A Broad Place of God's Love 6-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Another day to start my day with You. ... "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place" (Psalm 118:5). The summer storms unleashed sheets of rain all morning long. All the beautiful plans of a June wedding outdoors among the horses and hills of the bluegrass region of Kentucky seemed to be washing away in torrents of water. But out of her distress, the mother of the bride lifted her face and poured out her heart to You. And by late afternoon, the sun was shining and the horses were frolicking in a beautiful backdrop on a beautiful day that couldn't have been planned any better. Even as the guests and I arrived, we had to navigate through construction on the roads and pass through equipment and obstructions at the gate. But then it all opened up to broad fields of rolling grass hills and horse rail fences that are the signature symbols of this beautiful land. Though the preparations of their hearts for this covenant of love were much more important than the preparations of this place, in answer to a mother's prayers You prepared the way for such a memorable day. In the mystery of Your ways, You don't always still the storm and open the skies in such a spectacular way. But yesterday You did. At one wedding You turned the water into wine. And at this one You turned the water of a mother's tears into praises of joy. What a sign and symbol of Your gifts of grace for these two lives You've bonded together and established forever in the broad place of Your 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

"The Two Shall Become One" 6-20-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In the first light of dawn of this new day, I turn my first thoughts to You. ... "But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate" (Mark 10:6-9). Today I'll have the honor of leading my friends Val and Carrie in their vows to You and one another, as You seal their hearts and lives together as one in marriage. You've given them Your heart of love for each other and Your eyes to see each other as You see them. Through prayer and faith, trusting Your leading of their hearts, You are releasing them of every bond that would hold them back from being fully bonded to one another. And with the love of parents, family, and friends, we will add our blessing of this sacred and holy covenant to Yours. Their lives will be changed forever today as the two become one. Their spiritual journey to maturity will accelerate as You help them learn to surrender their lives and love one another in deeper ways. In the daily choices they'll learn to make out of their "genuine mutual love," they will learn to "love one another deeply from the heart" (1 Peter 1:22). Their marriage is also meant to be an outward symbol of the inward grace You long for us each to experience with You, "just as Christ love the church and gave himself up for her" (Ephesians 5:21-33). In the sacred and holy covenant of the surrender of our hearts to Yours, we learn to love You deeply from the heart. And "anyone united with the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). There is nothing more powerful or beautiful than the bond of Your love (1 Corinthians 13:1-13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please join your prayers with mine in blessing the marriage of my friends, Val Mink and Carrie Curtis. I'll be marrying them this evening at a beautiful Kentucky horse farm outside of Lexington. And I pray God's guidance and blessings in the holy relationships of your lives. God bless you! Come to The Fountain! tonight 6/20 at 7 pm -- 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 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

Nonconformist to This World 6-19-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Keep renewing my mind and conforming my nature. ... "He said to them, 'You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am He.' They said to Him, 'Who are you?' Jesus said to them, 'Why do I speak to you at all? I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the One who sent Me is true, and I declare to the world that I have heard from Him.'... As He was saying these things, many believed in Him" (John 8:23-30). You are not of this world. And the ways of this world are not Yours. As You walked Your journey in the flesh through this world, You were never intimidated to confront the people and the sin of this world with words of truth out of a heart of love. You were confident in who You were and confident in the One who sent You. You were consistent and persistent in the message of Your words and actions, uncompromising in truth and unwavering in love: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Those who believe in Him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God" (John 3:16-18). Love is not the same as unsanctified mercy. Your love comforts, but Your love also convicts. You love encourages, but Your love also corrects. You meet us where we are, but You never leave us as we are. You accept us, but not our sin and our ways of the world You came to change. You "so loved the world" that You were willing to be risk rejection in order to stand for truth. Out of that same heart of love, You mercies are tender, but Your judgments are strict, because the stakes are high. "And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God" (John 3:19-21). In Your love and mercy, convict me of my sin. Deliver me from compromise and complacency. Expose the ways of the world that have confused my thinking and defiled my faith and witness. Keep drawing me out of the darkness and into Your light. Let Your light expose the darkness in me and let the power of Your love drive it from me. Where my mind and my heart have become desensitized by the ways of the world, the flesh, and the devil that surround me and try to saturate me each day, sensitize me again to Your ways and will by Your truth. By Your grace and with Your courage, I choose to follow You and Your example in the power of Your Spirit to be a nonconformist to this world (Matthew 10:38). As You speak the truth in love to my soul and empower me by Your grace to live that truth with my life, I will "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of (my) mind, so that (I) may discern what is the will of God (not my own will or the will of the world) -- what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please come if you can and join in prayer if you can't for our city on Saturday, June 28th. Some are planning a gay pride parade that day but others are planning a day of celebration and worship of our God. Everyone is invited to The Crossing, 2700 Todds Road, Lexington, Kentucky, 9-12 am, Sat, June28th for Harp and Bowl worship (prophetic worship and intercession led by CornerStone International House of Prayer from Wilmore in the style of the Kansas City International House of Prayer). Please contact my friend Gerry Morford for details: gerry.morford@ky.gov or check our citywide prayer mailing through PrayLexington@aol.com Though I'll be away with my family that weekend, I'll be joining in prayer. Please join us as well as you can. I join with you in the agreement of prayer for your city and region. God bless you! Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night 6/20 at 7 pm -- 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 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

Order Out of Chaos 6-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Before the thoughts of the day begin to flood my mind, I first focus my mind on You alone. ... "I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the children of Jacob, 'Seek Me in chaos.' I the Lord speak the truth, I declare what is right" (Isaiah 45:19). Days of judgment and correction in the nations and generations of the earth seem like confusion and chaos. But You are "not the author of confusion, but of peace" (1 Corinthians 14:33, KJV). And even Your judgments are a means of Your mercy to draw us back to You and under the covering of Your hand. In the "day of tumult and trampling and confusion" You have "taken away the covering" to expose us to the consequences of our choices in rebellion of Your will and ways (Isaiah 22:5-8). You uncover the foolish of our prideful arrogance of insisting on our own will and ways, turning to the idols we have created with our own hands rather than trusting upon You alone as the source of our security and strength. But in the shaking of confusion and chaos brought about by the consequences of our choices -- personally, corporately, and generationally -- those idols will come down. Our self-made, self-sufficient walls and defenses will crumble and fall. Our self-determined laws to justify our self-centered nature that we've lifted up to be worshipped rather than submitting to the laws of our Creator will be exposed, judged, and struck down. Only "the name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). We have no righteousness or security in ourselves or the idols we create. Our righteousness is in relationship with You alone, Lord Jesus Christ -- a relationship of love, founded upon trusting faith, humble submission, and desperate dependence upon You (2 Corinthians 5:19). In that relationship, You bring order out of the chaos, righteousness out of the wickedness, and peace out of our tribulation. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep the people of our city in prayer. Misguided preparations are being made for a gay pride parade and a psychic fair in Lexington soon. Wherever the Lord is sowing seeds of righteousness, the enemy comes in to sow seeds of unrighteousness to try to destroy or hinder the harvest to come (Matthew 13:36-43). God loves all people and we believe He has given our city a redemptive gift of mercy and a father's heart. But the enemy of our souls will try to misuse and distort our gifts if he can't crush them out of us to try to defeat the purposes of God. But prayer prepares the way of the Lord for healing, deliverance, and the fullness of salvation in Christ to come. God, in His mercy and love, will judge us and correct us in order to lead us into the blessings and peace of His presence. So please keep our city and region in prayer and I join in prayer for yours. God bless you! Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night 6/20 at 7 pm -- 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

"He Remains Faithful" 6-17-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lead me beside Your still waters. ... "The saying is sure: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He will also deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful -- for He cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13). You are a faithful God, worthy of our trust. I have seen Your faithfulness over and over again. You are faithful to be with us through every challenge, to strengthen us through every battle, and encourage us through every day. You never said life would be easy or even fair in this broken, fallen world where human beings and spiritual beings make choices that influence our lives throughout all our generations. In fact You warned us of the opposite: "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when His glory is revealed" (1 Peter 4:12-13). Being with us does not immunize us from suffering and injustice. But being with us gives us courage to endure, faith to hold fast, and hope to know that You don't waste a moment of our suffering to produce in us hearts of gold refined in the fire of this world. "God is faithful, and He will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing He will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13). By Your grace, we can choose to "entrust (ourselves) to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good" no matter what we face (1 Peter 4:19). As we do, You will give us faith to trust You more and faith to entrust more of us to more of You -- depending on Your wisdom, Your strength, Your ways, and not our own. "He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by Him you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:8-9). This fellowship of love is also a fellowship of the cross. And I choose to believe by faith that Your Word is true -- the reward of the resurrection glory to come on the day of the Lord will be worth all "the sufferings of this present time" (Romans 8:18). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night 6/20 at 7 pm -- 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

The World Watches and Listens 6-16-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart this day. ... "And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him" (Mark 6:19-20). As You send me out into my world today, send me out filled with Your Word and Your Spirit. The world watches and listens. There will be those who do not like me just because of who I am and who You are in me. But there will be others who may like to listen because they hear You speaking through my life into theirs. So in these first moments of my morning, set my heart right with You. First, let Your light shine in me so throughout this day, Your light can shine through me. I want to know I go with Christ in my heart. Then, as You explained to Your first disciples as You sent them out, "Whoever listens to you, listens to Me, and whoever rejects you rejects Me, and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me" (Luke 10:16). Like John, somebody may try to take my head, but they can't take my heart (Mark 6:27). "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6). "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to the Fountain! next Friday Night 6/20 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. Held 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

Everlasting Father 6-15-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are One with the Father and One with the Holy Spirit, perfectly revealing our Father's heart to me. ... "For a Child has been born for us, a Son given to us, authority rests upon His shoulders; and He is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). You are an Everlasting Father. In some ways, my earthly father was not. He left when I was young. And I missed him a lot. Little boys need their daddies. And then he died too early in life, and I still miss him a lot. Big boys need their daddies too. But all earthly fathers will fail in one way or another. All fall short of Your glory (Romans 3:10). I know I have -- many ways and many times. And we are all in need of Your grace to cover our sins and mistakes, to pour Your Father's blessing from Your Father's heart into the spirits of our children in all the ways we can't. You never fail and never grow weary of loving us and pouring Yourself into us. You are "the everlasting God" (Isaiah 40:28). And I thank You for Your everlasting Father's love for me. 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

Morning by Morning, Saturday 6-14-08 -- Rock Solid Relationship Good morning, Lord Jesus. I quiet my soul and center my thoughts on You alone in these first moments of my morning. ... "Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock" (Matthew 7:24-25). Things are not as they should be in this broken, fallen world where flood waters burst forth and storm winds rage through, where droughts dry up life and fires consume what's left. The sin of man throughout the generations has opened the door to turmoil and destruction of all creation. And now all creation shakes and groans for the coming day of redemption when peace and order is restored to all (Romans 8:19-21). But even in the midst of turmoil and tribulation, we can find security for our souls and peace from our fears in our rock solid relationship with You. There will be floods and storms, droughts and fires. There will be times we are faced with disappointment and discouragement, destruction and death in a broken, fallen world where things happen that break our hearts and try to break our spirits. Rather than getting angry with You for the destruction we see, we must remember the truth of Your Word that until the coming day when You redeem and restore all things, "the whole world lies under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). So we must seek now to find our security in You so we will be ready then. Then all we face will not overwhelm us nor overcome us, for You will be with us (Isaiah 43:2). And as You promised, "the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22 and 24:13). Even all that we suffer and endure through the brokenness and destruction that may touch our lives and those we love will serve to strengthen us in our desperate dependence upon You alone for our security and strength. "He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord" (Psalm 40:2-3). I choose, by Your grace, to trust You now so that I will be able to continue to trust You then. 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

Before I Was, You Were I Am 6-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My Father, My Friend, My Lord and My God, You are I Am. ... "Jesus said to them, 'Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am' " (John 8:58). Before my day began, You were here. Before my life began, You were here. Before the beginning of all things, You were here. "All things have been created through Him and for Him. He himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (from Colossians 1:15-17). So I have been created through You and for You. You hold me together. And You hold together all the challenges I'll face and the choices I'll embrace this day and the days to come. In Your hands, You will continue to create me and conform me into Your image (Romans 8:29). Then one day, all by Your grace, through the process of Your creation, I will be like You, according to Your Word: "Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: When He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). That's hard to believe. But I choose to believe You and Your Word. I choose to live my life as if it were true -- because it is. Before I was, You were I Am. And You saw who I would be -- a child of God, created to be conformed to the image of God. Your Word is faithful and true. It will not fail, but will accomplish all that You have said -- even what You have said about me (Isaiah 55:11). 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

One Church, One Body 6-12-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Open the eyes of my heart and open the ears of my spirit. I want to see what You're doing and hear what You're saying to me today. ... "And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which you were called in the one body" (Colossian 3:15). "How many churches are there in Kerrville?" the pastor asked. "One!", everybody in the sanctuary shouted back as they all held up a single finger in the air. "Who's church has the most members?" "Jesus!", they declared. That's the kingdom of God, a kingdom perspective of the body of Christ. "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:4-5). There are many streams, yet one river; many gifts, yet one Spirit; "many members, yet one body" (1 Corinthians 12:20). Sometimes we need to forgive one another so we can move forward with one another. We can't love one another unless we are willing to embrace one another. We can't speak the truth in love to one another unless we're willing to speak to one another -- and listen to one another. But if we will humble ourselves to hear one another's heart and humble ourselves to forgive and be forgiven, there is a bond that You form out of the brokenness that becomes stronger than ever before. The strongest part of the steel becomes the very place where the broken pieces were welded together. As You bind up our broken hearts and set free our captive souls, You open up Your heavens and "proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18-19). We cross over into the land of our destiny as one (Joshua 3:1-17). Then the world sees the Son in us, as Your name is the banner over us and Your nature is the love within us (John 17:22; Song of Solomon 2:4). 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

Spirit of the Living and Loving God 6-11-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord. And I thank You for first loving me. ... "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV). A good father loves to give good gifts to his children. You are my perfect Father; and You have given me the perfect gift of Your Spirit (Matthew 7:11). In the gift of Your Holy Spirit, You have given me the power to overcome by Your grace everything that would try to steal my peace and joy. In the gift of Your Spirit, You have given me the love that casts out every fear of rejection, unworthiness, and failure. In the gift of Your Spirit, You have given me the sound mind of Christ that keeps me from being tossed to and fro with every question and challenge. "The Spirit gives life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). So I welcome the life of Your Spirit in me. I welcome Your power, Your love, and Your mind. I welcome You into me. "Spirit of the living God," Spirit of the loving God, come fall afresh on me today (v. 3:3). "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we had tremendous testimonies and experiences of God's healing love in our lives last night in Kerrville, Texas (What a great birthday present!). We'll have a time of celebration and continued dedication tonight. I pray the same for you and thank you for praying for us. We've had great interest in the cruise next February from Florida to the Cayman Islands where I've been invited to be the inspirational speaker. The cruise line extended the deadline for deposits ($25 of the $500 price for a five day, all-included cruise). So please let us know right away if you'd like to come. We'd love to have you! DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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

"Joy Comes with the Morning" 6-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be lifted up and draw me near to You. ... "May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy. Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying theirs sheaves" (Psalm 126:6). Tear flow when You touch the tender places of our soul. They are like cleansing streams drawing out the toxins of our pain. Yesterday and last night, as we allowed You to touch those tender places of unhealed wounds, it seemed those streams became rivers and rivers became oceans as You ministered Your healing love to Your people personally and as a church. And now as You continue to draw out the pain and the shame, resentment and regret, disappointment and anger from hearts and souls, let Your healing waters continue to flow. But all that is sown in tears will be reaped with joy. "Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes with the morning" (Psalm 30:5). My wife tells me that when I'm in prayer ministry, I just like to see people cry. And I guess it's true! But it's true because I love to see You draw out the pain and pour in Your love, lift off the shame and pour in Your grace. I love to see You uproot the bitterness and replant Your righteousness, to see the broken become whole, the bound become free, the depressed and discouraged arise into newness of life. I love to see You give Your beauty for our ashes, the oil of gladness for out mourning, the garments of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3). The praise is worth the pain. The joy of the morning is worth the mourning of the night. And I look forward to the testimonies of rivers of joy I'll hear about today. "You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, so that my soul may praise You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever" (Psalm 30:11-12). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please continue to cover us in prayer for our daily prayer ministry seasons and evening healing prayer meetings this week at the First Christian Church in Kerrville, Texas. The Lord is healing hearts and changing lives. And I pray the same for you. 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

Union Church 6-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as I watch and wait for the leading of Your Spirit. ... "Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, 'You know that my father David could not build a house for the name of the Lord his God because of the warfare with which his enemies surrounded him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God has given me rest on every side; there is neither adversary nor misfortune. So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord my God ..." (1 Kings 5:2-5). You've sent me this week to pray with Your people, proclaim the coming of Your kingdom, and help prepare the way of the Lord in Kerrville, Texas. We're meeting at the First Christian Church, one of the original four churches of this community. Your city-wide church began with the blessing of unity in this hill country community. People of faith and prayer from four different denominations came together to build the Union Church -- shared jointly by the Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Christian churches. All four traditions of Your body in this city came together in this house of the Lord for its first service on Christmas Eve, 1885. You crushed the enemy of sectarianism and division under the feet of the unified body of Christ in this region. Under the name of Jesus, they came together "to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," declaring by word and action that Your church is of "one body and one Spirit ... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all" (Ephesians 4:3-6). It's in the unity of the body and the bond of the Spirit that You establish Your victorious church and give us "rest on every side" from the warfare of adversity and misfortune. In the city-wide witness of Your city-wide church we win the city-wide war in the heavenly realms. The principalities and powers of the kingdom of darkness are displaced by the light of the glory of Your kingdom shining forth through Your people who choose to love You and love one another. You release Your power through the union of Your church. On Your high priestly prayer to our Father during Your ministry on earth, You prayed that we "may become completely one, so that the world may know You have sent (Your Son)" (John 17:23). Restore the church of this city to that deep and strong root of unity. Bring together Your church in every city in the bonds of love and peace in Your Spirit to display Your glory. In that bond, the enemy of our souls and Your church will be crushed under our feet by the power of Your name (Romans 16:20). Though Your church, the lost will be found, the broken will be healed, and the bound will be free because the world will know that the Father has sent His Son in His love for them. 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

Rugged Beauty 6-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that You are Lord. ... "Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth" (Psalm 50:1). Yesterday I drove up from the serene beauty of the coastal plains up into the rugged beauty of the Texas hill country. Both are just a beautiful in their own right, but splendidly diverse. As my friends and I sat out on their front porch in our rocking chairs admiring the rugged beauty of these hills, creeks, and valleys tucked away in the heart of Texas, we couldn't help admire our Creator. Just as You create the earth with such diversity and beauty, so You create each of us. We are "fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works" (Psalm 139:14). And whether we are more rugged or more serene, we are each created to display Your beauty with our lives. And there is nothing more beautiful than a heart fully surrendered to You, passionately seeking the glory of Your presence, and coming alive to the uniqueness of Your calling and their destiny to share Your beauty with others. "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns' " (Isaiah 52:7). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be preaching this morning and teaching this week on inner healing and spiritual warfare at the First Christian Church of Kerrville, Texas. Please keep us in your prayers. We've had a lot of interest in our Caribbean Cruise for next February where I've been invited to be the inspirational speaker. Please let Marilyn know right away if you'd like to come: DirOfMinistries@aol.com God bless! 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 Ride of My Life 6-7-08

Morning by Morning, Saturday Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to be Christ-centered and Christ-consumed. You are my "all in all" (Ephesians 1:23). ... "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created through Him and for Him. He himself is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He might come to have first place in everything. For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:15-20). I stopped by to see some old friends in Corpus Christi yesterday, one of my old law partners and his wife and family. They were all together under a big tent in the front yard of their church -- along with over seven-hundred and fifty kids screaming and singing about Jesus at the top of their lungs! The Vacation Bible School they lead every year just keeps growing, with kids and helpers and parents from all different churches and neighborhoods in their city. By Your grace and the power of Your Spirit, they are fulfilling Your commission to go and make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19). For these kids, You are personal and real; and You have "come to have first place in everything" in their lives. And as they go out from their big tent in their neon green t-shirts bolding declaring, "Choose Jesus for the ride of your life!" their lives and their city will never be the same. Lord Jesus, keep awakening that kind of passion in me. As a disciple of Christ, I want to be consumed with the "Spirit of Christ" more every day (Romans 8:9). Keep coming into the center of my life to have first place in everything. By Your grace, I want to be a Spirit-filled, Christ-centered disciple of Jesus Christ, busy "turning the world upside down" in the ride of my life (Acts 17:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be leaving Corpus Christi today after our annual ordination service to go preach and minister at the First Christian Church of Kerrville in the Texas hill country for the next few days. Please keep us in your prayers. We've had a lot of interest in our Caribbean Cruise for next February. please let Marilyn know right away if you'd like to come: DirOfMinistries@aol.com God bless! 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

Potter's Clay 6-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Like clay in a potter's hands, I entrust my heart and my day to You. ... "Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). You see the end from the beginning. You already see every choice that will ever be made and all the consequences thereof. All eternity is already present to You. And in the mystery of both Your sovereignty and my free will, You set before me true choices every moment of every day (Deuteronomy 30:19). Yet at the same time, You have always known every choice I would ever make before I ever made the first one (Psalm 139:16). In Your sovereignty, You give me the freedom to choose to seek You or not, trust You or not, obey You or not. You have dreams and hopes and plans for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). Let them become my dreams and hopes and plans as well. You are a master Potter, but Your are also a loving Father. And into Your hands, I willingly choose to entrust the clay of my heart for the shaping of this day and my life for Your purpose. 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

"The Day Approaching" 6-5-06

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I watch for Your face and listen for Your voice in the silence of surrender before You. ... "And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Sometimes I hear someone of the generations before me say, "I remember back in the day ...." And then they tell of something that was a lot better than how it is today -- like gas being fifty cents instead of four dollars a gallon or children respecting their elders or most people going to church on Sunday mornings. It's good to look back and remember the stories of our lives, especially to look back and see Your hand weaving together the threads of relationships and events that have made us who we are (Exodus 13:3; John 12:16). "I will call to mind the deeds of the Lord; I will remember Your deeds of old" (Psalm 77:11). And it's good to meet together to share our war stories and Your glory stories, as we honor You in our journeys. But as we remember the days that have passed, let us also remember the Day approaching. On that Day, we "will have to give an account for every careless word" (Matthew 12:36). We will "give an accounting to Him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead" (1 Peter 4:5). As we look forward to that Day, let us encourage and inspire one another to live each day for You, "so as to live for the rest of your earthly life no longer by human desires but by the will of God" (1 Peter 4:2). We thank You for Your grace that covers our sin of wasted time, and we thank You for Your grace to redeem our time to come. Let us choose now to entrust our time to You. 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

Reporting the Praises of God 6-4-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I give my heart and this day to You. ... "When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them" (Acts 15:4). Since the beginning of the revival that burned through England over two hundred years ago, John Wesley called his Methodist preachers together each year. It was a time to worship and pray together, encourage one another, wrestle with issues of doctrine, and sort out the practical matters of sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. No doubt "they reported all that God had done with them." And so we continue today, reporting the praises of God. Pastors, evangelists, and the "circuit riders" of our day with gather with one another and church leaders in regions across the nation in these first weeks of summer. Because of the prayer ministry You've called me to, I'm more of a circuit rider and an evangelist than a pastor of a local church; and I look forward to gathering with those who have been seeking to fulfill their calling in the places and ways You've sent them. Though You've called me to a broad ministry that crosses all denominational lines to help "prepare the way of the Lord" and "minister the healing love of God" through prayer ministry, You've chosen to keep me rooted in the Methodist movement. And as we come together to pray and praise and wrestle with the practicalities of ministry, may we all remain rooted in You -- "the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Let us remember that all that we have done that will carry any eternal significance is only what You have done through us by Your Spirit for Your glory. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays 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. This coming Monday Night June 9th, Vicky Welch will lead in a Feast of Pentecost Celebration -- all are welcome. 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! 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 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 Whole City" 6-3-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You and never let me go. By Your grace, I'll never let go of You. ... "Then next sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. ... Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. ... And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 13:44-52). Lord, let this be the day that whole cities are filled with a hunger for God and whole regions are filled with the word of the Lord. Fill us with Your joy and Your Spirit as You awaken our generation to our destiny. The day is soon coming and may already be dawning that "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the seas" (Habakkuk 2:14). You are moving mightily in earth in our day. Lord, move in me. Move in my city, in my region, and as far as Your grace will go. I hear the cry of the old hymn rising up in my heart with the hunger and passion You're stirring in me: Pass me not, O gentle Savior,Hear my humble cry;While on others Thou art calling,Do not pass me by. Savior, Savior,Hear my humble cry;While on others Thou art calling,Do not pass me by. Do not pass me by, Lord. In this great awakening to arise and be filled with Your Spirit and equipped with Your word to reveal the good news of Your salvation in the great harvest to come, do not pass me by. Don't pass by my city and my region. Make us hungry and thirsty to settle for nothing less than the fullness of Your presence in our midst. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'll be going to Corpus Christi, Texas today for my Annual Conference where I'm under "special appointment" from my bishop there to lead Messiah Ministries. That's where I used to practice law before the Lord called me into the ministry. Though our ministry is interdenominational and based in Lexington, Kentucky, I'm ordained with the United Methodist Church in the Southwest Texas Conference (the area that covers Austin, San Antonio, San Angelo, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and most of the region between Houston and Mexico. Please pray that the Lord will not pass us by, for it's His heart to fill all hearts with the glory of His presence. Next Sunday, I'll be ministering at a Church of Christ in the Texas hill country of Kerrville, praying for the Lord to fill us afresh with His Spirit there as well. Thank you for your prayers! And I'm praying for 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

"Prepare the Way of the Lord" 6-2-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand and lead me by the heart into the light of this new day. ... "A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all the people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken' " (Isaiah 40:3-5). Lord, let me hear the voice of Your Holy Spirit calling to the depths of my human spirit. "Deep calls to deep" (Psalm 42:7). You are preparing my heart for more of Your heart, emptying me of more of my self and filling me with more of Your Self (Ephesians 3:19). You are preparing the way of the Lord, preparing the way for the glory of the Lord to be revealed in me and in every one of Your people, according to Your will and Your Word -- "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). So the same Holy Spirit who brings comfort, but also bring conviction (Isaiah 40:1-2). In Your mercy, You convict us; in Your love, You correct us (Hebrews 12:5-6). In Your desire for unhindered relationship with us, You seek to remove everything that separate us (Romans 8:39). So You bring down every mountain and idol that we would lift up to take Your place on the thrones of our hearts. You lift up every valley of discouragement and disappointment that would keep us for seeing You and the horizons You've set before us in Your plan for our lives. You make every crooked place straight that would lead us astray with distraction or deception. And You remove everything that might cause us to stumble and fall on the path of the destiny You've set before us. So help me hear and help me listen. Help me wait for the leading of Your Spirit, then arise and shine in the light of the glory of Your presence to follow You wherever You lead each day (Isaiah 60:1). Give me wisdom to listen for the voice of the One crying in my soul, trying to prepare the way of the Lord in me. Give me courage to welcome You into the wilderness of my ways so You can lead me into Yours. Then "the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad" (Isaiah 35:1). Then, with all those who are called by Your name and surrendered to Your will, we will look and see together what You are doing and hear what "the mouth of the Lord has spoken" into our human spirits by the voice of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for our gathering at the Billy Graham training center at The Cove in NC last weekend. Margaret Therkelsen led us by the Spirit into deeper depths of surrender and intimacy with God to be available as instruments in His hands in our world. And I was so thrilled to be able to preach and share my testimony in their beautiful chapel in the mountains with my friends from Margaret's city-wide prayer group she's led now for 29 years of faithful ministry to the Lord in Lexington. I pray the blessing of your connection with a vital praying group as the Holy Spirit prepares the way of the Lord in your city and region. 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