I Lift My Eyes Up 8-24-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. "I lift up my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2). You are my help and my strength. I lift my eyes and seek Your face; I open my heart and receive Your grace. ... This morning a good friend of mine is coming to town to pray. Leading a prayer ministry, I pray for others every day. And I am thankful for the blessing of this calling. But these times of getting away for the morning with a trusted friend with no plan and no agenda but to seek Your face and receive Your grace, to worship You in spirit and in truth, to watch and wait for Your leading and then to rise in our spirits to follow You in prayer wherever You lead are moments when Your strength fills my soul. These are moments when You renew my vision and encourage my heart. "But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" (Jude 20-21). I look forward to Your mercy today. I look forward to coming to You and calling on Your name and being filled afresh with Your Spirit in prayer with my friend and brother in the Lord. "When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Let us speak Your words of life into one another's spirits with holy boldness and receive the strength and help that comes only from You. Together we will lift our eyes up to the hills and we will ascend the mountain of the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Dear Friends, thank you for your prayers. They are worth more to me than gold. To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

I Lift My Eyes Up 8-24-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. "I lift up my eyes to the hills -- from where will my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:1-2). You are my help and my strength. I lift my eyes and seek Your face; I open my heart and receive Your grace. ... This morning a good friend of mine is coming to town to pray. Leading a prayer ministry, I pray for others every day. And I am thankful for the blessing of this calling. But these times of getting away for the morning with a trusted friend with no plan and no agenda but to seek Your face and receive Your grace, to worship You in spirit and in truth, to watch and wait for Your leading and then to rise in our spirits to follow You in prayer wherever You lead are moments when Your strength fills my soul. These are moments when You renew my vision and encourage my heart. "But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life" (Jude 20-21). I look forward to Your mercy today. I look forward to coming to You and calling on Your name and being filled afresh with Your Spirit in prayer with my friend and brother in the Lord. "When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with boldness" (Acts 4:31). Let us speak Your words of life into one another's spirits with holy boldness and receive the strength and help that comes only from You. Together we will lift our eyes up to the hills and we will ascend the mountain of the Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Dear Friends, thank you for your prayers. They are worth more to me than gold. To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Tenacity of Spirit 8-23-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Worries and concerns, disappointments and fears have been coming against my mind, trying to steal my sleep and my peace. But I hear You calling to rise and come to press in to the peace of Your presence. ... "Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer" (Romans 12:11-12). These words are not suggestions, but commands. There is a tenacity of spirit You desire in me -- zealous, ardent, persevering. Like a battering ram that continues to pound away until breakthrough comes; like a bulldog that grabs on and doesn't let go until victory comes; like a baby that cries through the night until somebody gets up out of bed to change him and feed him until sleep comes -- You call us to press on and press through. Passivity is sin. When You saw the temple was no longer a house of prayer and saw that ministry was being merchandised, the tenacity of the Spirit rose in You to drive out the money-changers and cleanse the temple. Your first disciples "remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for Your house will consume me' " (John 2:17). When You saw the lame and the blind, You healed them. When You saw the oppressed and the bound, You freed them. When You saw the broken and hurting, You loved them. You were not passive and complacent; You were tenacious and aggressive in obedience to the will of the Father, no matter the cost. When Your spiritual zeal embarrassed the spiritually lazy, You didn't back down, but persistently replied, "My Father is still working, and I am working" (John 5:17). And when Your message was not heard and Your sacrifices were not received, You kept loving and serving and forgiving. The plans and purposes of God prevailed. So when I am discouraged, I choose to rejoice in hope. When I am suffering, I choose to be patient in endurance. When I am disappointed, I choose to persevere in prayer. It's all by Your grace and all in Your power, but my part is to choose -- and to keep on choosing as I press on and press through in obedience and faith. This is the attitude that will prevail even against the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18). You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of love and power and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Thank You for the gifts of perseverance of faith and tenacity of spirit. Thank You for the peace of Your presence. As I keep trusting in You, You will cause all things to work together for good (Romans 8:28). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Dear Friends, please prayerfully seek the Lord's leading about taking a stand with me and our ministry at this particular time with both prayer and provision. The Lord has always been faithful to provide for almost 10 years of ministry, and it seems He often provides through one another giving joyfully and generously to His Kingdom and His Kingdom workers. Like a missionary, I raise my own support for the work of Messiah Ministries. If the Lord has used our ministry of spiritual direction for you personally or for your church or your community, please consider sending a note of encouragement and a check of provision. May we all be filled with the joy of the Lord and the grace of His provision. "May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from His glorious power, and my you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Light" (Colossians 1:11-12). I would be glad to speak with you personally about our vision and our needs: 859-422-1794 To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." Our Address for Ministry and Contributions: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Prayer Walking 8-22-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I proclaim Your name as Lord over my life, my family, my church, and my community. ... "And the Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you' " (Joshua 10:8). For the past few weeks, a group of intercessors from our church have been meeting for prayer and then prayer walking through our church and our community. Last night we walked and prayed through the campus of the University of Kentucky as You led us. Everywhere we went, we welcomed Your presence and Your power, we offered thanksgiving and praise, we prayed and prophesied Your will and Your ways. We proclaimed the name of Jesus over the students, teachers and staff, over the walkways, buildings, and stadiums, over all time and space and every dimension as far as Your grace would go. And You gave us the faith to believe our prayers made a difference. Along the journey, a curious group of graduate students from Hyderabad, India came near. Before long, we were inviting them to a meal at our Thursday night Alpha Course to ask questions about faith and to join us on Sunday morning for worship. We were amazed at the opportunity to touch the nations just by walking down the street from our local church. We need not fear to share the love of God in Jesus Christ. Your Word and Your Spirit go before us to prepare the way for the message of Your love and offer of Your grace. Prayer pushes back the darkness to let the light of Your love shine through. Thank You for letting the light of Your love shine through us. Let these young men be among many who will come to the light of Your love this year. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Passion to Pursue Righteousness 8-21-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You and make me more like You each day. ... "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves the one who pursues righteousness" (Proverbs 15:9). Build in my spirit a passion to pursue righteousness -- to be in right relationship with You, with others, and within myself. Let the encounters of my day expose the wickedness that remains in my heart. Search my heart and reveal the wickedness of my ways (Psalm 139:23-24). Let me see it; let me hate it; let me give it to You. It's not something to fear; it is something to welcome and something to actively and aggressively pursue. You don't expose my wickedness because You hate me, but because You love me, because You want to help me to know the peace and joy that comes with the pursuit of righteousness. "For the kingdom of God is … righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. …Let us then pursue what makes for peace" (Romans 14:17-19). "Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor" (Proverbs 21:21). Let me find life and honor in the pursuit of righteousness this 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 -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Holy and Wholly Yours 8-20-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- You are One and You are holy. Help me be wholly Yours. ... "His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Thus He has given us, through these things, His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may escape the corruption that is in the world because of lust, and may become participants of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:3-4). Give me faith to call upon Your name and desire to participate in Your nature -- all by Your grace and all in Your power. I hear Your Spirit rising up in my spirit to sing a new song of surrender and faith: You are holy. You are holy. You are a holy, loving God. And You call me. And You change me. More and more every day. And You cleanse me. And You free me. You make my holy and wholly Yours. Yes, Lord. "For it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy' "(1 Peter 1:16). Though there is nothing good in me apart from You, I am not apart from You. "For our sake, He made Him sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God" (2 Corinthians 5:21). Let the truth of Your Word settle into my soul. Let the truth of Your calling and Your will for me and my life awaken my soul to arise into newness of life -- a life that desires to be holy and wholly Yours -- more and more every 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 -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Freedom from Fear of Others 8-19-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I find my strength and my identity in You. Strengthen me today in the power of Your Word; remind me again who I am in You. ... "The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the Lord is secure" (Proverbs 29:25). By Your grace, I choose to trust in You. I choose to find my security in You. Forgive me for the times I have given in to the fear of man, when I have been more concerned with what others thought of me than what You thought of me. Deliver me from insecurity and establish me in the confidence of who I am in You. "So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?' " (Hebrews 13:6). 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 -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Pray for Our Leaders 8-18-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Shape my will as I submit my will to Yours. ... "Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Zebiah of Beer-Sheba. Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of the priest Jehoida" (2 Chronicles 24:1-2). You positioned Joash in kingly authority to lead the people of Israel. And You positioned Jehoida in priestly authority and to encourage and intercede for the king, as well as the people. Jehoida was a humble and godly priest, who encouraged the people and the king to seek You and obey You (v. 23:16). With the spiritual leadership of Jehoida, King Joash "restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it" (v. 24:13). And King Joash "did what was right in the sight of the Lord," but only "all the days of the priest Johoida." After the death of Jehoida, the spiritual leaders compromised their convictions and failed in their devotion to You. Soon their divided hearts were hardened against You, as they turned to the false gods of the cultures around them. The king and priests and people "abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and served the sacred poles and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs" (v. 24:18). Sincere devotion to You alone leaves no room for compromise. And the devotion of those in spiritual authority affects those in governmental authority. So we are to pray "for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity" (1 Timothy 2:1-2). Every person, weather in positions of authority or not, is responsible for their own actions and their own life of devotion to You. Yet at the same time, our prayers led by Your Spirit affect them and their choices. And their choices affect each of us under the authority of their government. So remind us to pray for our leaders, to encourage them and intercede for them, to speak the truth in love to them, and always to cover them in a blanket of prayer. Then they will do what is right in Your sight and we will lead lives of godliness and dignity. 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 -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Walk in the Will of Your Ways 8-17-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, make my paths straight in line with Your will for my life today. ... "For all the peoples walk, each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever" (Micah 4:5). By the grace of the faith You have given me, I choose to walk in Your ways and in the nature of Your name. Forgive me when I stumble. Correct me when I get confused. Turn me back around when I turn the wrong way. Strengthen me when I grow weary. Encourage me when I grow faint. Keep reminding me of the way and leading me in the steps that lead to life in You. You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life that I have chosen. Help me keep choosing You every day. Help me walk in the will of Your ways this 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 -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain this Friday Night -- on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

The Hand of the Lord 8-16-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my heart and my life again today. ... "The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number became believers and turned to the Lord. News of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabus to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast devotion; for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith. And a great many people were brought to the Lord" (Acts 11:21-24). Lord, what is "the hand of the Lord?" It seems I hear You say, "My hand is My favor. In part, it speaks of My authority and My grace resting upon My sons and My daughters to bring others into a relationship of trust and love with Me." Lord, help me humble myself under Your mighty hand. Use my life to bring others to You -- to know You and to know the peace and pleasure of a relationship with You of trusting love. Let Your authority and Your grace rest upon me to bring a great many people to the Lord. Like Barnabus, let me be "full of the Holy Spirit and faith," ever rejoicing in Your grace, exhorting others to seek Your face, and encouraging them to pursue Your presence "with steadfast devotion" and trusting faith. 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 -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain this Friday Night, August 18th -- on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Ministry Together 8-15-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me humble myself to listen for Your leading and wait for Your word. ... Paul spoke often of those who worked alongside him in the ministry of Your love and power and grace. He spoke of Timothy, who "like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel," and of Epaphroditus as "my brother and co-worker and fellow soldier" (Philippians 2:19-30). He spoke of Philemon as a "dear friend and co-worker" and of Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke as "fellow prisoners in Christ Jesus" and "fellow workers" (Philemon 2, 23). He spoke of Titus as "my partner and co-worker" in ministry (2 Corinthians 8:23). By Your Holy Spirit, You brought Your disciples together in diverse relationships of trust and respect as teams of ministry for various seasons to be "co-workers for the kingdom of God" (Colossians 4:11). Before their season of missionary journeys together, You brought together Paul and Barnabus for ministry together to the people of the church at Antioch. "So it was for an entire year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and it was at Antioch that the disciples were first called 'Christians' " (Acts 11:25-26). Over these past ten years of ministry, You have brought me alongside many men and women who have been my co-workers for the kingdom of God. We've learned from one another, grown in maturity with one another, fought for one another and at times -- I hate to admit -- even fought with another. But You have used it all to strengthen us and encourage us, to equip us and prepare us to fulfill our destiny in our generation for Your glory. And Your Word makes Your will very clear that You do not intend for us to minister in Your kingdom alone. You call us to find our place and affirm the place of others around us in the relationships of trust and respect You are forming for Your purposes in every season. As we do, let our eyes be open to Your vision, let our ears be open to Your leading, let our minds be open to Your wisdom, let our hearts be open to Your desires. And there we will find that our arms must be open to embrace one another in the risk of relationship and the bonds of trust You are forming for the work of Your ministry of love and power and grace. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged this day! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I will be meeting and praying with one of my dear friends and co-workers in the gospel of the kingdom today about some exciting plans for ministry together this coming year between our ministry and my home church in Lexington. Please cover us in prayer to hear the leading of the Lord. To subscribe/unsubscribe, please send a note to me at Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "... Ministering the Healing Love of God, ... Preparing the Way of the Lord." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain this Friday Night 8/18 -- on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome! Call for details: 859-422-1794

Wonderful in Counsel 8-14-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Make my ways more like Your ways; make my thoughts more like Your thoughts. I yield my ways and my thoughts to You. ... "I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved" (Psalm 16:7-8). They say that even as we sleep, our minds are working. As our bodies rest, our thoughts are developing strategies and solving problems. Our minds are one of Your most amazing creations! Lord, remind me to begin and end each day with You. Let my mind continually look to You and let my heart continually be led by You. Then it will be Your strategies that are developed and Your answers that come, as You counsel me through the day and even through the night. Then I can be steadfast and confident in the wisdom that comes from the wisest One. You are "wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom" (Isaiah 28:29). 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

The Anger of the Lord 8-13-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name is above every name. At Your name, every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father (Philippians 2:9-11). ... "But You indeed are awesome! Who can stand before You when once Your anger is roused? From the heavens You uttered judgment; the earth feared and was still when God rose up to establish judgment, to save all the oppressed of the earth" (Psalm 76:7-9). Yesterday I sensed Your anger was roused in me. I saw the oppressed of the earth face to face and could do nothing about it, and I was angry at those who could. We took my children to a National Park for the day to see Mammoth Cave, and there were people there from many different nations and cultures. Two men were there with their wives, veiled in black clothe from thier head to their feet with only slits for their eyes to see how to walk and take care of their children. My anger rose and my heart broke that a husband could do that to his wife, that a religion could do that its people. So I continued to release my anger to You and let the anger turn to intercession. I continued to remember that our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of wickedness who come to deceive and confuse, to oppress and destroy (Ephesians 6:12). You desire to save "all the oppressed of the earth," whether they know they are oppressed or not. Lord God, let Your anger be roused against the injustice and oppression of our spiritual enemy who comes to deceive and work his destruction through those he has blinded to truth of Your nature. The gospel of Your truth "is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God" (2 Corinthians 4:3-4). Let the earth fear God and be still before You, as You rise to establish Your judgment and justice to save all the oppressed of the earth. "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Evil Exposed by the Light 8-12-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the light of Your life shine in my soul and throughout the earth. … "Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them" (Ephesians5:11). Thank You for exposing the plans and schemes of the terrorists who sought to explode ten passenger planes on their way to America. I join in the prayers of Your people throughout the earth that the works of darkness will be exposed and the works of evil will be thwarted. Terrorism is the enemy's perversion of the fear of God. "Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in their hearts; there is no fear of God before their eyes. They flatter themselves in their own eyes that their iniquity cannot be found out and hated. The words of their mouths are mischief and deceit; they have ceased to act wisely and do good. They plot mischief while on their beds; they are set on a way that is not good; they do not reject evil" (Psalm 36:1-4). The true fear of God is honor and reverence for You and Your ways. Your ways are life and light, not death and darkness. I pray for the souls of those who are confused and deceived by this false fear, who worship a god who is not God. Open their eyes to see You as You are. Let the true fear of God come upon them that leads to humility and repentance, then Your mercy and grace. "For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:9). 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-17694

Promise of Restoration in the Days of Amos 8-11-06

Morning by Morning, Friday Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me be quiet so I can hear. Help me listen so You can speak. … Though Your Word through Amos speaks of judgment without measure for the people of the nations and for Israel who will not humble themselves in repentance and turn to You in obedience, Your Word also speaks of the healing and restoration that comes through Your mercy for those who do (Amos 9:11-15). "On that day I will raise up the booth of David that is fallen, and repair its breaches, and raise up its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old; in order that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations who are called by My name, says the Lord who does this" (9:11-12). Lord, raise up the booth of David -- the tabernacle of worship and praise and prayer "before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister regularly before the ark as each day required" (1 Chronicles 16:37). Draw Your people before the ark of Your presence. Let us seek You and Your face for Your protection and Your grace as each day requires. Only the power of Your presence will bring peace and protection. Open our eyes and our hearts to seek You and receive You. Rebuild Your tabernacle of prayer and praise in our hearts. Let it be so in Israel and in Islam, in the hearts of all people of all nations who humble themselves to seek Your face, welcome Your presence, and obey Your will. 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-17694

The Days of Amos 8-10-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I call upon Your name and seek the fullness of Your salvation for myself and for all who need to know Your name. ... Are these not the beginning of the days seen by Amos long ago? Through Your prophet You declared Your judgments on the nations of the earth to come. "The Lord roars from Zion, and utters His voice from Jerusalem; the pastors of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers" (Amos 1:2). I join those You are calling to intercede throughout the earth for salvation of the people of our nations, the people of all nations, and especially the people of these nations and cities You have named by name under Your judgments to come in the fullness of time: Damascus (Amos 1:3), Gaza (1:6), Tyre (1:9), Edom (1:11), Ammon (1:13), Moab (2:1), Judah (2:4), and Israel (2:6). "Surely the Lord does nothing, without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets. The Lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?" (Amos 3:7-8). In the fear of the Lord, I pray. In the love of God, I pray. I pray for the blessing of the fear of God to fall upon every heart that brings conviction of sin -- especially the sin of hardened, rebellious hearts of doubt, unbelief, and pride that resist the grace and mercy of God available to all through Your unfailing love revealed and released through the blood of Christ. "This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth" (1 Timothy 2:3-4). You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). Through the sacrifice of Your love and Your offer of grace to all, You have prepared the way for each of us to know the truth and live our lives eternally in You. Though judgment will come, Your "mercy triumphs over judgment" for all who will humble themselves in Your sight (James 2:13). "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13). I pray for all who need to call on Your name before judgment and even in midst of the judgment to come. Even Your judgments are Your mercy if the humble hardened hearts and bow rebellious knees to ask for the grace You long to give. "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. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done in it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But in accordance with His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home" (2 Peter 3:9-13). Come Lord Jesus, be at home in my heart today. Come be at home in every heart who calls on Your name today. 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-17694

You are I AM 8-9-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob -- Maker and Master of Heaven and Earth -- You are I AM. ... "But Moses said to God, 'If I come to the Israelites and say them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM." Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'I AM has sent me to you.' " God also said to Moses, 'Thus you shall say to the Israelites, 'The Lord, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you: This is My name forever, and this is My title for all generation' " (Exodus 3:13-15). You are all I need. I need all of You. By Your grace, I give all of me to all of You. Open my eyes to see You clearly as You are. Open the eyes of Israel and Islam to see You clearly as You are. Open the eyes of all nations to behold the One who rules all nations. "He calls to the heavens above and the earth, that He may judge His people: 'Gather to Me My faithful ones, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!' The heavens declare His righteousness, for God himself is judge. 'Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you, I AM God, your God' " (Psalm 50:4-7). Forgive each of us, Lord God, when You call to us and we do not answer, when You come to us and we do not receive You, when You lead us and we do not follow, when You reveal Yourself to us and we do not see You for Who You are. You are I AM. You said, "For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen, I call you by your name, I surname you, though you do not know Me. I AM the Lord and there is no other; besides Me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know Me, so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides Me; I AM the Lord and there is no other" (Isaiah 45:4-6). By Your grace and mercy, You arm and protect the people of Your covenant and call them by name, though they do not yet know Your Name. You are I AM. You said: "I AM the Bread of Life" (John 6:35); "I AM the Light of the World" (v. 8:12); "I AM from above" (v. 8:23); "I AM the Gate" (v. 10:9); "I AM the Good Shepherd" (v. 10:11); "I AM God's Son" (v. 10:36); "I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (v. 11:25). To Your first disciples, You said, "You call Me Teacher and Lord -- and you are right, for that is what I AM" (v. 13:13). To the Samaritan woman at the well who said, "I know Messiah is coming and when He comes He will proclaim all things to us," You said to her, "I AM He, the One Who is speaking to you" (v. 4:25-26). And when the children of Abraham could not see You as the One who was to come to fulfill their hopes through the sacrifice of Your love, You said, "Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM" (v. 8:58). Thank You for Your grace that has opened my eyes to see You, my ears to hear You, and my heart to receive You as You are. You are my protection and my provision, my Lord and my Savior, my God and my King. You are All I need. You are my "All in All" (1 Corinthians 15:28). You are I AM. And I pray the eyes of all people of all nations in all generations would be opened to see You are You are. 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-17694

"The Remnant of the Noble" 8-8-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my thoughts with Your thoughts and fill my desires with Your desires as I decrease and You increase, as I watch and wait for Your leading and Your command. … "Then down to the gates marched the people of the Lord. Awake, awake, Deborah! Awake, awake, utter a song! Arise, Barak, lead away your captives, O son of Abinoam. Then down marched the remnant of the noble; the people of the Lord marched down for Him against the mighty" (Judges 5:11-13). There are those who are "the mighty," but You are the Almighty! There are those who take their stand against the will of the Lord, but You are the One whose will stands over eternity. Let Your sons and Your daughters hear Your call to awake and to arise! Let us hear Your call to march in the authority of Your Word and the power of Your Name. We are the remnant of the noble, the people of the Lord who refuse to bow down to the enemies of our King -- the world, the flesh, and the devil. These false gods seek our worship and seek our appeasement. Then those around us who give them place and honor in their lives, give them strength and courage to advance against the gates of the kingdom of God. "When new gods were chosen, then war was in the gates" (Judges 5:8). By Your grace, we will not sit back; we will answer Your call. We will arise and march down to the gates -- the gates of our hearts and minds, the gates of our thoughts and desires. There we will worship You alone as God and bow before You alone as King. And there our God will arise and our enemies will be scattered (Psalm 68:1). There we will proclaim as the remnant of the noble, "How the mighty have fallen in the midst of battle!" (2 Samuel 1:25). 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Clean Hands and a Pure Heart 8-7-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord I give You my heart, mind, soul, and strength. Help me hold nothing back from You today. … Saturday night at the conference, a little child prayed for me at the altar that I would have clean hands and a pure heart before You. Sunday morning, the pastor and the people of the little country church where I stopped to worship on my way home circled around me to pray for me at the altar. As they laid a "mantle" in the form of a prayer shawl across my shoulders, someone prayed that I would have clean hands and a pure heart before You. I receive Your call to holiness of heart and life. By the love of the Father and the blood of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit, cleanse my hands and purify my heart by Your grace and Your power in accordance with Your Word. "Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in His holy place? Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully. They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation. Such is the company of those who seek Him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob" (Psalm 24:3-6). By Your grace, I seek Your face. By the blood of the Lamb that cleanses my sins and sanctifies my soul, I ascend this hill and come in to this place -- the place of Your presence -- with clean hands and a pure heart. Thank You for this gift of grace beyond words. 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com

Women on the Frontlines 8-5-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I call upon Your name as You call upon my heart. … "At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. … She sent and summoned Barak …and said to him, 'The Lord, the God of Israel commands you, 'Go, take possession of Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.' ' Barak said to her, 'If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.' And she said, 'I will surely go with you; nevertheless the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman' "(Judges 4:4-9). I'll be going to a conference in Ohio this weekend with my mother-in-law Beverly called "Women on the Frontlines of Battle." Prepare my heart to hear Your Word from Heidi Baker, Jim Goll, and the others You will use to speak Your Truth and impart Your Spirit. In these days, You are humbling the men of Your kingdom to make room for the leadership of Your women. There are battles we need to fight that cannot be won unless we go out with them into battle. There is land You have given to us to possess we cannot take unless we take both Your sons and Your daughters with us into battle. We have different roles, but our roles are of equal significance and value in Your kingdom. Let them be the roles You have determined rather than those we have determined by the traditions of men rather than the Word of God. Let our positions be those You have assigned at Your command rather our own. The Word of God says, "In these last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon My slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out My Spirit; and they shall prophesy" (Acts 2:17-18). From the day Your poured out Your Holy Spirit upon all flesh -- male flesh and females flesh -- on the day of Pentecost, these days have been "these last days." You have called "both men and women" to hear and to speak Your Word with Your authority at Your command. Forgive us where we have misunderstood Your Word, failed to consider the whole counsel of God, heard what we wanted to hear, and ignored the rest. This road on which we are going will not lead to our glory but to Yours. 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, ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.injesus.com