Monday, January 04, 2021

"Male and Female" -- Nothing Less and Nothing Else. - January 4, 2021

Morning by Morning, January 4 - "Male and Female" -- Nothing Less and Nothing Else.

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and listen for Your voice, as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. ...
 
"Then God said, 'Let Us make humankind in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.' So God created humankind in His image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. God blessed them...." (Genesis 1:26-28).
 
You created us and You blessed us as "male and female" -- nothing less and nothing else.
 
It's our fallen nature that would deny that or distort that. Just as it's our fallen nature that would rebel against Your Word and Your will as the authority of our lives.
 
But the power of Your grace redeems us and restores us from our fallen nature to Your truth and Your will, as we yield to Your authority in our lives -- all by the power of the blood of Jesus that sets us free and sets things right:
 
"You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. All of us once live among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:1-7).
 
So no matter what the new House Rules of the House of Representatives of Congress may say, no matter what the new demands of "the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient" may say, "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). As for me and my house, we will keep standing up and speaking out for what is right and true, as defined by Your Word and Your will as the authority of our lives.
 
And by the power of Your grace, we do not give up this fight for the soul of our nation. We do not shrink back or shut up or bury our head in the sand. We look to the One who is the head of His church, to the One who holds "all authority in heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18). We keep "looking to Jesus" and we "consider Him who endured such hostility against Himself from sinners, so that (we) may not grow weary or lose heart" (Hebrews 12:1-3).
 
I hear in my heart, "Do not grow weary. Do not lose heart. Look to Me and not the world. Trust in Me and no other. I have called you and cause you to shine as My light in the midst of this darkness, as My people who are called by My name."  ...
 
Yes, Lord. Your written Word comes immediately to mind to confirm the spoken word I believe I hear in my heart: "That you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine like stars in the world" (Philippians 2:15).
 
Lord, give us that power, that courage, to keep standing up and speaking out, as Your light in our world. No surrender. No retreat. No shrinking back. No hiding away. All by the power of Your grace, by Your blood and the authority of Your name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


My friend, may you be empowered by the Holy Spirit to keep standing up and speaking out for what is right and true, looking to Jesus and embraced by our Father, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend! 

  

God bless You and Prepare You to Advance in His Power and His Favor into This New Year!

Friends, please consider becoming a monthly partner with us in ministry as we begin this New Year together!



Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257


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Friday, January 01, 2021

New Year with the Faithful One Who "Will Make a Way in the Wilderness" - January 1, 2020

 Morning by Morning, January 1 - New Year with the Faithful One Who "Will Make a Way in the Wilderness"

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. The first thing this morning of this first day of the year, I put You first in my heart and first of all. ...
 
"I am about to do a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:19).
 
Everyone's ready for Your "new thing," Lord. Everyone's ready for it to "spring forth." 
 
Many moments of the past year seemed like "wilderness" and "desert" as we endured challenges we didn't expect and disappointments we didn't foresee. But at the same time, You were right there with us through it all, redeeming it all and reminding us all that You are faithful to bring us through every "wilderness" and "desert" on our journey to become more like You each day.
 
Just as You promised, all You've been faithful to do in the days behind, You'll be faithful to continue to do in the days ahead:

"But now thus says the Lord,
    He who created you, O Jacob,
    He who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are Mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I give Egypt as your ransom,
    Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.
Because you are precious in My sight,
    and honored, and I love you,
I give people in return for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not fear, for I AM with you! ..." (Isaiah 43:1-5)
 
So as I look to You first in these first moments of this New Year, I am excited and expectant to look and see all You have for me, all You are within me, and all I will become in You. Whatever "wilderness" we go through or "desert" we cross, whatever "waters" or "rivers" or "fires" that may be ahead on this journey, You'll be with me (v. 5). You'll be honoring me and loving me, walking right alongside me (v. 4). You'll be redeeming it all for me because You've called me by name and I am Yours (v. 1).
 
This is our inheritance in You as sons and daughters of God -- "everyone who is called by (Your) name, whom (You) created for (Your) glory, whom (You) formed and made" (v. 7). This New Year, as we go forward in faith and overcome in grace, You're making us more like You, teaching us to rely completely upon You as Lord and Savior of all, displaying Your glory through us as Your witnesses in our world:
 
"You are My witnesses, says the Lord,
    and My servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe Me
    and understand that I AM He.
Before Me no god was formed,
    nor shall there be any after Me.
I, I AM the Lord,
    and besides Me there is no Savior" (v. 10-11)
 
Mighty Savior, Everlasting God, come display Your glory through our lives this New Year! You'll be with us! You'll be at work within us to make us more like You! All as You're rising and shining through us as Your witness in our world! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


My friend, may you be filled with expectant faith for this New Year, trusting in the Faithful One who will be with you and at work within you to display His glory through your life, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend! 

 

God bless You and Prepare You to Advance in His Power and His Favor into This New Year!

Friends, please consider becoming a monthly partner with us in ministry to being this New Year!

Praying you find our ministry to be good soil 
to sow your seed to advance the Kingdom of God 
in our world!


God bless you abundantly this New Year!


Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257


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Thursday, December 31, 2020

Reflecting on 2020: "If It Had Not Been the Lord Who Was On Our Side...." - December 31, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 31 - Reflecting on 2020: "If It Had Not Been the Lord Who Was On Our Side...."

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. As we come to the close of this year, I thank You for drawing me closer to You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"If it had not been the Lord who was on our side
    --let Israel now say--
if it had not been the Lord who was on our side,
    when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
    when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
    the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
    the raging waters.
 
Blessed be the Lord,
    who has not given us
    as prey to their teeth.
We have escaped like a bird
    from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
    and we have escaped.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!" (Psalm 124:1-8)
 
As I reflect on this past year of 2020:
 
My struggles and failures do not define me.
Coronavirus certainly does not rule and reign over me.
Financial crisis, emotional turmoil, maddening questions
do not identify or overcome me.
Even the intensive spiritual war for the soul of my nation,
with all its challenges to faith and conviction of heart
has not overwhelmed me or silenced me.
 
But all that I been through, all that I've endured, along with all that I've seen and hoped and believed, has only served to draw me closer to You than I've ever been.
Despite all I've seen, I still believe --
 
I believe even more strongly, more intensely, more passionately, more hopefully that You are God and You are good and You are with us in the battles, moving in the Spirit, in ways we don't always see and working of Your ways we don't always know.
 
You are here. You are with us. You are within us.
"Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
 
It's Your glory arising and shining is us and our world (Isaiah 60:1-3), even in the midst of the darkness and struggles and all that's come against us and will keep coming until "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" (Revelation 11:15)
 
Yes, 2020 has been a hard year. But all throughout 2020, I've seen the hand of our mighty God! 
 
So I don't curse the struggles. Nor do I curse the days we've all struggled through. I thank You for redeeming the struggles. I thank You that You've not wasted a moment of our struggles, but continue to cause them all to work together for good, as Your Spirit is at work within every one of us who keep drawing near to You, who keeping growing in love with You, who keep persevering in faith with You, all according to Your purpose for our lives and our nation and our world in our generation (Romans 8:28).
 
And now, as I leave 2020 behind, I'm pressing forward with expectant faith to look and see all You're about to do in this new year ahead! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


My friend, may you keep drawing closer to God than you've ever been, as He keeps redeeming all your struggles and fulfilling all His purposes in your life and nation and world, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend! 



God bless You and Prepare You to Advance in His Power and His Favor into This New Year!

Friends, please consider our ministry in 
Your Year-End Giving! 

Praying you find our ministry to be good soil 
to sow your seed to advance the Kingdom of God 
in our world!


God bless you with His joy and peace!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257


Please share this word to encourage a friend!
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Wednesday, December 30, 2020

"Lord at Thy Birth" and Still "Lord of All" - December 30, 2020

 Morning by Morning, December 30 - "Lord at Thy Birth" and Still "Lord of All"

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. "Lord at Thy Birth" and still Lord of All -- Be Lord of my heart, my life, and every moment of my day. ...
 
"And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a Ruler
    who is to shepherd My people Israel" (Matthew 2:6).
 
We celebrate Your birth at Christmas, but do we yield to what You've birthed in us every day? We give and receive gifts at Christmas, but do we embrace the great Gift of Life You've given us and share that Gift of the Hope within us every day?
 
You were born to be our Ruler and Shepherd, to be Lord of All for all time. You were born to die and rise again, so that we could die to ourselves and be born again to live our lives for You -- "so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8)
 
Are we living for You? Do we worship with our hearts and our lives the One we've celebrated in our homes? Do we allow the One who was "Lord at Thy birth" to be Lord of our lives, of our choices, of our nation, of our world, to acknowledge Him as Lord of All?
 
Your Words come to mind as I ponder these questions in my heart this morning: "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in Your name, and do many deeds of power in Your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from Me, you evildoers'" (Matthew 7:21-23).
 
I want to be one who "knows" You, Lord Jesus. I want to be one who does the will of Your Father and mine, by Your Spirit who's been birthed in my heart. I want to be one who both celebrates You and serves You, who adores You and also lives for You. I want to be one believes You were born "Lord at Thy birth" and also embraces You as Lord of every area of my life -- on Christmas day and every day. 
 
The One who was born "Lord at Thy birth" is still Lord of All -- "He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15). And "(I) know (and seek to live) the Message He sent to the people of Israel (and all people of all time), preaching peace by Jesus Christ -- He is Lord of All!" (Acts 10:36) In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


My friend, may you know and worship and live your life for the One who was born Lord at His birth and who is still Lord of all, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend! 



God bless You and Prepare You to Advance in His Power and His Favor into This New Year!

Friends, please consider our ministry in 
Your Year-End Giving! 

Praying you find our ministry to be good soil 
to sow your seed to advance the Kingdom of God 
in our world!

God bless you with His joy and peace!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

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Tuesday, December 29, 2020

The God of Wonders Who Makes a Way - December 29, 2020

Morning by Morning, December 29 - The God of Wonders Who Makes a Way

 
Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead my heart and my thoughts in Your will and Your ways this day -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of God. ...
 
"I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord;
    I will remember Your wonders of old.
I will meditate on all Your work,
    and muse on Your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
    You have displayed Your might among the peoples.
With Your strong arm You redeemed Your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
 
When the waters saw You, O God,
    when the waters saw You, they were afraid;
    the very deep trembled.
The clouds poured out water;
    the skies thundered;
    Your arrows flashed on every side.
The crash of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
    Your lightnings lit up the world;
    the earth trembled and shook.
Your way was through the sea,
    Your path, through the mighty waters;
    yet Your footprints were unseen.
You led Your people like a flock
    by the hand of Moses and Aaron" (Psalm 77:11-20).
 
When torrents of doubt seek to flood our minds, when winds of worry seek to topple our faith, Your Spirit stirs us to "call to mind the deeds of the Lord" and "remember Your wonders of old" (v. 11). We "meditate on all Your work" and "muse on Your mighty deeds" (v. 12). For You are the God of miracles! "You are the God who works wonders!" (v. 14)
 
You're the God who makes a way where there seems to be no way (v. 19). You're the God who has His say no matter what the world around us has to say. And in ways where "Your footprints" are "unseen," Your Spirit and Your Word, Your angelic hosts of heaven, are at work in ways not yet revealed and in ways yet to be unsealed (v. 19). Yes, You are at work! And Yes, You will make a way -- Your way "through the sea" and Your path "through the mighty waters!"
 
You will lead Your people like a flock (v. 20). And though You alone are the One leading, You will lead "by the hand of Moses and Aaron"  -- by those You've positioned in places of authority, places of courage, places of intercession, and places of spiritual leadership for just such a time as this, for a nation of Your people You will vindicate and redeem "with Your strong arm to "display Your might among the peoples" (v. 14).
 
God of miracles, God who works wonders, strengthen our faith and our resolve to keep looking to You, to keep trusting in You, with persevering prayer and expectant faith. Even now, this battle still belongs to the Lord! 
 
So let the waters be "afraid!" (v. 16) -- both the intimidating waters that rise up against Your will and Your word and the stagnant and swampy waters that would drag us down and hold us back from all You've created us to be. Let "the very deep tremble!" (v. 16) -- all that's hidden in deceit, entrenched in the deep, and lying in wait to ensnare and entrap the truth You'll reveal and expose for all to see! With thunder and lightning, with signs in the heavens and shakings in the earth, let all that cannot stand in Your Presence and Your Truth "tremble and shake!" (v. 18)
 
There's no surrender and no retreat for those who are called to pray and to fight, to persevere in the faith -- no matter what we face and no matter what they say. God of miracles, God who works wonders, we still believe! And we're still excited to look and see what only You can do! In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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


My friend, may you persevere in the faith, no matter what we face and not matter what they say, trusting the God of wonders who makes a way where there seems to be no way -- all in His time and all for His glory, in Jesus name. Please pray the same for me. And I continue to join with you in prayer for our nation through these challenging times. God bless you, my friend! 



God bless You and Prepare You to Advance in His Power and His Favor into This New Year!

Friends, please consider our ministry in 
Your Year-End Giving! 

Praying you find our ministry to be good soil 
to sow your seed to advance the Kingdom of God 
in our world!

God bless you with His joy and peace!

Mailing Address for Messiah Ministries:

Tommy & Rocio Hays
Messiah Ministries
17503 La Cantera Parkway, Suite 104407
San Antonio, Texas 78257

Tommy & Rocio Hays | Messiah Ministries

Please share this word to encourage a friend!
Anyone can sign up for free to receive them at:
 
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