Heaven's Home 5-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, Heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. It's a good morning because You're a good God. ... "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going" (John 14:1-4). You have prepared a place for me -- a place called heaven, a place called home. For "our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (Philippians 3:20). We are "strangers and foreigners on the earth ... seeking a homeland" because we "desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one," where You "have prepared a city" for us (Hebrews 11:13-16). So as I journey through the challenges that humble me and the opportunities that mature me in this broken, fallen world, I choose by Your grace to look to heaven. "Since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Colossians 3:1-3). I look beyond the brokenness to the wholeness to come, beyond the bondage to decay toward the freedom and joy of all You have prepared for me in heaven's home. By Your grace, I will live out all my days, learn all my lessons, endure all my trials, and fulfill all my destiny. But all the while, I will be looking forward to all that is to come. "For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). So though my feet are on earth, my heart is in heaven. And no matter what I will endure through this short but eternally significant journey, it will all be worth it. "I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be preaching at my home church in Lexington this Sunday 5/25 at two of our services (9:45 and 5:15) to begin a new sermon series on Heaven http://www.centenarylex.com/ Please come join us anytime you can and please keep us in your prayers. May our hearts be prepared for heaven! 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/

"Life in His Name" 5-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Living Word, bring Your Word to life in me. ... "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name" (John 20:30-31). What does it mean to have life in Your name? Your name speaks of Your nature -- "Jesus" means "the salvation of the Lord." Salvation is the fullness of life. You said You came that we might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10). And we embrace that life as we trust in Your name and embrace Your nature. As we behold You and embrace You, we become more like You (2 Corinthians 3:18). And this book of Your Word reveals Your truth and Your nature. These signs of Your love, recorded through men by Your Spirit for us reveal Your will for us and Your heart for us. And while we do not worship Your written Word, we do worship the One who is revealed by Your Word. These written words lead us to the Living Word, in whom we have life. "You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.... That word is the good news that was announced to you" (1 Peter 1:23-25). Thank You for writing these words and speaking them to my heart by Your Spirit. Help me grow in understanding of the truths You reveal and nature of Your name through Your Word. Help me grow in understanding the One who is the Word, the One who is the Truth, and the One who is my Life (John 1:1 and 14:6). There is life "no other name" (Acts 4:12). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be preaching at my home church in Lexington this Sunday at two of our services (9:45 and 5:15) to begin a new sermon series on Heaven www.CentenaryLex.com Please come join us anytime you can and please keep us in your prayers! 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 Light of Life" 5-22-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Living Word of the Living God. Come live in me by Your Spirit today. ... "In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I am not afraid. What can a mere mortal do to me? My vows to You I must perform, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling so that I may walk before my God in the light of life" (Psalm 56:10-13). Thank You for the comfort of Your word and the encouragement of Your truth. Thank You for the light of life that leads me through every dark valley of the shadow of death. I will not fear, for You are with me. I will not turn back but keep pressing on, for Your love compels me. My vow to You is that I choose to entrust my life to You. Give me grace to trust You more each day. Give me perspective to thank You for the grace of each day You give me to walk before You in this journey of my days through earth and toward heaven. And while "we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord," You call us each to do our part in the time we have to fulfill Your will through our lives (2 Corinthians 5:8). So let me not take a day for granted, but offer each day as a thank offering to You. As I live out "the measure of my days" to fulfill the plan and purpose You've chosen for my life, "let me know how fleeting my life is" (Psalm 39:4). As I follow the light of life, remind me what a gift and opportunity You have given me with Your deliverance of my soul from death another day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come join us if you can Tonight, 5/22, for Prayer, Care, Share in Lexington 7-9 pm, Crown Plaza/Campbell House sponsored by Lexington Leadership Foundation: "Connect -- Unify -- Mobilize -- Transform" our City for God. During the breakout sessions, I'll be speaking on racial reconciliation and healing for unity in the body and partnership in ministry. Please spread the word and come join us for this significant city-wide event. 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

Victory of Life over Death 5-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my heart and into my day. ... "Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, He himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, this is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). I hate death. And so do You. Your Word promises, "The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death is the work of the devil, "the one who has the power death" according to the Word of God. But You have defeated him through the victory of Your cross. And You destroy his works through the power of Your blood. "The Son of God was revealed for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). One day, "Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more" (Revelation 21:4). "Death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14). And I can't wait for that day. Yet You willingly endured death so that we might live with You forever (John 11:25-26). In You, "Death has been swallowed up in victory" (1 Corinthians 15:54). I thank You for the teaching us the truth that death is not our friend, You are our Friend. Death is a valley to go through and death is an enemy to defeat. And the power of Your love and the grip of Your life leads us through the valley and into victory. And until that day, keep giving me Your hatred of death and Your passion for life (John 10:10). In the authority of Your name and the power of the Your blood, I want to be part of the fulfillment of Your Word that we will "raise the dead" as disciples of Christ (Matthew 10:8). I hear of Your miracles being released on the earth today as never before. I want to be part of Your end-time revival and the world-wide harvest of souls into the glory of Your kingdom. I look forward to the increase of Your glory upon the earth and upon Your people (Habakkuk 2:14; Isaiah 60:1-3). And one day soon when You return in the glory of the clouds of heaven, we will see Your world-wide display of the victory of Life over Death (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). Until that day, let me be found faithful, fighting Death and embracing Life. 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 Prayer, Care, Share this Thurs Night 5/22, 7-9 pm, Crown Plaza/Campbell House in Lexington sponsored by Lexington Leadership Foundation: "Connect -- Unify -- Mobilize -- Transform" our City for God. During the breakout sessions, I'll be speaking on racial reconciliation and healing for unity in the body and partnership in ministry. Please spread the word and come join us for this significant city-wide event. 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

"These Little Ones" 5-20-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I call on Your name I come into alignment with Your will for my day. ... "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 18:10, NKJV). You are the Advocate for all the little children who cannot speak for themselves, the Defender for these little ones who cannot defend themselves. With a fierceness of love You fight for their right to draw near to You, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Matthew 19:14). And with that same fierceness of love You warn those who would harm them in any way, "If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in Me, if would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drown in the depths of the sea" (Matthew 18:6). Lord Jesus, You love the little children, all the children of the world. You love those who joyfully sing the praises of Your name and You love those who do not yet know it. You love those who spirits are filled with Your breath of life and You love those who are created and carried in their mother's womb before they breathe their first breath. Your angels watch over them and fight for them until the day You gather them out of this broken, fallen world into the arms of Your presence to see Your face forever. "Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong." Thank You for the strength and power of Your love. Nothing can ever separate us or any of these little ones from the strength and power of the God who is Love (Romans 8:37-39; 1 John 4:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please pray for the family of Rob and Mary Adams today as we honor the life of their stillborn child, Samuel Robert Adams. These are times we especially need to know the unfailing love of God and the comfort of His steady presence through these valleys of the shadow of death. And I pray for each of you as you go through those valleys in the journey of your lives. God bless you. 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 Ears of the Deaf Unstopped" 5-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Arise in Your glory in my soul and in all the earth. ... "The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad.... They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God.... Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a dear, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy...' (Isaiah 35:1-6). At our Prayer Revival last night for south central Kentucky, the daughter of a Methodist minister gave testimony to Your heart and power to heal Your people and display Your glory. You unstopped the deaf ears of her son! And while he does not yet hear perfectly, we believe as we persist in prayer You will bring to completion all You have begun in him and in us (Philippians 1:6). You taught us to pray "Your kingdom come, You will be done here on earth as it is in heaven." In heaven, there is no deafness, no blindness, no sickness or disease, no sin, no pain, no death and no devil. Lord, give us courage and faith to keep praying in obedience to Your command, believing You and expecting You to answer these prayers You've taught us to pray. Your kingdom is coming. Keep anointing us with Your Spirit to keep preparing the way of the Lord. The days of Your kingdom are at hand. The Methodist revivalist Charles Wesley believed Your Word and proclaimed the coming of these days in worship and prophetic song long ago in his famous hymn of praise: O for a thousand tongues to sing My great Redeemer’s praise, The glories of my God and King, The triumphs of His grace. Jesus, the name that calms my fears, That bids our sorrows cease, ’Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ’Tis life and health and peace. He breaks the pow’r of canceled sin, He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me. Hear Him, ye deaf; His praise, ye dumb, Your loosened tongues employ; Ye blind, behold your Savior come; And leap, ye lame, for joy. My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, To spread thro’ all the earth abroad, The honors of Thy name. And so we shall. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for us at this Prayer Revival and I pray for a revival of prayer that prepares the way of the Lord in your community. We're all beginning to experience a foretaste of the world-wide awakening of the glory of God to come. Let's keep persisting in prayer for one another and proclamation of the power of the Lord and the healing love of God, as the honors of His name "spread thro' all the earth abroad." 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

Renewed in the Spirit of My Mind 5-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Holy are You, Lord. And worthy is Your name. You are worthy of my praise and worthy of the surrender of my day. ... "For surely you have heard about Him and were taught in Him, as truth is in Jesus. You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to become renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness" (Ephesians 4:21-24). As You renew the spirit of my mind, You realign my mind with Yours. You bring my thoughts into line with Your thoughts, my desires into line with Your desires, so that my choices come into line with Your choices. This is how the old self becomes the new self, crucified in the flesh and alive in the Spirit. This is how I embrace my new and true identity in Christ. By the grace of God, this new self is "created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Though I am forever in need of Your grace, my core identity is no longer a sinner, but a saint. I no longer keep looking at my past, but turn my eyes to my destiny in You. I no longer linger in my thoughts on who I was, but embrace the truth of who I am. "So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!... For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:17-21). This is the truth that is in Jesus. 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

"Set Free" 5-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be Lord of every area of my life this day. ... "Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, 'Woman, you are set free from your ailment.' When He laid hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.... 'And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?' (Luke 13:10-16). This is the Word You brought to my heart at our Prayer Revival last night. And these are the questions You led me to ask in response to Your Word: What are the things that cripple me? What holds me back and trips me up from running the race into the fullness of the destiny You've set before me? What has me so bent over and so weighed down that I can't look up. What spirit has Satan sent to torment me and steal from me the love and life and peace and joy You died on the cross for me to have? Whatever it is, I ask You to speak to my spirit and lay hands on my body. I ask You to command it to go in the authority of Your name and the power of Your blood. In Christ, I am a son of Abraham (Galatians 3:28). In Christ, I am a son of God (Galatians 3:26). In Christ, I am "set free from this bondage." And I stand up straight and worship You, my Savior, my Healer, and my Deliverer. You are the God of peace who has crushed Satan under my feet (Romans 16:20). Give me courage and faith to keep looking up to You and living into this truth of Your Word every moment of every day. 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

Continually Clothed in Christ 5-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Apart from You, I can do nothing. Apart from You, I am nothing. But by Your grace, I am never apart from You. You never leave me and never forsake me; You are always with me. ... "I also said to the people at that time, 'Let every man and his servant pass the night inside Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.' So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me ever took off their clothes; each kept his weapon in his right hand" (Nehemiah 4:22-23). In these days of both the threat of great darkness and the promise of infinitely great light, we must be ready. We must be continually clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:27). We must be praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We must be wearing the whole armor of God, never taking it off, ready to stand firm in security of Your light and the power of Your strength against the darkness that comes to steal and kill and destroy (Ephesians 6:10-18). Like watchmen on the wall, let us be watching out for one another, as we also watch out for the coming of our enemy and watch out for the coming of our King. "Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18). Clothed in You, in the constant communion of prayer, we will "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of (Your) power" to face together anything that comes (v. 6:10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be leading a community-wide Prayer Revival this weekend at the Columbia United Methodist Church in south central Kentucky (7 pm Fri, Sat, Sun night; preaching Sun morning). I'll be teaching on a one day intensive School of Spiritual Ministry on Healing and Deliverance Saturday (9-12 am; 1-3 pm; CEU credits for pastors and leaders). All are welcome! 202 Burkesville St; Columbia, KY (270-384-2276). I'll be on the radio this morning at 8:30 on 92.7 FM The Wave talking about the revival. Please keep stand with us in prayer and I pray for revival in your community as well. God bless you! Come to the Fountain! This Friday Night 5/16 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 will lead in healing prayer ministry and speak on the Kingdom of God while Jeff Green 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! 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

The Day "No One Shall Miscarry" 5-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. For these next moments of silence in the surrender of contemplative prayer, I seek to focus my thoughts and my heart on You alone. ... "You shall worship the Lord your God, and I will bless your bread and your water; and I will take sickness away from among you. No one shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days" (Exodus 23:25-26). I spent time at the hospital last night with some friends whose baby died in the mother's womb. Though every circumstance and every family that faces the death of a child is unique, I couldn't help but remember those times when it was my child who was lost before the first breath of life. They were young lives who could not fulfill the number of their days on this earth, so we entrusted them and released them into the arms of our Father in heaven, through the blood of our Savior, only by the strength and comfort of the Holy Spirit. Grief and sorrow are such painful reminders that we still live out our days in a broken and fallen world where the kingdom of heaven has not yet fully come to earth as it is in heaven. In heaven, there are no miscarriages, no barrenness, no sickness, no lack of bread or water, and no death. And it is Your desire to see heaven come down to earth, to see life triumph over death, healing triumph over sickness, abundance triumph over poverty, and joy triumph over sorrow. That's the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God. That's what You taught us to seek and to pray for and to hold on to in the midst of the this broken, fallen world where Your kingdom is still in the process of coming and Your will is still in the process of being done here on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10 and 6:33). So until the day this covenant in Your blood is fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven, "we do not lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4:16). But at the same time, sometimes our hearts break. And those are the times we need You to just come and be with us and hold our broken hearts in Your bloody hands. Only by Your wounds, are we healed (Isaiah 53:5). Only by Your grace can we keep holding on and pressing in until the day we see Your kingdom fully consummated and manifested here on earth as it is in heaven. On that day, "sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10). Until that day of ultimate fulfillment, let Your kingdom come in me and in my world more every day by the power of Your grace. Despite the days when it seems the opposite is true, give me courage and faith to pray it and proclaim it until the day I see it as it should be and as You have said by the covenant of Your Word, sealed in Your blood that it will be. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep this couple in prayer as we pray together for all who are broken and saddened with grief and sorrow. Even now, I pray for life in Jesus' name (Matthew 10:8). We won't see the kingdom come unless we're willing to pray in faith for it to come. Our part is to keep praying, despite all the spiritual opposition to the will and ways of God (Daniel 10:12-14). Come to the Fountain! This Friday Night 5/16 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 will lead in prayer on The Kingdom of God while Jeff Green 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! I'd appreciate your prayers for us this weekend as I lead a Prayer Revival hosted at the First Methodist Church in Columbia, Kentucky (Fri, Sat, Sun nights) and teach on Healing and Deliverance Prayer Ministry all day Saturday. 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

"A Mind to Work" 5-14-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. By the power of Your grace, I choose to be dead to self and alive to Christ, as I begin this new day with You. ... "So we rebuilt the wall, and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6). One of the most fascinating principles of the kingdom of God is that in Your sovereignty as our Creator, You have chosen to empower those You have created to rule and reign with "dominion" over Your creation (Genesis 1:26). "You have given them dominion over the works of their hands; You have put all things under their feet.... O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is Your name!" (Psalm 8:6-9). "The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth He has given to human beings" (Psalm 115:16). With that authority, comes responsibility; with that calling, comes the power to accomplish Your purposes as we faithfully seek the guidance of Your will and humbly depend upon the strength and wisdom of Your ways (Luke 9:1). As we choose to die to our own will and choose to submit to Your will, You give us the desire and the power to fulfill the calling You've placed in our minds and stirred in our hearts, "for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). It was in Your heart to rebuild the wall and the city of Jerusalem. So You put that desire in the hearts of Your people and empower them to accomplish Your purposes. Yet they had the choose to seek You, to depend upon You, to persevere in trusting faith with You, or not. They "rebuilt the wall" because You chose to rebuild the wall through them, because You were at work in them, enabling them both to will and to work for Your good pleasure. And at the same time, each of them had a choice to obey or not, give in to frustration and fear or not, press on in the power of Your strength and the guidance of Your wisdom or not. By Your grace, "the people had a mind to work." Lord, give me a mind to work -- to work for You, to work empowered by You, to work with the tools and weapons You've given me, and to work only at the tasks You've placed in my mind and stirred in my heart in obedience to the calling You've given me. The mind to work according to Your will and Your ways, trusting in Your guidance and Your power alone is "the mind of Christ" (1 Corinthians 2:16). And that's the mind I ask You to form in me, a little more each day (Romans 12:2). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! This Friday Night 5/16, 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. Phil Jackson will be leading in worship. 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 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

"Revive the Stones" 5-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me, teach me, change me, and use me today. ... "Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he mocked the Jews. He said in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, 'What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish it in a day? Will they revive the stones out of heaps of rubbish -- and burned ones at that?" (Nehemiah 4:1-2). You will revive the stones. You will clean out the rubbish and gather the stones that have been burned and broken. You will restore the foundations and rebuild the wall of security, honor, and peace. You will "build up the ancient ruins," "raise up the former devastations," and "repair the ruined cities" (Isaiah 61:4). And the stones that You have revived will cry out in praise to welcome You as King of king and Lord of lords. We are Your "living stones" being "built into a spiritual house" to the praise of Your glory" (1 Peter 2:5). You will build Your house and revive Your people "in the presence of (our) enemies" to display Your power over them and Your love for us. You will silence their taunts and establish Your people firmly and securely in the land You have given us to prevail and to prosper for the glory of Your kingdom. So in certain hope and trusting faith, we will not "lose heart" but will "pray always," as we entrust our broken and burned hearts to You, knowing the day of revival will come. Our God will arise and our enemies will be scattered (Psalm 68:1). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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. 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

Ready to Rally 5-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I behold You, I want to become more like You. ... "And each of the builders had his sword strapped to his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And (Nehemiah) said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, 'The work is great and widely spread out, we are separated far from one another on the wall. Rally to us wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Our God will fight for us" (Nehemiah 4:18-20). Lord, You position us and empower us all the walls of our city each day with our tools of ministry and our weapons of warfare. You give us courage to advance Your kingdom and courage to withstand the advance of the kingdom of the enemy. It is Your Spirit within us who builds and Your Spirit within us who fights. And as we build and as we fight, we must listen for the sound of Your voice. It is Your Spirit within us who sounds the trumpet and Your Spirit within us who rallies us to respond. Some want to focus on building, some want to focus on fighting, some want to focus on sounding the trumpet, and some want to focus on listening for the sound of Your voice. All are good, but we must each grow up in all. The builder must also know how to fight, and the fighter must also know how to build. The intercessor must also know how to speak Your Word, and the preacher must also know how to pray. And at a moments notice, we all must be ready to rally to the battle and fight alongside one another for the people and places entrusted to our care in the power and Spirit of the Lord. As You lead us and empower us to do our part to be prepared, we can rest in the faith of knowing "Our God will fight for us." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be going to Columbia, Kentucky in central Kentucky this weekend to lead a Prayer Revival, joining in all the Lord is already doing there. I pray for a Prayer Revival in your heart and in your land to prepare the way of the Lord, as He prepares us and empowers us to rally to His voice and join in the victory of His kingdom. 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

Honoring a Mother's Love 5-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this Mother's Day, I turn to You and thank You for the gift of life through the gift of my mother. ... "For it was You who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb" (Psalm 139:13). Of all the places of all creation, You chose the womb of a mother to be the place of creation for every child. In the safety and shelter of a mother's love, You form us and shape us, then breathe life into us so that we become a living soul -- all in the womb of a mother. No other has such an honor. No other is entrusted with so much. So we honor our mothers (Exodus 20:12; Matthew 15:4). And they are worthy of our honor and love. Even those who cannot honor and love their mothers for all they have done can still choose to honor and love their mothers for who they are -- the person God chose in whom to form and birth their life. "The breath comes to the bones in the mother's womb" (Ecclesiastes 11:5). As we chose a heart of honor, it will go well with us and we will live long upon the earth (Ephesians 6:2-3). Thank You for my mother. Thank You for loving me through her mothers' heart. As a mother comforts her child, so You have comforted me through her mothers' arms (Isaiah 66:13). While You are the fountain source of life and love, she is the stream You chose to carry Your life and love to me. And I love her and honor her for who she is to me 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

Rumble and Roar! 5-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Life of God, come live Your life through me today. ... As I wait in the silence, centering my thoughts and my heart on You, I hear in my spirit, "Rumble and roar." Lord, what does this mean? ... "At this also my heart trembles, and leaps out of its place. Listen, listen to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. Under the whole heaven He lets it loose, and His lightning to the corners of the earth. After it His voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice and He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things that we cannot comprehend" (Job 37:1-5). It seems I hear You say, "I will rumble and roar. I will not restrain the power of My Word as all My earth trembles at My voice. I let loose My lightning; I release My thunder. I am shaking all that can be shaken so that only what cannot be shaken will remain. Hold on to Me, My people, for I alone am the security of your strength and the rock of your refuge. All will tremble and see that I am the Lord." Yes, Lord. "At this also my heart trembles, and leaps out of its place." There are times to listen for the still small voice and there are times when Your voice does come in the earthquake, in the thunder, and in the fire. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved" (Romans 8:22-24). We've been waiting in hope, groaning in labor, longing for the day You would rumble and roar. O God, let us be ready. Let us prepare the way of the Lord; let us be prepared for the day of Your glory and display of Your power as never before on the face of the earth. "O that You would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at Your presence -- as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil -- to make Your name known to Your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome deeds that we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence!" (Isaiah 64:1-3). Yes, Lord. Come, Lord Jesus, come. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friends, it is my prayer and the cry of my heart that you would be prepared for the coming of the Lord in His revival power and resurrection glory in your heart and in your land. Please pray the same for me. Let us be completely emptied of ourselves so we can be completely filled with Him. Let us be cleansed and freed of all that hold us back from entering in to the fullness of His presence in the days to come and in these days that are here. Prepare the way of the Lord. God bless you! I'm excited to be going to Columbia, Kentucky in central Kentucky next weekend to lead a Prayer Revival, joining in all the Lord is already doing there. I pray for a Prayer Revival in your heart and in your land to prepare the way of the Lord, as He begins to rumble and roar in the heavens and in the earth as never before. O Lord, that You would tear open the heavens and come down! 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Up in Smoke 5-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the sound of Your name fill my home and my heart as I begin this new day. ... "The priest shall dash the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and turn the fat into smoke as a pleasing odor to the Lord" (Leviticus 17:6). Your blood redeems all things. Your blood turns fat into smoke, turns bondage into breakthrough, woundedness into healing, sin into salvation, challenges into opportunities, and heaviness into praise. Where we were victims, You make us victorious; where we were beaten down, You lift us up; where we were lost, You make us leaders to find others and lead them to You. That's the power of the blood of Jesus. There is life in Your blood (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:14). "In (You) we have redemption through (Your) blood" (Ephesians 1:7). But it's "at the entrance of the tent of meeting" that we find "the altar of the Lord." This is where we plead and apply the blood of Jesus. As we humble ourselves in prayer to depend on You and call on Your name, trusting in You alone rather than in our own flesh that will always fail, Your blood redeems all things as we entrust all things to You. This is the sacrifice of self -- self-will, self-centeredness, self-reliance. This is the sacrifice that slays our pride and releases the power of Your grace, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). This is the sacrifice that is "a pleasing odor to the Lord" as the fat of our flesh burns in the fire of Your Spirit, rising up in smoke to You as the incense of prayer (Revelation 8:4). 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

"So We Prayed" 5-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Saturate my soul with Your Spirit. ... "But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Amorites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and the gaps were beginning to be closed, they were very angry, and all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. So we prayed to our God, and set a guard as protection against them day and night" (Nehemiah 4:7-9). Confusion is a demonic strategy. When the enemy of our souls see us going about the business of the kingdom, obeying the commands of the King, building up the broken and strengthening the walls of our resolved to be faithful to the One who is worthy of our obedience and trust, he fears. And out of his fear, he seeks to frustrate. And out of frustration, he seeks to bring confusion. He tempts us to listen to his voice and question Yours -- "Did God really say that? Did He really call you to that? Did He really promise you He would be with you no matter what and lead you through no matter how hard it would be or how long it would take?" (see Genesis 3:1). Deception, doubt, frustration, confusion -- these are the weapons of his warfare. But You have given us "the weapons of our warfare" and have empowered us to "wage war" with "divine power," to "destroy arguments" and "take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). As in the days of Nehemiah, this is our divine strategy -- "So we prayed to our God." Not "so I prayed," but "so we prayed." There is a power in corporate prayer, coming together to seek Your face, listen for Your voice, testing the spirits and testing our hearts, and remembering the words You have spoken and promises You have made. This is how we "set a guard as protection" against the strategy of confusion. This is how Your perfect love casts out fear and clears up confusion. As we take our place with one another "behind the wall" of prayer we are encouraged and empowered by Your assurance, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your kin, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes" (Nehemiah 4:13-14). Then by the power of Your grace, the enemy's plan will be "frustrated" and we will faithfully return to our calling, "each to his work" (v. 4:15). 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

Building the Church, Despite the Challenges 5-7-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my King and I am Your servant; You are my Father, and I am Your son; You are my Head and I am part of Your body. I wait and listen for the leading of Your Spirit. ... "I told them that the hand of my God had been gracious upon me, and also the words that the king had spoken to me. Then they said, 'Let us start building!' So they committed themselves to the common good. But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Gesham the Arab heard of it, they mocked and ridiculed us, saying, 'What is this that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?' Then I replied the God of heaven is the One who will give us success, and we His servants are going to start building, but you have not claim or share or historic right in Jerusalem" (Nehemiah 2:18-20). As with each one of the children of God, Your hand is gracious upon me. You have called me by name, anointed me with Your Spirit, and sent me with Your authority to do my part in my generation to build Your church and see Your kingdom come. You build Your church and You establish Your kingdom, but in Your sovereignty and grace, You have chosen to do it through Your people (Matthew 16:18-19). But it will not go unchallenged. The enemy of our souls and Your kingdom will mock us and ridicule us; he will threaten us and challenge us every step of the way. So we must fight as we build, with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. We will press on, knowing, "Our God will fight for us" (Nehemiah 4:15-20). You will "give us success" because our success is already established through the victory of Your cross. So give us courage to stand firm, to resist the enemy, and keep building -- with our hands and on our knees -- until we see Your kingdom and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 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

Circumcision of the Heart 5-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I bow low and look up high and enter in deep to this time of communion in prayer with You, my God -- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. ... "Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.... Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him" (Genesis 17:24 - 21:5). Faithful surrender to Your will in trusting obedience to Your word prepares the way for the fulfillment of Your promises. Abraham's circumcision was a cutting away of his self will and a surrender to Your will. He was willing to bring his flesh into submission to Your Spirit. "So shall My covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant" (Genesis 17:13). This was "a sign of the covenant" between You and Abraham and his children to come throughout all generations (v. 17:9-12). Yet this physical sign points the greater spiritual significance -- the circumcision of the heart. "Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, remove the foreskin of your hearts (Jeremiah 4:4). Lord Jesus Christ, You are the fulfillment of the covenant; and all the promises of God are fulfilled in You. As children of Abraham, children of faith, our response of obedience to prepare the way for Your promises has to do with the surrender of our hearts and the commitment of our faith in You. "For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3). This is our "spiritual circumcision, by putting off the body of the flesh in the circumcision of Christ" (Colossians 2:11). Lord, I want to see every promise fulfilled. Strip away my flesh wherever it is rebellious; soften my heart wherever it is hardened. The child of Your promise to Abraham came when he obeyed Your word in faith. By Your Spirit, I want to obey Your word in faith, that all Your promises to me and to my generations may be fulfilled through our relationship with You. "For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the only thing that counts if faith working through love" (Galatians 5:5-6). By the grace of Your Spirit and in the power of Your love, I will obey Your word and see Your promises fulfilled. 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

Faithful Friend 5-5-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before I begin to think about my day, I first want to think about my God. ... "For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant" (Psalm 105:42). You remember Your promises and You remember Your people. Your promises are for Your people and it's often through Your people that You fulfill Your promises. You look for those who will believe, those who will trust You and obey You. You look for those who will take all they have learned and lived, yet are willing to let You stretch them beyond what they've known and take them father than they've ever imagined they could go. "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going" (Hebrews 11:8). And along the journey of faith, Abraham was "put to the test," yet found faithful to hold on to the promises of God for the sake of the blessings to come to the people of God (v. 11:17). It was not worldly wisdom or even the best practices of righteous doctrine that was important to You and Your purposes through His life. "Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,' and he was called the friend of God" (James 2:23). So it is with us, that "those who believe are the descendants of Abraham" and "those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed" (Galatians 3:6-9). That blessing is to be known by God as a faithful friend. Your promises are rarely fulfilled in a day or even a single season or a single generation. So You call each of us to believe the promises You've laid on our hearts and to walk the journey You've set before us so we can be found faithful in our generation for the blessing of the generations to come. "Abraham gave all he had to Isaac" (Genesis 25:5). And our part is to give all we have, in obedience and faith, into our next generation. By Your grace and walking in faith, we prepare the way for You to take them farther than we could ever go, until the day that all Your promises are fulfilled. 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