Merry Christmas, Lord 12-8-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I choose to begin this day with You. As best as I can, I focus my thoughts on You alone in these first moments of the morning. ... This year there is so much discussion about whether this is the "Christmas season" or the "holiday season." We debate whether it is appropriate to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy holidays." Editorials and radio commentators argue about whether the decorated trees we display are "Christmas trees" or "holiday trees." Of course, the truth is You are the reason for the season -- if it were not for Christ, there would be no Christmas. Even the word "holidays" comes from "holy days". The days are holy because Your Holy Spirit is drawing our attention and our hearts to the Holy One. For me, the tree speaks of the One who came as a Child born in a manger to bring hope to all who would hear, but died as a Man hung upon a tree to bring life to all who would receive. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us -- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree' -- in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14). We all have the freedom to celebrate whoever and whatever we want in our hearts -- if not on the lawns of our courthouses -- no matter what nation we live in. I choose to celebrate You in my heart. And every day I celebrate the gift of life and the blessings of God available to me through the sacrifice of Your love on the cross and Your resurrection in glory is a holy day. I choose to keep Christ in my Christmas. I choose for this day to be a holy day in my heart. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Lord Jesus. In Jesus' name I 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 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

"Come Up Here" 12-7-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me up by Your Spirit into the arms of our Father. ... "After this I looked, and there in heaven a door stood open! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, 'Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.' At once, I was in the spirit, and there in heaven stood a throne, with One seated on the throne!" (Revelation 4:1-2) As we look to You in worship and prayer, You open the door to the heavenly realm. You catch us up in the spirit, and open our ears to hear Your voice. As we humble ourselves before You, You are high and exalted, seated on the throne of our hearts. You desire to show us a measure of Your purposes, that we may know a measure of our part in Your plans -- little by little, and step by step, as You lead. Yet even though You opened the door of heaven and spoke to his spirit to come, John had a choice. He could "come up here" or not. He could seek Your face and humble himself to listen for the leading of Your voice or not. And that's a choice You continually set before each of us: "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 earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, you also will be revealed with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4). As You revealed Yourself to John, reveal Yourself to me. Catch me up in the spirit every day as I turn my eyes toward You and open my heart to Your leading. By Your grace, I choose to die daily to my flesh and this world, to live in Christ. I choose to come up here with You, setting my mind on You. Cause Your thoughts to become my thoughts and Your desires to become my desires, as my life becomes more hidden with You a little more each day. In Jesus' name I 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 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

"In the Presence of the Lord" 12-6-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the worship song says, "I will enter Your gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter Your courts with praise." I welcome You with worship into my heart again today. ... "And the Lord took note of Hannah; she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord. ... Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with God and with the people" (1 Samuel 2:21-26). I want to grow up in Your presence, Lord. I want to enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise every day. Let me never be satisfied with the depth of intimacy in our relationship -- let me always hunger and thirst more of You, longing for the nearness of Your presence in my soul. Let me grow in Your favor and pleasure, as I grow in maturity of spirit and soul and body. "Happy are those whom You choose and bring near to live in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple" (Psalm 65:4). Let my life be Your temple and my heart be Your house. In Jesus' name I 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 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

Favored One 12-5-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn my eyes toward You and open my heart to the leading of Your Holy Spirit. ... "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.' But she was much perplexed by these words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God' " (Luke 1:26-30). This is the favor of God -- that You are with us. We need not fear, for we found favor with You the moment we believed You and welcomed You into our hearts and lives. You will never leave us nor forsake us. You continually comfort us with Your Word, "Do not fear, for I am with you" (Isaiah 43:5). Like Mary, I am a favored one. I have nothing to fear, for You have favored me with Your presence in my heart and my home and every area of my life. Though I have not and cannot earn it, You have granted the blessing of Your favor to me by Your grace, as You grant it to all who will humble themselves before You in trusting faith. I humble myself before You again this day, and ponder the greeting of Your grace in my heart. In Jesus' name I 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 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

God's Children 12-04-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You and the Father and the Spirit are One. In Your mercy and love, You come and abide in my heart as You draw me near to abide in You. ... "See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reasons the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:1-3). Father, I am one of Your children. And children are loved as they are by their parents, even though they still need to grow up. You love me even though You do not love all that I do. Help me to grow up into maturity. Let me be more known by You than I am known by the world. One day, when You are fully revealed and I see You face to face, I will be like You, according to the promise of Your Word. And Your desire is to make me a little more like You each day between this day and that one, in the process of purifying my souls. Give me courage to embrace Your process and faith to trust You in the journey. In Jesus' name I 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 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

"Watching Daily at My Gates" 12-3-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me get quiet and still, as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit into the presence of my Father. ... You are the Wisdom of God, declaring, "Happy is the one who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting beside My doors. Whoever finds Me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord" (Proverbs 8:34-35). Thank You for the grace that allows me to come daily to the gate of prayer and wait at the door of praise. Thank You for loving me enough to move in my heart to open my ears to listen for You and open my eyes seek You. Then You bless me with the favor of knowing the nearness of Your presence and the blessing of Your peace. As I watch and wait in the silence of surrender before You, You fill my mind with Your wisdom and fill my heart with Your will -- a little more each day. This is the wisdom of Your way to happiness and peace. In Jesus' name I 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 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

"Only One Thing" 12-2-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of the morning, focus my thoughts on You. There will be time to plan out my day, to intercede for others, and all the other things that will influence my thoughts and choices today. But right now, I choose to give my complete devotion and attention to one thing alone, to You alone. ... As You said to one You loved long ago, "Martha, Martha, you are distracted and worried by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42). Lord Jesus, You are the better part. You are the one thing I have need of. As Your Holy Spirit draws my focus to Your face and opens my heart to Your voice now in the foundation of my day, I will not lose the sense of Your presence in my soul and at my side -- no matter what distractions and worries I encounter along the way. 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 and prayer 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

Merry Christmas & Year-End Praises 12-1-05

Dear Friends of Tommy Hays & Messiah Ministries, Merry Christmas! This is the season the Holy Spirit miraculously turns the EYES of people throughout the earth to Jesus the Christ, as He desires to turn their HEARTS to Christ as well. We celebrate together the birth of this Child who changes our HEARTS forever! I write at Christmas every year to praise God for the ways He has allowed us to be a part of His ministry of love and grace, doing our part in our generation to "prepare the way of the Lord." Along the journey, you have been a part of the life of Messiah Ministries and the family of Tommy and Tricia Hays—our blended family of six with one more on the way! Maybe you've prayed for us, invited us to your church, joined with us for a retreat, prayer revival, or spiritual direction, blessed us by your generous giving, trusted us with your burdens in prayer ministry, joined with us in my “Morning by Morning” journey of prayer, or encouraged us in other ways—letting us know you believe in what the Lord is doing through our ministry. Please know how grateful we are for you and pray abundant blessings upon your lives this year and in many to come. We pray your lives will be blessed with the Love, Peace and Joy of the Lord in this season as we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, Jesus the Christ. We thank God for your blessings, prayers, and encouragement to us. Our Father has called us to continue the ministry of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit—to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free, preparing the way of the Lord for His coming in glory—first in our hearts and one day in the skies. We need to be set free from the wounds of the past and the bondage that hold us back, and set free to be fully released and empowered to live out our destiny in Christ (Isaiah 61; Luke 4). We are truly blessed to share in this process of healing of spirit, soul, and body, while equipping disciples to fulfill their calling and purpose in the peace and joy of God. The heart of our ministry is providing a safe place for people to be honest with God and themselves, to release to Him their pain and shame as He pours in His healing love—"Pain out, Love in." Many speak of life-changing experiences in these divine encounters as we help by following the simple pattern of ministry I teach: "Here's Jesus, give it to Him." Though I love to minister God's healing love in this personal way, I've been increasingly called to teach and equip others to minister in their own churches, small groups, and families. It's been an exciting year to go throughout the U.S. and abroad with this message and ministry. I'm very excited to provide our first teaching DVD set called "Preparing the Way of the Lord". The DVD’s teach Biblical, spiritual principles I've learned along the way for inner healing and deliverance in a prayer retreat setting. We believe the Lord is using this to multiply our ministry to people and places I'll never be able to go, as people receive these teachings and prayers in their own homes and churches. In September, I had the joy of my third ministry journey to India with International Justice Mission. Though I'm now in full time ministry, I continue to keep my law license to be available for special assignments as the Lord leads. This was one of them. I went to India as a lawyer to work with the IJM team to literally set the captives free from bonded slavery, using the laws of India to answer the cries of those who are impoverished and oppressed through the cruelty of the caste system and bonded labor crimes. Many come to know the Lord as they learn that He is their Deliverer who has heard their cries. I was honored to pray with one man, whose family was set free. He took his reparations money and built a house of prayer for his village before building his own house out of his joy and thanksgiving to Jesus Christ. He was living out the message of the book of Haggai before he ever read it! Also on that trip, we were able to rekindle my friendship with Brother Ghuna Kumar of Gospel Friends. Brother Kumar oversees many churches, a Bible School, an orphanage, and over 300 evangelists who go into the poorest villages where the gospel has never been preached. Gerry Calvert and I prayed for people in a village where people had never seen a white person. The Lord moved on our hearts to help establish a church there. As we were going through a village with the IJM team, I heard behind me, "Brother Tommy, Praise the Lord!" It was a man I had prayed with on my first trip to India several years ago for deliverance. Here he was, filled with joy and wearing a patch that said, "Jesus is Lord" boldly proclaiming the name of Jesus in an area where Christians are heavily persecuted with prison, beatings, and even death. What a small world to us, but not to a miraculous God! We never fully know the lasting fruit of our words and prayers in obedience to God's leading. It is thrilling to have a little glimpse every now and then! It's been a great joy this year to continue teaching and ministering on being filled with Holy Spirit among Methodist churches and other traditions. The Lord has given me a gift to explain this Biblically in a way that people are hungry to receive. I spoke on "The Purpose and Power of the Holy Spirit" at the national Aldersgate conference this year. Next year, I will speak on "Spiritual Freedom—Breaking the Chains of Your Past." My subject was "Prayer and Fasting for Missions" at the annual missions festival of UM Men in North Georgia—the largest men's group in the Methodist Church. And I've had the blessing of leading many retreats, prayer revivals, teaching conferences, and citywide gatherings for prayer and worship this year. This furthers our calling to lead people into deeper depths of intimacy with God. We continue to lead our citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship at The Fountain on the 3rd Saturday night of every month, where many experience healing of every form as we welcome the presence of God. The Lord has clearly spoken two very clear words to me at key times and confirmed them in many ways—“Teach My people to pray” and “Prepare the way of the Lord.” As we pray for others, we also model for them how to pray for themselves and others. As we see people set free from burdens and bondages, we also help them mature in their relationship with God. This prepares the way for His coming in deeper levels of intimacy in their hearts and in the world. We praise God for allowing us to be instruments of His grace preparing the Bride of Christ for the coming of the Lord—and we can’t do it without you! The Lord continues to be clear that we are not to charge a set fee for our ministries of prayer. So we obediently and joyfully depend upon His provision through your generous support. He has miraculously provided for our family every month for eight years of ministry now! Please remember us in your year-end charitable giving and long-term planned giving. Your gifts of any size are tax-deductible, truly needed, and gratefully appreciated. Please also prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter, or including us in a Christian Will or Trust. Through our relationship with the Kentucky Christian Foundation, we can provide free legal services to arrange gifts of property, stocks, and other assets. You will receive an immediate tax deduction for full value, as we receive the provision of God to continue sharing His love through the gospel and full salvation of Jesus Christ. We pray you will continue to join us in ministry through your faithful prayers and generous resources for the Glory of our King and His Kingdom. May the Lord richly and abundantly pour out His overflowing blessings upon you in this season of Joy! God bless you! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Rev. Tommy Hays Founder and Spiritual Director Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd Lexington, Kentucky, USA 40502 859-422-1794 MessiahMin@aol.com PS: Please forward this on to anyone you think would be interested.

Wise Men Still Seek You 12-1-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As they say, wise men still seek You. I seek You this day. I lay down before You the gold of my heart, and the frankincense of my prayers, and the myrrh of my worship in the trusting surrender of my soul. ... "When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh" (Matthew 2:9-11, NKJV). Morning by Morning and day by day, lift my eyes to the heavens to behold the sings of the glory of Your presence and open my heart to Your Spirit to welcome the glory of Your presence in my soul. This is "the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God will to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:26-27). My riches are what I treasure; and where my treasure is, there my heart will be also. I am rich at heart because I treasure You more than anything else. With the exceedingly great joy that I have found You, I lay down all my riches at Your feet in worship again this day. 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 and prayer dvd's on spiritual principles of 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

"In Due Season" 11-30-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Tree of Life. Live in me and bear Your fruit for Your kingdom. Fill my life with Your Life again today, as much as Your Holy Spirit has prepared me to receive and as much as I can handle by Your grace. ... In a moment, I'll join the small group men and women from ministry and marketplace You've joined together to pray out over our city from the top floor of the tallest building in the center of our city early on Wednesday mornings. Since we've been meeting for prayer, we've seen You move in different ways in different seasons. Lord, what will this season hold for our city? What will this season hold for my life? What we see in the natural realm often speaks to us of Your principles in the spiritual realm. With seasons, there are different times for different purposes -- a time for sowing and for reaping, a time of fallowness and a time of fruitfulness. "For everything there is a season" (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Release us from the false belief that all seasons are supposed to be the same. Deliver us from the discouragement that comes when our expectations are fixed on the wrong season. Each season has its purpose. Lord, work Your purpose in me. Work Your purpose in my family, my church, my community, and my world. Give me eyes to see the seasons of fruitfulness to come even when the fields seem to lie fallow. Give me eyes to see the seasons of reaping to come even in the seasons of sowing. You come with Your power in the measure of grace we need "in due season" -- not too early and never too late (Genesis 18:14). Like a tree planted by the "streams of water" of Your Spirit, let my life yield the fullness of Your fruit "in its season" (Psalm 1:3). In Jesus' name I 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 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 for You Alone 11-29-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let me be consumed with the passion of Your Flame, as I welcome the Fire of Your Spirit and the embrace of my Father's arms. ... Let me be consumed With the passion of Your Flame Set my heart ablaze, Burning in my soul. I live for You alone, All for You alone. Fill me with Your love With Your power and Your grace As I seek Your holy face, And learn Your holy ways. I live for You alone, All for You alone. Thank You for the gift of this song You are writing on my heart and singing in my soul. "For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation, my Fortress; I shall never be shaken" (Psalm 62:1-2). I choose again this day by Your grace to live my life all for You alone. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as you know, the Lord gives me these new songs sometimes in my morning prayers. I'm not a songwriter or publisher, but I've had the blessing of hearing some of these songs put to music and sung over us at my meetings from some of my morning friends, like Heather from Wales and Don from western Kentucky. Feel free to use these in any way the Lord leads to minister to others, and if you can, come sing them over us sometime! To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching and prayer dvd's on spiritual principles of 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

"Arise, My Soul, Arise!" 11-28-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Steady my soul and focus my thoughts, as I watch and wait for Your leading at the beginning of a new day. ... Charles Wesley wrote a song called, "Arise, My Soul, Arise!" That is my prayer today. Your Word says, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). Awaken my soul this morning. Fill me afresh with Your Holy Spirit. Draw me up into the arms of my Father. Stand up in me as I stand in You, Lord Jesus. Each day is a new day. I choose to arise and follow, as You lead the way. 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 Biblical, Spiritual 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. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Dreamer 11-27-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's good to slip away from friends and family for a few moments alone with You. ... We went to see the movie "Dreamer" last night -- based on a true story and filmed here in Lexington and Versailles, Kentucky with all the familiar scenes of rolling green hills and horse farm fences. It was really about a little girl -- who reminded all of us of my little girl Maddie -- whose hopes and dreams became real, despite all the brokenness and discouragement that surrounded her. That's a lot like our lives too. You have created each one of us with hope in our spirit and a dream of fully becoming who You created us to be to fulfill the calling You created us to live. "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not your harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13). You are the fulfillment of my hopes and dreams. You draw me to seek You, You open my eyes to find You, and You open my heart to receive You. As I learn to abide in You and allow You to abide in me, You fill my mind with Your dreams and lead my heart into my destiny in You. This is the dream of "a future with hope" -- despite all the brokenness and discouragement that ever surrounds me in a fallen world. You are the ultimate dreamer, and You've put that dream in my spirit and in the spirit of all who call upon Your name. 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 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. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Generations of Faith 11-26-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I settle in for our time together this morning, I remember the song my grandmother used to sing as she went about her day: "And He walks with me and He talks with me, and He tells me I am His own. And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known." ... Thank You for the blessings You desire to pass down through the generations -- the blessings of faith, of an awareness of our need for intimacy in relationship with You, of knowing that You are personal and You want to be personally involved in our lives. As Paul said to Timothy, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you" (2 Timothy 1:5). Thank You for the blessing of faith from my mother and grandmother. Thank You for those who have gone before me to help prepare the way of the Lord in my heart. That is a gift of grace I received before I ever made my first choice of sin or obedience. I pray for those who didn't have mothers and grandmothers in the faith. Let the prayers of the family of God as spiritual mothers and grandmothers prepare the way of the Lord in their hearts. You desire to walk with them and talk with them and call them Your own. You are patient and full of grace for those who were blessed with a legacy of godly faith and for those who were not, for those who have been steadfast in their faith and for those who wandered from the roots of their faith. You are "not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" before "the day of the Lord" (2 Peter 3:8-10). Draw us all near to You as the song of the Lord rises in our hearts as we go about our day. 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 and prayer dvd's on 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. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Early in the Morning" 11-25-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Early, before the house begins to stir and thoughts begin to whirl, I come to You to offer my mind and heart to You alone. ... "Early in the morning He came again to the temple. All the people came to Him and He sat down and began to teach them" (John 8:2). Come again to Your temple this morning, Lord Jesus. Let my body be Your temple; let my heart be Your altar (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). Teach me Your ways and impart to me Your nature. Cause Your thoughts to be my thoughts and Your will to be my will. There is a spiritual principle that as I lift my face and my heart to You, to behold You in worship and prayer, I become more like You, as Your Spirit fills me and conforms me to Your nature, a little more each time -- "from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV). In these early moments of the morning, I look to You alone and listen for the leading of Your voice alone. You are my teacher and Your Holy Spirit is my guide. "If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). Let Your glory fill Your temple -- the temple of my soul -- as You are high and lifted up in my worship and prayer, in communion with You (from Isaiah 6:1-3). ... 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 and prayer dvd's on 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. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Thank Offerings of Praise 11-24-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- for Your goodness and mercy in my life, especially in the times when I deserved it the least. "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 107:1) ... In the days of King Hezekiah, the land and hearts of the people were restored to You. The temple had become filled with unholy things, but You moved on the heart of Hezekiah to cleanse the temple and cleanse the hearts of the people. When the temple was cleansed, the people and priests and king began to worship You throughout the nation and bring offerings of thanksgiving in praise of Your name (2 Chronicles 2:1-30). "Then Hezekiah said, 'You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord; come near, bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.' The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings; and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. ... And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because of what God had done for the people; for the thing had come about suddenly" (2 Chronicles 2:31-36). Lord, You seek those who are "of a willing heart" to come and offer thanks and praise to You. It is a choice to have a thankful heart and a choice to praise You in the temples of our hearts. I choose today to thank You and to praise You. I choose today to offer my life to You as a living sacrifice. Cleanse my heart from all that is unholy, and fill my heart with the holiness of Your presence. Let it even "come about suddenly" in a fresh baptism of Your Holy Spirit, as I lift my heart to You in praise and thank You for Your goodness in my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Happy Thanksgiving, my friends! Click on this link to a wonderful presentation of praise to God on this National Day of Thanksgiving from The Presidential Prayer Team: 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

Give Thanks 11-23-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I sing to You this song of praise: "Give thanks with a grateful heart; give thanks to the Holy One; give thanks, because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son...." "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit" (1 Thessalonians 5:17-19). There is an attitude that welcomes the Spirit and an attitude that quenches the Spirit. In one our eyes are fixed on You, and in the other our eyes are fixed on our circumstances. We have a choice to give thanks to You through the hardest of times or grumble and complain through even the best of times. Hard times reveal our true heart. Will we trust You and thank You that You are with us no matter what, or will we ignore You or even curse You as we are swallowed up in self pity and self focus? This call to be thankful in all circumstances is not a call to embrace evil or tragedy, sickness or pain. It is a call to embrace You as we are confronted by these struggles, trusting that You are with us and You will help us, as You bring us through, holding tight to Your hand and fixing our eyes on Your face. Though You do not cause or will all the evil and tragedy we face in this broken, fallen world in rebellion to Your will, You do use it all to draw us to You, as we persevere in humility and faith through prayer. You don't waste a moment of our sufferings, but use it all as grist in the mill to change our hearts and make us more like You. Forgive me Lord, when I cease to give You thanks in all circumstances. Forgive me when I forget that these are commands and not options, when You tell me to "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances." You command it because You know the power of a thankful heart and a praying spirit that rejoices in You no matter what. That's how You make me victorious and not my circumstances. That's how I become a conqueror instead of a victim, a worshipper instead of a complainer. That's how I become more like You each day. 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. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

A Thankful Nation 11-22-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for setting aside the glory of heaven to humble Yourself in the likeness of human flesh and blood to live Your life as an example to us and lay down Your life as a sacrifice for us. Thank You for making a way for us to be reconciled and restored in relationship with God through the blood of Your cross and the victory of Your resurrection, despite our sin. I give thanks with a grateful heart, as I begin this day with You. ... Thank You for the blessing that our nation continues to celebrate a day of thanksgiving every year. Though many think it may be a day of thankfulness in general, it has always been a day of thanksgiving to God. From the time President George Washington decreed a national day of thanksgiving in 1789, then becoming a celebrated day throughout the nation when President Abraham Lincoln decreed the last Thursday of every year as Thanksgiving Day in 1863, we have given You thanks as a nation. May the heart of Abraham Lincoln's "Proclamation Establishing Thanksgiving Day" of October 3, 1863 be the heart of our personal and national prayer every day, as we confess the sins of our nation in our own generation, seeking Your mercy, and giving thanks for our blessings to "Almight God," "our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens," and "the Most High God:" The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth. /s/ A. Lincoln "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to declare Your steadfast love in the morning, and Your faithfulness by night" (Psalm 92:1-2). Thank You, Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Special thanks to Gerry Calvert for passing along this reminder of our history. To subscribe/unsubscribe, or to order my teaching dvd's on 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. Daily archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

"Follow Me" 11-21-05

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give You the offering of these first moments of the morning. As I begin, may I continue throughout the day -- looking to You and following Your lead. ... Praying with a friend the other night, he prayed these words that have remained in my spirit -- "It's really pretty simple, Lord. You said, 'Follow Me.' " That really does sum up Your call and our responsibility as Christians -- followers and disciples of Christ. You said, "My sheep hear My voice. I know them and they follow Me" (John 10:27). Of course, we cannot follow unless we are looking to You to see where You are going. We cannot obey You unless we are spending time in the silence of surrender to know the leading of Your voice. So the key to following is waiting -- waiting and watching for Your leading. If we are Your sheep, You will know us and we will know You because we spend time with You. If we are Your sheep, we will hear Your voice because we spend time listening for Your voice. Lord Jesus, open my eyes to see You as the first sight of the morning, so I can watch You lead throughout the day. Open my ears to hear You as the first sound of the morning, so I can listen for Your leading throughout the day. The more I choose to spend my time waiting and watching, then following as You're leading, the more this will become the walk and way of my life. Your ways will become my ways, and You walk will become my walk. Then where You are leading, I will be following. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please cover Brother Ghuna Kumar of Gospel Friends in your prayers as he begins his travel back home to Tamil Nadu, India this morning. The Lord has touched many lives through him in our country and now He will continue touching many lives through him in his own. Gerry Calvert and I were deeply moved by the people who came to the Lord in a little village when we were there in September. We committed to establish a church there and will be sending Brother Ghuna home with the funds this morning. If you would like to join with us in the joy of this blessing, please send any contribution to "Messiah Ministries" marked "Gospel Friends, India" to us at 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502, and every dollar will go to them. 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 Lord's House 11-20-05

Morning by Morning, Sunday 11-20-05 -- The Lord's House Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me afresh with Your Spirit today. ... It was wonderful to have my friend, Brother Ghuna Kumar from Tamil Nadu, India with us at The Fountain last night. What passion and power You have given him to share Your Word and minister Your love. You've called him to send evangelists into the villages of India where the gospel has never been preached. He has baptized over thirty thousand souls now, helped them become established and healed in Christian fellowships, taught them a trade that can sustain their families, and stood by them through the inevitable persecution that comes when someone chooses to be called by Your name. He spoke to us from Haggai last night. "Thus says the Lord of hosts: these people say the time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord's house.... Consider how you have fared. Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. You have looked for much, and lo, it has come to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because My house lies in ruins, while all of you hurry off to your own houses" (Haggai 1:2-9). Forgive us, Lord, for all the ways we have focused on ourselves rather than You. Forgive us for the ways we have placed the priority on our needs and desires rather than Yours. You care for us and You know our every need before we ask it, yet You call us to seek You for our needs and to seek first Your kingdom so that then all these things will be added to us. Above all, You desire relationship with us, a relationship that comes and grows only as we seek You and depend up You, placing You first above all else. We do not fare well when we live our lives trying to build our own houses -- our own plans and desires apart from You. In Your mercy, You blow it all away so that we will know something is wrong in our relationship with You. Let me no longer hurry off, but hurry home -- home to You. Let my heart be Your house, the house of the Lord. I join my heart with the hearts of all those throughout the earth who are called by Your name. Together, we are the house of the Lord. It is time to rebuild the Lord's house. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, today is a day of prayer for the persecuted church. I stand with you in agreement in prayer for God's sustaining mercy and deliverance for all who are suffering persecution for the name of Christ throughout the earth. May we be convicted of our calling to stand with them in the power of prayer, that their commitment in life and undying faith through death, my bring glory to God and many souls in His kingdom. And my they stand with us in prayer in the days of our persecution -- for as Jesus promised, all who are called by His name will be persecuted. If we are not being persecuted, maybe we are building our own houses instead of His. 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