Blessed by Believing 12-23-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I face the stress of the season today, I wait in the silence of surrender before You now. ... "Blessed is she who has believed that there will be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord" (Luke 1:45). Mary believed and received Your words of calling and destiny for her life. She was blessed, and in her obedience of faith, she blessed You. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). Mary pleased You because she believed You. Let my life please You. Give me grace and faith to believe You for the fulfillment of all You have spoken to me by Your Word and by Your Spirit. Like Mary, let me "accomplish all things" in Your power, according to the purpose and plan You have set for my life "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:3-14). 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

Holy Habitation in Zion 12-22-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Lord and my Savior. I bow before Your heavenly throne and welcome You here on to the throne of my heart. ... "For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation: 'This is My resting place forever; here I will reside for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless its provisions; I will satisfy its poor with bread. It's priests I will clothe with salvation, and its faithful will shout for joy. There I will cause a horn to sprout up for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed One. His enemies I will clothe with disgrace, but on Him, His crown will gleam" (Psalm 132:13-18). In this season of the celebration of Your first coming as the Christ Child, all the eyes of the world are turned toward Zion -- the mountain of the city at the center of the land of Your birth, Your ministry, Your death, Your resurrection, and Your return. "Thus says the Lord God: This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the center of the nations, with countries all around her" (Ezekiel 5:5). As we think of Bethlehem and Jerusalem, Galilee and Nazareth, let us remember to pray for this land and its people at the center of the earth. Though there has been great rebellion, there will be great renewal. Though there has been great violence, there will be great victory. Though there have been great threats of great destruction, there will be great restoration. So, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, as Your Word commands us: "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May they prosper who love you" (Psalm 122:6). I pray for the people of "the city of God" to turn their eyes to You and behold their Messiah (Psalm 46:4). I pray for the day of peace that will come on the day of Your return to Your "resting place forever" as Your people declare, "Blessed in the One who comes in the name of the Lord" (Matthew 23:39). On that day, I will join all its faithful to "shout for joy" when Your "crown will gleam" by the praise of Your people. 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

The Messiah of Bethlehem 12-21-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I center my thoughts on You as I lift up my heart in prayer. ... "But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you will come forth for Me One who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.... and He shall be the One of Peace" (Micah 5:2-5). From everlasting to everlasting, You are Lord. You are the Messiah who has come forth to establish Your eternal throne in the hearts of all people (Revelation 11:15). You are the fulfillment of every prophecy of Your coming (Acts 3:18; 18:28). You are the "Ancient of Days" (Daniel 7:9). You are the "Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). You came in humility on the hay of a manger in Bethlehem and You are coming in glory in the hearts of Your people -- all people who call upon Your name. Come and rule in Israel. Come and rule in me. 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

"Messiah is Coming" 12-20-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You, Lord God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit -- into my heart and my day. ... "The woman said to Him, 'I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called Christ). 'When He comes, He will proclaim all things to us.' Jesus said to her, 'I am He, the One who is speaking to you' " (John 4:25-26). Lord Jesus, You are the One who proclaims all things to us. You are Yeshua HaMoshiach -- Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One of God. You are "the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). You are still coming, still speaking, still proclaiming Your Word of truth and life to us. You are the Word made flesh -- both exalted as Son of God and humbled as Son of Man -- having no beginning and no end as Son of God, yet at the same time conceived by the Holy Spirit in the human womb of a virgin girl (John 1:14; Philippians 2:5-11). " 'She will bear a Son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: 'Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall name Him Emmanuel,' which means, 'God is with us' " (Matthew 1:21-23). Thank You for coming, and thank You for coming again soon. And in between these two great days, thank You for being with us, for being with me -- this day and every day. 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

"Our Great God and Savior" 12-19-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with the hope and anticipation of Your presence in my life today. ... "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He it is who gave Himself up for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds" (Titus 2:11-14). Lord Jesus, You are "our great God and Savior." I wait for "the blessed hope" of the manifestation of Your glory. Keep redeeming me from all iniquity, keep purifying me from all defilement of my sin and the sins of others against me, keep training me to renounce impiety and worldly passions. By Your grace and in Your power I want to live my life in a way that honors You -- self-controlled, upright and godly. This is why You have appeared in the flesh, "bringing salvation to all." Help me embrace the fullness of Your salvation for me through the cleansing of Your blood and the power of Your Spirit to the glory of our Father. 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

Mighty Warrior God 12-18-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Strengthen my spirit in these morning moments of prayer. Gird up my heart in faith to face the battles I will face today for the sake of Your name. ... "The Lord is my strength and my might, and He has become my salvation; this is my God and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is His name" (Exodus 15:2-3). Moses and the people sang this song of praise as they stood in wonder at the shores of the Red Sea. Their enemies charged against them, shouting taunts of terror to melt their hearts in fear: "I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them" (15:9). But it was Your hand that drew the sword of Your Word. "You blew Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters" (15:10). You defeated the enemies of Your people in the face of certain destruction. Then their hearts could not contain the songs of praise and shouts of joy for the strength and power of Your salvation. "Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power -- Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy!" (15:6). You are my strength and my might. Come in power to defeat the enemies of my soul. Stretch out Your mighty right hand, O Lord. Deliver me from destruction and establish me in the victory of Your salvation. You are love, but You are also a warrior -- a mighty warrior who's love for Your people consumes our enemies and silences their taunts. Arise in Your power and let Your enemies be scattered. "This is my God and I will praise Him!" 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

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