"And Now …" 12-10-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. One with the Father, one with the Holy Spirit, come be one in me. … "In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you…. Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will call Him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord will give Him the throne of His ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end…. The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the Child to be born will be holy; and He will be called Son of God' " (Luke 1:26-35). Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because she had "found favor with God." Knowing Your favor -- knowing Your presence, Your peace, and Your pleasure with us as Your children -- should calm our hearts and steady our minds from all fear. Your favor is a reflection of Your love. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). When we know You are with us in Your love, we need not fear. You will bring us through whatever we may face. And in the favor of God, the angel said "and now" Mary would conceive in her womb the purposes of God for the calling and destiny of her life: "For you have found favor with God. And now …." It's only in Your favor that we can fulfill our purpose, calling, and destiny. It's only in Your favor that we have any purpose or calling or destiny. Because Mary "found favor with God" so that the Son of the Most High, the Son of God, could be conceived by the Holy Spirit of the Living God in her human womb, we can all find favor with God. We all have favor with God through the willing sacrifice and perfect love of this holy Child. "And now" we can all be overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, who can conceive and birth in us the plans and purposes of God for each of our lives. In the favor of Your present and perfect love, we will not fear; we will fulfill our destiny in Christ. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, as the Lord leads, please remember Messiah Ministries in your year-end giving. We raise all our own support to fulfill our calling in Christ of "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" according to our foundation Scripture of Isaiah 61. Month by month for 12 years of ministry, we have always found our God to be faithful. Thank you for being a part of that with your prayers, encouragement, and provision! God bless you, my friend and favored one in Christ! -- Tommy Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 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 for prayer, praise, and healing 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Please Click Here to Contribute or Order our Ministry Resources On-Line

Season of Preparation 12-9-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come live in me today. … "But the angel said to him, 'Do not be afraid Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. You wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you will name him John…. He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before Him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord' " (Luke 1:13-17). Before the angel appeared to Mary and Joseph, the angel appeared to Zechariah. Before the coming of the Messiah came the one with the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for His coming. And just as You prepared Your people for Your first coming, so You are preparing Your people for Your second coming. Christmas season speaks of this season of preparation -- a season "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." And how do we prepare? We turn our hearts to You and to one another, from disobedience to righteousness, from looking inward to ourselves to looking forward to You. And one day soon, You will come in glory in the skies. But every day before then, You want to come in glory in our hearts. Let us know by faith Your angels are here among us, helping prepare Your servants and proclaiming Your coming. Let us turn our hearts to You and one another. Let us be a people prepared for coming of the Lord our God. "Righteousness will go before Him, and will make a path for His steps" (Psalm 85:13). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. All are welcome! Please RSVP to Lisa by December 12th at mmeventassist@aol.com or 859-543-0658 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 for prayer, praise, and healing 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Mystery of More 12-8-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of the heavens and the earth, be Lord of my heart and my day. … "For He satisfies the thirsty, and the hungry He fills with good things" (Psalm 107:9). In the mystery of more, You satisfy the thirsty and then make us thirsty for more of You; You fill the hungry and then make us hungry for more of You. No matter how much You've poured into us, no matter how much we've received, there's always more. Spiritual thirst and holy hunger leave us filled with gratitude for the grace that allows us to experience even a taste of Your Presence, while at the same time, always move us to yearn for more. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. And You are always crying out, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me" (John 7:37). I've been yearning for more -- more of Your presence, more of Your Spirit, more of Your gifts, more of Your wisdom, more of Your power, more of everything You want me to have, to be all You created me to be, and to fulfill all You created me to do. And I believe it's Your Spirit moving in my spirit to move me to seek more. So I've been thirsting for a fresh filling of Your Holy Spirit (John 7:39; Ephesians 5:18). I've been hungering to be "clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). I've been yearning to be "baptized with the Holy Spirit" more deeply than ever before (Acts 1:5). I know I'll need it for the days to come and the places You'll send me to be Your witness in Your power to a people who need to know You. I'm still processing, even as I'm still embracing, all You did in me Saturday afternoon, December 6, 2008 -- now another one of those red letter days on the calendar of my spiritual journey with You. At the close of our four days of teaching and ministry in Tucson, Randy Clark told the story of John Wimber prophesying over him and knowing You were sending him with an anointing to impart gifts and awaken gifts of the Holy Spirit in pastors and leaders around the world to proclaim to all nations the gospel of the kingdom of God. He told stories of seeing You fulfill that word since 1994. He said according to Your Word, You pour out Your Spirit to all who are thirsty. "To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life" (Revelation 21:6). As he opened the altar, he said he wanted to pray for everyone, but wanted to first pray for those who sensed the Lord specifically touching them in some way. As many went forward, I waited in what seemed like a deep sense of peace in Your presence. But at the same time, I was crying out to You in my spirit for more -- "Lord, make me thirsty, make me hungry, help me be completely surrendered to You, remove any barrier, forgive any sin. I know I can't ever earn it; I can only receive it. I want more -- to give more of me to You and receive more of You in me." The more I prayed, the more hungry and desperate I seemed to become, even while having Your deep sense of peace in my heart. I prayed, "Lord, I want to receive all that You have for me -- all that's of You and nothing that's not of You; all through the cross and blood of Jesus." I prayed, "Daddy, Abba, my Father God, I am Your son and I know it is Your good pleasure to give good gifts to Your children. Daddy, give me this good gift of more of Your Spirit in me now." Then, I felt the tips of my fingers slightly begin to tremble and I stepped forward to the altar and kept my eyes closed tight. Then my middle finger on my right hand started to tremble even more. Then my right hand began to violently shake, then my left hand. I thought to myself, "Am I doing this because I want to experience You or something so bad?" And I instantly realized I couldn't be doing this, and though it must look really strange, I didn't care. I decided to just let go and give myself completely to Your control and let anything happen without trying to shut it down or control it. It seemed like electricity was surging throughout my body. It came in waves, with groans, sometimes what must have been loud. It was both exhilarating and exhausting. At one point, it was like I was running a race and "kicking" at the end in a dash for the finish line, with my arms moving faster than they ever have. I breathed like a sprinter. The Scripture from Hebrews 12 about running the race looking to Jesus came to mind. And then, "The last shall be first." Though I've never won any races in my physical body, I felt like how it must feel for a son to know his father was watching him cross the finish line to win a race. I felt like You were proud of me. Between waves of Your power, I could hear people praying for me. I heard Randy Clark say, as he prayed for someone, "He's going to have to go to some really hard places. He's going to need the power of the Lord." I didn't know if he was talking to me, but it seemed You were speaking these words to me. And then another surge of the electricity came. I felt like I was on fire and dripping with sweat. All this was with my eyes tightly closed because I didn't want to come out of whatever this was and didn't want to be distracted or concerned about what anybody around me might be thinking or doing. At one point, my right harm was stretched out and my right pointing finger was extended, as if pointing with confidence and authority, while some kind of utterance came up out of me with every point, as if making some kind of declaration in my spirit. I can't remember what all else happened or even the order of things, but after the last surge of power I sensed a deep peace and quiet. I realized that sometime I had come to my knees during all of this, and then I opened my eyes. Many people were gone but some were in line beside me to receive prayer from the ministry team. I just stretched out on my face on the floor in a mixture of prayer, exhaustion, processing what had happened. I had the sense of a deep cleansing of my soul and fresh baptism of Your Spirit. I believe You have done something new in me that will become more clear in the days ahead. By Your grace, I've had deep spiritual experiences with You before, but nothing like this. As Randy said, You are an infinitely creative God, never making two snowflakes or fingerprints the same. We all have very diverse personalities and all have very diverse experiences with You. No two are the same. But I do believe You desire all of us to hunger and thirst for more of You. It is a means of Your grace to fill us with Your Presence and fulfill Your purpose through our lives. It's all part of Your plan for all Your people: "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem; in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I don't think we receive all that power all at once. I don't think we could handle it. But You know what's best; and You move us to ask You for Your best. Maybe I've been so specific about this experience in my prayer this morning to be able to remember this day through hard days to come. Maybe I'll even regret being so vulnerable and such a fool for the sake of Christ to share this experience in such detail. But maybe You'll use this to stir others to a deeper desire for more of You. You have satisfied my thirst and filled my hunger. And at the same time, You are already making me thirstier and hungrier still. And by Your grace, You always will. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Thank You! for covering me in prayer last week as I attended Randy Clark's School of Healing, Deliverance, and Impartation in Tucson, Arizona. I believe it was a life changing experience for me and I'm looking forward to living and imparting all the Lord did in me through this time of teaching and ministry: http://www.globalawakening.com I would encourage you to go to one of Global Awakening's events. I am joining their Apostolic Network of Global Awakening and would appreciate your prayers for the Lord's leading in this next season of ministry. And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next Messiah Ministries School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels here in Lexington, Kentucky, January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. 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 for prayer, praise, and healing 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"Renown by the Wonderful Deeds of God" 12-6-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are alive and active in every area and every day of my life. … "Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation…. He has gained renown by His wonderful deeds; the Lord is gracious and merciful" (Psalm 111:1-4). "Thanks be to Jesus!" were the first words I heard A.J. say last night, without slurred speech, after we prayed for him. "I feel really calm and warm inside; my hands aren't trembling anymore" was his answer when I asked him if he could sense the Lord doing anything in his body. "I want to stand up and walk around" is what he said when I asked him if he wanted to try to something he couldn't do very well before we prayed. With big, growing smile he walked around quickly and confidently with his cane on the floor and his arms in the air. He had told us he had Parkinson's Disease. But he also told us he believed in the power of God to heal. You are gracious and merciful. You are still gaining renown by Your wonderful deeds. Though all will not be healed and free on this side of heaven until You come again in the fullness of Your kingdom on earth as it is heaven, many are. And many are in growing numbers each day as we pray for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done. In heaven, there is no Parkinson's Disease. And heaven is coming into A.J.'s life on earth as it is in heaven in the name and for the glory of Jesus. Thank You for letting me see it and giving me faith to pray it. Give me the boldness to pray more and the joy to see more. With A.J., I give you thanks with my whole heart! In the Jesus' name I pray, Amen Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. 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 for prayer, praise, and healing 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. I would appreciate your prayers for me this week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Father's Glory through Miracles in the Name of the Son 12-4-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Your name be glorified in my heart and throughout my day. … "Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in Me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in My name you ask Me for anything, I will do it" (John 14:12-14). Father, You receive glory when we ask and receive in the name of Jesus. Lord Jesus, You do what we ask in Your name to bring glory to our Father. Holy Spirit of the Living God, You move in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus to ask the things Jesus would ask and to do the works Jesus would do, all in the power and authority of His name. Father and Son, abiding in us by the Holy Spirit, You are honored and glorified by our prayers and our obedience in the name of Jesus. "Those who love Me will keep My word, and My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:23). Through the spiritual gifts of words of knowledge, miracles, and healing, You healed many people yesterday during our school of ministry led by Randy Clark in Tucson, Arizona. The Holy Spirit was welcomed, the name of Jesus was exalted, and our Father was glorified. We erupted in praise when You opened the deaf ear of a man who had a fever when he was a little boy and had been deaf in that ear all his life. Many others testified to the immediate release of pain and other signs of healing and freedom in the presence of Your glory. And we are expecting more and more as Your name is glorified in our hearts, in our land, and throughout the earth (Habakkuk 2:14). Miracles are a means of Your grace to reveal Your glory and bring people to faith in Christ. It was after Your first miracle of changing the water into wine at a wedding celebration that Your first disciples believed in You. "Jesus did this, the first of His signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him" (John 2:11). Your miracles are for the sake of bringing people to salvation. And the world needs that as much today as ever before. In these days, You are increasing an awakening of faith and a revelation of Your glory throughout the earth. Instead of focusing on what You're not doing, we're learning to focus on what You are doing. You are empowering Your church to display Your nature and glorify Your name and our Father through our prayers. "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become My disciples" (John 15:7-8). Your kingdom is coming and Your will is being done -- more and more as we believe and obey -- on earth as it is in heaven. And the glory of the Son is the glory of the Father, now being glorified through us (John 17:1). "The glory that You have given Me, I have given them, so that they may be one, as We are one, I in them and You in Me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me (John 17:22-23). As the old song says, "Glorify Thy name in all the earth!" In Jesus name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. 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 for prayer, praise, and healing 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Save the date of January 9-10 for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit which we'll be hosting again in Lexington this year. I would appreciate your prayers for me this week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"Gain in Learning" and "Acquire Skill" 12-3-07

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be at the center of my heart, the forefront of my mind, and the foundation of my day. … "Let the wise also hear and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill" (Proverbs 1:5). Give me wisdom to be teachable. Give me a hunger to gain in learning. Give me patience, perseverance, and divine opportunities to acquire skill in the gifts and calling You've given me for my part in Your body and Your kingdom. You are my teacher and Your Holy Spirit continues to teach me and all Your disciples Your wisdom and ways, as You anoint us and empower us to be the body of Christ in the earth (John 14:26; Luke 12:12). "I am the Lord your God, who teaches you for your own good, who leads you in the way you should go" (Isaiah 48:17). And I thank You for those You have called and anointed to be teachers in the body of Christ. "The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-13). By Your Spirit and through Your servants, You equip us for the work of the ministry to which You have called us. As we learn and grow, You keep building us up and maturing us as the body of Christ, moving forward to that day that we will truly display Your nature in "the full stature of Christ" on this earth. The next few days, I'll be learning and growing through the ministry of Your teachers with Global Awakening Ministries in their School of Healing, Deliverance, and Impartation in Tucson. As Your Spirit teaches me and equips me through them, may You empower me for the work of ministry and also anoint me to teach and equip others for the work of their ministry. Give me humility to hear and receive all that is of You and wisdom to discern anything that's not, always testing everything, as You command us to do (1 Thessalonians 5:21). These are teachers and leaders -- Randy Clark, Che Ahn, and others -- at the forefront of a fresh move of Your Spirit in the earth in our day. With a hungry heart and a teachable spirit, let me receive all You desire to impart to me and then through me to others (Romans 1:11-12). Like Timothy, give me humility and passion to keep learning and growing; and like Paul, give me confidence and courage to teach others what You have taught me. "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers" (1 Timothy 4:14-16). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me this week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January 14-17, 2009. We've had rave reviews about our last one in October! Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

The Main Thing of this Season of Hope and Peace 12-2-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. It's all about You. And the main thing is the keep the main thing the main thing. You're the main thing. … "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in Him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers -- all things have been created in 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). All things have been created in You and for You. You are to have first place in everything. You are "the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). "Christ is all in all" (Colossians 3:11). You're not just a wise teacher, a holy man, or a good example of how to live a godly life. You are God -- God made flesh in one dimension of Your Being (John 1:14). You are forever one with the Father, one with the Holy Spirit, yet now one with humanity, having humbled Yourself "in human form," and "being born in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-8). Why would You empty Yourself of the glory of heaven, though You "were in the form of God?" (Philippians 2:6) Why would You enter into the womb of a woman to born as vulnerable baby in a pen made for animals because humans wouldn't make any room for Your birth? (Luke 2:7) Because You love us. Because You want remove everything that would separate us from an eternal relationship of love with us. So You became a vulnerable child who would one day allow Yourself to become a vulnerable man nailed to a cross, as the only possible sacrifice for the sin that would separate us. In this season when we celebrate the hope of peace on earth, let Your Spirit remind us and convict us to keep the main thing the main thing. Peace on earth is only possible as we have peace in our souls -- a peace that came when God made Himself flesh "to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross" (Colossians 1:20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, following The Fountain this month (December 19th), we will have our Messiah Ministries Christmas party to celebrate the season and our Savior with fun and food together. So please come join us. 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 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com Here's an invitation from Laura Beach, a Spiritual Director with our ministry: Women of Faith…Are you weary in this season of your life? Consider taking a day apart with the Lord to find His rest (Matt 11:28). You are invited to day retreats of spiritual refreshment led by Laura Beach in association with Messiah Ministries. These are experiences of restorative prayer, worship, and fellowship -- particularly for women on the front lines of ministry and life. There are a few spaces left for December 19 in Bryantsville, Kentucky. I can send you a list of dates & locations for 2009. The first will occur on January 3 and will others will continue throughout the year in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. For more information, contact LauraBBeach@insightbb.com. Subscribe free by email to me at 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 Daily Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Not on Talk, but on Power" 12-01-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Draw me close to You. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. Help me grow more into Your likeness today. … "For the kingdom of God depends not on talk but on power" (1 Corinthians 4:20). When we pray, as You taught us to pray, for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done, we are praying for the power of God to manifest the kingdom of God here on earth, just as it is in heaven. The coming of Your kingdom is not demonstrated by our nice sermons, our clever teachings, or our good church services. It's demonstrated by the coming rule and reign of Christ. "Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:24). Through the power of God in Christ, souls are saved and sanctified, sin is forgiving and cleansed, minds are renewed and freed, bodies are healed and delivered, relationships are strengthened and restored, and all creation is redeemed and transformed. And the driving force of all this power of God to change us and all creation is the love of God, for "God is love" (1 John 4:8). The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love. And love comes from within us, just as "the kingdom of God is within (us)" (Luke 17:21). Your power is made manifest on earth as it is in heaven as the power of Your love is made manifest in our lives and through our lives each day. When You said to Your first disciples of the first generation, just as You say to all Your disciples of all generations, "I give you power and authority …", You gave them power and authority to love (see Luke 9:1 and 10:1). As You "sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal" -- just as You continue to send us out -- You send us to love (Luke 9:2). For love is the power of God. And we love, because You first loved us (1 John 4:19). You laid down Your life in love for us and call us to lay down our lives in love for one another -- not in talk, but in power; not in lofty words, but in obedient action (1 John 4:11). As we do, Your kingdom comes and Your will is done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me love in power, not just in talk, today and every day. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, here's an invitation from Laura Beach, a Spiritual Director with our ministry: Women of Faith…Are you weary in this season of your life? Consider taking a day apart with the Lord to find His rest (Matt 11:28). You are invited to day retreats of spiritual refreshment led by Laura Beach in association with Messiah Ministries. These are experiences of restorative prayer, worship, and fellowship -- particularly for women on the front lines of ministry and life. There are a few spaces left for December 19 in Bryantsville, Kentucky. I can send you a list of dates & locations for 2009. The first will occur on January 3 and will others will continue throughout the year in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. For more information, contact LauraBBeach@insightbb.com. Come to The Fountain! on the 3rd Friday night of every month for our ministry's gathering of the body of Christ from every tradition and stream to worship the Lord in Sprit and in Truth. Come drink deeply from the Living Waters in the freedom of the Spirit. 7 pm in the chapel at Centenary. All are welcome. Call for details: 859-422-1794 or send a note to Marilyn at DirOfMinistries@aol.com 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 at Southland Evangelical Methodist Church 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale). Contact Doris & Bob at bndmccray@windstream.net All are welcome! Subscribe free by email to me at 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 Daily Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"So Stay Here Until …" 11-30-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Welcome into my heart; welcome into my day. … "You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what My Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:48-49). Every morning, I come seeking You, sensing Your call to come to You first before I begin my day. So I stay here in this place of prayer, watching and waiting for Your Holy Spirit, the One who is the Promise of our Father, the One who comes to clothe me with Your power from on high to be Your witness throughout my day. Not just once in my life, but every day -- and not just once a day, but every moment throughout my day -- I need to be filled afresh and baptized, saturated and immersed, in the fullness of Your Spirit. "While staying with them, He ordered them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait there for the promise of the Father. 'This,' He said, 'is what you have heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now' "(Acts 1:4-5). As I tarry in Your presence through the communion of prayer in Your Spirit, You are teaching me all I need to know, equipping me with all I need to have, and reminding me of I all need to be. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.… On that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you…. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all I have said to you " (John 14:15-26). Thank You, Father, for fulfilling Your promise. Thank You, Jesus, for abiding in me by Your Spirit. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for helping me and empowering me as a son of my Father and disciple of Christ to live this day as a witness to glory and love of God. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Maturity 11-29-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I listen, I ask You to lead. … "Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). Lord, I want to be a spiritual Christian. I want to grow up into spiritual maturity. Give me the humility and grace to receive, understand, and discern the gifts of Your Spirit. This is not foolishness, but faithfulness. You have called us and commanded us to "pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 14:1). And our sin of disobedience as a church has left us weak and immature, as we have traded our birthright of experiencing the presence and power of God through our lives in order to appear a little more acceptable and a little less foolish in the eyes of the world. Lord, forgive us. Let the conviction of Your Word and Your truth expose our sin and lead us to repentance and restoration of our calling and destiny in You. Let us no longer be a church who are lovers of the acceptance of the world "rather than lovers of God, holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power" (2 Timothy 3:4-5). Your spiritual gifts have spiritual purposes. You want to fill Your church with Your Spirit to display Your presence, Your wisdom, and Your power through Your people on earth (Ephesians 3:10). You want our lives, as Your church, to be "a demonstration of the Spirit and of power" (1 Corinthians 2:4). And You want our lives, as Your church, to display the nature of Your Spirit, bearing the fruit of Your Spirit to a world who needs to know You and the power of Your grace -- "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). Only in the power of Your presence and the gifts of Your Spirit can we truly be Your witnesses to the ends of the earth, as You have called us and commanded us as Your church (Acts 1:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me next week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit, not my own wisdom: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January, 2009. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Spiritual Wisdom in Human Weakness 11-28-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my voice to speak out Your name and give You my life again this day. … "When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And I came to you in weakness and in fear and much trembling. My speech and my proclamation were not with plausible words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God" (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Human wisdom or God's power? Lofty words of wisdom or Jesus Christ, and Him crucified? Act like I know it all from my own intelligence and the education of this world or admit I really know nothing apart from what You have taught me from Your Word and by Your Spirit? Help people put their faith in sound doctrines and carefully worded creeds or help them put their faith in a personal, living relationship with the Living God? You taught Paul how to teach and lead in deep humility, without any self promotion, so that You alone were glorified through his life and ministry. And You want that same heart and spirit in each of us You have called Your disciples, as we teach others Your truth and lead them to You (1 Corinthians 11:1). The wisdom of the world is wearing thin these days. And the wisdom of the world that's woven it's way into the mind of the church will continue to wear thin as well. All our training and education, all of our promotion and production, will increasingly be exposed as nothing more than lofty words and the world's wisdom clothed in spiritual garb. In Your mercy, You are bringing us back to the place of humility -- in weakness and in fear and much trembling -- depending on You and Your power to confirm our message of faith and hope. "Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13). Bring me back to the basics. Empower me again and afresh by Your Spirit to teach Your Word in Your power. Keep reminding me it's not about me. "So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I would appreciate your prayers for me next week as I spend some time writing and continuing my education to keep learning how minister in the love and power of God's Spirit, not my own wisdom: http://www.globalawakening.com And I pray for you, as the Lord continues to equip you and empower you to live out your calling and destiny in Christ in our generation. I like to give away a double portion and more of all I receive and as the Lord wills. You might be interested in coming to join us for our next School of Spiritual Ministry being taught in two levels in Lexington in January, 2009. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Happy Thanksgiving Blessing! from Tommy & Tricia Hays & Messiah Ministries

Happy Thanksgiving! "I will thank You forever, because of what You have done. In the presence of the faithful, I will proclaim Your name, for it is good" (Psalm 52:9). God bless you with the fullness of His blessings and the faithfulness of His presence. May you know the fullness and abundance of His provision and peace as He fills your life with His horn of plenty. -- Tommy & Tricia Hays & Messiah Ministries

Day of Thanksgiving to God 11-27-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. On this Thanksgiving Day, I thank You, Lord, for loving me, forgiving me, and calling me Your own. I thank You for every blessing and I thank You through every circumstance. I thank You for never leaving me, never forsaking me, but always going with me through every moment of my journey toward maturity in You. … "I will thank You forever, because of what You have done. In the presence of the faithful, I will proclaim Your name, for it is good" (Psalm 52:9). In these days of great concern -- where many are losing jobs, homes, and peace of mind; where many are concerned of losing even more -- it's good for us all to pause and pray. Instead of dwelling on all we don't have -- as true and real as that may be -- it's good to take some time to catch our thoughts, open our hearts, and lift our eyes in thanks and praise for all we do have. "For I have learned to be content in whatever I have. I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstance I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need: I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:11-13). I thank You, my God. You are good. And You are good to me. In times of little or times of plenty, in times of struggle or times of celebration, I thank You for strengthening me, encouraging me, and walking with me through it all. No matter what, I always have much to be thankful for. And on this day of national thanksgiving to God, I pray You would pour out Your Spirit of gratitude upon our hearts and upon our land. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Happy Thanksgiving my friends! I'm very blessed to have my mother and brother and all my five children with Tricia and me in Kentucky today. I pray for a blessed day of thanksgiving to God for you and your family today. I know it's hard for many, as it is for my mom after the recent death of her husband, but I know our God is with us through it all. And we can always thank Him for His steadfast love and unfailing mercy. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

120 Filled with Glory of God 11-26-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Let the glory of Your presence come fill this place and fill my soul. … "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath's day's journey. And when they had entered, they went up into the upper room where they were staying …. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication …" (Acts 1:12-14). After You ascended into heaven to reign, You lead Your disciples to ascend into the upper room to pray. Though You were in heaven, You were also still there in the midst of them through the communion and agreement of prayer, as they gathered together in Your name. "For where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there among them" (Matthew 18:20). The people of God coming together "with one accord" in the agreement of prayer and in the power of Your name is still the way You have chosen for Your kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you agree on earth about anything you ask, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven" (Matthew 18:18-19). When Your first disciples came together with one accord in prayer in that upper room, they prayed until something happened. And something did. Like a mighty rushing wind, the glory of God filled that place and filled their souls in the presence and power of Your Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). You changed their lives forever and set in motion a movement of Your Spirit that began to change the face of the earth. That change has not stopped and will not stop as Your people who are called by Your name continue to pray (2 Chronicles 7:14). There were one hundred and twenty disciples gathered together in that place in prayer that day (Acts 1:15). And as many of us gathered together in prayer for our Kentucky Prayer Focus yesterday, Ray Hughes reminded us that many prophetic people from across our nation have noted that the one hundred and twenty counties of Kentucky. We believe You've given us a divine strategy to cover all those counties in focused prayer every day of January this coming year to pray with one accord for the coming of the glory of God in this land and in Your people. Give us faith and persevering grace to pray through and pray until something happens -- here in our land and here throughout all the earth. "But the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Messiah Ministries will be leading again this year the Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit January 9-10. We'll also be one of the ministries and churches hosting a 24 hour prayer time for the 120 counties of Kentucky with the Kentucky Transformation / Kentucky Prayer Focus strategy. To be on the list for more details, please send your email to us at PrayLexington@aol.com For my many friends outside Kentucky, we're praying for God's divine strategies to be released in your region through the agreement of prayer as well. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Suffering for Sin? 11-25-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father, Holy Spirit, and Son -- Lord God, You are holy and one. Come be one with me and within me today. … "At that very time there were some present who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, 'Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them -- do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did" (Luke 13:1-5). Suffering does not always mean sin. As You pointed out, people are quick to equate suffering with sin -- that it's only the "worse sinners" or "worse offenders" who are just getting what they deserve. Sin does open the door to destruction, because it is our choice to bring ourselves out from under the covering of Your hand of grace. But we live in a broken, fallen world where people sin around us every day and where sin has opened the door to destruction since the first sinners who ever lived. All creation is subject to the consequences of sin and suffering (Romans 8:20). So sometimes our suffering is a consequence of our sin and sometimes our suffering is a consequence of living in a broken, fallen world "groaning in labor pains until now" (Romans 8:22). But whether we have sinned or not, You call us all to repent. To "repent" is simply to turn to You. If we have sinned, we need to turn to You. If we are suffering because of the sins of others or the sins of our nation or the sins of our generations all the way back to Adam and Eve, we need to turn to You. It's only in You that we can know comfort through every calamity, peace through every persecution, and truth through every tribulation. As we repent, turning away from ourselves and turning to You, You draw us in to place of safety and peace, even in the midst of destruction. If there's something in us You want to correct or change, You will, but always in the Spirit of Your love for us, Your desire to redeem us, and Your desire to bring us through our storms to even strengthen us through our struggles (Hebrews 12:1-13). As it always does, the sufferings of this hour will draw many more deeply into Your arms -- even as You draw us first to our knees in desperate dependence upon You alone. As we repent and turn to You, we bring ourselves, by Your grace, under the shadow of the Almighty and into the safe and secure place of the Most High God, where You lift us up on angels wings in to the peace of Your presence, no matter what destruction or calamity may come (Psalm 91). We may have to go through more suffering than we would choose, and sometimes Your answer doesn't seem to come soon enough, but even in the struggles, sufferings, and even judgments of the sin of a broken, fallen world, You encourage us and empower us to keep turning to You. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). By Your grace, I choose repentance. I choose to keep turning to You, come what may. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Obedience From the Heart 11-24-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill me with Your Spirit, lead me in Your ways. … "What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you no know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that you, having once been slaves of sin, have become obedient from the heart …" (Romans 6:15-17). Under law, obedience is forced upon us. Under grace, obedience is from the heart. We obey because we want to obey, we want to please You. We willingly obey You because we truly trust You. We love You because You first loved us. And the degree of our willing obedience to You -- from the heart -- is a reflection of the degree of our love for You -- from the heart. "Those who love Me will keep My Word, and My Father will love them, and We will come to them and make Our home with them" (John 14:23). "As the Father has loved Me, so I have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:9-10). Your grace frees us for joyful obedience -- obedience from the heart, because we trust You to love us and know what's best for us. The enemy of our souls tries to tempt us and trick us into thinking obedience is bondage. But it's disobedience that's bondage -- bondage to whatever sin controls us, so he can accuse us, condemn us, shame us, and steal from us the peace and joy You created us to know. The truth is, obedience to You and Your Word from the heart brings joy. "I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:11). Lord Jesus, give me wisdom to embrace Your Word, keep Your commandments, and walk in Your ways. Give me grace to choose freedom instead of bondage, joy instead of shame. Empower me by the Spirit of the Father and the Son abiding in me to love You and obey You from the heart. I know it will please You. And what could be more important than living my day and my life to please 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

"And All These Things Will Be Given" 11-23-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I begin my day before You, my King. … "But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:33). You are a giving and generous God. You love to "give good gifts" to Your children (Matthew 7:11). And You love to move on the hearts of Your children to give good gifts to those in need. That's one of the ways Your fulfill Your Word to give "all these things" to those who try to seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness, while trusting You to provide for all we need. By the moving of Your Spirit in the seeking and the giving, You bless the gift, the giver, and the gift receiver. And whether we are the one giving or the one receiving, Your Holy Spirit moving in our human spirits to seek You first is our greatest gift of all (Luke 11:13). Friday morning, I needed to have my laptop computer fixed. For several years, it's been my morning journal to write and send my daily devotional prayer devotional, Morning by Morning. And though I never want to be dependent upon anything but You, it seems to have become like my right hand in ministry in many ways. I use it to prepare and often present my teaching and preaching of Your principles of the kingdom of God. In a strong sense, it has become a key of Your kingdom for me, a weapon of my warfare, and a means of Your grace to encourage lives of many in the journey of faith and prayer with me. But it was broken, so I asked my friends to join with me in prayer. Before the end of the day, someone had tracked down all the details and anonymously arranged to get me a new computer! It turned out that my old one was broken beyond repair, but You had it in Your heart all along to bring Your blessing out of my brokenness. I couldn't quit saying, "Praise God! Praise God!" to the young man on the phone at the store, who was as stunned as I was to see the extravagant provision of my giving and generous God through one of His giving and generous children. What a witness and testimony to Your goodness that was to both of us. As they say, "You can't out-give God!" I know provision does not always come to suddenly and miraculously. I know You call us to be thankful in all things and content in all circumstances. And I know as that we often have not because we ask not (James 4:2). In Your timing and in Your way -- sometimes in Your sudden and exciting ways -- You provide all our needs according to Your riches in glory, as we seek first Your kingdom and Your righteousness (Philippians 4:19). Lord, thank You for these blessings of "all things" You've poured out on me. Lord, pour out Your abundant blessings on my friends who prayed and my anonymous friend who paid -- "good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over" (Luke 6:38, KJV). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Thank You, my friends, for joining with me in the journey. I pray for you to have "all these things" that You've needed and lain before the Lord, our generous and giving God! He knows what we need, and He knows we need Him most of all. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Filled with the Knowledge of His Will 11-21-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up before my eyes and before my day. ... "For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:9-12, NAS). Each new day, come fill me with the knowledge of Your will. Form Your thoughts in my mind with Your spiritual wisdom and understanding. Give me grace to walk in a manner worthy of You and to please You in all respects. Then my life today will bear fruit for You. Then I will increase in the true knowledge of God and be strengthened in Your power. As You empower me to live out my day with steadfast and patient persistence to overcome every challenge to my flesh in the power of Your Spirit, You will grant me the joy of sharing in my inheritance as a child of God and a saint in Your light. I may not be a perfect saint today, but at least now -- in these first moments of my morning alone with You -- I honestly say that is my desire, because You have put that desire in my heart and put that thought in my mind. You have answered my prayer to fill me with the knowledge of Your will. "For this is the will of God, your sanctification" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). If I didn't want to know, I shouldn't have asked. But now that I've asked and now that I know, I ask for grace to walk it out in the strength of Your power in the way that You lead, while joyously giving thanks to the Father. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain tonight, Friday 11-21-08 at 7 pm for our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for prayer, praise, and healing worship in the Presence of the Lord. Laura Beach and I will be leading in prayer, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead us in worship. As always, we'll have prayer ministry from our prayer team at the altar. You're welcome to come early for intercessory prayer at 6:30. Hosted in the chapel at Centenary United Methodist, 2800 Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY. Spread the word and come join us. All are welcome! For details, call Marilyn at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com Friends, I'd appreciate your prayers for my computer to be fixed. I'm borrowing one in the mornings to write and send my prayer. Thank you for your prayers to cover and protect us in ministry, and our prayers are with you. God bless you! Subscribe/Unsubscribe at MessiahMin@aol.com Order our resources and my prayer book (Maybe a great Christmas present!) at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Messiah Ministries -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" 2800 Tates Creek Rd.; Lexington, KY 40502

A Time to Weep and to Laugh 11-18-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Come lead me today closer to You. ... "For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; ... a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance ..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Over this past weekend, we have mourned the death and celebrated the life of my stepfather, Jim Butler. Family and friends came in from literally around the world. He was not a pretentious man and we didn't try to pretend he was a perfect saint. But he did know You. And in the assurance of that truth, we were able to cry hard but laugh harder at the audacity with which he lived life to its fullest. Lord, You came to forgive us and free us to live life abundantly. You don't want us to hold back, but to hold on for the adventure that each day brings. And You want us to hold on to You through every season, with our hearts always filled with anticipation for the next season to come -- whether on this side or that side of eternity. And at the end of our season on this side, we can look back and say: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep my mom and all the Butler family and friends in your prayers during this season of life without someone dearly loved and deeply missed. And I pray the Lord's comfort and peace with you through those seasons of your life. 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 Please Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources On-Line Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Suddenly, Only Jesus 11-13-08

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I love You, Lord. And I thank You for loving me. ... "Suddenly, they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus" (Mark 9:8). Yesterday morning about this time, Jim Butler suddenly saw no one with him any more, but only You. In the twinkling of an eye, he passed from this world to the next -- "away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:8). My stepfather had a good night and got up early to get ready for work like any other day, but his work on earth was done. His heart suddenly failed his body, but his spirit suddenly fled to his Lord. Now he is at perfect peace, resting in the arms of his Savior. Now his life has truly begun. What You proclaimed long ago, You proclaim throughout all eternity: "I Am the Resurrection and the Life. Those who believe in Me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die" (John 11:25-26). His heart is now healthy and whole, his spirit is now strong and alive, his now glorified body is perfectly suited and perfectly at home in the glory of heaven, immersed in the glory of God. "There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly body is one thing, and that of the earthly is another.... So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body" (1 Corinthians 15:40-44). Like Jim, one day I will know that blessing of suddenly seeing no one else, but "only Jesus", as I see You "face to face". In that instant of entering into the fullness of eternity, "I will know fully, even as I have been fully known" (1 Corinthians 13:12). Lord, give me grace to live my life fully every day between now and then. Let me leave nothing of my destiny undone. Let every moment count and every moment glorify You. And at the same time, I praise You now for Your steadfast love and unfailing mercy in my moments that may not. Suddenly, in the moment of the twinkling of an eye, my work on earth will be done. And You will welcome me home to heaven. I may not know whether I want to dance in the air or bow down on my face before You, but I know now what I will long to hear then: "Well done, My good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21). What a day of rejoicing that will be. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be Encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, please keep my mom and all the family of Jim and Ann Butler in your prayers as we gather together in Ruidoso, New Mexico over the next few days. I'll be entrusting the teaching and leading of our School of Spiritual Ministry into the hands of anointed leaders while I'm away with my mom. Please keep this in your prayers. We thrilled last night to have people from six states come join us for this School to be equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit for spiritual ministry! Thank you and God bless you for joining with me in the journey of life and prayer, morning by morning in Christ. 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 My Book and Our Ministry Resources at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com