"Sing to Me" 6-21-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart with Your Spirit, as You form my heart to be more like my Father's heart each day. ... "Sing to me, PaPa." In the physical realm my three year old son, Elijah, just wanted to hear his great-grandfather sing his simple song again as he held his hand at the edge of the hospital bed. In the spiritual realm, the Holy Spirit of God was calling deep to deep, as the breath of Life filled PaPa's lungs every time he rose to the call of a little boy's heart. "One day at a time, Sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of You. Just show me the way, hmm hmm hmm hmm, one day at a time." You were using that old song and that little boy's unrelenting, sweet little voice to cause Life to overcome death for yet another season, as the spirit of pneumonia gave way to the Spirit of the Breath of God. Then it was Elijah's turn to sing back his little song -- one of his great-grandmother's favorite little songs that she's taught all of us to sing at an early age: "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." The nurses seemed to keep finding reasons to come stand at the door, as we would clap and laugh with each chorus of this medley of healing. "A cheerful heart is a good medicine" (Proverbs 17.22). PaPa's doctor, a man from India, marveled and said he was "one hundred percent better." He is discharging him to return home today. He said our coming to visit had "worked magic," but we said, "Praise God!" You are the God Who sings over us (Zephaniah 3.17). You are the God Who heals us of our diseases and redeems our lives from destruction (Psalm 103.1-5). You call us to prayer and to praise because You know the power You release through a humbled heart singing praises to Your name. Though we wonder at the mystery when healing does not come this side of heaven, we rejoice when it does. No doubt there will be struggles and challenges to come, but it seems You have not yet fulfilled all that You have purposed through this life. "But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, so that those who love Your name may exalt in You. For You bless the righteous, O Lord; You cover them with favor as with a shield" (Psalm 5.11-12). In the power of Your righteousness, where we stand in Christ alone under the covering of Your blood, our spiritual enemy who comes to steal and kill and destroy is defeated. He will not steal away our lives before our destiny is fulfilled, as we take refuge rejoicing in You. You redeem even the blows he strikes and the temporary victories he seems to win, by the power of Your life and the breath of Your Spirit. Sometimes we see signs of the victory and sometimes we have no idea of all You are doing beyond the veil of our natural senses. Regardless of the apparent outcome of each battle, the victory is already won through the sacrifice of Your cross, the glory of Your resurrection, and the certainty of Your return. This day is a good day. Keep giving us each the grace to take each day one day at a time. We'll never know how that day will end unless we press through, persevering in faith, by Your grace, to see it. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep my grandfather Hays in your prayers. Becuase there have been frequent battles with pnuemonia resulting from food coming in his lungs, they inserted a feeding tube in his stomoch, not through his mouth. He will still be mobile, active, and able to talk and sing, but no longer recieving food through the throat, which will require much adjustment and much grace. God bless you as we pray for one another. To subscribe/unsubscribe please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502.

Wisdom and Revelation 6-20-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Direct my paths and guide my thoughts today. ... By Your Holy Spirit, You guided Paul to pray Your heart for Your people: "I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, which are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power" (Ephesians 1.17-19). You impart to us Your wisdom and open our eyes to see Your revelation as we come to know You. It is as we come to know You, that we grow into maturity. To know You is to grow in our understanding of Your nature and Your ways, while also growing in the intimacy of relationship with You. As we walk with You, we begin to walk more like You. As we listen to You speak, we begin to speak more like You. As we commit ourselves to You, we become more like You. This is how You are conforming us to the image of Christ, that we might grow into our calling of bearing the image of Christ in this world, all by Your grace. As we grow into maturity, You are able to reveal more of Your nature through Your people in every circumstance. In times of confusion, You reveal Your wisdom. In times of turmoil, You reveal Your peace. In times of rejoicing, You reveal Your joy. This is the hope to which You have called us; this is Your glorious inheritance among Your saints -- all according to the working of Your great power. Amazingly, You have chosen to manifest Your great power through Your people, as we come to know You. Give us Your wisdom and revelation to understand the nature and purpose of this calling. Give us the humility to seek it and the faith to receive it. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

"One Day at a Time" 6-19-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the ways that lead to life today. ... We came to see my grandfather Hays yesterday, who's struggling in another battle for his life at ninety-six years old. We've always called him "Pawpaw" and spelled it "PaPa." They brought to a room in the hospital where I was born, next to one of the sandy cotton fields like he farmed most of his life outside this little west Texas town of Lamesa. We will be making some hard decisions about his life and the quality of his life. We need Your wisdom and we seek to follow Your ways. Thank You for Your promise to always provide it when we seek it. "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, Who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given to you" (James 1.5). After I talked to the nurse yesterday, he asked what we were talking about as I held him by the hand. It's hard for him to hear and hard for me to explain, so I said the words that came to mind, "We just need to take it one day at time, PaPa." He looked up toward the ceiling and started singing an old song in his tired, hoarse voice: "One day at a time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of You." That's all he could remember, so he sang it again, "One day at time, sweet Jesus, that's all I'm asking of You." He smiled and I know You smiled over him. As You said long ago, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear.... So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today" (Matthew 6.25-34). I guess that's Your way of saying, "One day at time." Thank You for the wisdom and the grace You bring each day to meet our needs for that day, one day at a time. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we would appreciate your prayers for Nanny and PaPa and our family as we seek the Lord's leading for decisions. This was an unexpected event on our vacation but we are glad to be out in this part of the world to help. God bless you and your family. To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

The Shepherd's Staff 6-18-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me listen; help me hear. Help me be quiet enough to sense the leading of Your voice. ... You are the Good Shepherd. You care for Your flock and tend to our needs. You know when to make us lie down and when to lead us beside the still waters. You bind up our wounds and free us from our snares. You defend us from those who would destroy us, and You lay down Your life for Your sheep (Psalm 23; John 10.11). Then You call us to feed and nurture one another as Your disciples -- learning from Your ways and following the leading of Your voice (John 21.15-19). Some may tend flocks of thousands, some may tend to the needs of one or two; but throughout the seasons of our lives and throughout our spheres of influence, we are all called to learn and lead in the way of our Good Shepherd. Because You have a Shepherd's heart and You want us to have Your heart, Your heart is broken and Your wrath is kindled against the shepherds who fail to lovingly tend their flocks. To express Your fury at the destruction of Your people who were not shepherded in faithfulness to Your leading, You told the prophet Zechariah to "be a shepherd of the flock doomed to slaughter" to reveal the heart of a "worthless shepherd who deserts the flock." Through him, You would demonstrate the leadership of "a shepherd who does not care for the perishing, or seek the wandering, or heal the maimed, or nourish the healthy, but devours the flesh of the fat ones" (Zechariah 11.4-17). You spoke of two staffs of leadership in the shepherd's hands -- the staff of Favor and the staff of Unity. Broken, these two staffs became "the implements of a worthless shepherd" (Zechariah 11.14). As the flock of Your pasture, You desire us to receive and give the favor of Your grace. When we take without giving and turn selfishly to ourselves, the staff of Favor is broken. You desire that we love one another and encouraged one another. When we give in to division and strife, contentiousness and envy, the staff of Unity is broken. Forgive us, Lord. Restore to us the heart of the Good Shepherd. Place again in our hands Your staffs of Favor and Unity. Then even though we walk through the darkest and deepest valleys, we will know that You lead us through as we learn Your ways -- Your rod and Your staff will comfort us (Psalm 23.4). In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Looking Up 6-17-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. The tall pines on the sides of the mountains point to the peaks, and the peaks point to the sky. So if lift up heart and point my thoughts to You. ... There is something about looking up and lifting our faces to the sky, that naturally draws our spirits up to You in worship and praise and prayer. Pine trees and steeple spires point to the heavens and draw our thoughts high to the heavenlies. "So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3.1-3). Though You are everywhere, the physical act of looking up seems to capture our spiritual state of looking to You. At the grave of Lazarus, You wanted everyone to know You were looking to the Father to listen for His leading in all You said and did. "And Jesus looked upward and said, 'Father, I thank You for having heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that You have sent Me" (John 11.42). Father, we thank You for having heard us. We thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to rise up within our human spirits and lift up our hearts to You. We thank You for sending our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who is always at Your right hand, seated with You above. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us in these three dimensions of Your Being. Thank You for the grace to seek You and to find You, as we look up to You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, though my family and I are still out in New Mexico, our ministry will be leading The Fountain in Lexington Saturday night, so please come if you can. We're thankful for the prayer covering from all who can't. Please Come to The Fountain this Sat night at 7pm in the Chapel of Centenary Methodist in Lexington -- our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Every month is different as the Spirit leads our unplanned time in His Presence. All are welcome, so please spread the word and please cover us in prayer if you can't come. It's the 3rd Sat night of each month. To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

"Selah" 6-16-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. "Selah" -- it is good to "pause and reflect" on Your deeper purposes and power eternally unfolding beneath the hurriedness of the moments of our lives. ... You hold all things in Your hands. There is peace in the security of Your sovereignty. Though men make their choices and fallen angels war against Your will, You are at work to redeem all things to accomplish Your purposes. Though time unfolds in our lives moment by moment and day by day, with the passing of every decision we make, You already see it all. All things are already present to You. You already know every choice that will be made, the consequence of every sinful rebellion against Your will, the power of every sacrifice in submission to Your call, and the glory of Your redemption of it all, in Your timing and in Your way. Though You are the Ancient of Days, You are the King Who is coming in glory, and You are a very present help now in every moment of our days. "For I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from the ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill My intention' " (Isaiah 46.9-10). Yes, Lord. Rule and reign in our hearts, redeeming all things in accordance with Your purpose. Give us faith to believe You are at work through it all. Give us the peace that comes from knowing we have entrusted it all to You, as best as we can, all by Your grace. Time marches on, but it marches in submission to Your command. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Beauty of Diversity 6-15-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All creation declares Your glory, for all things were created through You and for You (Colossians 1.16). I join in that declaration at the beginning of this new day. ... Traveling from the desert of El Paso to the mountains of New Mexico, it's easy to see that all of Your creation holds its own beauty. That beauty is revealed in stark contrast. You are our Creator and You are a creative God. The intricacies and diversities of all that flows from Your hand to form the life and beauty that surrounds us declares Your glory. "Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things He has made" (Romans 1.20). You glory is revealed in diversity of Your people as well. No two are the same, nor are they intended to be. We have diverse beginnings, cultures, gifting, and calling; yet, each is as beautiful as the other and each is created to display Your glory. "For we are what He has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life" (Ephesians 2.10). Free us from comparing ourselves to others and comparing one another. Free us to see the creativity and diversity of Your glory in their hearts and in ours. In Jesus' name we pray. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please Come to The Fountain this Sat night at 7pm in the Chapel of Centenary Methodist in Lexington -- our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Every month is different as the Spirit leads our unplanned time in His Presence. All are welcome, so please spread the word and please cover us in prayer if you can't come. It's the 3rd Sat night of each month. To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

The Gate 6-14-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You in prayer as Your Spirit fills my soul afresh this day. ... We woke up this morning in El Paso -- the passageway or gateway. It is a gateway between nations. From the window of our room, I can see across the river to the homes and businesses of another nation, as the sun rises on both of our lands this morning. For these two nations and for all people of all nations, You are the Gateway of life. You said, "I am the Gate. Whoever enters by Me will be saved, and come in and go out and find pasture" (John 10.9). Though tens of thousands of people have heard Your name on both sides of this river, how many have entered in through Your gate, into a living relationship with You? Though it is Your heart and it is Your heart in us that all would enter in, they will not. "For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7.14). Even among those who have found the gate of eternal life in You, few press on in beyond the gate and into the garden. Few answer the calling and leading of Your Spirit to venture beyond the outer walls to explore the riches of the depths of relationship with You. Most settle for the superficial, allowing fear and insecurity and pride to hold them back from all You have prepared for us to experience. Free us from what holds us back. Release us to deeper relationship. Draw us through Your gates and into Your gardens. Let us hear the call of Your Holy Spirit, "Go through, go through the gates" (Isaiah 62.10). You have prepared the way, for You are the Way. We can enter in the gates of Your presence for You are the Gate. We can follow the road that leads to life, abundant life in increasing depths of relationship with You, for You are the Life. Let us be among those few who find it, even as we pray for all to enter in through You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, my family and I are out in west Texas and New Mexico for our summer vacation to spend time with family for our vacation. With an earlier time zone and grace for rest, I plan to continue to my morning prayer times and send them out, but they may come a little later. It's good to pray even when you're on vacation! God bless you! To subscribe/unsubscribe please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Look, Listen, and Linger 6-13-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me look, listen, and linger in Your presence at the start of this day. ... "O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. O that today you would listen to His voice" (Psalm 95.6-7). Before we rise to greet each day, let us first bow down to greet You. Before we begin listen the needs and concerns of others, let us first listen for leading of Your voice. Before we set out hands to the plow of our work and ministry for the day, let us first lift our hands in praise to the One Who holds all things in His hands. This is a form of the humility You desire -- to seek You first, to wait upon Your leading, to give You the place of priority in our lives. It slays our pride to wait in the silence before You, and it humbles our hearts to listen for Your leading. But then when we rise to go forth, we rise in the power of Your strength and we go forth in confidence of Your presence. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please Come to The Fountain this Sat night at 7pm in the Chapel of Centenary Methodist in Lexington -- our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship. Every month is different as the Spirit leads our unplanned time in His Presence. All are welcome, so please spread the word and come if you can. It's the 3rd Sat night of each month. To subscribe/unsubscribe please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502.

Doubting Thomas' Faith 6-12-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, wash me in Your Word. ... Though Thomas doubted You, You redeemed his doubt into faith. He doubted Your resurrection, telling the other disciples, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe" (John 20.25). His doubt hardened into pride. His perspective of "unless I" turned into his attitude of "I will not." How often our doubt and unbelief leads us into arrogance and pride. We are blocked from the blessings of Your grace and hindered from the peace of Your presence because we will not believe Your Word will come to pass. You told Thomas and the others they would not see You for awhile, then in a little while they would see You again, that their sorrow would be turned to joy (John 16.16-22). Your Word always comes to pass; it never returns void but always accomplishes Your purpose for which You send it (Isaiah 55.11). Your Word breaks through our pride and speaks to our doubting hearts as You spoke to Thomas' heart that day. "Do not doubt, but believe" (John 20.27). He was humbled by Your Word and redeemed in Your presence. He who was bound in doubt and unbelief was freed to proclaim in boldness and faith the highest declaration anyone ever spoke of You on earth: "My Lord and my God!" (John 20.28). You love to take our doubts and transform them into faith. You love to break through our pride and humble us in Your presence. You take what seems to be our curse and redeem it into our blessing. Thank You for the blessing of faith that overcomes the curse of doubt. Thank You for not giving up on us, but persisting in calling forth the blessing hidden beneath the curse. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Mystery of Marriage with Christ 6-11-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to know You and be known by You. I want to abide in You and know You abide in me -- in the closest communion the created can have with the Creator. ... The union You desire between the Creator and the created, between Christ and the church, is a great mystery of faith. Through the abiding of Your Holy Spirit within us, we are the body of Christ and the bride of Christ -- created for union and prepared in communion to be one with You in Spirit as a man and woman become one in marriage: "In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one every hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of His body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a great mystery, and I am applying it to Christ and the church" (Ephesians 5.28-32). Father, help us understand more of this mystery. Help us to embrace and experience this mystery as the plan and purpose of our creation. You are Love and You have created us for a relationship of love with You. Love requires relationship. As God, You are One in the perfect union of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. As our God Who created us for union in the mystery of faith, You are making us one with You, one with each other, and one in ministry to all the world. "Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6.17). What an amazing mystery, what an amazing honor. Lord, let it be so. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please cover us in prayer as I teach and minister on inner healing and deliverance that prepares the bride of Christ at Church of the Savior in Lexington, Ky tonight at 6:30. aGod bless you as the Holy Spirit continues to prepare you for the coming of our King. To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Face to Face 6-10-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and need Your grace. ... "When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance to the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses.... Thus the Lord used to speak with Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend" (Exodus 33.9-11). Moses pursued Your presence. He withdrew from everything else to seek Your face, to listen for Your voice, to spend time alone with You in the intimacy of prayer. He was Your follower and he was Your friend. What could be a more worthy pursuit? What could be a more important priority for our lives? It was as he entered the tent, that that the pillar of cloud of Your presence came. You came to him as he sought You. There is a pursuit of Your presence You desire. Forgive us for failing to pursue You, for being passive in our prayer life and apathetic in our relationship. There is something in the heart of one who presses through and presses in to seek Your face that draws Your presence. Even that desire comes from You by Your grace. Give us that desire and that determination. Give us the passion to press through and pursue Your presence. We want to experience increasing depths of intimacy in prayer, as You teach us how to speak with You "face to face, as one speaks to a friend." In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Outside the Camp 6-9-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me get quiet and settle in to the place of the peace of Your presence. ... "Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp" (Exodus 33.7). When I pray in the mornings, I like to slip a covering over my head. It's become a physical act of the spiritual truth that I am slipping away from the world for a while to be alone with You, under the covering of Your presence. It's like pitching my tent outside the camp, far off from everything else that distract me or divert me from my morning mission of the communion of prayer. Even the children have learned to quietly slip back and give Daddy a little space when his head is covered in prayer -- most mornings, anyway. As we seek Your presence in the communion of prayer, our human spirits become the tent of meeting with Your Holy Spirit. "Deep calls to deep" (Psalm 46.7). The tent of our body becomes "a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6.19). There, in the quiet of the morning or whenever we can slip away from the camp of the chaos of our lives for a moment, we have a chance of getting quiet enough to hear Your still, small voice. And all is well, no matter what's going on back at camp. Even when its time to pull back the covering of quiet and return to camp, the tent of meeting remains -- way down deep inside. Teach us how to enter the tent and never leave; teach us how to carry on the communion of prayer throughout our day. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Always Here 6-8-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Lord, my Savior, my Best Friend. ... "And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28.20). Yes, Lord. You never leave us and never forsake us (Joshua 1.5; Hebrews 13.5). We know You as our Father God; we know You as Savior and Son; we know as the Spirit of God Who lives in our hearts. You are always here; You are always near. No matter what may come, we face it all with You. I hear the voice of Your Spirit singing a song of comfort over Your children: "You are not abandoned. You are not alone. You are not a stranger. You are always home. For I am always with you; I am always here. Just call upon My name, and I will draw near. Just call My name. Just call My name. You don't have to worry; you don't have to wait. I will always come, when you call My name." We sing back to You, Father: "You are our perfect Father. You are our perfect Friend. You are always with us, even to the end. Hold us in Your arms; take us by the hand. As we walk with You, 'til we're home at last." In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!Daily archives and devotional on the web at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

My Redeemer Lives 6-7-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my eyes to You and seek to see the glory of Your face. I long and pray for the day I will see You face to face, never being satisfied with anything less. This is my desire because You have placed this desire in our hearts. ... Though yesterday was a hard day for my family, Your Spirit woke me and called me to prayer with a song of praise rising in my spirit this morning: "For I know my redeemer lives..." These were Job's words as he cried out to you in the dark night of his soul. Even in the depths of his struggles with overwhelming loss and pain, he trusted You. Few of us have suffered has he suffered, but we can all learn from the witness of his faith. You gave him grace to persevere, to keep seeking, keep hoping, keep pressing on no matter what. Like us, he lived in the midst of a broken, fallen world. He was surrounded by confusion, accusation, suffering, and pain. He was hurt and disappointed by the reactions and responses of family and friends. He was relentlessly pursued by the enemy of his soul, who came to steal and kill and destroy. He was troubled by theology and struggled for understanding. Yet, he kept turning his eyes to You, kept seeking Your face, kept standing in faith -- all by Your grace. "For I know my Redeemer lives, and that at last He will stand upon the earth; and after my skin has thus been destroyed, then in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see on my side, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me" (Job 19.25-27). Apart from You and the grace You give, "There is no one who is righteous, not even one; there is no one who has understanding, there is no one who seeks God" (Romans 3.10-11). In our flesh, none is righteous, not even Job. None is immune from suffering -- not even "God's children" when "the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5.19). But You did not waste a moment of his suffering, and we have yet to see the fullness of all that happened in the spiritual realm of eternity as a man of flesh and blood continued to seek You and call upon Your name in the midst of devastation and suffering. You redeem all things, even causing what was sent from hell itself to work together for good for those who love You and seek You and keep calling upon Your name (Romans 8.28; 2 Corinthians 12.7). Even what was intended by others for our harm and destruction, You intend for our good -- using all things to draw us nearer to You in deeper depths of intimacy and trust, redeeming all circumstances to accomplish Your greater purposes (Genesis 50.20). In the end, You will stand upon the earth -- with Your creation redeemed by the power of Your love -- and in Christ, we will stand with You. Give us grace to persevere that we may stand with You in faith now, so that we may stand with You in victory on that day. May there be many others standing with us on that day because they saw You standing with us on these hard days now. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

"I Am Here" 6-6-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart to see You; open the ears of my spirit to hear You. ... You are speaking to each one of us, wherever we are and whatever our need: "Come walk with Me, for I am here. I've been waiting for you to come. I'm always here. I'm always near. I'm always here for you." "The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desire of all who fear Him; He also hears their cry and saves them" (Psalm 145.18-19). Thank You, Lord, for always being near, for always being willing to hear. You are our strength in times of weakness, our shelter in times of trouble, our hope in times of need. Give us the humility to call upon You and the faith to know You will answer. Give us the patience to wait for Your timing and Your way; and give us Your grace that makes it possible to persevere no matter what comes our way. No matter what comes, You will be here with us. That's what You do; that's Who You are. As was prophesied of Your coming, " 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us' " (Matthew 1.23). If You are with us, who can stand against us. If You are near, we are never alone. If You hold the world in Your hands, we are in good hands. Thank You for the calming peace and sure hope that always brings. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Each Day 6-5-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for the blessing of beginning each day with You. ... "David left Asaph and his kinsfolk there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required..." (1 Chronicles 16.37). The call to ritual in the Old Covenant speaks of the call to relationship under the New. We are those You have called to come before You in worship and prayer to minister to You each day. You taught us to pray to receive each day our daily bread (Luke 11.3), but You also long for us to give to You each day the surrender of our hearts in worship and prayer. "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20.35). As we learn to give our hearts to You as we minister each day before the ark of Your presence, we receive far more than we could ever earn and far more than we could ever deserve. You give us the gift of Your presence and receive the gift of our praise. Let our ministry to You be the beginning of each day. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Corpus Christi 6-4-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All glory and honor and praise to the King. You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Come rule and reign in my heart this day. ... "Corpus Christi" is the proper name and prophetic destiny of this city in Texas where we have been in ministry this week. Translated from Latin, it literally means "Body of Christ." Last night, we were. A move of the Holy Spirit in this city is bringing together the body of Christ from every tongue and tribe and nation, from every tradition and stream and denomination under the banner of Christ. They gather for worship on the First Friday of every month in a different church with a different speaker and a different worship team. The first gathering was at a downtown Baptist church, this second gathering was at suburban Catholic church. Next month they will gather at a Church of Christ and begin with a praise and worship team from another church. The walls are coming down and Your name is being lifted high! There is no move to sort out all the doctrines or styles of worship. There is no move to build a building or debate theology. This is just a move of the Spirit, lifting hearts to Jesus, to glory of our Father, Who calls us all His children -- as diverse and different as we are. This is a picture of the Father's heart, as Your Holy Spirit is preparing the body and bride of Christ throughout the earth in these last days -- the children of God "making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" (Ephesians 4.3). "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, Who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4.4-6). Lord, what You are doing in Corpus Christi is a prophetic picture of what You long to do throughout the earth. "How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity...For there the Lord ordained His blessing, life forevermore" (Psalm 133.1-3). Make us one in the Spirit, that we may be the body of blessing revealing the Life of Christ throughout the earth. Father, You are answering the prayer of Jesus, "that they may all be one...so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 17.20-24). Lord, let it be so in our generation. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

Come Just As You Are 6-3-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I come to You and call upon Your name, as I begin this day entrusting my heart and my life to You. ... One of the songs of invitation to come receive new life in Christ was on my heart as I woke this morning: "Come just as you are; hear the Spirit call. Come just as you are. Come and see; come receive; come and live forever. Life everlasting, strength for today; Taste the Living Water, and never thirst again." The Samaritan woman at the well didn't know the gift of God she had standing in her midst that day. She couldn't understand why You were willing to speak with her, when all the tradition and religion and culture of the day stood between you. Man-made rules are often the enemy of God-ordained relationships. But there You were, stepping across every dividing line -- even the shame of her past she held hidden in her heart -- to offer new life to her soul (John 4.1-42). "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and Who it is that is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.' ... Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life" (John 4.10-14). Here You stand in our midst every day, only a prayer away. Yet how often we do not ask. How often do we turn to the rules and substitutes of tradition and religion and culture to fill us with life for the day instead of relationship with You. Those things will always leave us empty and thirsty because they can never satisfy the thirst of our souls. You are the Gift of God and You are here to receive us and fill us whenever we call, just as we are. Come fill us today with the Living Water of Your Spirit, and let it come gushing out of us to draw others into eternal life with You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!

The Voice of the Lord 6-2-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Light for my path and the Guide for my journey. Give me wisdom to look and listen for Your leading every day. ... "For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God" (Romans 8.14). We cannot understand the Christian walk apart of from understanding Your Holy Spirit. The children of God are led by the Spirit of God, so if we are not being led by Your Holy Spirit, are we really the children of God? At best, we would be rebellious and disobedient children, turning to our own wisdom and ways to live our lives independent of You. And how can we be led by Your Spirit unless we know Your Spirit? And how can we listen for Your leading unless we've learned to hear Your voice? You said, "My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me" (John 10.27). Not only is it a blessing to learn to know Your voice, it is essential if we are truly Your disciples who will truly follow You. If we are to be the body of Christ filled with the Spirit of Christ, if we are to be the bride of Christ being prepared to live eternally in the intimacy of union with You, then we must learn to listen and hear Your voice. "He who has the bride is the Bridegroom. The friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the Bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled" (John 3.29). Fill us with the joy of hearing Your voice. Free us from the confusion of the voices that would lead us astray. Teach us to be quiet, to listen, and to wait for the leading of Your voice spoken to our hearts by Your Spirit. This is the blessing and the heritage of the children of God and we are Your children. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe/reply please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- "preparing the way of the Lord" -- MessiahMin@aol.com Our mailing address: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502. God bless you!