"Speak the Truth...Be Angry...Do Not Sin" 8-5-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I welcome You to walk with me and talk with me in the cool of the morning and throughout my day. ... "So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil" (Ephesians 4:25-27). Lord, give me grace to speak the truth to my neighbors, to those who walk with me and work with me and live my life with me. Give me courage not to bury the truth or deny the truth or try to color the truth. And sometimes the truth is that I'm feeling angry or hurt or rejected or unvalued or misunderstood. And sometimes the truth is I can let my hurt feeling lead to wrong actions. And in those times I need to remember that You tell me in Your Word that it's ok to "be angry," to "speak the truth" about what I'm feeling. But also to remember that Your Word also tells me "but do not sin." So help me release my anger and hurt to You, without burying it down inside or releasing it on others in wrong ways or words. Help me "speak the truth" but also "speak the truth in love," letting You use even those moments to make me more like You. "But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ" (Ephesians 4:15). And wherever I've "made room for the devil" through the wrong expression of my anger or hurt, either by releasing it wrongly or burying it deeply, remind me and guide me to submit that to You in confession and repentance of my sin. Then empower me in the authority of Your name and power of Your blood to command the enemy to flee as I welcome Your Holy Spirit to come. "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." James 4:7-8). Thank You, Lord, for all the times You cleanse my heart and purify my soul from sin, as You heal my hurts and fill my spirit with Your peace. Thank for all the times You come to find me and call out to me, no matter what I've done or how I feel (Genesis 3:8-9). I don't have to hide myself or the truth of how I feel or what I've done. I can give it all to the One who is "faithful and just," full of mercy and grace, whose will and way is always to "forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness," as You walk with us in loving relationship (1 John 1:9). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Scholarships Available! The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Next week, Mon-Thurs, Aug. 10-13, 2009 hosted by Messiah Ministries, led by Tommy Hays in Lexington, Kentucky.This 4 Day Intensive Course is a focused time of healing, deliverance, and impartation for spiritual ministry led by Rev. Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for spiritual ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others. Please contact Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com right away to register or get details. Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org If our ministry has been an encouragement and blessing to you, I invite you to join us as an Isaiah 35 Covenant Partner -- providing "streams in desert" and a steady flow of God's provision for the vision and calling He's given us of "Preparing the Way of the Lord" and "Ministering the Healing Love of God." Order my books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning and our other Messiah Ministries Resources or Contribute to Our Ministry on-line at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Scholarships Available! School of Spiritual Ministry in Lexington Next Week

Please come join us next week and spread the word to anyone who may be interested in our School of Spiritual Ministry: Scholarships Available! The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Next week, Mon-Thurs, Aug. 10-13, 2009 hosted by Messiah Ministries, led by Tommy Hays in Lexington, Kentucky.This 4 Day Intensive Course is a focused time of healing, deliverance, and impartation for spiritual ministry led by Rev. Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for spiritual ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others. Please contact Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com right away to register or get details. Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org Order Tommy Hays' books, Free to Be Like Jesus, Morning by Morning, and our Messiah Ministries Resources on-line at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe to Tommy's free daily prayer devotional by email 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Growing Strong in Faith 8-4-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Word of God made flesh, dwelling among us, now dwelling within us by Your Holy Spirit. I welcome You and embrace You, as You dwell within me today. ... "No distrust made (Abraham) waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Therefore his faith 'was reckoned to him as righteousness' " (Romans 4:20-22). Abraham grew strong in his faith. He wasn't born strong in his faith; he didn't make believe he was strong in his faith; he couldn't do all the right things or say all the right prayers to earn all the right credits to make You make him strong in his faith. He grew strong in his faith. And it seems to me his heart of willingness to grow was the kind of faith that was reckoned to him as righteousness. Lord, how did Abraham grow in his faith? ... It seems I hear You say: "There were many times when Abraham doubted. There were many times when he was frustrated and impatient, crying out to Me in the night through tears of disappointment and anguish of spirit. Do not think of him as a god or as perfect in his faith or life. He was just a man. And none are righteous, no not one. Yet I do not look to the outward appearance; I look to the heart. And Abraham entrusted his heart to Me. That is the faith I desire. That is the unwavering trust I desire. And I give that faith to all who seek Me with all their hearts. And as they keep seeking Me, they keep learning to trust Me; and they grow in faith." Yes, Lord. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I entrust my heart to You. Encourage me and empower me to welcome You into my thoughts and desires, into my mornings and throughout the moments of my days. I want to keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, knowing by the faith You're growing in me that Your door is always open and the arms of Your embrace is always wide (Luke 11:9-13). By the grace of the faith that You've given me and that You're growing in me, I am convinced that You are able to do all You have promised. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Scholarships Available! The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry, Next week, Mon-Thurs, Aug. 10-13, 2009 hosted by Messiah Ministries, led by Tommy Hays in Lexington, Kentucky.This 4 Day Intensive Course is a focused time of healing, deliverance, and impartation for spiritual ministry led by Rev. Tommy Hays of Messiah Ministries. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for spiritual ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are equipped and empowered in ministry for others. Please contact Marilyn Walker at 859-317-1591 or DirOfMinistries@aol.com right away to register or get details. Messiah Ministries: www.messiah-ministries.org Order my books, Free to Be Like Jesus, Morning by Morning, and our Messiah Ministries Resources on-line at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Visitation of the Dawn from on High 8-3-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are a good God, and I thank You for being good to me, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Thank You for letting Your goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life, even the days when I deserve it the least (Psalm 23). ... "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has looked favorably on His people and redeemed them. He has raised up a mighty Savior for us in the house of His servant David.... And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:68-79). This weekend You visited us in the mercy and power of Your healing, redeeming love in the quiet countryside along the Kentucky River. You spoke to us and sang over us. You embraced us, held us, and comforted us as You brought each of us out of the darkness and shadows of where we needed Your healing and freedom of spirit, soul, and body and into the peace and joy of Your glorious light. You guided our feet into the way of peace and Your dawn from on high broke in and broke through upon us. You were and You are our "mighty Savior," full of "the tender mercy of our God," imparting to us the "knowledge of salvation" and the "forgiveness of (our) sins." You poured out Your Father's blessing and sealed our hearts with Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for the gift of this Healing Prayer Weekend and the fulfillment of this dream for a dimension of our ministry You planted in my spirit long ago and have now birthed in my ministry this weekend. You are teaching us how to bring together those who are hungry to receive and those who are hungry to give of the healing love of God in a place of security and safety where we can be changed forever to never be the same. Keep teaching us and leading us, as You empower us to help prepare the way of the Lord in our hearts and in the earth. O Lord, would You continue to pour out this anointing for Your ministry of healing and freedom for Your people throughout the earth in our generation and any generations to come. Thank You Father, for sending Your Spirit, to prepare the way for Jesus' coming in His glory on earth one day soon and here in our hearts every day now (Luke 21:27; 1 Thessalonians 4:17). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers and all your support and encouragement to me and our ministry that makes these times of ministry possible. This past weekend was our first Healing Prayer Weekend where we bring together the people who have been equipped for healing prayer ministry from our Schools of Spiritual Ministry with those who are coming away for a weekend retreat into an environment prepared for the Presence of the Lord through worship, teaching, and ministry. Please consider joining us for our next Healing Prayer Weekend this coming December or our next School of Spiritual Ministry next week. Contact Marilyn, our Director of Ministries at: DirOfMinistries@aol.com God bless you and thank you! Order my books, Free to Be Like Jesus, Morning by Morning, and our Messiah Ministries Resources on-line at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Refreshed, Renewed, Refocused 7-31-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Align my mind, my will, and my emotions with Yours. ... "Then (Elijah) lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly and angel touched him and said to him, 'Get up and eat.' He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and lay down again. The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, 'Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.' He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God" (1 Kings 19:5-8). Elijah sought to be a spiritual man. He wanted to hear Your voice and speak Your words, empowered by Your Spirit to prepare the way for the coming of Your Kingdom. He willingly gave his heart and life to You and was "very zealous for the Lord" (v. 19:10). At times he stood firm in great faith and at times he was almost overwhelmed by fear. But You gave him sleep and rest. You fed him on the bread of Your Word and refreshed him in waters of Your Spirit. You prepared him for the next season of his journey of faith and life and ministry. You reminded him of Your sovereign hand and mighty power, yet You spoke to him in Your still small voice of tenderness and compassion (v. 19:11-12). You gave Elijah time and space to search his heart and soul, to remind him where he was in the journey, what he was called to do, and who he was called to be (v. 19:13). Then You said to him, "Go, return ..." (v. 19:15). And You sent him out of the place of rest back into the place of ministry, to "anoint" another generation of spiritual leaders to prepare the way of the Lord and the coming of the Kingdom of God (v. 19:15-18). "So he set out from there" to go fulfill his calling and destiny, refreshed and renewed by Your Word and Your Spirit (v. 19:19). Thank You, Lord, for Your seasons of refreshing and renewing. Thank You for Your Word and Your Spirit, for the reminders of Your power and Your tenderness. Thank You for the gift of Your faith that frees me from fear and the mercy of Your grace that empowers me for life. Thank You for times of rest and refocus for the next season of life and ministry at hand. "Elijah was a human being like us" (James 5:17). But he was a spiritual man on a spiritual journey, who knew Your Presence and saw Your power in his generation, as You used him to prepare the way for the next -- a generation who would go even further than he did and see even more than he could. Life is hard, but God is great. Lord, let me be found faithful to be all You created me to be and to do all You created me to do -- all by the mercy and power of Your grace, all for the glory of Your name. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for me on my time away with family these past few weeks. Please keep us in prayer as I lead our first Messiah Ministries' Healing Prayer Weekend at Cliffview Retreat in Kentucky this weekend. And please come join us if you can or cover us in prayer for our next week-long intensive School of Spiritual Ministry later this month in Lexington. Please contact Marilyn Walker, my Director of Ministries for more information and on-line registration: DirOfMinistries@aol.com Order my books, Free to Be Like Jesus, Morning by Morning, and our Messiah Ministries Resources on-line at: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

I Believe 7-29-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I believe in You. And I trust in the promise and the covenant of Your unending love for me. ... I believe in You I believe in You I believe in Your power to love me I believe in You I believe in You I believe in You, Lord, today I believe in You I believe in You I believe in Your power to heal me I believe in You I believe in You I believe in You, Lord, today I believe in You I believe in You I believe in Your power to lead me I believe in You I believe in You I believe in You, Lord, today I believe in You I believe in You I believe in Your power to use me I believe in You I believe in You I believe in You, Lord, today ... Thank You, Lord, for waking me this morning with this song of faith and trust You've been writing in my spirit as I sleep. What a picture of the God who never sleeps and never stops moving in our lives, who blesses those who rest in Him, "who works for those who wait for Him" (Isaiah 64:4). I hear You say to my heart this morning, "Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me" (from John 14:1). Yes, Lord Jesus. I believe in You. You are One with the Father, One with the Holy Spirit, and You are also One with me as I believe in You. "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their word, that they may all be one. As You, Father, are in Me and I am in You, may they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. 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 17:20-23). On the basis of Your love, grounded in Your Word, and poured into my heart by Your Spirit, I believe (Romans 5:5). ... I believe in You, Lord, today. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays My friend, thank you for joining with me in the journey of prayer and life together. Thank you for the prayers and notes of encouragement along the way. And always feel free to forward these on to those who may be blessed and encouraged by these simple morning prayers to start the day centered on Jesus, embraced by the Father, and filled afresh with the Holy Spirit. If you're in our area, we still have room for you to come join us at our upcoming Healing Prayer Weekend or weeklong intensive course of The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries to join us: DirOfMinistries@aol.com We'd love to have you! I'm really excited about my new book on healing, Free to Be Like Jesus. You can order it from www.amazon.com or through any Christian bookstore or from our Online ministry resource center: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org , where all proceeds go to support the vision and calling of our ministry. I'd love to hear your feedback. I tried to include many real-life experiences, testimonies, and sample prayers along with biblically-balanced teaching on Christian healing ministry. This book puts into words much of what I've learned in these first 12 years of healing prayer ministry, and I'd love to share it with you. God bless you and thank you for your prayers for me to get this book published and available. 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Graceland 7-28-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Guide my steps as You walk with me through the moments of my day. ... "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will put the sheep at His right hand and the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you gave Me clothing, I was sick and you took care of Me, I was in prison and you visited Me'.... And the King will answer them, 'Truly I tell you, just as you did it to the least of these who are members of My family, you did it to Me' " (Matthew 25:31-40). We spent last night in Memphis, home of the king -- not the King of glory, but the king of rock and roll; not the King whose name is El Shaddai, but the king whose name is Elvis. But it does remind me of Your words that there will come a "day of judgment" where all will stand before Your throne and "give an account" for how we spent the days of our lives (Matthew 12:36). Who did we love more -- others or ourselves? Who did we serve more -- You and Your kingdom or ourselves and our own. We will see on that day that as we loved and served "the least of these" we were loving and serving You. And I thank You now for the mercy of that day, that through the blood of Christ and Your sacrifice of love for me and all who will humbly call on Your name, Your throne of judgment will also be a throne of grace. "Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). On that day to come and in the moments of my days between now and then, my salvation will not be determined by what I have done, but by Whom is my King and what my King has done for me. "Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory" (Psalm 24:10). Lord Jesus, You are the "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). You are One with the Father and One with the Spirit; come be One within my heart and life as my Lord and my King, to live and love through me (John 14:23). Your kingdom comes wherever You are honored as King, and Your grace flows to all who will receive You and embrace You as their Lord and King, so that every heart of every land is Graceland to You. In Jesus' name I pray. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we still have room for you to join us at our upcoming Healing Prayer Weekend and The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries to join us: DirOfMinistries@aol.com We'd love to have you! I'm really excited about my new book on healing, Free to Be Like Jesus. You can order it from www.amazon.com or through any Christian bookstore or from our Online ministry resource center: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org , where all proceeds go to support the vision and calling of our ministry. I'd love to hear your feedback. I tried to include many real-life experiences, testimonies, and sample prayers along with biblically-balanced teaching on Christian healing ministry. This book puts into words much of what I've learned in these first 12 years of healing prayer ministry, and I'd love to share it with you. God bless you and thank you for your prayers for me to get this book published and available. 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com

Pioneer Spirit 7-27-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I lift up my eye and open up my heart to welcome You in to my life and my day. ... "Then the hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, 'Arise, go out into the plain, and there I shall talk with you' " (Ezekiel 3:22). We started out journey down from the mountains and across the plains back to the bluegrass hills and horse farms of home in Kentucky. My daughter Maddie and I went to the outdoor musical drama "Texas!" last night down in the beautifully rugged Palo Duro Canyon near Amarillo. We were inspired by the saga of conflict and community, tenacity and tenderness, calamity and courage of the early pioneers and bigger than life stories of those who carved their hopes and homes out of these high plains where I was born. Somehow in the vastness of these plains, it's seems easier to look up, as your spirit's draw high into the big sky and clear nights that seem like You've opened Your heavens for display. Lord, I pray for more of the pioneering spirit -- tenacious and steadfast, courageous and persistent, unafraid to go where others haven't been and unyielding in faith to go where You lead. The Spirit of Elijah that prepares the way of the Lord is a pioneering spirit with a breakthrough anointing that makes way for the coming of the Kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. I want to be a part of that, part of the pioneers who prepare the way for that. And if it is Your timing and Your way, I want to be part of the generation who experiences a great measure of that -- "abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine" (Ephesians 3:20). Thank You for speaking to me again in these plains and in my heart, where I received Your breathe of life and heard Your first words so long ago. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we still have room for you to join us at our upcoming Healing Prayer Weekend and The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries to join us: DirOfMinistries@aol.com We'd love to have you! I'm really excited about my new book on healing, Free to Be Like Jesus. You can order it from http://www.amazon.com/ or through any Christian bookstore or from our Online ministry resource center: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ , where all proceeds go to support the vision and calling of our ministry. I'd love to hear your feedback. I tried to include many real-life experiences, testimonies, and sample prayers along with biblically-balanced teaching on Christian healing ministry. This book puts into words much of what I've learned in these first 12 years of healing prayer ministry, and I'd love to share it with you. God bless you and thank you for your prayers for me to get this book published and available. Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --mailto:--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 Devotional Archives at: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/ An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps!

Through the Valley 7-24-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. You are the Resurrection and the Life. Breathe Your breath of life into my heart and soul throughout this day. ... "Happy are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen in Zion" (Psalm 84:5-7). A good friend of our family, Carolyn Dodson of Ruidoso, New Mexico, passed from this world into the next early this morning. I was so thankful and honored to be able to join hearts and hands with her husband Charles, their children, and a few friends and family around Carolyn before she left her home here on earth for the last time this morning. She battled MS for over thirty years. But today her battle is over and her victory is won through the power of Your resurrection and the everlasting peace she now knows in hers. "Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection.... Now He is God not of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all of them are alive" (Luke 20:36-38). Her work on earth done and her victory in heaven won, her spirit is now forever away from her earthly body and forever present with her heavenly Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). Though this is a day of great heartbreak for Carolyn's family and friends for the finality and loss of her earthly presence among us, it's also a day of great relief and release to be able to fully entrust her spirit into the arms of her Creator and Lover of her soul. She knew You in her heart by faith and now she sees You "face to face" as her faith has become sight (1 Corinthians 13:12). Some may ask why did she have to endure so much, why did her family have to suffer so long? But in this dry valley of Baca, the valley of life and death in a broken and fallen world not yet fully redeemed and restored, we all suffer and endure in our own way through our own circumstances. Yet the life of Your love given to us and flowing through us, one to another, leads us through this valley and up into the heights of Your Presence when we give ourselves to the God who is love. "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" (1 John 4:7-8). Carolyn knew You and she knew how to love and she was deeply loved. Love is what turns the dry valleys into the "place of springs," as You lead us through the valleys and low places from "strength to strength" and step by step. You don't promise to keep us from the valleys, but You do promise to lead us through the valleys if we will humbly and faithfully trust You and Your love for us (Isaiah 43:1-7). Thank You for leading Carolyn and her family through their valleys. Thank You for leading me through mine, just as You lead all who will look to You and call on Your name and take You by the hand on the way to resurrection life "through the valley of the shadow of death" (Psalm 23:4). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, we'll be staying in New Mexico one day later for me to lead a time of celebration of the life of Carolyn Dodson on her birthday this Sunday. Thank you for your prayers for me and my family during this time of vacation and rest with my mom and some of my children out here in the mountains. We'll be heading back home to Kentucky soon. I'm glad to have you with me in the journey of prayer and life. God bless you! Friends, I'm really excited about my new book on healing, Free to Be Like Jesus. You can order it from http://www.amazon.com/ or through any Christian bookstore or from our Online ministry resource center: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ , where all proceeds go to support the vision and calling of our ministry. I'd love to hear your feedback. I tried to include many real-life experiences, testimonies, and sample prayers along with biblically-balanced teaching on Christian healing ministry. This book puts into words much of what I've learned in these first 12 years of healing prayer ministry, and I'd love to share it with you. God bless you and thank you for your prayers for me to get this book published and available. We still have room for you to join us at our upcoming Healing Prayer Weekend and The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry. Please contact Marilyn Walker, our Director of Ministries to join us: DirOfMinistries@aol.com We'd love to have you! Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --mailto:--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 Devotional Archives at: http://www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com/

Restore and Redeem 7-23-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Good morning, my heavenly Father. Good morning, Holy Spirit. ... "Then God said to (Abimelech) in a dream, 'Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart; furthermore it was I who kept you from sinning against Me. I did not let you touch her. Now then, return the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all that are yours'.... Then Abimelech ... restored (Abraham's) wife Sarah to him" (Genesis 20:6-14). Your will was to restore Abraham and Sarah's marriage and redeem their sins that caused their separation (v.5). Your heart is always to restore and redeem. You want to restore us -- making us whole, bringing our lives back in to Your created order in the ways they were meant to be, as we release them into Your hands. You want to redeem us -- taking all that we encounter and endure, whether at our own hands or the hands of others, causing Your good to come out of all things we entrust to You. So whether You restore or redeem, our part is to willingly choose by the grace You give to entrust all things into Your care and release them into Your hands. And while You give us free will, You are also actively at work in our world to influence our wills to lead us in Your ways. Abraham and Sarah willingly lied about their marriage to King Abimelech, and Abimelech willing "sent and took Sarah" (v. 2). Those were their choices of their own free will, despite Your will for their lives. Yet at the same time, You moved upon Abimelech's heart, keeping him from dishonoring Sarah and from sinning against You. But even then, You allowed Abimelech to make the right choice out of his own free will to return Abraham's wife to him or not -- with clear consequences for his choice (v. 7). In the mystery of Your sovereignty and of our free will, You are always at work in our lives to lead us to make right choices in agreement and alignment with Your will. And You are always at work in our lives to restore and redeem the wrong choices that are made, if we humbly and faithfully give our lives over to You. Lord, lead me to make right choices today. Align my mind with Your thoughts and my heart with Your desires. I willingly give You permission, if that is needed, to sovereignly bring my will into agreement with Your will. And where I have made wrong choices or the wrong choices of others influence me, would You come in the power of Your love to restore and redeem. As best as I can and all by Your grace, I entrust all the things of my life into Your care and release them into Your hands. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm really excited about my new book on healing, Free to Be Like Jesus. You can order it from www.amazon.com or through any Christian bookstore or from our Online ministry resource center: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org , where all proceeds go to support the vision and calling of our ministry. I'd love to hear your feedback. I tried to include many real-life experiences, testimonies, and sample prayers along with biblically-balanced teaching on Christian healing ministry. This book puts into words much of what I've learned in these first 12 years of healing prayer ministry, and I'd love to share it with you. God bless you and thank you for your prayers for me to get this book published and available. 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 Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Dell Deals: Treat yourself to a sweet deal on popular laptops!

Give From Within 7-22-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me into the holy place of Your presence in prayer, then lead me on in the steps You've ordered for my day. ... "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you" (Luke 11:39-41). The Pharisees were always focused on looking right and doing right. They were very concerned about their outward appearance and their reputation for religious righteousness. But You were always looking within, at the righteousness that comes from right relationship with God. They were high on the ceremony of their actions, but You were high on the sincerity of their hearts. Their lives could look very clean and right and religious on the outside, while at the same time their hearts and souls could be very bitter and dark, hidden from view from everyone but You. In their self-righteousness and judgment, they neglected justice and the love of God (v. 42). But even their hearts could be made clean if they would give of themselves to You and to others from within (v. 41). Lord, I know right actions are important to You, but You made clear so often how important it is to You for our right actions to flow from a right heart. That's the kind of righteousness You desire -- the righteousness that can only come from being in right relationship with You. So free me from any over-focus on my outward appearance or anxiety over my religious reputation. Above all, I want my heart and soul to be right with You. And only You are the judge of that. "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm really excited about my new book on healing, Free to Be Like Jesus. You can order it from http://www.amazon.com/ or through any Christian bookstore or from our Online ministry resource center: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org , where all proceeds go to support the vision and calling of our ministry. I'd love to hear your feedback. I tried to include many real-life experiences, testimonies, and sample prayers along with biblically-balanced teaching on Christian healing ministry. This book puts into words much of what I've learned in these first 12 years of healing prayer ministry, and I'd love to share it with you. God bless you and thank you for your prayers for me to get this book published and available. Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --mailto:--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

Tommy Hays' New Book on Healing Just Released! Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance

www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance Chapters and Topics:

Preface Introduction Part 1 — Prayer Ministry of Healing and Deliverance · Linda’s Story — A Testimony of Healing Prayer Ministry Chapter 1 – The Healing & Deliverance Ministry of Jesus Chapter 2 −The Healing & Deliverance Ministry of Jesus' Church Part 2 — Understanding “Healing” Chapter 3 – What is Healing? Chapter 4 – God’s Will to Heal Chapter 5 – Why God Heals Us Chapter 6 – How God Heals Us Part 3 — Healing & Deliverance Through Sanctification Chapter 7 – Healing as Sanctification of Spirit, Soul & Body Chapter 8 – Created Order of Spirit, Soul & Body Chapter 9 – The War of the Soul — Our Flesh Resisting God’s Spirit Chapter 10 – Seven Key Roots of Resistance to Healing & Holiness Chapter 11 – Footholds of the Enemy of Our Souls Chapter 12 – Deliverance from Spiritual Oppression Chapter 13 – Renewed and Restored in Christ · Heather’s Story of Healing Prayer Ministry Part 4 — Seven Potential Barriers to Healing Chapter 14 – Personal Sin Chapter 15 – Generational Sins, Cycles, & Curses Chapter 16 – Unholy Responses Chapter 17 – Words and Attitudes Chapter 18 – False Spirituality Chapter 19 – Unholy Ties Chapter 20 – Brokenness and Unresolved Traumas · Sabrina’s Story of Healing Prayer Ministry Part 5 – Empowered for Ministry Chapter 21 – Blessed to be a Blessing · Linda’s Prayer Ministry Session with Tommy Hays and the Team Epilogue & Prayer of Impartation Please order your copy today and spread the word to anyone who may be interested in these Biblical, spiritual principles of healing & deliverance and prayer ministry. God bless you! Order from our Ministry Bookstore: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/ Tommy Hays Messiah Ministries 2800 Tates Creek Rd. Lexington, KY 40502 859-422-1794 http://www.messiah-ministries.org/

You're All I Seek 7-17-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I want to live and move and have my being in You today. ... "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by Your name, O Lord, God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16). You're all I seek For You're all I need You're the air that I breathe You're the blood that I bleed You're all I seek For You're all I need As I seek You I always find You Just like You promised to Always, always be there for me As I find You I always find me too Just like You promised to Always, always be there for me You're all I seek For You're all I need You're the air that I breathe You're the blood that I bleed You're all I seek For You're all I need Yes, Lord. Thank You for this new song You're writing on heart and singing over my spirit this morning. Thank You for reminding me in Your gentle and powerful way that I am Your servant and also Your son, that I am a seeker and also one who has been found, that I am one who delights in You and Your word and also one in whom You delight and sing Your word over. "He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will renew you in His love; He will exult over you with loud singing as on a day of festival" (Zephaniah 3:17). Thank You for Your promise that as I seek You with all my heart, I will always find Yours (Jeremiah 29:13). "For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened" (Matthew 7:8). Thank You for opening the door of heaven over me this morning as I opened the door of my heart to You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm excited to be preaching on Sunday at my mom's home church, First Christian Church in Ruidoso, New Mexico. They know I'm on vacation but asked me to just come share my heart with them. So please keep us in your prayers this weekend, and I pray for the Spirit of the Lord to move in your home church this weekend as well. 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 Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Prayer of Rest 7-16-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. God the Father and God the Son, come abide in me throughout my day through God the Holy Spirit. ... "Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel according to all that He has promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke through His servant Moses. The Lord our God be with us, as He was with our ancestors; may He not leave us or abandon us, but incline our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, which He commanded our ancestors. Let these words of mine, with which I pleaded before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, and may He maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires; so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Therefore devote yourselves completely to the Lord our God, walking in His statutes and keeping His commandments, as at this day" (1 Kings 8:56-61). As King Solomon dedicated the temple, He prayed for divine rest for himself and for all who were entrusted to his care. His prayer can be our prayer, as we dedicate the temple of our hearts to You and rest in Your promises, of which not one word will ever fail. Rest comes as we ask You and trust You to "incline our hearts" to You. In the mercy of Your love, You give us the grace to "devote (our)selves completely to the Lord our God," trusting that "the Lord is God; there is no other." As You align our hearts, You begin to align our ways. And soon enough, we find ourselves trusting in You alone for all we need and all we become. As we give ourselves to You morning by morning, we find You faithful day by day, with Your grace being sufficient "as each day requires." Like all Your promises and all Your answers to our prayers and Solomon's, they ultimately find fulfillment in the love of God revealed for us through the sacrifice of Christ. "For in Him every one of God's promises is a 'Yes.' For this reason it is through Him that we say the 'Amen,' to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20). We don't have to strive or strain to try to work up or live up to all the standards and commandments we perceive You require, when we put our faith in You and rest in Your finished work for us. "For it is God who is at work in (us), enabling (us) both to will and to do for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13). So by Your grace, that's a promise and an answer to prayer I can rest in and a God I can completely devote myself to. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm thankful for a few weeks of Sabbath rest. I'll still be having my morning prayer times (just maybe sleeping in a little!) and sending out my devotional most of the time. I don't think of this is as part of my work; this is my life-line of communion with my Lord. And I'm so glad to have you with me in my journey, morning by morning. But I'll not be replying to many emails for awhile. Please let Marilyn Walker, my Director of Ministries, know any needs or possible ministry opportunities: DirOfMinistries@aol.com I do plan to get my new book available from our web site and it will be available through Amazon.com and other book suppliers very soon. Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. Please keep this in prayer for the next exciting season of ministry. And please order one and spread the word to everyone who may be interested. All the proceeds will be going into our ministry. God bless you! Please register on-line to come join us for these Messiah Ministries prayer ministry events later this summer: July 31-August 2, 2009 -- Healing Prayer Weekend at Cliffview Retreat Center in Lancaster, Kentucky led by Tommy Hays. You'll receive teaching and ministry in a peaceful, worshipful retreat setting. Spiritual Principles of Deep Healing— Explore God’s order in every dimension in spirit, soul, and body. Past hurts require healing to realize true freedom. It’s only God’s redemptive power that can bring us back to God’s created plan. Hindrances To Healing— Scripture provides principles that reveal possible barriers that hinder healing, freedom and wholeness. These given over to God, prepare the way for God’s powerful healing love. For Information or To Register: ClickHereToRegisterHealingWeekend Also, please let Marilyn know if you would be interested in joining us on the prayer ministry team or as an intercessor for this weekend or our ministry: I've just prepared a short dvd to equip prayer ministers, which we would like to make available to you DirOfMinistries@aol.com August 10-13, 2009 -- The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - Level I Come for a focused time of training, equipping, and impartation through discipleship, personal ministry, and mentoring, led by Tommy Hays and the teaching team. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For Information or To Register: ClickHereToRegisterSchoolOfMinistry 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 at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

Kindness 7-15-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I wait to begin this day and every day centered in Jesus, embraced by my heavenly Father, and filled with the Holy Spirit. ... "But God who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which He loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ -- by grace you have been saved -- and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7). You loved us even when we were dead to You through our trespasses, turning to ourselves instead of turning to You for the comfort and peace we were created to know in Your love and grace. Yet we are so tempted to question Your love for us now that we've been embraced, forgiven, and saved, made alive together with Christ. How ironic how often we can almost imagine You to be more loving and forgiving of the lost than those who've been found. How demonic our deception and confusion when we fail to fully grasp "the immeasurable riches of (Your) grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." We cannot fully know You and Your heart of love and grace toward us without knowing that nature of Your kindness. I know we are to behold both "the kindness and the severity of God," not just one without the other (Romans 11:22). You are not a lax and overly-permissive parent who is so insecure about our love for You that You'll let us do whatever we want to do and live however we want to live without consequences for our actions, intended to lead us back to the ways that lead to true and abundant life to the full. So You correct and discipline us out of Your love for us and desire for us to know the fullness of the love, peace, and joy You've intended eternally for us (Hebrews 12:5-11). But any view of the severity of God without seeing it grounded in and flowing from the kindness of God is a distorted view that allows the enemy of our souls to confuse and deceive us in order to steal from us the true image of You and of ourselves. So Lord, please teach me more about the significance of Your kindness. ... It seems I hear You say, "My son, My kindness toward you is an expression of My love for you. My kindness for you is My comfort and care for you, My tender mercies toward you. And My kindness is always there for you -- not just when you think you deserve it, but especially when you think you don't. And those times when you sense your heart tender toward others, not out of pity but out of compassion, are times when I'm showing you a sense of My kindness toward you and all of My creation. So be kind, by My grace; for when you are kind you are more as I am." Yes, Lord. Thank You for these riches of Your grace in kindness toward me. Keep forming the nature of Your kindness in me as a fruit of Your Spirit (Galatians 5:22). "As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience" (Colossians 3:12). Even when we must speak the truth in love or "admonish one another in all wisdom," give us grace to remember Your heart and command, "Above all, clothe yourselves with love" (Colossians 3:14-16). "Thus says the Lord of hosts, 'Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another" (Zechariah 7:9). Let the severity of righteousness always flow out of the compassion of kindness. And remind me that this nature is Your nature, and that this heart for others is Your heart for me. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Laura Beach, a spiritual director associated with our ministry will be leading The Fountain this Friday Night, July 17th in Lexington, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead in worship. Please come and spread the word. Come to The Fountain! this Friday Night, July 17th, 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

A Good Land with Flowing Streams 7-14-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Put Your thoughts in my mind and Your desires in my heart, as You lead me by Your Spirit throughout the moments of my day. ... “For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land with flowing streams, with springs and undergrounds waters welling up in valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, a land where you may eat bread without scarcity, where you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron and from whose hills you may mine copper. You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that He has given you” (Deuteronomy 8:7-10). My friend Tim pastors a growing and thriving church plant at the Flying J Ranch. I knew he’d know just the right place up some trail beside a mountain stream for a day apart in Your Presence. And he sure did. “Follow this dry creek bed up the mountain. Nobody’s likely to wander up there because they’ll all think it’s a dry creek. Keep going ‘til you find the stream. But watch out for the stinging nettles along the way. It’ll be worth it.” And it sure was. I like the places off the beaten path. And I love to search out the treasures that are often hidden away for the ones who are willing to push past the outward appearances and press in to find the places where fountains of living water spring up from dry creek beds and mountain streams flow from deserted ravines. “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out” (Proverbs 25:2). And it’s usually wise to humbly listen to those who have been there before. You are a good God. You’ve given us a good land. And the land of promise and potential You’ve set before us is already ours in Christ. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3). What may be a dry creek bed by sight in a fallen world, being redeemed from the curse of sin, can become a stream of living water if we believe Your Word by faith and follow the leading of Your Spirit. It doesn’t mean we won’t get stung by a few nettles or scratched up by a few thorns along the way, but You promise the destiny of our journey will be well worth the hike. “If it were not so, would I have told you that I go and prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Thank You, Lord, for the good land and place of Your Presence that’s already and always mine. It’s prepared and ready to be received, embraced, and celebrated every moment of every day, by grace through faith in You (Ephesians 2:8). In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Laura Beach, a spiritual director associated with our ministry will be leading The Fountain this Friday Night, July 17th in Lexington, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead in worship. Please come and spread the word. 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

Apart on the Mountain 7-13-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I awake and arise into newness of life in You today. ... "Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And He was transfigured before them..." (Mark 9:2). My favorite high mountain is Sierra Blanca at Ruidoso, New Mexico, overlooking my mother's house. It's always a journey to get here through the desert to these mountains tucked away in the middle of New Mexico, but always worth it. Even in the middle of July, the morning air is crisp and clean in the cool pines. I've been looking forward for many months to this time apart for rest in the shadows of these mountains and comfort in the arms of my mother. I'd cross any desert and climb any mountain for a couple weeks of that. And when Peter, James, and John climbed that mountain, apart by themselves with You, they saw You in a new light. You are "the same yesterday and today and forever," yet at the same time, You were transfigured before them (Hebrews 13:8). I don't think You changed. I think Your Spirit lifted the veil from their hearts to give them eyes to see You more clearly as You truly are and have always been -- clothed in the "dazzling white" of the glory of God, high and lifted up in holiness and majesty (Mark 9:3). In these days apart with You on this mountain, even as my body rests and You restore my soul beside the still waters of Bonita Lake and Cedar Creek, draw my spirit into deeper communion with Your Spirit. Open the eyes of my heart to see You more clearly as You truly are. As I behold You in Your glory, would You keep changing me from the inside out to be more like You. "And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18). In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, Laura Beach, a spiritual director associated with our ministry will be leading The Fountain this Friday Night, July 17th in Lexington, while Brooke and Shannon Barrett lead in worship. Please come and spread the word. 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

Find Life, Have Favor 7-10-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Father and Son, abide in me by Your Spirit. ... "Happy is the one who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting beside My doors. For whoever finds Me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord..." (Proverbs 8:33-34). Lord, give me greater wisdom and deeper humility to listen continually for Your voice, watch daily at Your gates, and wait longingly at Your doors. Increase my hunger for Your presence. Let my desperate need for more of You be the driving force of my life. There is no true life apart from You. You are the way, the truth, and the life. And You promise Your life to all who seek You. "Then when you call upon Me and come and pray to Me, I will hear you. When you search for Me, you will find Me; if you seek Me with all your heart, I will let you find Me, says the Lord..." (Jeremiah 29:12-14). This is the favor of God that rests upon those who seek You with all their hearts. This is the life of God that fills the hearts of all who embrace the love and peace and joy flowing forever from Yours. Happy is the one who finds the treasure of this wisdom; blessed is the one who would wisely sell all he has to have it (Matthew 13:44). 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 Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

High Adventure 7-9-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Take me by the hand, lead me by the heart. ... "The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who begets a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice" (Proverbs 23:24-25). My younger boys and I had a couple of days of high adventure. We stayed at a friends' cabin in the country, catching tiny little fish in the pond, riding a four-wheeler through the woods, building bonfires, shooting at cans, and enjoying our adventure together. There's something deeply righteous about the laughter of little boys that makes their daddy's heart glad. Even the sleepy eyes and bobbing heads from the backseat on the car ride home is a testimony to time well spent. Daddy Abba, my Father God, thank You for all the adventures You take me on. Thank You for finding joy in my laughter. I want to make Your heart glad with my life. And one day I want to look back to earth on the car ride home to heaven and know it was time well spent with You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of Sabbath rest. I'll still be having my morning prayer times (just maybe sleeping in a little!) and sending out my devotional most of the time. I don't think of this is not part of my work; this is my life-line of communion with my Lord. And I'm so glad to have you with me in my journey, morning by morning. But I'll not be replying to many emails for awhile. Please let Marilyn Walker, my Director of Ministries, know any needs or possible ministry opportunities: DirOfMinistries@aol.com I do plan to get my new book available from our web site and it will be available through Amazon.com and other book suppliers very soon. Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. Please keep this in prayer for the next exciting season of ministry. And please order one and spread the word to everyone who may be interested. All the proceeds will be going into our ministry. God bless you! Please register on-line to come join us for these Messiah Ministries prayer ministry events later this summer: July 31-August 2, 2009 -- Healing Prayer Weekend at Cliffview Retreat Center in Lancaster, Kentucky led by Tommy Hays. You'll receive teaching and ministry in a peaceful, worshipful retreat setting. Spiritual Principles of Deep Healing— Explore God’s order in every dimension in spirit, soul, and body. Past hurts require healing to realize true freedom. It’s only God’s redemptive power that can bring us back to God’s created plan. Hindrances To Healing— Scripture provides principles that reveal possible barriers that hinder healing, freedom and wholeness. These given over to God, prepare the way for God’s powerful healing love. For Information or To Register: ClickHereToRegisterHealingWeekend August 10-13, 2009 -- The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - Level I Come for a focused time of training, equipping, and impartation through discipleship, personal ministry, and mentoring, led by Tommy Hays and the teaching team. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For Information or To Register: ClickHereToRegisterSchoolOfMinistry 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 at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling: www.shop.messiah-ministries.org

"I Commit My Spirit" 7-7-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. I honor You and worship You and rest in You. ... "You are indeed my rock and my fortress; for Your name's sake lead me and guide me, take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God" (Psalm 31:3-5). As You hung upon the cross and breathed Your last breath, You cried out, "Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit" (Luke 23:46). But this was nothing new. In that moment of indescribable anguish of body and soul as Son of Man, You were able to endure the cross, disregarding its shame, for the sake of the joy set before You, because every moment of every day You committed Your spirit into the hands of the Father (Hebrews 12:2). Like Your forefather David before You, You knew the everlasting, unfailing love of our redeeming and faithful Father. You always knew whatever sufferings and challenges this world had in store, it was not worth comparing to the peace and joy of knowing Your life and death and resurrection and ascension into glory was in the hands of the One who always works all things together for good, as we entrust all things to Him. And You've shown Yourself so faithful and true to me. Whether You're correcting me or empowering me, You're always loving me. You already know every blessing that's waiting for me and every net that's hidden for me. But as I commit my spirit into Your hands -- Your nail-scarred hands -- You lead me and guide me, never leaving me nor forsaking me, as I rest in the peace of Your perfect will for me. In that place of faith and trust in Your never-ending love for me, I can endure all things by the grace of God, my rock and refuge, my strong tower, my Almighty God. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, I'm looking forward to the next few weeks of Sabbath rest. I'll still be having my morning prayer times (just maybe sleeping in a little!) and sending out my devotional most of the time. I don't think of this is as part of my work; this is my life-line of communion with my Lord. And I'm so glad to have you with me in my journey, morning by morning. But I'll not be replying to many emails for awhile. Please let Marilyn Walker, my Director of Ministries, know any needs or possible ministry opportunities: DirOfMinistries@aol.com I do plan to get my new book available from our web site and it will be available through Amazon.com and other book suppliers very soon. Free to Be Like Jesus -- Transforming Power of Healing & Deliverance. Please keep this in prayer for the next exciting season of ministry. And please order one and spread the word to everyone who may be interested. All the proceeds will be going into our ministry. God bless you! Please register on-line to come join us for these Messiah Ministries prayer ministry events later this summer: July 31-August 2, 2009 -- Healing Prayer Weekend at Cliffview Retreat Center in Lancaster, Kentucky led by Tommy Hays. You'll receive teaching and ministry in a peaceful, worshipful retreat setting. Spiritual Principles of Deep Healing— Explore God’s order in every dimension in spirit, soul, and body. Past hurts require healing to realize true freedom. It’s only God’s redemptive power that can bring us back to God’s created plan.Hindrances To Healing— Scripture provides principles that reveal possible barriers that hinder healing, freedom and wholeness. These given over to God, prepare the way for God’s powerful healing love. For Information or To Register: ClickHereToRegisterHealingWeekend August 10-13, 2009 -- The Fountain School of Spiritual Ministry - Level I Come for a focused time of training, equipping, and impartation through discipleship, personal ministry, and mentoring, led by Tommy Hays and the teaching team. We will study and experience a biblical perspective of the ministry of healing and wholeness of spirit, soul and body, and apply the foundational principles of the Kingdom of God for prayer ministry. The course combines dynamic classroom teaching in a small group setting with personal hands-on experience as students receive personal ministry and are guided in ministry for others. For Information or To Register: ClickHereToRegisterSchoolOfMinistry Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --mailto:--MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" http://www.messiah-ministries.org/ 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502 Order our Ministry Resources or Contribute to our vision and calling: http://www.shop.messiah-ministries.org/