"Seize the Hope" 2-2-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are my Rock and my Refuge. You steady my soul and inspire my spirit. I entrust to You all that I am and all that I have. … "We who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18). As Your Holy Spirit stirs in my human spirit to seize the hope of Your faithful promises set before me today, I hear You forming the words of new song in my heart: What hope I have in You With faith I know You'll see me through As I lift up my eyes You lift up my head And show me the way through each day Yes, Lord. Remind me of the hope I have in You. Remind me that hope is something to be seized -- to take hold of, to take captive, to make my own. Hope is not something to passively receive and accept if it happens to come my way. To hope is to actively, deliberately choose to put my faith in You, to believe in the promises of Your Word, and to passionately pursue the One who is my hope. There's nothing passive or complacent, nothing tentative or speculative, about Your call to us to seize the hope that we have in You. By the power of the grace You give each day, nothing can steal my peace or snatch away my hope -- unless I let it. And by Your grace, I will not let it; I will seize the hope You've set before me and sealed in my heart. I will lift my eyes to You. And as I lift up my eyes to You, I can't help but let You lift up my head to meet Your face. And in Your face, I will find the way through every challenge of every day. You are my way, just as You are my truth and You are my life (John 14:6). With my head held high, let Your hope arise: What hope I have in You With faith I know You'll see me through As I lift up my eyes You lift up my head And show me the way through each day In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Subscribe 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: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Winds of Change 2-1-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my face, stretch out my hands, and open up my heart in worship and prayer, to honor You and commit myself and my day to You. … "Then the Lord said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand over the land of Egypt, so that the locusts may come upon it and eat every plant in the land, all that the hail has left.' So Moses stretched out his staff over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land that day and all that night; when morning came, the east wind had brought the locusts…. Pharaoh hurriedly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, 'I have sinned against the Lord your God, and against you. Do forgive my sin just this once and pray to the Lord your God that at least He remove this deadly thing from me.' So he went out from Pharaoh and prayed to the Lord. The Lord changed the wind into a very strong west wind, which lifted the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea; not a single locust was left in all the country of Egypt" (Exodus 10:12-19). When Moses stretched forth his hand in obedience over the land, You sent forth Your wind from the east to bring the locusts in judgment. Then Pharaoh confessed his sin and asked for prayer. When Moses stretched forth his hands in prayer, You changed the wind. You sent forth Your wind from the west to drive away the locusts in mercy. Obedience and prayer bring us into agreement with Your will. As we stretch out our hands in proclamation and prayer, You send forth Your word and wind in Your Spirit and power. Judgment and mercy belong to You. Obedience and prayer belong to us (James 5:17-18). Your heart is for mercy, not judgment, for blessing, not curses. "Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the Lord God, and not rather that they should turn from their ways and live? ... For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord God. Turn, then, and live" (Ezekiel 18:23-32). "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). Yet You will not be mocked and You will not refrain Your winds of mercy or Your winds of judgment upon our land, as our choices require. "Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:7-9). So where we have sinned, let us confess it in repentance. Where You have moved in our hearts to stretch forth our hands in prayer or praise or proclamation, let us do it in obedience. You have the power to move the winds of change in our land, either in judgment or in mercy. And in Your sovereignty, You have purposed to release Your power in response to the obedience and prayers of our hearts and our actions. Lord, send Your winds of change. Send Your winds of mercy. And even when our choices in our land or of our leaders require the winds of judgment for a time, "in wrath may You remember mercy" (Habakkuk 3:2). Your Word reveals Your will; and Your will is that all would "turn, then, and live" in Your blessings rather than the curses, so that "mercy triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13). So, Lord, we bow our knees in confession, we turn our hearts in repentance and prayer, and we stretch out our hands in obedience and proclamation, to declare as Your Spirit leads, "Let the winds of change blow. Let the time of harvest begin." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I join with you in prayer, praise, and proclamation over the lands where we live and where we have been entrusted with responsibility and authority before the Lord for His will to be done and His kingdom to come. In Kentucky where I live, we've been praying for the first 31 days of this year for revival again in our land. I pray the same for you and your land. I'm attaching our prayer guide from Kentucky Prayer Focus we prayed in 24 hour prayer watches over all 120 counties of Kentucky, that you might like to adapt to your region. May the winds of change blow in all of our lands and lives; may the Lord's harvest begin. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"The Lord Who makes a Way" 1-31-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My eyes are on You, Lord. "Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters…. Do not remember the former things or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert" (Isaiah 43:16-19). You are the God who makes a way when it seems there is no way. You are the God who astounds us with Your mercy and amazes us with Your miracles. You bring beauty out of brokenness and order out of chaos. You are constantly creating and forever redeeming all things to fulfill Your purposes. And one of Your highest purposes is to teach us to trust You as You lead us through the brokenness and the chaos, through the wilderness and the desert into the place You have been preparing for us all along. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you" (John 14:1-4). Like the wake of boat moving through the waters, the path through the waters is new every moment and only lasts for a moment. Then the wake disappears in the waters and the way of the moment is no longer seen. In that sense, You are always doing a new thing. You are always calling us to turn from the former things of where we've been and move forward into the new thing that You are doing now. You call us to look to You and see what You are doing now, to follow in the wake of Your leading through the waters. Though the waters may seem mighty, they are no match for "Your mighty hand, and Your outstretched arm" (1 Kings 8:24). With our eyes on You, we will look and see the salvation of our God. "He reached from on high, He took me, He drew me out of mighty waters… He brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me" (2 Samuel 22:17-20). Lord, let it be so, to the glory of Your name. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays For all who have been part of the 31 Days of Prayer for Revival in Kentucky, please come join us for a Declaration Service this Saturday, January 31 at 4:00 today, hosted at Victory Christian Fellowship, 1150 Oak Hill Road, Somerset, KY. Ray Hughes, R.T, Kendall, and Kentucky bluegrass musician Ricky Scaggs will be there to pray, praise, and proclaim over Kentucky with representative from all 120 counties of "the upper room state." (Many may not know how Spirit-filled and prophetic Ricky Scaggs and his family are!). Come join us if you can and please keep praying for breakthrough revival in Kentucky and in your region. God will make a way! Friends, let's keep one another in prayer through this season of layoffs and reordering of lives for ourselves and for many we know and love. Let's keep reminding ourselves and one another of our faithful God who will cause it all to work together for good, as we keep looking to Him and trusting in Him. I'm praying for you. Please be praying for me. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Strength for Today, Bright Hope for Tomorrow" 1-30-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. There is none like You, faithful and true, ever present through every struggle, ever near through every fear. … "They spoke against God, saying, 'Can God spread a table in the wilderness? Even though He struck the rock so that the water gushed out and torrents overflowed, can He also give bread, or provided meat for His people?' " (Psalm 78:20). Yesterday was a hard day. At my home church, our leaders had to let several people go from their jobs, from their ministries in the life of our church. With a few others, we were praying for most of the day -- praying for those who had to share the bad news and praying for those who had to hear the bad news. As best we could and all by Your grace, we helped each one who came for prayer grieve the loss and disappointment of today but also look forward to the hope of tomorrow. Bad news is bad; we need not pretend otherwise. But we know the One who is good. And we know You are there, walking with us through whatever bad news we face, filling us with the peace and hope of the good news of the new day to come. When one door closes, You always open another. When one season ends, it's time for the next season to begin. "Great is Thy faithfulness … Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow." You are our strength through the bad news we endure and You are hope for the good news to come. "But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you…. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5). I know what's happened at our church is happening in many churches, ministries, businesses, industries, homes, and families across our land in these desert days of economic wilderness. And many may be tempted to test You in our hearts and question You in our minds. But the God who brings forth water from the rock is able to prepare a table in the wilderness. As we turn to You in honesty with our grief and our questions, You will keep turning to us in Your peace and Your answers. You will set a table before us even in the presence of our enemies of worry, fear, stress, and anxiety. You will fill our cups with Your living waters and provide for us our daily bread. We will not be unchanged in the process or through the trials, but we were never intended to be. These are opportunities for our faith to stretch and grow, to find our priorities and our peace aligned in You alone. And You will be faithful to give us grace for all we need -- strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. "Yet He commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven; He rained down on them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven" (Psalm 78:23-24). If we will look to You instead of to ourselves, if we will celebrate what we see You are doing instead of complaining about what we think You're not doing, if we will let our hearts be filled with faith and hope instead of discouragement and fear, we will stand back and see the salvation of our God. "Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me." In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, let's keep one another in prayer through this season of layoffs and reordering of lives for ourselves and for many we know and love. Let's keep reminding ourselves and one another of our faithful God who will cause it all to work together for good, as we keep looking to Him and trusting in Him. I'm praying for you. Please be praying for me. God bless you! For all who have been part of the 31 Days of Prayer for Revival in Kentucky, please come join us for a Declaration Service this Saturday, January 31 at 4:00 hosted at Victory Christian Fellowship, 1150 Oak Hill Road, Somerset, KY. Ray Hughes, R.T, Kendall, and Kentucky bluegrass musician Ricky Scaggs will be there to pray, praise, and proclaim over Kentucky with representative from all 120 counties of "the upper room state." (Many may not know outside of Kentucky may not know how Spirit-filled and prophetic Ricky Scaggs and his family are!). Come join us if you can and please keep praying for breakthrough revival in Kentucky and in your 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line atwww.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Constant Point of Reference 1-29-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. As I speak out Your name, I wait and listen down deep in my spirit for the comfort and security of hearing You speak out mine. … "I called on You name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; You heard my plea, 'Do not close Your ear to my cry for help, but give me relief!' You came near when I called on You; You said, 'Do not fear!' " (Lamentations 3:55-57). As I journey every moment of every day through the time and space of this earthly realm, through the uncertainties and events far beyond my control, You are my constant point of reference. With You by side and with Your Spirit in my heart, I am never lost. You are the one thing I can always count on. In the depth of every pit, You are there. In the darkness of every fear, You are there. There is nowhere I can go and nothing I can go through, where You are not there with me as I call out to You. So I will not fear tomorrow, nor fret about today. It seems lately every morning, the old song from the Your steady Word moves in my mind and stirs in my spirit to begin each day: "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul that seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:21-25). Yes, Lord. I wait for You; I seek You; I put all my hope and trust in You. No matter what I go through, I know that I know that I know You will never leave me nor forsake me. In You and with You, there will always come a dawn of a new day at the end of every night of darkness; there will always be a light at the end of every tunnel; there will always be a steady rock of refuge through every storm. That's what Your Word says (Matthew 6:25-34; Hebrews 13:4-6; and so many others). And I choose to believe You and take You at Your Word. "It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord" (Lamentations 3:26). You are my certain Savior and my steadfast Friend. So "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer (my) foot to be moved; He that keepeth (me) will not slumber…. The Lord shall preserve (my) going out and (my) coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore" (Psalm 121:1-8, KJV). 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Jesus, Friend of Sinners and Sinless One 1-28-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Friend of sinners, face of God, King of glory, Christ of nations, come into every moment of my day, every area of my life, and every place of my world. … "For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children" (Luke 7:33-35). Everyone tries to put You in box. They want to worship the image of God they have hewn with their own hands and carved in their own image of who they think You should be. Forgive me when I have done the same. But You Are Who You Are. As You said to Moses, "I Am Who I Am" (Exodus 3:14). And we are to have no other gods before You, the One True God (Exodus 20:3). How arrogant of us, as Your created, to tell You, our Creator, who You are and how You should be? Your name and Your nature tell us You will not be defined by those You have created, no matter how much You love us and want to be near us. You do not change to fit our philosophies or sensibilities; You do not change to appease our sense of political correctness or social tolerance. "For I the Lord do not change" (Malachi 3:6). And You, the Lord God Almighty, have chosen in Your sovereignty and divine purpose to reveal Yourself to humanity in nature of the Son of Man and in the nature of the Son of God through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord -- "the Image of the invisible God" (Colossian 1:15). When we see You, Lord Jesus, we see the Father. As You said, "Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). And when we welcome You into our hearts and into our lives, we welcome the Holy Spirit of the Father and the Son to come abide within us (John 14:20). So open the eyes of my heart to see You and worship You as You truly are, not as who I would like You to be or think You should be to satisfy my sense of Your image. Give me the humility to know that You will always be just exactly Who You have always been. "Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). And give me grace to be conformed to Your nature, more and more every day (Romans 8:29). You are my Savior, but You are also my model for life in this world, as I yield to Your example and Your leading as my one and only Lord. "And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent His Son as Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world" (1 John 4:14-17). Lord, let me be more like You in this world every day. Let me be a friend of sinners, but growing in my freedom from sin and growing by Your grace into the nature and love of the Sinless One. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Created for the Purpose of Love 1-27-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. In simplicity and sincerity, I look to You and call on Your name, then watch and wait in the silence of surrender before You. … "The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of Your hands" (Psalm 138:8). Lord, I believe You created the heavens and the earth. I believe You created me and every person with purpose, calling, and destiny You long to fulfill. I believe "it was You who formed my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:13-14). And I believe You love me and will never forsake me, even when I sin or rebel or resist or fail or fall from the fullness of Your will for my life. You have a way of redeeming all things and even causing those things to work together for good for me and for all those who keep turning to You and trusting You and loving You through it all, as best as we can and all by Your grace, according to Your purpose (Romans 8:28). But Lord, sometimes I just need to ask, "What is Your purpose for me? What is it that You long to fulfill through my life?" As I watch and wait, in the simplicity and sincerity of the silence of surrender before You, it seems I hear You say, "… My son, my child, whom I have created and made, I created you to love Me; I created you to know Me and receive My love for you." But Lord, why did You need me? It seems You have centuries full of people to love and to love You. Why did You need me, if You even need me, or want me to be just one more? "My son, it would not be the same without you. You and each one of My children are vastly, almost infinitely, different from one another. Each one is fearfully, wonderfully, uniquely made. So because of who you are, because of who I created you to be, there are ways that I can express My love to you and express My love through you that I cannot do through any other soul I have ever created. And there are ways that only you can express your love for Me. It wouldn't be the same without you." Yes, Lord. Just filter out any of that that was not You, but let all that was of You settle deep down into my soul. Maybe even as I asked the question, I was thinking about what I would do with my life, or better, what You would do with my life. But Your answer and the priority of Your focus seems to be much more on who I am than what I will do. As someone has said, You see us much more as "human beings" rather than "human doings," though that's not how we tend to see and judge ourselves and the significance of our lives. But these big picture questions that seem to rise up from time to time, seeking Your big picture answers, always seem to come back to this simple truth in one way or the other -- You are love, and You created us for a relationship of love with You and with one another. Everything else is just the working out of the details and fulfillment of that great purpose. "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and His love is perfected in us" (1 John 4:7-12). Thank You, Lord, for reminding me of Your big picture and Your big purpose for my life. Give me grace to love You and love others today and every day, as no one else can. So as I begin this day, I lift up my eyes and open up my spirit to You, my Creator, my Savior, and my Lord. "I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me…. God will send forth His steadfast love and His faithfulness" (Psalm 57:2-3). 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 Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute OnLine at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Red Letter Retreat 1-26-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I awaken to begin my walk with You today. … "Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is My beloved Son; listen to Him!' " (Mark 9:7). I went away to the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina for the weekend with some friends I've known and some new friends I just met. Judge Tim Philpot of Fishhook International Ministries called it a "red letter retreat" and led us to look only to the red letter words of Jesus in our Bibles. We listened to Your words in Scripture, every time You mentioned "the heart," and then took time to listen for Your voice about our hearts in prayer. Through the many passages of the Gospels, You spoke of our hearts often: "Do not let your hearts be troubled;" "Blessed are the pure in heart;" "What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart;" "Believe in your heart;" "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart;" "Love one another deeply from the heart;" "Do the will of God from the heart;" and so many others. No wonder we have the phrase, "the heart of the matter," because our hearts seem to be at the center of Your focus and the target of Your message. It's in our hearts that You sow Your seeds of truth and life and love (Matthew 13:19-23). If you can change our hearts, You can change our lives. As our hearts go, so go our souls. I kept thinking of the worship song, "Lord, I give you my heart. I give you my soul. Come have Your way in me." I hear You calling me by Your Spirit and by Your Word, "My child, give Me your heart and let your eyes delight in My ways" (Proverbs 23:26). It's only by Your grace and the moving of Your Spirit that I can desire this or even know to do this. But I thank You that I never have to be without Your grace or Your Spirit, speaking Your red letter words of life into my spirit. And by Your grace, I give You my heart today and every day. Lord, have Your way in me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays I'm thankful for my friends at Fishhook International Ministries ( www.fishhook.org ) who have partnered with us several times to send me as an evangelist and teacher to India to join with Ghuna Kumar and his Gospel Friends ministry. Bob and Doris McCray of our ministry are there now teaching on intercessory prayer and the prophetic destiny of Israel and the Church in the end times. Consider signing up for Ghuna Kumar's Sunday Scripture at www.gospelfriends.injesus.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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute OnLine at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Look to Him and Be Radiant" 1-23-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Help me wait and listen so I can follow where You lead. … "I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Look to Him and be radiant; so your faces will never be ashamed. This poor soul cried, and was heard by the Lord, and was saved from every trouble. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and delivers them" (Psalm 34:4-7). You answer those who seek You. You deliver those who believe You. You save those who humble themselves to admit their need of You. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Heaven pours out provision for those who acknowledge their treasure is not of this earth. Heaven sends forth mighty protection for those who declare their safety and security is not in human might. "O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in Him;" for by looking to You and trusting in You, we "have no want" and "lack no good thing" (Psalm 34:8-10). When I look to You, I am radiant, because then I see You looking at me. You're not so far off that You can't see me; You're not looking so far off that You can't see my need. The truth is You're very near, looking at me, and seeing my every need. When I look up to the heavens and not below to the earth, when I "seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God," You remind me that my "life is hidden with Christ in God" and that at the end of the day, when all is said and done, I "will be revealed with Him in glory" (Colossians 3:1-4). That's how I look to You "and be radiant" -- radiant with the certain knowledge of Your abiding Presence and constant attention. "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end" (Lamentations 3:22). In the light of the glory of Your face, always turned to me and each one of Your children, I remember that "I have been paid in full and have more than enough; I am fully satisfied…. And my God will fully satisfy every need of (mine) according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever" (Philippians 4:18-20). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, here is a wonderful invitation for one day retreats for women of faith from Laura Beach, a Spiritual Director with our ministry: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit… Isaiah 44:3 You are invited to day retreats of spiritual refreshment for women of faith scheduled throughout 2009. These beautiful days of renewal and healing for women on the front line of prayer and ministry are led by Laura Beach in association with Messiah Ministries. The next retreat will be February 16 at Mountjoy Place in Lexington, Kentucky. Contact Laura Beach at LauraBBeach@insightbb.com for more details and a list of all the spiritual refreshment dates for 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Enduring Faith 1-22-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Fill my heart and steady my soul with the peace of Your Presence, as I deliberately, intentionally begin my day with You. … "The faith that you have, have as your own conviction before God. Blessed are those who have no reason to condemn themselves because of what they approve. But those who have doubts are condemned … because they do not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin" (Romans 14:22-23). Lord, keep me rooted and grounded in the ways of Your will, the truth of Your Word, and the life of Your Spirit. Keep me firm in the faith You have imparted and grown in me. Keep me steady and secure in trusting surrender and willing submission to the guiding principles of Your Word as my authority. Give me grace to hold fast to the convictions You have seared into my soul and the courage to stand against the winds of culture or popular opinions of the times that do not proceed from faith in You. According to Your spiritual principles, my faith will determine my destiny. As you said to the blind men who chose to put their hope and trust in You, "According to your faith let it be done to you" (Matthew 9:29). What is settled in my heart as right and true will determine my convictions and direct my actions. "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7, NKJV). So by Your grace, I ask You to form Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart. In faith, I have chosen to "live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:19-20). So each day, I ask You to help me live and act from that faith. There will come a time when faith will not be easy. So form Your faith thoroughly in me now. Let the roots of Your righteousness keep growing deep while there is time so I can withstand the storms to come. "But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of My name" (Luke 21:12). Even this You will redeem for Your glory and Your purposes for those who stand firm in the faith by the grace of God. "This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict" (Luke 21:13-15). Now is the time to let You build my faith. Now is the time to learn to hear Your voice. Now is the time to get settled in what I believe, what I know is right, what I'm willing to live for, and what I'm willing to die for. By Your grace, I want to believe You. And by Your grace, I want to be willing to live or die for You. "You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of My name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls" (Luke 21:16-18). Let my faith endure all that may come in the days ahead. "But the one who endures to the end will be saved" (Matthew 10:22; Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13). Lord, only You can give me that kind of enduring faith. And by Your grace I know now You will give me all the faith I need then. "May (I) be made strong with all the strength that comes from (Your) glorious power, and may (I) be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled (me) to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light" (Colossians 1:11-12). "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). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, here is a wonderful invitation for one day retreats for women of faith from Laura Beach, a Spiritual Director with our ministry: For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit… Isaiah 44:3 You are invited to day retreats of spiritual refreshment for women of faith scheduled throughout 2009. These beautiful days of renewal and healing for women on the front line of prayer and ministry are led by Laura Beach in association with Messiah Ministries. The next retreat will be February 16 at Mountjoy Place in Lexington, Kentucky. Contact Laura Beach at LauraBBeach@insightbb.com for more details and a list of all the spiritual refreshment dates for 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Presidential Proclamation -- "Hope and Virtue" with "God's Grace Upon Us" 1-21-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. My hope is in You, Lord. I will neither fear nor fail, by the power of Your Spirit and the provision of Your grace. … "Truly the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. Our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You" (Psalm 33:18-33). Our nation's new President, Barack Obama, took his oath of office on the well-worn Bible of President Abraham Lincoln yesterday, and humbly affirmed the only Source of strength to fulfill such an arduous task with his prayer, "So help me God." As I watched with the millions who were present -- my friend Tammy from Texas sent me her cell phone picture during the inauguration, not far in front of the President -- and the millions who watched with me from around the world, I was pleased to see Him speak often of the need for our humility and the need of Your grace if our hope and destiny as a nation is to be fulfilled: "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord…. We remain young as a nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness…. For as much as government can do and must do, it is the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies…. This is the source of our confidence -- the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny…. In the year of America's birth … the father of our nation ordered these words to be read to the people: 'Let it be told to the future world … that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive … that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it).' America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations. God bless you and God bless the United States of America." Yes, Lord. May You bless us as we honor You (1 Samuel 2:30). Let us honor life as we honor the Source of all life. Let us honor truth as we honor the One who is the Truth. Let this be more than words. Let this be our faith and determination, by Your grace and in Your power, to be the people You created us to be. In the freedom and destiny that is only possible because of the grace and love of God displayed for all eternity through the cross and blood of Christ, let us honor You and fear You as a nation whose hope and virtue is in Your steadfast love alone (Romans 15:13). In humility and faith, we declare You are our Hope, our Help, and our Shield. "But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him' " (Lamentations 3:21-24). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, an Invitation to join with us in ministry as an Isaiah 35 Streams in the Desert covenant partner this year is included below. We look forward to praying for you and updating you on all the Lord is doing through your prayers and provision of a steady stream for Messiah Ministries, which is much needed this year. Thank you and God bless you, exceedingly abundantly more than you can ever ask or imagine! Subscribe free by email to Messiah Ministries -- MessiahMin@aol.com

-- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/

2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502

Isaiah 35 -- Streams in the Desert "For waters shall break forth in the wilderness

and streams in the desert"

—Isaiah 35:6

Dear Friend, Thank you for your friendship and relationship with me and our ministry. These are exciting days in the Kingdom of God! We are thrilled with all the Lord seems to be doing in the life of Messiah Ministries. He has called us to do our part in our generation to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God, to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free, to prepare the way of the Lord and minister the healing love of God. Thank you for every way you have been a part of fulfilling our calling and vision. Though doors of opportunity for ministry continue to open wide and we continue to work hard in the strength of the Lord to fulfill the vision He has given us, this economic desert season is causing us to be even more desperately dependent upon the Lord alone in faith for all our provision. In seeking His wisdom and answers in prayer, we believe He gave us a strategy for our ministry finances in this wilderness time -- Isaiah 35 Streams. In humility and faith, we are inviting you to partner with us in ministry, spiritually and financially, by contributing $35 a month to the work of the Kingdom through Messiah Ministries this year. We believe the Lord has shown us this will provide "a steady stream" of His provision through these desert days. We praise God for His faithfulness! And we thank God for you, as you join with us as a significant part of His provision for His ministry for the glory of His name and His Kingdom. Please prayerfully consider our invitation. And if this stirs in your spirit with joy to join us as the Lord's answers to our prayers, please covenant with us this year to be a part of Isaiah 35 Streams. I will be very glad to talk with you about this or describe more of our vision and calling in ministry. I pray you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seed for God's harvest. May the Lord bless you and pour out His exceedingly abundant blessings and provision for you this year -- "... A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap ..." (Luke 6:38). In the Love of Jesus,

Tommy Hays Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org All contributions, of any amount, are very welcome, tax deductible, and greatly appreciated. We've had a very positive response already. Praise God!

In answer to questions that have come, here are some ways to consider joining with us as the Lord's Streams in the Desert for steady provision: 1) You can Click Here to contribute on-line at our shopping cart or go to: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/

2) You can let us get you set up for automatic withdraw by sending a note to Marilyn Walker at dirofministries@aol.com or calling her cell at 859-317-1591

3) You can send in a check for "Messiah Ministries" to our office at:

Messiah Ministries

2800 Tates Creek Rd.

Lexington, KY 40502

859-422-1794

4) You can set up an account on-line and contribute to "Messiah Ministries" and other ministries or churches through the Kentucky Christian Foundation ( http://www.kentuckychristianfoundation.org/ ). They can also help with any stock or asset transfers, as well as planned or long-term giving. Please let me know any way I can help or answer questions. Please feel free to introduce me to come have a conversation with anyone who may be interested. Thank you and God bless you!

Tommy Hays Founder and Executive Director Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, Kentucky 40502

www.messiah-ministries.org

Presidential Oath and Prayer -- "So Help Me God." 1-20-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to You. All who are in authority are subject to Your authority and positioned there by Your authority for Your purposes (Romans 13:1). And by Your grace, I willingly submit in trusting surrender to Your authority in my life today. … "As servants of God, live as free people, yet do not use your freedom as a pretext for evil. Honor everyone. Love the family of believers. Fear God. Honor the emperor" (1 Peter 2:13-17). Yesterday our nation honored with national pride our beloved Baptist preacher and civil rights leader, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. With weapons of courage and the power of words, he fought for freedom in America. He fought for the hope and the dream that one day we would live out the faith of our declaration that "all men are created equal," that our children "will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character," that in this "the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh see it together." He fought to hold on to the hope and pursue the dream that "with this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope" and "with this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day." Full of this faith and hope, he prophetically declared: "This will be the day when all God's children will be able to sing with a new meaning, 'My country, 'tis of Thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of Thy pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring! And if America is to be a great nation this must be true. So let freedom ring …." And today, our nation will honor Rev. Dr. King's dream and hope and faith, as we inaugurate the first black President of the United States of America. As Barack Obama takes his oath to "faithfully execute the office of President of the United States" and to "protect, preserve, and defend the Constitution of the United States," he will follow in the tradition of the Presidents before him who humbly called upon Your power and authority as their Source of strength to fulfill the task, declaring "So help me God." With one hand lifted to You and one hand on President Abraham Lincoln's Bible, may President Obama resolve to be a servant of God that we may live as free people. May he honor and fear God so that we may honor him as the leader of our nation that has come so far in freedom today. Let us be the great nation Rev. Dr. King hoped and prayed we would one day become. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life" (Proverbs 13:12). Today, as one nation, praying as one for Your leading and blessing of our President, we celebrate the fruit of freedom, hanging bountifully on this tree of life. As Dr. King preached and praised, "Thank God, Almighty, we are free at last." By Your grace, in prayerful support of our President, we will honor You as a nation -- "So help us 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Isaiah 35 Streams in the Desert -- God's Provision for Messiah Ministries

Isaiah 35 -- Streams in the Desert "For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert" — Isaiah 35:6 Dear Friend, Thank you for your friendship and relationship with me and our ministry. These are exciting days in the Kingdom of God! We are thrilled with all the Lord seems to be doing in the life of Messiah Ministries. He has called us to do our part in our generation to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God, to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free, to prepare the way of the Lord and minister the healing love of God. Thank you for every way you have been a part of fulfilling our calling and vision. Though doors of opportunity for ministry continue to open wide and we continue to work hard in the strength of the Lord to fulfill the vision He has given us, this economic desert season is causing us to be even more desperately dependent upon the Lord alone in faith for all our provision. In seeking His wisdom and answers in prayer, we believe He gave us a strategy for our ministry finances in this wilderness time -- Isaiah 35 Streams. In humility and faith, we are inviting you to partner with us in ministry, spiritually and financially, by contributing $35 a month to the work of the Kingdom through Messiah Ministries this year. We believe the Lord has shown us this will provide "a steady stream" of His provision through these desert days. We praise God for His faithfulness! And we thank God for you, as you join with us as a significant part of His provision for His ministry for the glory of His name and His Kingdom. Please prayerfully consider our invitation. And if this stirs in your spirit with joy to join us as the Lord's answers to our prayers, please covenant with us this year to be a part of Isaiah 35 Streams. I will be very glad to talk with you about this or describe more of our vision and calling in ministry. I pray you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seed for God's harvest. May the Lord bless you and pour out His exceedingly abundant blessings and provision for you this year -- "... A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap ..." (Luke 6:38). In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org All contributions, of any amount, are very welcome, tax deductible, and greatly appreciated. We've had a very positive response already. Praise God! In answer to questions that have come, here are some ways to consider joining with us as the Lord's Streams in the Desert for steady provision: 1) You can Click Here to contribute on-line at our shopping cart or go to: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org 2) You can let us get you set up for automatic withdraw by sending a note to Marilyn Walker at dirofministries@aol.com or calling her cell at 859-317-1591 3) You can send in a check for "Messiah Ministries" to our office at: Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, KY 40502 859-422-1794 4) You can set up an account on-line and contribute to "Messiah Ministries" and other ministries or churches through the Kentucky Christian Foundation ( www.kentuckychristianfoundation.org ). They can also help with any stock or asset transfers, as well as planned or long-term giving. Please let me know any way I can help or answer questions. Please feel free to introduce me to come have a conversation with anyone who may be interested. Thank you and God bless you, Tommy Hays Founder and Executive Director Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org

Spiritually Exhilarated 1-19-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I am Yours and You are mine. … "For I am longing to see you so that I may share some spiritual gift to strengthen you -- or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine" (Romans 1:11-12). In the day or two following our intensive Schools of Spiritual Ministry, I always feel physically exhausted and spiritually exhilarated. Somehow I can be so tired in my body I can't wait to close my eyes, but so excited in my spirit I can hardly get to sleep. These past few days, we've been passionately pursuing You in worship and prayer, teaching and ministry, fellowship and encouragement. You've poured into me as much as You've poured out of me. Together with those You sent from diverse places, backgrounds, and gifts, You have strengthened us and encouraged us through one another in the faith and gifts of God You have shared and imparted, one to another. And none of us will ever be the same. "Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding" (Romans 14:19). These are some of my favorite times of all You allow me to experience in the journey of faith and ministry with You. My soul is now more deeply at peace and my spirit is now more completely on fire than ever before, having given and received, one from another, as Your Spirit has willed. "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good…. All of these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses" (1 Corinthians 12:3-11). In the thick glory of Your Presence, we saw physical and emotional healing, we experienced tears and laughter, peace and joy, in a deep bond of the Spirit with You and with one another. And as I wake this morning to begin a new day, looking forward to seeing how my life and my journey has been changed by such an outpouring of Your Spirit, I find myself celebrating with contentment in what You've done and, at the same time, hungering and thirsting for more. "But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth will tell of Your righteous acts, of Your deeds of salvation all day long, though their number is past my knowledge. I will come praising the mighty deeds of the Lord God, I will praise Your righteousness, Yours alone" (Psalm 71:14-16). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Come to The Fountain! the 3rd Friday of each month, our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for Prayer, Praise, and Healing Worship. Come drink deeply of the Living Waters and be refreshed and renewed in the Presence and freedom of the Holy Spirit. 7 PM in the Chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY. 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. New Location for "Come To The Mountain" Israel prayer! now meeting at Southland Evangelical Methodist Church 2601 Clays Mill Rd (corner of Clays Mill and Hill n' Dale). 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 Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line or go to our shopping cart at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Multiplied Power of Agreement 1-15-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Lord of heaven and earth, be Lord of my life today. … "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments…. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none will make you afraid; I will rid the land of evil beasts, and the sword will not go through your land. You will chase your enemies, and they shall fall by the sword before you. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight; your enemies shall fall by the sword before you. For I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you…. I shall set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people" (Leviticus 26:1-12, NKJV). You call us to obedience to Your Word so that no sin can separate us from Your Spirit. You call us to faith so that we will not be controlled by fear. You call us to unity so that You can multiply Your power being released through Your people when we are united in agreement with You and one another in Your purposes. Obedience, faith, and unity are means of Your grace to bring peace and joy to our souls and to our land. Whether under the law of the Old Covenant or the grace of the New Covenant, this these principles have never changed. "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. I have said these things to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete" (John 15:10-11). Our enemies are not flesh and blood, but the spiritual forces of darkness that come to steal and kill and destroy (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10). But darkness cannot overcome the light -- the light of the glory of God dwelling in us by Your Spirit as we abide in Your Word. As we unite in the agreement of prayer and purpose, worship and warfare, intimacy and intensity, "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered; let those also who hate Him flee before Him…. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God; yes, let them rejoice exceedingly" (Psalm 68:1-3, NKJV). Then we shall increase. Then we shall be fruitful and multiply, unhindered by the enemy of our souls and confirmed in the everlasting covenant of our God. So in agreement with You and Your people who seek Your face and walk in Your grace, let God arise in us, let the light of Your glory rise among us and explode in Your power through us today. Let us agree with You and one another in Your name, and see the multiplied power of God made manifest through Your mighty Presence in our lives (Matthew 18:19-20).Let Your enemies be scattered and Your name be exalted. And we will rejoice and be glad. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we're off to a great start in our 4 Day Intensive School of Spiritual Ministry this week! Please keep us in your prayers as the Lord empties us of ourselves and fills us with Him, empowering us for the work for His ministry and the glory of His name. The Lord has sent students hungry for more of Him from several states and even from the county of Estonia! Come to The Fountain This Friday Night 1/16, our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for Prayer, Praise, and Healing Worship. Jeff Green will be leading worship and I will be leading in prayer this month. Come drink deeply of the Living Waters and be refreshed and renewed in the Presence and freedom of the Holy Spirit. 7 PM in the Chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY. 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 Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line or go to our shopping cart at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"Daddy's Here" 1-14-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I speak out Your name as my first word today. I open up my heart to You as my first choice today. I receive the embrace of Your Holy Spirit drawing me into the arms of my heavenly Father as my first emotion today. In the grace of Your love, peace, joy, and Presence, this will be a good day. … "Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God!' (Isaiah 35:4). Somehow in Your sovereignty, wisdom, and divine purposes, You have blessed me and entrusted to me the lives of my five beautiful children -- Elizabeth, Zachary, Madison, Elijah, and Josiah. And throughout the broad range of their ages from twenty to two, and throughout the broad range of the experiences of our journey of life together, I've learned some of the most powerful words I can ever speak into their spirits -- "Daddy's here." Whether they are stressing and studying for a college exam or screaming and crying in their crib from a bad dream, we've all come to know the power of those words -- "Daddy's here." I learned that from You. You're my Daddy. And You are always here. You are my Father God, my Abba, my Daddy. "And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, 'Abba! Father!' (Galatians 4:6). And when I get worried or weary, confused or condemned, anxious or afraid, I know the power of those words -- "Daddy's here." That's Your way of saying to me, "Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God!" That's Your way of saying to me, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I Am the Lord your God…. Because you are precious in My sight, and honored, and I love you…. Do not fear for I Am with you" (Isaiah 43:1-5). That's Your way of saying to me, "I will never leave you or forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). So today and every day, from the depths of my sprit to Your Spirit, from deep calling unto Deep, I cry out, "Abba! Father! Daddy, where are You! Daddy, come here!" And I hear by faith, by the still small Voice of Your Spirit deep down inside, saying gently and firmly in the Father heart of God, "Do not fear. Daddy's here." Yes, Lord, You are. So Yes, Lord, I won't. "The Lord is my helper (and my Daddy); I will not be afraid" (Hebrews 13:6). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays If you've been considering coming to our School of Spiritual Ministry this week, you and still register. Full Scholarships are available to cover the cost as needed to that all can come be equipped and prepared for prayer ministry if you are being called to this in any way. This time, we will be holding our classes at First Alliance Church, 2201 Old Higbee Mill Rd, Lexington, KY ( www.faclex.com ). Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Come to The Fountain This Friday Night 1/16, our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for Prayer, Praise, and Healing Worship. Jeff Green will be leading worship and I will be leading in prayer this month. Come drink deeply of the Living Waters and be refreshed and renewed in the Presence and freedom of the Holy Spirit. 7 PM in the Chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY. 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 Click Here to Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute On-line or go to our shopping cart at www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Isaiah 35 Streams -- For the Friends of Tommy Hays & Messiah Ministries

Isaiah 35 Streams in the Desert

"For waters shall break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert" --Isaiah 35:6

Dear Friend, Thank you for your friendship and relationship with me and our ministry. These are exciting days in the Kingdom of God! We are thrilled with all the Lord seems to be doing in the life of Messiah Ministries. He has called us to do our part in our generation to proclaim the coming of the Kingdom of God, to bind up the brokenhearted and set the captives free, to prepare the way of the Lord and minister the healing love of God. Thank you for every way you have been a part of fulfilling our calling and vision. Though doors of opportunity for ministry continue to open wide and we continue to work hard in the strength of the Lord to fulfill the vision He has given us, this economic desert season is causing us to be even more desperately dependent upon the Lord alone in faith for all our provision. In seeking His wisdom and answers in prayer, we believe He gave us a strategy for our ministry finances in this wilderness time -- Isaiah 35 Streams. In humility and faith, we are inviting you to partner with us in ministry, spiritually and financially, by contributing $35 a month to the work of the Kingdom through Messiah Ministries this year. We believe the Lord has shown us this will provide "a steady stream" of His provision through these desert days. We praise God for His faithfulness! And we thank God for you, as you join with us as a significant part of His provision for His ministry for the glory of His name and His Kingdom. Please prayerfully consider our invitation. And if this stirs in your spirit with joy to join us as the Lord's answers to our prayers, please covenant with us this year to be a part of Isaiah 35 Streams. I will be very glad to talk with you about this or describe more of our vision and calling in ministry. I pray you see our ministry as good soil in which to sow your seed for God's harvest. May the Lord bless you and pour out His exceedingly abundant blessings and provision for you this year -- "... A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap ..." (Luke 6:38). In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, Kentucky 40502 www.messiah-ministries.org 859-422-1794 (All contributions, of any amount, are very welcome, tax deductible, and greatly appreciated)

Trusting the Potter's Hands 1-13-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Great are You, Lord, and greatly to be praised. I speak out Your name and trust in Your grace, as I begin my day with 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). What is clay, but water and sand? What are we, but jars of clay? Yet You created the sand of our bodies and the water of our souls and breathed into us the breathe of Your Spirit. By the work of Your hands and the power of Your Word which spoke each of us into existence, we become living souls (Genesis 2:7). Though we are but dust, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). Then, in Christ, You fill us with the fullness of Your power for life to live out Your purpose for each of us, so that "we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). There are times when our jars of clay become brittle and hard, stiff and resistant. And in You mercy, You must break us in order to reshape us. But even then, You hand of grace and heart of mercy never leave us or forsake us. "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18). As we entrust our brokenness to You, You gather up our pieces in Your hands of mercy, soak them in the water of Your words of life, shape them again into something new for the next season of our calling, and breath into us again the fresh life of Your Spirit. "He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). Even in the night as we sleep, You hold us and shape us with Your potter's hands and Your Father's heart. You prepare us for our purpose in the coming day and the next season. Lord, keep soaking me and shaping me. Even keep breaking me and reshaping me. I want to be fully prepared and positioned, aligned and empowered, for ever day and season to come. You've shown Yourself so faithful and worthy of my trust in so many ways. So as You break me and shape me, thank You for letting me feel and remember the nail scars of Your love sealed forever in my Potter's hands. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays If you've been considering coming to our School of Spiritual Ministry this week, you and still register. Full Scholarships are available to cover the cost as needed to that all can come be equipped and prepared for prayer ministry if you are being called to this in any way. This time, we will be holding our classes at First Alliance Church, 2201 Old Higbee Mill Rd, Lexington, KY ( www.faclex.com ). Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit Come to The Fountain This Friday Night 1/16, our ministry's monthly citywide gathering for Prayer, Praise, and Healing Worship. Jeff Green will be leading worship and I will be leading in prayer this month. Come drink deeply of the Living Waters and be refreshed and renewed in the Presence and freedom of the Holy Spirit. 7 PM in the Chapel at Centenary, 2800 Tates Creek Rd, Lexington, KY. 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 Daily Archives: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Tremble, Shake, and Quake in the Coming Presence of God Morning by Morning, Monday 1-12-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Manifestation of the Love and Grace and Power of God. One with our Father, You are the Manifestation of the Father Heart of God. One with the Holy Spirit, You are the Manifestation of the Glory of Your Presence living Your life through me and all who believe and follow You. Come Holy Spirit, come live the life of Christ to the glory of the Father through me today. … "O that You would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at Your Presence -- as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil -- to make Your name known to Your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at Your Presence! When You did awesome deeds that we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your Presence!" (Isaiah 64:1-3). For days now, You've been waking me in the early morning hours before dawn, trembling and shaking with a sense of surges of Your Presence. You've been stirring me to arise in prayer, praise, and proclamation with Your heart of compassion for the people of my family and my community. What You're doing in me is a picture and declaration of what I believe You are doing in our land. All that can be shaken, will be shaken, so that only "what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming Fire" (Hebrews 12:26-29). And by Your grace, You empowered me to lead our Strategic Prayer Summit this weekend, as You wove together a tapestry of worship and prayer for the cleansing of our land and awakening of our destiny as the body of Christ in our generation. You brought us together in the unity of Your Spirit from the diverse tribes and tongues of the streams of Your body in our city as You command Your blessing (Psalm 133:1-3). You poured out a continuing flow of Your Word and Your Spirit to us through songs and prayers, voices of many people like many waters, merging into a river of life being released through our land. You keep reminding us of the revelation of Your simple but powerful keys to revival -- humility and hunger. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled" (Luke 6:21). As we humble ourselves by looking to You and not ourselves, praying Your promises and not our problems, choosing to live each day desperately dependent upon the power of Your grace alone for our every breath and our every need, You lift us up into Your heavenly Presence. As we hunger and thirst for more of You, burning with a passion to experience Your Presence and power to change us into Your image, You fill us with "all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19). O, that You would rend open the heavens and come down. O, that You would rend open our hearts and come in. You've given us mighty faith to believe that You have! You've given us mighty faith to know that You are literally changing the spiritual atmosphere of our land. You are the God "who works for those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:4). As we have waited on You in the watches of the night and the communion of prayer, as we've waited on You to be indued with Your power from on high, You have been working to release Your word and Your will in us. Your holy fire is kindled. The water of Your Word You've poured into our spirits is rising to a boil. Your name will be known through the transformed nature of Your people, walking in Your compassion and love throughout our land, full of faith and full of Fire (John 13:35). Let us and all the people of our land tremble and quake in the glory of Your manifest Presence and the power of Your love and grace being released. Let the spiritual forces and every stronghold of darkness come down as the light of glory rises up from the heart of worship and prayer of Your people. "When You did awesome deeds we did not expect, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your Presence. From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen and any God besides You, who works for those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:3-4). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for standing with us in prayer for our Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit we led this weekend. Words can't describe it. But my friend Ken Lawson came and photographed it, so you can see a few glimpses here: http://www.kblawson.com/lexsummit/index.html Also my friend John Hendershot came and videotaped it, so we will have that soon as well. May the Lord do in your city all that He has done in ours and more also in these exciting days of a great revival of His Presence in our hearts and our land. And I thank all of those who have been praying with me for these first ten days of January as an offering of first fruits of this new year to the Lord. May you reap an abundant harvest for the glory of God's kingdom. Our Prayer Summit was also part of the 31 Days of January Prayer Focus for Revival in Kentucky. I'm attaching the Prayer Directives for the 24 hour Prayer Watches being carried out in all 120 Counties this month ( http://www.one27hop.com/blogs.html ). These could be easily adapted for your community and region to prayer, praise, and proclamation to prepare the way of the Lord in Your land. Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit 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 or Contribute On-Line

Growing in Knowing You 1-8-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I know You as my Father, my Brother, and my Friend. I know You as holy and perfect, yet close and intimate. I know You as King and Lord, as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world and as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. I know You in many diverse ways of Your indescribable, infinite glory; and I long to know You more. … "I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power for us who believe, according to the working of His great power" (Ephesians 1:17-19). As I come to know You, as I keep growing in knowing You, Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation keeps opening the eyes of my heart to know You even more. It's all about knowing You -- relationship with You, communion with You, intimacy with You. And with every revelation of Your goodness and greatness, You give me wisdom to entrust more of me to more of You. Anyone united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him" (1 Corinthians 6:17). This is the hope to which You have called me. This is the immeasurable greatness of Your power. These are the riches of my glorious inheritance. Growing in knowing You is the most important thing in my life. Growing in knowing You is the very purpose of my life in this age. "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life" (1 John 5:20). As I grow, I come know how much You love me. And I come to know how much You long for me to know just how much You really do love me. And knowing that, I can't help but love You and trust You even more. This is "the working of (Your) great power" (Ephesians 1:19). Your love is Your power; and no one can truly come to know You as You truly are without coming to know the power of Your love. "Whoever does not love, does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friday, January 9th from 6am to 6am, we are hosting a 24 hour prayer and worship vigil at Church of the Savior to join with Kentucky Prayer Focus' 31 days of Prayer for Revival. This also part of the preparation for our Strategic Prayer Summit this weekend. All 120 Counties of Kentucky are being covered in prayer every day throughout the state at different prayer sites. Come join us on January 9th. Send me a note if you or your prayer group would like to be involved, either remotely or personally with us: MessiahMin@aol.com Prayer Directives are attached. For my friends in Kentucky, please come join us for our 2nd Annual Greater Lexington Strategic Prayer Summit set for January 9-10, 2009, hosted at Church of the Savior. Flyer is Attached. Ray Hughes of Selah Ministries is coming Saturday night of the Prayer Summit to share a word for Kentucky with us!( www.selahministries.com ). Margaret Therkelsen, Tom Monroe, David Fultz, Tommy Green, Bob Hale, Rob Poindexter, Mark MacDonald, Laura Beach and other citywide prayer leaders will be speaking and leading in prayer as well throughout the weekend. Please spread the word! Please Register Now for our next Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry (Level I & II) January 14-17, 2009 Registration and Information: ClickHere Equipping and Empowering Spiritual Leaders in Ministry to Proclaim the Kingdom of God, bind up the brokenhearted, and set the captives free in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit 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 or Contribute On-Line