"This is the One" 4-28-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father and Son, come abide in me by Your Holy Spirit. ... "The Lord said, 'Rise and anoint him, for this is the one.' Then Saul took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:12-13). Spirit of the Lord, You came mightily upon David. And he was known to all by Your presence in his life. They said he was "skillful in playing (the lyre), a man of valor, a warrior, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence; and the Lord is with him" (v. 16:18). David was a worshiper and a warrior, who spoke well in the presence of others because he spent time in the presence of the Lord. The anointing of Your presence rested upon him and identified him as "the one" (v. 16:12). And in these days, You have poured out Your Spirit on all flesh (Acts 2:17). Now, in this age, the Spirit of the Lord rests upon and dwells within all who call upon Your name and welcome You into our hearts and lives. You say of each of us, "This is the one." We are each anointed by Your Spirit. "But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge.... As for you, the anointing that you received from Him abides in you" (1 John 2:20-27). By the abiding presence of Your Holy Spirit anointing each one of us, we are worshippers and warriors, speaking words of truth and life because we are drawn near to spend time with the One who is Truth and Life. As we do, You come mightily upon us and rise up within us, making us one with You, one with each other, and one in ministry to the people and places of the world You send us in the power of Your Spirit and glory of Your presence. As You said to our Father, "The glory that You have given Me I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are One, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me" (John 17:22-23). In Jesus' name I Pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Overflow of Love 4-27-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord; and I thank You, Lord, for loving me. ... "And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11). How do I know "what is best"? How do I keep my focus fixed on the true goal? How do I give my heart, and time, and resources to what really matters? According to Your Word, it's by the overflow of love. As I allow Your love to fill me and overflow through me, "knowledge and full insight" come. True knowledge comes from knowing You. True wisdom comes from knowing the One who is wise. The "day of Christ" will come. And in that day, I want to be one who is "pure and blameless." I want to have "produced the harvest of righteousness" in the field that You gave me with the seeds of love and truth You've given me to sow. In the sin of my flesh, I know I fall short of the glory of God in so many ways. So I need You to keep reminding me of the true goal and the true means of Your grace to "press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:14). And that means is love -- the overflow of love. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Mindful of Me 4-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me into the deep place of surrender and rest in You. ... "When I look at heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars that You have established; what are human beings that You are mindful of them, mortals that You care for them? Yet You have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under their feet" (Psalm 8:3-6). You are mindful of the heavens, yet You are mindful of me. You hold all things in Your hands, yet You have chosen to put them under the feet of mortal men and women. You have all power and authority in heaven and earth, yet You have given dominion over Your creation to Your created ones. You are crowned with all glory and honor and power, yet You honor us and crown us with Your glory. You have entrusted so much to us, as if we were Your children -- sons and daughters of God himself. And so we are. We "have received a Spirit of adoption. When we cry, 'Abba! Father! it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ -- if, in fact, we suffer with Him so that we may also be gloried with Him" (Romans 8:15-17). Cleanse me in Your blood and fill me with Your Spirit. Hold me in Your arms and lead me in Your ways. Remind of who am I am what You've sent me to do. You've entrusted so much to me; give me the power of Your grace to honor You in all I do with it today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner May 2nd

Friends of Messiah Ministries & Tommy Hays Please come join us for our 2008 Celebration Dinner Friday Night, May 2nd 7-9:00 pm Celebrate stories of God's glory; Hear our Calling; Join our Vision Contact Marilyn Walker: DirOfMinstries@aol.com 859-317-1591 If you're unable to come but would like to join with us financially,

please send your contribution to:

Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, KY 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org

Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. 4-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of heaven, Lord of earth, Lord of my life, I bow with my knees and confess with my tongue that You are Lord of all. ... "And he got up, left everything, and followed Him" (Luke 5:28). I spent time yesterday with two different men at two different times Your Spirit sent to our city with a mission and ministry for each -- John from Ireland and Abraham from India. I know You sent them for many reasons, but one reason was to speak to my heart by the witness of their lives. These men of God were willing to literally get up, leave everything, and follow You -- not just one time, but every moment of every day. One literally signed a pledge as a young man, along with the woman of God who would become his wife and life-long partner in the journey, "Lord Jesus, I will follow You: Anything. Anytime. Anywhere." This is the mind of Christ (Luke 22:42). This is the heart of Mary (Luke 1:38). This is the will of Peter, Matthew, Mary Magdalene, and everyone of Your true disciples (Luke 9:23). When You call me to follow You, it seems it's not so much to a place of destination but to a place of surrender. You call me to surrender all, to entrust all, to leave all and follow You in trusting faith and humble obedience. I could never do that in my power and self-determination. And I don’t have to. It's all by the power of Your grace. You give me the grace to desire it, the grace to do it, and the grace to keep on doing it. Then, if I fail when the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak, You even give me the grace to repent, receive Your forgiveness, and be restored in my heart to be ready to surrender all and follow You again. And above all, the reason You want me to follow You is because You love me so much You want me to be with You wherever You go. You know that down in my heart, I will only be truly happy and truly fulfilled when I do. Yes, Lord. By the power of Your grace I choose to follow You. Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be teaching a workshop this weekend on ministry to others with freedom from spiritual blockages at the 2008 International Conference for Lay Pastors Ministry April 25-26, being hosted in Lexington at my home church this year. Please come join us: www.laypastors.com Laura Beach of our ministry and one of my spiritual mentors Margaret Therkelsen will also be teaching. My good friends Rev. Greg Gallaher and Mary Beth Ludt will be keynote speakers. Call Centenary Church for details at 859-269-2800 Please come join us if you can for our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner May 2nd. Our friend and prophetic psalmist Heather Butler from Wales will be with us to give an inspiring word and we'll hear stories of God's glory. If you're not able to come but sense the Lord's leading to join in our vision and calling with your giving or your prayers, please send us a note of encouragement. We're a faith-based ministry raising all our own support to fulfill our calling -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." Please RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required for planning). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Signs of the Coming of the Kingdom 4-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let Your Word wash over me. Let Your Spirit fill me. ... "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). You have already made us to be a kingdom through the power of Your love and the victory of Your cross. We are the kingdom of heaven on earth, a kingdom possessed by the faith of the children of God (Matthew 19:14). Our heavenly Father "has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14). This kingdom of the Son is now within us (Luke 17:21). And as Your Word declared long ago, "The God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed" (Daniel 2:44). You are my King. And with every choice I make by Your grace to embrace Your kingdom, Your kingdom comes. When I forgive instead of resent, Your kingdom comes. When I sacrifice what is rightfully mine for the sake of another, Your kingdom comes. When I willing entrust my thoughts to Your thoughts, my desires to Your desires, and my ways to Your ways, Your kingdom comes. These are the signs of the coming of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. "How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His sovereignty is from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:3). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be teaching a workshop this weekend called "Healed and Free to Let the Spirit Flow" at the 2008 International Conference for Lay Pastors Ministry April 25-26, being hosted in Lexington at my home church this year. Please come join us. Register on-line www.laypastors.com Laura Beach of our ministry will also be teaching and my good friends Rev. Greg Gallaher and Mary Beth Ludt will be the plenary speakers. Call Centenary Church for details at 859-269-2800 Please come join us if you can for our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner May 2nd. Our friend and prophetic psalmist Heather Butler from Wales will be with us to give an inspiring word and we'll hear stories of God's glory. If you're not able to come but sense the Lord's leading to join in our vision and calling with your giving or your prayers, please send us a note of encouragement. We're a faith-based ministry raising all our own support to fulfill our calling -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." Please RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required for planning). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Love Never Ends" 4-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I wait on You in the silence of surrender to the leading of Your Spirit. ... "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ love the church and gave Himself for her.... In the same way, husbands should love their wives as they do their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.... Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband" (Ephesians 6:25-33). Love, respect, honor, devotion, sacrifice, faithfulness, forgiveness, commitment, patience, daring to entrust your heart to another, risking rejection, fearing failure, but denying self for the sake of another. Marriage is as much a refiner's fire as a warm glow. Lord, forgive me when I fail to love, fail to give, fail to forgive. "Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends ..." (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Who can love, but by the grace of God? And who can be loved, but by the grace of God? Lord, give me grace to love and be loved, to respect and be respected. Love must be pursued (1 Corinthians 14:1). Love must be held in the flames by faith and hope until all the impurities are burned away. But the blessing and joy of the gold that comes through the refiner's fire is worth the pursuit. "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three, but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us if you can for our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner May 2nd. Our friend and prophetic psalmist Heather Butler from Wales will be with us to give an inspiring word and we'll hear stories of God's glory. If you're not able to come but sense the Lord's leading to join in our vision and calling with your giving or your prayers, please send us a note of encouragement. We're a faith-based ministry raising all our own support to fulfill our calling -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." Please RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required for planning). Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Celebration of Unleavened Bread 4-22-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me get quiet enough to hear, focused enough to see, and sensitive enough to follow. ... "Your boasting is not a good thing. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch, as you really are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and of evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Corinthians 5:6-8). As I begin a new day, clean out the old yeast from the mistakes and regrets, sorrows and sins of all the days before. Let this day begin with a new batch of dough, untainted and undefiled. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Let my life throughout this new day be a pleasing aroma to You (2 Corinthians 2:15). Give me the attitude to celebrate it as a festival, as You "restore to me the joy of my salvation" (Psalm 51:12). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Holy Communion with the Passover Lamb 4-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Living Word, speak to my heart. ... "While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it, He broke it, gave it to His disciples, and said, 'Take, eat; this is My body.' Then He took a cup, and after giving thanks He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it with you in My Father's kingdom' " (Matthew 26:26-29). On the night You gathered with Your first disciples to share the Passover meal, You revealed that You are the fulfillment of the Passover (Matthew 26:19). The bread is Your body; the wine is Your blood. You are the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12:21; Mark 14:12). You are the Lamb of God, slain for us, who takes away this sins of the world (John 1:29). And as we join together to celebrate the fulfillment of the Passover through the Lord's Supper we "come together as a church," as one body in our Lord (1 Corinthians 11:18). We come together in this Holy Communion with seeking hearts and trusting faith to be filled afresh with the living Presence of the living Christ -- to become one with You, one with each other, one in ministry to all the world. We proclaim Your sacrifice of love for us and remember the covenant of Your eternal love for us (1 Corinthians 11:26). It is more than a memory of something that happened two thousand years ago; it is a means of Your grace for us today. You fill us with Your Spirit and remind us of Your love and our calling to love others with Your love that now fills our hearts. "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). Sunday morning we finished our Alpha retreat with a time of Holy Communion, experiencing a deep encounter with You as You filled all who asked with Your Holy Spirit. Then I joined with other friends Sunday afternoon to celebrate the Passover meal in the tradition of the Jewish sedar, but with the eyes of our hearts opened to see our Messiah through the words and actions of our meal. What a wonderful day of remembering who You are, what You have done, and all You desire to do in me and through my life in communion with Your Spirit and the body of Christ. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we're already hearing some amazing testimonies of God's presence and power in the hearts of many during our weekend Holy Spirit retreat on the Alpha Course. Thank you for your prayers and I pray for a fresh move of God's Spirit in your heart and the heart of all those in your spheres of ministry. God bless you! Our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner is May 2nd to celebrate stories of God's glory, hear our calling, and join His vision! Please come and bring some friends who may have a heart for the vision of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required). Please spread the word and God bless you for joining with us to accomplish our calling and fulfill our destiny! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"The Things of the Spirit" 4-20-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come cleanse my heart and shape my thoughts. ... "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit" (Romans 8:5). You use the Alpha ministry at our church to bring many people to Christ. And You also use it to bring many people at our church who already know Christ to become more passionate, committed disciples of Christ. This weekend we're away with the seekers and the followers of Christ on our spring Alpha course to learn more about Your Holy Spirit, how to be filled with the Spirit, and how to live a life setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. And as I teach, I will also learn. As I give out, I will also receive. As I help lead others to You, I will become a more passionate, committed follower of You. Keep crucifying my flesh. Keep filling me with Your Spirit. Keep changing me and renewing me as You keep reminding me how much I need You. Soak me like a dry sponge in the living waters of Your Spirit as I hunger and thirst for more of You. I can't live this Christian life without the presence and power of Your Spirit living in me. And I praise You that I don't have to if I keep making room for more of Your Spirit in more of my soul (Ephesians 5:18). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Sail On 4-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Word of God, soak my mind and mold my soul. ... "Your rigging hangs loose; it cannot hold the mast firm in its place, or keep the sail spread out" (Isaiah 33:23). A sailboat is created to fly with the wind, as our souls are created to fly with Your Spirit. But the rigging must be right and the mast must be firm. The sail must be stretched out wide to catch the wind and ride the waves. The bow must be set on its course and the sails must be trimmed and positioned to advance. Otherwise the wind comes but the boat does not sail and the destination is never reached. Lord, this season of alignment and realignment, set the rigging right in my soul. I want to be right and ready, prepared and positioned to advance in the destiny You've set before me. Remove the clutter, batten down the hatches, and make taunt the lines of my sensitivity to Your leading. As I stretch out my arms in worship and spread out my heart in praise, fill my soul with Your Spirit. Your cross is my mast and Your Spirit is my wind. By the power of Your grace alone, I will sail on. I will cut through the waves of adversity and navigate the course of destiny You've set before me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner is May 2nd to celebrate stories of God's glory, hear our calling, and join His vision! Please come and bring some friends who may have a heart for the vision of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required). Please spread the word and God bless you for joining with us to accomplish our calling and fulfill our destiny! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

The Mat 4-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Give me a right heart, renew a right spirit in me. Bring my thoughts, my desires, and my actions into line with Yours. ... "When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized Him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard He was" (Mark 6:54-55). Mockers and skeptics of the faith say it's just a crutch for those who are too weak to stand by themselves. It's more like a mat. It's only vain pride and arrogance that makes me think I can stand up at all without You. Faith doesn't call us to do our part and then let You do the rest. Faith requires me to humble myself to admit I can do absolutely nothing apart from You that has any lasting value at all. I'm even totally dependent upon You for the very will to want to be healed of the sickness of my sin and freed from the bondage of my will that rebels against Yours (Philippians 2:13). I'm not like the man who can stand up on his own but needs a crutch to walk. Rather, I'm like the man who was completely paralyzed, who couldn't stand up at all, and had to be carried on a mat into the presence of the only One who could forgive him, heal him, free him, and empower him to rise up and walk out his faith in Your power and by Your grace (Mark 2:1-12). I renounce the deception that I can stand at all apart from You, that I have any strength or power to will or to do what is right apart from You. Apart from You, without total, desperate dependence on You, I can do nothing (John 15:5). So I throw down my crutch and lay down on my mat. I renounce my pride and embrace the truth that it's only to the degree that I'm willing to humble myself in Your sight, that You will lift me up (James 4:10). You don’t come to those who claim they are well, but to those who admit their sickness; You don't come to those who claim they are righteous, but to those who admit they have not righteousness apart from You (Mark 2:17). But by the power of Your steadfast love and ever-enduring mercy to all who seek You, I will arise and take up my mat and walk (Mark 2:11). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to the Fountain Tonight! Friday Night 4/18 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. This month Sandra White of Bethlehem Farm Ministries and I will lead in prayer while Phil Jackson will lead in worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Please come early for Intercessory Prayer at 6:15. Contact Marilyn at dirofministries@aol.com or 859-422-1794. All are welcome! Friends, our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner is May 2nd to Celebration Stories of God's glory, Hear Our Calling, and Join Our Vision! Please come and bring some friends who may have a heart for the vision of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required). Please spread the word and God bless you for joining with us to accomplish our calling and fulfill our destiny! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Got Oil? 4-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart into this new day. ... "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps" (Matthew 25:1-4). Many have been willing to come out to meet You, Lord, in one form or another. Maybe they've listened to a friend talk about You, picked up a Bible from a hotel room drawer and read a few words about You, or even gone to a church and heard a sermon about You. But how many have ever truly welcomed You into their hearts? How many have truly opened their lives to be emptied of themselves and filled with the oil of Your Spirit? How many came looking for You, willing to have an experience in the moment, to take what came easy, but weren't willing to hold on and press through the times where it seemed like Your presence and Your promises were forever delayed? "And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:8). You warned us from the beginning that "the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 24:12-13). I want enduring hope and persevering faith. I want to be prayed up, poured out, and prepared. I want to "be ready" (v. 24:44). Only "those who are ready" will enter into the fulfillment of our destiny in You (v. 25:10). So keep filling my lamp with Your Oil -- the Oil of Your Spirit that will last through every dark night of the soul and every moment the promise of Your coming seems to tarry. One day I'll see You come in glory. "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him," I'll be watching and waiting with open arms and expectant faith by the grace of Your Spirit who fills my soul (v. 25:31). And before that day, I want to be found faithful, letting the light of Your glory burn brightly in me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, our Messiah Ministries Celebration Dinner is May 2nd to Celebrate Stories of God's glory, Hear Our Calling, and Join Our Vision! Please come and bring some friends who may have a heart for the vision of our ministry -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God." RSVP by 4/25 to Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com (reservations required). Please spread the word and God bless you for joining with us to accomplish our calling and fulfill our destiny! Come to the Fountain! this Friday Night 4/18 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. This month Sandra White of Bethlehem Farm Ministries and I will lead in prayer while Phil Jackson will lead in worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Please come early for Intercessory Prayer at 6:15. Contact Marilyn at dirofministries@aol.com or 859-422-1794. All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Daily Archives: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/

First Responder 4-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak Your name, seek Your face, and listen for Your voice. ... "The Lord protects the simple; when I was brought low, He saved me" (Psalm 116:6). My heart was racing when I woke this morning, with vivid images of the closing scene of a bad dream in my mind. By Your grace, that doesn't happen very often. So I began to ask whether this was from You or from the enemy. Sometimes the enemy tries to terrify us and sometimes You show us something terrifying to move us to intercession against it. And either way, I want to know what You would say and show me through this experience no matter what the source. As I prayed, the idea of vulnerability came to mind -- extreme, radical vulnerability. And not that somehow this was something new or that this was a warning of something to come and to prepare. Instead, what comes this morning is a profound sense of just how incredibly vulnerable we are every moment of every day. Apart from You, I simply have no protection at all. Any sense of protection and peace I ever experience is a gift of God from You. Any thought that somehow I can protect myself or my alarm system can protect me or my nation's military can protect me is foolish folly and false pride. You bring me low to the humble place to realize that apart from You, I simply have no protection at all. But I thank You that I am not apart from You. I thank You that I "live in the shelter of the Most High" and "abide in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1). I can call 9-1-1 anytime I need to -- Psalm 91:1 -- and You will always be my First Responder. In You, I "will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday" (v. 91:5-6). My God is with me; whom then shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1). You never leave me and never forsake me. And the more I realize the simple truth of my complete vulnerability apart from You, my total dependence upon You, the more I can rest in the peace and security of Your presence. "Those who love Me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know My name. When they call to Me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them. With long life I will satisfy them, and show them My salvation" (Palm 91:14-16). No matter what may ever come, nothing can ever take that away from me; nothing can ever take You away from me. As I choose in humility and faith to abide in You and allow You abide in me, nothing "will be able to separate (me) from the love of God in Christ Jesus (my) Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to the Fountain! this Friday Night 4/18 at 7 pm -- the 3rd Friday Night of every month -- for our ministry's monthly gathering of people from many different churches and streams of the body of Christ across our city for prayer, praise, and healing worship. This month Sandra White of Bethlehem Farm Ministries and I will lead in prayer while Phil Jackson will lead in worship. Hosted in the chapel of Centenary: 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY. Please come early for Intercessory Prayer at 6:15. Contact Marilyn at dirofministries@aol.com or 859-422-1794. All are welcome! Come to the Mountain this Monday Night 4/21 to Celebrate Passover Seder at 6:30 pm First Southern National Bank Community Room(Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road)Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited.Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Render unto Caesar 4-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come, Holy Spirit. Welcome, my Father God. With every dimension of my being, I embrace every dimension of Your Being into my life this day. ... " 'Show Me the tax money.' So they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them, 'Whose image and inscription is this?' They said to Him, 'Caesar's.' And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's' " (Matthew 22:19-21, NKJV). Today is tax day in America, the deadline to file our federal income taxes. Though it's easy to the negative, I choose to see the positive. Though I don't agree with all my government does with all my money, I am grateful for all the amazingly wonderful things my nation is able to do for our citizens and untold millions of people around the world by the gathering and strategic distribution of our tax money. While I repent on behalf of my nation for all the extravagant waste and misuse of our money, I also rejoice in the spirit of compassion and generosity that still lives in the heart of our nation. But also, I believe paying my taxes gives me spiritual authority in this land where I live and work. The seat of governmental authority "invites" me and gives me "permission" to participate in the rights and responsibilities of the government of our nation through paying my taxes. You call me to "seek the welfare of the city (and nation)" where You have sent me and positioned, and to "pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare (I) will find (my) welfare" (Jeremiah 29:7). So I pray over my contributions of taxes and proclaim they be used for the purposes of the kingdom of God, "for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God" (Romans 13:1). As my government willingly receives my money, that gives me all the more authority and responsibility to pray for the stewardship of that money -- money that my God has entrusted to me to use for His glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come Celebrate Passover Seder April 21st at 6:30pmFirst Southern National Bank Community Room(Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road)Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited.Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.comor Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net. Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night -- 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. Phil Jackson will be leading in worship. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

An Excellent Spirit 4-14-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let everything else fall silent, as I sit before You and listen for Your leading. ... "Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole region" (Daniel 6:3). Lord, Your excellent Spirit is in me and in all who are called by Your name. You have anointed us with the greatness of Your presence. And You desire to accomplish through us Your purposes in the cities and regions where You appoint us. As we grow in Christ and the maturity of Your Spirit grows in us, we will distinguish ourselves from the wisdom and ways of the world. By Your grace, Your excellence in us will abound. We will be salt and light in the marketplace and the public square, as well as our neighborhoods and homes. Together, we will be agents of transformation as we live out our lives day by day because the Agent of transformation lives in us. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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 Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

By Cloud and Fire 4-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me start this day the right way with my eyes on You alone. ... "For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey" (Exodus 40:38). At each stage of my journey, You are with me -- covering me in the cloud of Your presence, refining me in the fire of Your Spirit, leading me in steps of Your will. Give me eyes to see what You're doing and ears to hear what You're saying. Give me wisdom to recognize the stage of the journey I'm in, the courage to move forward when it's time to arise and go, and the patience to sit and wait when it's time to be still. You have taught me much in the journey thus far. And this much I know for certain -- I don't want to go anywhere that You are not going with me and I don't want to stay anywhere that You are not staying with me. As Moses said, "If Your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here." (Exodus 33:15). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come Celebrate Passover Seder April 21st at 6:30pm First Southern National Bank Community Room (Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road). Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited. Cost of $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children to cover suppliesand kosher refreshments. Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Glory of God Come Down 4-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I open my heart as You open Your heavens and welcome Your presence into my day. ... "O that You would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at Your presence --" (Isaiah 64:1). Let the glory of God come down Let Your mercy and grace abound Open Your heavens I welcome Your presence in me ... As I open my heart to Your heaven, heaven comes down. As I embrace the ways of Your kingdom, Your kingdom comes. As I surrender my will to Your will, Your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. "The kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). You are "the King of heaven" coming to dwell in hearts of Your people and establish Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven (Daniel 4:27). Your glory comes down and Your grace abounds as we are willing choose to embrace the glory of Your manifest presence in us -- "Christ in (us), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come Celebrate Passover Seder April 21st at 6:30pm First Southern National Bank Community Room(Corporate Center on Harrodsburg Road) Vicky Welch from "With A Heart For Israel" will be leading. Reservations are necessary as seating is limited. Cost of $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for children to cover suppliesand kosher refreshments.Contact Marilyn Walker with Messiah Ministries: DirOfMinistries@aol.com or Bob and Doris McCray: bndmccray@windstream.net Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

Into the Arms of the One Who Loves Me So 4-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I seek Your face and welcome Your embrace, my Daddy Abba, Father God. ... O how I love You O how I need You O how I want You to know You are my comfort You are my peace You are the healer of my soul So come now and show me So come now and hold me So come now and make me whole I trust in You I rest in You I fall into the arms of the One who loves me so ... "It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to put confidence in mortals" (Psalm 118:8). "For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever" (Psalm 117:2). Though human beings fail us, and we fail them, You never fail. You never leave us. You never forsake us. You never harden Your heart to us and refuse to let us in. You never shame us or reject us or mock us. You are faithful and true, worthy of all my faith and all my love. And somehow, in Your enduring mercy and steadfast love, despite all my sin and needs, You keep loving me, keep reaching out to me, keep embracing me to the very degree that I will let You. And I do let You Lord my God, healer of my soul, the One who loves me so. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

The Boundary Oak 4-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my mind with Your thoughts; fill my heart with Your desires; fill my spirit with Your Spirit. ... "They will called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord to display His glory. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:3-4). The "Lincoln Boundary Oak" marks a corner edge of the property of the old Kentucky home where Abraham Lincoln was born. The ancient tree is now felled, but the stump remains. A craftsman from the area has honored many American Presidents with a hand-carved gavel from the oak of this tree that has marked the history of our land. We gathered there to pray righteousness to be restored to our land and devastation of many generations to be cleansed and healed, as You raise up a people who will stand in faith and display Your glory from this land. New life will come forth from the dead stump (Isaiah 11:1). The old things have passed away and all things have become new in You, as You establish the government of Your kingdom in the hearts of Your people. What was dead, but now purified by the fire of Your Spirit will come to life and flourish for Your glory. "Even if a tenth part remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak whose stump remains standing when it is felled. The holy seed is its stump" (Isaiah 6:13). With Your righteousness being restored in our hearts and our land, You are setting new boundaries in our lives and our spheres of influence and authority for the glory of Your name and Your kingdom. And with faith and joy we give out a shout of praise, proclaiming, "The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; I have a godly heritage" (Psalm 16:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, many from around the world will be coming to Kentucky over this two year celebration of Lincoln's bicentennial birthday: www.KyLincoln.org We feel we should be returning to this area to continue to pray to cleanse the land through repentance, confession, prayer, and proclamation and release the destiny of this land and people. Please contact us or Linda Whitaker at PrayKentucky@aol.com if you would like to be included. I pray the same for you and the anointing of God upon the people of your land. God bless you! 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 Come to the Mountain! every Monday night at 7 pm to pray for Israel and the peace of Jerusalem led by Doris and Bob McCray of our ministry. Hosted in the upstairs community room of First Southern National Bank at 3060 Harrodsburg Rd in Lexington. Contact Doris at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Resources On-Line: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org