The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation 11-17-05

Morning by Morning, Thursday 11-17-05 -- The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me see You with spiritual eyes and hear You with spiritual ears. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail" (Exodus 9:23-26). At one level of interpretation and application of Your Word, it seems that Egypt speaks of the places of our souls in the rebellion of pride against You. And Goshen speaks of the places in submission to You, under the covering of Your hand of protection. Out of Your love for us and Your desire for us to be whole and holy, You release Your judgments against the flesh of Egypt in our souls, so that the life of the Spirit of Goshen may arise and fill our souls with Your Spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:23; Ephesians 5:18). Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). You send Your judgments to bring us to our knees in humility, to turn to You in repentance and faith, that You may destroy our flesh and breathe the newness of Your life into our spirits. Then Your judgments become Your mercy, and Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). And another level, Egypt speaks of the nations and people of the earth in rebellion against You; and Goshen speaks of the nations and people in submission to You. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:65-7). When Your judgments rain down "hail and fire, mixed with blood" on the earth at the sound of Your trumpet call to repentance in those last days to come, let us find our place of refuge in submission and trusting faith in You -- in the land of Goshen where there is "no hail" of Your wrath (Revelation 8:7; Exodus 9:26). "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So we need not fear the judgments and wrath of God in our souls and in the places of the earth where we submit the lordship and receive the salvation of Jesus Christ. We need not fear the days of tribulation to come, nor these that are coming in some measure even now. Those who turn to You in repentance and faith will bring their lives under the hand of Your protection. And the world will have one last chance to see that the only place of safety and peace is to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Out of every tribe and tongue and nation, there will be a people who enter in to the land of Goshen -- the place of safety and shelter even in the days of judgment, tribulation, and wrath. This is the place of the kingdom of God -- the place of submission and faith in the Lord our God. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). But by Your grace and in Your mercy, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:29-30) I choose this day to bring every area of my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ in humble repentance and trusting faith -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. I ask you to continue to put to death the things of my flesh that I may live in the life of Your Spirit. Give me courage to embrace Your judgments, that I may have grace to embrace Your mercy. Through the tribulations of Your judgments against my flesh, may I enter in to the fullness of the kingdom of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Safety of Goshen in the Days of Tribulation 11-17-05

Morning by Morning, Thursday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me see You with spiritual eyes and hear You with spiritual ears. Fill my spirit with Your Spirit, as I watch and wait for Your leading. ... "And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt; there was hail with fire flashing continually in the midst of it, such heavy hail as had never fallen in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. The hail struck down everything that was in the open field throughout the land of Egypt, both human and animal; the hail also struck down all the plants of the field, and shattered every tree in the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the Israelites were, there was no hail" (Exodus 9:23-26). At one level of interpretation and application of Your Word, it seems that Egypt speaks of the places of our souls in the rebellion of pride against You. And Goshen speaks of the places in submission to You, under the covering of Your hand of protection. Out of Your love for us and Your desire for us to be whole and holy, You release Your judgments against the flesh of Egypt in our souls, so that the life of the Spirit of Goshen may arise and fill our souls with Your Spirit (1 Peter 2:11; Romans 7:23; Ephesians 5:18). Judgment begins with the household of God (1 Peter 4:17). You send Your judgments to bring us to our knees in humility, to turn to You in repentance and faith, that You may destroy our flesh and breathe the newness of Your life into our spirits. Then Your judgments become Your mercy, and Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). And another level, Egypt speaks of the nations and people of the earth in rebellion against You; and Goshen speaks of the nations and people in submission to You. "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Ephesians 5:6-7). When Your judgments rain down "hail and fire, mixed with blood" on the earth at the sound of Your trumpet call to repentance in those last days to come, let us find our place of refuge in submission and trusting faith in You -- in the land of Goshen where there is "no hail" of Your wrath (Revelation 8:7; Exodus 9:26). "For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 5:9). So we need not fear the judgments and wrath of God in our souls and in the places of the earth where we submit to the lordship and receive the salvation of Jesus Christ. We need not fear the days of tribulation to come, nor these that are coming in some measure even now. Those who turn to You in repentance and faith will bring their lives under the hand of Your protection. And the world will have one last chance to see that the only place of safety and peace is to "live in the shelter of the Most High" and to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). Out of every tribe and tongue and nation, there will be a people who enter in to the land of Goshen -- the place of safety and shelter even in the days of judgment, tribulation, and wrath. This is the place of the kingdom of God -- the place of submission and faith in the Lord our God. "We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22, NKJV). But by Your grace and in Your mercy, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it's light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory!" (Matthew 24:29-30) I choose this day to bring every area of my life under the lordship of Jesus Christ in humble repentance and trusting faith -- as best as I can and all by Your grace. I ask you to continue to put to death the things of my flesh that I may live in the life of Your Spirit. Give me courage to embrace Your judgments, that I may have grace to embrace Your mercy. Through the tribulations of Your judgments against my flesh, may I enter in to the fullness of the kingdom of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will be preaching and ministering. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

My Hiding Place 11-16-05

Morning by Morning, Wednesday Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the old hymn says, "Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee." You are my Rock and Refuge. Let me be hidden in Christ and Christ be found in me. ... They said forty tornados came churning across our region last night. We made preparations to get ready to hide in the most secure place in the center of our home, as we prayed together for protection and stood against the storm in the power of Your Word and Your Name. It's as if "the ruler of the power of the air" is mustering his forces of destruction in a furious rage to turn our hearts from God in the face of adversities and calamities (Ephesians 2:2). No doubt some will blame You and curse You, as our spiritual enemy is always whispering through the voices of those who are weak in their faith and hardened in their hearts, to just "curse God and die" (Job 2:9). Yet You intend every force of destruction -- from whatever source -- to turn our hearts to You, to call upon Your name, that we may be saved. You desire "that we may have life and have it abundantly," while "the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy" (John 10:10). You are patient with us and You are persistent with us, using even the tragedies and travesties of our lives -- whether the vengeance of the enemy or the judgments of God -- to draw us to You. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Let destruction drive me into the cleft of Your Rock. "You are my hiding place and my shield" (Psalm 119:114). You are "like a hiding place from the wind, a covert from the tempest" (Isaiah 32:2). You are the place of security and protection for all humble themselves in trusting faith to "live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, who say to the Lord, 'My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust' " (Psalm 91:1-2). Make me more secure in You each day, that I will be able to stand securely in You as You stand securely in me in the days of destruction. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month -- This Saturday Night with Ghuna Kumar from India -- at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Faithful God, Steadfast Friend 11-15-05

Morning by Morning, Tuesday 11-15-05 -- Faithful God, Steadfast Friend Good morning, Lord Jesus. In dark days, You are my Light. In seas of confusion, You are my steadfast Rock. Though the darkness increases across the face of the earth, Your light shines brighter still. Though the mountains tremble and the seas roar, the stronghold of Your security stands out like a rugged cliff at the edge of the waves. You are my Light and my Strength. ... "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their refuge in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and rescues them; He rescues them from the wicked, and saves them, because they take refuge in Him" (Psalm 37:39-40). We have no righteousness on our own or apart from You. But the righteous are those who trust in You by faith. "Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God" (James 2:23). As we trust in You, we abide in You and You abide in us (John 15:4). This is our security and safety; this is our guiding light in the midst of the darkness. Give me wisdom to continually find my refuge in You. Then, by Your grace, I will not fear the times of darkness or the times trouble. They will only draw me closer to You -- my faithful God and my steadfast Friend (John 15:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. My Friend Ghuna Kumar, who oversees many churches and ministries throughout southern India will here to preach and pray with us! People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Armor of Light 11-14-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me near to You as I exalt Your name in praises and prayer. ... "Besides this, you know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" (Romans 13:11-14). To "put on the armor of light" is to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ." It is the choice to submit my thoughts to Your thoughts and my desires to Your desires. It is the choice to allow Your Holy Spirit to convict me of sin, to crucify my flesh, to empower me by Your presence, and to lead me in the ways of Your truth and life. The call is not to merely see the Light, but to put on the Light; not merely to know about the Light, but to know the Light. This Light is the shining armor that pushes back the darkness, and that overcomes the battles of the world, the flesh, and the devil. But we have the choice to put on the armor each day or leave it hanging in the closet. By Your grace, I choose to put on the armor today and suit up for battle. I choose to embrace the Light of the glory of Your presence and put on Jesus Christ as my Lord. Now Your Light in my heart will overcome the darkness -- first in my own soul and then wherever I go. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the Lexington area, please Come to The Fountain this Saturday night for our monthly, citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. People come from all traditions and denominations for a time of intimate worship in the presence of the Lord as the Holy Spirit leads. My friend from India, Ghuna Kumar, who oversees many churches and ministries on the front line of the battle, will join me in leading our time together. Paul Cooper from Liberty Worship Center will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer. Our prayer ministry team will be available throughout the evening. All are welcome! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Know Me and Trust Me" 11-13-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Establish my soul securely in the knowledge of Your love for me and in the certainty of Your plan for me. Give me the wisdom to know I don't need to know the details. All I need to know is You. ... It seems You are saying, "This is wisdom, my son -- to know Me and to trust Me. Choose to entrust your thoughts and desires to Me, and I will shape them into My thoughts and desires. Be patient with Me in this process, for I am patient with you." Yes, Lord. Forgive my impatience and anxiety and doubts. Help me trust You more completely and trust that You are working in the details of my thoughts and desires to lead me into the fullness of Your plans. "My child, if you accept My words and treasure up My commandments within you, making you ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; if you indeed cry out for insight, and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures -- then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:1-5). Thank You, Lord. I receive the peace that comes with choosing to look to You and trusting by faith that You will give me Your wisdom and understanding in the measure I need it. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will preach and minister this Saturday! Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

My Map and Compass 11-12-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me focus my thoughts on You. ... "The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them" (Matthew 21:6). Yes, Lord. That's what Your disciples do -- they go and do as You direct. I need Your direction, Lord. Focus my thoughts and direct my paths. Open my eyes to see where You are going. Open my spirit to sense Your leading. Give me a more specific sense of Your direction in this season of my life. Help me focus my thoughts in the direction of the path of Your plans for me. Free me from distractions and detours. Deliver me from the tyranny of good plans, that I may pursue only Your best plan. "The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps" (Proverbs 16:9). If I were to direct my own steps, then I would be my own lord. I renounce my lordship and submit to Your Lordship. I renounce my own plans apart from Your leading and submit to Your plan and Your leading. Let Your Word be my map and Your Spirit be my compass. Lead on O King Eternal in the journey of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Important Note: Dear Praying Friends, from time to time some have suggested that I personalize these prayers with "I" instead of "we," in the style I prayed today. In the past, I've always started off with my personal prayer to get centered on Jesus, then waited on the Lord for His leading (the "..."), then prayed a prayer as if all of us were praying it together. To me, this was less presumptuous but some feel it is less personal. I've been told many change the "we's" to "I's" as they pray this devotional. As I try out this other style for awhile, I would appreciate your feedback on whether this style is more or less helpful as a devotional prayer. By the way, as I click "send" every morning, it is my joy to pray for each one of you! God bless you and thank you for joining me in the journey! Your friend and prayer partner, Tommy. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on biblical principles of inner healing and deliverance, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries-- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. My friend Ghuna Kumar from India will lead this Saturday night! Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Revelation of Light and Glory 11-11-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Light of the world and the Glory of God. Let the light of Your truth shine in my soul; let the glory of Your presence fill my heart. ... When John saw You in the vision of Revelation, You were wearing a "golden sash" across Your chest and Your face was "like the sun shining with full force." You were standing in the midst of the seven lampstands, which represented seven churches. At the sight of Your presence, John fell at Your feet as though dead. But You touched him and comforted him, saying, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, and the living one" (Revelation 1:12-20). Open our eyes to see You as You are, Lord -- living among us in the golden glory of Your presence and in the shining light of Your truth. You are touching us, comforting us, encouraging us, as we look to You in faith and bow before You in humility. We need not fear, for You hold all things in Your hands and know the end of all things from the beginning. You are the Living One and You are living in us, here in our hearts. "Christ in us, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). Continue the revelation. Reveal Yourself more to us each day as we seek Your face and welcome Your light and Your glory in our hearts and lives throughout the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Follow Joshua 11-10-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be the Lord of my life and the leader of my soul. ... As the Israelites gathered together at the edge of the wilderness before crossing over the Jordan in the land of Your promise, they were to look to Joshua, listen to his command, and follow his lead. You are our Joshua -- "Yashua" in the Hebrew -- the Salvation of Yaweh -- the salvation of God. "Then Joshua said, 'sanctify yourselves; for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you" (Joshua 3:5). Before we can cross over into the land of our promise, we must be sanctified -- be cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, be purified in the fire of the Holy Spirit, be surrendered and submitted to follow You wherever You lead. Only You can sanctify us; Your Holy Spirit is the sanctifier who purifies us and burns out of us the dross and chaff of sin and flesh. So how do we obey the command to "sanctify yourselves"? Your part is to do it, but our part is to choose it. It is Your will to sanctify us, to that we can experience the fullness of the presence and power of God in our lives, to experience the fulfillment of the promises of Your Word in our lives. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). You want to conform us into the image of Christ, to fill us with the nature of Your Spirit -- to make us holy as You are holy. But we must choose to embrace it, to embrace the process of Your purifying fire. And fire burns, but it is through the fire that lesser metals purified into gold. Your part is to do it, but our part is to choose it. Give us grace to choose well this day and every day, as You sanctify us and lead us into the land of Your promise. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank you for your prayers for our revival in western Kentucky. As we followed Jesus to kneel at the altar in surrender and submission of our lives, the fire of the Holy Spirit burned in our hearts to sanctify us for the glory and promises of God. I pray that He would burn in your hearts and your churches as the Holy Spirit purifies the glorious bride of Christ in golden glory. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Miracles of Glory 11-9-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All glory and honor and praise are Yours, now and forever -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... Someone asked me last night what I thought about the gold teeth miracle from our meeting Saturday night. I had already said Sunday morning that it seemed to me that the gold speaks of Your glory -- that You want our hearts and our mouths filled with the praises of the glory of God. But I can identify with the skeptical, the analytical, the doubters. I used to be one. My name is Thomas after all. But it was Thomas who saw the miracle of Your glory up close and personal when You invited him to put his finger in Your nail-scarred hands and his hand in Your wounded side. You said, "Do not doubt, but believe." And as his doubt changed to faith, he said, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:27-29). That's really the bottom line. You are God and we are not. You are the author of miracles -- You alone determine their timing and their nature. Perhaps a miracle we need sometimes if for You to change our pride into humility. You changed water into wine, mercury fillings into gold. You are the God who changes things. Change our hearts, O God. Let us know the miracle of Your love and the power of Your grace however You choose to manifest the presence of Your glory to us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please continue to cover us in prayer for our last night of revival in Sebree, Kentucky tonight. May the Lord continually revive our hearts with a hunger and thirst for the fullness of His presence throughout the earth. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Coming of the Messiah 11-8-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Messiah -- the Anointed One of God, the Holy One of Israel. In You, Jew and Gentile are one in the Spirit and one in the Lord (Ephesians 3:5-6). You are the Messiah who has come and Your are the Messiah who will come again. I welcome the witness of Your Word in my heart and I welcome the anointing of the oil of Your Spirit over my head. As best as I can, and all by Your grace, I choose again this day to surrender and submit my heart and life to You. ... As we were praying before I preached at our revival last night, someone said the news was filled with the word that Israeli soldiers were uncovering an inscription on the floor of what may have been the oldest church building ever found in Israel. Among the symbols of two fish, the inscription declared something like, "This temple is dedicated to the glory of Jesus Christ." What immediately came to mind as we prayed was the image of Jewish men on their knees brushing away the dust and debris that covered the floor of this ancient temple. I heard this word in my heart, "Israel will discover her Messiah." Yes, Lord. Let it be so. Your Word declares there will come a day when the eyes of Israel will behold You and their hearts will receive You. "And so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, 'Out of Zion will come the Deliverer; He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.' 'And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins' " (Romans 11:26-27). You have not forgotten Your people and You have not forgotten Your covenant. Your Spirit is still moving on the hearts of Your people throughout the earth to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; may they prosper who love you" (Psalm 122:6). It is no coincidence that the eyes of all the world are fixed upon this tiny nation of a tiny population of people who have endured endless waves of persecution and destruction at the hands of countless nations throughout the generations. Yet Israel remains. The world was shocked to hear just the other day the President of the major Muslim nation of Iran declare his heart that Israel should be wiped off the face of the earth. Yet You were not shocked. Your Word prophesied of these days long ago, when the nations of the earth would gather against Israel for her destruction. But the day of her planned destruction would become the day of her promised salvation. "On that day the Lord will shield the inhabitants of Jerusalem so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the Lord at their head. And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour out a Spirit of compassion and supplication on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that when they look upon the One whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over Him as one weeps over a firstborn. ... On that day a Fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity" (Zechariah 12:8-13:1). In fear and trembling, but also with confidence and joy, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem -- the peace that will come on that day the Prince of Peace will come again to the City of Peace. On that day, the evil one manifested in the evil of the hearts of men and the armies of the nations gathered to destroy the people of Your covenant, will be consumed in the coming of the fire of Your glory. "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of His mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of His coming" (2 Thessalonians 2:8). Come Lord Jesus, our Messiah and Christ, in the fullness of Your glory to establish Your kingdom on earth and in our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"So Great a Salvation" 11-7-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. There is no salvation apart from You -- everything else is something less. The experiences of our lives teach us that there is no true peace, no true joy, no true fulfillment apart from a living and intimate relationship with You. This is the relationship we were created for, that we long for, that we are to live for. In fact, we cannot live in any true sense of the word "live" without it, for You are life. There is no true life apart from life in You. ... "How can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? It was declared at first through the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard Him, while God added His testimony with signs and wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His will" (Hebrews 2:3-4). O, how much of the fullness of this salvation that we neglect, that we waste, that we squander away. Like Esau who despised his birthright, we settle for so much less than the fullness of our inheritance and throw away what we should treasure above all. We can see You, hear You, know You. We can grow in the intimacy of relationship with You. We can experience Your signs and wonders and miracles. We can live our lives as instruments of Your graces in the gifts of Your Holy Spirit that You distribute to each of us as You release the power of Your love through us to others. O, how much we fail to receive and O, how much we fail to give away. Forgive us for neglecting so great a salvation. Restore within us a hunger and thirst for a living experience of the living God in every moment of our lives. Let us settle for nothing less, let us be satisfied with nothing less than the fullness of the salvation You long for us to have. We renounce our complacency and compromise, our lukewarmness and cold love, our fear of disappointment, and our spiritual laziness in the name of Jesus. Awaken within us a desire to encounter You afresh each day in the signs and wonders of Your presence. Let the gift of Your Holy Spirit be the gift of a heart set ablaze with a passion for You and a passion for the life we were created to live in the fullness of our salvation. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). This is our great salvation. This is our great gift. Let us receive it in the all the fullness You have intended. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

King of Glory 11-6-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are glorious. You are the King of glory. I open up the gates of my heart and soul -- that the King of glory may come in. ... "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up your heads O gates! And be lifted up O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory" (Psalm 24:7-10). They say that the color gold speaks of Your glory, and that Your glory is Your manifest presence. You manifested Your presence in our hearts in amazing ways last night during our altar ministry training for our revival at the Methodist Church in Sebree, Kentucky. Though it's hard to fully understand it yet, You manifested Your presence in some of our mouths last night. The gold of Your glory was manifested in golden teeth and fillings that miraculously appeared where only mercury and silver had been before! These are amazing days of Your glory being manifested upon the earth in amazing ways. It's almost hard to do church decently and in order while people are getting flashlights to look in each others mouths and others are jumping up and down in the pews with joy. But its Your church, Your gold, and Your glory. As we behold You, You are changing us into Your image from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18) -- even by the skin of our teeth. What an amazing promise we have, and what amazing days of the fulfillment of Your promise -- "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). As we welcome the King of glory into our hearts and souls, we will "Arise and shine for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon us!" (Isaiah 60:1). In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please cover us in prayer for our prayer revival in Sebree, Kentucky this week. May the King of glory fill your hearts and mouths! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Faith of a Child 11-5-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit as I lift my face and open my heart to You. ... You call us to a simple, trusting faith -- the faith of an obedient child who does not doubt the truth of Your words. As You said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3-4). There is a simplicity of devotion and a boldness of faith in the heart of a child who knows Your love. Before the world begins to whittle away our faith and pepper our mind with doubt and unbelief, there is a gift of trusting, unwavering child-like faith. Restore our hearts and minds to that faith. Humble us when our pride makes us think we know more than You and that our word is more true than Your Word. These are the barriers that block our way into the fullness of the kingdom of God. Lord, break through these barriers and restore us again to the simplicity of devotion to You. Then we will enter in to the fullness of Your kingdom and the fullness of Your kingdom will enter in to our hearts. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Many Sons unto Glory" 11-4-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You've taught me how important it is to start my day with You -- to offer to You my first thoughts and words as a living sacrifice. These first moments of the morning will set the course for the rest of my day. As the worship song says, "Lord I give You my heart, I give You my soul. I live for You alone. Every breath that I take, every moment I'm awake, I live my life for You." ... As Tricia began her morning with You yesterday before going to have the ultrasound of her womb, Your Holy Spirit led her to Psalm 45. These words spoke to her heart: "In the place of ancestors You, O King, shall have sons; You will make them princes in all the earth" (Psalm 45:16). Though we had been thinking we would have a daughter, she said yesterday morning, "I think the Lord is telling me we're going to have a son." As it turns out ... that's what the doctor said too. Father, we thank You for the gift of children. We thank You for the gift of this son. We dedicate and consecrate his spirit and soul and body to You as a holy, living sacrifice. He is a prince of the King. Cleanse him continually in the blood of Jesus, purify him always in the fire of the Holy Spirit, forever fill his heart with the love of the Father heart of God. May Your peace rest upon his shoulders and may Your joy fill his spirit. May You sanctify him by the washing of Your Word and anoint him in the power of Your Spirit. You are "bringing many sons unto glory," those "'who are being sanctified" for Your purposes and Your glory (Hebrews 2:10-11). With his mother and our family, I entrust this son to You to be one of Your sons -- a son of God, a prince of the King, a man after God's own heart -- in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Give us all humility and faith, wisdom and courage, to raise up our children -- both natural and spiritual -- in the way they should go, to live their lives for You (Proverbs 22:6). As Your sons and daughters, keep training us and raising us up in the way we should go. Let our lives be living sacrifices of praise that bring joy to Your heart. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Womb of Life 11-3-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. This is a day You have made. I choose to rejoice and be glad -- glad that You are with me, watching over me, leading the way. ... Today, we'll have an ultrasound to see the life You are forming in Tricia's womb. Life is one of Your most amazing gifts, and we thank You for breathing this gift of life into our lives. We pray for Your covering of protection at this most vulnerable place in the journey of life for this child and all the children You are calling forth in the earth for these amazing days. You would not choose to breathe life into their mothers' wombs in these days of both great darkness and great light unless You had a very special calling and purpose for each one. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). Lord, You are the giver of life. You scooped up the dust of the earth from the generations of Jeremiah's father and mother into Your hands and then breathed life into the womb of his mother. He became a living soul with purpose and calling and destiny. Even before You formed him, You knew him and the lives You would form through him. Even before he breathed his first breath, You consecrated him and set him apart for his place in Your plan. You placed desires in his heart that would guide his steps and thoughts in his mind that would teach him Your ways. You knit him together with deliberate purpose and the wisdom of that sees the end from the beginning (Psalm 139:13). But though the human spirit You created and breathed into existence was holy and pure, the dust of the earth from his earthly parents was both blessed through generations of obedience and cursed through generations of sin. Even Jeremiah would have to overcome the tainting of original sin and the sins of the generations, while receiving the blessings from obedience and faithfulness of those who had gone before him. These are the opportunities and challenges we all face. We are all created with godly purpose and destiny (Jeremiah 29:11); but we are also created in human bodies tainted with human sin (Psalm 51:5). We all have need of a Savior -- One who will call forth the blessings and overcome the curses, as we entrust our lives to You. This trusting and overcoming is not just one moment of our lives, but a daily journey. Give us grace for the journey, that we may fulfill the purpose and calling in the destiny of our lives for Your glory in Your plan. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Nehemiah's Prayer 11-2-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your desires on my heart to guide my thoughts and my paths this day. ... Nehemiah cried out to You to for Your favor and grace to be upon him before he went in to meet with the king: "O Lord, let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who delight in revering Your name. Give success to Your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man" (Nehemiah 1:11). Though Nehemiah was a broken man living in broken times under Your judgments for his sins and the sins of his nation, You heard his cry and gave him favor in the sight of the king. Though he lived with his people in the bondage of captivity in a foreign land, where they had been driven away from their promised land as a consequence of their actions and in accordance with their choices of sin and rebellion against You, You poured out Your mercy upon his humble and repentant heart. Lord, humble our hearts. Lead us by Your Holy Spirit in prayers of repentance from our sin and of faith in Your mercy. Forgive us, cleanse, and then anoint us with Your favor and mercy and grace. Lead us in the paths that will be Your means of deliverance for us and for our nation. Put those kinds of prayers on our hearts and that kind of faith in our spirits. Restore us and redeem us in the fullness of our calling and the fulfillment of our destiny. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Rays of Hope and Light 11-1-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open my eyes to see You; open my ears to hear You; open my spirit to know You. ... I see the red and orange rays of light shining in the sky above the horizon, awaiting the burst of light from the rising of the morning sun. There will come a day when the "sun of righteousness" will rise over the earth on the Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:1-6). All the earth will see You appear in glory. And the light of the glory of Your coming will overcome and displace all darkness (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12). But before the day You come in glory on the earth, You desire to come in glory in our hearts. King of Glory, we open up the gates of our hearts and welcome You in (Psalm 24:7-10). Let the light of Your glory overcome and displace the darkness in our hearts and the darkness in the earth. Even now, let us see Your rays of hope breaking across the sky of our souls. "And may He so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Rays of hope, rays of light Shining across the morning sky You're coming. Darkness flees before the light The King of Glory fills my life You're coming. Come fill the earth with Your glory Come fill our hearts with You only You're coming. Come Lord Jesus, here in our hearts and here in the earth. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

All Saints Eve 10-31-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Lord of Life. Come live Your life in me this day. ... Many will celebrate Halloween tonight. As I understand it, the name comes from All Saints' Eve, the night before All Saints Day, in the Catholic tradition. This was to celebrate the death and eternal life of the saints, especially those who died as martyrs for their faith in You. Your Word says "we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). The "witnesses" are those who "were commended for their faith" and "of whom the world was not worthy" (Hebrews 11:38-39). Now they are away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Now they behold You face to face, as they are one with You in Your ministry of intercession at the right hand of the Father for those who remain in the world to fulfill our calling in our generation (Hebrews 7:25). Somewhere along the path of history, this day of the Feast of All Saints was set for November 1st, which also coincided with the Celtic celebration of Samhain, named for their pagan deity known as "the lord of death." As I understand it, the eve of Samhain at the beginning of winter, was a time of the pagan sacrifice to this spirit of death that allowed the souls of the dead to return to the earth, tormenting those who had tormented them during life. Many of the images witches, ghosts, cats, and things we commonly see associated with Halloween are associated with this pagan tradition, along with other traditions blended in through the years. But You have suffered death for us that we might live in You. "It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:34-37). You are the Lord of Life and You have conquered death. We need not fear death, or any tormenting spirit of death or fear. You perfect love casts out all fear and Your life has overcome the power of death (1 John 4:18; Hebrews 2:14-15). Death and fear are defeated through the victory of Your cross and the glory of Your resurrection. As the great cloud of witnesses join with You in cheering us on in our generation, let us live our lives for Your glory in the victory of Your life over all death, on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

The Rain of Your Word 10-30-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me hear Your words of life. Let them be life to me. ... You are the Word. You're the Word of Life. Speak Your Word to me. Lord let me hear, Hear Your Word of Life, Hear Your Word for me. Let Your Word come down. Come down in my heart, From Your heart to me. Thank You for this new song of Your Spirit that You're singing in my soul this morning. As You sing, I see little children running outside laughing in a sprinkle of rain. Their faces are turned to the sky with their arms opened wide. Their mouths are open and they're sticking out their tongues to catch the drops of rain. Give us the joy of tasting Your Word and drinking it in. Give us open hearts and open arms to embrace Your Word to us. You are the Word, and You are the Life (John 1:1 and 14:6). You are the Word of Life to us; and we embrace You this day. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on healing and wholeness, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our address is 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, Kentucky 40502. Come to The Fountain the 3rd Saturday night of every month at 7 pm for our citywide gathering for prayer and worship in the chapel. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com