Mark 16:15-18).

You've sent me to Kenya to proclaim Your good news. And I have found a people here in the Body of Christ who are passionate in their praise and free in their worship. They are easy with their smiles and fervent in their prayers. And they care deeply about their neighbors who need to know the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Last night on the first night of the Gospel Festival I'm preaching in Kenol, Kenya, north of Niarobi, a large crowd gathered at the platform we built in the Central Market. As people came from their work and their homes, the crowd began to grow as we began to worship in the heart of the city. About seventeen churches, from the various streams of the Body of Christ have come together for this satellite festival - one of five going on at the same time in five different cities in this region before our major festival next week.

It seemed most in the crowd already knew the Lord, but just across the road, in full sound and view of our gathering were the crowds of the city market places. And I spoke much of my message about the saving power of Christ and the healing love of God directly them over our loud speakers. Some would look and stare. Others would risk a glance. But all were hearing the Word of God going forth to their hearts and breaking through the spiritual barriers that are beginning to crumble and fall.

Some came forward to receive Christ in their hearts in response to the Good News. Some were set free from pain in their bodies as the Spirit of God moved among them in prayer. And with the expectant faith and fervent prayers in the power of Your name, many more will respond in the next days to come. And as Your Word goes forth in these five cities in these four days, surely Your heavens are opening wide over this region to push back the darkness and bring many souls in the Kingdom of Your Light.

Thank You, Lord, for sending me here and giving me this honor to join with this team to exalt Your name and proclaim Your Good News. Help me humble myself to hear the words You give me speak and faith to believe in the great harvest You'll bring as these words of Good News go forth in this land. Whether in person or in prayer, You send us all into all the world to share this hope that burns in our hearts. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

Friends, please keep us in prayer for these two weeks of Gospel Festival meetings north of Nairobi, Kenya, where I'm part of a team with Wesely Paul Ministries. I'll be preaching in Kenol, at one of the satellite festivals for the next 3 nights, then teaching at a Pastor and Leaders Conference, then with the preaching team for the main festival at Sabasaba, Kenya. Here's a short video that Wesley and I made for our trip: http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMV3bUagljM Please pass it along to anyone who may be interested in joining with us in prayer or financial support. God bless you and thank you for all your encouragement and support for me and our minsitry!

While I'm away in ministry, please keep Messiah Ministries in prayer. We're needing to raise additional significant fainancial support right now, so we would welcome your generous support as you are led. Thank you and God bless you!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Set Apart and Sent Forth in the Spirit - August 16

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name be high and lifted up, here in my heart and throughout the moments of my day. ...

"While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabus and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off" (Acts 13:2-3).

Holy Spirit of the Living God, You are the Promise of the Father upon me; and You are the Spirit of Christ within me (Romans 8:9). You've been stirring in my heart with a burden for the people of Africa. And today You've set me apart to send me there!

As You anointed and empowered Barnabus and Saul to carry the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to the people of the nations, so You've anointed and empowered our team to go to the people of Kenya to share the Good News of the love of God in Jesus Christ. We're honored and excited to go in Your name and the power of Your love. "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith ..." (Romans 1:16).

May souls be saved and spirits be awakened! May blind eyes be opened and deaf ears unstopped! May bondages be broken and demons cast out! May You heal the brokenhearted and set the captives free, as we proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God and see You demonstrate it in Your mighty power and unfailing love! (Matthew 10:7-8) Just as on the journeys of Barnabus and Saul, may it be said of us that "(our) speech and proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:14).

Come, Holy Spirit! We don't go proclaiming our selves or our names or our power. "For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to win obedience from the Gentiles, by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from (Lexington) and as far around as (Nairobi), (we) have fully proclaimed the Good News of Christ!" (Romans 15:18-19) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I'm excited to be going to Kenya today! Please let us know if you would like to be on our Intercessory Prayer Team for my ministry trip to Kenya August 16-31: PrayerLead@aol.com Our evangelistic preaching and ministry team is very excited and expectant for all God will do! I'll be preaching at two major Gospel Festivals, where 30-40,000 are expected to come, and also teaching at two conferences for pastors and leaders wth Wesley Paul Ministries. Here's a short video that Wesley and I made for our trip: http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMV3bUagljM Please pass it along to anyone who may be interested in joining with us in prayer or financial support. God bless you and thank you for all your encouragement and support for me and our minsitry!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Malleable - August 15

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I entrust to You my spirit, soul, and body. I want all of You to fill all of me, every dimension of Your Being filling every dimension of my being - this day and every day. ...

"Now the Lord spoke to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing..." (Genesis 12:1-3).

The father of faith trusted You with all his heart, though he was as human as all of us in the wrestlings of his heart. But a faithful heart is a believing heart - choosing to believe that You know the best for us, choosing to believe that You want the best for us, and choosing to believe that You will reveal Your will for us in the journey of our faith. "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8:14).

Abraham's heart was tender to Your leading and malleable to Your shaping. He was willing to venture forward, adapt to his changing circumstances, as he did his best to follow You. He obeyed You because he trusted you. And as he trusted You and obeyed You, You kept leading him and changing him in the journey. Sometimes You led him to take simple, steady steps in the everyday choices of his life. And sometimes You led him to get up and go to faraway places into unknown circumstances, where his faith would be tested in his choice to go and every choice after that along the way. At times he was tempted to take matters into his own hands with this his own wisdom, but attitude of his heart and the perspective of his spirit became the banner over his life, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness" (Romans 4:3).

Lord, give me a believing heart. Give me the faith of Abraham. Make my heart tender and malleable, as You fashion my faith to be strong in You. Whether life changing or simply life extending, let every choice I make in the journey of my faith be made by the leading of Your Spirit. I'm one of the children of Abraham and one of the children of God, doing my best by Your grace to walk in the way that leads to life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays

I'm excited to be going to Kenya tomorrow! Please let us know if you would like to be on our Intercessory Prayer Team for my ministry trip to Kenya August 16-31: PrayerLead@aol.com Our evangelistic preaching and ministry team is very excited and expectant for all God will do! I'll be preaching at two major Gospel Festivals, where 30-40,000 are expected to come, and also teaching at two conferences for pastors and leaders wth Wesley Paul Ministries. Here's a short video that Wesley and I made for our trip: http://www.youtube.com/embed/NMV3bUagljM Please pass it along to anyone who may be interested in joining with us in prayer or financial support. God bless you and thank you for all your encouragement and support for me and our minsitry!

Tommy Hays

Founder, Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org