Tremble at the Word 12-17-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me wait for Your Word and listen for Your leading. ... "Thus says the Lord: Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool; what is the house that you would build for Me, and what is My resting place? All these things My hand has made, and so all these things are Mine, says the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look, to the humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My Word" (Isaiah 66:1-2). Lord, let me never cease to tremble at Your Word. Though it may be written down into a book, though it may be packaged and sold in bookstores, though it may fill the shelves of my book cases, it is still the Word of God. It is holy and to be treated with reverence and awe in the fear of God. They say familiarity breads contempt. Forgive me for any way my sensitivity to the privilege and honor of knowing You and hearing Your Word has grown dull. The sons of Eli were priests who failed to tremble at Your Word. "They treated the offerings of the Lord with contempt" (1 Samuel 2:17). And they were judged for their sins with their lives. Lord, keep me mindful of the mystery of Your Word, revealed to us through Your Scripture and through Your Person. You are the Word of God (John 1:1, 14). By Your grace, I tremble before You. I welcome You to make my heart Your home, as I honor You and Your Word. 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

A Humble God 12-16-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As the Christmas song says, "O come, let us adore Him." I come this morning to adore You with the offering of my first thoughts and prayers this day. ... "Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and expecting a Child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in bands of cloth, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn" (Luke 2:4-7). Lord Jesus, though You were "in the form of God," You humbled Yourself beyond our imagination and capacity to fully comprehend, "being born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:5-8). Not only humbling Yourself in human flesh, but being born to an unwed mother, displaced from her home, rejected from a place of security and shelter. You chose to be born in a stall made for animals, not even the poorest of humans. You are an awesome and a humble God (v. 2:8). You continue to seek to dwell among the humble places -- hearts humbled of our pride to seek You and welcome You as Lord of our lives. "For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with those who are contrite and humble in spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite" (Isaiah 57:15). By Your grace, let my heart be a humble place for You to dwell. 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

Commitment 12-15-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I rise and go about my day, I choose to first stop and wait and pray. ... "Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God" (Psalm 31:5). As I begin this new day, I have a choice. I can take this day into my own hands or I can commit it into Yours. Lord, You are faithful and worthy of my trust. So by Your grace, I commit myself and this day to You. I ask You to order my steps and guide my thoughts. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. I surrender all and entrust all to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain Tonight-- Friday 12/15 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly city-wide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. All are welcome! 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

Proclaim the Mighty Acts of God 12-14-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. O Lord, my God, I praise You -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you might proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy" (1 Peter 2:9-10). Through faith, You have called me Your own. But I am called with a purpose -- "to proclaim the mighty acts" of God. You have saved me and raised me up with You to be part of the people of God and to proclaim the power of God, by living a life transformed by God. Let me live my life this day by Your grace to display Your glory as one who has been touched and changed by the power of Your love. "To Him who loves us and freed us from our sins by His blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever" (Revelation 1:5-6). Let my life be a witness of the mighty acts of God this day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, if you are in the area, please come join us at The Fountain this Friday night, December 15 for a time of Spirit-led worship, praise, and prayer in one of the ways the Lord displays the unity of His city-wide church in our community. All are welcome from the many different streams and traditions of the body of Christ as we proclaim Jesus as Lord together. Brooke & Shannon from The Church on the Rock will lead in worship and I will lead in prayer -- 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, on the 3rd Friday night of every month. Please spread the word and cover us in prayer. 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

Hope Regifted 12-13-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I look to You and listen for the leading of Your voice. ... "Guard what has been entrusted to you" (1 Timothy 6:20). Thank You for entrusting to me the gift of a sure hope and confident faith in Your goodness and grace. "We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul" (Hebrews 6:19). You are faithful and true, worthy of all my trust. "Let us hold fast to this confession of our hope without wavering, for He who has promised is faithful" (v. 10:23). This gift of hope is for me, but not for me to keep for myself. It is a gift to be given away -- to be "regifted." Let me always be ready to share with others this gift of hope that is within me (1 Peter 3:15). I am both a child of the King and a servant of this gospel of hope in the good news of Your kingdom. Give me grace to both guard it in my heart and give it away for the hearts of others. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Please come join us at The Fountain! this Friday Night (the 3rd Friday night of every month) for our ministry's ecumenical gathering of the body of Christ in our community 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 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 .

Needing Healing 12-12-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek You and I need You. I worship and adore You, then lay my needs before You. ... "As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on each of them and cured them" (Luke 4:40). Lord, I bring my youngest sons, Elijah and Josiah, to you. They are struggling with sickness that is stealing their peace and rest and ours. I'm asking You to lay Your hands on them and heal them. Drive all infirmity from them and restore them to health in Your created order, redeemed by Your blood and filled with Your Spirit. I praise You and thank You now for healing my children. It is already done in heaven, and it is in the process of being done here on earth as it is in heaven. "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all His benefits -- who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases" (Psalm 103:2-3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Feel Like It's Always Winter, But Never Christmas? (taken from The Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe) To some the "winters" of life bring harshness, discouragement and even depression... It never "feels" like the joyous picture of what Christmas should be... Bondages and burdens keep them from experiencing the freedom they were created for... But "Aslan is on the move"... our Awesome and Almighty God is at work... binding up the brokenhearted and setting the captives free (Is. 61). So, ... Come to The Fountain! this Friday night at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly, ecumenical gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the chapel of Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Road in Lexington. Come be refreshed and renewed as we drink deeply from the Living Waters. All are welcome! I will be leading in prayer, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett will be leading in worship. Call us for information at 859-317-1591

Simply Yours 12-10-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I simply come and seek Your face. ... I simply come and seek Your face, I simply bow and need Your grace. I simply praise Your name my King, I simply say You are my everything. "One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple" (Psalm 27:4). In all the busyness of this season, keep reminding me of the one thing that really matters most -- my personal relationship with You. You are the "One Thing" I need most. As I seek you and seek You first, everything else comes into place. Then, everything else is covered by Your grace. Help me keep it simple. As I choose to be simply Yours. 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

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