Invocation 12-9-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. By the Holy Spirit of the Living God living in me, I come to You, Father, through Jesus, Your Son. ... "Be attentive to all that I have said to you. Do not invoke the names of other gods; do not let them be heard on your lips" (Exodus 23:13). I invoke Your name, Lord Jesus. Your name is "the name that is above every name" (Philippians 2:9). Your name speaks of Your nature, and Your name means "the salvation of God." Thank You for saving me -- saving me from the law of sin and death, saving me from the nature of my flesh and pride of self-centeredness, saving from the eternal torment of hell apart from You. "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). As I invoke Your name, I welcome Your Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of Christ" living in me (Romans 8:9). Fill me Holy Spirit, possess me, Lord. Make me more like Jesus each day, conforming me into the image and nature of Christ (v. 8:29). The Father and the Son are One, coming to abide in me and all the children of God by the Holy Spirit of the Living God. Your Spirit of Truth and Life comes to dwell in us, as Your life becomes our lives and we embrace Your possession of our lives each day. "Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you" (John 14:19-20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

"Truth is in Jesus" 12-8-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift my face and center my thoughts on You this day. ... "For surely you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as truth is in Jesus" (Ephesians 4:21). As I rise and go out into the world today, I will hear and see many things. Let me filter it all through the cross and the blood of Jesus, as "truth is in Jesus." Sharpen my discernment. Sensitize my spirit. Give me Your wisdom to know to remember Your Word. Then I will not be deceived or confused, because I will be rooted and grounded in Your truth. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

Divine Jealousy 12-7-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are faithful and true. Help me be faithful to You. ... "Do not follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who are all around you, because the Lord your God, who is present with you, is a jealous God" (Deuteronomy 6:14-15). Thank You for loving me with a divine jealousy -- unwilling to allow me to share my heart with any god but You. The gods of many forms around me may try to lure me away, seeking my attention and demanding my worship, even settling for part of my heart, but You will not yield in this. You are jealous that I would love You with all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength (v. 6:5; Mark 12:30). Give me grace to honor You with my faithfulness to You alone -- uncompromising and unadulterated. I choose again this day to have no other gods before You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

"Extraordinary Miracles" 12-5-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I offer my life a sacrifice. Fill me with Your Spirit, lead me in Your ways, send me in Your will. ... "God did extraordinary miracles through Paul" (Acts 19:11). Paul was just a man, made of flesh and blood. Yet he came to the place of trusting faith, brokenness and humility, delivered from pride of self, until he was "crucified with Christ" (Galatians 2:19). Then his life truly became a living sacrifice. Then he could truly say, "It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me" (v. 2:20). The more he was conformed to the nature of Christ, the more he was entrusted with the authority of Christ. Not Paul's authority, but Your authority being released through him as he learned to abide in You and allow You to abide in him. Then he saw You do extraordinary miracles. You did the miracles, but You did them through Paul -- a yielded vessel, an obedient instrument of Your grace and Your power made perfect through his weakness. In humility and in faith, Paul knew the source of the power being released through his life, as he acknowledged before heaven and earth, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Lord, I pray You would continue to break my pride and crucify my flesh. Conform me to Your nature. Teach me to abide in You and allow You to abide in me, more and more every day. I am just a man of flesh and blood, but so was Paul. I want to be part of the body of Christ who is so filled the Spirit of Christ that we see the fulfillment of Your promise in our day: "Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:12-13). I am asking to see Your extraordinary miracles released through my life for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning to send out our quarterly newsletter, Messiah's Messenger. If you have changed addresses or would like us to add yours, please send us a note with your regular mailing address, and we'll send one to you. God bless! 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 ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Now is the Day of Salvation 12-4-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I turn to You and call on Your name. ... "As we work together with Him, we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain. For He says, 'At an acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped you.' See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)! Salvation is the fullness of life You give us by the grace of Your love -- now in this age and in the age to come, throughout eternity. It includes eternal life, and eternal life includes today. Each moment of each day is the time to choose by Your grace to embrace Your salvation and the fullness of life in Christ or not -- lest we have received it in vain. "Now I would remind you, brothers and sisters, of the good news that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which you also stand, through which you also are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you -- unless you have come to believe in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). I embrace the grace of this day of salvation. Each day is a new day in the journey of faith. So I choose this day to stand in faith on Your promises, holding firmly to the message of the good news of Your unfailing love and incredible mercy as I am "being saved" by Your grace. As You said to Your first disciples, "The one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22 and 24:13). Throughout the moments of this day, let me call upon Your name with every breath, trusting in You alone and trusting in You continually for my peace and provision. "For, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved' " (Romans 10:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

Pondering God's Words 12-3-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me settle down into the stillness of the morning to wait and listen for the leading of Your Spirit. ... "But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19). Lord, I want to treasure the words You speak to me. I want to ponder them in my heart. Your words "are spirit and life" (John 6:63). Let them soak me and seep into me until they become truth to me. "Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in them" (Proverbs 30:5). Let me hear Your words and believe them, then let me obey them and live them. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

"In the Love of Jesus" 12-2-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship You. ... "For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself' " (Galatians 5:14). As I have sent out these morning prayers for almost three years now, I have felt Your leading to sign them off with the note "In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays." Recently the thoughts were coming to me that I shouldn't do that -- that it's not manly enough, too awkward, it might make people feel uncomfortable, and on and on. But You began to show me the source of those thoughts, and that the source is not You. You are love, and love is to be at the heart of my relationship with You and with others. "Whoever does not love does not know God, God is love" (1 John 4:8). The cultures of our world want to make love seem weak and foolish, even unnecessary and unattainable. You warned us that in these last days "the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12). That's because the enemy of our souls hates love and hates You, because You are love. And love overcomes our enemy. To grow in spiritual maturity is to grow in love -- love for You and love for one another. We cannot grow without growing in love. So give me grace to keep loving You and loving others. Give me courage to "declare Your steadfast love in the morning" (Psalm 92:2). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning to send out our quarterly newsletter, Messiah's Messenger. If you have changed addresses or would like us to add yours, please send us a note with your regular mailing address, and we'll send one to you. God bless! 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 ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Finding the Lost Coin of Peace 12-1-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Lord and Savior. I entrust my life and this day to You. ... "Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' Just so I tell you there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:8-10). Last night, I was one of the "friends and neighbors" who rejoiced in the presence of the angels of God with a young wife and mother who entrusted her life to You fully for the first time. Your Holy Spirit led her, through a friend, to come join us for our Alpha Course at church. Throughout those ten weeks, she was searching for the peace she felt she had lost somewhere along the way. But when she chose to open her heart to You -- "Whoom!" as she said -- You filled her heart with a Peace that she had never known -- the Peace that only comes with Your Presence. And all the angels rejoiced! Praise You, Lord Jesus! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning to send out our quarterly newsletter, Messiah's Messenger. If you have changed addresses or would like us to add yours, please send us a note with your regular mailing address, and we'll send one to you. God bless! 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 ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

"Give to Everyone Who Begs from You" 11-30-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Holy Spirit. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Lord God Almighty, I enter in to the Holy of Holies of Your presence in prayer through the blood of the Lamb. ... "You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.... So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment will be without mercy to anyone who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:8-13). Yesterday a man asked me for money to buy some food. It may be the changing season or the changing culture, but that seems to be happening more and more. I have to admit those times make me uncomfortable as I find myself trying to judge the person's heart, motives, needs, and circumstances. Then I find myself judging my own. But this time, as soon as my mind started to go down that road, I heard very clearly in my spirit, "Give to everyone who begs from you." So that made it easy. But as the man walked away, I remembered the many times I have not given to everyone who begs from me, despite the teaching of Your Word (Matthew 5:42). I remembered the times I've tried to find comfort leaning instead toward another teaching of Your Word, "Anyone unwilling to work should not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:11). It just reminded me how impossible it would be to try to sort out the heart and circumstances of every person in every encounter, without the leading of Your Holy Spirit. And it seems that is the answer to showing no partiality -- with every encounter with every person in every circumstance, I need to listen for the leading of Your Holy Spirit, I need to seek the mind of Christ, I need to choose the path of the Father Heart of God. I need to begin my days entrusting the encounters of that day to You, so I can be ready make choices out of constant communion with You. Otherwise, I'll always be tempted to look upon the outward appearance and judge from my limited discernment, when You always look at the heart and only You truly know a person's heart. "For the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Lord, forgive me for the times I have shown partiality by relying on my own wisdom and whims rather seeking Your will and ways. Forgive me for my judgments that were not sanctified by Your judgment and all the times I have not loved my neighbor as myself, in violation of Your royal law. I am guilty under the law of Your judgment, and I need Your mercy. Thank You for making Your mercy available for my sins when I commit them to You. Thank You that Your "mercy triumphs over judgment." Judgment is real and so are the consequences -- now in this age and in the age to come -- but so is Your mercy. Thank You for the mercy that freely comes to a repentant heart by the blood of the Lamb in the grace of God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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 ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794

Flesh and Blood 11-29-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I think of what I have to do today, before I even begin to pray for others or myself, I turn my heart and soul to You. ... "So Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no Life in you. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood have eternal life and I will raise them up on the last day; for My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. Those who eat My flesh and drink My blood abide in Me, and I in them....' When many of His disciples heard it, they said, 'This teaching is difficult, who can accept it?'... Because of this many of His disciples turned back and no longer went about with Him" (John 6:53-66). Lord, help me hear all Your words and receive them all as "spirit and life" -- even the hard words and difficult teachings (v. 6:63). Give me faith to keep pressing in and courage to keep pressing on, never turning back and never holding back. You are the Word of God and You became flesh to dwell among us (John 1:14). You poured out the blood of Your life to cleanse me from my sins, heal me of my wounds, and free me from my bondage. By Your grace, I choose to abide in You and welcome You to abide in me. I choose to eat of the flesh of Your Word and drink of the blood of Your Life. In the mystery of faith, make me one with You, one with the others of Your body throughout the nations and generations, and one in ministry to all the world. Where You lead me, I will follow -- knowing You go with me and You live within me, all the way. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

Fire from Heaven 11-28-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In these first moments of the morning in contemplative prayer, let me hear no voice but Your voice, think no thoughts but Your thoughts, have no desires but Your desires. I watch and wait for You alone -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "Now, O my God, let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to prayer from this place.... When Solomon had ended his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the temple" (2 Chronicles 6:40-7:1). Solomon built a temple for You; and by Your grace, You have built a temple in me. Through the sacrifice of the blood of the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, my body is now "a temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19). As I offer to You in prayer the burnt offerings of my heart and soul with the sacrifices of my thoughts and desires, let Your fire come down from heaven. Consume my flesh and fill me afresh with the glory of Your presence living in me. "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple" (1 Corinthians 3:16). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call Marilyn at 859-317-1591. God bless! 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

Fear Him and Seek Him 11-27-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me in the paths of Your righteousness today. ... "The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him. O fear the Lord, you His holy ones, for those who fear Him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing" (Psalm 34:7-10). You call me to seek You and to fear You at the same time. Teach me Your ways, Lord. Let Your ways become my ways, a little more each day. ... It seems I hear You say, "My son, there are those who seek the blessings of My hands without seeking the glory of My face. There are those who want to know Me for what I can do for them, not really desiring to know Me for who I am to them. This is not the fear of the Lord. To fear Me is to honor Me for who I am without regard to what I can do for you. I am the Lord your God. Seek Me first and My righteousness. Then all these things will be added unto you. When you seek Me in this way, you honor Me, you fear Me, and you welcome Me to encamp around you." Yes, Lord. As someone has said, I choose to seek Your face before Your hands. By Your grace, I seek You first (Matthew 6:33). As You have said in the wisdom of Your Word, "I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me" (Proverbs 8:17). Help me continue to learn how to walk this journey of faith in both the fear of the Lord and the intimacy of the Lord, as You teach me to seek You and to honor You for who You are. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! 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

King of Glory Come In 11-26-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Here I am, Lord -- watching and waiting for Your leading, as I offer to You the first-fruits of my thoughts and desires this day. ... "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is this King of glory" (Psalm 24:9-10). To You, O Lord, I lift up my head and open up my heart. You are the King of glory. You are the King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the King and Lord of my heart and soul, and I welcome You to continue to come in and establish Your Kingdom in my life. As I behold You in the trusting surrender of worship and yield to Your will and Your ways in the communion of prayer, You are changing me into Your image one day at a time (2 Corinthians 3:18). "Look to Him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed" (Psalm 34:5). Thank You for Your blood that cleanses my sin. Thank You for Your fire that purifies my soul. Thank You for Your grace that enables me to lift my head and open my heart that the King of glory may come in. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! 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

At All Times" 11-25-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I begin this day with You, I choose by Your grace, to actively and simply seek You and worship You while I wait for You in the silence of surrender. ... "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exult His name together" (Psalm 34:1-3). Teach me, Lord, how to keep my eyes fixed on You, while at the same time, fully seeing the reality of the circumstances before me. Teach me how to bless You with my praises and honor You with my trust, while also submitting to Your discipline and yielding to Your correction. Because I know You are with me, because I know You care for me, because I know in the end You will cause all things to work together for my good as I keep my face set toward You, I can bless You" at all times." This is how, by Your grace and in Your power, I can "rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Be magnified and exalted in my heart and throughout the moments of my days. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

Anticipating the Coming of Christ 11-24-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and throughout the earth this day. ... "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:5-9). In this season as we turn our hearts from Thanksgiving to Christmas, we look toward the Light who is coming into the world. This is the season of Advent -- the season of the anticipation of the coming of Christ. Those who long awaited Your first coming through the prophesies of the coming Messiah, longed for the light to step down into darkness. It would be said of them, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2, fulfilled in Matthew 4:16). As we begin this season of anticipation to celebrate Your first coming, let us also continue in this season of hope longing for Your second coming. Step down into the darkness of our souls and the darkness of this broken, fallen world. As the prophets spoke of Your first coming, so they also proclaimed Your second. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves the Lord on that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem" (Zechariah 2:10-12). Come, Lord Jesus. You are "the Alpha and the Omega," the One "who is and who was and who is to come," "the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! 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

Anticipating the Coming of Christ 11-24-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your light shine in my heart and throughout the earth this day. ... "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world" (John 1:5-9). In this season as we turn our hearts from Thanksgiving to Christmas, we look toward the Light who is coming into the world. This is the season of Advent -- the season of the anticipation of the coming of Christ. Those who long awaited Your first coming through the prophesies of the coming Messiah, longed for the light to step down into darkness. It would be said of them, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness -- on them light has shined" (Isaiah 9:2, fulfilled in Matthew 4:16). As we begin this season of anticipation to celebrate Your first coming, let us also continue in this season of hope longing for Your second coming. Step down into the darkness of our souls and the darkness of this broken, fallen world. As the prophets spoke of Your first coming, so they also proclaimed Your second. "Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves the Lord on that day, and shall be My people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you. The Lord will inherit Judah as His portion in the Holy Land, and will again choose Jerusalem" (Zechariah 2:10-12). Come, Lord Jesus. You are "the Alpha and the Omega," the One "who is and who was and who is to come," "the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we are planning some times to share the vision and calling of Messiah Ministries with those who are friends of our ministry and those who would like to know more. If you are in the Lexington area and would like to be included, please send me a note at MessiahMin@aol.com or call at 859-422-1794. God bless! 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

Thankful Hearts 11-23-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give You thanks and praise as I lift up my heart to You. ... "As He entered a village, ten lepers approached Him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' When He saw them He said to them, 'Go and show yourselves to the priest.' And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked Him. And he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17:12-16). On this Thanksgiving Day, I choose to be one who turns to You in worship and praise with a thankful heart. You are my Savior and Healer. You have cleansed me from sin and shame. You are the One who answers when I call. Sometimes the answer comes immediately in the miracle of a moment, but most of the time the answer comes as I go forth in obedience like the lepers who were healed as they went. Thank You for the countless mercies of Your grace in my life that have come and are yet to come in my journey of faith. With a grateful heart, every day is a happy day of thanksgiving in You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! 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

"Fount of Every Blessing" 11-22-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On the eve of Thanksgiving, I come to You this morning with a thankful heart -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light" (Psalm 36:7-9). I hear the words of the old hymn in my spirit this morning -- "Come thou Fount of every blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace. Streams of mercy, never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise." You are the Fount of every blessing; You are the Fountain of Life. As we gather tomorrow to feast on Thanksgiving Day, let us remember that You are the source of our feast. Every good and perfect gift is from You (James 1:17). Thank You, Lord, for the gift of Your goodness and the abundance of Your steadfast love. You are my Father and I am Your son. Thank You for the gift of salvation through the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior. Thank You for the gift of Your abiding presence through the Holy Spirit of the Living God living in me. I sing to You my songs of loudest praise! In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays For my friends in the Lexington area, please come join me today at noon. I will be leading a Service of Thanksgiving in the chapel at my home church, Centenary United Methodist at 2800 Tates Creek Road. God bless you all as we thank God for the goodness of His grace and abundance of His blessings! 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

Give Thanks to the Lord 11-20-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I set apart these first moments of my morning to watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit in the communion of prayer. ... "O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever!" (Psalm 118:1). We give thanks because You are good, because You love us, and because You love endures forever. Some say we should give thanks to You for all circumstances, but I believe we should give thanks to You "in every circumstance" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). There is a difference. Not everything that happens to us in this broken, fallen world is Your will, where human beings and spiritual beings have the freedom to rebel and resist Your will for our lives and others. You do not will or cause evil. You desire the abundance of life for us, while the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy through whatever means he can (John 10:10). But even then, You are with us -- fighting for us, walking with us, even causing all that we endure to work together for our good out of Your love (Romans 8:28). So I thank You, Lord. Though I go through the valleys, I will fear no evil, for You are with me (Psalm 23). Though I go through the waters and rivers and fires of hard circumstances in a broken, fallen world, they shall not overwhelm me nor consume, for You are with me (Isaiah 43). Thank You for the steadfastness of Your love; thank You for Your power to redeem all things in my life for my good and Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Be encouraged today! 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

"Jesus Christ is Lord" 11-17-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be exalted in the heavens and exalted in my heart. ... "On His robe and on His thigh He has a name inscribed, 'King of kings and Lord of lords' " (Revelation 19:16). Lord Jesus, You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords. Your name "is the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow ... and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). I bow my knees before You this day and confess before heaven and earth that You are Lord and You are my Lord, You are King and You are my King. As Your first disciples bowed their knees before You in worship before You ascended into heaven, You declared, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And remember I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:16-20). In trusting faith, I submit to Your authority and seek to obey Your command -- to do my part in my generation to go and make disciples of all nations. We each have our part by the grace of the gifts You have given each of us to lead others to You and teach them all You have taught us. Then they will bow their knees before You and confess with their tongues before others that You are Lord. "And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come" (Matthew 24:14). As we go and make disciples and as we proclaim the coming of Your kingdom, You will be with us always -- by the Spirit of Christ within us -- to the end of the age (Romans 8:9; Colossians 1:27). To God "be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever, Amen" (Ephesians 3:20-21). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday night 11/17 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary United Methodist Church, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. I will be leading in prayer and Brooke and Shannon will be leading in worship. All are welcome! Call us for information at 859-317-1591 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